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Downtown Chicago Rooftops and Patios

POSTED BY
Carol
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Downtown Chicago rooftops and patios. Well it’s almost that time again for glorious outdoor dining and drinking.  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. 

All of the following are open except where indicated. Most are open weather permitting.  Some have retractable roofs as indicated below. Sometimes roofs are closed due to a private party or other reasons.  In the past you could never make a reservation for a rooftop but some places are allowing it.  I would recommend it if you can.  Please call or check websites (links below) for days and hours of operation.  Eating and drinking along the Chicago Riverwalk

Downtown Chicago Rooftops and Patios – 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, Eurostars Hotel, 2 W. Erie Street, 26th floor, (312) 202-6060. Who knows what goes on up there  Temporarily closed

Bernie’s Lunch & Supper, 660 N. Orleans St. 2nd floor (312) 624-9892.

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. 2(312) 940-4400.

Château Carbide, 230 N Michigan Ave 24th Floor, (312) 777-9000. Very expensive.

View south from Cerise at the Virgin Hotel

Cindy’s, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, 12 S Michigan Ave, 13th floor (312) 940-3552.  Reservations required here.  

View from Cindy’s, Chicago Athletic Association Hotel

Fremont, 15 W. Illinois St., 2nd floor, 312-874-7270. 2nd floor Retractable roof. Join 4C and get $5 free

Gibson’s Italia, 233 N Canal St. 4th floor (312) 414-1100.

IO Urban Roofscape, Godfrey Hotel, 127 W. Huron, 4th floor, (312) 649-2000.  Retractable roof.  Reservations required.  Email info@iogodfrey.com.  They will respond if they can accommodate your request.

IO Urban Roofscape, Godfrey Hotel

Joy District, 112 W Hubbard St, 3rd floor, (312) 651-3983

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.You can make reservations online.

Noyane, Conrad Hotel, 101 E. Erie St. 20th Floor. (312) 667-6796.  This is a Japanese restaurant. Temporarily closed

Off Shore Rooftop and Bar, Navy Pier, 1000 E Grand Ave, (312) 535-6660. This is all the way at the end of the pier. You can make reservations online or through OpenTable.

Off Shore Rooftop and Bar, Navy Pier

Plymouth Restaurant, 327 S Plymouth (312) 362-1212. Retractable roof. Nice view of the Harold Washington Library Center.

Plymouth Restaurant

Raised, Renaissance Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive, (312) 372-7200. You can make a reservation for up to 6 people.

Roof at The Wit, Doubletree, 201 N State St, 27th floor, (312) 239-9502.  Retractable roof.

Roof at The Wit

Rosebud, Prudential Building, 130 E Randolph St, New not opened yet.

Streeterville Social, Loews Hotel, 455 N. Park Drive, 3rd floor, (312) 840-6600.  Temporarily closed Reopening May 12 for drinks and May 26 for food.  You can make reservations on Resy.

Tanta, 118 W. Grand, 2nd floor, (312) 222-9700.

Torali, Ritz Carlton, 160 E. Pearson Street, 12th floor (312) 573-5160. Temporarily closed  Reopening May 14.

Terzo Piano/Bluhm Terrace Modern Wing, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, 3rd floor, (312) 443-3600.  Temporarily closed 

Upstairs at The Gwen, The Gwen, The Shops at North Bridge, 521 N Rush St, 5th floor, (312) 645-1500.  This rooftop can also be accessed in the back of The Shops at North Bridge via elevator by Nordstroms past the escalators..

Upstairs at The Gwen, The Gwen, The Shops at North Bridge

VU Rooftop, Hilton Garden Inn, 133 E Cermak, 22nd Floor,  (312) 528-0191.  Reservations required for parties of 6 or less.

Z Bar, Peninsula, 108 E Superior St, 6th floor (312) 573-6744.

Eating and drinking along the Chicago Riverwalk

Downtown Chicago Rooftops and Patios – Patios/Sidewalk cafes

Acanto, 18 S Michigan Ave., (312) 578-0763. Nice views of Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park. Temporarily closed  Reopening May 1

Acanto

Beatrix Streeterville, 671 N. St. Clair St. (312) 642-0001. Join LEYE Frequent Diner Club Get $10

Beatnik on the River, 180 N. Wacker Dr,(312) 526-3345.   Small patio overlooking the river. Pre-covid this place was a madhouse.

Beatrix River North, Aloft, 519 North Clark Street, (312) 284-1377.  Front windows open and they also have tables on Clark Street which is closed to traffic. Join LEYE Frequent Diner Club Get $10

Bub City, 435 North Clark Street, 312-610-4200. Large garage doors open to the outdoors and they also have tables on Clark Street which is closed to traffic. Join LEYE Frequent Diner Club Get $10You can make reservations on Tock.

The Dearborn, Block 37, 145 N. Dearborn St., 312-384-1242. Doors open up onto Randolph side of building.

Gibson’s Italia, 233 N. Canal, 2nd floor  (312) 414-1100. Patio on the river. 

Lirica, Sable Hotel at Navy Pier, 900 E. Grand, (872) 710-5750.  Large patio on the lake.

McCormick & Schmick’s, 1 E. Upper Wacker Drive, (312) 923-7226. 

The Plaza at Park Grill, Millennium Park, 11 N Michigan Ave, Under the Bean (312) 521-7275.   This patio can be a madhouse in summer after 4PM-7:30PM. Temporarily closed 

The Plaza at Park Grill

Porter Kitchen & Deck, 150 N Riverside, (312) 781-7580. Small patio overlooking river. Join 4C and get $5 free

Porter Kitchen & Deck

River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle Street, (312) 822-0100. Nice river views.  Reservations recommended.

Shanghai Terrace, Peninsula, 108 E Superior St, 4th floor (312) 573-6744. 

Eating and drinking along the Chicago Riverwalk

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. 

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Downtown Chicago Rooftops and Patios – by area

Loop Rooftops and Happy Hours  All Happy hours are canceled due to Covid!

  • 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.
  • Terzo Piano/Bluhm Terrace,  Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, 3rd floor, (312) 443-3600. Temporarily closed.

Loop Patios

  • Acanto, 18 S Michigan Ave., (312) 578.0763 Temporarily closed.
  • The Dearborn, Block 37, 145 N. Dearborn St., 312-384-1242. Doors open up onto Randolph side of building.
  • 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. Temporarily closed.

North Michigan Avenue Rooftops and Gold Coast Happy Hours All Happy hours are canceled due to Covid!

  • 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. Temporarily closed.
  • Shanghai Terrace, Peninsula, 108 E Superior St, 4th floor (312) 573-6744. 
  • Streeterville Social, Loews Hotel, 455 N. Park Drive, 3rd floor, (312) 840-6600. Temporarily closed.
  • Torali, Ritz Carlton, 160 E. Pearson Street, 12th floor (312) 573-5160. Temporarily closed.
  • 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.
  • Z Bar, Peninsula, 108 E Superior St, 4th floor (312) 573-6744.

North Michigan Avenue Patios

River North Rooftops and Happy Hours All Happy hours are canceled due to Covid!

  • Apogee, Dana Hotel, 2 W. Erie Street, 26th floor, (312) 202-6060. Temporarily closed.
  • 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.

River North Patios

  • 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 All Happy hours are canceled due to Covid!

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Comments

  1. Mike says

    Great work Carol on giving us the rundown on Downtown Chicago’s alfresco rooftop and patio options. Thanks!

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