The nicest roof terraces and rooftop bars in Amsterdam
Sun in the Netherlands! And so we go to the beach in droves, go to the water in the city or join a party the terraces where the sun shines longest. But there's one more thing you can do: take to the skies! On to the roof! And while Amsterdam may not be known for its rooftop galore, there are more attractive rooftop terraces in Amsterdam than you thought. And voila, a list of the nicest roof terraces in Amsterdam.
Orchid House in Amsterdam East has come up with something very creative for this summer: a beach on the roof. Yes, really. On the roof of Orchid House, you not only have a beautiful view of Oosterpark, but you can now also enjoy a drink with your feet in the sand, lounging in a beach chair or beanbag. A wonderful place to unwind after work and catch some sun with very summery vibes. vibesNo more hours in traffic jams and endless searching for a parking spot by the sea, but just dropping down right in the middle of Amsterdam East. The menu features pitchers of beer, cocktails, a selection of good wines and bites as skewer, bitterballen and oysters. And for the kids, there is a sweet lemonade to recover from playing. If you are looking for some extra fun (and even better prizes), then it is happy hour Nice from 17 to 18 pm.
East Beach opens on April 17 on the first floor of Orchid House.
You know those all-in-one places? Right, they added another one in North. Stretch & Fold is such resort of choice., and once again a truly unique one of that kind: Stretch & Fold is a yoga studio with a roof terrace. From there you have a view of the entire city, a swimming pool and sauna. Besides that, there is also a café where you can get a coffee or a bite to eat. Big target? Big shot.
More outdoor swimming in Amsterdam? 11x outdoor swimming pools in Amsterdam and the surrounding area.
In Amsterdam East, you’ll find LuminAir, The Bar Above Amsterdam. And that is exactly what it is: a bar with an incredible view of the city from Oosterdoksstraat 4, right next to Amsterdam Central Station. That’s right, on top of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Enter the hotel, take the elevator up, and there you have it: a beautiful bar clad in pastel shades where excellent cocktails are shaken and where it is simply a wonderful place to sit. And LuminAir was crowned the best hotel bar of 2025. Tip: try going before the rush, at the end of the workday, around 17 pm. As far as we’re concerned, that is the best meeting spot in the city. Later in the evening, the music gets louder – fun too!
Long before the Amsterdam Houthavens were going on Slash When they were (because that is now!), the red-and-white restaurant REM Eiland was already there, housed in a former broadcasting tower where, among others, the TROS broadcast commercial TV and radio programs from 1964 onwards. At the time, the tower was located off the coast of Noordwijk, but in 2011 it was brought to Amsterdam. Since then, you can go there for a good meal at the mega-super-awesome REM. And REM owes that acclaim mainly to its rooftop terrace: the best in Amsterdam if you ask us, certainly regarding the combination of comfortable seating, good food, great viewing, and just plain fun for everyone. One floor down, in the restaurant, it is also a damn good place to hang out these days. Highly recommended.
In addition to a fantastic restaurant (VanOost) and a very nice brasserie (Spring Café). Maurits at the Park (the super deluxe hotel) also has a very nice bar: Fitz's. And it just so happens that Fitz's also has a very small but lovely rooftop terrace. There isn't really a view (after all, you are on the third floor), but you sit among the red roof tiles and green treetops of Oosterpark, and this rooftop terrace is still relatively undiscovered. Impeccable cocktails, super friendly bartenders: just a really nice spot.
By far the most beautiful and international in the entire city is the rooftop terrace with a swimming pool of the Soho House in Amsterdam. Chic, cool and… Only for the happy few. Only Soho House members are allowed to enter, and you must 1) be asked to do so and 2) a yearfee for counting down. We count ourselves among the happy few, lucky us, but the photo here is from Conde Nast Traveler as it is also strictly forbidden to take photos on the roof terrace of the Soho House. That's a good rule, but that's not it. Upstairs, watching and being watched is already a priority here.
Would it be recommended to have such a membership? Yes, especially if you regularly stay in one of the cities where there is a Soho House branch (there are quite a few!): a perfect place for a drink and good food. No membership? The restaurant on the ground floor, Cecconi, is open to everyone.
