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Cindy's Rooftop Chicago Reviews
one of the best rooftop views in the city.
I'd recommend going in the morning so you can see the lake. We ended up going at night for a beer and some light appetizers. I got the salad with green goddess dressing - simple, very fresh, and very good dressing !
Love this spot! Gorgeous views of the city and perfect for
Love this spot! Gorgeous views of the city and perfect for a date night. The snacks are a bit expensive for their size, but I liked the Fernet About It
Went for some after dinner cocktails.
Was a good view of the bean, lake and pretty good drinks.
Great location with nice view when you step out on the
Great location with nice view when you step out on the viewing balcony. Arrived between lunch and dinner so they were only serving lite bites. Had the smoked whitefish dip. It was ok. Service was good. Cute little place, would like to try it for lunch or dinner next time.
Stopped by Cindy's Rooftop after a nice dinner.
Ordered the Island Time cocktail. The drink was refreshing with a tropical flavor profile, balanced and easy to sip while taking in the scene. The real standout here is the view. From the terrace you get a sweeping look over Millennium Park with The Bean and the Crown Fountain, the lake, and the skyline all at once. It's one of the best vantage points in the city for both daytime and evening. It does get busy, so there can be a wait, but once you're up there it feels worth it. A solid spot for a cocktail with a view that captures Chicago at its best.
Fantastic job on your restaurant all was great and if you
Fantastic job on your restaurant all was great and if you interested in getting to know more about each other privately please contact me at Scotthogel1@gmail.com hey it could be super awesome for us
Cindy's rooftop and a beautiful sunset is probably the best
Cindy's rooftop and a beautiful sunset is probably the best combination for a summer dinner!
Asked for a table near the windows and instead got the
Asked for a table near the windows and instead got the opposite end of the restaurant near the very loud bar even though it was a birthday celebration and there were better tables available. Too many loud drunk people at bar. Food is ok. Balcony has a very nice view.
We stopped at Cindy's rooftop for a late night dessert and
We stopped at Cindy's rooftop for a late night dessert and drink. The best part of the experience was going outside to the outdoor area and look over Chicago at night. On a beautiful summer night, this was a spectacular experience. The booth and chair we sat in were very worn out and not very comfortable. The service was good and we ordered the pecan chocolate cake dessert. Dessert was actually pretty good and large enough for two to split.
Some of the best views in the city! I've only been for
Some of the best views in the city! I've only been for drinks which were good. Would love to come for dinner
Celebrating My Birthday -Could Not Have chosen a better place in all of Chicago
Review in one word... WONDERFUL! I will describe in more detail. We came to explore Chicago and attend a Neil Young concert for my Birthday. August 25, 2025. I did try to reserve a table for 4 people online in advance, but it was all booked up until 9PM on both August 25 & 26. So, instead we decided to just go to the bar for drinks and snacks. We arrived about 6:30PM and the place indeed was very busy. At the bar the bartender was super friendly and very efficient in making our drinks. Just for the heck of it I put my name in for a table. They said it anything opens up, we would be notified. We expected to wait 30 minutes at least if even a possibility. We waited less than 10 minutes and they had a table for us. AWESOME! Not only that, we had a table right next to the window in the smaller side room with a door to the outside balcony. Our server was Colette who was very gracious and friendly. She waited on us like super special guests. I was drinking my excellent Old Fashioned cocktail and we shared appetizers of Smoked Whitefish and Garlic Bread. My wife and I shared an entree of Baby Back Ribs and Sauteed Vegetables. (more than enough for 2). I had a glass of red (Tempranillo) with my half of the ribs. The other couple had their entrees of Cacio e Pepe and Mushroom Risotto. We were too full for desserts, but Colette brought me a free mousse dessert, With the awesome view from the balcony and the superb meal it was a terrific birthday celebration. Thank you so much Cindy's Rooftop staff
Best servers EVER!
Annie and Erin made my dining experience a day to remember! Incredibly knowledgeable and impeccable service. Those two and their rizz made my day. Can’t wait to come back!
Great views but over crowded with mediocre food. Definitely a skip.
