Rocco
Chicago may be in the landlocked Midwestern state of Illinois, but it is full of waterways and white sandy beaches.
The Chicago River has a great riverwalk leading to the long coastline of beaches and harbors along the Great Lake Michigan.
Chicago’s bar and restaurant scene offers plenty of beachside settings to enjoy drinks and food with a great view of Chicago’s waterways and skylines.
Check out my list of the best beach bars in Chicago below.
The Dock at Montrose Beach
200 W Montrose Harbor Dr, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (773) 704-8435
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Located right on the waters of Uptown’s Montrose beach and Montrose Harbor, The Dock is a New American restaurant and bar with a large outdoor deck.
During the day, it’s a family-friendly spot to soak up the sun with drinks and tasty food. At night, they hold luaus, live music, and lively cocktail hours.
Castaways
1603 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (773) 281-1200
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Castaways is an outdoor bar and grill in an old-school boathouse overlooking Lake Michigan’s North Avenue beach in Lincoln Park.
It’s open for the late spring and summer seasons, with a full menu of sandwiches, burgers, salads, frozen desserts, and a full cocktail menu.
The beach drink menu is a classic lineup of tropical and summer-themed cocktails, from pina coladas to frozen margaritas.
Caffe Oliva
550 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 612-0734
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Caffe Oliva is a fun and casual beach restaurant in Streeterville overlooking the Outer harbor.
The large,dog-friendly, wooden deck has cabana-style booths, umbrellas, and even beachfront seating in the sand.
There’s always tropical reggae music serenading an island-themed menu of food and drink.
They’re open during the summer, with a small menu of tasty snacks and seafood-centric entrees.
Reggies on the Beach
6259 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60649
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Located on the shores of Hyde Park’s 57th Street Beach, Reggies on the Beach is a cocktail bar and live music venue.
Reggies has various venues around town, each offering unique music experiences.
Reggies on the Beach is a rooftop bar and restaurant with delicious American bar fare, live music, cocktails, and beer.
Shore Club Chicago
1603 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 635-8058
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Shore Club Chicago is a summer-season bar and restaurant in a trendy, beach-chic space overlooking North Avenue Beach.
It is an upscale oasis offering high-end beach fare from around the world to enjoy on luxurious day beds under shady canopies.
The open-air dining space offers tables as well.
The drink menu has delicious summer-themed cocktails to accompany a Mediterranean-inspired menu of seafood, wraps, mezze, sandwiches, and salads.
The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash
435 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 610-4220
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The Bamboo Room is a hidden Tiki Bar inside Three Dots and a Dash, a River North tropical bar.
Voted one of the best bars in the world by Drinks International, The Bamboo Room is a veritable education in rum with one of the coolest, modern Tiki hut atmospheres ever.
Their extravagant tropical cocktails come in coconut shells and Samoan totem-shaped mugs with flowers and paper umbrella garnishes.
Pier 31 Restaurant
3101 S Dusable Lk Shr Dr, Chicago, IL 60616
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Named for the Pier on which it’s located, Pier 31 Restaurant is a summertime American food stand, bar, and dance venue in Douglas.
They serve burgers, fries, wings, and more on paper plates to enjoy on a massive outdoor deck.
At night there are dj-fueled dance parties with cocktails, spirits, and beer.
The Lakefront Restaurant at Theater on the Lake
2401 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (312) 414-1313
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Sandwiched between Diversey Harbor and Fullerton Beach, The Lakefront Restaurant at Theater on the Lake is an elegant New American restaurant.
Situated inside an old Theater with a stunning design and the best views of both Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, The Lakefront Restaurant offers a romantic atmosphere for intimate dinners.
Oak Street Beach Restaurant
Multiple Locations
Phone: (773) 363-2225
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Oak Street Beach is a popular beach on the shores of Lake Michigan with volleyball, umbrellas, public facilities, and a seasonal restaurant and concession stand known as Oak Street Beach Restaurant.
The facilities and restaurant are run by the municipality of Chicagp’s parks and recreation division, honoring a long history of city-funded outdoor recreation that began in the 19th century.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re looking for al fresco dance parties, beach cabanas, or rooftop bars and grills, my list of the best beach bars in Chicago will fill your summertime itinerary.
Let me know which beach bar you enjoyed most in the comments below.
Best Beach Bars in Chicago
- The Dock at Montrose Beach
- Castaways
- Caffe Oliva
- Reggies on the Beach
- Shore Club Chicago
- The Bamboo Room at Three Dots and a Dash
- Pier 31 Restaurant
- The Lakefront Restaurant at Theater on the Lake
- Oak Street Beach Restaurant
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