New McCormick Place Rooftop Bar Opens Thursday With Skyline Views and Karaoke

A South Side rarity — a rooftop bar — debuts Monday near McCormick Place in the South Loop. VU Rooftop Bar is a sleek 13,000-square-foot space on the 22nd floor of the building at 133 E. Cermak Road. Convention goers, Bears fans coming and leaving nearby Soldier Field, and locals have a new spot for skyline views, small plates, and fancy cocktails.

The outdoor deck features TVs, fire pits, and the kind of comfy lounge seating that hearty Chicagoans will use throughout the winter. There’s a solarium with retractable glass walls for the colder days, and customers who want to belt out a tune can visit its private karaoke room. There are other rooms for private parties or meetings, too.

A mural and a 100-foot video wall decorate the interiors. The food’s from chef Nolan Narut who was last seen at Stefani Prime in Lincolnwood.

But the star is the view. Chicagoans love rooftop bars, and patrons can scope out a new perspective of the city from the 22nd floor. Take a stroll through the space and check out some of the dishes and drinks below, as well as the menu. VU Rooftop Bar, from Atlanta company Concentrics Restaurant Group, opens on Thursday.