Venice is one of Italy’s most evocative cities, and how could it not be? The city is literally built on hundreds of islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has been floating for centuries, and its grandiose canals are lined with stunning Renaissance and Gothic palazzos and connected by a smattering of large and small stone and marble bridges. It’s a romantic city, where gondolas float on turquoise waters, and glasses of wine and small bites are enjoyed by the canal’s edges.
There’s no better place to take in the natural and architectural wonder that is Venice than from above, at one of the floating city’s sleek and upscale rooftop bars. With sweeping views of historical landmarks and the lagoon that encircles them, these four rooftop bars are sure to take your breath away.
Skyline Rooftop Bar
This may be one of the sleekest rooftop bars in Venice. Perched atop the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice on the island of Giudecca, located just a short taxi ride from the bustling city center, it’s a modern and chic rooftop bar offering global cocktails. The rooftop is also home to a lux infinity pool that hosts a number of pool parties in the summer.
Terrazza Danieli
Located at the top of the five-star Hotel Danieli, this rooftop bar and restaurant has a 180-degree-view of the Giardini della Biennale, the island of San Giorgio, and the Doge’s Palace – not to mention the city’s lagoon. Both the bar and restaurant offer a seasonal menu, and refreshing cocktails are made using seasonal fruit.
La Terrazza Bar at H10 Palazzo Canova
With an outdoor and indoor area offering sweeping views of Venice’s city center, this rooftop bar is among the best in Venice. Perched atop the 4-star H10 Palazzo Canova, a swanky hotel set in a 19th-century building, it’s just a two-minute walk from one of the city’s most popular landmarks: the 16th-century Rialto Bridge. La Terrazza Bar at H10 Palazzo Canova offers a variety of wines and cocktails.
Sagra Rooftop Restaurant
Named after ‘Sagra’, a typical festival of food in Italy, the menu offers a culinary journey throughout the country while focusing on Venice. It’s located at the top of the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, a 5-star hotel on Isola delle Rose, a private island in the Venetian lagoon. The rooftop restaurant boasts panoramic views of Venice and its lagoon.
Asia London Palomba
Asia London Palomba is a trilingual freelance journalist from Rome, Italy. In the past, her work on culture, travel, and history has been published in The Boston Globe, Atlas Obscura, The Christian Science Monitor, and Grub Street, New York Magazine's food section. In her free time, Asia enjoys traveling home to Italy to spend time with family and friends, drinking Hugo Spritzes, and making her nonna's homemade cavatelli.