Top 10: Rooftop Bars

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

The Terrace at Park Hyatt Dubai, Dubai

There's more than a whiff of Miami about the rooftop Terrace bar at the Park Hyatt Dubai; wooden decking, crisp canopies and sofas overflowing with cushions afford this place fabulous Floridian flare, as do the millionaires who lounge with drinks in one hand and trophy wives hanging off the other.

Wine and Champagne are the order of the day here, while the food - oysters, caviar and plump prawns, no less - are significantly better than your average bar snacks.

The picture-postcard view out over the Gulf, however, is the raison d'entre. Fantastic al fresco fun is yours for the taking.

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

O2 Lounge at Ritz-Carlton, Moscow

While you'll need to fork out no less than £25 for a glass of house bubbly at Ritz-Carlton's chic 02 Lounge, it's worth it to rub shoulders with Cristal-glugging oligarchs and platinum-blonde model types.

Gorgeous white leather interiors and views out over Red Square and Moscow's stunning skyline are also selling points, while the outdoor terrace is great for soaking up the ambience during the summer months.

Oh-so-stylish drinking at the O2 - has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

Nu-Terras, Istanbul

Crowning a 19th-century building in the well-to-do district of Pera is Nu-Terras, an ultra-cool bar for ultra-cool people.

Situated seven floors up, the bar is an exercise in sleek design, with a shiny bar and even shinier tabletops, and attracts a high-flying crowd of well-dressed cocktail drinkers and Champagne quaffers.

What's more, Nu-Terras is perfectly aligned with the setting sun so that it reflects on the aforementioned surfaces; indeed, sunglasses aren't just a fashion statement here, they're a necessity.

So throw on some shades, indulge in the well-made drinks and grind to sexy house music; what happens in Nu-Terras, stays in Nu-Terras.

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

The Penthouse at ME Madrid Reina Victoria, Madrid

Cindy Crawford's beau, Rande Gerber, is the nightlife impresario behind the magic of Penthouse, the rooftop bar at ME Madrid Reina Victoria.

Centrally located near Plaza Santa Ana, guests are whisked up from ground level to the bar in the comfort of a private elevator; inside is plenty of lounging space with smooth white seating and cushion-filled beds, together with a bar that serves up significantly more stylish drinks than jugs of sangria.

While Gerber's prolific personality helps to lure in stars, it is the views out over the city that dazzle here. Indeed, Penthouse truly puts the sex in the Spanish city.

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

Lounge 24 at Radisson SAS, Tallinn

For true skyscraper style head to Lounge 24 at the Radisson SAS; entered 90 metres above ground level on the 24th floor, it's views - the best in Estonia - are soaked up through stunning floor-to-ceiling windows that reveal Tallinn from a near-bird's eye perspective.

Step out onto the al fresco terrace for a closer look down at the Medieval old town, or look out as far as the eye can see towards the sea; if this isn't a Kodak moment, we don't know what is.

Inside, guests will find a modern, minimalist interior that is perfectly matched with a stylish, sophisticated clientele.

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

The Roof at Soho House, New York

Made significantly more famous after its appearance in an episode of Sex and the City, the rooftop at Soho House is where media bigwigs rug shoulders with celebrities in barely-there bikinis.

For your average Joe, though, the only way of checking out this members-only space is by checking into the hotel below; once you're in, you're in.

Enjoy a dip in the pool, recline on a lounger with a suitably stylish cocktail and soak up the views of the city and surrounding Meatpacking District.

Sanctuary such as this is scarce in New York, so it's little wonder the beautiful people flock here in their Monolo Blahnik-wearing droves. Be one of them and don't be left outside alone.

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

7th Heaven at Aleph Hotel, Rome

When in Rome do as the Romans do and prop up the bar at 7th Heaven, located on the roof terrace of the Aleph Hotel; the view of the city from here, between lush green plants, is pretty damn incredible.

The interiors are suitably impressive, too, with white marshmallow chairs, candlelit decking and exotic flowers at every turn.

Businessmen chat into their mobiles during the week, but at the weekends things liven up as fashion types ping up in the elevator and sashay about in Missoni frocks. If a DJ didn't save your life last night, then you'll probably end up here.

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city

Rooftop drinking is the crowning glory of any well-deserved break so we let the experts at Hg2 track down the world's best high-rise watering holes

Tiffany Spire Bar at The Hotel, Miami

Fun is the word atop The Hotel; the Tiffany Spire Bar doesn't take itself too seriously with brightly-painted decking and canvas-covered sofas for designer-clad guests to sprawl on beneath the searing Florida sunshine, no doubt with white-rimmed shades shielding them from the glare.

Designed by Todd Oldham, the sumptuous space is crowned by the iconic Tiffany spire and is the perfect place to sip on exotic cocktails such as the Pink Champagne Martini.

Blue neon lighting has never been so flattering.

Hg2 is our slick abbreviation for A Hedonist's Guide... - a luxury city guide series coveted by travellers who value both style and substance when it comes to soaking up a city