Dusk view over Millennium Park and the Michigan Avenue skyline from the terrace at Cindy's Rooftop

Best Hotel Bars in Chicago: 15 Lounges Worth a Night Out, No Room Key Required

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Some of the best cocktails in Chicago are poured on the second floor of a Gold Coast hotel, beside a fireplace on Michigan Avenue or 46 stories above the Magnificent Mile, and none of them asks for a room key. Hotel bars are built for lingering: deep chairs, polished service, a little hush or a little glamour, and drinks made by teams who expect you to stay for a second round.

Here are 15 of the best hotel bars in Chicago, grouped by the kind of night you are planning, from a Champagne date to a late round in Wicker Park to a heated igloo above the Chicago River this winter.

Date night: Champagne, candlelight and a moody second floor

Bernard’s at Waldorf Astoria Chicago is the hotel bar for a first drink that turns into three. The intimate lounge is tucked away on the second floor of the Waldorf at 11 E. Walton St., with equestrian-inspired design, low light and a menu of classic cocktails. It opens at 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and stays open until midnight, and on Friday and Saturday it pours from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., which makes it the Gold Coast’s best answer to “one more?”

The Champagne Room Featuring Moët & Chandon at Ambassador Gold Coast, 1301 N. State Parkway, is the room for a celebration. Moët is the house pour, the kitchen sends out caviar service, a raw bar of king crab and oysters, and lobster tail, and a live jazz trio plays every Friday and Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. The lounge opened in September 2026 in the former Library Lounge, it is open nightly and stays open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and reservations are on Resy.

Caviar service with garnishes and potato chips at The Champagne Room
Caviar service at The Champagne Room, Ambassador Gold Coast. Photo: @ambassadorchampagneroom on Instagram.

After the show: fireplaces and billiards near the Loop theaters

Bar Pendry sits inside Pendry Chicago, in the 1929 Carbide and Carbon Building, with its entrance at 81 E. Wacker Place. Heavy drapery, a curated art collection and a double-sided fireplace give the room the feel of a private study, and the bar serves cocktails, small plates and a late-night menu daily from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. That late close makes it an easy nightcap after a Loop theater show. Reservations are encouraged and walk-ins are welcome.

The lounge at Bar Pendry with low sofas, drapery and a fireplace at the far end
Bar Pendry at Pendry Chicago, Carbide and Carbon Building. Photo: @pendrychicago on Instagram.

Game Room at the Chicago Athletic Association, 12 S. Michigan Ave., turns the club’s original billiards hall into a lively bar with pool tables, shuffleboard, chess and checkers. It is across the street from Millennium Park and a short walk from Symphony Center and the Art Institute. Cocktails cost $18 to $20 (the GR Old Fashioned is $18), local drafts like Half Acre’s Pony Pilsner are $9, and a shot of Malört is $9. Game Room stays open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with the kitchen open until 11 p.m. Walk in and grab a table.

A bartender shaking a cocktail under globe lights at the wood-paneled Game Room bar
The bar at Game Room, Chicago Athletic Association. Photo: @gameroomchi on Instagram.

Client drinks: river views and a polished room

Travelle Lounge at The Langham, Chicago is on the second floor at 330 N. Wabash Ave., with windows over the Chicago River and the skyline. It suits pre-dinner drinks, light bites and a conversation you can actually hear. The lounge is open from 3 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to 11 p.m. on weekends, and the attire is smart casual. On Saturdays, live music plays from 7 to 11 p.m., and from 5 to 7 p.m. the bar pours buy-one-get-one Champagne and $1 East and West Coast oysters. The Langham holds Two MICHELIN Keys in 2026.

