There's a reason Southeast Asia dominates the global rooftop bar scene. The tropical climate means year-round outdoor drinking, the skylines are dramatic, and the competitive hospitality market drives bars to outdo each other with ever-more-spectacular settings and cocktail programmes. The best rooftop bars in Asia aren't just places to drink — they're experiences that justify the trip.
I've been visiting rooftop bars across the region for years, and this is the definitive list: the bars that deliver on atmosphere, drinks, views, and that intangible feeling of being somewhere truly special. Dress code notes, reservation tips, and honest price estimates included — because showing up underdressed or without a booking ruins even the best rooftop.
Bangkok: The Undisputed Capital of Rooftop Drinking
Bangkok has more world-class rooftop bars than any other city on earth. The combination of a sprawling skyline, warm nights, relatively affordable drinks (compared to Singapore or Hong Kong), and Thai hospitality creates a rooftop culture that's become a defining feature of the city.
1. Lebua Sky Bar at State Tower
This is where it all started. When Sky Bar opened in 2004, rooftop drinking in Southeast Asia was barely a concept. Then "The Hangover Part II" filmed here, and the bar became a global icon. Two decades later, it still delivers — the 63rd-floor open-air platform overlooking the Chao Phraya River bend is genuinely breathtaking, and the theatrical presentation (DJs, lighting, the dome bar) creates an energy that newer competitors haven't matched.
**Signature cocktail:** The Hangovertini (pink, sweet, photogenic — $22). For something better, order the Lebua Sling ($25) or ask the bartender for an off-menu whiskey recommendation.
**Dress code:** Smart casual. No shorts, no flip-flops, no sleeveless shirts for men. They do enforce this.
**Tips:** Go at sunset (5:30-6:30 PM) for the best light. No reservations for the open-air Sky Bar itself — just show up. The adjacent Sirocco restaurant requires booking. Expect to spend $50-80 per person for drinks and nibbles. SEA Hotel Score: 8.8.
2. Vertigo & Moon Bar — Banyan Tree Bangkok
If Sky Bar is the blockbuster, Vertigo is the art film. Perched on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree with 360-degree views and zero glass barriers between you and the skyline, Vertigo feels more vertiginous and more intimate than its State Tower rival. The long, narrow bar seems to float above the city.
**Signature cocktail:** The Vertigo Sunset ($20) — a gin-based cocktail with butterfly pea flower that changes colour when you add the citrus. Beautiful and actually tastes great.
**Dress code:** Smart casual, strictly enforced. Closed-toe shoes for men.
**Tips:** Vertigo accepts reservations and I strongly recommend booking — walk-ins face long waits, especially on weekends. The restaurant serves excellent modern European cuisine if you want to make a full evening of it. Budget $60-90 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.9.
3. Octave Rooftop Lounge & Bar — Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
Octave is the locals' favourite, and for good reason. Spread across the 45th, 48th, and 49th floors, it offers three distinct experiences: a sleek indoor lounge, an open-air bar, and a rooftop terrace. The 360-degree views are stunning, the drinks are well-priced by Bangkok standards, and the crowd is a good mix of locals and visitors.
**Signature cocktail:** The Octave Sour ($14) — smooth, balanced, and well-made. The cocktail programme here is genuinely strong.
**Dress code:** Smart casual but less rigid than Sky Bar or Vertigo. Clean jeans are fine.
**Tips:** Happy hour (5-7 PM) offers excellent value. The 49th-floor terrace is the best spot. No reservations — come early on weekends. Budget $30-50 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.4.
4. Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant — Pullman Bangkok Hotel G
Scarlett flies under the tourist radar but is a favourite of Bangkok's wine crowd. The intimate, industrial-chic rooftop on the 37th floor has unobstructed views of the city and one of the best wine lists at altitude in Southeast Asia. The Mediterranean-influenced food is excellent too.
**Signature cocktail:** This is really a wine bar — order from the 200+ bottle list. The sommelier is outstanding. Glasses from $12.
**Dress code:** Smart casual. More relaxed than the big-name bars.
**Tips:** Perfect for a more refined, less touristy evening. Reservations recommended for dinner but not essential for drinks. Budget $40-70 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.3.
Singapore: Skyline Cocktails at Premium Prices
Singapore's rooftop bars are pricier than Bangkok's, but the skyline — that cluster of glass towers around Marina Bay — is one of the most photogenic in the world. A rooftop cocktail with that view is essentially compulsory.
5. CÉ LA VI — Marina Bay Sands
Sitting atop the Marina Bay Sands, CÉ LA VI is the public-access alternative to the hotel's guest-only infinity pool. The 57th-floor rooftop bar offers essentially the same 360-degree skyline views, plus a sophisticated cocktail menu and resident DJs. It transforms from a sunset lounge to a proper nightlife destination after 10 PM.
**Signature cocktail:** The Singapore Sun ($28) — a gin and passionfruit cocktail garnished with edible flowers. Photogenic and refreshing.
**Dress code:** Smart casual minimum. After 10 PM, the dress code elevates — no sneakers.
**Tips:** There's a $25 cover charge that includes one drink. It gets crowded — arrive by 5:30 PM for a sunset spot. Reservations available for the restaurant but not the bar. Budget $60-100 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.7.
6. 1-Altitude — One Raffles Place
At 282 metres, 1-Altitude claims to be the world's highest al fresco bar. The 63rd-floor rooftop gallery offers a 360-degree panorama that, on a clear evening, extends to Indonesia and Malaysia. The bar underwent a refresh recently, and the cocktail programme has never been better.
