Rating NoMI's outdoor eating space

800 N Michigan Ave (312-239-4030)

At seven stories, the garden at NoMI isn’t as high as some of the newer hotel bars in town. And yet this is still the premier place to get a drink above ground. Chalk it up to the Park Hyatt’s unparalleled service, or the snacks (if you can call pristine dishes like caviar and scallops “snacks”), or the fact that you’re close enough to the sun here that bald men should take cover (see fig. 2). The fact that the view isn’t all that exciting just speaks to the garden’s appeal—even on ground level, this place would shine.

FOOD 8 Not as good as NoMI’s dining room but still damn good
DRINKS 7 Amazing wine list and fruity cocktails—all expensive
CROWD 5 A mix of attention-seeking tourists and scenesters
VIEW 7 Not breathtaking, but an aerial view is an aerial view
SPACE 8 How’d they make rattan feel so luxurious?
TOTAL 35

Illustration: David Preiss