The Allis is the public bar and restaurant on the ground floor of Soho House Chicago, 113-125 N. Green St., in a 1907 building in the West Loop. It is set up for meetings and group tables, with bar and patio seating, a modern European menu inspired by British brasseries, and classic and seasonal cocktails. Happy hour is 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Allis is open until 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Rooftops and views from the 13th floor to the 46th

Cindy’s Rooftop crowns the Chicago Athletic Association on the 13th floor, under a glass atrium with an all-season terrace that looks over Millennium Park and Lake Michigan. From the terrace, the view sweeps across Grant Park to the lake below. Boka Restaurant Group operates the kitchen and bar, and dinner comes with Bar Harbor mussels, duck pot pie and branzino. Cindy’s is open daily from 11 a.m. (10 a.m. on weekends) until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Reservations open 14 days in advance, and walk-ins are welcome. Cindy’s closes early for private events at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, and at 3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16.

Mile High Cocktail Club is an intimate speakeasy on the 46th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 E. Delaware Place. From Oct. 15, 2026, through March 14, 2027, it hosts a residency from New York’s Sip & Guzzle, named No. 1 on North America’s 50 Best Bars 2026. The bar is open Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. and costs $85 per person for two drinks chosen from three Sips (Drunk Grandma’s Apple Pie, Dirty Mango, Tomato Tree) and three Guzzles (Mint 75, Rum & Cola, Miami Vice Negroni). It is 21 and over, and reservations are on OpenTable.

Pandan fills the 18th floor of Viceroy Chicago, 1118 N. State St., in the Gold Coast, with lounge chairs, botanicals and greenery, a terrace and city views on every side. The kitchen sends out Southeast Asian plates built for sharing, from crispy pork belly buns and lobster dumplings to Thai fried chicken and spicy tuna on crispy rice, and the cocktail list is as long as the skyline. Pandan is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight, for guests 21 and over. Walk-ins are welcome, and booking ahead helps on busy evenings or for groups. Viceroy Chicago holds One MICHELIN Key in 2026.

A lounge chair and greenery framing a Gold Coast skyline view through the windows at Pandan
The Gold Coast skyline from Pandan, 18th floor of Viceroy Chicago. Photo: @pandanchicago on Instagram.

Late night: where the bar stays open past midnight

The Up Room is on the 13th floor of The Robey, 2018 W. North Ave., the tallest building in Wicker Park, at the six-corner crossing of North, Milwaukee and Damen. The terrace frames the downtown skyline beside the hotel’s spire, the cocktail list mixes signature and seasonal drinks, and indoor and weather-protected outdoor seating keep it open year-round. It is open from 5 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, it is 21 and over, and it takes walk-ins with no reservation needed. The Damen Blue Line stop is steps away.

A spritz, a highball and a foam-topped cocktail on a wooden table at The Up Room
Cocktails at The Up Room, 13th floor of The Robey in Wicker Park. Photo: @therobeychicago on Instagram.

ROOF on theWit sits 27 stories above the Loop at theWit Hotel, 201 N. State St., steps from the Chicago Theatre. It is a year-round rooftop lounge with skyline views, DJs Thursday through Saturday, cocktails and tavern-style pizzas, and a retractable roof that turns it into a climate-controlled room when the weather turns. ROOF is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m., from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., before a private event takes over the room. Reservations are strongly encouraged. On Oct. 30 and 31, ROOF hosts Circus After Dark, a ticketed Halloween party for guests 21 and over.

Cocktails raised over pizza, salad and fries at a table at ROOF on theWit
Cocktails and pizza at ROOF on theWit, 27 stories above the Loop. Photo: @roofonthewit on Instagram.

For a downtown nightcap, Bernard’s and ROOF on theWit pour until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and Bar Pendry, Game Room, The Champagne Room and Z Bar all go until 1 a.m. on weekends.

