Chicago's Best Rooftop Bars
There’s arguably no better way to get acquainted with a city than by stationing yourself above it. That’s very much possible in Chicago, thanks to its extensive selection of rooftop bars. Here are some of the best places to drink above the bustle.
1. Drumbar Chicago
Bar, Wine, Beer, Cocktails
2. Fountainhead
Pub, Pub Grub, American
Fountainhead is a bar that revolves around beer and also boasts a seasonal rooftop garden. The cozy second-story terrace is rife with Chicagoans clutching steins of German ambers and Czech Pilsners. Along with beer, the menu is replete with bourbon, scotch, whiskey, wine and cocktails, which can be paired with snacks from the kitchen downstairs.
3. The Garage Bar and Sandwiches
Bar, Sandwich Shop, American
As the name suggests, the roof at The Garage Bar does whip up sandwiches: some teeming with crispy shrimp, others humble burgers elevated with a fried egg and bacon. Upstairs, the roof is decked out with comfy couches and green umbrellas, plus a changing list of 130 different beers, so even regulars can try something new. Plus, guests can play a handful of games like shuffleboard and darts.
4. The J Parker
Bar, American
5. Joy District
Bar, American, Cocktails, Wine, Beer
6. Cerise Rooftop
Bar, American
The swanky Virgin Hotel has an even swankier rooftop bar on the 26th floor. Its location in the heart of the Loop means the rooftop is surrounded by skyscrapers. Lounge furniture clad with green and blue pillows is scattered throughout the space, and there’s a changing selection of DJs pumping out dance music. Grab a glass of wine or a cocktail from the bar, then dunk pita chips into Mediterranean layered dip or pop back a couple of fried olives.
7. Cindy's
Bar, American, African, Cocktails, Wine, Beer
8. I|O Godfrey
Bar, American
9. ROOF on theWit
Bar, American
10. Gene's Sausage Shop and Delicatessen, Chicago
Butcher, Deli, American
Gene’s holds a bit of a secret: this unassuming sausage market opens up its roof in the summer, corralling al fresco lovers to their picnic tables. Here, you can knock back beers on tap and wines from around the world, then move onto sausages and bratwurst prepped on an open wood grill, plump pierogi jammed with sauerkraut and sweet cabbage and mustard-flecked potato salad.
11. Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club
Bar, American
An outpost of the eponymous Brooklyn bar, the Chicago version flaunts its very own rooftop deck. The roof serves the same signature cocktails and beers as downstairs, and has its own shuffleboard court, too. When you get hungry, take a walk to the food truck parked downstairs.
12. Ballast Point
Bar, American
California meets Chicago at Ballast Point, equipped with an on-site brewing room. Nearly 40 beers are available on tap – from fruity and spicy iterations to rich and malty ones – which should be consumed on the cavernous rooftop with space for over a hundred people. You can fill a growler to take away or stick around and nibble on doughy, salt-crusted pretzels.
This article is an updated version of a story created by Riley Londres.
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