Really liked the ambiance of this place. It's a fun rooftop overlooking Salem. Prices are expensive but you're in the middle of everything in town. Drinks and food were nothing spectacular but not bad either. I would still recommend if you're looking to hang out with friends on a nice day/evening. read more

The items we got were good - but there are things about the restaurant itself I would change. Like why are some beers in coolers on the ground.. also the "drink dump" bucket is right in eyesight of where I was sitting and that whole desk on the edge of the dining room just looked a mess. There was pollen covering our table. I'm not tryna be a hater but we had planned to grab dinner here but due to those things and the insane wind ( ik they can't control the wind ) we ultimately just decided to leave before ordering our Entrees. Definitely worth going up for 1 drink and a photo but other than that... read more

My husband and I are guests at the hotel and were feeling lazy. I'm not sure if the restaurant is still The Roof if you're eating inside during the winter? Regardless, I was very pleased with the service tonight. My husband has an allium allergy and the team were helpful in finding something he could enjoy after learning there was garlic powder in the original dish he wanted. The kitchen even sent out homemade chips when his dish took a bit longer than mine. My burger was delicious and I always appreciate a hand cut french fry. Nothing fancy, but very well done with thoughtful service. read more

My husband and I love a good Rooftop Bar, and when we saw this spot, we decided we had to give it a try. It does have some good views over the main street in Salem, but other than that, you can't see much. The drink menu is really cool, but very overpriced. Especially when drinks come in plastic cups. They had some nice seasonal drinks to choose from which was cool. Food was the same, they had some items that looked really appetizing but then they came out on paper goods and really small portions. Way overpriced for what you get. We got the nachos and they were good but just disappointing for what we would have expected from the way this spot was marketed/the price point. It was cool to stop in here but definitely a touristy trap. read more

This is a 3.5/5 stars for me, skip if you're hungry for nachos but love it for drinks! My sister and I went here today because it was gorgeous out and were greeted by a lovely hostess. We got a nice seat with a beautiful view (see pic). Attentive waitstaff, I got the Mule on the Beach for only $12 and it was super good, and my sister got a corona with lime. The nachos though... I normally wouldn't pay $8 for nachos like this but I understand we're paying for the view. They were cold and flavorless, with a sprinkling of liquid cheese and feta? $16 for "nachos" is kind of crazy. Still, if you want a great view of Salem and service, this is the place! read more

The Roof - Nachos ($16) with guac side ($4) - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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I stopped by here with a friend to grab a quick drink one Friday night. When you step into The Hotel Salem, keep walking towards the back and you will get to the elevator. Go all the way up to the top and you will get to the rooftop bar. Up there they have tables, benches, and some comfortable lounge seats, as well as the typical bar stools. Our waitress was friendly and gave suggestions from their intricate cocktail menu. We each had a drink off the menu and then one specialty drink that the bartenders were able to whip up. On a midsummer night, with the sun down, it was a very pleasant temperature up there and the views of downtown Salem in all directions were great. Highly recommend the next time you want to grab a quick drink out on the town. read more

Bathrooms available, no parking in October. I give it 4 stars because it's a great view/location and good drinks. But food was eh like just okay. I was told frose wasn't that great and I got the rose sangria and it was awesome. The view amazing. Our server was so fast. Somehow we got up pretty soon. They forgot about us after we put our name in and all these parties of 4 were heading up that came after us (we are a party of 3), so just make sure to ask about your place if this is the case. We got tacos and guacamole. Healthy serving of guacamole. Good chunky guac too. Tacos were okay. Chicken was bland but steak was okay. Just not amazing food but it was cool. read more

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The food is seriously awful, I had a soggy quesadilla which I promise you is as awful as it sounds. Service is pretty non existent with most of the staff more worried about chatting than taking care of people. My waitress dropped off my check, looked at it and realized she didn't leave a pen but then just proceeded to walk away. I got up and found my own pen. The view up here is pretty wonderful. Come grab a drink, avoid the food and don't expect anything from the staff. read more