**Signature cocktail:** The Altitude Spritz ($24) — light, aperitif-style, perfect for the tropical heat.
**Dress code:** Smart casual. No flip-flops, no shorts.
**Tips:** The cover charge varies ($25-35 depending on the night) and includes one drink. Friday and Saturday nights feature DJs and a livelier atmosphere. Budget $50-80 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.5.
7. Mr Stork — Andaz Singapore
The most Instagram-friendly rooftop in Singapore, Mr Stork has tepee-style cabanas on the 39th floor of the Andaz. It's less about cocktail sophistication and more about the whimsical setting — the cabanas, fairy lights, and unobstructed skyline views create a uniquely playful atmosphere.
**Signature cocktail:** The Lychee Garden ($22) — floral, light, served in a decorated glass.
**Dress code:** Smart casual, relatively relaxed.
**Tips:** The cabanas are first-come, first-served and are the whole point — arrive early. Budget $40-60 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.2.
Beyond Bangkok and Singapore
8. Saigon Saigon Bar — Caravelle Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City
The Saigon Saigon Bar has been serving drinks since 1959, when it was the gathering place for foreign correspondents covering the Vietnam War. Today, the rooftop terrace overlooks the same Opera House and city hall, but the mood is celebratory rather than tense. This is living history with a cocktail in hand.
**Signature cocktail:** The Saigon Kick ($12) — a Vietnamese-inspired cocktail with local rum and tropical fruits. Prices here are a fraction of Singapore.
**Dress code:** Relaxed. Neat casual is fine.
**Tips:** The historical atmosphere is the draw. Read about the bar's wartime history before visiting — it deepens the experience immeasurably. Budget $20-35 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.3.
9. Sky Bar — Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
The Sky Bar at Traders Hotel (now the EQ) has the most coveted view in KL: the Petronas Twin Towers, dead centre, at eye level. The 33rd-floor infinity pool and bar area feels like a private club, and the view of the towers illuminated at night is one of Southeast Asia's great urban spectacles.
**Signature cocktail:** The KLCC Sunset ($15) — a rum-based cocktail that pays tribute to the city.
**Dress code:** Smart casual.
**Tips:** Book a poolside table for sunset — they go fast. The pool is for hotel guests, but the bar is open to all. Budget $30-50 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.5.
10. The Loft — The Reverie Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
If Saigon Saigon is old-school charm, The Loft is new Saigon ambition. On the top floor of the wildly opulent Reverie Saigon, The Loft has river views, an Italian-inspired cocktail programme, and interiors that are so over-the-top they circle back to magnificent.
**Signature cocktail:** The Italian Job ($16) — an Aperol and Prosecco twist that pairs perfectly with the setting.
**Dress code:** Smart. This is one of Vietnam's most upscale bars.
**Tips:** Come for the sunset river views, stay for the Italian bar snacks. Reservations recommended on weekends. Budget $35-55 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.4.
11. Abar — Marriott Marquis, Manila
Manila's rooftop scene is growing fast, and Abar leads the pack. On the 36th floor overlooking the Bonifacio Global City skyline, the bar has a sophisticated cocktail programme featuring Filipino ingredients — calamansi, ube, local spirits — presented with real flair.
**Signature cocktail:** The Manila Mule ($14) — a Filipino twist on the Moscow Mule with calamansi and local ginger beer.
**Dress code:** Smart casual.
**Tips:** Manila's rooftop bars are significantly cheaper than Bangkok or Singapore. Budget $25-40 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.1.
12. Eclipse — Hilton, Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh's skyline isn't as dramatic as Bangkok's, but Eclipse — on the rooftop of the Hilton — offers views of the Mekong River meeting the Tonle Sap that are genuinely special. The sunset here, watching the rivers merge as the sky turns orange, is one of the most underrated rooftop experiences in the region.
**Signature cocktail:** The Mekong Sunset ($10) — a local twist using Cambodian rice spirit.
**Dress code:** Relaxed. No enforcement.
**Tips:** Prices are remarkably low — this is probably the cheapest world-class rooftop bar experience in Southeast Asia. Budget $15-25 per person. SEA Hotel Score: 8.0.
How to Plan a Rooftop Bar Crawl
Bangkok Multi-Bar Evening
Start at **Octave** for happy hour (5-7 PM), move to **Vertigo** for sunset cocktails (7-8:30 PM), and finish at **Sky Bar** for the full evening spectacle (9 PM onwards). This route takes you from Sukhumvit to Silom — budget 20 minutes by taxi between each. Total budget: approximately $120-150 per person for a spectacular evening.
Singapore Double-Header
Begin at **Mr Stork** for sunset cabana drinks (5:30 PM), then head to **CÉ LA VI** for the Marina Bay skyline after dark (8 PM). Budget: $80-120 per person.
Practical Tips for Every Rooftop Bar
**Reservations:** Make them wherever possible, especially on Friday/Saturday evenings.
**Dress code:** When in doubt, go smarter than you think necessary. A collared shirt and closed shoes for men is the safe minimum across the region.
**Timing:** Arrive 30-45 minutes before sunset for the best experience. Sunset is the transition point, and having a drink in hand when the sky changes colour is the whole point.
**Budget wisely.** You can compare hotel rates for properties with great rooftop bars on SEA Hotel — sometimes staying at the hotel gives you priority access or bypasses cover charges. The Banyan Tree Bangkok, for instance, offers Vertigo priority seating for hotel guests.
**Rain plan.** Tropical downpours are a reality. Most bars have indoor fallback areas, but always check whether the bar closes entirely in rain (some do).
Southeast Asia's rooftop bar culture is a genuine highlight of any trip to the region. Whether you're toasting a honeymoon over the Bangkok skyline, celebrating a birthday above the Singapore cityscape, or discovering the unexpected pleasures of a Phnom Penh sunset, these bars deliver moments that stay with you long after the last cocktail.