On the impressive 24th floor of the nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel lies the very large, very colorful and very tasty Equatorial restaurant. That is sunny news, even when the weather is bad. You don't really sit outside at Selva (although there is a small outdoor terrace where smokers can go – though we would rather send them 24 floors down, or even better: throw away their pack of butts, but that is beside the point), but that is not a problem since you can look around 360 degrees, and inside it is always summer thanks to the colorful (and plant-filled!) decor. The same goes for the menu: Latin America is the order of the day, on your plate and in your glass. Summer, even in winter. We like.
Just like in the case of GAPP (see below), which can be found above the Casa hotel, the Floor 17 roof terrace is a surprise above a hotel in a remote corner of Amsterdam. Not in the East this time, but deep in the West, Floor 17 is part of the Leonardo Hotel, around the corner from the Rembrandt Park (a lovely park by the way, especially for those looking for an alternative to popular parks such as the Vondelpark, the Westerpark, the Sarphatipark and the Oosterpark).
Back to Floor 17 AmsterdamIf we could award a prize to the high-altitude hospitality venue that launches the most and most creative initiatives and events into the world, that prize would go to Floor 17. For instance, in the winter you can go ice skating or play a curling match on the rooftop terrace, while the summer months are mainly a time for partying and enjoying good food. They also organize a cool open-air movie night where, as it cools down, you can snuggle under a blanket and watch a fun film.
NEMO is and remains a fantastic tip for anyone who wants to entertain the kids and teach them something at the same time. Okay, it is only really fun from about four years old, but anyone with a very little one and a slightly older one to entertain will have a blast here. But anyway, this is about rooftop terraces, and NEMO has those too. You don't have to go inside the museum for that; just take the elevator on the side of the building and you'll be on a spacious rooftop terrace with a view of the water and all of Amsterdam. Not the sexiest rooftop terrace, but there is almost always a spot available, the drinks are affordable, and yes, there is that view.
To reach the hotel's (Casa) rooftop terrace (GAPP), you first have to walk through the restaurant EAST. And that is not bad at all. In fact, you might actually end up staying there. A sleek interior with light colors and handsome pastel shades. Great, fine, but the best thing about the postcode is and remains the roof terrace GAPPGAPP has reopened after a green makeover and is a top-notch alternative to the more well-known hotspots: a sweeping 360-degree view and an ode to the gap: genuine Amsterdam down-to-earthness, far above the hustle and bustle of the city. Beer and bitterballen here, high above the city. And that is beautiful, especially if you want to be sure of a nice spot in the sun when the majority of the terraces are packed. The name GAPP is a nod to the Amsterdam history of the place. It is a tribute to Gabbe Scheltema, one of the students who hotel house founded in the 50s based on a social ideal: affordable housing for students. The Amsterdam vibe has been extended to the menu, with a focus on local quality: beef sausage from Slagerij Woorts, pickles from Kesbeke, sourdough from Kometen Brood, and the 'Gabbe Wit', a white beer specially brewed by Oedipus.
Of course the Volkshotel people, always the Volkshotel, one of our absolute favorite addresses in the city. Not least because, when the sun sets, there is also something to party at the same address. Namely at Canvas on the seventh floor. Even when the sun is shining, there is usually a breeze here. The food is good, the drinks are the same and you will easily get a fresh hangover here.
A roof terrace where you cannot sit and dine, but is nice for a bit of a view of the city, is the top floor of A'DAM TowerIn the tower's restaurant, Moon, you can – naturally – sit down and enjoy the same breathtaking view (but you aren't sitting outside there). If you dare, of course, you can also step into the swing located on the rooftop terrace. You do have to pay to access this rooftop terrace, however (18,50 euros), and if you also dare to try the swing, it costs 24 euros.
It is definitely a cool rooftop terrace, but actually it can only be rented for events. nowadaysBut we approve of it, though! Because Bret Amsterdam, right (and I mean really right) next to Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station (nice and convenient), has 1) a really good terrace and 2) knows how to throw a great party.