Came with a group of 7 last night. Courtney was our server and did an excellent job taking care of us. The location is lovely, right on Essex Street, and the views are the best. We started off with wings, guacamole, and the stacked beef quesadilla. Wings lacked flavor, and the onions were barely sauteed and cold, but they were cooked well. The guac was deemed super fresh with a lovely lime taste, but the abundance of lettuce leaves on the bottom was not needed. The quesadilla was an interesting concept that didn't quite work; however, the beef was seasoned well. While the start did not do much to impress me. All the mains were on point. Many chose burritos, and I had the shrimp po boy special, which was very good and just the right size for my appetite. The sauce was zingy and really made the mini sandwiches shine. This was an exceptional place to celebrate a friend's birthday and have a casual night out. While I don't think the food is the star here, it was better than what I was expecting, especially after the weak start with the apps! We will be back! read more

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We had an amazing experience here ! We were greeted at the front by a very kind host, he gave us an option of downstairs or rooftop seating. We chose the rooftop. As we walked in, another employee greeted us and showed us where the elevator was located. As we arrived to the roof top, we were greeted by a very rude host. Her name is Talia. She asked us "how many?" We told her, and she literally just walked away. Didn't tell us to follow, just straight walked away. Like.. maybe follow up with "please follow me, or right this way.." lmao NOTHING. (And as we left... we walked right past her and she said nothing. "Have a great day !" Lmaooo NOTHING . Not sure if she's like this with everyone but...gives a first bad impression) We pushed past it because we were really hungry. As soon as we sat down we were greeted by the most sweetest & kind-est server ever. Her name is Lauren A. At least that's what it said on the receipt. She turned things around, and she was AMAZING. So kind and very attentive. The reviews say a lot of negative things about the food, and I have no idea why. The food was amazing, and piping hot! Loved every single bite! If we are ever in Salem again, we'll definitely stop by! read more

Was excited to try this place based on TikTok reviews but it was a huge letdown. Don't waste your time, there are MUCH better places in Salem to eat. Drinks were small and expensive. Taste was just ok. Food was embarrassing. Overpriced for poor bar food. We didn't get anything that looked like what people were showing on the TikTok reviews. Nachos were ok. Tried cauliflower tacos and chicken tacos which were poor. Quesadilla also poor. Seriously, I rarely give a low rating and the food was disappointing. Atmosphere was pleasant and staff were friendly and attentive but waitress got our order wrong. Wouldn't go back. read more

The birria was soggy and covered in sauce and tasted only like cinnamon. They were out of many different wines. Service and view were good. Skip if you are looking for a good meal. read more

Why this place doesn't have at least 4 stars is beyond me. The bartenders are amazing, definitely the biggest selling point on us going three times in one day. The view is incredible and the drinks are good but the staff is the best! I think I ordered at least three apple cider mimosas which are one of my favorites as well as a few autumn mules. We did not eat at The Roof but it was pretty quick to get a seat at the bar. Next time I am in Salem I will absolutely be back. read more

The Roof - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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My family and I came in here right before last call a few weeks ago and had a great drink! The modern rooftop vibe is unlike anything else we found in Salem. There is lots of seating and they have fun cocktails! I tried the Apple cider mimosa and it was the perfect fall drink! The cinnamon "goo" (for lack of a better work lol!) was a nice addition on the rim. Everyone enjoyed their wine or cocktails and we had a great night out here! I'd definitely recommend checking out if you're here on vacation, even if you aren't staying in this hotel! read more

The Roof - Apple Cider Mimosa - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Loved the view on the roof. The nachos were perfect to split for lunch. The orange blossom margarita was too good. It was a bit chilly and windy, so just something to consider - the weather. read more

The Roof - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Food was amazing, the lobster quesadilla was surprisingly delicious. The drinks were so fun, we had the White Russians and the apple cider mimosas. Our server Caroline was the best part though, she was so friendly and accommodating that we ended up buying more than we expected with no regrets. All of the staff was happy and professional actually but Caroline was a cut above. Awesome Experience read more

