The 6 Best Rooftop Bars in Israel (2026)

Updated August 2026 · 6 picks

The best rooftop bars in Israel in 2026 are the Mamilla Hotel Rooftop and the Notre Dame terrace in Jerusalem for Old City views, and the Poli House and Setai rooftops in Tel Aviv for the sea. Israel's climate makes rooftops usable for most of the year, and almost all of the good ones sit on hotels. Six worth the lift ride, below.

1. Mamilla Hotel Rooftop — Mamilla, Jerusalem

The classic Jerusalem rooftop — Old City walls, Tower of David, sunset.

₪₪₪₪ SplurgeBest for Couples · Groups

The Mamilla Hotel's rooftop restaurant and bar looks straight across at the Old City walls and the Tower of David, which is about as good as a view in Israel gets.

It is open to non-guests, serves a full food menu as well as drinks, and works equally as a sunset drink or a full dinner.

It is one of the most-photographed spots in Jerusalem, so it is neither a secret nor cheap. It is still worth doing once.

Good to know: Book for about 45 minutes before sunset — the light on the walls is the reason you are there.

Google Maps Website

2. Notre Dame Rooftop — Opposite the New Gate, Jerusalem

Wine and cheese on a terrace facing the Old City, for a fraction of the hotel prices.

₪₪₪ UpmarketBest for Couples · Solo

The Notre Dame Center, the Vatican-owned guesthouse opposite the New Gate, runs a rooftop wine and cheese terrace that looks directly onto the Old City walls.

It is calmer, cheaper and considerably less styled than the Mamilla rooftop, and many people prefer it for exactly those reasons.

The cheese comes from its own selection and the wine list covers Israeli producers properly.

Good to know: Seasonal opening hours — check before making the walk, particularly outside summer.

Google Maps Website

3. The Poli House Rooftop — Nahalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv

A rooftop pool bar in a Bauhaus landmark, right by the Carmel Market.

₪₪₪ UpmarketBest for Couples · Groups

The Poli House sits in a curved Bauhaus building at the top of Nahalat Binyamin, and its rooftop — pool, bar, loungers, city views — is the best-known hotel roof in central Tel Aviv.

The bar is open to non-guests even where the pool is not, and the position above the Carmel Market means you look out over the low Bauhaus roofs rather than at other towers.

It gets busy from late afternoon in summer.

Good to know: Check the current pool policy at reception; bar access and pool access are not always the same thing.

Google Maps Website

4. The Setai Tel Aviv Rooftop — Jaffa, by the port

The most polished rooftop in the country, over a converted Ottoman prison in Jaffa.

₪₪₪₪ SplurgeBest for Couples

The Setai occupies a restored Ottoman-era building in Jaffa, and its rooftop looks north along the Tel Aviv coastline — the postcard view of the city skyline from the Jaffa side.

It is the expensive, well-dressed end of this category, with the service and the prices to match.

Best at sunset, when the light hits the towers up the coast and the whole reason for the location becomes obvious.

Good to know: Combine it with a walk through the Jaffa flea market beforehand — it is five minutes away and free.

Google Maps Website

5. Brown Hotels rooftops — Several locations, Tel Aviv

A small group of hotel roofs across the city, all open to the public and all reliable.

₪₪₪ UpmarketBest for Couples · Groups

Brown Hotels runs several small design hotels around central Tel Aviv and Jaffa, most with a rooftop bar or terrace, and most open to non-guests.

None has the single best view in the city, but collectively they are the easiest way to find a good rooftop within a ten-minute walk of wherever you are staying.

Prices sit a notch below the Setai and the big seafront hotels.

Good to know: The Brown properties differ a lot — check which specific rooftop you are heading to rather than the brand.

Google Maps Website

6. Bat Galim and Carmel rooftops, Haifa — Carmel Center and the German Colony, Haifa

The best-value rooftop views in Israel, looking down the Baha'i Gardens to the bay.

₪₪ Mid-rangeBest for Couples · Groups

Haifa is built up a mountain, which means the city gives away for free what other cities charge for: a rooftop or terrace bar in the Carmel Center or the German Colony looks down the Baha'i Gardens and across the whole bay to Akko.

The bars themselves are informal neighbourhood places rather than hotel roofs, and prices are well below Tel Aviv's.

It is the least glamorous entry here and arguably the best view.

Good to know: Aim for the Louis Promenade at dusk first, then walk down to the German Colony for a drink.

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Do you need to be a hotel guest to use a rooftop bar in Israel?

For the bars, generally no — most hotel rooftop bars are open to the public and simply ask you to come up through the lobby. Rooftop pools are usually guests-only, and that is the distinction to check when a rooftop has both.

When is rooftop season in Israel?

Roughly March to November. July and August are hot and humid enough on the coast that the rooftops only really work after sunset. Jerusalem, being higher and drier, is comfortable on a rooftop later into the evening and further into the shoulder seasons.

How expensive are rooftop bars?

Expect ₪55–₪85 for a cocktail and ₪35–₪50 for a beer at the hotel rooftops — a clear premium over street level. Many run a happy hour in the early evening, which is also when the light is best, so going early is both cheaper and better.

Do rooftop bars need reservations?

For a Thursday or Friday sunset in Tel Aviv, yes — the good ones fill and several take bookings. Jerusalem is easier except on Saturday nights. Weekday evenings are walk-in everywhere on this list.

Is there a dress code?

Israel is informal and Tel Aviv especially so; smart-casual covers everything here and nobody will turn you away for sandals. The hotel rooftops in Jerusalem skew slightly more dressed-up, but only slightly.

Which rooftop has the best view in Israel?

For sheer subject matter, the Notre Dame terrace and the Mamilla rooftop in Jerusalem, both looking directly at the Old City walls. For sunset, the Tel Aviv and Jaffa rooftops facing the Mediterranean. They are different pleasures and both worth doing.

1. Mamilla Hotel Rooftop — Mamilla, Jerusalem

2. Notre Dame Rooftop — Opposite the New Gate, Jerusalem

3. The Poli House Rooftop — Nahalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv

4. The Setai Tel Aviv Rooftop — Jaffa, by the port

5. Brown Hotels rooftops — Several locations, Tel Aviv

6. Bat Galim and Carmel rooftops, Haifa — Carmel Center and the German Colony, Haifa

Frequently asked questions

Related lists

The 5 Best Sushi Restaurants in Israel (2026)

The 6 Best Steakhouses in Israel (2026)

The 7 Best Shopping Malls in Israel (2026)

The 5 Best Shawarma in Israel (2026)

The 7 Best Markets & Shuks in Israel (2026)