Best Rooftop Bars in Medan for Sunset Drinks and City Views
Words by
Andi Pratama
Finding the Best Rooftop Bars in Medan for Sunset Drinks and City Views
I have spent the better part of three years wandering the streets of Medan, and if there is one thing I keep telling friends who visit, it is this: the best rooftop bars in Medan are not just about the cocktails. They are about watching the sky turn copper and violet over a city that most people still underestimate. Medan does not have the polished glamour of Bali or the heritage charm of Yogyakarta, but what it has is raw, unpretentious energy, and that energy rises with you when you climb up to a rooftop and look out over the sprawl of Jalan Sudirman, the distant silhouette of the Bukit Barisan mountains, and the haze that softens everything at golden hour. The sky bars Medan offers are fewer than you might expect for a city of two and a half million people, but each one carries its own personality, and knowing when to show up and what to order makes all the difference.
Medan sits on the northeast coast of Sumatra, a city built on tobacco wealth, Chinese-Indonesian heritage, and a restless commercial spirit. The outdoor bars Medan has scattered across its rooftops reflect that layered identity. You will find places that lean into the old Deli tobacco-era nostalgia, others that chase a modern Jakarta-style aesthetic, and a few that are purely about the view and nothing else. What follows is the directory I wish someone had handed me the first time I arrived.
The Classic View from the Top of Jalan Sudirman
Mercure Hotel Medan — Rooftop Lounge
The Mercure sits on Jalan Sudirman, the main artery of Medan's business district, and its rooftop lounge is the one I recommend to anyone who asks where to start. The bar is not trying to be trendy. It is a proper hotel rooftop with cushioned seating, a modest cocktail menu, and a view that stretches across the Medan Polonia airport approach and the old Dutch colonial quarter to the west. What makes it worth going is the timing. Arrive around 5:15 PM, before the after-work crowd from the nearby office towers floods in, and you will have the terrace almost to yourself. Order the Es Teler cocktail, a house twist on the classic Indonesian fruit drink, which uses young coconut and a splash of rum. The best day to visit is Thursday or Friday, when the staff is more relaxed and the music stays low enough for conversation. Most tourists do not know that the Mercure's rooftop was originally designed as a private event space and only opened to the public in 2019 after a renovation that doubled its seating capacity. The connection to Medan's character is direct: this hotel sits in the heart of the old Deli Sultanate's administrative zone, and the view from above still frames the same low-rise commercial buildings that defined the city's early 20th-century boom.
One small complaint: the outdoor seating gets uncomfortably warm in peak summer if you arrive before 5 PM and the sun is still beating down on the west-facing side. Wait until the angle shifts.
The Oldest Sky Bar Medan Still Standing
Cambridge Hotel International — Rooftop Bar
Cambridge Hotel International on Jalan S. Parman has been a Medan institution since the 1990s, and its rooftop bar is one of the original sky bars Medan had before the concept became fashionable. The space is dated in the best way, think wood paneling, ceiling fans, and a bartender who has worked there for over a decade. The view is not panoramic in the modern sense. You look out over the traffic of S. Parman and the neon signs of the surrounding shophouses, which is honestly more atmospheric than any infinity pool could be. Order the Arak Bali, a local palm wine cocktail that the bar keeps in stock specifically for regulars who have been coming since the Suharto era. The best time to visit is early evening on a weekday, when the regulars, mostly older Chinese-Indonesian businessmen, are still nursing their first drink and the noise level is manageable. The insider detail most visitors miss is that the rooftop bar shares a kitchen with the hotel's ground-floor Chinese restaurant, and you can order the Cambridge's famous fried kway teow up here if you ask nicely. This place connects to Medan's history as a trading port where Hokkien and Malay cultures mixed, and the bar's clientele still reflects that blend.
The Modern Outdoor Bar Medan's New Generation Built
Grand CityHall — Level Up Rooftop
Grand CityHall on Jalan Balai Kota is Medan's attempt at a lifestyle complex, and its Level Up rooftop bar is the outdoor bar Medan's younger crowd gravitates toward on weekends. The space is open-air with string lights, a DJ booth, and a cocktail list that leans heavily on gin-based drinks. The view is decent, you can see the old Medan City Hall building and the Tjong A Fie Mansion in the distance, which grounds the experience in the city's colonial past even while the music is thoroughly contemporary. What makes it worth going is the Saturday night energy. Arrive around 7 PM, after the initial dinner crowd has thinned, and the rooftop fills with a mix of university students from USU (Universitas Sumatera Utara) and young professionals. Order the Medan Mule, a house specialty that uses local ginger and lime. The best day to visit is Saturday, when the DJ sets are livelier and the crowd is more social. Most tourists do not know that the rooftop was originally planned as a parking structure and was only converted to a bar in 2021 after the complex struggled to attract retail tenants. The connection to Medan's character is in the crowd: this is a city that reinvents its spaces quickly, and the rooftop is a perfect example of that adaptive energy.
