Cerise Rooftop

Cerise Rooftop city view was breathtaking! The views were solid as the skylines lit up the nights sky. Creating an intimate and comfortable atmosphere. As we continuously looked for seats to relax and converse the pickings were slim. My advice would be to get there early for a decent seat. It was way too crowded for our taste — definitely not the spot if you’re into more secluded, laid-back vibes. Also, Security hovered the entire time, which made it feel less like a lounge and more like a club. Strangely, they checked our bags but didn’t pat anyone down, which felt inconsistent. And there wasn’t a DRESS CODE. It was also a mixed crowd with young folks, the mature adults and the life of the party folks! Our Drinks were a cup of red wine and a Coke & Jack. Drinks were overpriced and came in plastic cups — not exactly what you’d expect from a place trying to feel upscale. Wine in a plastic cup is distasteful, and Cerise excessively lacks wine etiquette. With half the space outdoors and no clear vibe, it just didn’t hit the mark for us.

This bar is a cheap dump. I’m embarrassed for Virgin Hotels to have such an unimpressive, hooky, cheesy bar. The food is expensive $16.00 for steak fries with light sprinkle of cheese. The martini I ordered was watered down Kettle One supposedly but didn’t feel a thing from it. The views are beautiful and the Dj was decent. I can’t in all fairness recommend this rooftop bar.

Absolutely loved my first time here. The vibes were immaculate, food delicious, service friendly. Loved the view and the sunshine. My ONLY negative is the plastic cups. Now I understand the reasons behind it but at $20 a cocktail, no reason why they can’t invest in hard plastic martini glasses, etc.

I went for the first time it was great! I just wish they had speakers outside on the rooftop. They should also invest in a tent or overhead to be open all year round the rooftop part. Try the Mediterranean fries are bomb!

We had high hopes for this rooftop bar, especially since it appeared on several “best rooftop” lists for Chicago. My drink, a tropical mix of mango, pineapple, and tequila,was one of those influencer-style cocktails and honestly, it was fantastic. Refreshing, flavorful, and worth mentioning. Unfortunately, almost everything else about the experience fell flat. We arrived right at midnight and were able to step outside and see the rooftop patio, which looked like the kind of vibe we came for. However, the moment we ordered and paid for our drinks,literally within minutes,they abruptly closed the outdoor area without any prior warning. If we had known the patio was closing, we wouldn’t have ordered at all,we would have simply left. That felt extremely misleading and left us stuck inside with our overpriced drinks. The indoor space was a huge downgrade: awkward atmosphere, bad lighting, and music that didn’t match the rooftop energy. My drink was good, but my friend’s was terrible, completely off balance. We thought maybe we could salvage the night by heading to the hotel lobby (since it’s part of the Virgin Hotels) to finish our drinks. They were served in plastic cups, not even glass, so we figured it wouldn’t be an issue. But just as we were getting on the elevator, a staff member stopped us and said we couldn’t take the drinks down. To top it all off, the drinks were nearly $50,$60 for just two, with a tip already included, and yet they still prompted for an additional tip. All in all, this place was a major disappointment. With so many fantastic rooftops in Chicago offering great views, vibes, and transparency, this one just didn’t deliver. I wouldn’t go back or recommend it, even though my drink was genuinely good,the rest of the experience simply wasn’t worth it.

This spot is a VIBE!!! Came here after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and it has a perfect blend of class and turn up that you’re looking for. Plus it’s a rooftop so the views are immaculate!! Miguel the bartender was AMAZING!!! Honestly we need 5 of him in the place. This spot will be a new regular for me for sure.

Amazing atmosphere, the food is okay, drinks are good. Will definitely coming back. Sometimes there is a DJ party

Beautiful rooftop in downtown. Drinks were well made and delicious. Bartenders not in the best mood but still fine with us. Our server was so nice and attentive to all our needs. When we arrived at first there wasn’t any tables on the deck but after just 10 mins a spot opened up. Killer views. I’m surprised I haven’t gone before. Will come again in the Spring when the weathers nice again. :D

The rooftop bar is so cute and with such a nice view. Oana was such a great bartender, she had an amazing attitude and was so helpful!

