Chicago’s Best Rooftop Bars and Restaurants

During Chicago’s summers, rooftops are popular destinations, offering people the opportunity to enjoy food and beverages while delivering spectacular views of the city’s natural and man-made wonders. Our list of the city’s best rooftop bars and restaurants includes those found downtown and in our neighborhoods.

By Dave Lifton (@daveeatschicago)

Most of Chicago’s most beloved downtown rooftops can be found in hotels. Arguably, the gold standards in the Loop are the LondonHouse, where you’re treated to a vista straight down the Chicago River from 22 floors up, and Cindy’s, a farm-to-table restaurant on the 12^th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association. It’s enclosed, but the glass back wall leads out to a terrace overlooking Michigan Ave., Millennium Park, and Lake Michigan.

Chateau Carbide is situated atop the gorgeous Carbide and Carbon Building (now the Pendry), which was inspired by a champagne bottle, and has an absinthe-forward cocktail menu and small plates. Raised is on the 3^rd floor of the Renaissance, and its proximity to street level connects you to the urban bustle without compromising the beauty of the skyline. Across State St. is ROOF on the Wit, which has a chic, nightclub-like atmosphere after dark.

In River North, luxury is on display at the NoMi Garden in the Park Hyatt and Z at the Peninsula, both of which overlook the Magnificent Mile. The Godfrey is home to I/O, a sleek, couch-lined space with a retractable roof and winter igloos so that it can stay open regardless of the weather. The Art Deco-inspired Upstairs at the Gwen is also open year-round, and even welcomes the winter by offering curling. Tanta isn’t in a hotel, and its menu and décor will whisk you away to Peru for dinner and weekend brunch. 

The flavors of Peru are also spotlighted at Cabra, the creation of world-renown chef Stephanie Izard found above the Hoxton in the West Loop, Chicago’s trendiest neighborhood. Nearby, Japanese elegance reigns at the Rooftop at Nobu. All three levels of Gibson’s Italia overlook the confluence of the three branches of the Chicago River looking east into the skyline, but only the top floor of the acclaimed Italian steakhouse has a retractable roof for open-air dining.  The rooftop patio at Aba surrounds diners with lush greenery as they eat some of Chicago’s best Mediterranean food. A much more casual experience in the West Loop can be had at Tony’s Rooftop bar atop Time Out Market, a popular food hall.

But the joys of top-floor dining and drinking aren’t restricted to downtown. Wicker Park has a pair of rooftops in its new hotels. The Up Room is at The Robey, a boutique hotel built inside a 1929 Art Deco former office building where Milwaukee, Damen, and North Avenues converge. Roughly a half-mile east down North Ave. is the Hyatt Place, where the Kennedy Rooftop specializes in craft cocktails and shareable plates. The J. Parker, above the Hotel Lincoln, offers a different perspective on the skyline by incorporating Lincoln Park into its vista.

Many of these neighborhood establishments may not have the height of the Loop and River North or the hip cachet of the West Loop, but they nonetheless match the vibe of their respective locales. The German origins of Lincoln Square, for example, is reflected by the beer and wine garden at Gene’s Sausage Shop, a European grocery and butcher shop. Utopian Tailgate, located in the building that houses The Second City’s complex, expands on the party atmosphere that defines nightlife in Old Town.

Across Clark St. from Wrigley Field is the Hotel Zachary, which has terraces at three of its restaurants: The Mediterranean-focused Alma; Smoke Daddy, which regularly makes lists of Chicago’s best barbecue; and Big Star, known for its tacos and whiskey selection. Portuguese restaurant Homestead on the Roof and colorful Tex-Mex spot Lonesome Rose bring rooftop culture to, respectively, West Town and Logan Square, both of which are popular destinations for foodies.

Two other spots deserve special recognition. CloudBar, placed inside 360Chicago at the former John Hancock Center, may not technically be a rooftop bar. It requires an admission ticket to the observation deck in addition to the cost of the drinks, but at 1,000 feet over the city, it’s worth the price.

Lastly, if you’re at Navy Pier and are looking for something more refined than the assortment of fast-casual and themed restaurants that line its interior, head to Offshore. Located at the east end of the pier, it’s the world’s largest rooftop restaurant and has a New American menu.  

Be sure to check websites for details regarding hours of operation (including seasonal options), dress codes, and whether reservations are required.