Philadelphia Weekly

What is it about ant-sized pedestrians milling about beneath you that makes cocktails headier and food more delicious? As though dining outdoors weren't enough of a treat on a balmy summer day, add some height to the equation and you've got a recipe for what may be the perfect warm-weather dining experience. Philly's not exactly packed with restaurant roof decks, but here are a few to satisfy your need for a vista with your burger on a hot summer day.

If you're terminally trendy: Probably Philly's best-known roof deck, Continental Mid-Town's (1801 Chestnut St. 215.567.1800) partially enclosed retro patio has lost some of that delicious rooftop vertigo factor with the addition of an actual roof that covers much of the space. Sliding glass doors create a back-porch feel and mean the deck stays warmer on chilly nights, but also diminish the soaring, open sensation that made this rooftop so hot to begin with. The somewhat recessed garden area, complete with trees among the tables, is your best bet for a real outdoorsy dining experience.

If beer's your bag: It's not exactly a roof deck, since it's not on the actual top of the building, but Standard Tap's (Second and Poplar sts. 215.238.0630) outdoor dining space, adjacent to its second-floor dining room and bar area, is a recessed little nook perfect for swilling some of the local brews the place keeps on draught. The space is packed with tables but doesn't feel crowded, and the vibe is relaxed and informal.

If you're a culture vulture: The menu is pretty much what you'd expect from a restaurant whose sole purpose is to cater to the oft-blue-haired symphony-subscriber crowd, but Cadence's (Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Broad and Spruce sts. 215.670.2388) balcony overlooking Broad Street is an ideal place for a glass of bubbly with friends. The afternoon sun spills onto City Hall in the distance, a soft summer breeze whispers over your shoulders, and you feel so wonderfully high it's easy to forget you're only two stories up.

If tequila makes your clothes fall off: I won't embarrass my best friend, a former longtime T.G.I. Friday's (1776 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. 215.665.8443) employee, by revealing her identity, but I will say this: There's no better place to drink outdoors than this roof deck, whether you know the bartender or not. Yes, it's still T.G.I. Friday's, which means the food is uninspired and often fried, but try draining one of those fishbowls full of booze out here in the sun some afternoon and tell me you don't feel satisfied. If crowds don't bother you, this is also a great place to hang on the Fourth of July when you need a cocktail break from all the action on the Parkway.

If you're a boy who likes boys: To be clear: I've never visited the roof deck at 12th Air Command (254 S. 12th St. 215.545.8088). This isn't because I don't like roof decks, and it's not because I don't like gay boys. Quite the opposite, in fact. But the impression I've always had of the joint is that it's a safe haven for boys and boys only, and that's fine by me. So, gentlemen, you'll have to check this one out for me and report back. If the stories I've heard are true, it's kind of like a gay summertime frat party: lots of booze and lots of shirtless men. Wait a minute ... why haven't I been here again?

If it's raining: Yes, yes, I know. A roof deck XIX (Bellevue, 200 S. Broad St. 215.790.1919) ain't. But when summer thunderstorms threaten to wash out my outdoor drinking, I've been known to get a little creative, and in this case that means grabbing some gal pals, getting a table near the window and watching the raindrops fall on someone else's head while we're safe and dry and still up at a satisfyingly dizzying altitude.

If the next big thing's your thing: So far, rumors of a rooftop space at Lucky Strike Lanes (1336 Chestnut St. 215.545.2471) remain just that. But given its prime location (read: great views of downtown and within stumbling distance of my apartment), I'll be staying tuned.