The 31 best restaurants with breathtaking views of Chicago

Glance toward the horizon on LondonHouse Chicago's downtown rooftop restaurant and bar and you'll instantly be met with sweeping views of the Chicago River and all of the iconic architecture that lines it. For best results, we recommend venturing up at night to soak in the city's twinkling skyline.

Unlike most other poolside bars at trendy Chicago hotels, Pandan is open to the public. That means you don't need a room key to sip a glass of bubbly while dipping your toes in the water at this 18th floor overlook. Toss in an order of the pork lumpia and stick around until the sun begins to set over the skyline.

The world’s largest rooftop as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records, Offshore Rooftop is situated at the tail end of Navy Pier, which means the capacious patio features largely unobstructed views of Lake Michigan in all its turquoise glory. If you do a 180, you'll catch a glimpse of the skyline, too. The pair of vistas can be enjoyed from the outdoor terrace or the glass-enclosed bar.

Take in waterfront views while lounging on a daybed on the restaurant’s plant-filled terrace. The decor is inspired by Morocco, France and Italy, adding to the vacation-like vibe provided by the equally globetrotting menu that includes shrimp esquites, smoked baba ganoush and short rib tangine.

Miru at the St. Regis Hotel makes you feel like you're floating right above the Chicago River. Overlooking Wacker Drive in Lakeshore East, Miru's outdoor terrace offers unbeatable views of Navy Pier and is a perfect viewing point for the summer fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday. The only thing that beats the views is the food—indulge in wagyu nigiri, an extensive signature maki selection and a tasty black sesame mochi for dessert.

Whether you’re a lifelong Chicagoan or an out-of-towner, Cindy’s is the quintessential destination for awe-inspiring views. The beach house-inspired restaurant on the 13th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association offers refreshing craft libations paired with a stunning terrace that overlooks Millennium Park. Brave the crowds and stay a while once you’ve made it upstairs—it’s well worth the effort.

The French Riviera-inspired rooftop on the 24th floor of Pendry Chicago provides views of the Magnificent Mile and skyscrapers like Marina City from both its sunny terrace and indoors through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Visit by day for light bites and bubbles or linger at night when the indoor space is lit by candles and wicker lanterns while string lights shine outside.

True to its name, the views at VU are epic from 22 stories above street level. Once you've secured a seat, order from a selection of seasonal cocktails like the Boss Lady (Grey Goose, rosé, St-Germain elderflower liqueur, prosecco) before picking a few bites for the table. With three bars and two patios spread across 13,000 square feet, there's plenty of room to spread out and relax in the sun. Start the weekend drinking early with bottomless mimosas and hot chicken and waffles for brunch.

A rooftop bar on the third floor of a Renaissance hotel? It doesn't sound very exciting, but you shouldn't underestimate this stunning oasis perched above Wacker Drive in the Loop. The garden-themed bar offers unique views of the Chicago River and the surrounding skyline, with clear shots of the Wrigley Building, Marina City and the Michigan Avenue Bridge. If you can, grab a seat at the curved railing along the perimeter of the building for a primo perspective.

Located above the Avec River North location, Bar Avec channels the Iberian Peninsula with a breezy, open-air patio on the 8th floor and a menu inspired by the seaside cafes of Spain and Portugal. There's no sea (or lake) in sight here, but the skyline looks especially nice against the restaurant's summer-ready coastal decor, from lush greenery to blue-and-white tiling and low-slung Adico chairs.

Fancy housemade pasta is always a treat, but it's even nicer when enjoyed with waterfront views—and you'll find those in spades at the riverfront digs of Gibsons Italia, which features three levels of dining areas with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the water.

Munch on scallop crudo and steak frites while taking in the nearly panoramic views of Lake Michigan and the downtown skyline from this 13th-floor terrace that's perched atop Hotel Lincoln. On the booze front, guests can choose from summer-friendly frozen cocktails, locally crafted brews or wines by the glass.

The crown jewel of this luxury hotel in the West Loop is the Rooftop at Nobu, a sprawling outdoor terrace located 11 stories above the street. Complemented by east-facing skyline views (hello, Willis Tower!), the rooftop's design is streamlined and minimalistic, with modern Japanese touches that are equally stylish and intimate.

The Peninsula's stunning rooftop lounge has it all: posh surrounds, quality craft cocktails and a roster of delicious shareable snacks. But it's the unique views that will keep you coming back again and again. Because it's situated just six floors up, Z Bar offers guests an up-close-and-personal perspective of the architecture that lines Michigan Avenue, including a postcard-worthy shot of the John Hancock Center (875 North Michigan Avenue). 

The 7,000-square-foot lounge on the 27th floor of theWit Hotel provides views of the Bean at Millennium Park, the Chicago River and the Loop’s skyscrapers. Gather a group and snack on pizza and sushi along with large format cocktails like the Mezcal-lada, a blend of coconut liqueur, pineapple and, of course, mezcal.

