Chicago Rooftops Guide: 36 Open-Air Bars, Lounges And Restaurants To Check Out This Summer

CHICAGO — We may be more than halfway through July, but there’s still plenty of time to take advantage of Summertime Chi. With a drink in hand on a rooftop bar, you can bask in the sunshine while looking out at some of the very best views of Chicago.

From Wrigleyville’s Alma and BiXi Beer in Logan Square to LondonHouse along the river and the Near South Side’s VU Rooftop, Block Club rounded up some favorite spots across the city.

Here are 36 open-air bars, lounges, terraces and restaurants to visit before the summer’s over:

Beverly/Morgan Park

Open Outcry Brewing Co.

10934 S. Western Ave.
773-629-6055
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday

South Side brewery Open Outcry boasts a rooftop beer garden with deck chairs, couches, music and food and drink service.

Bronzeville/Near South Side

VU Rooftop Bar

133 E. Cermak Rd.
312-528-0191
4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday

Sitting 22 stories high, VU Rooftop features unbeatable city vistas, three bars, two patios, fire pits and retractable windows for cold seasons. Sip cocktails and enjoy magnificent views of Downtown and Lake Michigan.

Chatham

The Woodlawn

1200 E. 79th St.
708-986-3008
3-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Launched in 2018, this innovative community hub in Chatham is a restaurant, internet cafe, event space, podcast studio, rooftop and more, all in one. The Woodlawn offers rooftop yoga and gardening, and residents can even rent out the open-air space for $200 per hour for up to 30 people.

The Woodlawn, a Chatham community hub with a rooftop space, at 1200 E. 79th St.

Downtown/The Loop

Aire Rooftop Bar

100 W. Monroe St.
312-236-1234
3-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 1-9 p.m. Sunday

This hotel bar on the Hyatt Centric boasts panoramic views of the city. Enjoy cocktails, wine, beer and shareable platters while lounging 24 stories above ground.

AIRE Rooftop, located at 100 W. Monroe St. in the Loop, boasts views of the city’s skyline and Lake Michigan.

Boleo

122 W. Monroe St.
312-750-9007
5-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Named after an Argentinian tango move, Boleo offers a Latin American-inspired menu, with food and drink flavors reminiscent of Peruvian and Argentinian street food. The 15th floor rooftop in the Loop sits atop The Kimpton Gray Hotel. With a retractable roof, you can visit regardless of the season.

Cerise Rooftop

203 N. Wabash Ave.
312-940-4774
4-10 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 4 p.m.-midnight Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, 2-10 p.m. Sunday

Grab dinner and drinks at this indoor-outdoor rooftop in the Virgin Hotel, where DJs spin records through the evening. At 26 stories high, you also get a fantastic view of the city.

Cindy’s Rooftop

12 S. Michigan Ave.
312-792-3502
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday

With an open-air terrace, restaurant and bar, Cindy’s offers an extensive cocktail menu, seasonal cuisine and panoramic views of the city year-round. Plus, it’s perched atop the historic Chicago Athletic Association, 13 stories above ground.

LH Rooftop

85 E. Wacker Dr.
312-357-1200
11 a.m.-midnight daily

At 22 stories high, you’ll get unbeatable sweeping views of the city and the Chicago River from the LondonHouse rooftop. The tri-level space offers both indoor and outdoor seating, complete with American cuisine and cocktails.

Offshore Rooftop

1000 E. Grand Ave.
312-535-6660
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday. Find varying weekend hours here.

Did you know the world’s largest rooftop is at Navy Pier? With 36,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, this multi-seasonal restaurant and bar offers views of the city’s iconic skyline and Lake Michigan.

Raised | An Urban Rooftop Bar

1 W. Upper Wacker Dr.
312-795-3308
4-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday

Located on the corner of State and Wacker just steps away from the Red Line, Raised is a third-floor rooftop bar offering an impressive view of the Chicago’s cityscape and the Chicago River. The venue offers cocktails and wine, as well as twists to classic American fare. You can try the BBQ chips, truffle frites, spring rolls, bacon wrapped pickle spears and more.

ROOF On theWit

201 N. State St.
312-239-9502
2-10 p.m. Monday, 4-11 p.m. Tuesday, 4-11 p.m. Wednesday, 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m. Sunday

Set 27 stories above the city, theWit’s rooftop has previously been named one of the top three rooftop bars in the world by Travel + Leisure. Along with sweeping views of the skyline, hand-crafted cocktails and cuisine, this sky-high city escape hosts DJs, acoustic music series and live runway shows.

Roof on theWit located at 201 N. State St.

Views from Roof on theWit’s 27th story rooftop, 201 N. State St.

Upstairs At The Gwen

521 N. Rush St.
312-645-1500
Find varying breakfast/brunch, lunch/dinner/cocktail and bar hours here. The terrace closes at 11 p.m. nightly.

