Best Hotels With Rooftop Pools in Makassar for Skyline Swims

Best Hotels With Rooftop Pools in Makassar for Skyline Swims

I have spent the better part of three years crisscrossing Makassar, from the old Dutch colonial streets of Losari Beach to the glass towers of the business district along Jalan Ahmad Yani. If you are searching for the best hotels with rooftop pools in Makassar, you are in for a treat. This city does not shout about its luxury the way Bali does, but the rooftop pool scene here has quietly matured into something genuinely impressive. The skyline, a mix of old port cranes and new high-rises, looks best from above, especially when you are floating on your back watching the sun melt into the Makassar Strait.

What makes Makassar's rooftop pools special is the context. You are swimming above a city that was once the gateway to the Spice Islands, a place where Bugis sultans traded with Portuguese sailors and Dutch merchants. The water in these pools catches the same light that has drawn seafarers here for centuries. I have visited every property on this list personally, some multiple times, and I can tell you that the experience varies wildly depending on the time of day, the season, and even which side of the building you choose to sit on.

Gammara Makassar: The Old Guard With a View

Gammara Hotel sits on Jalan A. P. Pettarani, right in the heart of the city's commercial corridor. The rooftop pool here is not the largest in Makassar, but it has a certain old-world charm that newer properties struggle to replicate. The building dates back to an earlier era of Makassar hospitality, and the pool area retains a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere that I find refreshing. From the water, you can see the sprawl of the old port district and, on clear mornings, the outline of the islands in the strait.

The pool itself is modest in size, roughly 15 meters long, but the surrounding deck has enough loungers for about 30 guests without feeling crowded. I visited on a Tuesday afternoon in March and had the entire area to myself for nearly two hours. The staff brought me a plate of pisang epe, the grilled banana with palm sugar that is a Makassar street food staple, which I had never seen served at a hotel pool before. That small touch told me everything about how this property connects to the local food culture.

The best time to swim here is between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM, when the harsh equatorial sun softens and the city below starts to glow. The western-facing orientation means you get a direct line of sight toward the sunset, though the view is partially interrupted by a newer office tower that went up two years ago. Still, the golden hour light on the water is worth the trip.

Local Insider Tip: "Ask the pool attendant for the corner lounger on the northeast side. It is the only spot where you can see both the old harbor and the mountain ridge behind the city. Nobody requests it because it is slightly farther from the bar, but the dual view is unmatched."

One thing most tourists would not know is that the Gammara was originally built in the 1980s as a government guest house before being converted into a commercial hotel. The bones of that earlier structure are still visible in the pool's tile work, which uses a pattern common in South Sulawesi traditional architecture. If you look closely at the blue geometric designs, you will notice they mirror motifs found in the old fort of Ujung Pandang, now called Fort Rotterdam, just a 10-minute drive away.

Aston Makassar City Hotel: Business District Elegance

Aston Makassar City Hotel occupies a prominent position on Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin, one of the main arteries feeding the city's business district. This is a rooftop pool hotel Makassar visitors often overlook because it caters heavily to corporate travelers, but the pool area on the upper floors is a genuine surprise. The infinity edge on the western side creates a seamless visual connection with the skyline, and the water temperature is kept cool enough to be comfortable even at midday, which is no small feat in a city that sits barely five degrees south of the equator.

I spent an entire Saturday here in July, arriving just after check-in at 2:00 PM and staying at the pool until well past sunset. The cocktail menu is surprisingly creative for a business hotel. I ordered a tamarind gin fizz that the bartender told me was inspired by the asam drinks sold at Losari Beach. It was tart, slightly sweet, and perfectly balanced. The food menu leans toward Indonesian comfort dishes, and I recommend the coto Makassar, a rich beef organ soup that is the city's signature dish. Eating it poolside while watching container ships move through the strait felt like the most Makassar thing I have ever done.

