Most locals actively avoid the crowds at Navy Pier unless they're hosting tourists—and even then it can take some convincing to go. Later this month, the Pier entices Chicago to reconsider with a new 36,000-square-foot rooftop deck called Offshore. The self-proclaimed "largest rooftop deck in the country" (we're still fact-checking that detail) will open in May with indoor and outdoor space, a kitchen, seven fire pits and a gaming area. Offshore sits above Navy Pier's Festival Hall, which is located at the end of the pier. From this vantage point, guests should be treated to sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.
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Chef Michael Shrader (Monnie Burke's) will helm the kitchen, offering "seasonal, modern American cuisine with global influences served as small, shareable plates." Overseeing the beverage program is Clay Livingston, an unfamiliar face who formerly managed the Red Herring Lounge in Louisville. The drinks will be driven by the season, with a lychee-infused sipper and a "fruit-forward cocktail in a bag" already in the works. Good news for adults: Offshore is only open to guests who are 21 and over, so there won't be youngsters running around this rooftop deck.
The 20,000-square-foot outdoor terrace is outfitted with communal and high-top tables, globe lighting, fire pits and parasols. There's also a stage set up on the southeast end of the terrace for live music and entertainment. Back inside, guests can saddle up to the 60-seat bar or take over one of the bars "playpens," which are filled with geometric cushions designed for socializing. When Offshore debuts, it will be open seven days a week. Take a look at renderings of the stunning new rooftop deck below.
Courtesy F10 Studios
Courtesy F10 Studios