Complete guide

Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago

2024 update

From the largest rooftop bar in the world to sky-high and buzzing rooftop lounges above the Magnificent Mile, Chicago comes filled with fantastic rooftop venues. We take you to our favourite spots to enjoy drinks and bites with fantastic views over the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan.

Country United States

Currency US Dollar

Best time to visit May - September

Courtesy of Z Bar

Chicago Rooftop Guide

By:Rikard Fredricson

Updated:March 5, 2024

Chicago rooftop map

Looking for the best rooftop bars in Chicago? Look no further! Right here you'll find a complete and up-to-date listing with the very best Chicago rooftop bars, packed with all info you need about each venue.

From Downtown Chicago, through The Loop and to River North, 'The Windy City' has a sky-high spot for everyone. Not only home to the largest rooftop bar in the world and some great Chicago rooftop pools, but buzzing with vibrant and trendy rooftop lounges, offering amazing views over both the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. And while summer is prime and peak season, there are quite a few Chicago rooftop bars open all year round.

So, which is the best rooftop bar in Chicago? Just scroll down and find out.

The list

30 best rooftop bars in Chicago

Rooftop bar Chicago Terrace 16 in Chicago — 1

Terrace 16

16th floor | River North

Highlights

Restaurant + bar

Magical view

$$$$$

Terrace 16 captures the spirit of Chicago’s glorious summer months year-round with genuine hospitality, warm design, a convivial bar, unmatched vistas and an ever-changing menu whose ingredients shine bright. Located on the 16th floor of Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, the restaurant includes expansive outdoor seating on the idyllic terrace – all punctuated by **breathtaking views** of the city’s most iconic landmarks. A vibrant menu features new American flavors, an extensive craft cocktail program & thoughtful wine list enhance the experience of the **downtown Chicago restaurant**.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Rooftop at Nobu Hotel in Chicago — 2

Rooftop at Nobu Hotel

11th floor | Fulton Market

Highlights

Upscale

Skyline views

$$$$

Found on Chicago’s famous Restaurant Row, right **in the heart of West Loop**, the rooftop at the elegant Nobu Hotel Chicago is just as stunning as the hotel itself. Mixing stylish indoor lounge and airy outdoor terrace, here you find a sophisticated and upscale atmosphere and setting, surrounded with some of the **best Chicago skyline views** you can find. The rooftop bar serves a fine selection of specialty cocktails, where many are classics with an Asian twist, along with hot and cold plates by famous sushi chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Z Bar in Chicago — 3

Z Bar

6th floor | River North

Highlights

Upscale lounge

Amazing views

$$$$

Set 6 floors up at The Peninsula Chicago, above Michigan Avenue, Z Bar is an **upscale, refined and internationally inspired** rooftop bar, offering amazing views over the central parts of Chicago. Out on the comfy and luxurious outdoor terrace you can indulge in both globally inspired cocktails and tasty bites, all served in a sophisticated yet lively and upbeat lounge atmosphere. Z Bar also offers a monthly **'Wanderlust Cocktail Class'**, if you want to deep-dive into the making of perfectly crafted cocktails.

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10 Spectacular Rooftop Bars in Chicago

Rooftop bar Chicago Sky Terrace at the Ivy Hotel in Chicago — 4

Sky Terrace at the Ivy Hotel

16th floor | Streeterville

Highlights

Hidden gem

Fantastic views

$$$$

Perched on top of the Ivy Hotel in Streeterville, the Sky Terrace is somewhat of a **hidden downtown gem**. Sixteen floors above the buzz, this is an elevated rooftop oasis for relaxing food & drinks, complemented with fantastic views over the Chicago skyline. Open during the warmer months, the Ivy Hotel rooftop menu includes a tasteful selection of small bites, shareables and items off the grill, as well as crafted signature cocktails, wine and a rotating selection of beers. Visit for relaxing **happy hour drinks daily**, or evening cocktails with skyline views.

