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A copper pot holds chilling bottles of wine and Champagne on a rooftop.
A rooftop bar might be a perfect escape from urban clamor.
Chateau Carbide

Where to Drink and Dine on Rooftops in Chicago

Chicagoans know how to embrace the city’s all-too-brief summer

by Naomi Waxman and Eater Staff Updated
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A rooftop bar might be a perfect escape from urban clamor.
| Chateau Carbide
by Naomi Waxman and Eater Staff Updated

Chicago has, of late, undergone a rooftop renaissance. Already surging in popularity in the years before the pandemic, open-air venues with gorgeous views only grew in prominence (and frankly, necessity) as the city’s hospitality industry worked toward recovery. That’s fostered a proliferation of sky-high spaces that range from glitzy and glam to casual and low-key. Some are open year-round but others are seasonal, so keep a calendar on hand when making plans.

Choose a destination from Eater Chicago’s list of the best rooftop venues — or try them all.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Hotel Zachary at Gallagher Way

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Chicagoans have long been able to drink and watch Cubs games on rooftops across from Wrigley Field, but these days they can at actual public bars and restaurants. Spots at the Hotel Zachary and the Gallagher Way park adjacent to the Cubs’ stadium are flush with elevated outdoor areas with food, drink, and views of Wrigley from spots like the second-floor terrace above Matthias Merges’ restaurant Mordecai.

3630 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 302-2300
(773) 302-2300

BiXi Beer

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Asian-inspired brewpub Bixi Beer, a neighborhood favorite from chef Bo Fowler (Owen & Engine) offers creative original beer and a sunny rooftop terrace in Logan Square. Top it off with sumptuous dishes such as cumin noodles with lamb, fried rice, and spicy fried chicken sandos.

2515 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 904-7368
(773) 904-7368

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Lonesome Rose

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This Tex-Mex bar and restaurant from Land & Sea Dept. (Parsons, Longman & Eagle) offers an array of tacos, queso fundido, and cocktails — as well as a second-floor rooftop patio decorated with lush greenery. The team opened a second outpost in spring 2023 in Andersonville, but there’s no rooftop space.

2101 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 770-3414
(773) 770-3414

Also featured in:

The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club

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Bucktown’s shuffleboard club not only houses multiple bars, courts, and food trucks — it also has a rooftop bar. Named the Lido Deck, the sun-drenched second-floor space offers another bar, another court, and multiple seating options to soak in the summer for those getting into the game or otherwise. It’s open seasonally from May through September and is subject to bad-weather closings.

1750 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 486-8682
(773) 486-8682

Utopian Tailgate

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Head to the rooftop above the Second City complex for a sprawling adult playground full of colorful furniture, picnic tables, plants, lawn games, tire swings, and more. The views only add to the fun while the menu features tailgate-themed foods like sliders, pizzas, and nachos, plus large-format cocktails and house shots. Sports fans will appreciate that there are numerous TVs showing the games throughout the space.

1608 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 210-7799
(312) 210-7799

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Kennedy Rooftop

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Perched atop the Hyatt Place Wicker Park, patrons will find the Kennedy Rooftop, a spacious lounge with fantastic skyline views, casual seating, cozy fire pits, and oversize Jenga sets. Cocktails and casual dishes like double-stack burgers and pulled pork sliders are also available.

1551 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 270-6770
(773) 270-6770
Head to the hotel’s seventh floor.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Taxim

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Modern Greek restaurant Taxim is known for offering a variety of small plates, as well as a charming rooftop space overlooking Milwaukee Avenue. It’s intimate, even during a busy service, and pours plenty of Greek wine for toasting al fresco.

1558 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 252-1558
(773) 252-1558

Also featured in:

The Signature Room at the 95th®

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Few restaurants in town offer views that can match those at the Signature Room, the fine dining restaurant on the 95th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) — unless it’s those from the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor, for those who just want a drink.

875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 787-9596
(312) 787-9596

Also featured in:

Homestead On The Roof

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A verdant oasis overlooking the hustle and bustle of West Town from its home above Roots Pizza, Homestead on the Roof is a mellow retreat with seasonal dishes, top-notch desserts, and plenty of drinks. Some of the restaurant’s produce comes directly from its rooftop garden.

1924 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 332-2354
(773) 332-2354

Also featured in:

bar avec

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One Off Hospitality’s second outpost of Mediterranean-inspired Avec in River North one-ups its predecessor with a key feature — an eighth-floor rooftop patio, Bar Avec. The urban scenery is hard to beat and is accompanied by cocktails, frozen drinks, and Iberian-influenced dishes.

640 N La Salle Dr 8th floor, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 736-1740
(312) 736-1740

Also featured in:

OffShore Chicago

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Navy Pier is home to the nation’s largest rooftop bar, as certified in 2019 by the Guinness Book of World Records. Offshore gives the tourist attraction a 36,000-square-foot all-weather lounge equipped with a 60-seat bar under a retractable roof, a large outdoor terrace, pool tables, along with food and drink.