Went on a Saturday night with friends. Thankfully we were able to snag a reservation and didn’t have to wait once we arrived (other than for the elevator to get up). The restaurant is beautiful with gorgeous views of the city but you are definitely just going there for the views and not the food. For appetizers, we ordered the deviled eggs, garlic bread and whitefish dip. The eggs were fine but for $15, it would be great to get more than 2.5 eggs. At least round it up to an even 6 halves but even paying $5 an egg is ridiculous. The garlic bread was very disappointing. $10 for two slices of soggy bread that was the style of garlic bread you make at home. Slap some butter on super toasted bread, sprinkle with garlic powder and top with parm and you have Cindy’s garlic bread. The worst part was the the cheese was only on the top piece of bread so the bottom bread was just soggy butter with garlic powder. The whitefish dip was pretty good but not worth $19. Everyone in our party ordered a salad. I had the Caesar salad and added grilled shrimped. The lettuce was soggy and overdressed and it was topped with Kraft parmesan cheese and toasted breadcrumbs that immediately turned into clumps because of the dressing. The shrimp was ok but very salty. Eating it with the lettuce helped cut the salt but it was a hard bite to swallow on its own. We ordered the Pecan Chocolate Cake for dessert and while it tasted good, we couldn’t figure out why it was so hard to cut through. The most disappointing part of the experience was the amount of people in the restaurant. There were so many random people walking through the restaurant to get to the patio that it was very disruptive. The bar inside was overcrowded with people that would overflow around the tables closest to the bar. It definitely made it seem like they were more concerned with packing in as many people as possible to maximize profit over providing an enjoyable experience and environment. If you really want to experience Cindy’s, go for just a drink on the patio but good luck squeezing your way to the edge to get a decent view. In terms of food, there are soooo many better places in Chicago where you will get a MUCH better meal for the price.
great roof top with amazing view
excellent roof top great service price for drinks on point food quality A+ great bartman and servers I really recomend to visit this great place
Highly recommended by my sister
My sister, a suburbanite who loves to visit downtown Chicago to see shows or visit museums or attend a sporting event, recommended Cindy's Rooftop to me. Whenever she is in the Loop, she usually has lunch or dinner at the hip, stylish rooftop restaurant/bar at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. Located at 12 South Michigan Avenue, across the street from Millennium Park, it features a terrace that offers a wonderful view of the park and Lake Michigan. Open from 11 to 11 Monday through Thursday, 11 to midnight on Friday, 10 to midnight on Saturday and 10 to 11 on Sunday, Cindy's has succeeded where past occupants have failed. It's easy to see why. I started with truffled deviled eggs and a Caesar salad with little gem lettuce, herby bread crumbs and parmesan. Then I had an exceptional cheeseburger with aged Wisconsin cheddar cheese, ito, pickle and special sauce on a brioche bun. With house fries. For dessert, I was really impressed with a large slice of pecan chocolate cake with coconut pecan milk chocolate ganache and roasted cacao nib ice cream. Thanks for the tip, Pam.
Meh for a very desired Resy
The view is divine! The staff was very attentive. We went for Brunch, and it was fine, average at best. Was it fabulous, not in my opinion. The fries with my burger were beyond salty. My sister thought they made a mistake, because for real, these were inedible. I did think the Bloody Mary was delish and the monkey Breadis something everyone should have. Egg plate was ok. Chiquellas looked dried , as if under a heat lamp.
Great ambience and great food!
The atmosphere is fantastic, complemented by a beautiful view. The food was enjoyable, and the service was good, although it was a bit slow in arriving.
Terrible Service
The bartenders and manager were unbelievably rude from my arrival. I don't why they are so hostile. The bartender was rude from the beginning to me and the rest of my party for seemingly no reason.
My niece was here from California, and she wanted a
My niece was here from California, and she wanted a rooftop, so I suggested this place. The view is absolutely amazing! Plus, the food is delicious.
We decided to go to Cindy's and wait list.
Although reservations are hard to come by, it's recommended if you want to eat. Luckily, it was later and just 2 of us so we were able to squeeze in at the bar and order food and drinks pretty quickly. I had the Trouble Will Find Me and my husband got a nice pour of an anejo tequila. We put in for the salmon carpaccio and prawn dish- both were very flavorful and delicious!!! I didn't think I liked curry but the prawns were 10/10! As far as atmosphere, it was busy and loud but still very enjoyable. We heard it was the best view So after eating we stepped out To get some good pics of the city. I would come back!