Located on the top of the Virgin hotels, this is a small rooftop lounge. We decided to stop in while causally exploring the area. Menu isn't extensive so we took a guess on a few drinks. There is music in the background but hard to hear it unless you're sitting on the inside. Very plain decor outside. I think adding some fans/mists would really be a good idea. Cocktails; Dancing in the Moonlight. 5/5 Service was pretty good. Prices aren't the best in comparison to other spots. El Diablo XX. If you like a little heat!!

Fabulous little rooftop where we able to reserve and get a table with an excellent view of the city at sunset. The staff was welcoming when we entered and quickly took us to our table and get our drink orders. Went late on a weekday and practically had the roof top for ourselves! Love this place, will visit again on my next trip to Chicago.

If you're looking for a late night pop out that you'll be guaranteed to enjoy great tunes, views and cocktails check out Cerise Rooftop. The DJs are always great, it's a mixed crowd and they always have free entry parties. You can also come here for a chill after work chill happy hour session. A Chicago must!

Tried calling to confirm our reservation but their phone was disconnected. When we arrived, the Host was not at the host stand and was nowhere to be seen for 10min. They didn't have our drink at the bar and we had to wait over 10min for them to restock the liquor for one of their own signature drinks, plus the 15min we were waiting to order standing at the bar when it wasn't even that busy. At 25min past our reservation time we still didn't have a table, so they sat us at a tiny cocktail table by the bar that seemed to be more first come first serve instead of an actual table. (The Reserved sign truly represents the feel of this place) Once sat, no server greeted us for 10min. Our cups/glasses were made of acrylic and were very dirty as you can see in the pics. The server tried to tell us it was because it was scratched but it felt sticky to the touch. Weird place, extremely overpriced for scratched and dirty glasses, terrible service. Would never come back.

Very nice views and a casual atmosphere for a daytime cocktail! My friend and I decided to stop here for a drink. The seating was first come first serve other than tables with reserved signs. We had no problem getting a table. The bar was definitely giving more of a party vibe at night. The drinks are all served in plastic glasses, which is a little annoying for the price. I had a cosmo and I thought it was a good drink! I definitely enjoyed it. We came for the views and felt like this was a one drink kind of spot. I wouldn't rush back here when I am back in town, but it was a solid rooftop!

Went for a house party event, good drinks but no seating or food unless you buy a table which I didn't care for.

Great views from the balcony. Service was great with offers for blankets if we were cold! We had appetizers and drinks and they tasted great. Highly recommend.

Best spot for drinks and chilling. Food was okay, not much for vegan, vegetarian options. There is few gluten free. Staff is kind and help as much as they can.

Drinks and service were delicious. But they slipped in a $9 service charge, for two drinks, which is deceptive.

Nice views. It was easy to reserve a table for brunch. This rooftop is located at the top of the Virgin Hotel. We first sat in the big blue chairs but opted for a regular table and chairs. On the day we went it was very sunny, 80's and beautiful. On the rooftop there was plenty of flowers. While the flowers were beautiful, plenty of wasp or bees buzzing around. No one got stung but they were aggressive. (bring you epi-pen if allergic). For food, we got the double smash burgers with fries. My bestie got the pork shoulder skillet with sourdough toast. Overall the food was good and priced fairly. I will say that the menu was limited. For drinks, there was a full bar. We opted for bloody mary and white wine. The drinks were pricey. Downside was that the drinks served in hard plastic cups. White wines just doesn't taste the same in plastic cup. I would give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Drinks were good and views were okay. Good for a nicer classier rooftop experience without the fluff of a full dinner, or other forced experience. Loved the tables by the edge as well. Definitely more pretty as it gets darker as well, which is normally the case with rooftops.

The Cerise Rooftop bar has a fabulous view of the Chicago Sky Line. I love going here during the summer time to sip cocktails and admire the view. Cerise has a very young crowd that gathers here. It's not fancy or swanky. They have a few small tables and sofas on the balcony, and it is very narrow. Seats are limited and it will be standing room only as the evening progresses. I don't recommend this rooftop for big groups. They normally have a DJ playing music so it can be loud at times. The bartenders are okay, and the customer service is average. The last time I visited I ordered a Margarita, which was made well. It cost around 14 dollars. In conclusion, the view of this rooftop is the most positive aspect. I wouldn't go here expecting great service or a great ambiance.

