Chicago is a superb city, both in terms of rooftop bars and hotels. There are plenty Chicago hotels with views, over the impressive skyline and over the water in Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
Most of the Chicago rooftop hotels are in the 4-5 stars region, offering both luxurious accommodation and stylish rooftop bars. But there are also some more budget friendly places in the outskirts of the city.
Book one of the Chicago rooftop hotels listed below to get the full experience out of your stay in Chi-town. A list made by the world's leading experts on rooftop venues.
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Our list of the best hotels with rooftop bars in Chicago.
A luxurious hotel located in the heart of Chicago, Trump Hotel Chicago is located just a short walk away from the Chicago Riverwalk and Michigan Avenue.
This family-friendly hotel features a full-service spa, a restaurant, an indoor swimming pool, signature Kids & Pets programs, a fitness club, a sauna and impeccable service.
Each of the hotel's 339 rooms features well-stocked minibars, 24-hour room service, premium bedding and pillowtop beds, pillow menus, Nespresso machines, 65" TVs and more.
The restaurant, Terrace 16, serves new American cuisine for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
Known as Terrace 16, this fantastic rooftop venue offers inspiring views of Chicago's skyline, the Chicago River, the Wrigley Clock Tower and Lake Michigan.
Large enough to seat 200 people on the rooftop patio, and open from early morning to midnight, this is an excellent location to start or finish a busy day around the city.
The restaurant, by expert Executive Sous Chef Derek Feldmeier, serves new American cuisine for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner. Outside during the warmer months, and at the indoor lounge year-round.
The drink menu features craft cocktails, wines, beers and spirits.
The atmosphere is sophisticated and upscale, emphasizing top-notch service, and exclusivity.
It's a pricy destination, no doubt about that, but it's worth the visit.
Set in the heart of Chicago’s famed Fulton Market, the suberb and luxurious Nobu Hotel Chicago combines the artistic vibes of Chicago with the iconic spirit of Nobu.
The hotel houses 92 rooms and 23 suites, that seamlessly blend old-world Japanese influences with ultra-modern luxury design.
Features at Nobu Hotel Chicago includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an indoor Tranquility Pool.
Breakfast is available each morning, and includes à la carte, continental and American options, and the signature Nobu restaurant on ground level offers the best of Japanese and Asian cuisine.
Perched on the 11th floor of the hotel you find the Rooftop at Nobu Hotel, offering commanding views of the Chicago skyline.
Aiming to provide a relaxed, cocktail driven lounge experience, up here you can indulge in a fine selection of specialty cocktails, wine, sake and spirits, as well as smaller and larger Asian-inspired plates.
Mixing a stylish indoor lounge and an airy outdoor terrace with wooden furniture and greenery, the sophisticated and upscale Rooftop at Nobu Hotel is a prime spot for elevated Chicago evenings year round.
A relatively new addition to Chicago's skyline, The Virgin Hotels Chicago is the very first hotel introduced by Virgin Airline's owner, Richard Branson.
The rooms, known as The Chambers, come with a separate dressing room, complete with closet, makeup vanity, and sliding doors.
The bed area, known as "Sleeping Lounge," is furnished with a patent-pending custom bed, perfect for watching TV and relaxing after a busy day in the city.
The decor is fun and stylish, there's complimentary Wi-Fi around the entire hotel, and the hotel amenities include a fitness center, two on-site restaurants, two on-site nightclubs, a coffee bar, a friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a fantastic location.
Located on the 26th floor, you can find the Cerise Rooftop, which works both as a cocktail lounge and a nightclub.
From the Virgin Hotel Chicago rooftop, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the city skyline, as well as an exclusive yet fun atmosphere that invites both to relax and to celebrate.
Offering both indoor and outdoor seating, comfortable lounge sofas, traditional bar stools, and standing tables, Cerise has a different setting for everyone, a variety that also shines through in the drink menu.
Wines, beers, liquors, and a fantastic collection of well-crafted cocktail complement the atmosphere and the view, making Cerise an ideal location for those looking for an unpretentious yet upscale site in which to spend the night.
While the atmosphere can be relaxing during the weekdays, it tends to pick up during the weekends, with live DJs playing throughout the day and well into the night.
Reservations aren't mandatory, but they're recommended, particularly during the weekends and during happy hour.
A modern hotel shrouded by history. The London house is a 22-stories historic landmark, built originally in 1923.
Now belonging to Hilton's hip new Curio Collection, this stunning hotel boasts 452 rooms, ultra-modernist touches, and a friendly and capable staff that'll make your stay a pleasure.