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Rooftop bar Chicago LH Rooftop in Chicago — 5

LH Rooftop

22nd floor | Theatre District

Highlights

Tri-level

Panoramic views

$$$$

LH Rooftop is a **fantastic tri-level rooftop bar**, located right by the Michigan Avenue bridge, on top of LondonHouse Chicago. The tri-level setting features an indoor lounge, called LH on 21, while the main terrace is called LH on 22. With an absolutely superb view among the city's skyscrapers and out towards Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, here you can enjoy tasty cocktails and bar bites in a **fun and vibrant setting**, great for both weekday after works and full days and nights of weekend fun.

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Rooftop bar Chicago bar avec in Chicago — 6

bar avec

8th floor | River North

Highlights

Skyline views

Mediterranean-inspired

$$$

Located on the 8th floor of 640 N Lasalle Drive in River North, bar avec is a lush and urban Chicago rooftop, inspired by the casual seaside diners in **coastal Spanish & Portuguese towns** dotting the Iberian Peninsula. But instead of Mediterranean views, here you get **sweeping panoramics of Chicago’s magnificent skyline**. Filled with a lively and comfortable atmosphere, the rooftop is open during the warmer months, for anything from quick drinks and bites, to a full dinner under the stars.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Cerise Rooftop in Chicago — 7

Cerise Rooftop

26th floor | Theatre District

Highlights

Panoramic views

Live DJs

$$$$

26 stories up on the Virgin Hotels Chicago you find Cerise Rooftop, a fantastic **rooftop cocktail lounge & nightclub**. From here you get breathtaking views over the city skyline admist all the skyscrapers. With both a chic indoor lounge and a very stylish rooftop terrace, serving tasty bar bites and well-crafted cocktails, the best part about Cerise Rooftop is (apart from views) the fantastic atmosphere. Friendly service and **a great unpretentious vibe**, no matter if you visit for early evening relaxing cocktails or late night rooftop party.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Cindy's Rooftop in Chicago — 8

Cindy's Rooftop

13th floor | Millennium Park

Highlights

Millenium Park views

Weekend brunch

$$$$

A beautiful rooftop restaurant and bar with **amazing views over Millennium Park and Lake Michigan**. Cindy's Rooftop is set on top of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel, and comes with both an airy and spacious glass atrium indoor lounge, as well as an open-air rooftop terrace. Stylish in decoration, the food and drinks served at Cindy's are just about as delightful. Enjoy comfort food and exquisite American fare served as lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, or come for bites and perfectly crafted cocktails in between.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Cabra in Chicago — 9

Cabra

12th floor | Fulton Market

Highlights

Peruvian-inspired

Panoramic views

$$$$

Found on top of the urban Hoxton in the Fulton Market District, Cabra Chicago is a spirited rooftop dining & drinking destination, **inspired by the vibrant flavors of Peruvian cuisine**. Surrounded with panoramic views of the Chicago skyline, the rooftop holds a bright and airy year-round interior restaurant, complemented with an outdoor patio, perfect for the warmer days. Here you can indulge in crave-worthy shareable plates that are bold in flavor and bright in taste, alongside an equally expressive cocktail menu & wine list.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Château Carbide in Chicago — 10

Château Carbide

24th floor | Theatre District

Highlights

Skyline views

French Riviera vibes

$$$$

Elevated at the modern Pendry Chicago, Château Carbide is a quite new addition to the Chicago rooftop scene, set 24 floors above the heart of the city. This **Cote D’Azur-inspired rooftop** comes with a beautiful and sun-drenched alfresco garden, opening up to majestic views over the city skyline. A summer hot-spot to enjoy crafted signature cocktails, rosé, botanic brews, the **special picnic basket menu**, champagne, sushi and much more.

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Rooftop bar Chicago The J. Parker in Chicago — 11

The J. Parker

13th floor | Old Town Triangle

Highlights

Panoramic views

Outdoor / indoor

$$$

On top of Hotel Lincoln you find the swanky J. Parker rooftop bar, surrounded with panoramic views view over the Chicago skyline, Lake Michigan and Lincoln Park below. Complete with both an **outdoor terrace and an indoor lounge**, the modern and minimalistic year-round rooftop bar offers an all day food menu, and a nice selection of craft beer on cans, wines and some **exciting signature cocktails** named after exotic places. With a buzzing atmosphere, this is a perfect rooftop for both relaxing afternoons and a full night out.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Upstairs at the Gwen in Chicago — 12

