16 Dallas Rooftops for When You Need a Drink and a Skyline View

See also: Like dining outdoors but don’t care for heights? Check out our list of great patio options at Dallas restaurants.

Did we all take a collective sigh of relief when the freeze came early this year, and February marked the beginning of spring? It’s time to start planning and taking advantage of this transitory clement weather by noshing a bit over a cocktail or three while taking in the glorious views and sunsets that North Texas offers from some of its finer rooftop patios and terraces.

While no list can cover all the options available for high-altitude al fresco dining, the following compilation is a good start. Each has something to offer, including but not limited to amazing views, strong cocktails and great food — and on a good night, all three.

Our list is broken out by Lower Greenville, downtown, uptown and Deep Ellum.

LOWER GREENVILLE

HG Sply Co.

2008 Greenville Ave. (Lower Greenville)
Quick Bite: Great food, healthy options, chill vibes.
HG Sply Co.’s large rooftop terrace is triple the size of the restaurant below, so you’ll have plenty of room to spread out and enjoy springtime Dallas nights while enjoying the skyline from afar. Happy hour starts at 3 p.m. with beer for $3 and select wines and cocktails for $6. The rooftop food menu includes such healthy-leaning dishes as salmon poke tostadas, avocado hummus and cochinita nachos. Wash it down with a Smash or a Double Under: a beet-infused tequila with rosemary turbinado sugar and lime. (Rooftop hours: Monday – Thursday, 5 p.m. – midnight; Friday, 3 p.m. – midnight; Saturday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – midnight.)

HIDE

1928 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville
Quick Bite: Great double cheeseburger, lovely space.
HIDE was born in Deep Ellum in 2017, closed in 2020 during the pandemic and reemerged on Lower Greenville Avenue in 2022. The rooftop here is spacious and relaxing: a perfect spot to take in Lower Greenville. Be sure to check out happy hour (all day Monday, Tuesday – Friday, 3-6 p.m.) and get a double cheeseburger for $8. Garlic parmesan pretzel bites are just $6 on the happy hour menu. (Hours: Monday – Thursday, 3 p.m. – midnight; Friday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – midnight).

Terilli’s

2815 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville
Quick Bite: Red sauce Italian joint, lovely patio and pedestrian neighborhood.
Walking into Terilli’s feels like you’re in on some old Italian secret. Downstairs is dressed up in a black suit with a piano in the middle of the dining room. Upstairs is a bit more casual. Grab seats at the bar for a higher perch to take in the whole scene or grab a couch in front of a TV to watch the game with a plate of cheese Italchos, crispy handmade pizza chips topped with the family red sauce and a cheese blend. (Tuesday – Saturday, 4-10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; closed Monday.)

Sundown at Granada

3520 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville
Quick Bite: It’s own community and vibe.
Right next door to the Granada Theater, Sundown at Granada offers a rooftop patio with wonderful sunset views. It has a good brunch, complete with discounted mimosas and bloody marys on the weekend. Or, go at night and witness all the hustle and bustle that is Lower Greenville while you nosh on some pesto Parmesan flatbread or loaded waffle fries. Follow Sundown’s Instagram account for special events and live music. (Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. – midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. – midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.)

DOWNTOWN

Catbird

1401 Elm St., Downtown
Quick Bite: Swank.
Perched on the rooftop of The Thompson Hotel, Catbird is an Asian-inspired spot with wraparound outdoor seating, complete with several comfy couches and gas-powered fire pits for those evenings when the temperature dips a bit. On the weekends, a DJ sets up on this balcony where you can feast on some really good BBQ short rib bao buns, crab rangoon dip or some popcorn chicken karaage. This place has a dress code, so don’t show up in your flip-flops and tank tops. But if you take the trouble to put on a decent pair of pants, you’ll be rewarded with great views and even better food and drink. Be sure to check out the Catbird cocktails such as the Dark Matter or Head in the Clouds. (Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 5 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.)

Mirador

1608 Elm St., Downtown
Quick Bite: Posh spot with an excellent kitchen.
Mirador, atop the luxury department store Forty-Five Ten, is a sophisticated rooftop bar in Dallas for drinks, brunch, lunch or afternoon tea. It runs a seasonal menu with leveled-up classics like salads, burgers and sandwiches served among a lobster roll, whipped ricotta and crispy chicken bites (which could be a fancy way to say chicken tenders). The best views are from the outdoor patio, so make sure you’re going in good weather. Not too hot. Not too cold. All you’ll need is a light jacket. (Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sunday/Monday, closed.)