This fifth floor, Art Deco-inspired rooftop offers skyline vistas and sunrise to sundown dining, with breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktail menus. The open-air terrace is perfect for hot, sunny afternoons in the summer, but also transitions into the winter with fire pits, warm drinks and curling.

Sky Terrace

233 E. Ontario St.
312-643-3400
4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 2-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday

On Ivy Hotel’s 16th floor, you’ll find a rooftop lounge with light bites, like Italian flatbread and grilled shrimp street tacos, craft cocktails and panoramic views of Downtown Chicago.

Z Bar

108 E. Superior St.
312-573-6888
4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 2 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m.-midnight Sunday

The Peninsula’s luxurious rooftop lounge, Z Bar, features iconic city views, an extensive menu of booze and a variety of global cuisines, from tuna tartare and daikon frites to Cajun crab and caviar potato bites.

Z Bar, 108 E. Superior St., offers a clear view of Chicago’s downtown landscape.

Fire pits are lit up on Z Bar’s rooftop at 108 E. Superior St.

Hyde Park

The Promontory Rooftop Terrace

5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West
312-801–2100
Find information about upcoming shows and parties here.

A space celebrating Hyde Park’s musical legacy and community, The Promontory is a music venue and cultural hub with a stunning rooftop. Check out upcoming events online.

Lincoln Park/Old Town

Utopian Tailgate

1608 N. Wells St.
312-210-7799
4-11 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 4 p.m.-midnight Wednesday-Thursday, noon-1 a.m. Friday, 11-2 a.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

A rooftop deck at Pipers Alley Mall in Old Town, Utopian Tailgate lives up to its name with cornhole, drinking games, disco dance parties, super-sized Jenga, beer coolers and more.

The J. Parker

1816 N. Clark St.
312-254-4747
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Located on the 13th floor of the Lincoln Hotel, this rooftop bar and restaurants offers views of Lake Michigan, Downtown and the Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s also open year-round, with a retractable glass roof for colder days.

Lincoln Square

Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen Rooftop

4750 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-728-7243
11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday

Gene’s European-style beer and wine garden isn’t your average Chicago rooftop. The menu features smoked sausages and bratwurst cooked on an open wood grill, potato salad, mixed greens and more, plus rotating beers on tap and wines by the glass. As long as the weather permits, Gene’s opens its rooftops three days per week through the summer.

Logan Square

BiXi Beer

2515 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-904-7368
3-11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-midnight Friday, 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday

A modern, Asian-inspired brewpub, this Logan Square establishment serves up Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cuisine and original beer on its rooftop terrace.

Asian-inspired brewpub, BiXi Beer, 2515 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Lonesome Rose

2101 N. California Ave.
773-770-3414
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Tex-Mex bar and restaurant Lonesome Rose is known for its plant- and light-filled open design, complete with a lush rooftop patio. The Logan Square staple offers breakfast tacos, queso, nachos, burritos, margaritas and more. Lonesome Rose unveiled a second location in Andersonville earlier this year, but it doesn’t have a rooftop space.

Lonesome Rose, 2101 N. California Ave., is known for its lush space, filled with plants and sunlight.

Drinks from Logan Square’s Tex-Mex bar and restaurant Lonesome Rose, 2101 N. California Ave.

Northalsted

Sidetrack

3349 N. Halsted St.
773-477-9189
3 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 1 p.m.-3 a.m. Saturday, 1 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday

This multi-level gay bar hosts a wide variety of events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. You can lounge on the rooftop while sipping specialty cocktails, or plan your visit for one of Sidetrack’s dance parties, RuPaul’s Drag Race screenings, storytelling sessions and other entertainment programs.

River North

Celeste

111 W. Hubbard St.
312-828-9000
7 p.m.-4 a.m. Wednesday-Friday, 7 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturday

Right across the street from Joy District, this multi-level River North establishment offers a pub serving up American cuisine and a Deco Room with craft cocktails. Head on up to the fourth floor for Celeste’s rooftop garden, complete with Victorian decor, tropical greenery and a retractable glass rooftop for year-round enjoyment.

Joy District

112 W. Hubbard St.
312-651-3979
4 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday

This multi-level drinking and dining establishment features a first floor sports parlor and a second-floor club. Dance the night away and sip on specialty cocktails on the venue’s rooftop, which overlooks the city’s skyline.

South Loop

Reggies Rooftop Deck

2109 S. State St.
312-949-0120
11-2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 11-3 a.m. Saturday

Neighborhood bar and music joint Reggies also has a “Trainwreck Rooftop Deck,” featuring eight flat screen TVs, a pool table, pro basketball pop-a-shot, bags games and more. Take a seat, sip some booze and enjoy the South Side club’s classic menu items.

West Loop

Aba

302 N. Green St.
773-645-1400
4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 3-11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 3-10 p.m. Sunday

Enjoy a light, Mediterranean palate inspired by Israeli, Lebanese, Turkish and Greek cuisines and rare Mediterranean-inspired wines and spirits at Aba. Sit indoors for a traditional dining experience or take advantage of the eatery’s year-round rooftop patio, which becomes fully enclosed and heated during the winter months.

