Rooftop Bars in Manila: Where to Drink Above the City

BGC

BGC has few fully open-air roofs, so its high bars are hotel lounges with a terrace attached. The upside is reliable service and air conditioning when the heat or rain arrives.

The Peak, Grand Hyatt Manila. The highest bar in this guide, starting on the 60th floor of Grand Hyatt Manila. It brings a grill, a whisky bar, a speakeasy and a music lounge together at the top of the tower, all looking over BGC and Makati. Come for the view at dusk and stay on in the music lounge. 60/F Grand Hyatt Manila, 8th Avenue corner 35th Street, BGC. Music lounge Tuesday to Thursday 5pm to 12:30am, Friday and Saturday 5pm to 1:30am; grill daily 5:30pm to 11pm. Book through TableCheck or call +632 8838 1234. Good to know: smart casual is required. No rubber slippers, and shorts only if they are bermuda-style. Bar entry is for guests 18 and over.

Straight Up, Seda BGC. The dependable choice for after-work drinks in BGC. It sits on the 22nd floor of Seda BGC, with an indoor lounge and an outdoor terrace, live music and a happy hour. 22/F Seda BGC, 30th Street corner 11th Avenue. Sunday to Thursday 4pm to 12am, Friday and Saturday 4pm to 2am. Tip: it opens at 4pm, earlier than most, so you can get a terrace seat before the sunset crowd arrives.

Staying in BGC after? Our BGC neighbourhood page has dinner ideas nearby.

Makati Central Business District

Mistral Rooftop Bar, Raffles Makati. Only ten floors up, so the towers around you feel close, more like the walls of a room than a map. That is the charm. It is the most polished sunset drink in Makati, with guest DJs from Thursday to Saturday, 8pm to 11pm. 10/F Raffles Makati, 1 Raffles Drive, Makati Avenue. Sunday to Wednesday 5pm to 12am, Thursday to Saturday 5pm to 1am. Golden Apéro happy hour daily 5pm to 7pm. Reservations: +63 2 8555 9840 or dining.makati@raffles.com. Good to know: no minors are allowed, and smart casual is recommended. Book ahead for Thursday to Saturday.

The Penthouse 8747. An Art Deco lounge on Paseo de Roxas, open since 2016, looking down on Ayala Triangle Gardens and the Makati business district. It feels more like a supper club than a hotel bar, with a full menu of small plates, pizzas and steaks. 8747 Paseo de Roxas, Makati. Tuesday to Sunday 4pm to 2am, closed Monday. Tip: a good choice when you want dinner and drinks with the view in one place, and an easy walk from Ayala Triangle if you have been at the Ayala Museum or the gardens.

Poblacion and the Makati Avenue end

Poblacion has the most rooftops in the city, from a high hotel deck to a hostel party roof. See our Poblacion page for the street-level bars below them.

Antidote, I'M Hotel. The rooftop bar of I'M Hotel on Makati Avenue, best known for its glowing jellyfish tank behind the bar and a wide view of the Makati skyline. It runs late, and the space can hold up to 300 people for events, so it handles groups well. Roof deck, I'M Hotel, 7862 Makati Avenue. Daily 5pm to 3am. Good to know: it welcomes non-hotel guests, and the dress code is smart casual.

Firefly Roofdeck, City Garden Grand Hotel. On the 32nd floor at the corner of Makati Avenue and Kalayaan, and run by the hotel as an all-weather venue. It is a restaurant as much as a bar and opens early, so you can come for a late lunch and stay through sunset. Live music plays on select nights. 32/F City Garden Grand Hotel, 8008 Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan. Daily 7am to 2am. Walk-ins are encouraged. Tip: because it is built for all weather, a passing shower is less likely to end your evening here than on a fully open deck.

Z Hostel Roofdeck. The most casual rooftop on this list and the most social. It sits above a hostel on Don Pedro Street, with a bar and a DJ deck that hosts local and international artists. Weeknights are relaxed; weekends turn into a rooftop party. 5660 Don Pedro Street, Poblacion. Happy hour Monday to Thursday 5pm to 8pm. Skip if: you want a quiet drink on a Friday or Saturday night. Go on a weekday instead. The 6pm Sunset Session is for hostel guests, so if you are not staying, ask at the front desk before heading up.

Dr. Wine Rooftop. The roof above Dr. Wine's French bistro on Algier Street, Poblacion. It is low and leafy rather than high, built for wine and conversation, with a list of more than 400 bottles downstairs to draw from. 5921 Algier Street, Poblacion. Tip: the whole rooftop can be booked for private events, so call ahead on weekends to make sure it is open to walk-ins.

