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"Rooftop Bars Worth a Visit\\nWhether you&amp;#39;re looking out at a glittering skyline, a sandy beach or even a gritty neighborhood ... there is something about a rooftop bar that makes the cocktail hour that much more enjoyable. These are 10 of the country&amp;#39;s best.\\nThis bar/lounge on the 15th floor of the mod [Nines Hotel](http://www.thenines.com) in downtown Portland's landmark Meier &amp; Frank Building has been called a \\\"nest of cool.\\\" Wear your summer stripes: the d\u00E9cor has a maritime theme including a teak-planted deck, sailcloth panels and nautical maps. The cocktail list is varied\u2014Oregon Pinot Gris alongside Ninsaki Otis stout. The modern Izakaya-style kitchen serves up pork buns and kobe meatballs which you can enjoy while taking in the view of Portland's funky cityscape and the always regal Mount Hood in the background.\\nThis rooftop pool bar at the [W Hotel](http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/dining/attraction_detail.html?propertyID=3279&amp;attractionId=1004250496) offers sweeping views of the White House, the Treasury Building, both the Washington and Lincoln monuments *and* the National Mall from its velveteen banquettes and high-backed wicker lounges. The bar has become a power hangout since opening in 2010 and is further proof that the capital has definitely upped its cool quotient. Classic but pricey cocktails, like the mint juleps and dark n' stormy, which start at $14, will appeal to both sides of the aisle.\\nThis Asian-inspired [rooftop bar](http://www.peninsula.com/Chicago/en/Dining/Shanghai_Terrace/default.aspx) is the perfect Zen antidote to the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago. Designers had the Windy City in mind when they lined the private cabanas with long red curtains that billow dramatically when the nightly breezes catch them. Sip ginger juleps and lychee sake martinis while you take in landmarks\u2014including the Water Tower and John Hancock Building\u2014along the city's Magnificent Mile.\\nAngelenos have plenty of \\\"urban\\\" rooftop bars to choose from including those at the Roosevelt, Mondrian and Standard hotels; but rooftop bars by the beach are surprisingly rare. Perched atop Venice Beach's Hotel Erwin, [High](http://www.hotelerwin.com/) offers postcard views of the Pacific Ocean, plus a much more relaxed SoCal experience. Blankets dot every banquette since it can get nippy by the beach at dusk. Drinks\u2014ranging from a Tahitian lager (Hinano) to a passion fruit mojito or spiced rum float\u2014help ward off the fog and chill.\\nEven the bathrooms have extraordinary views at this [super-cool '70s den](http://www.jimmysoho.com/) crowning SoHo's eco-chic James Hotel. From the chaises ringing the teak-decked pool, lap up the 360-degree panoramic vista of Manhattan, including the Woolworth Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. The people-watching isn't bad either. Handcrafted cocktails are as well conceived as the d\u00E9cor. The Mexican Bee Hive is made with single-barrel tequila, lavender syrup and a chunk of honeycomb. Small plates from in-house restaurant David Burke tout lobster and fennel dumplings and pretzel crab cakes. Bring a date\u2026the vibe is surprisingly romantic.\\nSometimes you need a little distance. To truly admire the Manhattan skyline, for instance. Upper Elm, which lolls high above the King and Grove boutique hotel in Williamsburg, offers up some of the best views of the city. Plus, it ups the rooftop bar ante by providing a salt-water swimming pool. Rock star mixologist Johnny Swet concocts drinks like the McCarren Spritzer (Rose, St. Germain, grapefruit juice) and Fresca de Sandia (Blue Agave Silver tequila, fresh watermelon and cilantro). Check [the website](http://www.kingandgrove.com/NYC-Hotels/Hotel-Williamsburg) for live music and guest D.J. schedules.\\nThis bar, also known simply as Press, may be in the heart of Hell's Kitchen, but you'll feel like you're in high heaven sitting in one of their cool pod armchairs looking out at the Hudson River to the west and the midtown skyline to the east. If neither of these views from the 16th floor appeals, you can always gaze at the long and narrow reflecting pool. Perched atop the Ink48 Hotel, the [Press Lounge](http://www.ink48.com)'s sprawling deck can seat over 170 people. At sunset, it's the perfect place to unwind with a cocktail and salumi\u2014post-deadline.\\nROOF is almost as wide as it is high. Perched 27 stories above the Loop, [the lounge](http://thewithotel.com/experience/roof/) spans 7,000 square feet with views\u2014from the Bean at Millennium Park and the Chicago River to the belly of many of the city's architectural gems\u2014to match. Add stretch fire pits lined with bar stools, a cool projection screen on an outdoor wall, and a telescope for peeking into surrounding buildings, and you'll see why this place has no problem filling up. A table called The Hangover hangs literally over the edge.\\nThough only four stories high, [Float's](http://hardrockhotelsd.com/dining-&amp;-nightlife/float) wide-open poolside lounge offers panoramic views of San Diego's cityscape, the Gaslamp Quarter in particular. Sophisticated urban oasis by day, at night Float morphs into an open air lounge with rotating D.J.s, fire pits, private cabanas with flat screen TVs and lounge seating. The cabanas may be reserved in advance so grab some friends, and if you're able to splurge, have dinner at Nobu downstairs and make a night of it. Be forewarned\u2014from April through September, FLOAT hosts \\\"Intervention\\\"\u2014a raucous Sunday night pool party.\\nIn the heart of the city's edgy Tenderloin, [Jones](http://620-jones.com/) offers a forested, open-air after-hours sanctuary for local office workers. You have to go through steel gates and down a long corridor to get to the roof deck, which was strategically positioned to block winds licking the Bay. Of course, they couldn't do anything about the summer fog, so dress accordingly. Drinks like the Breakfast Martini (fresh orange marmalade, egg white and Plymouth gin paired with orange liqueur) or The Front Porch (Nolet's gin, house-made rosemary syrup, freshly squeezed lemon juice and cinnamon) keep this place hopping, fog be damned."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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