The Gaslamp Just Got a New Rooftop to Love

Perched atop Alma San Diego in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter, Leave of Absence is opening for the summer season – and it’s already looking like one of the better rooftop spots in the city.

The setup is solid: sweeping San Diego skyline views, a sparkling pool, lush greenery, and a firepit that makes evening visits easy to extend.

A Rooftop Worth the Elevator Ride

The menu centers on wood-fired pizzas and creative cocktails, which is exactly what you want from a rooftop setting. It’s the kind of place that works just as well for a relaxed lunch with a view as it does for a longer stretch into the evening as the sky shifts over downtown.

The rooftop runs Thursday through Sunday each week, with food service wrapping up an hour before close each day.

The Food & Drinks

Starters like the woodfired wings with guajillo pepper sauce and guacamole and chips set the tone before the main event – the wood-fired pizzas. All dough is double fermented for a light, chewy crust.

Red sauce standouts include the Funky Pepperoni with ricotta, green olives, and hot honey, and the Leave of Absence pizza piled with bacon, pepperoni, spicy Italian sausage, and caramelized onions. On the white sauce side, the Mermaid is a solid plant-forward pick.

Cocktails are all $18 – the Loosen Mai Tai and Respect Your Elders are good starting points. Local drafts from Coronado Brewing and .394 Pale Ale round out the beer list.

The Opening Lineup

Leave of Absence is kicking off the season with a curated set of events across its first few weekends – and there’s a good mix on offer.

Paint & Sip: Skate Deck Art | Saturday, May 23 | 1 PM – 4 PM – Painting & Vino takes over the rooftop for a collaborative skate deck painting session. Tickets are $50 per person or $90 for two.
Native Poppy Floral Arranging 101 Workshop | Saturday, May 30 | 10 AM – 12 PM – San Diego floral studio Native Poppy brings a hands-on flower arranging class to the rooftop. At $185 per person, the workshop includes three hours of valet parking and 20% off at Leave of Absence after.
Mocktail and Mingle x Hiraya Haus: Matcha & Mocktails | Sunday, May 31 | 11 AM – 2 PM – Mocktail and Mingle and Hiraya Haus team up for a matcha-focused Sunday experience. Tickets are $108.55 per person and include a take-home matcha whisking kit, pool access, three hours of valet parking, and a goodie bag.