Top, Best & Fun Rooftop Bars in Countryside

"Beatrix is a neighborhood coffeehouse, restaurant, and meeting place in Chicago’s River North, Streeterville, Fulton Market, and Oak Brook neighborhoods. The restaurant is the brainchild of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises’ Founder Rich Melman, Executive Partner, and Divisional President Marc Jacobs and Chef Partners John Chiakulas, Rita Dever, and Susan Weaver. The menu features healthy meets delicious options and is known for its iconic coffee and bakery counter, including signature cookies and in-house pastry favorites."

"West Loop, Streeterville, River NorthHealthy-ish eats when you want to be (kind of) goodThis health-forward mini-chain packs a menu full of flavor and vegetarian-friendly entrees. Favorites include the kung pao cauliflower and vegan tomato basil Soup, plus entrees like the rigatoni with vegetable bolognese. Stop by for brunch to try quinoa cakes with poached eggs or green chili enchiladas and be sure to save room for a trip to the pastry bar where you’ll find plenty of indulgent cakes, cookies, and muffins."

"There’s lots to love about Lettuce Entertain You’s quick and casual concept that not only boasts a juice and coffee bar, but also a grab-and-go market. Favorites at both the new Streeterville and original River North locations include a crispy kale salad with persimmon and pumpkin seeds as well as a three-grain salad topped with roasted chicken."

"Originally located in New York’s Chinatown, family-owned Sun Wah Bar-B-Que settled into its current location on Broadway in 2009, much to the delight of Chicagoans. The restaurant specializes in Hong Kong-style BBQ, with incredible roasted meats such as salt baked chicken, roasted pork, and barbecued spareribs. The space is most famous for its Beijing duck feast, featuring crisp and succulent roasted duck served three ways."

"West LoopThis long-revered Mediterranean-influenced fixture from One Off Hospitality has held it down as one of the area’s go-to date night spots since opening its minimalist doors back in 2003, well before many of us could even define romance. And not much has changed -- the wine list is still spectacular, the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates are still iconic, and a reservation for the intimate front patio is still highly coveted."

"A post shared by Under The Gun Theater (@utgtheater) on Jan 8, 2017 at 3:37pm PST. If you’re a fan of improv comedy performed in an intimate setting, this one is for you. The theater has a seating capacity of about 90, and it has a bar where guests can order drinks."

"This acclaimed Chicago brewery has a sleek black-and-wood tap room that’s both comforting and refined, with mid-century furniture, a historic library of brewing books, and an eye-catching fireplace. The beers at Moody Tongue evoke the same vibe, with a specialty beer program that includes whiskey and wine barrel-aged brews and their renowned Farmers Market Series and Sour Series offerings."

"Moody Tongue moved from Pilsen to near McCormick Place with dreams of creating a tasting-menu restaurant that could attract Michelin attention. That plan never fully developed as the pandemic halted momentum. So the brewery shifted to barbecue with Slagel Family Farms short rib, pork ribs, pulled pork, and more."

"Moody Tongue is a newcomer to the list, earning its first stars in 2021. The brewpub's 2019 move from Pilsen to South Loop has proved to be a productive move and we can't wait to get back to the dining room, which opens on May 20th."

"You can mix and match a wide variety of Nigerian stews, starches, meats, fish, and mollusks at Iyanze – a staple of Uptown’s West African food scene. The food at this restaurant in Uptown is prepared from scratch daily and served cafeteria-style. Get whatever looks good to you that day, and a couple of extra scoops in case you can’t make a decision."

"Restaurants French North Center. Robert et Fils sends us time-traveling into the depths of chef-owner Rob Shaner's childhood, when his late father's job took the family to Paris when Shaner was a teenager. In addition to falling in love with the food and culture, father and son (Bob and Rob) dropped their American names in favor of the more French-sounding Robert."

"A few of the highlights of your tour include the Museum Campus, Navy Pier, Water Tower Place Mall, Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), and more. You’ll be able to disembark at most landmarks, so it’s easy to use this your to further your itinerary (although traffic can be a factor, so don’t rely exclusively on this for transportation)."

"Water Tower Place is named after its neighbor, the historic Water Tower. Opened in 1975, this eight-level mall is located at the base of a 74-story skyscraper that includes condominiums, office space, and the Ritz-Carlton hotel. The mall is anchored by Macy’s and American Girl."

"Water Tower Place is located in the vicinity of The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago Sports Museum, universities, and a spacious park. The mall got its name after a nearby water tower was built in 1869. It is located in a nine-story skyscraper that was opened in 1976."

"The shops at North Bridge welcome shoppers with an architecturally unique exterior: the façade of the 1928 former McGraw-Hill building. When it was demolished the stonework was dismantled, cleaned and repositioned at the site of the North Bridge Mall. Featuring anchor stores such as Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss, North Bridge promises a fabulous shopping experience."

"With a bridge spanning the city streets of downtown Chicago, The Shops at North Bridge has unique architecture for a shopping mall. A grand escalator takes shoppers to any of three floors, but the stores aren’t limited to the enclosed mall. The retail complex covers a total of seven blocks and includes Italian superstore Eataly."

"The six-block shopping district features more than 50 world-class retailers as well as 20 restaurants. Luxury travel goods and accessories brand MCM recently opened its first Chicago location at The Shops at North Bridge in early 2020. The shopping center is anchored by Nordstrom's flagship location."

"Lincoln Park Conservatory has been a beautiful getaway since the 1890s. Inside, you’ll find tropical palms, ancient ferns, and plenty of other exotic plants."