Upstairs at the Gwen

5th floor | River North

Highlights

Inventive cocktails

Stylish & sophisticated

$$$$

Located in the heart of Chicago, Upstairs at the Gwen comes with both an indoor lounge and a stylish, open-air terrace. **Luxurious and trendy** in decoration, the rooftop bar offers a great selection of seasonal, inventive and well-crafted cocktails, a fine selection of wines, beers on draft and a set of sharable small plates. A great spot for stylish and sunny cocktails during summer, but also available during the colder months, when the terrace turns into a winter wonderland with both a curling rink and a cosy cabin.

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Rooftop bar Chicago ROOF On the Wit in Chicago — 13

ROOF On theWit

27th floor | The Chicago Theatre

Highlights

Panoramic view

World known DJs

$$$$

This rooftop lounge / cocktail bar / nightclub is located right in the city center, 27 floors up, with **magical views** of all the skyscrapers and the Chicago skyline. Open year round thanks to an adjustable roof, the ROOF has a stylish chic terrace offering different settings depending on when you visit. Early night you can enjoy al fresco dining from a Mediterranean-influenced menu, along with crafted cocktails in a more relaxing lounge atmosphere. Later on the mood changes towards what the ROOF is mostly famous for, namely beeing one of **Chicago's top nightclubs**.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Utopian Tailgate in Chicago — 14

Utopian Tailgate

4th floor | Old Town Triangle

Highlights

Playground for grownups

Skyline views

$$$

Perched on top of the Second City Comedy Club in Old Town, Utopian Tailgate really puts a playful & colorful spin on the Chicago rooftop scene. Dubbed a **playground for grownups**, the 10,000sqft indoor / outdoor venue comes with everything from swings and bungalows to eye-catching picnic tables, all surrounded with fantastic views over the Chicago skyline. Challenge your friends in putterball or super-sized jenga, while you munch a curated menu of elevated pub grub and sip **well-priced cocktails** or something from the large draft selection.

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Rooftop bar Chicago I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge in Chicago — 15

I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge

4th floor | River North

Highlights

Restaurant & lounge

Weekend brunch

$$$$

At the Godfrey Hotel, just a few blocks of the Magnificent Mile, you find the large and lovely **rooftop restaurant and bar** I|O Rooftop Lounge. Decorated with modern and bright lounge furniture, water features, fireplaces and beautiful views of the Chicago skyline, accompanied with friendly service and a cool and comfortable atmosphere. Here you can enjoy **lunch, dinner or weekend brunch**, along with well made cocktails. And you can do so year round, thanks to a retractable roof and some really cool rooftop igloos during the colder months.

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Rooftop bar Chicago VU Rooftop Bar in Chicago — 16

VU Rooftop Bar

22nd floor | Motor Row District

Highlights

2 terraces & 3 bars

Panoramic views

$$$

The 13,000-square-foot VU Rooftop Bar offers an impressive Chicago rooftop setting. Floating 22 floors above the bustling McCormick Place, the venue comes with a stylish indoor lounge, two rooftop terraces, three bars and some **amazing and panoramic views** over both the city skyline and Lake Michigan. Swanky, modern and spacious, here you can enjoy a locally driven beverage program and Chef Nolan Narut dishes, served nightly and as weekend rooftop brunch.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Kennedy Rooftop in Chicago — 17

Kennedy Rooftop

9th floor | Wicker Park

Highlights

Entire skyline views

Weekend brunch

$$$

Found in the hip, trendy and unique Wicker Park, northwest of downtown Chicago, the Kennedy Rooftop aims to highlight the culture and ambience of its neighborhood. Set on top of Hyatt Place, the rooftop bar is **modern and trendy in decoration**, mixing indoor lounge and heated outdoor terrace, blessed with fantastic **panoramic view over the entire Chicago skyline**. The Kennedy rooftop menu includes tasty shareables and a few solo dishes, as well as a drink list filled with both signature cocktails & Presidential ones.

