Offshore sits on top of Festival Hall at the east end of Navy Pier, as far out over Lake Michigan as Chicago lets you drink. It holds the Guinness World Record for the largest rooftop bar, a 36,000 square foot deck with the water on three sides. The size is the headline, the view is the reason.
This is a record-holder that backs the claim up. Per REJournals, Offshore opened as the nation's largest rooftop deck, and Guinness made the title official. From the third floor of Festival Hall you look back at the skyline one way and out at the lake the other.
It works year round, which is the smart part in a city with a real winter. Retractable floor-to-ceiling glass walls close the room against the cold, and seven fire pits keep the terrace usable when the wind comes off the water. This is not a fair-weather roof.
For more high-up drinking, see our Chicago rooftop bars guide, the full Chicago bar guide, and the best bars with a view.
What to order
- 01
A Signature Cocktail
The full-service bar runs a proper cocktail list, not just beer-and-a-view. Order a signature and take it out to the rail for the skyline.
$$$ - 02
A Cold Local Beer
The honest pick for a sunny afternoon over the lake. A cold Chicago draught is all the deck really asks for.
$$ - 03
Shareable Plates
The kitchen sends out New American small plates built for a table. Order a few to graze while the round comes around.
$$$ - 04
A Fire-Pit Nightcap
Claim a spot by one of the seven fire pits as the light drops. A spirit-forward drink suits the cooler end of the evening.
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The room and the crowd
The scale is the first thing you notice, with terraces, a long bar, fire pits and a gaming area spread across the deck. Part of it is open air, part sits behind the glass walls, so the room flexes with the weather. There is space here that most rooftops can only dream of.
The crowd is a Navy Pier mix, tourists and locals alike, busiest on summer evenings and event nights. It pulls big groups and after-work tables for the view. Come early for sunset if you want a rail spot before the deck fills.
What regulars say
- 01
The view is unmatched
Reviewers keep returning to the lake-and-skyline panorama. Being out over the water sets it apart from the downtown roofs.
- 02
It works in winter
Maps regulars rate the all-weather setup, glass walls and fire pits, as the rare rooftop that does not shut for the cold.
- 03
Pricey and busy
A common note is tourist-spot pricing and a packed deck on event nights. Time a quieter visit if you can.
Who it is for
- 01
The skyline sunset
The best seat in the city for the lake-side view of the skyline. Bring visitors and let the panorama do the work.
- 02
The big group night
Room for a crowd that most rooftops cannot hold. A safe call when the party runs large.
- 03
Avoid if you want an intimate bar
This is a 36,000 square foot deck, not a quiet corner. For a snug night, head to a Wicker Park cocktail room instead.
Pair this bar with
Stay on the roofs at VU Rooftop in Chicago, take in the skyline from The ROOF on theWit in Chicago, or carry on at the river-view IO Godfrey Rooftop in Chicago.
Sources: Offshore Rooftop official site (2026); REJournals, "The nation's largest rooftop deck, Offshore, opens at Navy Pier"; Guinness World Records largest rooftop bar; Choose Chicago; Yelp reviews (Updated June 2026).