As temperatures continue to rise, nothing beats the feeling of sipping chilled cocktails on an outdoor patio. This summer, throw on a pair of shades and elevate your average al fresco dining experience by making your way up to any one of these area rooftop bars—complete with comfy lounge furniture, seasonal eats and drinks, and exceptional sunset views.

Blue Hill Tavern Within eyesight of the winking Natty Boh, Blue Hill Tavern is an upscale dining and cocktail option in Brewer’s Hill. For a more casual vibe, head upstairs where a side balcony and rear rooftop deck offer unparalleled views of the city. We recommend taking in the vista while sipping a dirty martini with blue-cheese-stuffed olives. 938 S. Conkling St., 443-388-9363.

Café Gia This intimate Little Italy restaurant does a lot of things right—including bruschetta and eggplant Parmesan. But we especially love the New Orleans-style deck, which would make for a romantic setting to watch Inner Harbor fireworks or other Star-Spangled 200 events. 410 S. High St., 410-685-6727.

The Chasseur: With a menu of New American fare and plenty of microbrews on tap, this Canton corner bar has gained a devoted following throughout the years. And the restaurant now boasts even more amenities with a top-level space that is perfect for taking in the summer sunshine. Management has added an entire third floor to the building, which acts as an indoor-outdoor area with retractable garage-style doors that lead out to a patio with high-top tables and television screens. Be sure to take advantage of the full raw bar and selection of summer sips including refreshing Crushes. 3328 Foster Ave., 410-327-6984

The Greene Turtle Towson: A favorite of Towson University students, this laid-back roof deck has all of the essentials: roll-up garage doors, glowing strung lights, and even round patio tables with built-in fire pits. Soak up some sun while chowing down on pub grub (you can’t go wrong with the soft pretzels and creamy crab dip) and sipping an ice-cold Orange Crush. 408 York Road, Towson, 410-825-3980

LB Skybar: At the historic Lord Baltimore Hotel in the heart of the city, take the elevator all the way up to the nineteenth floor to arrive at this luxe hideaway. The top-level bar features comfy lounge furniture, glowing lanterns, and a shareable menu of seasonal eats and drinks. Look out for charcuterie platters, pressed paninis, and shrimp salad sliders paired with cocktails like the “SkyCollins” (lime vodka, ginger syrup, and lemon juice) and the “SkyBreeze,” which combines vodka, muddled cucumber, and strawberries. 20 W. Baltimore St., 855-539-1928

L.P. Steamers
This crab house is an institution and it’s also a stone’s throw away from Fort McHenry. But, the best part is that L.P. Steamers has a rooftop deck full of picnic tables for cracking crabs, drinking beer out of plastic cups, and enjoying the harbor views. 1100 E. Fort Ave., 410-576-9294.

Mt. Washington Tavern: This multi-level neighborhood haunt has a different dining space for every occasion. There’s the casual front bar, Hunt Cup-themed Pimlico Room, and seafood-inspired Chesapeake dining room. But the upstairs Skybar is not to be missed with its flat screens, comfy outdoor sofas, and killer views. Grab a cocktail and order a snack while watching the sun set over Mt. Washington. 5700 Newbury St., 410-367-6903

Nick’s Fish House
With multi-level decks overlooking the Patapsco River and Hanover Street Bridge, Nick’s Fish House has one of the best views in town. Nick’s also features plenty of seafood options (hard-shell crabs, calamari, lime mussels) and drinks like the state signature Orange Crush or $12 beer buckets. 2600 Insulator Dr., 410-347-4123.

Splash Pool Bar & Grill
Though you technically have to be a guest at the spa to have access to the Four Seasons Hotel’s rooftop terrace, once you get up there, the water view is breathtaking. An infinity pool practically spills out onto the harbor and the bar offers treats like poptails (frozen, boozy popsicles). 200 International Dr., 410-576-5800.

Woody’s Rum Bar
Located above both Sláinte and Kooper’s , Woody’s Rum Bar boasts a third-floor balcony and delicious food and drinks. You’d be hard pressed to find a more relaxing time than sipping on a daiquiri, chowing down on fish tacos, and staring out onto the cobblestoned Fells Point waterfront. 821 S. Broadway, 410-563-6800.

Upgrade your tablescape with personalized marble tiles.

Don’t fret if you don’t have enough seating on hand for all of your guests: Scatter outdoor poufs and lay small rugs for a laid-back lounge area.

Bonus Buy: My wife, Becky, and I have lived here for five years. The rooftop deck and outdoor space were big selling points for us.

Back to Basics: We were drawn to a clean and classic style. We favored a handcrafted design and reclaimed materials that will likely stand the test of time—and three young kids.

Lending a Local Hand: Ann Angelella of design firm Ann Lane helped with the layout. She made the space cozy and divided it up into several areas. We gave her a travel theme. For the rooftop interior area, we have red wallpaper with maps on it, which leads out onto the deck area, and we chose red furniture to coordinate with that. Local design restoration company Frenchmen White built the butcher-block table.

World Travelers: The travel theme runs throughout the house. There is a photo wall near the kids’ rooms with memories of our travels through Europe, Colorado, and the Southwest. We also have great views of the harbor from our deck, which reminds us that our adventures begin at our doorstep. As you approach the deck, the world map wallpaper helps to tie it all together.

Green Thumb: Throughout the deck are flowers, raised garden beds, and topiary boxwoods. We also plant vegetables, like peppers, carrots, beans, and onions. It’s like a science fair project for the kids.

Front-Row Seats: We often do family dinners on the deck while we watch the Downtown Sailing Club races. It’s the ideal spot for fireworks, too. They are practically over your head as the barge is directly in front of us in the harbor.