The Peninsula Chicago’s Luxurious New Rooftop Bar Debuts on Monday

The Peninsula Chicago hotel’s new rooftop bar with luxurious cocktails and views of the skyline and Lake Michigan, opens on Monday. Z Bar will feature Manhattans made with 24-karat gold flakes, a sharable drink served out of a real disco ball, and tater tot-like fried fritters filled with bone marrow and Bordelaise. Carts equipped with mojitos and small bites will rove around the 131-seat space at 108 E. Superior Street.

The drinks, from Chicago cocktail vet Vlad Novikov, will pair with unique bar snacks including pork rind-like beef cracklings made from beef tendons and doses with Himalayan pink salt. This crispy snack is made to pair with beer. It just shows how much the craft beer industry has infiltrated the fine dining scene. It‘s hard to believe that the five-star Peninsula hotel would cater to beer drinkers when it opened. The 20-story hotel finished a $37 million renovation two years ago. A news release also mentioned a champagne tower, an attraction that the bar staff will trot out on the cart at 4 p.m. on Fridays.

Those who attended a Wednesday preview raved about the skyline views. Chicagoans are looking for new ways to experience their city. The general public will have to wait until next week to see if Z Bar scratches that itch. Stay tuned for more coverage on Monday opening day.

Z Bar/Neil Burger