The 5 Best All-Weather Rooftop Bars In Chicago
By Anthony Todd in Food on Mar 9, 2016 4:26PM
These great rooftop bars will give you the feel of those happy summer months without the wet and cold. They're either glassed in, convertible or have awesome outdoor decks that will help you get the feeling of eating outside during any season.
Photo via Facebook.
J. Parker
This awesome bar atop the Hotel Lincoln gets absolutely crazy in the summer (it's full starting at noon on weekends) but during the winter and spring, it's relatively calm—probably because people don't realize that it has a full-on convertible roof! It's also the only rooftop bar in the city with this view, looking out over Lincoln Park towards the lake. Plus, you can get bar snacks from Chef Paul Virant who presides over Perennial Virant downstairs.
J. Parker is at 1816 N. Clark St.
This bar in the Godfrey Hotel is super scene-tastic, and (as you can probably guess by what's not on this list, hello Studio Paris and theWit), we're more interested in great drinks and a good view than a bumpin' DJ and expensive vodka tonics. That being said, it's an absolutely beautiful bar, it's got a perfect summer greenhouse vibe, and they make a damn good classic Manhattan. Go early for a pre-dinner drink, and you'll be the only one there.
IO Godfrey is at 127 W. Huron St.
Drumbar is an interesting beast—a combination of a perfect leather-bound old man library inside and a pretty hopping bar scene outside. But when it's cold and rainy, it's also a chance to have a great drink, with a view, without getting drenched.Try to get a seat in the tiny hallway off the main dining room that looks out on the rooftop. They also boast a challenging and legit bar program, along with a whimsical set of candy-inspired cocktails.
Drumbar is at 201 E. Delaware St.
The interior of Cindy's. Photo via Facebook.
This rooftop bar in the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel is one of the prettiest spaces to open in 2015. It's also a great space for bad-weather drinking, because it has a huge, high glass roof that makes you feel like you're outside - and, when the bad weather lets up, you can head out to the balcony for astonishing views of Millennium Park and the lake. It also features our favorite negroni variation around, as well as a huge list of other drinks and a full, shareable menu. Just don't try to get in on pretty weekends; your best bet is a rainy Tuesday.
Cindy's is at 12 S. Michigan Ave.
A selection of cocktails at GreenRiver. Photo by Kaitlyn McQuaid.
We continue to be impressed by the drinks and the food at this Streeterville space. Ok, it's not technically a "rooftop" but it's got a huge wraparound porch with a great view, and it's totally accessible during every season. Best of all, they just opened the Annex, a smaller cocktail-focused spot for even stranger, more challenging cocktails. You just can't get these drinks anywhere else with a view.
GreenRiver is at 259 E. Erie St.