Rooftop Rendezvous

Hale-Bopp has come and gone, but Cohiba’s rooftop patio in Long Beach still affords a heavenly view and a lofty spot to dance beneath the Big Dipper.

The large veranda sits atop a three-story building at 144 Pine Ave. Inside, Cohiba offers a cigar lounge, a martini bar, a billiards room and a beautifully restored 1930s Art Deco ballroom with huge, arching bay windows overlooking 3rd Street, the heart of the hip part of the gentrified downtown.

Bands, usually jazz, play on the patio occasionally. If they’re not playing, equally mellow music is piped alfresco on Friday and Saturday nights. And if you don’t want to dance, use the rooftop as a place to cool off with a drink from the (full) outdoor bar, open every day. It’s a lovely, balmy spot on a summer’s eve--and big enough to keep the smokers and the sworn-offs at a distance from one another.

The dancing, indoors and out, starts about 9:30 p.m. Cover: $7. (562) 437-7700.

Other spots where you can dance or relax in the moonlight:

* Disneyland: Live swing bands play in the Carnation Plaza Gardens on Saturdays, starting at 7 p.m., and Sunday afternoons, starting at 1:25. Teens prefer the Tomorrowland Terrace, where Voyager plays mainstream rock for outdoor dancing Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1313 Harbor Blvd., Anaheim. Adult admission is $36; annual passes range from $99 (with 60 blackout days) to $199 (with no blackout days). (714) 781-4560.

* The Wreck Room: This all-ages, indoor-outdoor alternative club returns June 23 for another summer of Monday nights at the Old World Hall, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach. The promoters promise a mini-ramp on the patio for skateboarding demos, plus two or three live bands a night. Cover: varies. (714) 570-8687.

* Lookers: A spacious patio (with TVs) and a large bar compensate for a teeny dance area. 24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. daily. Cover: $3-10, starting at 8 p.m. Live reggae on Sundays 2-7 p.m. (714) 488-3106.

* The Rhino Room: When this place was Denim & Diamonds, food was barbecued on the patio, and the new management says it may revive that tradition this summer. A wide range of bands plays for dancing indoors on two crowded floors; you’ll need to cool off. 7979 Center Ave., Huntington Beach. 7 p.m.-2 a.m., daily; from 5 p.m. on Fridays. Cover: $3-$10. (714) 892-3316.