The best rooftops in Istanbul

The Loti Roof Lounge sits at height, serving cocktails and drinks in an open-air setting with an outdoor terrace overlooking the city. This rooftop is part of Istanbul's selection of elevated venues that let you see the city from a perspective you rarely get elsewhere. From here, you can look out over the Bosphorus, which divides two continents, and take in the domes and minarets that shape the skyline.

The 16 Roof sits at the top of Swissôtel The Bosphorus and serves as a dining and bar area with views across the city. From this terrace, you can see the Bosphorus dividing two continents, along with the domes and minarets that shape the skyline. The venue offers drinks and light food in a modern setting, giving you the chance to watch Istanbul from above and understand the city from an uncommon vantage point.

The 360 is an elevated beverage venue with a circular design that offers a complete view of Istanbul. From this place, you can see the city from above while taking in the Bosphorus, the domes and minarets that define the skyline, and the urban landscape stretching in all directions. The bar serves cocktails and provides the kind of vantage point that few places in the city can match. It is a location to experience Istanbul from a rare angle and to understand how this large city works.

5.Kat sits on the top floor of a building in Istanbul and fits into the collection of the city's best rooftops. From here you can look out at the roofs spreading toward the horizon and see the minarets and domes that shape the skyline. The venue serves cocktails and alcoholic beverages along with quick meals, offering a place to relax and watch urban life from above.

Balkon Restaurant and Bar is one of Istanbul's rooftop destinations featured in this collection of elevated dining spots. From here, you look out over the city's roofs, the domes and minarets that shape the skyline, and the Bosphorus beyond. The restaurant serves food made with local ingredients and cocktails in a setting where attentive staff help you settle in. It's a place to watch how the city moves from above.

Mikla is a fine dining restaurant at the top of a building in Istanbul. From here you can enjoy contemporary Turkish cuisine made with local ingredients while looking out at the Bosphorus. The restaurant fits perfectly into the collection of Istanbul's best rooftops because it lets you see the city from above while savoring excellent food.

Serica Restaurant occupies the upper floors of a building and offers refined cuisine with views over the old city and nearby mosques. From the outdoor terrace, you can see the domes and minarets that shape the skyline, as well as the Bosphorus separating the two continents. The restaurant serves modern dishes made with local ingredients and is run with attentive service. It's a place to experience Istanbul from above and understand how this large city works from this special vantage point.

Seven Hills Restaurant is one of Istanbul's rooftop dining spots offering views directly onto Hagia Sophia from its open-air terrace. As part of the city's rooftop scene, it gives you a rare vantage point to watch the Bosphorus, the domes and minarets that define the skyline, and the urban landscape stretching below. Whether you come for a meal or a drink, this restaurant lets you observe Istanbul from above and understand how the city moves and breathes.

Simone at Ruz Hotels is a rooftop bar in this collection of terraces that lets you see Istanbul from above. From here, you can view the city and its historical buildings. The restaurant serves creative cocktails and light dishes. You can enjoy the view of Istanbul while you eat or drink.

Spago Istanbul is a gastronomic restaurant by chef Wolfgang Puck that focuses on modern Californian cuisine. From its terrace, you can watch the Bosphorus and the city. This restaurant fits perfectly into the collection of top rooftops in Istanbul, where you experience the city from an uncommon perspective. Here, high-quality food combines with refined cocktails and views of the domes, minarets, and roofs of the city stretching to the horizon.

The terrace at Georges Hotel Galata gives you a spot to watch the city from above. From here, you see the roofs of the historic Galata district and look out across Istanbul. The hotel serves drinks and light food in a relaxed setting. This place fits well within the collection of Istanbul's best rooftops, where you can experience the city from an unusual angle.

The Bank Roof Bar sits in the upper floors of a former financial institution and represents the kind of rooftop venue that makes Istanbul special. From this terrace, you can watch the Bosphorus dividing two continents and take in the city's skyline with its domes and minarets. The bar serves signature cocktails and tapas within preserved architectural spaces that blend history with contemporary hospitality. It gives you a chance to see Istanbul from above and understand how the city works by observing its streets and landmarks from this elevated vantage point.

The Roof at The Ritz-Carlton is one of Istanbul's rooftop destinations where you experience the city from above. From this upper-floor location of a luxury hotel, you can see the Bosphorus that divides two continents, the domes and minarets that shape the skyline, and the roofs extending toward the horizon. This venue focuses on fine cocktails and attentive service. Here you watch urban life unfold below and gain a different understanding of how this large city works.

Vogue offers a modern venue from its elevated location where you can see Istanbul from an angle few rooftops provide. This rooftop bar combines inventive cocktails with views of the Bosphorus and the city's distinctive profile marked by domes and minarets. Vogue is an excellent place to enjoy a carefully made drink or watch urban life unfold below from above, especially in the evening hours when the city takes on a different quality. Its proximity to Galata Tower and Taksim means you experience Istanbul's energy from a special vantage point.

Banyan Restaurant is one of the rooftops in this collection that offers a rare view of Istanbul from above. The restaurant focuses on modern Asian cuisine and sits near the strait, where you can see the mosques and Ottoman palaces surrounding it. From this terrace, you experience the city from an angle most visitors never get to see, watching how the architecture and life of Istanbul unfolds beneath you.

Sunset Grill & Bar sits on a hill in a residential neighborhood with views over the Bosphorus shores. This restaurant and bar serves international cuisine from a terrace where you can watch the city from above. It fits naturally into the collection of top rooftop spots in Istanbul, giving you a chance to see the city from an uncommon angle and understand how it works by observing from this special vantage point.

The Alexandra Cocktail Bar offers a view of Istanbul from above that few places provide. This bar specializes in craft cocktails and serves a selection of international and local spirits with professional service. From this rooftop, you can see the Bosphorus that separates two continents and the domes and minarets that define the city's skyline. The location sits in Arnavutköy, a historic neighborhood, and gives you a chance to watch the city from this special vantage point while enjoying a drink.

Leb-i Derya is a rooftop terrace in Beyoğlu offering wide views over Istanbul's rooftops. This location is part of Istanbul's selection of rooftop bars where you can see the city from a rare angle. From here, you can admire the Bosphorus, the domes and minarets that shape the cityscape, and the roofs stretching toward the horizon. The venue serves modern cocktails and Mediterranean cuisine in a contemporary setting.

Ulus 29 is a fine dining restaurant with an outdoor terrace in the Ulus district. From this rooftop, you can watch the Bosphorus while enjoying refined dishes and selecting from a carefully chosen wine list. The restaurant fits perfectly into Istanbul's rooftop scene, giving you a chance to see the city from above and observe how the water separates the two continents.