1000 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
(312) 535-6660
(312) 535-6660

Aba

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Lettuce Entertain You’s debut foray into rooftops has continued to earn fans since its founding in 2019. The Mediterranean restaurant has established a loyal fanbase with multiple bars, interesting cocktails, and chef C.J. Jacobson’s Mediterranean-meets-Californian culinary style. Its rooftop terrace space includes fire pits that tend to draw crowds.

302 N Green St 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 645-1400
(773) 645-1400

Also featured in:

Gibsons Italia

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Chicago’s famed steakhouse group leaped into the rooftop game with the beautifully designed Gibsons Italia just over the Chicago River to the west of the Loop. The multi-floor Italian steakhouse offers some of the best views in town from inside the restaurant as well as its energetic fourth-floor rooftop.

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 414-1100
(312) 414-1100

Also featured in:

Château Carbide

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At 5 p.m., this swanky art deco drinking spot atop the historic Carbide & Carbon Building transitions from a mellow daytime atmosphere to a festive club vibe with DJ sets of surprising tunes like French house music.

230 N Michigan Ave 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 777-9000
(312) 777-9000

Also featured in:

Cabra

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Cabra, celebrity chef Stephanie Izard’s rooftop Peruvian restaurant at the Hoxton hotel in Fulton Market, remains a go-to for rooftop dining fans in search of warm breezes during summer months. There’s also an enclosed space available year-round.

200 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 761-1717
(312) 761-1717

Also featured in:

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Cindy's Rooftop

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Ever-stylish spot Cindy’s in the Chicago Athletic Association hotel reigns supreme as one of the hottest rooftops in town, featuring gorgeous views of Millennium Park and beyond to Lake Michigan. The food and drink menus aim for broad appeal with selections such as burrata, sweet potato rigatoni, and crab cake sandwiches.

12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 792-3502
(312) 792-3502

Reggies Chicago

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Bar and music venue Reggie’s, equipped with a rooftop deck and bar, is a staple in the neighborhood for acts that range from national tours to local cover bands. Supplement the sunlight with the bar’s solid beer lineup and sought-after chicken wings.

2105 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 949-0120
(312) 949-0120

Also featured in:

VU Rooftop Bar

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The South Side got its first rooftop bar when this year-round spot opened in 2018 near McCormick Place. VU Rooftop Bar has terrific views from the 22nd floor, three bars, fire pits, and retractable windows for the colder months.

133 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 528-0191
(312) 528-0191

Also featured in:

The Woodlawn

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A multi-prong community hub with a restaurant, cafe, and event space in Chatham also bestows the neighborhood with a rooftop patio. As of April 2023, a new food menu is in the works.

1200 E 79th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(708) 986-3008
(708) 986-3008

Also featured in:

Open Outcry Brewing Company

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The far South Side got into the rooftop action when popular brewery Open Outcry opened its second-floor spot in 2019. Bask in the glow on comfortable couches with a beer in hand.

10934 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 629-6055
(773) 629-6055

Also featured in:

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Hotel Zachary at Gallagher Way

3630 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613

Chicagoans have long been able to drink and watch Cubs games on rooftops across from Wrigley Field, but these days they can at actual public bars and restaurants. Spots at the Hotel Zachary and the Gallagher Way park adjacent to the Cubs’ stadium are flush with elevated outdoor areas with food, drink, and views of Wrigley from spots like the second-floor terrace above Matthias Merges’ restaurant Mordecai.

3630 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 302-2300
(773) 302-2300

BiXi Beer

2515 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Asian-inspired brewpub Bixi Beer, a neighborhood favorite from chef Bo Fowler (Owen & Engine) offers creative original beer and a sunny rooftop terrace in Logan Square. Top it off with sumptuous dishes such as cumin noodles with lamb, fried rice, and spicy fried chicken sandos.

2515 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 904-7368
(773) 904-7368

Lonesome Rose

2101 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

This Tex-Mex bar and restaurant from Land & Sea Dept. (Parsons, Longman & Eagle) offers an array of tacos, queso fundido, and cocktails — as well as a second-floor rooftop patio decorated with lush greenery. The team opened a second outpost in spring 2023 in Andersonville, but there’s no rooftop space.

2101 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 770-3414
(773) 770-3414

The Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club

1750 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Bucktown’s shuffleboard club not only houses multiple bars, courts, and food trucks — it also has a rooftop bar. Named the Lido Deck, the sun-drenched second-floor space offers another bar, another court, and multiple seating options to soak in the summer for those getting into the game or otherwise. It’s open seasonally from May through September and is subject to bad-weather closings.

1750 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 486-8682
(773) 486-8682

Utopian Tailgate

1608 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614

Head to the rooftop above the Second City complex for a sprawling adult playground full of colorful furniture, picnic tables, plants, lawn games, tire swings, and more. The views only add to the fun while the menu features tailgate-themed foods like sliders, pizzas, and nachos, plus large-format cocktails and house shots. Sports fans will appreciate that there are numerous TVs showing the games throughout the space.