The Roof - Lobster Quesadilla and crab dip - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Made plans with my cousins to grab some drinks in Salem. One cousins suggested this place that we ended up arriving around 8. Fortunately there was no line so we were able to go right up the elevator and get seated pretty quickly. Drinks took a while to arrive with our first waitress but another cousin happened to know a different waiter who was able to obtain our drinks more efficiently. We had a couple rounds of the organs blossom, prickle pears, and the mule on the beach which were all decent. For snacks we got the shrimp tacos and loaded nachos with what I believe to be beef. The tortillas for the tacos were completely flaccid as it was not toasted and filling looked to be not the best. Nacho were decent with the almost watery guacamole. Overall, it was a decent experience with a nice view of the city. Service was good while food and drinks were subpar. Might come again in the future and then go somewhere else after since they do close at 11. read more

The Roof - Shrimp tacos (second in background) - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Chose this spot on a busy weekend day because it was the only place without a line. It had a great view of Salem, but that's all it had going for it. We shared a few plates, nothing was particularly good. Service was spotty, even sitting at the bar, we had to wait 20+ mins to get the check. read more

The Roof - Mexican Street Corn Dip - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

My friend and I stayed at Hotel Salem, and made sure to check out The Roof. We stopped by for a drink one night, I wish I had gotten the name of the blonde female bartender. She was super nice and personable. I didn't order a drink because I had heartburn, she even offered to see if she could find me some antacids. So sweet! We stopped by for lunch on Wed 10/28, our server was very friendly and offered to make a special margarita that had prickly pear. I was asking her if I should order the burrito or bowl, as I couldn't make up my mind. She suggested that I get the bowl and do half and half with rice and salad. It was pretty yummy. My friend enjoyed her pork tacos, especially the pickled veggies on the side. She did mention that she wished the tortillas were warmer. All in all, great views of Salem, a fun spot to hang out. Food came out quick and the staff was fantastic. read more

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Go for the view for sure. Relaxing atmosphere with typical bar menu and drinks. Appreciate that it's not a loud bar with loud music. Friends were satisfied with the quesadillas, I would not recommend the nachos (lackluster as I ordered the meat free version). read more

Definitely something to come check out once and enjoy a beer over looking Salem. I prob wouldn't come back, service lacked, seats were moist, table was pretty wet. It was a nice view and cute ambiance but it did lack music. read more

The Roof - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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A nice view of the surrounding area. The lobster quesadilla pretty good. The drinks were the star of the show! Highly recommend stopping by. Service was good also. read more

The Roof - Caribbean Punch - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Mexican restaurant on top of hotel roof. Food was a little bland, but expected at American Mexican restaurants. It's located in the middle of Salem and while it is a rooftop view, you are looking at the top of old buildings, which isn't the most spectacular. They have cocktails and a nice selection of food. Overall, some thing different if you're not in the mood for the typical fast food mall food. read more

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Good service and a nice view over the rooftops of historical salem! Nice bar offerings that were well mixed and some decent Mexican fare, nothing too authentic though. Could use a bit more shade up top read more

The Roof - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I don't typically leave reviews, but I felt compelled to on this one. We went in the other day right as it opened, and the staff were friendly, attentive, and very kind. Our waitress was really nice. We ordered margaritas and nachos. The drinks were super strong (hence the one star). The nachos were terrible. The chips were stale, and the chicken was cold. Not lukewarm--literally cold. COLD. How do you mess up nachos? The cheese was barely on 1/3 of the chips, and it was watery and tasteless... I'm still baffled by how you mess up nachos. If you're thinking about eating here, avoid it like the plague. If you want drinks--okay. If it's a hot day, they have two tables with shade. (How do you own a boujee boutique hotel and not put sun umbrellas on the roof deck?) 1 star because the drinks were served with ice and were strong read more

The Roof - Nachos - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

only 5... FIVE shrimp for the shrimp cocktail..... what the eff. though i suppose they were well seasoned. 18 dollars read more

The Roof - shrimp cocktail - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

