A top-emitting nitride-based light-emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The top-emitting nitride-based light-emitting device having a substrate, an n-cladding layer, an active layer, and a p-cladding layer sequentially formed includes: a grid cell layer formed on the p-cladding layer by a grid array of separated cells formed from a conducting material with a width of less than 30 micrometers to improve electrical and optical characteristics; a surface protective layer that is formed on the p-cladding layer and covers at least regions between the cells to protect a surface of the p-cladding layer; and a transparent conducting layer formed on the surface protective layer and the grid cell layer using a transparent conducting material. The light-emitting device and the method of manufacturing the same provide an improved ohmic contact to the p-cladding layer, excellent I-V characteristics, and high light transmittance, thus increasing luminous efficiency of the device.