Great location and views but service was lacking and food
Great location and views but service was lacking and food was subpar. Oysters were probably great for a landlocked state but not if you are from the gulf coast.
Food was good.
Service was nice .Staff were humble with friendly nature. They maintained cleanliness. I was very happy.
Wonderful place to stop in for drinks and the panoramic
Wonderful place to stop in for drinks and the panoramic view of Lake Michigan. Service was great at the bar. This place stays busy. Beautiful place that I will definitely be coming back to again and definitely recommend.
Food Was Off and Not Cooked Properly
I ordered the fish and chips and it was definitely off or had gone bad. I actually gagged when I was trying to eat it and didn’t finish any of my lunch. The waitress was so busy and rushed. She never even asked why I sent a full plate back. My stomach was upset for about 12 hours after and I only had two bites of the fish. Cool building and location but food was terrible. My son got burger and was bloody in middle. He was ok with it but from food safety perspective would not eat her again. For $80 for a burger, fish and chips and 2 diet cokes felt like you can do much better somewhere else. Probably worst lunch I have ever had.
Came on a Monday for lunch without a reservation and were
Came on a Monday for lunch without a reservation and were able to get seats at the bar pretty quickly. Drinks, food, and service were good! Prices are a little high, but I think that is typical for rooftops. Definitely worth visiting for the view!!
Great city views, great food, and great cocktails.
I have been here multiple times and they never disappoint! Great spot to bring family and friends visiting the city!
Great views, delicious fish and chips, beautiful venue.
Very much enjoyed. Wish the lunch menu had a few more options as it was somewhat limiting, especially for those who don't eat red meat.
Good for price cocktail and view.
Too pricey for brunch. The coffee shop on the ground level had good food for a reasonable price.
45 minutes after we put our name on "the list" for dinner,
45 minutes after we put our name on "the list" for dinner, we were lead to seats that were in front of a narrow shelf on a brick wall. We asked if we could have a table and were told that we would have to go back on the wait list. The view from the patio is nice but who wants to look at a brick wall. We finished our drinks and walked down the street to another restaurant where we were seated right away.
Amazing views / lively bar atmosphere
Amazing views! Not sure what I expected, and may have been where we were seated but felt like we were in a bar rather than a restaurant. Fairly limited menu (check on line) and few veggie options. Staff were amazing, service was great and views were 10/10. Def bar vibes so if that’s your scene you will love it.
Worth the wait!
Have been wanting to get into this place for over a year! Did it live up to the “reservations only, booked weeks out” hype? Absolutely! Dinner at 6 pm Thursday night. Definitely boisterous atmosphere with happy hour going. Very loud - so if you’re looking for intimate and private, this isn’t it. Most seating is within an arms length of each other. The food though… Oh. My. Goodness. Every item that came to the table was sophisticated and delicious. We started we the cabbage (wow!) and then split the roasted chicken and a side of asparagus. The flavors that were melded together to create a unique taste are indescribable. And to top it off, the cheesecake!!!! My boyfriend declared it the best dessert he’s ever had (and he adores dessert). Our server (Blake) was aware of our timeline and did everything to ensure we had a wonderful time without making us feel rushed. He even offered a “to go” cup of soda for the road. Absolutely worth the effort to get in. Bravo on a luxurious dining experience.
Go for the view, meal, great atmosphere, service - I guess everything
Lucky enough to get reservations for a Sunday at 5:15pm. Note - they only allow online reservations starting 15 days out so mark it on your calendar! The place was lovely and lively - great atmosphere and decor with a busy scene at the bar and along the roof deck. We arrived about 10 minutes early and were promptly seated. Go check out the view - it's incredible. The seating is a bit snug and we were pretty close to another table but it wasn't much of an issue but maybe if you're looking for a bit of privacy. We had oysters and the assorted Chicories as an appetizer. The oysters came out first and had a lovely citrussy brine that we sucked down our gullets lickidy split. Then came out the salad-ish dish. Which was a nice precursor to our meals. I had the prawns and my dad had the lamb ragu. The prawns were served with several hearty pieces of bread to absorb the delicious yet spicy sauce. The ragu came entangled with a heaping portion of pasta and freshly grated cheese. Both were excellent - the ragu portion was enormous and unfinishable especially with dessert on the mind. For dessert we had the Chocolate cake and the black sesame pavlova. My dad loved the chocolate cake - I thought it was fine. We both really enjoyed the sesame pavlova which had a unique balance of savory and sweet aspects in an imaginative plate. Highly recommend the pavlova. For the two of us with zero alcoholic drinks the price was around 185 with tip.
