San Francisco · California
San Francisco’s New 40th-Floor Rooftop Bar Is Made for Sunset
Forty floors above the Financial District, Weather Permitting pours seasonal cocktails, wine and zero-proof drinks with the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and Alcatraz all in view. Time it right and the whole city turns gold.
There are plenty of ways to see San Francisco. From the waterfront, the city rises behind the Bay. From the Golden Gate Bridge, the skyline becomes part of the landscape. But there is something different about watching San Francisco from 40 floors up, cocktail in hand, as the afternoon light begins to fade. That is the idea behind Weather Permitting, the new seasonal rooftop pop-up at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero.
Perched on the hotel’s 40th-floor outdoor terrace, it pairs handcrafted cocktails, wine and zero-proof drinks with sweeping views across the Bay. For a San Francisco weekend, it is exactly the kind of stop that turns an ordinary late afternoon into a highlight of the trip.
The best reason to go isn’t simply to have a drink. It’s to watch the city change around you.
5 Reasons to Go to Weather Permitting
- The view. Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz and the Bay in one panorama.
- The timing. Open from 3 p.m. until sundown, built around golden hour.
- The height. A 1,600-square-foot terrace on the 40th floor.
- The drinks. Seasonal cocktails, premium wine and zero-proof options.
- The location. In the Financial District, an easy stop between sightseeing and dinner.
A rooftop built for golden hour
Weather Permitting runs Friday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until sundown, which makes it less a late-night rooftop bar than a destination for the city’s golden hour. From the terrace, the Bay stretches into the distance and some of San Francisco’s most recognizable landmarks fill the horizon, a backdrop no street-level bar could match. And from the 40th floor, the perspective is entirely different from anything you see walking downtown.
The best time to go: before sunset
Arrive in the latter part of the afternoon. The pop-up opens at 3 p.m., giving you time to settle in with a drink before the sun begins its descent, and as the light shifts, the bridges, buildings and water take on a completely different character. It is a natural fit for couples looking for a romantic stop, friends wanting somewhere memorable to meet, or travelers who would rather see San Francisco from above than rush between attractions. The same terrace also hosts the hotel’s Sky Flow Yoga sessions, a sign of just how special the setting is.
What to drink
The menu is built around the season, with handcrafted cocktails from the hotel’s lead bartenders, premium wines and zero-proof drinks, so anyone in your group can enjoy the terrace and the sunset whether or not they drink alcohol. The point isn’t a sprawling list; it’s having something good in your glass while one of America’s most beautiful cities unfolds below you.
The view is the main event
San Francisco has no shortage of famous viewpoints, but this is one of the most comfortable ways to take one in. Instead of standing on a crowded overlook, you sit down, order a drink and stay awhile, looking across the Bay toward the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge, with Alcatraz in the panorama. The terrace itself covers about 1,600 square feet, so it never feels like a viewing platform.
How to fit it into a San Francisco weekend
Weather Permitting slots easily into a day of exploring. Spend the morning in Chinatown or North Beach, wander toward the waterfront in the afternoon, browse the Ferry Building or Jackson Square, then head to Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero in time for a drink upstairs. The hotel sits at 222 Sansome Street in the Financial District, within easy reach of Union Square, the Ferry Building, Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf, which makes the rooftop a perfect bridge between sightseeing and dinner.
Make it an overnight
For a full luxury escape, book a stay. Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero occupies the top 11 floors of its 48-story building, so panoramic views are part of the whole experience, not just the rooftop. At launch, the hotel also introduced an Experience More offer with a hotel credit for room and suite stays that could be used toward dining at Orafo, drinks at Weather Permitting and other hotel experiences; ask whether it is still available when you book. Check in, head upstairs for sunset, enjoy dinner downstairs and never leave the building.
Is it worth it?
For anyone who loves rooftop bars, sunset views and memorable hotel experiences, yes. Weather Permitting isn’t trying to compete with San Francisco’s late-night cocktail scene. Its appeal is simpler: come up in the afternoon, order something seasonal, find a seat over the Bay and watch the city slip from daylight into evening, one of the best skylines in America, from the 40th floor.
Weather Permitting — At a Glance
- Where
- 40th-floor terrace, Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero, 222 Sansome Street
- Hours
- Friday–Sunday, 3 p.m. until sundown; seasonal and weather dependent
- Drinks
- Seasonal cocktails, premium wines, zero-proof options
- Views
- Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay
- Best time
- Late afternoon, ahead of sunset
- Tip
- Confirm current days and conditions with the hotel before you go
Plan Your Stay
Book a room at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero, plan your arrival for golden hour and save dinner for Orafo.
Reserve at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at EmbarcaderoFrequently Asked Questions
What is Weather Permitting in San Francisco?
Weather Permitting is a seasonal open-air pop-up bar on the 40th-floor terrace of Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero, serving handcrafted cocktails, premium wines and zero-proof drinks with panoramic views of San Francisco and the Bay.
Where is Weather Permitting located?
Weather Permitting is at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero, 222 Sansome Street, in San Francisco’s Financial District.
What can you see from the Weather Permitting rooftop?
The 40th-floor terrace looks out over the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay and the city skyline.
When is Weather Permitting open?
The seasonal pop-up has been open Friday through Sunday from 3 p.m. until sundown. Because it is outdoors, it operates weather permitting, so confirm current days and conditions with the hotel before you go.
Does Weather Permitting serve nonalcoholic drinks?
Yes. Alongside handcrafted cocktails and premium wines, the menu includes zero-proof drinks.
What is the best time to go to Weather Permitting?
Arrive in the late afternoon, ahead of sunset. The pop-up opens at 3 p.m. and is designed around golden hour, when the bridges and Bay change color as the light fades.
Is Weather Permitting open to non-hotel guests?
Four Seasons promotes Weather Permitting as an experience at the hotel and has not announced a guests-only restriction, but access and reservation requirements can change, so contact the hotel to confirm before visiting.
What else happens on the 40th-floor terrace?
Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero also hosts Sky Flow Yoga on the open-air 40th-floor terrace, weather permitting, in collaboration with Nob Hill Yoga.
This article may contain sponsored or partner content and affiliate links; see our Editorial Policy & Advertiser Disclosure. Hours, offers and availability are subject to change.