Parking outside is a nightmare on weekends. Use a ride-hailing app or park in the basement garage, which most people forget exists.
The Quietest Rooftop on Jalan Gatot Subroto
Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel — Rooftop Pool Bar
Santika Premiere sits on Jalan Gatot Subroto, a slightly quieter corridor compared to Sudirman, and its rooftop pool bar is the one I go to when I want to read a book with a drink in hand. The space is small, maybe fifteen seats, and the view is oriented toward the eastern hills rather than the city center, which gives it a different feel from every other rooftop in this guide. What makes it worth going is the pool. You cannot swim, it is decorative, but the sound of the water feature combined with the hill view creates a calm that is rare in Medan. Order the Bandrek, a warm ginger drink the bar serves year-round despite the tropical heat, because the owner is from Bandung and insists. The best time to visit is late afternoon on a Sunday, when the hotel's weekend brunch crowd has left and the staff will let you stay past the official closing time if you are a regular. The insider detail: the rooftop was added during a 2017 renovation that also introduced the hotel's Javanese batik-themed interior design, and the bar's menu still reflects that cultural layering. This place connects to Medan's identity as a city of migrants, Javanese, Batak, Chinese, Malay, each group bringing their own traditions into shared spaces.
The Highest Point in Medan Bars with Views
Hotel Deli — Penthouse Lounge
Hotel Deli on Jalan Babura is not the tallest building in Medan, but its penthouse lounge sits at a height that gives you a 270-degree view of the city, including the old Deli River and the port area to the north. The space is intimate, maybe ten tables, and the cocktail menu is short but well-executed. What makes it worth going is the perspective. From this height, you can see the grid of Medan's old Dutch-planned center, the sprawl of the newer commercial districts, and on clear days, the smoke from palm oil processing plants on the eastern horizon. Order the Deli Old Fashioned, which uses local palm sugar instead of simple syrup. The best time to visit is just before sunset on a clear day, which in Medan means checking the weather app obsessively during the dry season (May to September). The best day is Tuesday or Wednesday, when the lounge is nearly empty. Most tourists do not know that the building was originally a tobacco trading office in the 1920s, and the penthouse level was the owner's private residence. The connection to Medan's history is literal: you are drinking in the same room where Dutch and Chinese merchants once negotiated the price of Sumatran tobacco.
Service slows down badly during lunch rush if you visit the ground-floor restaurant first and then head up. Go directly to the penthouse.
The Rooftop That Feels Like a Garden
Adimulia Hotel — Sky Garden Bar
Adimulia Hotel on Jalan Pangeran Diponegoro has a rooftop that is more garden than bar, with potted plants, wooden decking, and a view that faces the old Medan Cathedral and the surrounding residential neighborhood. The space is not trying to compete with the flashier rooftops on this list, and that is exactly why I keep coming back. What makes it worth going is the atmosphere. It feels like someone's well-maintained backyard, and the cocktail menu reflects that with drinks built around local fruits: jackfruit, salak, and markisa (passion fruit). Order the Markisa Sour, which is tart and refreshing and pairs well with the fried banana fritters the bar serves as a snack. The best time to visit is late afternoon, around 4:30 PM, when the light is soft and the heat has broken. The best day is any weekday, when the hotel's conference guests are downstairs and the rooftop is quiet. The insider detail: the garden was planted by the hotel's owner, a Medan-born botanist who sources plants from the Bukit Lawang area, and she occasionally gives informal tours if you ask at the front desk. This place connects to Medan's quieter, residential side, the neighborhoods where families have lived for generations and the pace of life is slower than the commercial center suggests.
The Nightlife Rooftop on Jalan Teuku Umar
Cambridge Hotel — New Wing Rooftop (Jalan Teuku Umar)
This is a different Cambridge property from the one on S. Parman, and its rooftop on Jalan Teuku Umar is louder, younger, and more oriented toward nightlife than the original. The space has a proper sound system, a dance floor, and a view of the Jalan Teuku Umar nightlife strip that is essentially Medan's answer to a red-light district, though tamer than that label suggests. What makes it worth going is the energy. If you want a rooftop that feels like a party, this is the one. Order the Bintang Bucket, a shared bucket of local beer that the bar serves with lime and chili salt on the rim. The best time to visit is after 9 PM on a Friday or Saturday, when the DJ starts and the crowd shifts from after-dinner drinkers to people who are here to stay. The best day is Friday, when the energy builds gradually rather than peaking too early. Most tourists do not know that the rooftop was originally a karaoke lounge and still has the soundproofing walls from that era, which is why the music does not bother the hotel guests below. The connection to Medan's character is in the street itself: Jalan Teuku Umar has been the city's nightlife corridor for decades, and the rooftop is just the latest version of a long tradition.