The LondonHouse has a prime downtown location, close to several shopping options, the Art Institute, and different subway stations.
The spacious rooms at LondonHouse Chicago all come with free Wi-Fi, a large work desk and a 55-inch flat-screen TV. There is also a fitness center, open 24/7.
Split into three different levels, and overlooking the Chicago Riverwalk, the LH Rooftop is an up and coming location that you can't miss.
The floor plan starts with the indoor lounge, called LH on 21; one floor up, you can find the largest terrace, known as the LH on 22; finally, the third level is where Cupola is, a fantastic restaurant where you can enjoy upscale dining in a luxurious location.
This variety, coupled with the views, makes LondonHouse Rooftop a versatile location where you can go for late afternoon cocktails, a romantic dinner, and a fun night out, all without even leaving the building.
LH on 22, the main terrace, and what most people refer to when talking about LondonHouse Rooftop, is modernly furnished and offers plenty of seating arrangements, including comfortable lounge furniture and barstools.
Up here, you can enjoy delicious cocktails, world-spirits, wines, and beers, as well as surround yourself with a trendy crowd eager to have a fun night in the city.
Reservations are encouraged no matter when you're visiting, but if you plan to visit in summer, make sure to bring sunscreen.
Found in the heart of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, The Robey is a fabulous hotel in a beautiful setting.
Housed in an Art Deco masterpiece formerly known as the Northwest Tower, this is a venue where today's design meets yesterday's daring.
The 89 rooms comes divided into 69 Tower Rooms and 20 Annex Lofts. The triangular and hardwood floor Tower Rooms offers a healthy dose of sunlight and front-row seat to the area’s eclectic energy, while the Anex Lofts are an urban warehouse conversion, with original exposed surfaces, polished concrete floors, and 10ft ceilings.
The hotel offers Wi-Fi in all rooms and public areas, personal care amenities from Le Labo, complimentary bikes, and a neighborhood restaurant called Café Robey, serving seasonal comfort food and daily brunch.
The Robey offers a dual rooftop setting that is one of the most impressive Chicago has to offer.
The 6th floor Cabana Club offers a slice of summer vacation in the heart of the city, where you can combine refreshing swims with fantastic 180-degree views of the Chicago skyline.
The triangle-shaped and glittering rooftop pool is exclusive to guests staying at the hotel, but the surrounding terrace and interior cocktail bar is open for all to enjoy.
Serving plenty of summerish drinks and tasty finger food, this is a prime summer spot to enjoy vibrant lounge hours under the Chicago sun.
More elevated, and really on the rooftop, the 13th floor The Up Room invites to a sleek and stylish setting to indulge in the best of cocktails and views.
Quite small and itimate, the rooftop bar is open nightly year-round, mixing an indoor lounge with panoramic windows and an outdoor terrace.
Well-made cocktails and twinkling skyline views, that's the kind of nightcap we all need.
Located in the heart of downtown Chicago, Ivy Hotel is just steps away from the shopping, dining and entertainment on the Magnificent Mile.
Modern in setting, here you can enjoy the privacy of a luxury residence with the amenities of a five star hotel.
All 63 guest rooms comes with free WiFi, a 42-inch flat-screen TV and an iPod docking station. There is also in-room spa services available for a fee.
The ground floor Divine Lounge & Restaurant offers both breakfast and evenings with cocktails, conversations and casual dining.
During the warmer months, Ivy Hotel opens up its rooftop, and invites everyone to really experience Chicago from above.
Called Sky Terrace Rooftop Lounge, this 16th floor oasis is an open-air oasis for relaxing food and drinks, complemented with fantastic views over the Chicago skyline.
Mixing comfy loungers and dining tables, here you can indulge in a tasteful selection of small bites, shareables and items off the grill, as well as crafted signature cocktails, wine and a rotating selection of beers.
Visit for relaxing hours above the hectic streets below, during the daily happy hour, or for evening bites and cocktails with skyline views.
Known for its unbeatable location and attentive staff, the Park Hyatt is a cornerstone of Chicago's hospitality scene.
The hotel's spacious rooms come with oversized baths, modern decor, jaw-dropping views of the Chicago skyline, and Lake Michigan, flat-screen TVs, minibars, and complimentary Wi-Fi access.
The hotel is located on The Magnificent Mile and is just steps away from top restaurants, galleries, and shopping destinations.
On top of this, the hotel also has its own fantastic restaurant, NoMi kitchen, which focuses on contemporary American cuisine.
NoMi Chicago is a cozy and picturesque rooftop bar, located on a 7th floor and offering stunning panoramic views of the city's skyline, downtown Chicago and the Magnificient Mile.
