The outdoor patio at Bar Avec
From tried-and-true staples to newly debuted alfresco experiences, here are the best rooftop patios for dining and drinking across Chicago.
See also: The Hottest New Restaurants In Chicago
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302 N. Green St. / Website
With a prime location in the buzzy Fulton Market District, Aba is home to Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and spirits. Chef CJ Jacobson derives inspiration from Israel, Greece, Lebanon and Turkey to create tempting signature dishes, such as smoky garlic hummus, whipped feta spread and shawarma-spiced skirt steak.
100 W. Monroe St. / Website
Located in the heart of the Loop, this seasonal cocktail bar offers shareable small plates, ranging from grass-fed beef sliders with sweet onion jam to Korean-style short rib tacos, grilled Malpeque oysters and flatbreads. Pair your meal with cocktails like the watermelon margarita, spiked with either Don Julio Blanco or Mezcal Unión and crafted with watermelon and fresh lime.
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180 N. Field Blvd. / Website
The Greek hot spot aims to evoke feelings of the coastal towns of Greece. Featuring traditional fare like seafood platters and gyros on mini pitas with Greek fries and tzatziki, Avli also gives the classic cheeseburger a Mediterranean twist by making it with lamb shoulder, herbs and spicy feta spread. Enjoy your meal with a drink from the Avli team’s curated list of Greek wines while taking in the romantic surroundings of two-sided stone fireplaces and cabanas on the outdoor rooftop.
640 N. LaSalle Drive, 8th floor / Website
Inspired by seaside boîtes in Portugal and Spain, Bar Avec offers a wide variety of Mediterranean favorites in the form of brunch, small plates and full-course meals (don’t miss the wild halibut a la plancha, served alongside potatoes, charred olives and fava bean salsa verde). The intimate setting offers guests an opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city over cocktails like the refreshing ibisco d’amorita, made with hibiscus-infused tequila, Mallorca melon, urfa pepper and lime.
See also: The 15 Best Breweries In Chicago
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200 N. Green St. / Website
Inspired by owner Stephanie Izard’s travels throughout Peru, the menu at Cabra offers bold and enticing flavor combinations. The rooftop, located on the top floor of the Hoxton Hotel, features house favorites like the Golden Hour cocktail, created with a unique blend of Glenmorangie Highland scotch, grapefruit, mango, lime and ginger ale. To eat, try dinner specialties, including the Shrimp Tacu Tacu with pigeon pea rice cakes, tomatoes and shrimp or the Avocado Dip with yuzu, tomatoes, queso fresco, taro and sweet potato chips.
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203 N. Wabash Ave. / Website
This Virgin Hotels destination offers everything from drinks and dinner to DJs, perfect for spring and summer nights out on the town. Known for crave-worthy nibbles, including tacos and fried chicken sandwiches, Cerise tempts with cocktails like The Tilt (Don Julio Blanco, ginger liqueur, cranberry juice, lime and ginger beer) and incredible views of the Willis Tower and the Chicago River.
12 S. Michigan Ave. / Website
Cindy’s serves locally sourced, New American-style cuisine and family-style comfort food favorites on its open-air terrace, which offers sweet views of Millennium Park, Lake Michigan and The Art Institute of Chicago. Try the buttermilk pancakes topped with espresso mascarpone, honey, balsamic roasted pear, cocoa nibs and maple syrup. If savory is your style, dig into the smoked salmon with cucumbers, radishes and blueberry-lemon cream cheese, served on a toasted sesame bagel.
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1112 N. State St., 18th floor / Website
This swanky rooftop lounge offers prime public access to a sleek, reflective pool. Debuting a luxe renovation this spring, visitors can freely pop in for a sunset viewing and toe dip, minus the overnight commitment. Visitors can delight in small New American plates and signature craft cocktails like the Chandon X Devereaux and the New England Lobster Rolls with Maine lobster, housemade milk rolls, onion aioli and fries.
See also: The 5 Best Caesar Salads In Chicago
127 W. Huron St. / Website
The IO Godfrey offers a luxe indoor-outdoor lounge concept that is open year-round—unique among the city’s rooftop patios. With a retractable roof, stunning skyline views and globally inspired fare, the rooftop boasts handcrafted cocktails that elevate the experience of downtown lounging. Visit to sample wagyu beef sliders and housemade hummus, which pair seamlessly with a Ketel One cocktail and frosé.