Cabra

200 N. Green St.
312-761-1717
11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 4-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday

Enjoy panoramic views of the city while sipping on cocktails and wines and tasting shareable plates of Peruvian cuisine, meant to be enjoyed family-style. With indoor and outdoor space atop The Hoxton Chicago Hotel, you can visit the rooftop year-round.

A Peruvian-inspired rooftop atop The Hoxton Chicago, 200 N. Green St.

Puttery

932 W. Randolph St.
773-915-6040
4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, noon-2 a.m. Friday, 11-2 a.m. Saturday noon-midnight Sunday

After playing some indoor mini golf, you can head to Puttery’s patio for drinks, pizza and upscale bites like potato flautas and charcuterie boards. This indoor-outdoor space offers lounge spaces, bar tops and communal tables so you can chill after tee time.

Rooftop At Nobu Hotel

155 N. Peoria St.
312-779-8800
Fine varying dining room, bar lounge and takeout hours here.

Nobu’s global luxury hotel in West Loop features an 11th floor outdoor terrace, distinguished by its minimalistic, Japanese-inspired decor and menu items. Sip on booze and snack on wagyu dumplings or nigiri while looking out at the city’s skyline.

Selva

311 N. Morgan St.
312-764-1934
5 p.m.-midnight Tuesday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday

This Mexican nights-inspired bar on the seventh floor of The Emily Hotel is a moody and intimate indoor-outdoor venue. You can try out its handcrafted cocktails, like a Blackberry Mojito or Oaxaca Old Fashioned, plus casual fare like tacos, quesadilla and chips and salsa.

Located on the seventh floor of The Emily Hotel, 311 N. Morgan St., Selva’s moody and intimate atmosphere is inspired by a “Mexican nights” theme.

Tony’s Rooftop Bar

916 W. Fulton Market
312-637-3888
8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday

Time Out Market’s rooftop bar, named after the magazine’s late founder Tony Elliot, features a cozy, all-season venue decorated in vintage Time Out London covers and twinkling lights. Catch views of the Willis Tower and other architectural gems while sipping on a curated selection of wines, beers and signature cocktails.

Wicker Park/Bucktown

Cabana Club

2018 W. North Ave.
872-315-3083
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday

Below The Up Room, you’ll find Cabana Club just a few floors down. The Cabana Club, located on The Robey’s sixth floor, is an indoor-outdoor cocktail bar with 180-degree views of the Chicago skyline. You can also enjoy frozen cocktails and maybe even take a dip into the pool.

Kennedy Rooftop

1551 W. North Ave.
773-270-6770
4-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday

Atop the seventh floor of the Hyatt Place Wicker Park, you’ll find the Kennedy Rooftop, an open-air lounge complete with fire pits, oversized Jenga sets and panoramic skyline views. Enjoy craft cocktails, shareable mezze platters and flatbreads and dishes like harissa chicken kabobs and Mahi Mahi tacos.

Kennedy Rooftop in Wicker Park, located at 1551 W. North Ave.

At seven stories high, Kennedy Rooftop, 1551 W. North Ave., offers a sweeping view of Chicago’s skyline.

Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club

1750 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-486-8682
Find indoor and outdoor hours here.

Tropical drinks, rotating food trucks, board games, DJs and 11 shuffleboard courts are just some of the things you’ll find at this May-September shuffleboard club. Walk-ins are always welcome to join in the shuffle boarding or to simply lounge on the roof deck with a pina colada in hand.

The Up Room

2018 W. North Ave.
872-315-3060
5 p.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday

Thirteen floors above the Wicker Park’s bustling Milwaukee Avenue, you can sit atop this Robey Hotel cocktail bar, lounge around and sip booze while looking out at the breathtaking cityscape.

Whiskey Business

1367 N. Milwaukee Ave.
773-698-7362
2-10:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 2-11:15 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-11:15 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sunday

Located in the heart of Wicker Park, Whiskey Business mixes ’80s and ’90s nostalgia in its bi-level restaurant and bar. It’s rooftop hosts different pop-up concepts each season. Stop by now through September for a peek at “The Golden Girls Kitchen”-themed space.

Wrigleyville

Alma

3630 N. Clark St.
773-302-2300
3-11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, 3 p.m.-midnight Thursday, 3 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday

Hiding in plain sight on Wrigleyville’s Hotel Zachary, Alma is a second-floor rooftop bar and lounge offering Mediterranean-inspired bites. The neighborhood social hub offers indoor and outdoor seating, a DJ booth and views of Wrigley Field and Gallagher Way.

Alma rooftop, 3630 N. Clark St., in Wrigleyville.

Alma’s menu features signature cocktails and food such as tuna tartare, feta fries, salad and fried calamari.

Is your favorite rooftop or outdoor hangout missing from this list? Email newsroom@blockclubchi.org so we can add it!

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