Up at the Park Hyatt Chicago you'll find three different settings: A restaurant, a lounge, and a rooftop garden.
Both the restaurant and the cocktail lounge are open year-round, while the garden is only open during the summer. Here you can find sweet-smelling herbs, blooming flowers, and more.
The rooftop bar and the garden come with their own menu, featuring Midwest flavors with French influences, as well as delicious desserts.
You can also find hand-crafted cocktails and a large selection of beers.
There is also a weekend brunch, which has been named Chicago's best on multiple occasions, and an indoor rooftop pool available for guests staying at the hotel.
The Godfrey Hotel is one of Chicago's newest buildings, having been added to the city's skyline roughly six years ago.
Designed by the local architecture firm Valerio Dewalt Train, the Godfrey boasts a Cubist-inspired facade and a marble lobby.
This tasteful and modern design extends naturally to the hotel's 221 rooms, most of which offer stunning skyline views to complement the architecture.
Youthful atmosphere permeates the Godfrey, with high-energy music playing in the lobby at all hours of the day, and with the hotel's location, so close to the Loop and the River.
For those looking to explore the city, Michigan Avenue's Magnificent Mile is just around the corner, as are a large number of restaurants, bars, and night clubs.
Known as the I|O Rooftop Lounge, this beautiful rooftop bar is located on the 4th floor and offers gorgeous views of the Chicago skyline, The Loop and the Magnificent Mile.
Open year-round, no matter the weather, the I|O Rooftop Lounge offers both indoor and outdoor seating, a retractable rooftop, fireplaces, and tasteful water features that make it an ideal venue for just about any celebration.
The I|O Rooftop Lounge combines a New American restaurant with a trendy lounge bar, serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunches, homemade pasta and sushi alongside beers, wines, and a fantastic collection of cocktails, some of which are handmade by the restaurant's chef.
The Godfrey Hotel Chicago rooftop is also known for its beautiful winter rooftop igloos, which help transform this rooftop venue into a winter wonderland.
Located in the heart of Chicago's theater, arts and shopping district, theWit Hotel is a homage to creativity and expression.
Offering stunning views, a recently renovated rooftop bar, a ballroom event space, a restaurant, and much more, theWit is the kind of place that aims to deliver as many amazing experiences as possible.
This Four Diamond, multisensory hotel also boasts stylish and smart guest rooms, spectacular views, unique meeting rooms, and the latest technology spread throughout the hotel.
Located on the 27th floor and known merely as ROOF, this gorgeous rooftop terrace offers stunning views of Chicago's skyline, the Millennium Park, the Chicago River, and the Bean.
The large terrace is around 7000 square feet and offers different types of settings depending on the time of the day you visit.
Early nights present al fresco dining with a Mediterranean-influenced menu, as well as well-crafted cocktails and a relaxing lounge-like atmosphere.
Late nights, and particularly during the weekends, the ROOF transforms into one of Chicago's top night clubs, with live DJ shows, a vibrant atmosphere, and a stylish and chic crowd.
The ROOF is also known for its weekly events, like Wind Down Weekdays and Champagne Thursdays.
Regardless of the time of the day or the event you're interested in, dress to impress, and make reservations.
Situated steps from Navy Pier, and close to many of Chicagos's most popular attractions, Loews Chicago Hotel offers a luxurious stay at a prime location.
Each of the 400 guestrooms features a distinctly Chicago design, as well as spectacular city skyline and lake views.
The chic and contemporary rooms include plenty of 'Loews Signature Amenities', like luxurious Garnier-Thiebault linens, Julien Farel products, flat-screen TV, spacious work desk and free Wi-Fi.
The hotel is part of the world-class Chicago food scene, housing both ETA Restaurant + Bar, serving rustic American fare and Midwestern warmth, as well as the Streeterville Social rooftop. There is also an indoor lap pool and 30,000 square feet of modern and stylish indoor-outdoor meeting space.
Found on the third floor, the spacious Streeterville Social is the perfect place to meet, eat, and drink in downtown Chicago.
Surrounded by majestic views over the downtown skyline, the all-outdoor terrace is a stylish summer hot-spot, mixing dining tables and comfy loungers.
The rooftop bar and restaurant serves a menu filled with both American gourmet grub and crafty cocktails, that you can enjoy afternoon/nightly, or on weekends as rooftop brunch.
A perfect spot for daytime dazing, after-work affairs, late-night lounging, and al fresco dining any time, Streeterville Social rooftop really offers all the summer vibes and city views you need for a hot and elevated downtown experience.
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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