These Chicago restaurants are ones to visit for scenic waterfront views and indulgent menu offerings—from seafood towers to wagyu beef tartare.
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180 N. Wacker Drive / Website
With a maximalist atmosphere and pristine views of the Chicago Riverfront, Beatnik offers inventive takes on global fare from Northern Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, Mexico and beyond. Score a window seat and dine on entrees like Angus beef short rib tagine with apricot and chickpea stew and pomegranate and sesame seeds, plus small bites like tahini labneh and pomegranate baba ganoush.
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120 N. Wacker Drive / Website
A quintessential American coffee shop meets a Spanish-influenced café at chef José Andrés’ river-adjacent spot, with all-day breakfast offerings like chicken sausage sandwiches, fruit marmalade yogurt parfaits and limited-quantity Xuixo deep-fried Spanish pastries. The eatery offers grab-and-go La Colombe drip coffee, nitro cold brew, lattes and more.
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233 N. Canal St. / Website
Contemporary Italian steakhouse Gibsons Italia serves everything from carbonara 640 wagyu beef tartare to market oysters—alongside an advanced portfolio of homemade pasta. Try the 7-year-aged acquerello risotto with Viking Village sea scallops, Parmigiano Reggiano and baby leeks or the “Malfadine” with Neapolitan beef and onion sugo, Pecorino Romano and Parmigiano Reggiano.
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1221 W. Blackhawk St. / Website
This buzzy brewpub, which recently relocated to local entertainment venue The Salt Shed, sports an ever-changing list of local brews and Chicago River scenery. The mainstay offers bites like hop-salted pretzels, Tajin and lime-seasoned pork rinds, 18-hour smoked pulled pork sandwiches and banana brown sugar ice cream sandwiches.
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315 N. Dearborn St. / Website
Get a taste of New England’s best with Legal Sea Foods’ debut at Marina City Towers in River North, located in the space that formerly housed Dick’s Last Resort. Executive chef Ozzy Amelotti crafts seafood-centric courses—from clam chowder to lobster rolls, Maine Sea Scallops and tuna poke nachos. Go out with shareable offerings like the shellfish tower, stocked with oysters, clams, shrimp cocktail, lobster tail, crabmeat cocktail and kelp salad or try the fisherman’s platter with jumbo naked shrimp, sea scallops, whitefish, calamari and clam strips.
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1000 E. Grand Ave. / Website
Rooftop dining destination Offshore offers seafood, steaks, shareables and cocktails, set with stunning views of the skyline and Lake Michigan. Sling back habanero mignonette oysters, dig into seared Faroe Island salmon (with red quinoa corn succotash and citrus Beurre Blanc) and finish it all off with the strawberry shortcake sundae, topped with whipped cream. Don’t forget to pair your meal with inventive cocktails like the “Bad & Boujee” with D’Usse VSOP cognac, passionfruit, prickly pear and lemon and the “Curious Cabaret” with Hendrick’s Grand Cabaret gin, Aperol, lemon and simple syrup.
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317 N. Clark St. / Website
From hand-stretched pizzas to coastal wines, riverfront Lettuce Entertain You eatery Pizzeria Portofino is not to be missed, featuring an all-weather patio and a luxe, Italian Riviera-inspired atmosphere. Pair small bites like basil pesto aioli-topped tuna tartare and Portuguese octopus with plates of black truffle three cheese pizza, Bar Harbor mussels served with focaccia and rigatoni vodka pasta with whipped burrata, Calabrian chili and basil.
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317 N. Clark St. / Website
Fine dining destination RPM Seafood is a go-to for locals and newcomers alike for beloved dishes like red curry lobster with green papaya, Namiki A5 filets and housemade sea urchin spaghetti with Perigord black truffles and Hokkaido uni. Don’t forget to try offerings from the restaurant’s robust caviar program featuring Golden Kaluga and Ossetra varieties.
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2401 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive / Website
Located within the historic Theater on The Lake, this upscale spot offers pristine Lake Michigan views, a vast wine list and an array of lunch, dinner and weekend brunch offerings. To start, try the citrus-cured Old Bay shrimp ceviche with avocado crema, tortilla chips or the elote tostadas with red cabbage and Fresno peppers. Then, move on to main courses like the brisket dip on a toasted baguette with horseradish, gruyere, pepperoncini mayo, arugula and au jus and the sirloin cap with black garlic thyme café de Paris and leek and gruyere au gratin potatoes.
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330 N. Wabash Ave. / Website
Overlooking the skyline and Chicago River, the Langham Hotel’s 124-seat restaurant and 81-seat bar and lounge touts seasonal cuisine, a 1,600-bottle wine list and a beverage program showcasing artfully curated cocktails. Visit to try specialties like the 9-ounce Linz heritage reserve filet mignon with piquillo romesco, maitake and charred onions and the roasted branzino with Parisienne gnocchi, corn, leeks and pipian sauce.
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401 N. Wabash Ave., Floor 16 / Website
Located on the 16th floor of Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, this rooftop restaurant features breathtaking views of the Chicago River and extensive new American breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menus. Sample favorites like the hamachi crudo with flying fish roe, preserved lemon, nori powder and crispy tapioca chips, oysters on the half-shell, slow-cooked ribs with housemade pickled kimchi and bucatini with white wine-steamed mussels, roasted sausage, fennel and crab butter sauce.
See also: The 18 Best Rooftop Patios For Outdoor Dining And Drinking In Chicago
Photography by: Photography courtesy of Offshore Rooftop