This was okay. The roof top was cool. The lobster quesadilla might be one of the best quesadillas I've ever eaten!! Loved it!! We went upstairs because the person outside mentioned Frosé (my favorite) but they didn't have any. Such a let down. Service was a little slow, but that's because there weren't enough servers given the number of people there-so not their fault! The beer was warmer than I'd like but I liked the flavor. That lobster quesadilla might be worth another visit and maybe this time they will have frosé!! read more

The Roof - Lobster quesadilla - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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After a long Halloween season we were finally able to use the deck again on a Friday night. The weather was immaculate so came up here to grab an app and drinks. Service: Wonderful. Kudos to staff who must have had a tough Halloween season crowd. Food: nachos are excellent. I was surprised how good they were tbh. Well flavored and cheese hit all the marks. Only reccomendation is maybe some more topping (tomatoes, onions). Drinks: Well balance fall mules with unique taste. All in all look forward to enjoying deck nights as we can before winter hits. read more

The Roof - View - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Came in at 8:45 on a Saturday. We got seating within 10 mins. Drinks were strong, we got ceviche which wasn't bad but not amazing. The spice bacon crab dip was good. Had a nice kick. The taco salad was good. The only negative was our service. Drinks took a while to get,even non alcoholic . Once our food got to the table our server didn't check on us again. I asked for extra dressing and it took like 10 mins because he said they had to make it fresh . The place had such potential but unfortunately just totally put us all to sleep. No music or anything. To top it off, In the beginning we asked for separate checks. At the end she brought us one check and asked us to write numbers next to what we got. read more

Nice location. That's about it. The drinks are not strong. The food is meh. Servings are small. Service was slow. No umbrellas on roof so if it's sunny, it's hot!! read more

Food was fresh, service was friendly and attentive. Rooftop seating was a great atmosphere. read more

The Roof - View from our table - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Have decent food that doesn't taste premade and sitting in the fridge all day and doesn't taste bland, and have nacho chips that aren't so stale and hard that they could punch a hole into a battleship. Also, the music is too loud read more

I was so excited to try The Roof. But first before I do this review please know our waitress was so sweet and did a great job! Also it is not the restraunts fault it was freezing cold in June. Now on to my honest review. 1. The tiki decor was so strange with menu full of tacos, so the concept seems confused, which likely feeds my next comment. 2. The prices were high but expected at a "hotel rooftop bar" 3. The guacamole had no flavor at all! No salt, no pepper, no lime terrible. 4. We added the lobster and sweet corn salsa. There was a healthy amount of lobster but again no seasoning on the lobster and it was literally just corn on guacamole, no onion or anything else that would say salsa just corn. 6. The ancho chilli chips tasted old and hard and again no flavor, possibly salt but nothing else. 5. In an attempt to save 24 dollar guacamole we asked for lime and hot sauce, the hot sauce was gas station texas Pete's, which I like but realllyyy that is the best a tiki-taco-roof top can come up with. Always I would highly not recommend unless you are just going to drinks or you have a health condition that requires you to keep your taste buds in a comma. Just sad for a place known for spice trade. read more

The Roof - Guacamole woth Lobster and sweet corn salsa. - Bars Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

We hit East Regiment Brewing, but they were only selling beer to go but they weren't serving. Walking back to Derby I saw the Hotel Salem and I was like "OMG I haven't been to the Roof yet. You wanna go here instead?" Mike was down to check it out, he didn't know about it. I awkwardly asked if we could bring in our beer, the girl at the front advised we could try but couldn't promise it be cool with the staff at the bar. We went to the Roof and informed the host that we had beer, but swore we weren't gonna drink it, we had come from the brewery and looking for food and drinks. "That's alright guys, I'll show you to your table. Here, you even have space to put your beer down." Super accommodating, I super appreciated it but was totally understanding if their answer was no. Having been open a couple of years, I had been wanting to check this place out. I mean, you are having drinks at a bar, on the roof of a building overlooking the Essex Street pedestrian section with additional view of the surrounding Downtown area. Of course our server said "oh, you just missed the sunset. Most people come in around that time." Then I realized that the view of the sun setting over Salem would be an absolute delight at the end of the day. Another reason to return! Even still, it was an awesome view at dusk while enjoying nachos and drinks with my friend Mike. We just hung out, chilled; our server, she was so polite and sweet, and checked in at appropriate times. Super attentive. It made the night wonderful. We picked away at nachos, chatted, made predictions on our friend Joe's big news, and I absorbed the views from our spot. I couldn't have asked for a better end to the night. read more

