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You haven't dined in Philadelphia until you've dined multiple floors off the ground, watching the sun set across the city skyline. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, one of the best ways to soak up some of those final rays of sunshine (and there are plenty!) is to indulge in a rooftop drink or meal.

Thankfully leisurely alfresco dining and drinking under the stars, several stories off the ground, is available amply in Philadelphia. The great city views and subsequent escape from reality came at no extra charge.

Below, we’ve rounded up some of those best bets for rooftop dining:

• City Tap House: This beer mecca (60+ taps) in University City has a green roof deck overlooking Walnut Street complete with fire pits. New this summer is a series of Beer Garden BBQs that the restaurant is hosting on their terrace every Sunday from 3-7 p.m. this summer: hot dogs, burgers, and $3 beers.

• Continental Mid-town: The rooftop lounge is Continental Midtown’s pièce de résistance. Partially enclosed so that it’s serviceable year-round, the deck area is one of the most popular nightspots in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood during the summer.

• The Corner: Juxtaposed with Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran’s 13th street empire, you might miss this cozy lounge on the corner of 13th and Drury Streets. But head upstairs to the private, scenic second floor roofdeck and you’ll be loathe to pass the restaurant by again. Summer cocktails and American comfort food go scrumptiously well together.

• Revolution House: The old Snow White Diner in Old City has been transformed into a Mediterranean bistro with brick-oven pizza. But the best part is the expansive terrace overlooking the Christ Church garden, with a glimpse of Penn’s Landing and the Ben Franklin Bridge.

• Standard Tap: The place that began Philadelphia’s gastropub evolution back in 2000 has a roof deck that’s one of the most popular spots in the city, where a lot of people want to be whenever the weather is agreeable. An excellent spot for weekend brunch, the roof deck is also a great place for after-work drinks or dinner.

• Warmdaddy’s: This soul-food mecca on Columbus Boulevard in South Philly opens its roof for the summer season, serving up fried chicken, cornbread and other Southern eats. Live jazz and blues makes dining and drinking in the open air space along the Delaware River a wonderful summer evening.

• Nineteen (XIX) at the Hyatt at the Bellevue: The restaurant, cafe, bar and lounge and the Hyatt at the Bellevue Hotel, is located on the building’s very top floor. From this lofty perch, the restaurant offers spectacular views of the surrounding city; none are better than the ones from the open-air balconies, available for diners weather permitting, for both lunch and dinner. Word to the wise: those afraid of heights best desist.

• Vango Lounge and Skybar: Vango has gathered rave reviews for its modern Asian decor and A-list social scene. But the biggest draw is the amazing upstairs deck, complete with oversized beds and outdoor seating, that can pull in capacity crowds on the weekends.

Bonus: R2L: It’s not an “outdoor” rooftop per se, but R2, perched high atop Liberty Place, features completely amazing 360 degree views of the city. You haven’t dined on a rooftop until you’ve dined while watching the sun set from 37 floors up.

Click here to check out our other summer roundups.