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Rooftop bar Chicago NoMI in Chicago — 18

NoMI

7th floor | Magnificent Mile

Highlights

Artful cocktails

Restaurant

$$$$

The **chic and picturesque** NoMI at Park Hyatt Chicago includes a restaurant, a lounge and a garden. NoMI’s vibrant open-air terrace, known as NoMI Garden, offers guests relaxed sophistication and a respite from the bustling city. Boasting a 30 ft. bar with an ivory granite countertop and relaxed seating area, refined with parasols and prime views. Featuring an **artisanal cocktail program**, this is the destination for an in-the-know mix of young creatives and professionals, as well as discerning world travelers, looking to connect and take in the surroundings of downtown Chicago.

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Rooftop bar Chicago AIRE Rooftop Bar in Chicago — 19

AIRE Rooftop Bar

24th floor | Theatre District

Highlights

Amazing views

Summer hot-spot

$$$

Found high above the Chicago Loop, more precisely on the 24th floor of the Hyatt Centric, AIRE Rooftop Bar is a **summer hot-spot** to mix vibes, views, drinks and bites. Dressed in a fun décor, mixing comfy lounge spots with bar tables and greenery, the open-air terrace comes surrounded with an **amazing view over downtown Chicago**, in all directions. With a chic and vibrant atmosphere, AIRE is a great Chicago rooftop bar for an after work, or some drinks and bites before a night out in town, enjoying the expanded list of craft cocktails and wines.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Devereaux in Chicago — 20

Devereaux Chicago

18th floor | Gold Coast

Highlights

Skyline views

Chic & intimate

$$$

Devereaux Chicago is a **chic and intimate** rooftop bar and lounge, perched 18 floors up at the Viceroy Chicago Hotel. The rooftop offers something of a rarity in Chicago: a seasonal poolside rooftop lounge, and really the go-to spot for sky-high summertime vibes. Chilling poolside, you can enjoy **panoramic views over the Gold Coast skyline**, as well as a selection of crafted signature cocktails, local brews, wine and tasty small plates created by Chef Lee Wolen.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Streeterville Social in Chicago — 21

Streeterville Social

3rd floor | Streeterville

Highlights

Summer vibes

Majestic views

$$$$

Found at Loews Chicago Hotel, the stylish Streeterville Social offers all the summer vibes and city views you need for a hot and elevated downtown experience. Impressive in both setting and size, this is **one of the largest** al fresco terraces in Chicago, with plenty of dining tables and comfy loungers, all surrounded with majestic views over the city skyscrapers. Packed with summer vibes, this is a place to **meet, eat, and drink**, from a rooftop menu filled with both American gourmet grub and crafty cocktails.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Joy District in Chicago — 22

Joy District

3rd floor | River North

Highlights

Multi-level

Vibrant

$$$

Found in Chicago’s River North, Joy District is a **multi-level & multi-space venue** inviting you to drink, eat and enjoy. With a modern sports parlor on the first floor and a dance party hotspot on the second, the top floor Roof is the place to go for alfresco vibes and impeccable views of Chicago's cityscape. Urban and trendy, the rooftop comes decorated with comfy lounge seating and plenty of greenery, and it's a hot-spot for **fun and happening rooftop parties** during the warmer months. But is usually also available in winter as well, turning into a covered and heated escape.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Raised Bar in Chicago — 23

Raised Bar

3rd floor | Theatre District

Highlights

Crafted cocktails

River view

$$$$

On the 3rd floor of the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel you find Raised Bar, **an urban rooftop bar**. Not the highest rooftop in Chicago, but one with really cool close up views of downtown and Chicago River. Equipped with an outdoor/indoor bar, private outdoor areas and a stylish open roof deck with bar seating around the edge, here you can enjoy a menu featuring food inspired by **classic American bar food with a twist**, along with a large selection of beer, wine and creative crafted cocktails.