Sky Blossom Bistro

1514 Elm St., No. 611, Downtown
Quick Bite: Great perch to watch downtown and weird view of pool at the Joule.
Sky Blossom is a downtown gem. It has a menu of Vietnamese fusion that can be enjoyed with a great view of the swimming pool hanging off the side of the Joule across Main Street. Honestly, the eye-level view of the pool can be comical, especially after a flight of margaritas. The spot can be hard to find on the ground level; just look for a sign and dedicated elevator next to the Campisi’s on Elm. Colorful drinks such as a blueberry mojito can be enjoyed with a bowl of short-rib pho, crispy wings or a couple of spicy tuna tacos while one stares back at the ever-present Eye sculpture below. (Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday, – Saturday, 11 a.m. – midnight)

Culinary Dropout

150 Turtle Creek Blvd., Design District
Quick Bite: Fun Design District spot with a slight British influence and live music.
Culinary Dropout is one of Dallas’ newer rooftop bars in the Design District. It’s a British-style gastropub with quirky decor and comfort foods like Yesterday’s Soup, a shaved prime rib dip and crispy chicken katsu. Happy hour is Monday – Friday from 3-7 p.m. on the rooftop only and features a roster of discounted finger food, Long Afternoon Iced Teas, frozen creations and sushi. Every Wednesday for happy hour, they have a live saxophone player and $7 martinis.(Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. – midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. – midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.)

The Gallery Lounge

1325 Botham Jean Blvd., inside CANVAS Hotel, The Cedars
Quick Bite: Artsy space with pool and great views.
The Gallery Lounge on top of the CANVAS Hotel is a retro-industrial bar with an infinity pool, fire pits and a nice northeastern view of the Dallas skyline. The menu sticks to traditional American foods like flatbreads, salads, wings and burgers, as does the cocktail list with all the staples like old fashions and the Leave Me The Espolon (Espolon tequila, triple sec, lemon juice, pineapple puree, soda and Tajin rim). Take a dip in the pool every day from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 4-11 p.m.; Friday/Saturday 1 p.m. – 2 a.m.)

UPTOWN

Mexican Sugar

2355 Olive St., Uptown
Quick Bite: Lovely Uptown space, sways upscale, comfy chairs, a great salmon dish.
Mexican Sugar boasts the most expensive (to build) rooftop bar in Dallas. Its menu has creative takes on Mexican classics that are plated just as beautifully as the restaurant itself. Try an agave flight that shows off their library of the spirit and the filet and lobster fajitas. Happy hour runs from 2-6 p.m. Monday through Friday with $7 select margs, frozen chupas, $2 wines by the glass and $2 off appetizers. (Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.)

The Henry

2301 N. Akard St., No. 250, Harwood District
Quick Bite: Buzzy space, great house-made bread and validates parking.
Another rooftop with a partially covered terrace for those afraid of the sun, The Henry sports a dedicated rooftop food menu that includes pressed yellowtail sushi and short-rib potstickers. Standout drinks include the popular smoked pineapple margarita as well as the Super Hi-5 (coconut washed bourbon, stiggins rum, heirloom amaro and fluffy pineapple). Oh yeah, it’s also a great brunch destination, and rumor has it that Henry validates parking at the garage next door. What’s not to love? (Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.)

The Quarter Bar

3301 McKinney Ave., Uptown
Quick Bite: Old soul space, wear your big-kid drinking pants.
The New Orleans-inspired Quarter Bar has multiple indoor spaces with weird and eclectic vintage furniture, but the rooftop terrace has views overlooking McKinney Avenue. Here, one can enjoy a classic and creative cocktail (or two) and sample some Southern-inspired tacos, flatbreads and burgers. Don’t miss the famous Voodoo fries, a tantalizing mishmash of jalapeno bacon, queso, gravy and sriracha. (Hours: Monday – Thursday, 3 p.m. – midnight; Friday, 3 p.m. – 2 a.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. – midnight).

Te Deseo

2700 Olive St., Harwood/Uptown
Quick Bite: Latin heat.
Te Deseo has Latin American-inspired fare atop a large rooftop space with great skyline views of Dallas. Enjoy a cigar from the cigar menu and hang out with a DJ either in the sun or in the shade of the partially covered roof. Special rooftop drinks include carajillo old-fashioned and Chica Sour (aravedo pisco, fresh lime, house-made chicha morada and angostura bitters). (Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday/Saturday, 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday.)

Upside

2950 Cityplace W. Blvd., Uptown
Quick Bite: Cozy, chic, small bites, big view.
Few would be up for debate if you stated Upside in West Village (inside the Hilton Hotel) has the best view of the Dallas skyline. They serve a small, New American menu with a twist like brisket bao buns, Southwest tandoori chicken bites and creamed deviled eggs all on one page. Signature drinks are named after notable fictional characters like Mrs. Doubtfire and Ruby Rhod. (Hours: Monday – Thursday, 5-11 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. – midnight; Saturday, 2 p.m. – midnight; Sunday, 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.)

DEEP ELLUM

Vidorra

2642 Main St., Deep Ellum
Quick Bite: Great way to experience Deep Ellum.
While really good Tex-Mex and strong cocktails are the main draws of this popular Deep Ellum rooftop destination, Vidorra also has a beautiful rooftop space. Try the Mexspresso and beef birria tacos; the trompo beef is a solid selection as well. There’s a 5-pound taco, but proceed with caution. Happy hour is Monday – Friday, 3-6 p.m., and includes half off select appetizers and a $30 Vidorrarita for you and seven of your germ-sharing besties to enjoy. (Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.)