Chicago is a city of seasons, and locals know to take advantage of the warmer months. In recent years, open-air venues with gorgeous views have grown in prominence all over the city, adding an extra wow factor to complement the food and drinks. Whether it’s glitzy and glam high-rise spaces or casual and low-key neighborhood favorites, there’s a rooftop for every occasion. Some are open year-round, but others are seasonal, so keep a calendar on hand when making plans.
Chicago’s Best Rooftop Restaurants and Bars
Chicagoans know to embrace the city’s all-too-brief summers.
Jeffy Mai is the Associate Editor for Eater’s Midwest region, and has been covering Chicago’s dining scene for over a decade.
The newest additions to the map include the Salt Shed’s Three Top Lounge and Ravenswood Tex-Mex eatery Arriba. So find an enticing outdoor destination from Eater Chicago’s list of the best rooftop venues — or try them all.
— Additional reporting by Ashok Selvam and Naomi Waxman.
Chicago’s Best Rooftop Restaurants and Bars
Chicagoans know to embrace the city’s all-too-brief summers.
Jeffy Mai is the Associate Editor for Eater’s Midwest region, and has been covering Chicago’s dining scene for over a decade.
Chicago is a city of seasons, and locals know to take advantage of the warmer months. In recent years, open-air venues with gorgeous views have grown in prominence all over the city, adding an extra wow factor to complement the food and drinks. Whether it’s glitzy and glam high-rise spaces or casual and low-key neighborhood favorites, there’s a rooftop for every occasion. Some are open year-round, but others are seasonal, so keep a calendar on hand when making plans.
The newest additions to the map include the Salt Shed’s Three Top Lounge and Ravenswood Tex-Mex eatery Arriba. So find an enticing outdoor destination from Eater Chicago’s list of the best rooftop venues — or try them all.
— Additional reporting by Ashok Selvam and Naomi Waxman.
Lonesome Rose
This Tex-Mex restaurant and bar in Logan Square from Land & Sea Dept. (Parson’s, Longman & Eagle) offers an array of tacos, burritos, quesos, and cocktails — as well as a second-floor rooftop patio decorated with lush greenery. Save some room for the Chaco-Taco dessert, and head downstairs to basement bar Golden Teardrops for a nightcap.
Gene’s Sausage Shop and Delicatessen
The rooftop at this Lincoln Square market and deli is no frills. The menu features grilled sausages, pierogis, sides like potato salad, and beer and wine. There’s no shade, but guests will enjoy a nice view of the city. Beware: It can get crowded here on nice days, so plan accordingly or be prepared to wait on weekends and holidays.
Arriba
This Tex-Mex-inspired rooftop from the team behind Farm Bar is one of the North Side’s best outdoor terraces, offering festive decor, good vibes, and seating for up to 100 guests. Sip on spicy margs and mezcal old fashioneds while sharing nachos, tacos, quesadillas, and more. Walk-ins only and dog-friendly so bring the pups.
Arriba
BiXi Beer
Asian-inspired brewpub BiXi Beer, a neighborhood favorite from chef Bo Fowler, offers creative original beers and a sunny rooftop terrace in the heart of Logan Square. Take advantage of nice weather with sushi and sumptuous dishes such as cumin lamb noodles, Thai-style Scotch eggs, and a stellar togarashi burger. Visit during brunch on the weekend to enjoy dim sum bites like Italian beef baos.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
Three Top Lounge
Goose Island’s brewpub at the Salt Shed isn’t the only place concertgoers can go for a drink before a show. You go up the stairs or the elevators off the Elston door to enter. The music venue has unveiled a new cocktail lounge boasting a deck with unobstructed skyline views. For now, Three Top Lounge is open for concerts and special events, and guests must purchase tickets to access the space. Follow the bar on Instagram for updates on tickets and hours.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
Shanghai Terrace
Shanghai Terrace, inside the Peninsula Chicago, is a venerable Chinese restaurant with top-notch dim sim (lobster and chicken dumplings with black truffle) and traditional tea service. The entrees are creative and use premium ingredients, which brings premium prices. The Beijing duck, served with Mandarin pancake,s unlike most other spots, is a must. The elevated experience is worth the splurge when considering the views, service, and unique menu.
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Sifr
The Middle Eastern restaurant from the team behind the city’s only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, Indienne, has a second-floor perch in River North with clean views of the city. The pita, mezze platter, kebobs, and other dishes are among the city’s best. There’s also an affordable $60 tasting menu, and the rooftop is enclosed during winter.