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Rooftop bar Chicago The Robey in Chicago — 24

The Robey

6th & 16th floor | Wicker Park

Highlights

Dual rooftop setting

Skyline views

$$$$

The Robey Hotel, set in a 203-feet tall Art Deco building in Wicker Park, offers a dual and diverse rooftop setting, which is one of the most impressive Chicago has to offer. Here you find the 6th floor poolside rooftop bar **Cabana Club**, open during the warmer months, and a prime spot for lounge hours with drinks, bites and lovely 180° views of the Chicago skyline. More elevated is the 13th floor **The Up Room**, a sleek rooftop cocktail bar, open nightly year-round. With panoramic views over the skyline both through the panoramic windows and from the outside terrace, this is an intimate venue for crafted & creative signature cocktails.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Homestead On The Roof in Chicago — 25

Homestead On The Roof

2nd floor | West Town

Highlights

Rooftop garden

Restaurant

$$$$

This lovely and cozy rooftop restaurant is really a hidden oasis located in the heart of West Town. Homestead call themselves 'a literal farm-to-table restaurant', and this goes hand in hand with the rooftop patio not offering any dazzling skyline views, but instead over the 3,000 square foot organic rooftop garden. Both intimate indoor space year round, and during the warmer monts the **lush and rustic** patio serves elegant cuisine made from farm-fresh products, along with a creative cocktail menu.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Gene’s Rooftop in Chicago — 26

Gene's Rooftop Beer and Wine Garden

2nd floor | Lincoln Square

Highlights

Beer & wine garden

Atmosphere

$$

Located at Lincoln Square, on top of Gene's Sausage Shop & Delicatessen, this is a **European-style rooftop** beer and wine garden where you can enjoy grilled sausages along with beers on tap and wine by the glass from around the world. With flowers, herbs and community benches this is a perfect destination for a sunny day, enjoying some **beers and sausages** in the very friendly, open picnic style atmosphere. Just remember to bring some cash.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Offshore Rooftop & Bar in Chicago — 27

Offshore Rooftop & Bar

3rd floor | Streeterville

Highlights

World's largest

Panoramic views

$$$

Branded as **'the world's largest rooftop bar'** by Guinness World Records, Offshore is an all-seasons / all-weather venue, thanks to a 36,000 sq. ft glassed indoor lounge (with a fully retractable roof), leading out to a 20,000 sq. ft terrace, with two private lawns, seven fire pits and even an entertainment & gaming area. All surrounded with **panoramic views** over Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Here you can indulge in small plates of seasonal and contemporary American fare, as well as a nice selection of creative and updated classic cocktails, bubbles, wines and crafted beers.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Whiskey Business in Chicago — 28

Whiskey Business

2nd floor | Wicker Park

Highlights

Fun & vibrant

Rooftop movies

$$$

Found in the heart of Wicker Park, Whiskey Business is a **spacious, fun and unique** Chicago rooftop bar, offering vibes and happenings pretty much every day of the week. Up at the colorful and quirky rooftop terrace you can watch classic movies on the 100” TV’s, party under the stars all weekend, or just enjoy the vibes and **sounds of the 80’s and 90’s** whenever. The rooftop menu comes filled with over 100 different whiskeys, crafted and seasonal cocktails, an expansive beer list, as well as a wide range of culinary creations.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Lonsome Rose in Chicago — 29

Lonsome Rose

2nd floor | Logan Square

Highlights

Californian / Mexican vibes

Relaxed

$$$

Open, airy and lush both inside and out, the Lonesome Rose rooftop terrace might not be the highest or most panoramic in town, but with a **charming and relaxing atmosphere**, it is well worth a sunny visit anyway. Up here you can enjoy a menu filled with Mexican goodies, served as lunch and dinner, and Friday to Sunday also as rooftop brunch. While the food is good, the drinks are even better. Especially the cocktail selection, ranging **from crafted signatures to classic Margaritas**, served as a pitcher for the whole crew if you like.

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Rooftop bar Chicago Soho House Chicago in Chicago — 30

Soho House Chicago

6th floor | West Loop

Highlights

Exclusive

Rooftop pool

$$$$

Soho House Chicago is a fantastic and exclusive hotel, located in an old warehouse building in the West Loop. It also holds and equally fantastic and exclusive Chicago rooftop bar, **only available to members and residents** of the hotel. A perfect place to eat, drink and relax to some amazing views of the Chicago skyline. Enjoy fresh pizza, well made cocktails, lovely lounge furniture, cozy fireplaces and a fantastic, steel-rimmed **rooftop swimming pool**.

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Rikard Fredricson

Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.

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