The pool is about 20 meters long and wide enough for proper laps, which I appreciated. On weekends, the crowd thins out significantly because most corporate guests have checked out. Sunday mornings are the quietest, and I counted only four other people during a two-hour swim. The deck chairs are the padded, adjustable kind, and there are large umbrellas that actually provide adequate shade, unlike some properties where the umbrellas are purely decorative.

Local Insider Tip: "The pool closes at 9:00 PM, but if you are a hotel guest, ask the front desk to arrange after-hours access. They do not advertise this, but security will let you in until 11:00 PM on request. The city lights from the rooftop after dark are extraordinary, and you will likely have the pool completely to yourself."

What most visitors miss is the small gallery on the mezzanine level just below the pool deck. It features black-and-white photographs of Makassar from the 1950s and 1960s, showing the old fish market at Losari Beach and the colonial-era buildings along the waterfront. The images provide a window into the city's transformation from a sleepy port town to the largest urban center in eastern Indonesia. I spent nearly 40 minutes studying them, and the hotel staff seemed genuinely pleased that someone was paying attention.

Favehotel Sudirman Makassar: Budget-Friendly Pool Views

Not every rooftop pool hotel in Makassar requires a luxury budget. Favehotel Sudirman, located on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, offers a rooftop pool experience at a fraction of what the five-star properties charge. The pool is smaller, maybe 10 meters across, but the view stretches across the dense residential neighborhoods toward the hills east of the city. It is a different perspective from the waterfront-facing pools, and I found it oddly more intimate, like looking into the real daily life of Makassar rather than its polished commercial face.

I checked in on a Wednesday in September, which is deep in the dry season. The pool was clean, the water was clear, and the staff were attentive without being overbearing. The drink menu is limited compared to the larger hotels, but they serve a solid espresso and a refreshing young coconut water that comes straight from the fruit, not a carton. I ordered two of those and sat by the edge watching motorbikes weave through the traffic below. There is something meditative about observing a city from above while floating in cool water.

The best time to visit is late morning, between 10:00 AM and noon, before the heat becomes oppressive. The pool is open-air with minimal shade, and by 1:00 PM the sun is punishing. I made the mistake of staying through lunch my first visit and ended up with a mild sunburn on my shoulders. The hotel does provide sunscreen at the front desk, which is a thoughtful touch that I have not seen at properties charging three times the rate.

Local Insider Tip: "Request a room on the highest floor available. The elevator does not go all the way to the pool level, so you will walk down a short staircase. But being on the top floor means your room balcony faces the same direction as the pool, and you get a private version of the view every morning with your coffee."

One detail that connects this hotel to Makassar's broader character is its location on Sudirman Street, which was one of the first planned commercial corridors developed after Indonesian independence. The street is named after General Sudirman, the guerrilla leader who commanded Indonesian forces during the revolution against the Dutch. Walking the length of this road, you pass everything from old Chinese shophouses to modern banks, a physical timeline of the city's economic evolution. The Favehotel sits right in the middle of that story.

Aryaduta Makassar: The Infinity Pool Standard

Aryaduta Makassar, positioned on Jalan Somba Opu in the upscale Somba Opu district, has long been considered the benchmark for an infinity pool hotel Makassar travelers seek out. The pool stretches along the building's edge with a clean vanishing line that frames the cityscape beautifully. I have been coming here since the property underwent its major renovation, and the difference is night and day. The old pool was functional but plain. The new one is a proper design statement, with underwater lighting that turns the water a deep turquoise after sunset.

The Somba Opu district itself is worth understanding. This was historically the commercial heart of Makassar, where Bugis and Makassar traders conducted business with merchants from across the archipelago. The street is still lined with shops selling everything from traditional textiles to electronics, and the energy at street level is chaotic and alive. Stepping from that chaos into the calm of the Aryaduta's rooftop pool feels like crossing between two worlds.

