11 Of The Most Spectacular Rooftop Pools

Where city meets sea and mountains, the Catalan outpost of the sleek and soaring Nobu hotel towers above the charming district of Eixample. The zip code is well connected to get around the city, but the best location of all is 23 floors up, around the highest rooftop pool in Barcelona – beautifully tiled and decked, and surrounded with stylish loungers and daybeds.

Infinity pools are found in abundance at the Regent Phu Quoc, with many of the villa pools seeming to merge into the lagoon at the center of the resort. However, for the best views, the Health Club and exclusive beachfront Regent Club both boast rooftop infinities that overlook the majesty of Phu Quoc Island’s western coast.

Although not strictly a rooftop pool, an exception deserves to be made for Belmond Hotel Caruso’s cloud-skimming, cliffside infinity hotspot carved into the highest point above the town of Ravello, delivering striking views of the Amalfi Coast. It’s almost impossible to tire of the surrounding vistas but, should you need a further nudge towards decadent downtime, a concierge is also on hand to provide a Kindle loaded with reading material – as well as an array of quintessential Amalfi refreshments, of course.

Despite the city being blessed with such a storied skyline, rooftop pools in Paris are relatively few and far between. However, at one of its most magnificent hotels, Le Bristol Paris, a climb to the sixth floor reveals a remarkable pool. Boasting a 1980s nautical design courtesy of Professor Pinau (architect of Aristotle Onassis’ yacht), the space is bathed in sunlight, and overlooks the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur.

Soho House is known for its rooftop pools, with each outpost offering a slight variation on its signature aesthetic of retro-style loungers lining a centerpiece pool. Soho House Rome is no exception. Situated on the 10th floor, its pool offers panoramic views of the ancient city and is accompanied by striped-olive daybeds, scalloped parasols and deep-red pool tiles.

The rooftop pool at this beloved South Beach institution is a feat of architectural imagination, seemingly floating mid-air like a bridge across the linked buildings that make up this art deco hotel on the beach. With its traditional clapboard-and-shutters design, honeypot buzz and intimate vibe, The Betsy feels both like a retreat and a hub. The pool, strung with bistro lights, taps into the unique glamour of Ocean Drive, with sweeping 360-degree views of the downtown skyline, great cocktails and a varied menu. And, on the adjacent Ocean Front Deck, the spa offers holistic treatments in private cabanas.

With its driftwood design and textured glamour, 1 Hotel is among Brooklyn’s hippest stays – and that’s before you reach the plunge pool with views stretching over the East River and Manhattan’s glittering skyline. The Dumbo ferry terminal is beside the hotel’s main doors if you want to make a grand entrance by private yacht; either way, it’s good to remind yourself that Manhattan is an urban jungle built around water. There is invariably a pool party happening on the roof – legendary events that attract hotel and non-hotel guests alike – with a Bamford spa offering feel-good eco treatments to detox the morning after.

There is much to marvel at when staying at Aman Tokyo, an urban sanctuary high above the city’s Otemachi district. Not least is its expansive spa, where treatments and therapies are based around Japanese natural ingredients and philosophies; there are vast hot baths, multiple steam rooms and a world-class fitness center. But the standout feature is the 30-meter pool with dramatic views stretching across the capital, surrounded by sleek daybeds – the most serene spot from which to take in the skyline.

Soaring above the V&A Waterfront of Cape Town, occupying six floors above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, the geometric glass-fronted structure of The Silo is a sight to behold. But then, so are the breathtaking sights you can take in from the hotel’s high-up, outdoor swimming pool, which cascades with views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, the harbor, the ocean and the city itself.

The design-led Memmo Alfama hotel is set in the heart of Lisbon, in the revamped building of a former shoe-polish factory. Taking inspiration from the traditional red roofs of Alfama, its terraced pool is bold and distinctive, lined with iridescent red tiles. There couldn’t be a more stylish vantage point from which to look out over the River Tagus.

The jewel in Hôtel des Arts’ crown is its stunning Social Club bar and pool. Officially Saigon’s highest rooftop infinity pool, it is an incomparable spot from which to enjoy an incredible vista of the city skyline, accompanied by an indulgent cocktail.

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