Must reserve to enjoy the asset of place
One of the most recommanded roof top in Chicago. The view is stunning but you need to make sure to reserve a table, if not, inside it’s just another terrasse, although it’s nice. Food is good, choice limited. Too pricy if you’re not outside!
Beautiful Rooftop Bar
This is a beautiful trendy rooftop bar. It has a great view of Millennium Park. They put a fire pit outside when it's chilly out so you can really take in the views. The drinks here while pricey, are excellent. If you're looking for a proper martini, this is the place for you. The bartenders are friendly, albeit very busy. So it can be hard to get service at the bar if you're not seated. I would come back here for my next Chicago visit.
This place is beautiful,top of the Athletic building tried
This place is beautiful,top of the Athletic building tried to get a bit and drink for lunch but it was a long wait with no reservation. We were able to grab a seat at bar and drinks and then take them to deck. Deck had an amazing view of the lake front & millennial park. The bar tenders and staff were so nice and accommodating. I recommend a reservation cause the food looked amazing. Till next time!
Would definitely come back next time we're in Chicago! Came
Would definitely come back next time we're in Chicago! Came here from a local recommendation on our last day and I'm glad we did. We sat at the bar and had chicken and waffles and the quiche. Both were very good. We had bloody Mary's that had just the right amount of spice. Before finding a spot at the bar we waited on the outdoor patio that had a great rooftop view of the Bean. This was nice considering it was under construction when we were visiting and couldn't see it otherwise. Overall a really cute place with good food and drinks and a view. What more could you ask for!
Never Again
Service is slow. Several minutes before we received water, several more before we asked for our server. I’m a person who doesn’t care for servers who have an attitude, one where you act as though you are better than us. One member of our party asked about a specific item on the menu, the server didn’t try to hide their haughty amusement that they didn’t know what it was. Server was slow, at least 15 minutes before we received our drinks. Ate our meal and were ready to order dessert, again no sign of our server. Needed to box up our dessert and she couldn’t be bothered to box it for us, even though our lunch food was boxed up by another staff member. View is nice, menu is limited. Chicken was fatty. Prices are high, but when you have top service I don’t mind, today I minded.
Cindy's rooftop is the best place to take people from out
Cindy's rooftop is the best place to take people from out of town or go on a date. Incredible views of the bean from the rooftop and really nice drinks. Especially in the summer when the weather is nice, you have to take your friends and family to this rooftop for views and drinks. Honestly so much better to see the bean from here rather the crowds surrounding it! The mojito was so refreshing
Expensive but beautiful rooftop and views.
The Ragu entree and mozzarella app were worth ordering.
Beautiful rooftop restaurant in an amazing location!
Beautiful rooftop restaurant in an amazing location! Reservation is recommended, it gets very crowded. The food is amazing and completely fresh. All the food is homemade in house and heavenly. Amazing experience and very happy I ended up dining here
What a great spot for lunch! The weather was nice and we
What a great spot for lunch! The weather was nice and we got to enjoy the view. We had some great drinks at the bar and then were seated soon after. The food was great quality and super delicious. I was extremely impressed by the French fries. Hands down some of the best I've ever had. The sandwich was great. They also gave me a mini birthday dessert which I appreciated. The bartender was very friendly and we talked to him a bit. Superb!
Meh! Hostess and waitress service is ; "meh"! In turn,
Meh! Hostess and waitress service is ; "meh"! In turn, the bartender service is good. Drinks are good. Food is "meh" and (in my opinion) the food is overpriced for what it is . Would I go back ? Maybe.
Terrible!
If I could rate this experience 0/5 then definitely would. Queue was 35 mins to get in for a drink. Once in we were asked for ID(first place in Chicago to ask!) told the staff member that mr and my fiancé were here on holiday, and that our only ID was our passports and we weren’t taking them out and carrying them around with us. I then said would a picture of our passport be ok? She said yes, as I handed over my card to open a tab she then changes her mind and tells me she needs a physical form of identification. Staff were very standoffish from the get go and were not welcoming at all, except the lift attendant and the female at the reception desk. We were asked to leave after no form of identification “could” be provided.
