Gran Hotel La Florida, Barcelona
High above Barcelona, on Mount Tibidabo, Gran Hotel La Florida is not a hotel for sightseers, shoppers or party weekenders. Its a hotel to escape to, mixing lazy afternoons stretched out by the pool with maybe the odd trip into town. (Maybe ) On the room front, if you cant quite stretch to a suite, Rooms 302 and 402 also have private terraces and stunning views out over the city and to the Mediterranean beyond.
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Hotel on Rivington, New York City
Unlike La Florida, Hotel on Rivington is right in the thick of the Lower East Side. But at 21 storeys, the hotel is the tallest building in the neighbourhood, and high above the noisy streets in one of their suites you really wouldnt know it. Most of the higher rooms have jaw-dropping views of the Empire State Building and the Williamsburg, Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges from their floor-to-ceiling windows. But for the ultimate sight of New York's glittering cityscape at night, its got to be either the Owners Suite or the Penthouse Suite.
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Sumahan on the Water, Istanbul
The clues in the name for this Istanbul hotel A former raki factory stretched out on the banks of the Bosphorus, all the rooms at Sumahan on the Water face straight out onto the water. The views of the Bosphorus Bridge, lit up at night, from the terrace restaurant are fabulous, and after dinner you can retreat to your room, lie in bed and watch the boats drift slowly past your window.
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Portrait Suites, Rome
The penthouse at Portrait Suites is possibly one of the most dramatic city suites not just in Rome, but anywhere else, too. A duplex (with its own gym, no less) it opens out onto an expansive terrace and views of the lovely Trinita dei Monte church. And if the views from many of the rooms are good, then those from the rooftop terrace (with cocktail in hand), are even better.
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Hotel Savoy, Florence
Over in Florence, Hotel Savoy certainly doesnt suffer by comparison with anywhere its bigger neighbour can offer in the vistas department. The rooms on the second and fourth floors are good bets throw open your terrace and you almost feel like youre down with the strolling couples on the Piazza della Repubblica. But Executive Suite 401 is a bit special its got a so-close-you-can-touch-it view of the delicate marble and brickwork of the Duomo.
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Great view a must from your hotel? Keep an eye out for our upcoming pick of the best rural hotel views...
In the meantime, if its dramatic cityscapes youre after, check out our favourite hotels with rooftop pools. Or browse all ELLE escapes places to stay.