The picturesque rooftop at The Godfrey Hotel in River North is one of the city's biggest and features year-round city outlooks, thanks to a retractable roof and indoor seating. Show up on the weekend for brunch bites, pitchers of margaritas and unobstructed skyline views.

You'll get a bird's-eye view of the city from 26 floors above the ground at Virgin Hotels Chicago's sleek rooftop space, where you can grab classic American bites for dinner—think burgers, fried chicken and wings—along with an extra-summery cocktail. Pro tip: Stay awhile after your meal to catch weekend DJ sets.

The trendy Hoxton hotel has a bevy of food and drink options, but come summertime, in-the-know foodies flock to Stephanie Izard's rooftop restaurant, Cabra. The dining room's floor-to-ceiling windows offer an eyeful of the city skyline, and the vistas only get better if you step out onto the outdoor terrace.

Take in views of the Chicago River from the terrace or through one of the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows while you dine on bone-in swordfish ribeye or charcoal-grilled black bass at the latest addition to the RPM restaurant empire. Start your meal in spectacular fashion by ordering a seafood tower featuring prawns, Maine lobster, Alaskan king crab legs and East and West Coast oysters—but save some room for the banana cream Napoleon served with sliced bananas covered in warm caramel. The drink menu emphasizes tequila and mezcal cocktails but also offers plenty of bubbly by the glass if it's a festive occasion.

You're going to want to snag a window table at this beloved restaurant, which sits pondside inside of Lincoln Park's (yes, the actual park) verdant expanses. Peek outside for views that combine the natural beauty of the park with glimpses of the skyline beyond.

Sifr's outdoor patio places you amongst the towering skyscrapers so you can enjoy a view while you enjoy the stellar food. The spacious second-floor open dining area somehow transports you from all the hustle and bustle as you chow down on Mediterranean-style lamb shank, tiger prawns and some of the city's best chicken shwarma hummus.

The lounge on the 13th floor of The Robey provides beautiful skyline views, particularly at sunset, from both the couches near the bar inside and the surrounding terrace. Linger for a while while sharing a cheese board and a new take on a classic cocktail like the Robey Old Fashioned.

In lieu of beloved riverfront brewery Metropolitan Brewing, which closed in 2023, the Goose Island Salt Shed Pub has emerged to serve the many outdoor beer enthusiasts of Chicago. Adjacent to the Salt Shed music venue, diners can meet up for a pre-concert meal or listen in on the nearby performances if tickets are completely sold out. Catch unbeatable views of the skyline while chowing down on in-house pork rinds, an 18-hour pulled pork sandwich or the tasty smoked trout melt.

From the folks who brought us Parson's Chicken & Fish, Lost Lake and Longman & Eagle comes this bubbly, light-filled café that specializes in Tex-Mex fare. Offering flavorful margaritas and tacos, Lonesome Rose is an easy-to-love spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner with unique views to accompany any meal. Oh, and don't forget about the killer weekend brunch!

Take in views of the Chicago skyline on one side and the Chicago River on the other while enjoying Azul’s full menu of Latin-inspired seafood, including lobster empanadas and shrimp ceviche. Try to snag a spot on the first come, first served lounge-style couches or splurge by booking a cabana with bottle service.

Unlike the expressway of the same name, Chicagoans will actually want to hang out at the Kennedy Rooftop, located on top of the Hyatt Place Chicago in Wicker Park. Here, guests are afforded unobstructed skyline views that stretch from the John Hancock to the Willis Tower, in addition to 7,500 square feet to roam.

Watch boats cruise by on the Chicago River from River Roast’s sunny, flower-lined patio. Visit during happy hour from 4–6pm weekdays to sip on $9 cocktails or come for brunch and order a mimosa kit along with chicken & waffles.

Utopian Tailgate, a rooftop deck perched atop the Second City in Old Town, spotlights the many joys of tailgating—including tableside keg service, stadium seating and cornhole. The 10,000-square-foot space comes from the Fifty/50 Restaurant Group (the folks behind Homestead on the Roof and Roots) in partnership with the famed Chicago comedy club. The sprawling all-year space is decked out in greenery, bright colors and plenty of flatscreen TVs. Guests can also expect to pass time between drinks with mini-golf, foosball, bocce and giant board games while taking in views of the skyline.

Situated right next to Lake Michigan and the Lakefront Trail, this restaurant inside Chicago Park District event venue Theater on the Lake offers an unparalleled backdrop. The menu features approachable Midwestern fare but the main attraction are the stunning views of the water and skyline that accompany every meal on the 80-seat patio.

The posh Langham Hotel sits on the north bank of the Chicago River, affording many overnight guests spectacular views of the water and the downtown corridor that runs along Wacker Drive. Diners at in-house restaurant Travelle enjoy the same luxury—no suitcase required.

It doesn't get much more summery than the lakefront venue at Caffè Oliva, located on Ohio Street Beach. Cabana seating and light, Mediterranean fare—think chicken souvlaki and a hummus & pita platter—make for an almost resort-like feel. Views of the sandy lakeshore certainly don't hurt, either.