Book a table:
* Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
Bar Avec
One Off Hospitality’s second outpost of Mediterranean-inspired hotspot Avec one-ups its predecessor with a key feature — an eighth-floor rooftop patio, dubbed Bar Avec. The urban scenery is hard to beat and is accompanied by cocktails, frozen drinks, and Iberian-influenced dishes. And yes, the chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates are on the menu.
OffShore Chicago
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, which is equipped with a 60-seat bar under a retractable roof, fire pits, umbrella-covered seating areas, and more. It’s hard to find a better view of the skyline, and during the summer guests have front-row seats to Navy Pier’s fireworks shows.
Upstairs at The Gwen
A sky-high escape in the heart of the city, Upstairs at The Gwen provides a reprieve from the bustle of downtown. Surrounded by towering buildings, the Art Deco-inspired rooftop offers all-day dining and programming like Terrace & Tunes on Thursdays, when guests can vibe to live beats from DJs. During the winter months, the terrace remains open thanks to fire pits and transforms into a curling wonderland.
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Gene Yoon
London House Rooftop Bar
Locals are probably familiar with LondonHouse Chicago’s stunning tri-level rooftop. Featured in countless social media posts, it’s a very popular spot to grab a drink or bite while soaking in sweeping views of the Chicago River and surrounding skyscrapers. The cupola — a dome on the top of the building — is perfect for proposals, and there’s no better backdrop for photos. Reservations are highly recommended.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
Miru
The St. Regis Chicago hotel, overlooking the Chicago River and Navy Pier, is home to this Lettuce Entertain You eatery. Miru’s Japanese menu specializes in sushi, robata skewers, and plenty of sake, but there’s also a prime burger that will satisfy many patrons. The spacious rooftop deck is place to be during the summertime, boasting unparalleled views.
Gibsons Italia
Chicago’s famed steakhouse group leaped into the rooftop game with the beautifully designed Gibsons Italia, located next to the Chicago River in West Loop. The multi-floor Italian restaurant offers some of the best views in town from inside the restaurant as well as its energetic fourth-floor rooftop. While the steaks are undeniably great, don’t overlook the house-made pastas or seven-year-aged risotto.
Book a table:
* Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One customers. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app.
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Château Carbide
The Pendry Chicago hotel’s 24th floor rooftop is a swanky summer destination. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Art Deco drinking spot atop the historic Carbide & Carbon Building welcomes acoustic artists and DJs spinning tunes like French house music. For a more mellow vibe, visit on Saturday afternoons for a pop-up spritz cart and light bites like shrimp cocktails and whipped burrata.
Raised
This unique roof deck, just across the Chicago River inside the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, offers gorgeous views and approachable bites like truffle fries, popcorn chicken, and sliders. There are signature cocktails and punches available alongside a variety of non-alcoholic options, too.
Raised
Avli on The Park
A popular destination for baby and wedding showers, the Lakeshore East location of Avli, known as Avli on the Park, has a small deck with great views of the nearby green space and more. The Greek restaurant is ideal for a variety of celebrations, and the menu offers dishes like chicken souvlaki, kataifi shrimp, and lobster pasta.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
Cindy's Rooftop
Ever-stylish Cindy’s in the Chicago Athletic Association hotel reigns supreme as one of the hottest rooftops in town, providing gorgeous views of Millennium Park, the skyline, and Lake Michigan. The food and drink menus aim for broad appeal with shareable selections such as oysters, truffle deviled eggs, and lobster rolls. It’s a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike, so reservations are recommended. In early 2025, Boka Restaurant Group took over operations.
Reggies Chicago
Bar and music venue Reggies, equipped with a rooftop deck, is a staple in South Loop 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.
VU Rooftop Bar
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. The food, from Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, is a tasty ensemble of bar bites. VU is open as early as 6 a.m. for breakfast so guests can watch the sunrise with a mimosa in hand.
Aba
Lettuce Entertain You’s debut foray into rooftops has been one of the city’s hottest spots since its founding in 2018. The West Loop restaurant has established a loyal fanbase thanks to its multiple bars, interesting cocktails, and chef CJ Jacobson’s Mediterranean-meets-Californian culinary style. Aba’s rooftop terrace space tends to draw crowds no matter the season and includes fire pits. A glass of wine or cocktail paired with a slice of crème brûlée pie is the move here.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
