Plenty of rooftop and outdoor bars have opened this summer, but the one getting the most buzz is without a doubt LondonHouse. Opened at the end of May, the hotel has an amazing view of the Chicago River. Starting on June 30, reservations will open back up from the currently sold-out (exceptions being $600-plus experiences) status, according to Eater.
The new reservation system will allow for guests to pick from three two-hour prepaid dining options: "The Cocktail Experience," a small bites "The Chef's Tasting Experience" or the "Champagne and Oysters Experience." No word yet on how much these experiences will cost, but for a frame of reference, two cocktails and two small plates cost us just over $70 on our visit. Currently, table reservations on the rooftop range from $50–$100.
Photograph: Clayton Guse
You're going to the rooftop for the view, so make sure you focus on that. On our visit, four of the eight cocktails weren't available (three of which are bottled in-house), so we stuck to the LH Old Fashioned and The Chicago. The LH Old Fashioned is a twist on the classic with Basil Hayden rye, Chivas Regal 12-year-old scotch, maple, birch and bitters. Considering its complicated list of ingredients, the cocktail is fairly one note—rye. But never fear, the Chicago, with vanilla and orange cognac, amontillado sherry, cointreau and sparkling wine is more robust, with sherry and orange notes taking the forefront with a nice bit of spark from the wine.
Photograph: Clayton Guse
Order the oysters. While the menu didn't state where they came from, they were perfectly briny and bright with citrus served with lemon and a complementing mignonette. We also tried the Spreads & Bread, with three varieties of breads alongside salted butter, 'nduja (although our server said it was andouille) and duck pâté. The menu says it also includes whole grain mustard and five-spice, but those were missing on our portions. Overall, it may have been an oversight on our part to order butter on a hot day, but the real problem came from the wind, not the puddle of butter. The rooftop has little protection from the breeze, making it very easy for things to blow away. We lost a few pieces of bread to a gust, but service was happy to replace it for us. On that note, though, the glassware is high-quality and quite thin, so it may be better to stick to lowballs and beer—we heard at least one glass shatter while on the roof.
All this being said, we think we've found the best option to enjoy an afternoon (or at least two hours) on the LondonHouse Rooftop—the early afternoon walk-in. From noon–2pm, LondonHouse allows walk-ins and will have a mimosa bar—it might also be the perfect time to grab a drink and admire the views from one of the tables. Just make sure you hold on to your drink if things start to get windy. At the end of the day (or afternoon), the experience offers a truly remarkable view of the city, to both the east and the west.