Hotels where the view starts on the roof

Adults-only rooftop hotels keep the terrace, pool deck or bar for guests of age, which usually means quieter afternoons, later evenings and a pace set by couples and friends rather than family schedules.

Boutique rooftop hotels are small, individually designed properties where the terrace feels like part of the house: a handful of tables, a plunge pool or an intimate bar, with the city close below.

City-center rooftop hotels put the terrace right above the downtown grid, so the view takes in the landmarks and main avenues you will reach on foot the next morning, with no taxi or long transfer involved.

An infinity pool on a hotel roof has an edge that seems to disappear, so the water appears to run straight into the skyline, the sea or the mountains beyond it. It is made for slow afternoons and photographs.

Luxury rooftop hotels pair attentive, upscale service with a terrace that earns its place: a staffed pool deck, a serious restaurant or a quiet bar set high above the city, where design and view work together.