The Rooftop with the Best Food Pairing
Grand Swiss-Belhotel — Rooftop Restaurant and Bar
Grand Swiss-Belhotel on Jalan Iskandar Muda is primarily a business hotel, but its rooftop restaurant and bar is the one I recommend to people who want a proper meal with their view. The space is split between a dining area and a bar terrace, and the view covers the southern approach to Medan, including the old railway line and the residential neighborhoods that stretch toward Binjai. What makes it worth going is the food. The rooftop kitchen serves a Nasi Padang set that is genuinely good, rich rendang, crispy fried chicken, and sambal that has real heat. Order the Es Campur, a shaved ice dessert drink, alongside your meal. The best time to visit is early evening, around 6 PM, when you can eat dinner as the sun sets and then move to the bar terrace for a nightcap. The best day is any day except Sunday, when the kitchen closes early for staff rotation. The insider detail: the rooftop's kitchen is run by a chef from Pariaman (West Sumatra) who learned her recipes from her grandmother, and the rendang recipe has not changed since the hotel opened in 2015. This place connects to Medan's identity as a food city, a place where the Minangkabau influence from West Sumatra has shaped the local palate more than most visitors realize.
When to Go and What to Know
The best months for rooftop bar visits in Medan are May through September, the dry season, when the haze from forest fires is less likely to obscure the view. October through April brings rain, and while some rooftops have covered seating, the experience is diminished when you are watching the city through a curtain of water. Weekdays are generally quieter than weekends, and the best time to arrive for sunset is between 5:30 and 6:30 PM, depending on the season. Dress codes vary: the hotel rooftops (Mercure, Santika, Swiss-Bel) are smart casual, while the nightlife-oriented spots (Cambridge New Wing, Level Up) are more relaxed. Most rooftops close by midnight, though a few will stay open later on weekends if the crowd is strong. Ride-hailing apps (Grab and Gojek) are the easiest way to get around, as parking near most of these venues is limited and the traffic on Jalan Sudirman and Jalan S. Parman can be brutal after 6 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are credit cards widely accepted across Medan, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?
Credit cards are accepted at most hotel rooftop bars and upscale restaurants in Medan, particularly those attached to chains like Mercure, Santika, and Swiss-Bel. However, smaller independent bars, street food vendors, and local warungs operate almost exclusively on cash. It is advisable to carry at least 500,000 to 1,000,000 Indonesian Rupiah in cash per day for incidentals, transport, and smaller purchases. ATMs are widely available along Jalan Sudirman and Jalan S. Parman, though withdrawal limits vary by bank.
What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Medan?
Most hotel-affiliated restaurants and rooftop bars in Medan add a 10% service charge and a 11% government bill (totaling roughly 21%) to the final bill, which is displayed on the menu. Tipping beyond this is not expected but appreciated, usually rounding up or leaving 10,000 to 20,000 Rupiah for good service. At smaller, non-hotel venues, tipping is less common, and leaving small change or rounding up the bill is sufficient.
Is Medan expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier daily budget in Medan ranges from 600,000 to 1,200,000 Indonesian Rupiah (approximately 35 to 75 USD). This covers a hotel room (300,000 to 600,000 Rupiah), three meals at local restaurants (150,000 to 300,000 Rupiah), transport via ride-hailing (50,000 to 100,000 Rupiah), and one or two rooftop bar visits (100,000 to 200,000 Rupiang for drinks). Costs can rise significantly at upscale hotel bars where cocktails range from 80,000 to 150,000 Rupiah each.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Medan?
Pure vegetarian and vegan dining options are limited in Medan compared to cities like Bali or Jakarta. Most local dishes contain shrimp paste, fish sauce, or meat broth as a base. However, dedicated vegetarian restaurants exist, particularly in areas with Buddhist or Hindu communities around Jalan S. Parman and Jalan Semarang. Hotel restaurants and rooftop bars can usually accommodate vegetarian requests with advance notice, and plant-based staples like tempeh, tofu, and sayur lodeh (vegetable curry in coconut milk) are widely available at local Padang restaurants.
What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Medan?
A specialty coffee (manual brew, espresso-based drinks) at a proper café in Medan costs between 30,000 and 60,000 Indonesian Rupiah. Local tea, such as teh tarik or jasmine tea, is significantly cheaper, ranging from 8,000 to 20,000 Rupiah at most establishments. At hotel rooftop bars, expect to pay 40,000 to 80,000 Rupiah for coffee and 25,000 to 50,000 Rupiah for tea, reflecting the venue premium.
Enjoyed this guide? Support the work