Cozy winter: rooftop igloos, fireplaces and boozy tea

LH Rooftop at LondonHouse Chicago, 85 E. Wacker Drive, sits on the 22nd floor at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, overlooking the Chicago River. The rooftop is open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight. From Nov. 21, 2026, through Jan. 24, 2027, it becomes Rudolph’s Rooftop, with private, heated, fully enclosed igloos for up to six guests, a holiday cocktail menu and a $600 food and beverage minimum per igloo. Igloos are booked by email at rsvp@londonhouse.com, and the decorated rooftop welcomes everyone else for a cocktail and the view. Come summer, the igloos come down and the open-air terrace takes over again, with al fresco lunch, sunset cocktails and the river below.

A pretzel and charcuterie board with red wine in front of a fireplace at LondonHouse Chicago
Pretzel board, red wine and a fireplace at LondonHouse Chicago. Photo: @lhchicago on Instagram.

One floor down, LH on 21 is LondonHouse’s indoor bar on the 21st floor, with a menu of globally inspired small plates, hearty entrees, handcrafted cocktails and desserts. The kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and weekend brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., when the three-pound Sky High Cinnamon Roll comes out. On Halloween night, Nightmare on Wacker Drive: Día de los Muertos takes over both LH on 21 and the rooftop for a 21+ party.

The back bar under arched windows at LH on 21, LondonHouse Chicago
The bar at LH on 21, one floor below LH Rooftop. Photo: LondonHouse Chicago.

Z Bar at The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St., is the hotel’s sixth-floor rooftop lounge just off Michigan Avenue, with a terrace that looks up at the John Hancock Center. On crisp evenings the fire tables on the terrace are lit, and there is an indoor lounge for nights too cold to sit outside. The menu pairs seasonal and signature cocktails, like the Z with Hendrick’s gin, Japanese cucumber, mint and lime, with shareable plates inspired by global travel. Z Bar is open Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday from 2 p.m. to midnight. Indoor lounge tables book on Tock with a $50 per person deposit, terrace lounge tables for two are $500 prepaid, and guests under 21 are not admitted after 6 p.m. A new seasonal cocktail list arrives after Oct. 21, and the Ugliest Holiday Sweater Party is Saturday, Dec. 12.

A lit fire table and lounge seating on the terrace at Z Bar, The Peninsula Chicago, at night
Fire tables on the terrace at Z Bar, The Peninsula Chicago. Photo: @zbarchicago on Instagram.

Over in the West Loop, the Rooftop at Nobu Hotel Chicago, 155 N. Peoria St., sits on the 11th floor above Restaurant Row with skyline views, Nobu-style small and large plates, imported sake and cocktails like the Japanese Old Fashioned and the Lychee Martini. The rooftop is seasonal. This fall it is enclosed and heated, with DJs on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Since Oct. 11 it has been closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and it is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Nobu has not announced a closing date for the season, so check the hotel’s hours before you go. The dress code is business casual.

The rooftop terrace of Nobu Hotel Chicago at dusk, with the West Loop skyline behind it
The 11th-floor Rooftop at Nobu Hotel Chicago in the West Loop. Photo: Nobu Hotel Chicago.

Back at Bar Pendry, Boozy Tea fills the fireside lounge on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Dec. 26, with a three-tiered tower of bites and tea cocktails priced from $55 to $100 per person. At the Chicago Athletic Association, the Drawing Room lobby lounge has three carved fireplaces and serves cocktails until 11 p.m. most nights, a warm place to start before dinner upstairs at Cindy’s.