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The food was tasteless and they gave us plastic utensils to eat our food with. The street corn dip was cold, when I expected it to be warm. They gave me lettuce, not a salad, with my tacos and no dressing. Also the churros were advertised as being filled with caramel and chocolate sauce but they only gave us chocolate sauce on the side. They also had way too much cinnamon on them, they tasted so bitter. For the price, the quality was very poor. They also do not have heaters and it was freezing out. The space has potential but needs a whole menu redo. The only thing good about our experience was our server, Lily. read more

The view was awesome and good atmosphere. Service was prompt and friendly. Food was decent, lacking seasoning and flavor in some dishes but still pretty good. Overall good place to check out. Drinks were amazing. read more

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Pescado Tacos - MKT Nachos w/ shredded chicken - $18 Sangria - $12 If you're around the North Shore area & looking for a rooftop, check this place out! The Roof is Salem's only rooftop bar & restaurant. It's located at the top of the Hotel Salem, right in downtown. The tacos were pretty good, the shrimp gave that freshly grilled taste. The nachos were alright! The sangria was a house recipe w/ rose, watermelon, lychee, fresh fruit & juice. It was really good but it watered down super quick due to so much ice in the drink. I do feel that the food + drinks are expensive for what you're given, but I guess you pay for the view as well. Despite the price, the view is spectacular. You have a panoramic skyline view of Salem, which is perfect for pictures. I definitely recommend this place for the view. It's a cozy place for you to chill & talk shit with your friends. Definitely will come back to hang out with friends in the summer if I'm in the area. Disclaimer: They do not accept reservations - first come, first serve Parking: Street parking - busy area downtown COVID-19 Safety Precautions: Distance between tables, staff wore masks & had cleaning protocol. read more

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I love The Roof. Rooftop bars have been somewhat underutilized in the region until recently, so it's great to see more popping up. And it definitely adds some panache to Salem. My sister and I got in line at exactly 2 p.m. on a beautiful Saturday, and were sixth in line. We had swung by the hotel ten minutes prior and there was no line. The bar opened a little late, which is annoying, but at least they space out letting people up so it doesn't get too overcrowded. The staff was really nice and explained where to go and chatted with us. The bar got busy, but not overly crowded, fairly quick. We got some great bar seats that were under a shade, which is appreciated. Our bartender was really friendly. I had the strawberry habanero margarita and the Fog Cutter; she had the frose and Roof Punch. The frose was good and not too sweet, but it wasn't served fully frozen, so it seems they were a little unprepared. The alcohol in the margarita snuck up on me and it had a nice bit of heat. I loved the Fog Cutter. It was super strong and it's served in a gorgeous owl mug. Roof Punch was also strong and the clear tiki glasses are a nice touch. The prices are definitely city prices. I'm used to paying them; I still think they are too high. But at least the drinks were strong. I'd try the food upon returning. The Roof is great and I look forward to returning when I'm home. read more

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Very disappointed in the service of this place. It seems as though the employees did not want to serve us and it was definitely evident when we decided not to leave a tip on a drink order. The rude lady server proceeded to follow us out of the restaurant and express how upset she was that we decided not to tip. When we apologized (even though we were poorly treated) she proceeded to say "You guys are some great people. Very disappointing. Don't you know we make a living based on your tips?!" Very sarcastically. Not sure if this is common for Salem but servers like these definitely don't deserve tips and most definitely are not entitled to our hard earned money. So glad we didn't leave her a tip! read more

Food was absolutely terrible. They got our orders wrong and did not take precautions to protect their guests from getting hit by their food trays because of the wind. Great server she was very nice! The food came out after a half an hour. Never going there again... read more