Bournemouth is a gorgeous seaside town that attracts hosts of tourists every year without fail.
Given that it’s such a hotspot, it should come as no surprise to hear that there’s plenty to do in Bournemouth.
A lot of the best things to do here revolve around eating and drinking, so if that’s your kind of holiday, then Bournemouth is probably for you.
One thing that they have no shortage of in Bournemouth is rooftop bars.
While there certainly aren’t hundreds of rooftop bars in Bournemouth, there are enough, and the quality of rooftop bar is great, so you don’t need more in my opinion!
In this list, I’ve pulled together the very best rooftop bars in Bournemouth to give you a helping hand in choosing your favourite.
I know, I’m good aren’t I?
1. LEVEL8IGHT The Sky Bar
Address: Hilton Bournemouth, Terrace Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5EL
Phone number: 01202 200188
Say hello to one of my favourite rooftop bars in Bournemouth!
LEVEL8IGHT The Sky Bar is a stylish bar on the eighth floor of the Hilton Bournemouth, offering dramatic coastal views which aren’t to be missed.
As the highest bar in the South West, LEVEL8IGHT is something to shout about.
There’s no better place to enjoy the view while you indulge in a fine wine or nibble on an afternoon tea.
Similarly, if you feel like learning a bit about cocktail making, then this is the place for you.
With cocktail and spirits masterclasses starting at £23 per person, you’ll be a pro in no time!
Their signature cocktails are the things of dreams, and there’s plenty of choice.
I’d have to start with the Tortuga as I love a tequila cocktail.
What would your cocktail of choice be?
2. Eden Garden Bar
Address: Bournemouth BH2 5AQ
Phone number: 01202 026954
Eden Garden Bar offers refreshment in a sumptuous setting and is the perfect place to while away an afternoon in the sun.
This open-air spot has a retractable roof, making it a great choice no matter the weather.
It’s decked out with greenery, giving it a warm and friendly feel and making it feel almost tropical.
Eden is perfect for sipping on ice-cold drinks in the summer sun.
During the warmer months, the rooftop terrace is bathed in sunshine from dawn until dusk.
When winter comes around, they close the roof and turn up the heating, turning this into the cosy hideaway of your dreams.
It’s Bournemouth’s only evergreen alfresco bar, so no matter the weather, you know you can count on Eden!
3. Cosy Club
Address: 34 Old Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth BH1 1LG
Phone number: 01202 509723
Cosy Club is a unique three-level bar with a suntrap roof terrace that’s perfect for those summer afternoons.
The building has retained much of its original art deco façade, and it’s a firm favourite among visitors to Bournemouth.
This distinguished spot is fantastic for every occasion, with its relaxing and welcome ambience and eclectic international menu.
The rooftop terrace is available to book for private parties and soirees if that’s what you’re after, so check them out!
At Cosy Club, they’ll carry you through from breakfast right through to dinner.
For me, the standout dishes are the Spanish chicken and chorizo followed by the seared sea bass.
How yummy do they sound?
And to make it even better, Cosy Club is also one of the best places to go for bottomless brunch in Bournemouth!
Grab a drink and head up to their lovely little terrace to bask in the sun this summer.
4. Urban Garden
Address: Exeter Cres, Bournemouth BH2 5AY
Phone number: 01202 286787
Urban Garden is tucked away in Bournemouth Gardens and is the latest project from The Urban Guild.
This unique garden, bar and restaurant is surrounded by plants and foliage, making it a real tropical oasis in the middle of the city.
It’s cool and arty, and it serves carefully sourced seasonal dishes and drinks, which is always good!
Their multi-level terrace is one of their biggest selling points.
On a warm and sunny day, there are few places better than this for a couple of drinks with friends.
They also have a pizza terrace that features a wood oven and churns out some of the very best pizzas in town.
Grab yourself some topped nachos and a pint of local ale, and head outside with your loved ones to enjoy some lunch on the terrace.
It doesn’t get much better than that!