Plan your hotel bar night

  • Bernard’s, Waldorf Astoria Chicago: 11 E. Walton St., 2nd floor. Sunday to Thursday 6 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
  • The Champagne Room, Ambassador Gold Coast: 1301 N. State Parkway. Nightly, until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; weekend jazz; Resy.
  • Bar Pendry, Pendry Chicago: 81 E. Wacker Place. Daily 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Boozy Tea Saturdays through Dec. 26, $55 to $100.
  • Game Room, Chicago Athletic Association: 12 S. Michigan Ave. Until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; cocktails $18 to $20; walk-ins.
  • Travelle Lounge, The Langham: 330 N. Wabash Ave., 2nd floor. Weekdays 3 to 11 p.m., weekends noon to 11 p.m.; smart casual.
  • The Allis, Soho House Chicago: 113-125 N. Green St. Until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; happy hour 4 to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
  • Cindy’s Rooftop, Chicago Athletic Association: 12 S. Michigan Ave., 13th floor. Daily; reservations 14 days out, walk-ins welcome.
  • Mile High Cocktail Club, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago: 120 E. Delaware Place, 46th floor. Thursday to Sunday 5 to 10 p.m. through March 14, 2027; $85 for two drinks; 21+; OpenTable.
  • Pandan, Viceroy Chicago: 1118 N. State St., 18th floor. Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to midnight; 21+; walk-ins welcome.
  • The Up Room, The Robey: 2018 W. North Ave., 13th floor. From 5 p.m., until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 21+; walk-ins.
  • ROOF on theWit, theWit Hotel: 201 N. State St., 27 stories up. Monday to Thursday 4 to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; reservations encouraged.
  • LH Rooftop, LondonHouse Chicago: 85 E. Wacker Drive, 22nd floor. Daily 11 a.m. to midnight; igloos Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 24, 2027, $600 minimum.
  • LH on 21, LondonHouse Chicago: 85 E. Wacker Drive, 21st floor. Kitchen 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; weekend brunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Z Bar, The Peninsula Chicago: 108 E. Superior St., sixth floor. Monday to Thursday 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday 2 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. to midnight; 21+ after 6 p.m.
  • Rooftop at Nobu Hotel Chicago: 155 N. Peoria St., 11th floor. Seasonal; Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday.

Chicago hotel bars FAQ

Can you go to a Chicago hotel bar without staying at the hotel?

Yes. Chicago’s best hotel bars welcome the public, from Bernard’s at the Waldorf Astoria to The Up Room at The Robey in Wicker Park. Mile High Cocktail Club at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago is open to non-guests, and The Allis at Soho House Chicago is open to non-members.

What is the best hotel rooftop bar in Chicago in winter?

Cindy’s Rooftop at the Chicago Athletic Association has a glass atrium and an all-season terrace over Millennium Park, open daily. LH Rooftop at LondonHouse Chicago adds private heated igloos for up to six from Nov. 21, 2026, to Jan. 24, 2027, with a $600 food and beverage minimum. ROOF on theWit, 27 stories above the Loop, has a retractable roof and a climate-controlled room. Z Bar at The Peninsula lights the fire tables on its terrace, and the Rooftop at Nobu Hotel Chicago is enclosed and heated this fall, open Wednesday through Sunday evenings.

Which Chicago hotel bars are open late?

Bernard’s at Waldorf Astoria Chicago and ROOF on theWit are open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Bar Pendry is open until 1 a.m. every night, and Game Room, The Champagne Room, The Allis, The Up Room at The Robey and Z Bar at The Peninsula all stay open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

How much is Sip & Guzzle at the Four Seasons Chicago?

Sip & Guzzle at Mile High Cocktail Club, on the 46th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, costs $85 per person for two drinks from a menu of three Sips and three Guzzles. The residency is open Thursday through Sunday, 5 to 10 p.m., through March 14, 2027, for guests 21 and over.

Do I need a reservation for a Chicago hotel bar?

For most Chicago hotel bars, no. Game Room, Bar Pendry, Cindy’s Rooftop, Pandan at Viceroy Chicago and The Up Room at The Robey all welcome walk-ins. Book ahead for Mile High Cocktail Club on OpenTable, The Champagne Room on Resy and the LondonHouse rooftop igloos by email at rsvp@londonhouse.com.

Is there a dress code at Chicago hotel lounges?

Smart casual works at most Chicago hotel lounges, and it is the listed attire at Travelle Lounge at The Langham, Chicago. The Up Room at The Robey, Pandan at Viceroy Chicago and Mile High Cocktail Club at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago are 21 and over, so bring an ID.

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