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1816 N. Clark St., 13th floor / Website
The J. Parker sits atop Hotel Lincoln, touting views of Lincoln Park Zoo, Lake Michigan and the Gold Coast. The J. Parker is a hot spot year-round with a retractable roof, but there’s still no better time to visit than the summer season. Try culinary specialties like the lump crab cakes with Creole herbs, spices and green onion remoulade or the skirt steak with chimichurri, truffle fries and confit tomato garlic aioli.
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1616 N. Milwaukee Ave. / Website
Situated on the 6th floor of Wicker Park’s historic art deco travel and dining destination, The Robey Hotel, this summer spot has recently relaunched as a semi-private day club. The Mediterranean-inspired rooftop pool and bar features seasonally themed cocktails (Aperol spritzes and strawberry daiquiris, to name a few), panoramic skyline views and refreshed menu offerings helmed by executive chef Michael Elliott, including pork kofta, crispy halloumi cheese, parmesan-dusted zucchini and fresh romaine salad. Visitors can purchase memberships or daily passes on-site or online here.
202 S. Franklin St. / Website
Kindling’s newly debuted 3,400-square-foot terrace is the ultimate city hangout. Offering views of Willis Tower and a cozy atmosphere, the space is complete with gaming and dining tables, picnic tables and custom high and low seating. Sip on an Aperol spritz, dry rosé or an old-fashioned as you enjoy house specialties like wood-fired oysters, SAKU Gold AAA tuna tartare and Faroe Island salmon, among many other favorites.
85 E. Wacker Drive / Website
With views overlooking the Chicago River from the 22nd floor, LondonHouse tempts a crowd of in-the-know locals and visitors with signature dishes like General Tso’s Bao Buns with tamari vinaigrette and Truffalo Chicken Wings with gold flakes, housemade tater tots, creme fraiche, caviar and parmesan ranch.
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401 E. Wacker Drive / Website
Located at The St. Regis Hotel, this fine dining destination touts alfresco rooftop dining and a Japanese-inspired menu. Visit to sip on libations such as the Miru Old Fashioned with Nikka Coffey Grain whiskey, Okinawa black sugar, black walnut bitters and orange; and The Queen with Roku Gin, fresh yuzu, honey, lemon, egg whites and bee pollen. To eat, sample mains and small bite selections, including the A5 wagyu tartare on milk bread toast, the yuzu teriyaki avocado crispy rice and the diver scallops.
1000 E. Grand Ave. / Website
With 56,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining space, Navy Pier hot spot Offshore boasts panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Bites like the steak sliders, the smoked chicken wings and the beer-battered fish tacos are complemented by refreshing signature cocktails like the Bad & Boujee, a libation of D’Usse VSOP Cognac, passionfruit, prickly pear and lemon.
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155 N. Peoria St. / Website
Known for its world-class contemporary Japanese cuisine from iconic chef Nobu Matsuhisa, this West Loop gem features rooftop views of the Willis Tower and an extensive bar menu. Visitors can sample wines, served by the bottle, expertly paired with hot dishes like rock shrimp tempura and Nobu’s famous black cod with miso.
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521 N. Rush St. / Website
Located on the fifth floor of the chic Gwen Hotel, steps away from the Mag Mile, this stylish oasis serves classic and modern cocktails, such as the Creole Maple Old Fashioned with Pendleton Rye, Rhum Clément Creole orange shrub, maple, angostura and orange bitters. Visit to enjoy entrees and small bites, including the spanakopita with honey, feta, almonds and mint and the burrata flatbread with bianco tomatoes, pecorino and basil.
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108 E. Superior St. / Website
Perched above Michigan Avenue, this Peninsula Hotel hangout scores with a combination of scenery, spirits and luxuriously stylish surroundings. The carefully crafted cocktail list includes traditional favorites like Old Fashioneds and Palomas, plus intriguing fare like the tuna tartare, made with mango, avocado, cilantro, yuzu and soy ginger marinade. To nibble, guests will find upscale bites like daikon frites, West Coast oysters and caviar potato bites.
See also: The 9 Best Martinis In Chicago
Photography by: Jeff Marini; Doug Hill; Chuck Emery; Cindy's Rooftop; Kailley Lindman; Nicholas James Photography; Offshore