5. 1812
Address: 37 Exeter Rd, The Royal Exeter Hotel, Bournemouth BH2 5AG
Phone number: 01202 438000
One of the best rooftop bars in Bournemouth, 1812 claims to be the spot where the town was born.
Whether that’s true or not, it’s ingrained itself into Bournemouth’s culture and is well worth a visit.
Although they don’t have a rooftop terrace per se, they do have a fantastic garden, so it felt wrong to leave them out.
This is the kind of place where the cocktails are always flowing and the vibes are immaculate.
With live music being a regular feature at this fantastic venue, everyone from local legends through to famous artists, such as Lamar, has put on a show at 1812.
If you’re feeling peckish, indulge in some Cicchetti provided by Tocco – the perfect pairing for your cocktails.
What are you waiting for?
Book in now!
6. Brewhouse & Kitchen
Address: 152-154 Commercial Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5LU
Phone number: 01202 055221
Brewhouse & Kitchen has become popular all over the country thanks to its casual atmosphere and welcoming vibe.
And in Bournemouth, they have one of their very best venues.
While it doesn’t have a rooftop terrace, it does have a garden with beach huts, which has to count for something, right?
It’s a great place to spend a lazy afternoon with friends enjoying cold pints in the summer sun, that’s for sure.
If you want to get the day off to a great start, why not try their Prosecco brunch?
For £16 per person, you get a choice of three breakfast dishes plus half a bottle of Prosecco.
Now isn’t that a pretty banging deal?
They also have their own microbrewery, where they host experience days and masterclasses which are not to be missed!
Get yourself down here this weekend for the time of your life.
7. The Moon in the Square
Address: 4-8 Exeter Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5AQ
Phone number: 01202 652090
The Moon in the Square is a Wetherspoons pub, no less, housed in a converted 1930s department store.
Luckily for us, this ‘Spoons not only has a fantastic garden, but it also has a small rooftop patio where guests can enjoy a drink or two.
This buzzing watering hole gives you everything you’d expect from a Wetherspoons with a touch of class.
Think cheap drinks and classic pub grub, but then add in the cracking outdoor spaces and you’ve got the perfect combo for a fantastic pub.
Their garden is perfect for spending hours in, while their more intimate rooftop terrace is ideal for a quieter night on the town.
This is one of the best Wetherspoons around, so if you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful night out, then look no further than The Moon in the Square.
8. Bobby’s
Address: The Square, Bourne Ave, Bournemouth BH2 5LY
Bobby’s rooftop terrace hasn’t opened yet, but when it does in summer 2022, it’s set to cause a splash.
Bobby’s is a shopping complex that has been open since 1915, and it’s as much a part of Bournemouth as the sea and the sky, at this point.
The top floor restaurant and roof terrace bar that are set to open this year will only improve the offering of this historical landmark.
This is a rooftop bar that will be worth the wait, without a shadow of a doubt!
Just imagine yourself sipping on a glass of fizz on the rooftop of one of the most iconic buildings in Bournemouth.
It’s a pretty great image, isn’t it?
I know you’ll be getting yourself to this one as soon as it opens!
9. The Christopher Creeke
Address: 2 Holdenhurst Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH8 8AD
Phone number: 01202 200950
The Christopher Creeke is another Wetherspoons pub in Bournemouth with a cracking terrace area.
Wetherspoons is really making a name for itself in Bournemouth, isn’t it?!
This modern pub has scaled back decor and brings you everything you love about ‘Spoons.
Their rooftop terrace is more of a raised deck, but it’s the perfect place to enjoy a cold pint and one of the classic pub dishes that we all love.
On a summer’s day, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many terrace areas that are more buzzing than this one.
After all, who doesn’t love Wetherspoons?
They’re always busy and they’re friendly on the wallet.
What more could you possibly want from a pub?
10. Chaplin’s & The Cellar Bar
Address: 529 Christchurch Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH1 4AG
Phone number: 01202 251953
Chaplin’s & The Cellar Bar is a cool, colourful bar with a south-facing garden that’s to die for.