Spent an absolutely blissful Sunday on an unseasonably warm and sunny fall day... on this rooftop. Can you even think of a better Sunday funday? Go get an espresso martini, or even better get their chai version, and have a day! We also split the Ceasar salad and a plate of fries and it was such a fabulous, elevated take on some simple classics. The fries were so crispy but creamy on the inside, and the aioli on the side was such a bright pinch of lemon. Super addictive. The Ceasar salad was heavy on the dressing and cheese, but the flavor was noticeably homemade and classic, with anchovy flavor present. The staff was kind and accommodating even though we showed up without a reservation and sat us right away. I will truly be dreaming of this day until my next visit!

The bar hosts a 5 star-view (including an Instragramable but overly-illuminated table with swings for chairs). The bar is thankfully not subject to strict dress codes. But the service is just okay at best and the drinks are insultingly weak. My Tito's and cranberry was so red it was stopping traffic 26 floors down.

I absolutely love this place. Have gone for drinks before and it was amazing, great city view and vibes. They also host a lot of DJ sets which are great as well.

Had their burger and fries and they were pretty good for the price point. We were seated outside and the views were nice. Probably not a spot I'd hang out in for more than an hour or so. The service was awful as the server came to our table way too many times. They became visibly impatient for us to leave and brought checks while I was still eating. I might come back for that burger and fresh air, but definitely not for the ambiance.

My friends and I went here after work. Their wasn't a big crowd and the weather was nice. I was surprised on how long the wait was to get our food and drinks. It took ar least a hour to get our food. We decided on not going forward with one of our entrees. We explained our concern to the Manager Keke and she was very understanding and accommodating. She made out visit much better and we plan to visit again. The views are nice and the ambiance was hitting.

This is the rooftop at the Virgin Hotel. We came here for late weeknight shenanigans after the previous place we were at closed at 11pm. There was a straight up club vibe going on as the lights were low and the beats were strong. Our group of about 10 almost doubled the crowd that was there. One downfall is that the bathroom is on another level so you have to take the stairs to get there. The place is long and narrow and the bar is in the back with a small dance floor right in front of the DJ right when you walk in. There was no line for drinks and we were able to get a table in the back, otherwise, it is mostly standing room. The outdoor patio was unfortunately closed by the time we got there. I am not sure if that closed early or if it was ever open that night. The staff was friendly and efficient.

This rooftop bar gets super doesn't get super busy like all the other rooftop bars. The service here is super bad. We got seated and waited until we can't wait anymore, then we went to look for our server. After our server arrive, he told us that the kitchen closed 5 mins ago. Meaning we could have gotten some food items on time, but cause we had to wait we got nothing. The drinks was great. It was a great drink. Very yummy, but slightly watered down. The view was great. It's slightly off from the river view, but you still get some of it, if you're position correctly. IF you want the ultimate best view, AKA close to the side, make sure you make an appointment. if you don't make one, they might still be able to get you seated, but you'll get whatever you get.

I got a White Russian and a millet lite...$35. There weren't any tables other than for bottle service. Avoid this place if you can

Greta, our server was great. She was always around when we needed her. Quick, efficient, friendly. The rooftop is very beautiful. The drinks were delicious as well as the food.

My friends and I came on a Friday evening for drinks. The vibe is fun and it was kind of crowded. Incredibly difficult to get a drink at the bar, our group of 4 had to split up and find the best way in. I had the Double Date drink which I found to be pretty tasty. The views of the city are great from here, so if that's what you're looking for this is the place! Good music from the DJ too. Everything ended up closing before midnight because of some police activity though, a true Chicago experience lol.

One of the best views in the city! The food was surprisingly good, the Pork dish and queso fundido were delicious. Gabriel our waiter was very friendly and easy to talk to. Drinks were delicious, it wasn't overly crowded. They close a bit early but you can take your drink to the "game room" and have another there.

Basic plastic cup cocktails with rude disconnected staff. Has potential with any type of management. Keep walking

If you're looking for bottle service, worst possible place to go. You're better off just walking around and trying your luck at a bar. Never saw a place where I had to beg to order bottles. They have a 2 bottles minimum, just order whatever you can because they can't fulfill it themselves anyways.

They get two stars for the view (minus some of the buildings I'd rather not see). Their Covid menu looks like bowling alley options. The most appetizing option was the avocado toast. I didn't get to try the food because after sitting 30 minutes no one approached me for my order. Despite me being literally the only person there. So I left

Stumbled on this place after the Cabaret show down the street. Great view, terrific music, and stiff drinks! Cheers!

