The 15 best winter rooftop bars in Chicago to get cozy

Heaters line the outdoor space on the 22nd floor of McCormick Place, which also boasts fire tables surrounded by couches. When the weather’s really miserable, retreat inside where you can still take in the gorgeous lakefront views while sharing a large format cocktail and a plate of parmesan truffle fries.

There’s plenty of cold weather fun to be had on the Art Deco-inspired terrace at the Gwen Hotel, which offers curling lanes plus fire pits and hot cocktails so you can warm up between rounds. Heat lamps are set up around the perimeter to keep things toasty and you can also hang out with a group around one of the fire tables.

The massive rooftop at Navy Pier offers seven fire pits so visitors can enjoy its panoramic Lake Michigan views year round. Come for brunch to enjoy bottomless mimosas or relax in the evening by sipping a playful cocktail that can be spiked with CBD for an extra buzz.

Heaters and fire pits keep the rooftop cozy, particularly when you cuddle under a blanket on one of the couches while sipping a hot cocktail. For more protection from the elements, book one of the winter greenhouses and share a bottle of bubbly and a cheese and charcuterie board.

The 55 seats inside the atrium atop the Hotel Lincoln become more in demand when the weather cools, though you can still sit outside around one of the fire tables. Take in the beautiful Lake Michigan views beneath the retractable roof while sipping bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys during weekend brunch.

The rooftop space on the 24th floor of Pendry Chicago transforms into a winter garden starting November 3, setting up wooden lodges where groups of up to six can get cozy under blankets on rocking chairs and couches arranged around a firepit. Decorated with lights and evergreens, the cocktail bar will offer a special absinthe-focused menu including tableside drip fountains.

Both the indoor space and outdoor terrace of the cocktail lounge on the 26th floor of Virgin Hotels Chicago will be open and heated during the winter. From the end of November through the new year, Cerise will transform into the Hughes Holiday House, paying tribute to John Hughes’ Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with themed decor, cocktails and dishes.

Escape to Napa Valley on the second floor, all-seasons patio at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprise's new Fulton Market spot. There’s room for 60 in the plant-lined space, where you can enjoy skyline views while sharing a bottle from the extensive selection of California wines along with tuna tostadas and steak frites.

Take in the skyline views from 27 stories up through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the enclosed bar at theWit Hotel. You’ll find a party atmosphere with DJs spinning during brunch and in the evenings, though you can also enjoy a more laid back vibe if you stop in for sushi and classic cocktails before catching a show in the Theater District.

Enjoy tropical vibes beneath a retractable glass roof on the 15th floor of the Kimpton Gray Hotel. Boleo serves South American-inspired dishes such as ceviche and anticuchos along with seasonal pisco cocktails. Come for happy hour from 5-6pm Tuesday through Saturday to take advantage of $8 ceviche and discounted beer and wine.

Stay toasty on the partially covered rooftop patio by sitting around one of the fire pits or under a heater while sipping a glass of fortified wine or a cocktail like a spiced pear negroni. If you’re still feeling chilly, you can ask for a blanket and get really cozy between bites of smoky garlic hummus and grilled cauliflower kebabs.

Look out over Lake Michigan and Millennium Park from the glass atrium on top of the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. The outdoor terrace is also accessible year round and features fire pits to keep you toasty while you sip an old fashioned. Cindy’s is running an autumn pop-up bar with themed decorations and cocktails on weekends through November 26.

Perched atop Hyatt Place Chicago, Kennedy Rooftop offers sweeping skyline views in Wicker Park. The space boasts fire pits, a retractable cover and an indoor area, making it perfect for winter.