I visited on a Friday evening in December, which is the start of the rainy season. A brief downpour swept through just after 5:00 PM, and I watched it from the pool as lightning flickered over the strait. The staff did not rush guests out of the water, which I appreciated. Within 20 minutes, the rain passed, the sky cleared, and the sunset that followed was the most dramatic I have seen in Makassar. The pool deck has a mix of sunbeds and cabanas, and the cabanas are worth the extra cost if you want privacy and a dedicated server.

Local Insider Tip: "The pool bar makes a version of ballo, the traditional palm wine of South Sulawesi, that is mixed with lime and honey. It is not on the printed menu. You have to ask for it by name. The bartender I spoke with said only about one in twenty guests knows to request it, but it is the most popular drink among local regulars."

The one complaint I have is that the pool area can get noisy on weekend evenings when the hotel hosts events. Live music from the bar below carries up to the rooftop, and if you are looking for a peaceful swim, Saturday nights are not ideal. I learned this the hard way during my December visit when a dangdut band started playing at 8:00 PM and did not stop until nearly midnight. The music was good, but it was loud, and conversation at normal volume became impossible.

Hotel & Resto & Spa Myko: A Local Favorite With Altitude

Hotel & Resto & Spa Myko sits on Jalan Ahmad Yani, the grand boulevard that runs through the center of Makassar. This is not a property that appears on many international booking platforms, which is precisely why I wanted to include it. The rooftop pool here is a local secret, frequented more by Makassar residents and domestic tourists than by foreign visitors. The pool is compact but well-maintained, and the view takes in the length of Ahmad Yani with its mix of government buildings, shopping centers, and the occasional colonial-era facade.

I came here on a Sunday morning in February, arriving at 8:00 AM when the pool first opened. The water was perfectly calm, and the morning light gave everything a soft, almost painterly quality. The breakfast spread, served at the poolside restaurant, included konro soup, a spicy rib dish that is one of Makassar's most celebrated foods. Eating konro for breakfast might sound heavy, but at 8:00 AM with a cool breeze coming off the strait, it was exactly right. The soup is rich, deeply spiced, and built on a base of roasted coconut and lemongrass that takes hours to prepare.

The Ahmad Yani corridor is named after the Indonesian general who was killed during the 1965 political upheaval, and the street itself has been the site of some of Makassar's most significant modern events. Swimming above it, you are literally floating over layers of history. The Myko does not make a big deal about this, but the small framed maps in the elevator showing old Makassar suggest the owners are aware of the significance.

Local Insider Tip: "The rooftop has a second, smaller pool on the east side that most guests do not notice. It is tucked behind the mechanical room and is almost always empty. If you want total solitude, ask the staff if you can use it. They will say yes without hesitation."

The Wi-Fi signal on the rooftop is weak, which I consider a feature rather than a bug. It forces you to put your phone down and actually look at the city. I spent three hours here without checking email once, which might be a personal record. The pool does get busy around midday on weekends, so if you want space, arrive before 9:00 AM or after 3:00 PM.

Clarion Makassar: Modern Comfort Above the City

Clarion Makassar is located on Jalan A. P. Pettarani, not far from the Gammara but catering to a distinctly different clientele. This is a pool view hotel Makassar business travelers gravitate toward, and the rooftop pool reflects that practical orientation. The design is clean and modern, with a rectangular pool that runs parallel to the building's longest edge. The view faces south and west, capturing both the commercial district and the distant coastline.

I visited in April, during the tail end of the wet season, and the weather cooperated beautifully. The pool area has a covered section with a retractable roof, which is a smart feature for a city where sudden rain showers can materialize without warning. I watched a thunderstorm roll in from the west while sitting under the covered section, dry and comfortable, with a plate of ayam goreng crispy chicken and a glass of iced tea beside me. The covered area also has a small bar that operates independently from the main hotel bar, and the cocktail list is more adventurous than you might expect.

