Sky Lounge at Blue Sky Tower
Sky Lounge occupies the 23rd floor of the Blue Sky Tower hotel, UB's most distinctive skyscraper with its blue glass sail-shaped facade visible from across the city. The lounge wraps around the building's upper floor with floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, offering 360-degree panoramic views of Ulaanbaatar, the surrounding Bogd Khan mountains, and the vast steppe beyond the city limits. Interior design is modern and polished: glass tables, contemporary seating, and a bar counter that runs along the window wall. Capacity is around 60 guests. The cocktail program features both classic and signature drinks made with premium spirits. The wine list includes international selections rarely found elsewhere in UB. A small food menu offers sushi, tapas-style plates, and desserts. This is UB's most upscale drinking experience and the only venue where the view is a genuine attraction.
What to Expect
The elevator rises 23 floors and opens into a space that feels detached from the city below. The panorama dominates. On clear days, the view extends to the edges of the steppe. At sunset, the mountains glow amber and the city lights begin to flicker on. The cocktail in your hand feels secondary to the spectacle.
Elevated, calm, and polished. The view creates a contemplative mood that contrasts sharply with the intensity of Seoul Street below.
Ambient, chill electronic, and lounge jazz. Volume stays low enough to appreciate the views in peace.
Smart casual to formal. This is UB's most upscale venue. Collared shirts, trousers, and closed shoes for men. No sportswear, no sandals, no shorts.
Travelers wanting UB's best view with a quality drink. Date nights. Anyone wanting a refined experience in a city that mostly offers raw ones.
Cards and cash accepted. Hotel guests can charge to their room.
Price Range
Cocktails MNT 22,000-32,000, beer MNT 12,000-16,000, wine MNT 18,000-30,000, sushi plates MNT 20,000-35,000
Cocktails ~USD 6.50-9.50/~EUR 6.10-8.80, beer ~USD 3.60-4.80/~EUR 3.30-4.40
Hours
Daily 5 PM to midnight
Insider Tip
Come 30 minutes before sunset for the best light and the smoothest entry. Window tables fill fast on clear evenings. The north-facing windows offer the best mountain views, while the south-facing side overlooks the city center. Ask the bartender about the Mongolian-inspired cocktails using sea buckthorn or mare's milk.
Full Review
Blue Sky Tower is UB's landmark building, and Sky Lounge is the reason to go inside. The elevator ride sets the tone, with floor numbers climbing past the noise and chaos of the city into a space that could belong to a different world.
The windows are the star. UB sprawls in every direction, a mix of Soviet-era apartment blocks, modern towers, and the ger districts that creep up the hillsides. Beyond the city, the Bogd Khan Strictly Protected Area provides a wall of green (or white in winter) that reminds you this city sits at the edge of wilderness. On clear days, the visibility seems infinite.
The bar itself is well-executed. Premium spirits line the back bar. Glassware is proper. The bartenders have training that shows in their technique and their ability to recommend based on preferences. The cocktail menu includes a few Mongolian-inspired options, using sea buckthorn (a tart local berry), local honey, and in one memorable creation, a touch of airag (fermented mare's milk). These aren't gimmicks; they're genuinely interesting drinks.
The wine list is the best in UB, which admittedly isn't saying much given the limited wine culture in Mongolia. But finding a drinkable Bordeaux or an Italian Barolo in a country where vodka and beer dominate the market is a pleasant surprise.
The crowd at Sky Lounge is UB's most cosmopolitan. Hotel guests, diplomats, business travelers, and well-heeled locals come here specifically because it offers refinement. The dress code is enforced, which filters the crowd effectively. Conversations are subdued. The atmosphere favors reflection over revelry.
Winter visits have their own appeal. The city below disappears under a layer of coal-smoke haze, and the mountains emerge above it like islands. It's bleak and beautiful simultaneously, best observed with something warm in hand.
The main limitation is the hours. Closing at midnight means Sky Lounge is a pre-dinner or early-evening venue, not a late-night destination.
The Neighborhood
Blue Sky Tower is on Seoul Street directly opposite Chinggis Khaan Square, the geographic and symbolic center of Ulaanbaatar. The Government Palace, National Museum, and State Department Store are all within a 5-minute walk.
Getting There
Walk to Chinggis Khaan Square on Seoul Street. Blue Sky Tower is the blue glass building directly on the square's south side. Enter through the hotel lobby and take the elevator to the 23rd floor. Taxi from anywhere in UB costs MNT 3,000-8,000.
Other Venues in Seoul Street
Grand Khaan Irish Pub
Ulaanbaatar's most popular expat bar on Seoul Street. Draft beers, pub food, and live music on weekends. The go-to meeting point for foreigners in the city.
Metropolis
The largest nightclub in Ulaanbaatar with multiple rooms and a big main dance floor. Electronic and pop music. Draws a young Mongolian crowd on weekends.
Lux Lounge
Upscale lounge bar near Chinggis Khaan Square. Cocktail-focused with a more mature crowd than the clubs. Leather seating, dim lighting, and a curated drinks list.
Mint Club
Popular weekend nightclub on Seoul Street. Two dance floors, mainstream pop and hip-hop playlist, and a young crowd. One of UB's busiest spots on Saturday nights.
Corner Pub
Casual local pub just off Seoul Street. Draft Mongolian beer, simple food, and a low-key atmosphere. A good spot to start the evening before the clubs open.