It has a raised platform where you can enjoy drinks from up above, as well as a vibrant and spacious garden area.
The cobbled terrace is decked out with fairy lights and colourful murals, making this a bar you won’t soon forget.
Additionally, this award-winning bar has hosted some amazing live acts over the years, so if live music is your vibe, then this is the place for you.
With live performances seven days a week in the Cellar Bar and a garden that will soon become your absolute favourite, this unique environment is perfect for unwinding and having fun.
Make sure you don’t miss out on this one.
You’d never forgive yourself if you did!
11. Aruba
Address: Pier Approach, Bournemouth BH2 5AA
Phone number: 01202 554211
Aruba is a stylish beachside restaurant with a sun terrace that looks out on the sea, which is all you could want from a restaurant in Bournemouth.
Settled right on top of Bournemouth Pier, the panoramic views stretch to the Isle of Wight on a clear day.
They do cocktail masterclasses where you can learn from the best, and with classes costing just £29.50 per person, I don’t know how you could say no!
As well as this, they also host events ranging from bottomless brunch to house club nights, meaning there truly is something for everyone.
If you’re looking for a venue that does it all, then this is it, trust me on that one.
Get yourself down here, settle in on their terrace and tuck into a delicious Bang Bang Burger, washed down with some cocktails.
Sounds pretty idyllic, doesn’t it?
12. Slug & Lettuce
Address: 2 Dean Park Cres, Bournemouth BH1 1HL
Phone number: 01202 298612
Slug & Lettuce is a cocktail bar that everyone knows, there’s no getting around it.
Famed for its bottomless brunches and its extensive cocktail list, there are few better places for a party than this.
They don’t have a rooftop terrace at this one, but what they do have is a fantastic terrace which I’m sure you’re going to love.
Once you’ve enjoyed a couple of 2-4-1 cocktails, I’m sure you won’t mind the lack of a rooftop anyway!
This Slug & Lettuce is located just off the square in the centre of town, and at just a five-minute walk from the beach, it’s the perfect pit stop while you’re exploring Bournemouth.
Get yourself booked in and get ready for the time of your life.
13. Key West Bar & Grill
Address: Pier Approach, Bournemouth BH2 5AA
Phone number: 01202 237902
Key West Bar & Grill is a relaxed, must-visit restaurant located at the end of the iconic Bournemouth Pier.
Its fantastic location gives it incredible views of Bournemouth beach and cliffs, which is exactly what you want while you enjoy your meal.
Although it’s not technically a rooftop, it is on top of the pier, so this is a technicality that I’m going to allow myself to have!
The panoramic views are second to none so you’ll certainly not be forgetting your trip here any time soon.
Enjoy a classic fish and chips dish while you listen to the waves below you and admire the views.
Now, isn’t that just what you came to Bournemouth for?
You’ll definitely want to come back here for a second visit!
14. The Hacienda at Ojo Rojo
Address: Ojo Rojo, Rear Entrance, 106 Commercial Rd, Bournemouth BH2 5LR
Phone number: 07714 786041
The Hacienda at Ojo Rojo is part of the award-winning Mexican and mezcal bar Ojo Rojo, and it’s not to be missed.
The Hacienda is the outdoor area of this amazing restaurant, and I promise you’re going to love it.
Inspired by Mexican al fresco dining but with a festival twist, this space enlivens all the senses
Their food truck brings you some of the best Mexican food in town, while their mezcal collection will keep the good vibes flowing.
No, it’s not a rooftop, but if you can’t see how cute and quirky this outdoor space is, then I feel for you.
The urban garden feel combined with the artisan vibes evokes a sense of appreciation for your surroundings, while the removable awning means you can enjoy it all year round.
This is one not to miss because trust me, they will give you the night of your life here!
And there you have it!
My round-up of the very best rooftop bars in Bournemouth.
Admittedly, they aren’t all rooftops, but they are all fantastic, so I’m sure you’ll forgive me pretty quickly.
Book into your favourites and thank me later.
These rooftop bars in Bournemouth are truly the cream of the crop!