The 11 Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago With Spectacular Views

Hey Readers!!

If there’s one thing Chicagoans enjoy, it’s drinking in the great outdoors. The city stays, giving our pale, sun-starved population dozens of great rooftop options every year, including old favorites, recently reopened spots, and exciting newcomers.

Grab a bite to eat at rooftop restaurants with terraces high above the street and inside hotels in the Loop, or sneak away to hidden patios and gardens for a cocktail away from the crowds. Of course, you should plan to indulge in a warm-weather cocktail from some of the city’s best bar programs.

At high-end party spots, sexy hotel lounges, and scenic cocktail bars, you can relax in style. So lean into the warm vibes, grab a drink, and pick your favorite sky-high bar from the 11 best rooftop bars in Chicago.

Put these rooftop bars on the top of your list of the best museums in Chicago and visit at one of the best places to visit in Chicago, check out one of the best luxury hotels in Chicago so that you must plan your vacation to this exciting city.

Here is our list of the best restaurants in Chicago. If you enjoy our blogs, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Here We Go!!


Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago

In the city that gave the world the skyscraper, what could be more luxurious than lounging on top of one with a drink and a view? Many rooftop bars in Chicago offer amazing views of Lake Michigan, Lincoln Park Zoo, and the city’s most famous buildings, along with top-notch cocktails and upscale bar snacks.

Since many of them are inside, you can enjoy them all year, even when it snows all over downtown. Here are our top choices for the best rooftop bars in Chicago, where you can enjoy a great view of the city any time of year.

1. Cabra

Cabra | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

Stephanie Izard seems to do it again with this hipster-approved retreat on top of the Hoxton Hotel. The menu is a tribute to the famous chef’s memories of traveling through Peru. Two house favorites, Anticuchos (marinated meats grilled over open flames) and Ceviches (a nod to Izard’s time in Lima), show off these memories.

Pair them with drinks that make you want to travel, like the Golden Hour, a bubbly highball with Glenmorangie Scotch, mango vin, grapefruit, lime, and ginger ale, or the Frozen Pisco Fever, a lively and fragrant mix of pisco, vodka, guava, lime, and pineapple. One of the best rooftops in Chicago.


2. The Rooftop at Nobu Hotel

The Rooftop at Nobu Hotel | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

The Rooftop at Nobu, an outdoor terrace 11 stories above the street, is the best part of this high-end hotel in the West Loop. The rooftop is sleek and simple, and it has modern Japanese touches that are both stylish and cozy.

It has a view of the skyline to the east. Small snacks, or shuko, like nori tacos, black cod lettuce wraps, and lamb and chicken kushiyaki are on the menu. Yellowtail and black cod, which are the hotel’s signature dishes, will also be available. The Rooftop at Nobu is one of the best rooftop restaurants in Chicago.

On the drinks side, you can order wine by the glass or bottle, specialty cocktails, and a wide range of sake from the menu. You can walk in or make a reservation.


3. Bar Avec

Bar Avec | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

Fans of One Off Hospitality who know about the cult following of Avec, a small plates restaurant in the West Loop, know why its second location, on a rooftop in River North, is a big deal. Nearly 20 years after that restaurant opened, the nine-time James Beard Award-winning restaurant group is opening this new spot on the 8th floor. One of the best bars in Chicago.

The same dedication to service and the seaside flavors of Spain and Portugal can be found here. It’s like Avec l’original’s older sister, with plenty of plants, picnic tables, and great views of the city skyline.


4. Devereaux

Devereaux | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

In Chicago, which is known more for its windy weather than its sunshine, it’s not easy to find posh drinks to drink by the pool. But this fancy rooftop complex on top of the Viceroy Chicago is meant to put an end to that idea right away. At 18 floors, it’s one of the tallest outdoor venues in the city.

It shows off its seasonal skills with a sparkling blue pool, modern lounge furniture, and unbeatable views of the lake. And we haven’t even talked about the great selection of small plates and smart drinks coming out of the busy kitchen and bar. Anyone for Maine Lobster Sliders?


5. Aba

Aba | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

The green atrium of Aba is filled with potted plants and trees that frame a wide, well-lit back bar where you can drink and eat modern Mediterranean food. The globe lamps hanging from the vaulted glass ceiling of the room make it feel alive and bright.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are used in seasonal cocktails, and there is a long wine list that is broken down by grape, region, and historical and cultural importance. Large cocktails, wines that are mostly sold by the bottle, and a variety of plates that can be shared all point to Aba’s focus on community.

Don’t expect to have a private conversation, though. This is one of the most popular restaurants in the city, with a stunning rooftop view, so the bar is always full.


6. Cindy’s

Cindys | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

Cindy’s terrace at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel is always busy with locals, tourists, and people from the suburbs. It has some of the best views of Millennium Park, the Art Institute, and Lake Michigan in Chicago.

