Kettner Exchange

Score 88/100 · Order: Discounted cocktails, crispy rice · $8–15

Kettner Exchange discounts a serious cocktail program rather than a watered-down list, and the small plates are the same ones served at dinner. It is the strongest combination of view, drinks, and food in the neighborhood.

Local tip: The upstairs deck fills by 5:15pm on Fridays — go Tuesday or Wednesday.

Score 88/100 · Order: Happy hour oysters · $2–3 each

Kettner's happy hour makes oysters an everyday order rather than a splurge. Quality holds up at the price, and the kitchen's other small plates are worth staying for.

Local tip: Rooftop seats fill first; the bar is faster.

Score 87/100 · Order: Craft cocktail or wine · $14–22

Kettner Exchange is a Little Italy restaurant with a rooftop that is one of the neighborhood's best cocktail destinations. The drinks are well-crafted and creative, and the food menu is modern and seasonal. The rooftop is stylish and intimate, with a view over the Little Italy streets and the downtown skyline in the distance. The crowd is local and fashionable, and the service is attentive. It is the best rooftop bar for a sophisticated evening in Little Italy.

Score 86/100 · Order: Crispy rice, cocktails · $35–60

Kettner Exchange works when the evening should feel social rather than formal: strong cocktails, shareable plates, and a rooftop that makes the night feel bigger than the check.

Local tip: Start with the rooftop at sunset and move to a table after.