1608 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 210-7799
(312) 210-7799

Kennedy Rooftop

1551 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Perched atop the Hyatt Place Wicker Park, patrons will find the Kennedy Rooftop, a spacious lounge with fantastic skyline views, casual seating, cozy fire pits, and oversize Jenga sets. Cocktails and casual dishes like double-stack burgers and pulled pork sliders are also available.

1551 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 270-6770
(773) 270-6770
Head to the hotel’s seventh floor.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Taxim

1558 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Modern Greek restaurant Taxim is known for offering a variety of small plates, as well as a charming rooftop space overlooking Milwaukee Avenue. It’s intimate, even during a busy service, and pours plenty of Greek wine for toasting al fresco.

1558 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 252-1558
(773) 252-1558

The Signature Room at the 95th®

875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Few restaurants in town offer views that can match those at the Signature Room, the fine dining restaurant on the 95th floor of 875 North Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) — unless it’s those from the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor, for those who just want a drink.

875 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 787-9596
(312) 787-9596

Homestead On The Roof

1924 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

A verdant oasis overlooking the hustle and bustle of West Town from its home above Roots Pizza, Homestead on the Roof is a mellow retreat with seasonal dishes, top-notch desserts, and plenty of drinks. Some of the restaurant’s produce comes directly from its rooftop garden.

1924 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 332-2354
(773) 332-2354

bar avec

640 N La Salle Dr 8th floor, Chicago, IL 60654

One Off Hospitality’s second outpost of Mediterranean-inspired Avec in River North one-ups its predecessor with a key feature — an eighth-floor rooftop patio, Bar Avec. The urban scenery is hard to beat and is accompanied by cocktails, frozen drinks, and Iberian-influenced dishes.

640 N La Salle Dr 8th floor, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 736-1740
(312) 736-1740

OffShore Chicago

1000 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Navy Pier is home to the nation’s largest rooftop bar, as certified in 2019 by the Guinness Book of World Records. Offshore gives the tourist attraction a 36,000-square-foot all-weather lounge equipped with a 60-seat bar under a retractable roof, a large outdoor terrace, pool tables, along with food and drink.

1000 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
(312) 535-6660
(312) 535-6660

Aba

302 N Green St 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60607

Lettuce Entertain You’s debut foray into rooftops has continued to earn fans since its founding in 2019. The Mediterranean restaurant has established a loyal fanbase with multiple bars, interesting cocktails, and chef C.J. Jacobson’s Mediterranean-meets-Californian culinary style. Its rooftop terrace space includes fire pits that tend to draw crowds.

302 N Green St 3rd floor, Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 645-1400
(773) 645-1400

Gibsons Italia

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606

Chicago’s famed steakhouse group leaped into the rooftop game with the beautifully designed Gibsons Italia just over the Chicago River to the west of the Loop. The multi-floor Italian steakhouse offers some of the best views in town from inside the restaurant as well as its energetic fourth-floor rooftop.

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 414-1100
(312) 414-1100

Château Carbide

230 N Michigan Ave 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601

At 5 p.m., this swanky art deco drinking spot atop the historic Carbide & Carbon Building transitions from a mellow daytime atmosphere to a festive club vibe with DJ sets of surprising tunes like French house music.

230 N Michigan Ave 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 777-9000
(312) 777-9000

Cabra

200 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

Cabra, celebrity chef Stephanie Izard’s rooftop Peruvian restaurant at the Hoxton hotel in Fulton Market, remains a go-to for rooftop dining fans in search of warm breezes during summer months. There’s also an enclosed space available year-round.

200 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 761-1717
(312) 761-1717

Related Maps

Cindy's Rooftop

12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Ever-stylish spot Cindy’s in the Chicago Athletic Association hotel reigns supreme as one of the hottest rooftops in town, featuring gorgeous views of Millennium Park and beyond to Lake Michigan. The food and drink menus aim for broad appeal with selections such as burrata, sweet potato rigatoni, and crab cake sandwiches.

12 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 792-3502
(312) 792-3502

Reggies Chicago

2105 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616

Bar and music venue Reggie’s, equipped with a rooftop deck and bar, is a staple in the neighborhood for acts that range from national tours to local cover bands. Supplement the sunlight with the bar’s solid beer lineup and sought-after chicken wings.

2105 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 949-0120
(312) 949-0120

VU Rooftop Bar

133 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616

The South Side got its first rooftop bar when this year-round spot opened in 2018 near McCormick Place. VU Rooftop Bar has terrific views from the 22nd floor, three bars, fire pits, and retractable windows for the colder months.

133 E Cermak Rd, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 528-0191
(312) 528-0191

The Woodlawn

1200 E 79th St, Chicago, IL 60619

A multi-prong community hub with a restaurant, cafe, and event space in Chatham also bestows the neighborhood with a rooftop patio. As of April 2023, a new food menu is in the works.

1200 E 79th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(708) 986-3008
(708) 986-3008

Open Outcry Brewing Company

10934 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643

The far South Side got into the rooftop action when popular brewery Open Outcry opened its second-floor spot in 2019. Bask in the glow on comfortable couches with a beer in hand.

10934 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60643
(773) 629-6055
(773) 629-6055

Related Maps