Downtown Chicago rooftops and patios. Well it’s almost that time again for glorious outdoor dining and drinking. The rooftops and patios are opening. Since we only have a few months of great weather in this city it’s always worth the splurge to drink and/or snack or dine alfresco on a rooftop or patio. Most are open weather permitting so always call first to confirm hours. Following are some of the better alfresco options and don’t forget the about Eating and Drinking along the Riverwalk:
Roof tops
Aire, Hyatt Centric, 100 W. Monroe, 24th Floor, (312) 236-1234. After work try to sit on the east side or the setting sun will bake you on the west side.
Apogee, Dana Hotel, 2 W. Erie Street, 26th floor, (312) 202-6060.
Bernie’s Lunch & Supper, 660 N. Orleans St. 2nd floor (312) 624-9892. 4PM-7PM. Sun – Weds 5pm-10pm, Thurs, Fri & Sat 5pm-11pm.
Boleo, Kimpton Gray Hotel, 122 W. Monroe, 15th floor, (312) 750-9012. Outdoors with retractable roof. W-Sat. 4:30PM-2AM.
Cerise, The Virgin Hotel, 203 North Wabash, 26th floor.
Cindy’s, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, 12 S Michigan Ave, 13th floor (312) 940-3552.
drum Bar, Raffaelo Hotel, 201 E Delaware Pl, 18th floor (312) 933-4805. Save money with Spring Rewards.
Fremont, 15 W. Illinois St., 2nd floor, 312-874-7270. Retractable roof.
Gibson’s Italia, 233 N Canal St. (312) 414-1100. Third floor overlooking river.
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IO Urban Roofscape, Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron, 4th floor, (312) 649-2000. Retractable roof.
Ivy Sky Terrace, Ivy Hotel, 233 E Ontario St, 16th floor, (312) 335-5444.
Joy District, 112 W Hubbard St, 3rd floor, (312) 955-0339.
London House Hotel, 85 E Upper Wacker Dr, 22-24th floor. (312) 357-1200.
NoMi Garden, Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan Ave, 7th floor, (312) 239-4030.
Noyane, Conrad Hotel, 101 E. Erie St. 20th Floor. This is a Japanese restaurant.
Raised, Renaissance Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive, (312) 372-7200.
Roof at The Wit, Doubletree, 201 N State St, 27th floor, (312) 239-9502. Has indoor area also.
Plymouth Restaurant, 327 S Plymouth The roof is retractable so it’s open year round. Nice view of the Harold Washington Library Center. Has indoor area also.
Streeterville Social, Loews Hotel, 455 N. Park Drive, 3rd floor, (312) 840-6600.
Tanta, 118 W. Grand, 2nd floor, (312) 222-9700.
The Terrace at the Peninsula, 108 E Superior St, 4th floor (312) 573-6744. Second roof deck opening in June 2018. Stay tuned.
III Forks, 180 N. Field Boulevard, 2nd floor, (312) 938-4303. Beautiful view overlooking Lake Shore East Park. Has indoor area also
Torali, Ritz Carlton, 160 E. Pearson Street, 12th floor (312) 573-5160.
Terzo Piano/Bluhm Terrace Modern Wing Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, 3rd floor, (312) 443-3600. Thursdays 5:00-8:00PM until Labor Day.
Upstairs at The Gwen, The Gwen, The Shops at North Bridge, 521 N Rush St, 5th floor, (312) 645-1500. This rooftop can be accessed in the back of The Shops at North Bridge via elevator by Nordstroms.
Zed451, 739 N. Clark Street, 2nd floor, (312) 266-6691. Daily 4:30 p.m. – 12 a.m. Menus.
Patios/Sidewalk cafes
Acanto, 18 S Michigan Ave., (312) 578.0763. Nice views of Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park.
Beacon Tavern, 405 N. Wabash, (312) 955-4226. Located in the Plaza behind the Wrigley Building.
Beatrix Streeterville, 671 N. St. Clair St. (312) 642-0001.
Beatrix River North, Hyatt Place, 519 North Clark Street, (312) 284-1377.
Bub City, 435 North Clark Street, 312-610-4200. Large garage doors open to the outdoors.
The Dearborn, Block 37, 145 N. Dearborn St., 312-384-1242. Doors open up onto Randolph side of building.
Filini Bar and Restaurant, Radisson Blu, 221 N. Columbus Drive, (312) 477-0234.
Gibson’s Italia, 233 N. Canal, (312) 414-1100.
McCormick & Schmick’s, 1 E. Upper Wacker Drive, (312) 923-7226. This patio can be a madhouse during happy hour so get there early.
The Plaza at Park Grill, Millennium Park, 11 N Michigan Ave, (312) 521-7275. This patio can be a madhouse in summer after 4PM-7:30PM.
Porter Kitchen & Deck, 150 N Riverside, (312) 781-7580. Small patio overlooking river.
River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle Street, (312) 822-0100. Nice river views.
