Kaiyō Rooftop

There is much to appreciate about Kaiyō’s second location atop the Hyatt Place Hotel. The most obvious one is clearly spelled out in the name. And as far as SF rooftops go, Kaiyō is up there with the best of the best. The tropical space is filled with lush greenery, amazing views (seriously, you can see Twin Peaks and the Bay Bridge), and while we love the restaurant space for a sit-down meal, the bar area is where it’s at, in part because it’s very pretty to look at—emerald green tiles, arches over the back bar, Japanese lantern lampshades—but also because of Nikkei-inspired cocktails (including several in large format), pisco sours, and an extensive list of Japanese sake and whisky. There’s also a wood panel roof above the bar area, which allows for plenty of built-in heaters—a key to any true SF rooftop enjoyment.

On the top of the Hyatt Place Hotel, less than a block away from the ballpark, you’ll find the second location of this Peruvian-Nikkei bar and lounge, only this one is even more bustling thanks to its open-air concept, stylish design, and sweeping views of everything from the Bay Bridge to Sutro Tower. Stop by for a Pisco Sour at the oversized bar covered with emerald tiles, or reserve a table where you can enjoy a range of tiraditos, cebiche, sushi, and rolls.
How to book: Walk-ins welcome.

KAIYŌ Rooftop, on the top of the Hyatt Place Hotel in SOMA, was an important new entry in San Francisco’s rooftop canon when it opened this winter. In addition to being a showcase for chef Alex Reccio’s distinctive blend of Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, which marries Peruvian flavors with Japanese technique, it's got some seriously stunning views—you can scope downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island while sipping your Suntory highball. The 3,300-square-foot space is lush with plants that offset the gorgeous, jade green tiled bar and is half a block away from Oracle Park, making it a necessary pre- or post-Giants game destination.

We’ve always been a big fan of the fresh and colorful Peruvian Nikkei cuisine featured at Cow Hollow’s Kaiyō, so you can imagine our excitement when we learned the team was opening up a rooftop bar and restaurant on the 12th floor of the Hyatt Place Hotel. The spinoff has tropical vacation vibes—with vibrant colors and lush greenery and palm trees throughout. The oversized bar is a stunning centerpiece with curved arches, emerald green tiles, and hanging woven lanterns. But there’s truly not a bad seat in the house, helped out by the fact that the restaurant wraps around the building, so there are magnificent views from the Bay Bridge all the way to Sutro Tower. The food—highlights include the tiraditos, cebiches, and sushi rolls—is all meant to be shared and is designed to go with the Nikkei-inspired cocktails (go with a group so you can take advantage of the large-format options). There are plenty of heat lamps (plus more permanent and even warmer solutions en route), but you’ll still want to wear your jacket. How to enjoy: Reservations are available on Yelp.