Cindy’s

I finally stopped by last night to check out the «oh so raved about» Cindy’s. I thought it was absolutely awesome! We had already eaten dinner and were just looking for a couple of drinks. I thought it was great that I never got a pretentious vibe from any of the employees. Every single person we encountered was super friendly and chatty.
This is the perfect place to soak up the beautiful views from either inside, or outside on their beautiful roof with neat fire pits. It was the best place to sit and warm our fingers on a mild February night in this fine city.
I had the Sazarac and Old Fashioned which were both delicious! I will have to come back and try the food. Check this spot out for sure if you’re looking for some breathtaking views and yummy cocktails.

A friend and I came here for some late night drinks on a Sunday night during a 3 day holiday weekend. We came about an hour before closing time so it wasn’t too busy or crowded. I really loved the décor and ambiance, with hanging lights and all. It was a really cold night and we weren’t brave enough to go out on the patio to look at the skyline, however they have fire pits so on a slightly warmer night it’s probably a lot more doable.
The drinks here are pretty pricey, but that wasn’t too surprising considering the location and the fact that it’s at the Chicago Athletic Association. We each had a couple of beers and then they started closing down, but I’d love to come back and spend a little longer enjoying the view and trying some of the food. Definitely come check it out if you’re looking for a slightly upscale place to have a cocktail or two!

The views are awesome. The seating inside is limited and usually requires a reservation. The fire pit outside is mesmerizing. The bartenders are cute but inattentive. The drinks are kind of gross. Their private party room is intimate and delightful.

5 stars for this amazing place! First of all, the hotel itself is so cool! I loved it! Cindys is a super cozy place to go have a drink and have a good relaxing time with your friends. We sat by the bar and its great. I was watching the bar tenders make the drinks and they were so intricately made. I had a drink with dried rose petals on top every girls dream haha it was delicious. The outside area was my ultimate favorite. Fantastic view of Millennium park! And most importantly, fire pits for the freezing weather. Can’t wait to come back to Chicago and visit this place again.

Let’s get this out of the way first — I agree, the line is off-​putting. But I appreciate the fact that, once you’re upstairs, you don’t have to worry about elbowing your way to the bar or shouting in order to carry on a conversation. As other reviewers have said, it’s not crowded upstairs … and that’s the point. Throttling the number of entrants downstairs keeps things relaxed and spacious upstairs. And if you have reservations, tell the man at the elevator — if you’re not super early for your rez, he’ll put you on the next elevator up, no waiting necessary.
Now that we’ve addressed the line, let’s talk about all the great things about this place! It’s so bright and airy during the day, and the lights strung across the ceiling make it feel cozy at night. The view from the terrace is unquestionably gorgeous. The cocktail menu is very cool — I love you that you can get kombucha and mocktails! I was a little irritated by the large portions at first, but I was happy to hear that they’ll do half portions. We had a group of four, so we did two full-​size portions: the burrata and the meatballs. Both were truly delicious, but I was partial to the meatballs. The sauce was excellent and reminded me of the homemade sauce I grew up eating in Pittsburgh, and I love the texture of the meatballs. I like a meatball that is simultaneously dense but moist; I want to be able to cut it cleanly with a knife without it breaking apart, but I don’t want to have to saw through it. This was spot on, from both a texture and taste perspective. I was indifferent to the polenta but the rest of the dish was fantastic. I’ll be dreaming about those meatballs for weeks to come.

Meh, I was not a fan of this place.
It was loud and bright. Huge picnic tables with benches… not ideal. No place for coats, purses, etc. not to mention climbing over the bench if your all dressed up. Our bench was crazy wobbly… the guy came and put a napkin under one edge… that did nothing.
The view is fantastic so it’s perfect for tourist and Chicagoans.
The menu is dumb. Everything is ginormous and the prices reflect that. We were three girls and it was ridiculous. I felt like I was eating at hash house a go go. The food was very average, but the seafood cocktail was AWFUL.
Meatballs-​got the half portion which was two gigantic meatballs with a huge slab of polenta. The taste was ok. The texture of the meatball was too creamy for me. I like a little more texture to my balls.
Seafood cocktail-​not what we thought. It was so disgusting… and disappointing. Creamy, tangy, disgusting mess with almost no flavor. I felt like I was eating a disgusting salad from some po dunk grocery store deli. yuck! We ate literally two bites and threw out the rest. Awful.
Salad-​it was ok. Lots of red onions, a couple of chunks of cheese, vinegarette, & greens. Nothing special. It was also really large chunks… not ideal for eating
Brussel sprouts-​again huge chunks of red onions and pancetta. These were actually good, just wished there would have been less red onions… it overpowered the dish
Burrata-​this was also pretty good. Great hunks of bread, good jam, squash chunks.
The service was overall fine. Not spectacular just pretty average.
The view does not match the vibe in this place. It’s a total disconnect from the outdoor patio to the inside restaurant.
Go for the view, skip everything else.

Cindy’s has a great atmosphere, staff, and views of millennium and the bean. The food is all served family style which was really fun for brunch to swap from sweet to savory on beautifully presented platters. I liked you can get full or half sizes. Review on brunch service only.
Food: We ordered the yogurt parfait which was layered with delicious granola and beautiful fresh fruit. The lox platter was loaded with Lox and I highly recommend this as the quality of ingredients (especially the tomatoes) were above par. The scallion cream cheese was great as it was creamy and easy to spread. Everyone ordered hot tea which we were all pleased with but the biggest disappointment were the lack of juices. They said the juicer broke last week and they made no change to the menu and didn’t have any suggestion for an alternative. The chorus tortilla platter was a soggy mess but had some good flavors.
Overall very pleased but there are a few changes that can be made here earning four stars.