I'll give another star for the service because the waitress
I'll give another star for the service because the waitress was very sweet. But DO NOT come here between 2:30-5pm bc that's their snack bar menu which was ridiculous. There were five options and i kid you not for $14 I got 2 half cut carrots and 2-3 celery sticks with garlic hummus. And my girlfriend got a bowl of chips for $7 which had less than a bag of snack-sized Doritos. I should've taken a picture of the food but was so disappointed of how overpriced it all was I didn't bother lol The view was cool but I don't think it's ever worth the price of eating there. I'm not sure if everyone else who gave this restaurant 5 stars got money to burn but I sure don't.
Average is a good way to describe this place.
If you are from Chicago or live here don't waste your time. If you're visiting by all means go, it's probably close to where you're staying anyway. The view is ok, there's definitely better, the drinks are good but over priced, they know the tourist are gonna pay for them. The place is always packed so it's not that enjoyable. However the Chicago athletic club is awesome! The bar downstairs is a great back up.
Fantastic experience.
Dined with our two kids (8 and 6) this winter while touring the city for the weekend and it was great... amazing atmosphere (including outdoor rooftop bar overlooking Millennium park with open fire pits), excellent service and very good food. They even had a kids menu (not advertised) that our kids utilized. We made a reservation (recommend doing) and will go back again. We had their tomahawk steak and it was stellar!!
This high floor venue has beautiful views of Michigan
This high floor venue has beautiful views of Michigan Avenue, the lake, Millenium Park, and I think the Art Institute. I came in the evening for dinner with a group of friends. It was hard to see the details of the views in the evening, but the city night views were great. I ordered a seafood salad and was expecting lettuce or some greens. It was basically bits of seafood soaked in dressing. The portion size was for a very thin person. The staff was not wearing masks. There was a popular bar area. The atmosphere was amazing.
Amazing for Family With Older Kids
2 families of 4 (kids 12,12, 9, 7 yrs) came here for lunch (no reservations) over spring break after some time at Millennium Park and Maggie Daley park. We were seated immediately, albeit separated (this was acceptable for no reservations). Our waitress was attentive, sweet, and even split an alcoholic drink for the 2 moms. Food came out quickly and was curated, high quality, fresh, flavorful. Although no kids menu, they were accommodating with menu modifications and you could get add-ons which were great for the older kids. The ambiance and view were unmatched for anything else we experienced in Chicago!
Great food in a spot that can’t be beat.
Located on the roof of the Chicago Athletic Club on S. Michigan Avenue downtown. Reservations are hard to get. Every review talks about a “see and be seen” type of vibe. We experienced none of that. On a chance we set off to see if we could get a bar seat on Sunday brunch with no reservation. The front people were so nice. Sat us right down. Did say they needed the table in 90 minutes but that was no problem for us as we had a plane to catch. And the views and atmosphere are frankly stunning. They are smart enough to let the light and floor to ceiling glass windows do all the work. Great views of the museums, parks, downtown skyscrapers and Lake Michigan. With a fire pit on the veranda to let you go out and enjoy even on a cold day. And ok, the food. Fantastic brunch. We went with avocado toast and then the buttermilk pancakes with carmelized pears and a Mocha-like concoction on top. If I had more time and was not so stuffed I probably would have gone for chicken and waffles. But what we ordered satisfied. Frankly we could not finish it all. Service was great and pleasant. Tables are shared mostly but we had no problem with that. Wasn’t sure what to expect but not only did it exceed expectations, it was really quite quite good. And reasonably priced. We got out of there for $60 including tip. So glad we were able to fit it in. Highly recommend. It is worth the hype.
One night stay with family
We came to Cindy’s with our family just for a small visit to see Millenium park for our children to play in the fountains, and yet we ended up staying the remainder of the weekend because our kids had so much fun at the hotel and at Cindy’s. The staff at the restaurant were very accommodating and kind to our family. Amy behind the bar was forefront on specialty soft drinks, and the manager Lindsay was so helpful guiding us through our hotel stay. The cocktails alone are reason enough to return, however, we will happily return for the sincere customer service and attention to detail that they offer at Cindy’s and the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. Thank you for all that you have done for our family.
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