Worth the drive: Manila Bay, Intramuros and Ortigas

These three are outside the BGC and Makati core. From either, allow 45 minutes to an hour in evening traffic, and leave by 4:30pm if the sunset is the point.

Encaramada Rooftop Bar, TRYP by Wyndham Mall of Asia. An 18th-floor poolside lounge with open views of Manila Bay, serving sunset drinks and snacks from Milagritos, the hotel restaurant. This is the straightest view of the bay sunset on the list. 18/F TRYP by Wyndham Mall of Asia Manila, Seaside Boulevard corner J.W. Diokno Boulevard, Pasay. Tip: published opening times differ between sources, so call the hotel to confirm before you make the drive, and ask for a table on the bay side. Pair it with a walk or dinner around Pasay and Mall of Asia.

Sky Deck View Bar, The Bayleaf Intramuros. The only rooftop here that puts the old walled city under your feet, with the Intramuros golf course below and Manila Bay toward the west. It runs in two seatings each evening. Rooftop, The Bayleaf Intramuros, Muralla Street corner Victoria Street, Manila. First seating 4pm to 7pm, second seating 7pm to 11pm. Reservations recommended. Tip: book the first seating for the sunset. Make an afternoon of it with our culture guides.

Vu's Sky Bar and Lounge, Marco Polo Ortigas. On the 45th floor of Marco Polo Ortigas, with live entertainment and a DJ. It is the best high view on the east side of the city, looking back toward Makati and BGC. 45/F Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Meralco Avenue corner Sapphire Street, Pasig. Monday to Saturday 5pm to 1am, closed Sunday. Tip: a natural choice if you live or work around Ortigas or Kapitolyo and do not want to cross EDSA, the city's main ring road, at rush hour.

Before you go

• Sunset time. Manila sunset falls between about 5:30pm (December) and 6:30pm (June). In October it is a little before 6pm. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to get a railing seat.
• Book for Thursday to Saturday. Hotel rooftops fill on DJ nights. Weekdays are calmer and walk-ins are usually fine.
• Dress code. Hotel bars expect smart casual: closed shoes or smart sandals, no rubber slippers, no gym wear. The Peak is the strictest. Hostel and bistro roofs are relaxed.
• Rain and typhoons. The wet season runs roughly June to November. Open decks can close during heavy rain or when a storm signal is raised. Part-indoor rooms such as The Peak, Straight Up and Vu's, or the all-weather Firefly, are safer bets, but call before you leave on a stormy day.
• Age. The Peak (18 and over) and Mistral (no minors) do not admit children to the bar.
• Getting there. Book a car to the hotel lobby. Most hotels have valet or basement parking, and you will avoid the evening search for a space.
• Payment. Hotel bars usually add a service charge to the bill. Bring a card, and confirm payment options at smaller places.

Questions people ask

What is the highest rooftop bar in Manila?

Of the bars in this guide, The Peak at Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC is the highest, starting on the 60th floor. Vu's Sky Bar at Marco Polo Ortigas, on the 45th floor, is the high option on the east side of the city.

Where can I watch the Manila Bay sunset from a rooftop?

Encaramada Rooftop Bar at TRYP by Wyndham Mall of Asia looks over the bay from the 18th floor. Sky Deck View Bar at The Bayleaf Intramuros also looks west toward the bay, with the old walled city below; book its 4pm to 7pm seating.

Are there rooftop bars in BGC?

Yes. The Peak (60th floor, Grand Hyatt Manila) and Straight Up (22nd floor, Seda BGC) are the two to know. Both mix indoor seating with a terrace or view lounge rather than a fully open roof.

What should I wear to a rooftop bar in Manila?

Smart casual works almost everywhere: a collared shirt or neat top, trousers, a dress or smart shorts, and closed shoes or smart sandals. The Peak does not allow rubber slippers and only allows bermuda-style shorts. Hostel roofs like Z Hostel are much more relaxed.

Do I need a reservation for a rooftop bar in Manila?

For sunset on Thursday to Saturday, it is wise, especially at The Peak, Mistral and Sky Deck, which recommends reservations. Firefly Roofdeck encourages walk-ins. If the weather looks bad, call first, because open decks can close in heavy rain.

For a quieter drink when the rain comes in, see our guide to Manila's listening bars, and for this month's parties, Halloween in Manila 2026.