5 Rooftop Bars San Francisco

Why it made the list: The rooftop everyone means when they say rooftop in San Francisco, atop the San Francisco Proper Hotel, with fire pits, a wraparound view, and a stylish crowd that runs from after-work professionals to locals dressed for the occasion. It's the most polished rooftop in the city and the one to do first.

Why it made the list: One of the largest rooftop spaces in the city, a couple of blocks off Union Square, a spacious second-floor terrace with a relaxed, garden-party feel. It's the easy one: less scene than Charmaine's, more room to spread out, and great for a group.

Why it made the list: On the 21st floor of the Beacon Grand, Starlite gives you a genuine 360-degree view of San Francisco, the highest and widest panorama on this list. It's a glamorous, dressed-up room where the view does most of the work.

Why it made the list: A resort-style rooftop with cabanas, greenery and a warm, vacation-y feel that's a welcome antidote to San Francisco's fog, the closest the city gets to a poolside-lounge atmosphere without leaving downtown.

Why it made the list: Twelve floors above SoMa at the Canopy by Hilton, Shelby's mixes dining tables and lounge sofas across indoor and outdoor space, a comfortable, less-hyped rooftop that's easy to actually get into, with good food alongside the drinks.