The Clarion's location on Pettarani puts it within walking distance of several of Makassar's best street food stalls. After my swim, I walked five minutes to a warung on a side street that serves sop konro from a pot that the owner told me has been continuously simmering for over 20 years. The broth was extraordinary, dark and complex, with layers of spice that unfolded slowly. That kind of culinary heritage exists within steps of the hotel, and the Clarion's staff are happy to point you in the right direction if you ask.

Local Insider Tip: "The rooftop has a hot tub on the southwest corner that is technically for hotel guests only, but if you are dining at the rooftop restaurant, the staff will let you use it before or after your meal. The hot tub faces the sunset, and on a clear evening, the combination of warm water and cooling air is perfect."

One thing that surprised me about the Clarion was the quality of the pool tiles. They use a non-slip surface that is genuinely effective, even when the deck is wet from rain or splashing. It is a small detail, but after slipping on slick pool decks at other hotels in Southeast Asia, I noticed and appreciated it immediately. The pool is also heated slightly, which sounds unnecessary in the tropics but actually makes early morning swims more comfortable than you would expect.

Aston Priority Simatupang Makassar: The Newcomer

I need to be transparent here. The Aston Priority Simatupang is technically located in the greater Makassar metropolitan area, and its rooftop pool is a recent addition to the city's scene. The property sits in the Simatupang area, which is part of the expanding southern corridor of the city. The pool is modern, well-designed, and offers views that are different from the downtown properties. Instead of the port and the strait, you see the newer residential developments and the green hills that form the southern boundary of the urban area.

I visited in June, and the pool area still had that new-hotel smell, if that makes sense. Everything was crisp and clean, the loungers were still firm, and the staff were eager in the way that only a new team can be. The pool is about 18 meters long, with a shallow wading area at one end and a deeper section for actual swimming at the other. The infinity edge faces south, which means you get indirect sunlight for most of the day rather than the direct western exposure that can make afternoon swims uncomfortable.

The drink menu is still being refined, but the fresh juice selection was excellent. I ordered a passion fruit and ginger combination that was tart and spicy and exactly what I needed after a morning of exploring the southern neighborhoods. The food menu is limited to light snacks and a few Indonesian classics, but the nasi goreng was well-executed, with the smoky char that indicates a properly hot wok.

Local Insider Tip: "The rooftop has a small herb garden near the service entrance where the kitchen grows lemongrass, kaffir lime, and Thai basil. If you mention to the bartender that you are interested, they will sometimes bring you a sprig of fresh herbs to garnish your drink. It is not advertised, but the staff are proud of the garden and happy to show it off."

The Simatupang area is worth exploring on its own. This part of Makassar has grown rapidly in the last decade, driven by the expansion of Hasanuddin University and the development of new commercial zones. The character here is different from the old city, more suburban and spread out, but it represents the direction Makassar is heading. Swimming above it, you are looking at the future of the city rather than its past.

Four Points by Sheraton Makassar: International Standards, Local Soul

Four Points by Sheraton Makassar sits on Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin, sharing the corridor with the Aston City Hotel but occupying a slightly different niche. The rooftop pool here is part of a larger lifestyle complex that includes a fitness center, a spa, and a restaurant that serves both international and Indonesian cuisine. The pool itself is a generous 25 meters, making it one of the longest rooftop pools in the city, and the infinity edge on the western side provides a clean, unobstructed view of the Makassar Strait.

I visited on a Thursday afternoon in August, which is peak dry season. The sky was a deep, almost aggressive blue, and the strait shimmered in the distance. The pool deck is spacious enough that even with a moderate crowd, you do not feel cramped. I counted about 15 other guests during my visit, and there was still plenty of room to spread out. The loungers are the thick-cushioned variety, and each one has a small side table and an electrical outlet, which is a thoughtful touch for anyone who needs to stay connected.

