Rooftop Bars in Palm Springs: The Real Ones (and the Best Alternatives)
Palm Springs has very few true rooftops - here is what is actually elevated, and where else to drink with a mountain view
Palm Springs Spots Editors · Published Sep 10, 2026 · Updated Sep 10, 2026
Palm Springs is a low-rise town, so the rooftop list is short and often padded out with ground-level patios. This guide separates the venues that are genuinely on a roof from the open-air bars that give you the same San Jacinto view from the ground. Every business was checked against its own official website on September 11, 2026.
| Venue | Actually on a roof? | Area | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Bar | Yes - 7th-floor pool deck | Downtown | The classic downtown rooftop view |
| Azúcar at La Serena Villas | Yes - rooftop bar and restaurant | Historic Tennis Club | A quieter sunset for two |
| 4 Saints | Yes - top floor of Kimpton Rowan | Downtown | A rooftop dinner with reservations |
| Reforma | No - large ground-level patio | Downtown | Late-night open-air drinking |
| Melvyn's at Ingleside Estate | No - historic lounge | Historic Tennis Club | Old Palm Springs atmosphere |
| Las Palmas Brewing | No - beer patio | Downtown | Craft beer outdoors |
The true rooftops
High Bar at Kimpton Rowan
Seven storeys above downtown, this is the rooftop pool bar the hotel markets as the only one in the Village - and the view over Palm Canyon to the mountain wall backs that up. Access changes around private events and pool operations, so it is worth a call before you build an evening around it. The hotel does not publish bar hours on the page.
Azúcar at La Serena Villas
A smaller, quieter rooftop a few blocks west on Belardo Road, sitting directly beneath the mountain. It is a restaurant as much as a bar, and dinner service is published as 5-9pm Sunday to Thursday and 5-10pm Friday and Saturday. Better for two people at sunset than a large group.
4 Saints
The rooftop restaurant on the top floor of Kimpton Rowan, one level above High Bar. Reservation-led, full dinner menu, same view. Service nights change seasonally, so check the hotel site.
Sunset without a roof
Palm Springs mountain views are horizontal, not vertical - the San Jacinto wall rises straight off the valley floor, so a ground-level patio facing west often beats a low roof.
- Reforma on South Palm Canyon has a large open-air patio and is one of the few downtown venues that publishes its own hours and happy hour. It is not a rooftop, whatever you may have read.
- Melvyn's at Ingleside Estate trades the view for old Palm Springs atmosphere and a piano bar.
- Las Palmas Brewing has a downtown beer patio; Chill Bar has the busiest sidewalk patio in the Arenas District.
- Hotel pool bars are the real Palm Springs equivalent of a rooftop scene. The best hotel pools guide covers which ones admit non-guests, and the pool day pass guide explains how to buy in.
Timing and season
Sunset behind the mountain arrives earlier than the clock suggests, and the light on the rock face afterwards is the actual show - aim to be seated 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. Rooftops are pleasant from October through May; between June and September, plan for late evening only and expect reduced hours. The weather by month guide has the temperature ranges.
For the full drinking picture, see the best bars and cocktail bars guides.
FAQ
- How many rooftop bars does Palm Springs have?
- Two true rooftop bars: High Bar at Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs and Azúcar at La Serena Villas. 4 Saints, the rooftop restaurant above High Bar, is a third elevated option if you want a sit-down dinner.
- Is Reforma a rooftop bar?
- No. Reforma is a large restaurant and late-night bar on South Palm Canyon with an open-air patio at ground level. It is a good open-air option, but it is not elevated.
- Can non-guests drink at High Bar?
- It is a hotel rooftop pool bar, so access can be limited by pool operations and private events. Call Kimpton Rowan the same day if the rooftop is the point of your evening.
- What is the best time for a Palm Springs rooftop?
- Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. The sun drops behind San Jacinto early, and the best light hits the mountain face afterwards.
- Are rooftop bars open in summer?
- Some are, but expect late-evening-only service and reduced hours between June and September. Confirm before you go.
- What is a good alternative to a rooftop in Palm Springs?
- Hotel pool bars and west-facing patios. Because the mountains rise straight off the valley floor, a ground-level patio often gives you the same view as a low roof.
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