Looking where to spend the last night of the year in Chicago? Our highest recommendation: make it an elevated New Year's Eve celebration at one of the Chicago rooftops!
We have gathered the very best spots hosting an end-of-the-year festivities, packed with all info you need to welcome 2026 with a sky-high bang.
Our complete and up-to date guide to the Best New Year's Eve Rooftops in Chicago feature all info you need about each rooftop, all at the same place, so you don’t have to scroll around on several different sources finding it.
For each rooftop, this guide presents:
We are full-time rooftop reviewers and content creators. Since launching The Rooftop Guide in 2015, we’ve visited over 1 200 rooftop venues worldwide.
Except from our own experiences and insights, we also work closely with thousands of rooftops and local reviewers, so we can secure correct and updated content for all our guides & articles.
With our vast experience and exclusive focus, we can present you with the most complete and up-to date guides about rooftop venues. And with our insider tips and knowledge, we can guide you to the best and most suitable rooftops for your own needs.
Whether you’re looking for an upscale rooftop dinner, a laid-back rooftop brunch, a vibrant rooftop party or a luxurious hotel rooftop pool, we’ve got you covered.
The Setting: Located at the 6th floor of the the exceptional five star luxury hotel The Peninsula Chicago, Z Bar is an upscale, refined and internationally inspired rooftop bar, complemented with some amazing views over the central parts of Chicago. Set above Michigan Avenue, Z Bar offers both a stylish indoor lounge and a beautiful outdoor terrace, equipped with comfy lounge sofas and marble tables.
The NYE Party: To ring in 2026 in style, Z Bar invites to its annual New Year’s Eve Soirée. The evening includes open bar, passed small bites, access to a Champagne and chocolate truffle room, as well as a DJ keeping the atmosphere on top well past midnight.
The Setting: Located on top of the superb Hilton hotel LondonHouse Chicago, LH Rooftop is a fantastic tri-level rooftop bar, set right by the Michigan Avenue bridge and Chicago River. The tri-level setting starts with an indoor lounge, called LH on 21. One floor up you find the main and largest terrace, located on the 22nd floor and therefore called LH on 22. Here you get an absolutely superb view among the city's skyscrapers and out towards Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
The NYE Party: High above the city, LH Rooftop will host an epic NYE rooftop party, with Chicago’s hottest DJs and a special guest performance. Here you can sip from a 4-hour premium bar, graze on passed hors d’oeuvres, strike a pose in the photo booth, and raise a complimentary champagne toast when the clock strikes midnight. Get on the dance floor in the lounge at LH on 21, and head up to the rooftop level to take in the fireworks views.
The Setting: Found on top of the modern and urban Hoxton, Chicago in the Fulton Market District, Cabra is a spirited rooftop dining and drinking destination inspired by the vibrant flavors of Peruvian cuisine. Colorful and lively in setting, the rooftop holds a bright and airy year-round interior restaurant, complemented with an outdoor patio, perfect for the warmer days. Inside and out, you are surrounded with amazing panoramic views of the Chicago skyline.
The NYE Party: To welcome the new year Cabra-style, there will be a six-course, family-style menu that highlights Chef Stephanie Izard’s creative, Peruvian-inspired dishes. The New Year’s Eve dinner features complimentary bubbles and live music, as well as the best views in West Loop.
The Setting: On the 27th floor of the fantastic Hilton Hotel theWit Chicago you find a glamorous and vibrant rooftop bar, simply called ROOF. Located right in the city center, here you get a magical view of all the skyscrapers and the Chicago skyline, with the Bean at Millennium Park in one direction and a slice of the Chicago River in the other. And the views are available year round, thanks to an adjustable roof and infrared heaters.
The NYE Party: Known for throwing happening events, the last night of 2025 will be no different at the ROOF On theWit. To unmark the new year, there will be a Phantom-inspired masquerade called Phantom on the ROOF, an evening wrapped in elegance, allure, and midnight enchantment. Expect dramatic décor, immersive moments, crafted cocktails, and a high-energy atmosphere, with a live DJ + dancing and the skyline as backdrop.
The Setting: On the 3rd floor of the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, right across from the Chicago River, you find Raised Bar, an urban rooftop bar. Raised welcomes both locals and guests to enjoy the outdoor/indoor bar, private outdoor areas and a stylish open roof deck. The terrace has bar seating around the edge, perfect for people watching, accompanied with some very comfy lounge sofas and fire pits.
The NYE Party: For a New Year's Eve with incredible views of the firework show on the Chicago River, the celebration at Raised Bar is a fantastic option. The evening feature access to both the patio and interior lounge, and includes select sparkling wines, draft wines and draft beer.
The Setting: NoMI is a chic and picturesque restaurant and rooftop bar located on the 7th floor of the luxury five-star Park Hyatt Chicago, right along the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. Up at NoMI you find three different approaches: NoMI Kitchen, an indoor dining space with views of Lake Michigan and Water Tower; NoMI Lounge, a sprawling bar with a spotlight on local art and a renowned beverage program; and NoMI Garden, the restaurant's open-air rooftop terrace.
The NYE Party: To say goodbye to 2025 in glamorous style, NoMI Kitchen will host a New Year's Eve Soirée, including unlimited dining at chef-driven stations that spans wagyu prime rib, lobster pappardelle, and an abundant raw bar with endless sushi, king crab, lobster, and more. There will be two seatings, where the second one (apart from all the food), also feature a live band, DJ, dance floor, and a champagne toast at midnight.
Rikard has spent the last 10 years exploring, enjoying, researching and working with rooftop venues. During these years he has visited more than 700 rooftops across the globe. The experience he has gained is used to create helpful, in-depth and accessible content, and to share his knowledge and rooftop expertise with fellow rooftop-lovers.
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