The cocktails are made with fresh fruits and vegetables, juices, kombucha, tea, and interesting spirits. This makes the drinks refreshing, creative, seductive, and overall delicious. No matter if you want to bring your family for a nice lunch or a date for cocktails on the terrace late at night, this is a great place for everyone.


7. Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen

Genes Sausage Shop and Delicatessen | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

Gene’s is like a German-style backyard barbecue because it has a wood grill, draft beers, a flower and herb garden, and wooden picnic tables. Locals and beer lovers from Europe go to Gene’s for the market, and then they go up to the roof for German brats, Polish sausages, beers, and seasonal cocktails that are grilled over wood. Gene is one of the best rooftop restaurants in Chicago.

It feels comfortable, friendly, and easy, like your friend’s backyard. The only problem you might have is finding a table big enough for all of your friends once you’ve told them where you’re going to spend the afternoon. This year, you can only go up to the roof on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.


8. LH Rooftop

LH Rooftop | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

LH is a proper New American restaurant that works with local farmers and suppliers. However, you don’t really get a sense of how grand this place is until you get out on the 22nd-floor terrace. With these drinks, you can enjoy one of Chicago’s best views of famous buildings like Tribune Tower and Marina City that line the Chicago River. LH is one of the best rooftop restaurants in Chicago.

You can get a simple vodka soda or a glass of sauvignon blanc, but this is your chance to get a baller drink to go with your baller view, like the LH Old Fashioned made with Bulleit Bourbon, Banane Du Bresil, Bourbon-Vanilla Chai, and Angostura.


9. Boleo

Boleo | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

Even when it’s a little chilly outside, the Kimpton Gray Hotel’s beautiful rooftop bar feels like a tropical paradise. There are comfortable couches and small tables set up under a huge glass roof that can be opened up when the weather is nice to let in some fresh air. Boleo is one of the best bars in Chicago.

Thirsty? On the menu, you’ll find classic South American drinks like pisco sours and chilcanos, as well as other drinks that change with the seasons. Fans love the chicken, aji panca, and aji amarillo salsa-filled empanadas, which you can order with your drink. You can walk in or make a reservation.


10. Cerise Rooftop

Cerise Rooftop | best rooftops in chicago | best sports bars in chicago | best rooftop bars in chicago | best bars in chicago

At this rooftop bar and restaurant in the Virgin Hotels Chicago, you can look at the beautiful skyscrapers and hear the El train in the distance. It’s your chance to see Sir Richard Branson’s creative genius in action, or just to hang out with cool, easygoing people in a cozy space with some of the best, dirtiest views of the Loop.

On the 26th floor of the Virgin Hotel, you’ll find Cerise, an indoor-outdoor rooftop restaurant and bar where you can have lunch, dinner, or a drink late at night. You can get a burger or a salad and then order a mezcal Old Fashioned or some sparkling wine to drink while looking out at the city.

On Fridays and Saturdays, a DJ usually plays records in the evening. You should probably make a reservation to make sure you get a table.


11. Tanta

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Those who want to spend the night in River North will enjoy a trip through Peruvian food at Tanta. On the cocktail menu, pisco is given a lot of attention, and there are even three different kinds of pisco sour.

Signature drinks include the La Guapa, which is made with gin infused with lavender, rhubarb, and Cremant de Bourgogne, and the El Chingon, which is made with jalapeo-infused tequila, mezcal, cilantro, and a chili-infused ice ball. Tanta is one of the best bars in Chicago.

Monday through Wednesday, early evening is happy hour. During this time, you can get select cocktails for $10 and small plates like ceviches, anticuchos, and empanadas for $9.


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FAQs About Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago

What part of Chicago has the best nightlife?

Here are 5 of the most popular neighborhoods for Chicago.
Wicker Park.
Lincoln Park.
Wrigleyville.
Boystown.
River North.

What is the street in Chicago with all the bars?

Clark Street is by far the street in Chicago with the most places to get a drink. There are 203 places that serve alcohol along the 12-mile street that goes from Rogers Park to Chinatown. That’s about 17 per mile.

Is Chicago good for partying?

You’re in luck, because Chicago has some of the liveliest nightclubs in the Midwest. The great thing about a big city like Chicago is that it has a lot of different kinds of nightlife for people with different tastes.

What are the best rooftop bars in Chicago?

These places are best rooftop bars in Chicago:
1. Cabra
2. The Rooftop at Nobu Hotel
3. Bar Avec
4. Devereaux
5. Aba
6. Cindy’s
7. Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen
8. LH Rooftop
9. Boleo
10. Cerise Rooftop
11. Tanta

Which places provide the best bars & clubs in Chicago for groups?

These are the best places bars & clubs in Chicago for groups:
1. Headquarters Beercade
2. Chicago Magic Lounge
3. The iO Theater
4. Kings Dining & Entertainment Lincoln Park
5. Lagunitas Taproom


Tell Us In The Comments About One Of The Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago!

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