A fun activity on a beautiful night is to “rooftop hop.” Pick an area and have a drink at each rooftop and move on. Below are the rooftops and patios sorted by location. And don’t forget about the River: Eating and drinking along the Chicago River Walk. Admittedly this is not going to be “cheap” but with about two months of summer left you have to get outdoors before it’s over.
Lettuce Entertain You restaurants puts out a nice patio guide for their restaurants here.
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Patios and rooftops by area:
Loop Rooftops and Happy Hours
- Aire, Hyatt Centric, 100 W. Monroe, 24th Floor, (312) 236-1234.
- Boleo, Kimpton Gray Hotel, 122 W. Monroe, 15th floor, (312) 750-9012. Outdoors with retractable roof.
- Cerise, The Virgin Hotel, 203 North Wabash, 26th floor, (312) 940-4774.
- Cindy’s, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, 12 S Michigan Ave, 13th floor (312) 940-3552.
- Gibson’s Italia, 233 N Canal St. (312) 414-1100.
- London House Hotel, 85 E Upper Wacker Dr, 22-24th floor. (312) 357-1200.
- Raised, Renaissance Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive, (312) 372-7200.
- Roof at The Wit, Doubletree, 201 N State St, 27th floor, (312) 239-9502.
- Tavern at the Park Treehouse, Prudential Building, 130 E Randolph St, (312) 552-0070.
- Terzo Piano/Bluhm Terrace, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, 3rd floor, (312) 443-3600.
- III Forks, 180 N. Field Boulevard, 2nd floor, (312) 938-4303.
Loop Patios
- Acanto, 18 S Michigan Ave., (312) 578.0763
- Beacon Tavern, 405 N. Wabash, (312) 955-4226. Located in the Plaza behind the Wrigley Building.
- The Dearborn, Block 37, 145 N. Dearborn St., 312-384-1242. Doors open up onto Randolph side of building.
- Filini Bar and Restaurant, Radisson Blu, 221 N. Columbus Drive, (312) 477-0234.
- McCormick & Schmick’s, 1 E. Upper Wacker Drive, (312) 923-7226.
- The Plaza at Park Grill, Millennium Park, 11 N Michigan Ave, (312) 521-7275.
North Michigan Avenue Rooftops and Gold Coast Happy Hours
- Drum Bar, Raffaelo Hotel, 201 E Delaware Pl, 18th floor (312) 933-4805.
- Ivy Sky Terrace, Ivy Hotel, 233 E Ontario St, 16th floor, (312) 335-5444.
- NoMi Garden, Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan Avenue, 7th floor, (312) 239-4030.
- Noyane, Conrad Hotel, 101 E. Erie St. 20th Floor. This is a Japanese restaurant.
- Streeterville Social, Loews Hotel, 455 N. Park Drive, 3rd floor, (312) 840-6600.
- The Terrace at the Peninsula, 108 E Superior St, 4th floor (312) 573-6744. Second deck opening June 2018.
- Torali, Ritz Carlton, 160 E. Pearson Street, 12th floor (312) 573-5160.
- Upstairs at The Gwen, The Gwen, The Shops at North Bridge, 521 N Rush St, 5th floor, (312) 645-1500. This rooftop can be accessed in the back of The Shops at North Bridge via elevator by Nordstrom.
North Michigan Avenue Patios
- Beatrix Streeterville, 671 N. St. Clair St. (312) 642-0001.
- Café Des Architectes, Sofitel, 20 E. Chestnut Street, (312) 324-4063. .
- Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Avenue, (312) 262-5310. Located in the plaza adjacent to the Tribune Tower and across from Apple Store.
- Pierrot Gourmet at The Peninsula, 108 E. Superior Street, (312) 573-6749.
River North Rooftops and Happy Hours
- Apogee, Dana Hotel, 2 W. Erie Street, 26th floor, (312) 202-6060.
- Bernie’s Lunch & Supper, 660 N. Orleans St. 2nd floor (312) 624-9892.
- Fremont, 15 W. Illinois St., 2nd floor, 312-874-7270. Retractable roof.
- IO Urban Roofscape, Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron, 4th floor, (312) 649-2000. Retractable roof.
- Joy District, 112 W Hubbard St, 3rd floor, (312) 955-0339.
- Tanta, 118 W. Grand, 2nd floor, (312) 222-9700.
- Zed451, 739 N. Clark Street, 2nd floor, (312) 266-6691.
River North Patios
- Eating and Drinking along the Riverwalk
- Beatrix River North, Hyatt Place, 519 North Clark Street, (312) 284-1377.
- Bub City, 435 North Clark Street, 312-610-4200. Large garage doors open to the outdoors.
- River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle Street, (312) 822-0100.
South Loop Rooftop
- Plymouth Restaurant, 327 S Plymouth Ct, 4th floor (312) 362-1212. Retractable roof. Nice view of the Harold Washington Library Center.
Streeterville Rooftop and Happy Hours
Mike says
Great work Carol on giving us the rundown on Downtown Chicago’s alfresco rooftop and patio options. Thanks!
Carol says
Enjoy!