Food was okay. Drinks were good. The wait for service was long. Went for speed dating but the ambiance was 8/10. Good time for sure. View was nice. For reference I had the cauliflower. I would go with something else food wise.

Beautiful views, but there's a reason why this place is always empty. The drinks are expensive, no happy hour, and slow service. We went at 6pm on a Wednesday night and more than half of their drink menu was unavailable. Would only come back to take pictures.

3 of us stopped in after dinner to grab a drink. You need a reservation for the rooftop if you want to sit outside, but luckily the hostess was accommodating and at least got us a table inside. We were told we could order from our table and take our drinks outside, which is what we did! They have a couple cute seating areas outside and some standard ones too. The view was pretty cool. We ordered 2 staycations and one makers mark cocktail. The drinks were pretty marginal and kind of weak. The staycations just tasted like Red Bull and the makers cocktail was pretty weak as well. The food menu seems pretty basic as well. We probably won't be in a rush to return.

Had a reservation for 2 weeks and when I arrived they told me too bad cause they would rather prioritize certain patrons. What's the point then??? Made us waste $$ on Ubers just to be turned away. Disgusting.

The fried chicken sandwich is always a hit, it is so delicious! My favorite cocktails are the Chicago Outfit (which is a best seller and can run out sometimes) and the Summer Sunset. They specialize in hosting events as well as just being a casual eatery and rooftop wit a great vibe. The lighting is comfortably dim and the service is always top tier. By far one of my favorite rooftops and cocktail spots in Chicago, and the view makes it almost perfect. Whether you're a local or a tourist, Cerise is a necessity!

Interesting that they were fully booked but in the 2 hours we were there only about half filled & about 4 new people come in. This worked out great for us on a Sunday afternoon. Great drinks but the seating could be a little more comfortable.

Definitely without a question not a restaurant! Checked into hotel and went up for a drink and grab something to eat. Opened at 4:00 and we were there at 4:05, greater stated they didn't have a table for 3 event though we were literally the first ones there. Bottom line, this place caters to non hotel 20-30 yr olds and has no interrest in serving hotel guests.

Come for the rooftop experience, Great views of downtown from the 26th floor. They are located in the Virgin Hotel building. Food was deeply below expectations, Sad burger , super greasy french fries that took almost 2 hours to be served after a couples of reminders ,Incredibly slow service. I had to go myself to ask for the bill and to close the check . Also high service fee that nobody had made us aware of either. The bathroom was even on the lower floor so you had to take stairs just to use the bathroom. No heaters on the rooftop ! So make sure you have a warm clothes if you ever decided to stop by. They don't serves any kind of desserts here ! So if you are there to celebrate any occasion make sure to arrange this by your own ! With some work , this place can be way better . Sadly it's not !

the service has no clue what they are doing. First we can't sit somewhere because they have reserved signs. Then we can sit outside on the patio, then we can only sit in a corner of the inside where the music is blaring. it was a blessing anyways the drinks are way more expensive then they taste. They water them down.

The host was very friendly and sat us immediately at a corner four top on the roof. The views are amazing, better than Roof at Wit. Our server did not rush us and was very attentive. We ordered cocktails on the rocks that were strong and tasty. For food we split the blistered shishito peppers and tahini broccolini. It was some of the best food we ate the entire trip in Chicago. Everything was perfect, vibe, view , service and food.

Really liked this spot! The sangria was great and the view is amazing. Prices are what you'd expect from a rooftop ($12-16ish cocktails sort of thing). I would recommend getting a reservation, especially if you are coming around golden hour. The best seats are definitely the bean-bag type chairs by the windows (you can see in my second photo).

First day in Chicago and decided to go rooftop bar hopping. This is my first stop. The ambiance and atmosphere is incredible. I'm not super impressed with the menu so I just had drinks and fries. I'll eat at the next spot. I ordered a cosmopolitan first, which was not listed on the menu. I appreciated their willingness to accommodate my request, but it was weak. Ha So, I moved on to ordering the summer sangria, which is on the menu. It's fantastic! (I ordered two!) The fries are really tasty, too! So you got ambiance, an amazing view, tasty fries, and yummy sangria! I mean... what else do you need?? Oh yea, and my waitress was great too! I definitely recommend this spot!

