The World's Best Hotel Rooftop Pools by The TI Review Team
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Hotel rooftop pools are one of the most glamorous perks of a luxury city break. From the sun-kissed shores of Cannes to the spectacular skylines of Hong Kong, they provide a glittering haven a world away from the hectic, often gridlocked streets below. If you want to step out of life in the fast lane, you’ll find the perfect afternoon’s escape up here – and when the sun sets, sit up at the invariably chic poolside lounge and watch a million-dollar view light up all around you.
Even the grittiest cities can boast of owning a beguilingly beautiful rooftop pool – London included. Here are six of the best hotel rooftop pools in which to take a sky-high dip as nominated by our network of travel writers...
The Peninsula Beverley Hills, Los Angeles – Nominated by Daniel Scott
Although I’d give an honourable mention for best design to Melbourne’s Adelphi Hotel pool, with glass encased-section jutting out over the street, my favourite rooftop pool is at the Peninsula, Beverley Hills.
You’ll never feel more like Hollywood royalty than when hanging out in a poolside cabana here. You can have an intimate lunch with your producer, get your agent on the cordless phone or sit back with a glass of Krug and watch your favourite soap (starring you, darling) on the flatscreen TV.
The 60ft by 20ft pool is large and cool enough to accommodate both titanic personalities and the swimming of laps and there’s room in the Jacuzzi for several groupies. As the sun fades and the lights come up on Beverly Hills, there is no hotel pool in the world to match the starry ambience here.
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3.14, Cannes – Nominated by Rowena Carr-Allinson
Entering the hotel 3.14 is a little like being let into a fairytale. Never mind Alice in Wonderland, this quirky boutique designer hotel, just beyond Cannes’ seafront is a warren of eccentric delights, complete with kitsch but funky dwarves. Each unique room its own world: from candy coloured pop to Moulin Rouge boudoir or 1001 Nights.
But there’s no doubt that the icing on this cake is the rooftop pool with its views over the twinkling Mediterranean, cool sun loungers and smattering of exotic plants. A haven of peace away from the crowds, but close enough to breathe in the excitement of the legendary Croisette, it’s the perfect escape without leaving! For those who really want to indulge there’s even a tiny ‘cocoon’ spa with hammam and Jacuzzi on hand.
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Radisson Blu Es, Rome – Nominated by Matt Morley
Every hotel rooftop pool needs a decent dose of drama if it’s to offer anything beyond the everyday bathing experience. Rome’s Radisson Blu Es is a beacon of contemporary design in a city still dominated by its lengthy history. The hotel’s ultra-slick rooftop pool area is a favourite of fashion and film shoots alike due to its clean lines and ancient ruin backdrop… and therein lies the enduring appeal of this particular belvedere.
Order an artfully presented cocktail or a chilled bottle of Frascati from Zest bar, also on the top floor, dip your toes in the pool and imbibe the contrasts between old and new, ancient and modern that epitomise 21st-century Rome.
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The Berkeley, London – Nominated by Kamin Mohamaddi
One of the loveliest luxury hotels in London also has one of its loveliest pools, set high up in the hotel and conjuring up visions of decadent rock and roll parties. The pool is surrounded by a colonnaded terrace set with sun loungers, reminiscent of Roman baths, and there is a special ceiling which opens up in fine weather so you can swim and soak up the sun while looking out over stunning views of Knightsbridge and the trees, gardens and lakes of Hyde Park.
Given this is London, the ceiling has a specially designed rolling action that closes at the first slight chill.
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Hotel Gansevoort, New York – Nominated by Chloe Govan
New York might be a "concrete jungle" in the words of Alicia Keys, but at the heart of any good city are a few peaceful sanctuaries. Nestling under the urban excess, the Gansevoort is no exception. Justifiably it prides itself on its rooftop pool – after all, how many others boast an underwater sound system? Sunsets here are blissful and while the concrete jungle is certainly present and correct, the serenity within offers an endearing contrast.
But it's New York's Meatpacking District that's really worth seeing. Once full of dungeons, slaughterhouses and street crime, the area has seen an unprecedented turn-around, aided by the arrival of Louboutin, Moschino and the late McQueen. That means you'll be sharing the accompanying rooftop bar, Plunge, with only the most fashionable of New York's elite.
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The Four Seasons Hong Kong – Nominated by Caroline Major
With a view over one of the world’s most swooned-over harbours, the pools topping this hotel have set the Hong Kong standard for years. Lined with dark, natural stone laid into a white stone deck studded with tropical greens, this is a scene from a glossy fashion editorial. Wear your best bikini after a skin buff and pedicure in one of the spa suites which look out over this fabulous pool deck.
Set lower into the side of the hotel, below the lap-pool, a series of whirlpools and hot and cold plunges offer niches of privacy and are an ideal way to watch the sun go down over the harbour and the skyline light up with the neon light show that is Hong Kong. Spa cuisine served with champagne is par for course.
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Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and stretch out beside a pool on top of the world? Check out our full collection of hotels with pools.