Swim Laps of Luxury Up on the Rooftop
Think a rooftop pool is just a place to cool off? Think again. Around the world, these luxury pools come in many shapes, from a baby grand piano to a giant cruise ship in the sky. Some have underwater music, some have underwater views, and all of them provide an opportunity to “soak in the view.”
The Poule on the 10th floor of The Joule Hotel in Dallas extends 8 feet beyond the hotel itself and is cantilevered over downtown. Swimmers can peer out of pool’s glass window for a view of the city. Hotel guests can also enjoy bar service, cabana beds and VIP treatment; pool attendants will spritz your sunglasses upon request.
From the air, the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, or rooftop complex, looks rather like a cruise ship. From the ground, it looks a bit like Stonehenge. It rests atop three hotel towers 656 feet off the ground. A public observation deck can hold 900 people and offers views of the Singapore Flyer. The SkyPark contains three linked, 200-foot-long swimming pools, providing a 479-foot infinity pool overlooking Singapore. It also has landscaped gardens, restaurants, bars and spas.
Skiing is the main attraction in Aspen. If you’re staying at The Residences at The Little Nell, however, soaking in the view can be a main attraction, too. The rooftop patio has curving stone walls, multiple seating areas, a swimming pool and two hot tubs that provide 360-degree views from Aspen Mountain to Independence Pass. These three- and four-bedroom residences are next to the Silver Queen Gondola.
The Gansevoort Park Avenue is in midtown Manhattan within walking distance of the farmer’s market at Union Square, the Empire State Building, the Theater District, Grand Central Station and Madison Square. The luxury hotel’s rooftop is a 20,000-square-foot trilevel complex that contains an indoor-outdoor rooftop pool with a view of the Empire State Building, a lounge with attached outdoor balconies and a pool deck connected to multiple bars.
The Viceroy Miami’s 15th-floor pool stretches across two acres and is filled with opulent amenities. The pool deck connects all three towers of the hotel complex and contains an infinity pool that is the longest pool in Florida, a sun deck with 12 cabanas and 200 chaise lounges, a thermal hot pool that seats 50, a life-size chess set, a poolside bar with fireplace and dim-sum-style food carts.
The Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in Vancouver, B.C. boasts a heated rooftop pool with a view of both Coal Harbour and the North Shore Mountains. The rooftop pool area also has a hot tub, private cabanas and fire pits. When you’re not swimming or sunbathing, rent a cabana, bring five of your closest friends and watch a large-screen TV.
Sink into the cooling waters of The Roof Top Pool, 11 stories above street level at The Colonnade Hotel in Boston, and you’ll still be looking up at surrounding skyscrapers. From this lofty perch, you’ll see the residential brownstones and distant views of Fenway Park. The pool, nicknamed the RTP, is also a great place to dine alfresco and enjoy outdoor concerts.
What’s the weather in Beverly Hills? It’s probably quite lovely for a dip in the heated pool on top of the Thompson Beverly Hills. The bilevel rooftop also has a gym, a lounge and private cabanas with flat-screen TVs, minibars and sofa beds. The lounge offers cocktails, appetizers and full meals, private trellis shade areas, fire pits and a palm tree.
The Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC hotel in New York’s meatpacking district might have a funny name, but it has some sexy amenities. Its rooftop has a 45-foot heated pool with underwater music and colored lights on the south side of the hotel. The roof also has a garden, Plunge Bar and Lounge, a loft with 20-foot ceilings and a fireplace. Chill out and watch the sun set over the city.
The Naumi Hotel Singapore is a five-star hotel in Singapore’s Central Business District, and its rooftop infinity pool has a five-star view. Relax on a sun-deck bed and phone in an order of tapas and drinks. You’ll also be able to see the historic Raffles Hotel across the street. It dates from 1887 and was named after Singapore's founder, Sir Stamford Raffles.
The Regent Grand Hotel Bordeaux is in the heart of historic Bordeaux, France. Guests in the top-floor Royale Suite can sip the region's world-famous wines from the privacy of their own rooftop Jacuzzi. The pool overlooks Bordeaux's famed Grand Theatre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the picturesque L'Opera de Bordeaux.
Donovan House, a few blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., boasts a heated rooftop pool surrounded by chaise lounges, a horizontal fireplace and Brazilian decking. The roof is also home to a private bar and lounge. Take a dip and enjoy a panoramic view of our nation’s capital.
Combine a swim with a panoramic view of New York. The third floor of the Thompson LES on Manhattan’s Lower East Side boasts an outdoor pool and lounge. A film-strip image of Andy Warhol is lithographed onto the tile on the pool floor. The image is the work of artist Gerard Malanga, Warhol’s muse.
The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa has a unique spin on the rooftop pool. It’s heated, shaped like a baby grand piano and overlooks the Hollywood sign. Swimmers and sun worshippers can order from the Wolfgang Puck pool bar or simply chill out in one of the 14 private cabanas.
The Roof at Soho House in New York’s Meatpacking District is home to a heated pool, a bar, a kitchen and fine dining and lounging spaces. Whether swimming or just catching some rays, guests will have spectacular views over the West Village and the Hudson River. Guests can lie on loungers or sit at tables for drinks and meals during the summer.
Swim, soak or even sip a hot toddy while casting your gaze on the Toronto skyline, including the soaring CN Tower. The Thompson Toronto opened recently and is already a favorite of celebrities. While you’re toweling off, perhaps you’ll catch a glimpse of celebrity visitors such as James Franco, the Kardashians or Usher.
The Fullerton Bay HotelSingapore’s rooftop pool is 25 meters long, music to the ears of swimmers who actually wish to do laps. Lap swimmers or not, guests have plenty to enjoy on their lofty perch at seven stories. Lounge on sun-deck recliners surrounded by lush tropical landscaping, catch a waterfront breeze from Marina Bay and order cocktails. Hit the pool by 6:30 p.m. for a glorious Singapore sunset.
What’s the weather in Miami? Excellent for a dip. The rooftop pool at Soho Beach House in Miami overlooks the ocean. The pool is surrounded by lounge chairs and fans that enhance the ocean breezes. Guests will also discover a towel station, showers and a cocktail bar. It’s a great place to catch a Miami Beach sunrise.
Climb to the fourth floor of the Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel and Casino and you’ll discover an infinity pool with lounge chairs and tropical landscaping. (See which famous architectural firm designed the infinity pool.) The 57,000-square-foot pool deck has a view that stretches from San Juan Bay to Old San Juan. And if you want to get real sand in your toes, Condado Beaches are only a couple of miles away.
The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego offers Float, a rooftop bar, lounge and pool that overlooks the Gaslamp Quarter. Views from this lofty perch take in Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres baseball team, the San Diego Convention Center and the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter sign. Private poolside cabanas have leather lounge seating, flat-screen TVs and mini bars. Float really rocks at night, when guests can enjoy live music and resident DJs.
