This is the very best rooftop bar in all of Europe

I’m already craving sizzling summer evenings at rooftop bars, cocktail in hand, dancing while watching the sun go down. Isn’t that ‘the life’?! Good news: Europe’s best rooftop bar is in a very lovely city. One where they practically invented sizzling summer evenings. Curious? I’ll tell you where to go.

Of course, tastes differ, but how do you know what really makes a good rooftop bar? If it has lots of 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. And if it’s hip, hot and happening on Instagram. In other words, if the rooftop bar is widely shared on social media. These were exactly the criteria for the study into the best rooftop bar (conducted by Mandoemedia – timeout.com). Which European bar has the most incredible view, the tastiest cocktails and the best service?

The best rooftop bar in Europe

That turns out to be Terraza La Isabela: the rooftop bar of the 1898 Hotel in Barcelona. The rooftop bar ranks 11th worldwide, but that spot guarantees it the title of ‘Best rooftop bar in Europe’. What makes Terraza La Isabela so outstanding? First of all—and crucial for a rooftop bar—the view. You can see Barcelona’s skyline and look straight out over Las Ramblas. Well, that’ll keep you entertained for an entire evening. Also entertaining: the swimming pool and live-band music. Is it raining? Then you can relax in the solarium, a romantic glass canopy.

Terraza La Isabela

I had a quick peek, and the menu at Terraza La Isabela is absolutely worth checking out too. Fresh grilled fish, grilled Iberico ham with chimichurri and veal entrecôte with Café de Paris sauce are just a few of the dishes on the menu, but that already sounds delicious. You also have plenty of choice when it comes to wines, cavas, champagne, spirits and cocktails. How much does it cost? Well, I honestly think it’s not too bad. Around € 7 for a glass of wine and € 16 for a dish. Pretty reasonable, right? Off to Barcelona, I’d say. The sizzling summer evenings are waiting for us!

The best in the world

Would you rather look farther—and higher—afield? As in: the number-one rooftop bar in the world? According to the study, you need to go to Kuala Lumpur, to Sky51. You’ll have to spend a little over 12 hours on a plane to get there, but then you’ll be drinking top-notch cocktails beneath the starry sky, with a view of the KL Tower. Bi-zarre.

If you’d rather stay closer to home: here in the Netherlands, we also have some damn good rooftop bars. These are the very best in Amsterdam, and we’ve collected a few gems in Rotterdam here. Even here in our little frog country, summer evenings can be damn sizzling. You just have to imagine the sun yourself every now and then.

Read also:

• 20x the best and most beautiful rooftop bars in the world
• Bartenders warn: ‘Don’t order these drinks!’
• Wine bar do’s and don’ts

Source and image: timeout.com and Facebook Hotel1898