The restaurant at the pool level serves a Makassar-style seafood grill that I found genuinely excellent. I ordered the ikan bakar with sambal dabu-dabu, a raw chili and tomato condiment from Manado that has become popular across eastern Indonesia. The fish was fresh, the sambal was bright and acidic, and the combination worked perfectly. The restaurant also serves a version of es cendol, the shaved ice dessert with green rice flour jelly and palm sugar, that is among the best I have had in the city.

Local Insider Tip: "The pool has a lane rope system that is usually only set up on weekday mornings. If you want to do proper laps, visit between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM on a Monday through Thursday. On weekends, the ropes come down and the pool becomes a social space, which is fun but not ideal for swimming."

The Four Points connects to Makassar's history in a subtle but meaningful way. The Sultan Hasanuddin corridor is named after the 17th-century sultan who led the resistance against the Dutch East India Company. His legacy is everywhere in this city, from the airport that bears his name to the monuments scattered across the urban landscape. Swimming above this street, you are quite literally floating above the territory he once defended. The hotel does not make a fuss about this, but the historical weight of the location is palpable if you know the story.

When to Go and What to Know

Makassar's dry season runs from approximately May through October, and this is the best time for rooftop pool visits. The skies are clearer, the humidity drops slightly, and the chance of being caught in a downpour during your swim is much lower. The wet season, from November to April, brings dramatic afternoon thunderstorms that can be spectacular to watch from a rooftop but less pleasant to swim in.

Most rooftop pools in Makassar open between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM and close between 9:00 PM and 10:00 PM. Hours can vary by property, and some hotels restrict pool access to registered guests only. If you are not staying at the hotel, call ahead to confirm whether day passes are available. Several of the properties on this list sell day passes for between 100,000 and 250,000 Indonesian rupiah, which typically includes pool access, a towel, and sometimes a food or beverage credit.

Sunscreen is essential. Makassar sits almost on the equator, and the UV index regularly reaches extreme levels between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. I have seen visitors from Europe and North America get badly burned after just an hour of poolside lounging. Bring a high-SPF waterproof formula and reapply every 90 minutes. Most hotels sell sunscreen at the pool bar, but the markup is steep.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days are needed to see the major tourist attractions in Makassar without feeling rushed?

Three full days are sufficient to cover the major sites, including Fort Rotterdam, Losari Beach, the old harbor at Paotere, and the floating village of Kodingareng Keke. Adding a fourth day allows for a day trip to the Tana Toraja highlands departure point or a more relaxed pace through the city's museums and markets.

Is Makassar expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers?

A mid-tier traveler should budget between 600,000 and 1,000,000 Indonesian rupiah per day, covering a decent hotel room, three meals at local restaurants and modest dining establishments, transportation by ride-hailing apps, and entrance fees. A meal at a local warung costs 25,000 to 50,000 rupiah, while a restaurant meal runs 80,000 to 200,000 rupiah. Ride-hailing trips within the city average 20,000 to 50,000 rupiah per ride.

What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Makassar?

Most mid-range and upscale restaurants in Makassar add a 10 percent service charge and a 11 percent government bill to the total. Tipping beyond this is not expected but appreciated, usually 5,000 to 10,000 rupiah for good service at smaller establishments. Local warungs and street food vendors do not expect tips.

Are credit cards widely accepted across Makassar, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?

Credit cards are accepted at hotels, shopping malls, and most restaurants in the city center. However, street food vendors, local warungs, traditional markets, and small shops operate almost entirely on cash. Carrying 200,000 to 300,000 rupiah in small denominations for daily expenses is advisable. ATMs are widely available, with Bank BCA and Bank Mandiri machines being the most reliable.

What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Makassar?

A specialty coffee at a modern cafe in Makassar costs between 25,000 and 55,000 Indonesian rupiah, depending on the drink and location. Local kopi tubruk, the traditional ground coffee served with sugar in a glass, costs 5,000 to 15,000 rupiah at a neighborhood warung. Teh tarik or iced tea at a local establishment runs 5,000 to 12,000 rupiah.