Southern California, a place where rooftop dreams come true. While a day at the San Diego beaches can be great, a more exclusive and elevated option on a sunny day is to look upwards, to the San Diego rooftop pools. Often located at a trendy hotel with a view over the city or the Pacific Ocean coastline, there are some truly magical venues to explore.
To help you find the top spots, we have gathered a list of the best hotel rooftop pools San Diego has to offer. From the most relaxing places to swim with a view, to vibrant rooftop pool party San Diego. So, what are you waiting for, get out there and find the best San Diego rooftop pools now.
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Here's our list of the 9 best rooftop pools San Diego
Located just by the beach in Oceanside, the superb Mission Pacific Hotel offers North County San Diego’s best rooftop experience.
Home to The Rooftop Bar, a vibrant rooftop clubhouse on the beach, the spacious 6th floor terrace also holds an amazing rooftop pool deck. Surrounded with stylish cabanas and lounge chairs, as well as expansive views over the ocean, this is a prime spot for elevated relaxation.
Mix craft cocktails and small bites with dips in the glittering rooftop pool under the California sun. Then stick around as the terrace turns into a bohemian hot-spot for beautiful sunsets and the sounds of live DJs.
Nestled in one of Southern California’s most thriving downtown districts, the urban Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter comes with a spacious, colorful and breezy rooftop oasis.
Home to the 5 O'Clock Somewhere Rooftop Bar, the rooftop also houses one of San Diego’s most impressive rooftop pools.
The heated rooftop pool comes surrounded with luxurious cabanas, comfy lounger and sweeping city views. The perfect setting to take a dip, sip a tropical cocktail and enjoy the SoCal sun.
Free for guests staying at the hotel, the pool is also available for outside visitors, with the purchase of a day pass or cabana rentals.
Address: 435 Sixth Avenue, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Guests at the hotel / Day Pass & Cabana rentals
Located in the Gaslamp District, the fabulous Andaz San Diego serves one of the best rooftop settings in San Diego. Called The Rooftop by STK, this 7th floor terrace has pretty much all: a trendy rooftop bar, beautiful city and ocean views, and an amazing Rooftop pool San Diego.
The rooftop swimming pool is quite large and has a very luxurious feel, much thanks to the surrounding poolside cabanas. These can be reserved by anyone (expect a daily rate of about $375), but otherwise the rooftop pool is exclusive to guests staying at the hotel.
During daytime, the rooftop works as a nice and relaxing poolside lounge, perfect for swims and long lunches in the sun. At night, there’s a livelier party feeling. In other words, there’s something for everyone at this lovely San Diego rooftop pool.
Address: 600 F Street, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Guests at the hotel / Cabana rentals
On the 5th floor of the amzing Pendry San Diego you find The Pool House, a premier rooftop lounge offering some of the best views in the Gaslamp Quarter.
Light and contemporary, this indoor/outdoor venue serves as a beautiful lounge and bar, but even more so as one of the best San Diego rooftop pools around. Surrounded with comfy sun loungers and stylish cabanas, the pool is open and free daily for hotel guests, but also available for non-hotel guests Sunday to Thursday from 11am to 6pm ($100 dining minimum required).
Embodying the essence of the Southern California lifestyle, the Pendry rooftop is a fantastic spot for cosmopolitan relaxation during daytime, as well as evenings filled with a vibrant signature bar, cocktail and food experience. Sunday's usually also means a happening rooftop pool party.
Address: 550 J Street, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Daily 9am–6pm for guests at the hotel / Sun-Fri 11am-6pm for non-hotel guests
Located in downtown San Diego, the stylish Westgate Hotel is a great venue for accommodation, but also a fantastic place to pamper mind and body, thanks to the AquaVie Fitness Club.
Boasting over 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art fitness center space, AquaVie offers gym, steam room, sauna and much more. But best of all is the 4th floor heated lap pool, which is the largest rooftop pool in downtown San Diego.
Set on a spacious rooftop deck, which also includes a hot tub and amazing San Diego views, the rooftop pool and surrounding loungers works great to swim laps, or just relax with some food and beverages. Free for guests staying at the The Westgate Hotel, this San Diego rooftop pool has pretty much all you need.
Address: 1055 2nd Avenue, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Hotel guests / AquaVie Members
Hours: Daily 6am-10pm
This fantastic San Diego rooftop pool does not belong to one hotel, but two, both operated by the Marriott group. So to enjoy it, you should either book your stay at the 3-star Residence Inn by Marriott San Diego Downtown/Bayfront, or the 4-star SpringHill Suites by Marriott San Diego Downtown/Bayfront.
Whatever your choice may be, you will have access to stylish pool terrace and the heated outdoor swimming pool, open year-round and offering amazing views over the ocean and the city skyline.
The hotels also hold a new and trendy rooftop bar called Harbor & Sky Rooftop Bar and Lounge, serving drinks, bites and views from the 5th floor.
Address: 900 Bayfront Court, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Only hotel guests
Hours: Daily 7am-10pm
Set in downtown San Diego, the luxury design hotel Kimpton Alma San Diego comes with a creative, vibrant and urban terrace that is truly an elevated vacation escape.
4 floors above the heart of the Gaslamp District, here you find the rooftop bar and restaurant Leave Of Absence, serving wood-fired pizzas and artfully crafted cocktails to all during the summer season.
The most inviting part of the rooftop is however the glittering rooftop pool, open to guests staying at the hotel year round from 9am to 9pm, and also available via day bed reservations.
Complete with lavish lounge chairs & daybeds, the Kimpton Alma San Diego is the perfect spot to soak in the California sun and leave your worries behind.
Address: 1047 5th Avenue, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Hotel guests / Day Bed reservations
InterContinental San Diego offers urban elegance on the San Diego waterfront. Maybe never more present than at the amazing 4th floor rooftop pool and terrace.
Here you can swim with breathtaking views of San Diego Bay, or sip on a cocktail in one of the luxurious poolside cabanas. The laidback rooftop bar and lounge Layover is also open for drinks and bites both day and night.
Apart from dips in the rooftop pool, you can also stay healthy in the next door wellness center, equipped with the latest equipment, and a yoga terrace where you can cool down.
Address: 901 Bayfront Court, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Only hotel guests
The vibrant Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is set in the heart of town, and offers and equally vibrant top floor rooftop bar called Float. The rooftop is home to one of the most popular rooftop pools San Diego, especially if you like to party in a luxurious environment with panoramic views.
If you want to make your visit here extra special, you should rent a private poolside cabana, equipped with flat screen TV. There’s also lots of lounge furniture’s to chill, if you don’t want to spend too much money on a cabana. Make sure to make reservations during the weekends – it’s a very popular San Diego rooftop pool.
Address: 207 5th Avenue, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101
Availability: Hotel guests / Cabana rentals
Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.
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