I was in town visiting my sister and was looking forward to trying out this rooftop but was completely disappointed by the service. It took 45 minutes just to get our drinks. We were planning on staying for dinner but decided to leave once we realized how slow service was. It took another 15 minutes to close out our tab. The only thing redeeming this place are the views.

Went here for a funky drag themed Halloween Event, which was a fun people watch thing... but I mist say, the views and ambiance made it more interesting than it would have been, in a sticky bar on Boystown. Cerise is very pretty, and it makes me think that hotel rooftops are where it's at... and while my non-drinking hiney, is not their target demographic, my lush pals are... so make way Batman, all the rooftops will be shared now.

My wife and I had a couple of friends visiting from out of town, and they were staying at the hotel underneath this bar, they went to park the car and we went straight up to the 26th floor to enjoy some drinks and a snack while we waited for them to get checked in and get ready. We were there on a Monday evening, and luckily the host was able to fit us in at the bar without a reservation - I wouldn't count on this usually, because even on Monday, still during the pandemic, they were fully booked for the night with reservations. The host and bar tender were really nice to find a way to accommodate our party once our friends finished getting ready and came up to join us. If it's nice, definitely sit outside, they've got great views of the city and plenty of room out there. We tried some classic cocktails first, I got a Negroni and my wife got a margarita, both were well made, and good sized pours. Then we tried some of their signature cocktails - I had the Not-So-Old-Fashioned, which was basically an old fashioned made with mezcal instead of whiskey, my wife got the cucumber and lavender cocktail which was the best of the bunch. Again, both were well crafted and they didn't skimp. By far, the best thing about the experience was the only food we ordered which was an order of their fries. They are cooked in ghee and served with an aioli... if you are looking to clog a couple of arteries, but only for a really good French fry, this is the place to go.

A fun, beautiful rooftop bar on the 26th floor of the Virgin Hotel with cozy cushioned sofas overlooking the city. We went during the pandemic, but my impression is that it is less crowded than other bars - maybe because only a small corner of it has a view over the river, while the rest faces westward into the city. We enjoyed it, though! In terms of food and drink - pretty standard fare. Our drinks were tasty, though nothing particularly striking (I had the mezcal old fashioned). The burger was a standard burger. I had the grilled salmon, and I loved the mushrooms and pea purée with it, although the price was a bit steep for what it was. I would come back for the views, though!

One of the best views in the city. Come at night and have many cocktails. Good service, nicely crafted drinks and cozy seating. There's a DJ spinning music that most people would probably love, just not my flavor and it was loud. The vibe is full on party mode on the weekends.

They supposedly only reserved the patio seating for reservations, so we were turned away the first time we tried. So we made reservations (only one spot was open for the whole week) and went up at 4:30 on a Monday. We were the only people there for a long time...well past the other reservation slots that said they were full. Also, I can't drink but we had free vouchers. So far, Chicago really helps those who can't/don't drink by offering an abundance of mocktail options. This place had NOTHING...so I got Ginger Ale...exciting, I know. Our waitress was really nice, so that is where the second star comes from.

Made reservations with the hopes of enjoying a good rooftop with views, however, Mother Nature had other plans. No worries... I still enjoyed my time here. Felipe, my server greeted me with warm eyes and seated me near a window with a good view. I skimmed the menu and asked Felipe his recommendations. Felipe recommended the Peach Don't Kill My Vibe drink and I ordered with no regrets. The name was also fitting for my present situation. Yummy!!! One was not enough... ended you ordering two. The drink is made of Crown Royal Peach, Orange Juice, and Bubbly. To go with my good vibes drink I ordered the Uncommon Burger, medium well of course. The burger was seasoned and juicy. The Calabrian special sauce made it even more mouth watering. The burger came with fries. The fries were lightly crisped and cooked perfectly. Couldn't find one fault with my meal. All around good vibes. Will definitely be returning whenever I visit Chicago again.

What a disappointment. The vibes were not it at the place. Came on a Friday night and it wasn't packed yet service was ridiculously slow. I wanted to have dinner but since the service was so slow I was better off eating somewhere else. 2 stars for the view.

Review for the Virgin guest Know members "spirit hour" only: probably the best free happy hour offered by hotels. Any cocktail, wine by the glass or beer on their menu is free from 4-5pm. You'll need to be on the Know Member list and be a hotel guest, though. A nod just cuz your drinks are free doesn't mean the service is! Tip as generously as you can.