I love Cindy’s! It’s a gorgeous cocktail/​mocktail place with a view of Lake Michigan and Millennium Park but the food here is also delicious and great for sharing. The staff are extremely accommodating and able to order half-​sized platters if needed.
Even the day after one of Chicago’s early winter snowstorms, they were able to shovel the balcony so we could step outside and enjoy the view. I came here right before sunset and preferred the daytime look. Hit CINDY’S (13^th floor) in the elevator and be prepared to be amazed.

I went to Cindy’s after work and only had the Grey Garden cocktail. (So, when I return, I’ll write a more complete review.) They Grey Garden was unique and semi-​strong with clear jasmine, lemon, and lavender flavors; the cocktail was not for my palate. However, it was something unique to try, and I would recommend it for anyone who likes floral and jasmine flavors.
The ambiance is trendy and lightly touristy but overall lively but relaxed and comfortable. If anything, you have to go for one of the most beautiful views of the city overlooking Millennium/​Grant Park. The outdoor area had fire pits burning and the staff was handing out blankets for the cold evening. The lobby is also beautiful as all of the building probably is.

Amazing view of the waterfront and millennium park from their balcony! A must stop if you’re visiting in town! They take reservations for parties of 4 or more on open table.
I asked for a table right in front of the glass doors so we could see the view without freezing outside on the cold balcony.
Drinks were rather pricey but tasty at about $ 15 but you’re paying for ambience and the view?

All about the view especially when the sun is going down. SUPER GORGEOUS! Pretty chill place to grab a drink, hang out, and people watch, I had the grey garden and it was the right amount of floral with absolutely no hints of alcohol taste. Not to mention I was obsessed with the orchid garnish. A little on the pricey side if you ask me but hey… might as well especially since we were on vacation here and it was our first time in Chicago. I loved how there was so much lighting and the décor was very simple yet elegant. Will definitely be back!

Could there be a better place to sip a cocktail and take in Chicago’s beauty? The whole place is beautifully designed and offers a gorgeous view of Millennium Park and downtown from their rooftop patio.
The place was kind of packed so we weren’t sure where to order. Eventually a server walked up to us, took our order, and brought it to the bartender. She brought us our tabs right away and we had to fill out our tab just in the middle of an open spot, which felt a little disorganized — but it did speed up the process which was nice!
They had a nice list of cocktails to choose from. I ordered the Golden Boar — It had aquavit, cream sherry, carrot, lemon, and thyme. Wow — it was amazing! It came in a cool cup and was very refreshing and well mixed. We headed out to the patio and stood on the railing to look around and then sat down for a while. This is definitely a great spot to stop and check out. I loved the atmosphere, the views were great, and it was nice to get a good cocktail!

Brunch w/​a view!
I had been wanting to check out Cindy’s, posted atop the Chicago Athletic Association, for awhile, and when my friends were in town it gave me the perfect excuse to come here.
The view of Millennium Park from Cindy’s is jaw-​dropping. The service is friendly. The drinks are solid. The food is just okay. For food, my friends and I got:
–Cast iron chillaquiles: this was recommended by our server, who said it was one of her favorites. Something about it just wasn’t that good (or maybe it was because our waitress hyped it up? Idk). Skip this
–Prime rib burger: this was a good burger. Nothing special, though.
–Eggs benedict: there are better bene’s to be found elsewhere
For drinks, we got the Beer For Breakfast, Kick In The Daisy, Roman Holiday, a Bloody Mary, and a Rabbit Vs. Mule (didn’t realize it was a mocktail… whoops). The drinks were solid and tasty.
Definitely come here for the view and maybe a drink; pass on the food.

Great drinks, even better view! This place is a beautiful rooftop with a perfect view of the Bean and Lake Michigan. I didn’t order any food although I wished I did. The food looked amazing and they serve family style. I did, however, order a few drinks. Very well made. I first got the Grey Garden which was beautifully made, with a mild floral accent to it. Great and refreshing. The second I got was the Old-​Fashioned and met my needs at least for how a Old-​Fashioned should taste.
This place has a great ambiance. Highly recommended. If looking to eat, I would advise making reservations. I went on a Wednesday and a lot of the tables were already booked based on what I saw.

First time visiting and was able to go straight up in the elevator no wait
Just as all the photos show it’s really nice in here and the view from the outside balcony is amazing ! We were seated right away cocktails were brought promptly we ordered the one with tequila and watermelon «kick in the daisy «very nice
Since you order a platter we got the «fish fry «- unbelievable fresh fish so tasty it came with French fries and coleslaw really tasty and the Côte du boef! the meat was served with polenta and baby carrot lovely tender meat too the beef was $ 98
While we were waiting we asked for bread it was fried focaccia I believe. Milk stout chocolate cake for dessert with marshmallows really delicious ! It can get loud in here when it’s busy so keep that in mind a delightful place with delicious food !

Came here on a Sunday afternoon and it was not too crowded. We were able to seat ourselves at the bar. It is located on the 13^th floor, and the view from the balcony of this place is amazing! A panorama of millennium park, the bean, art institute, museum campus, and Lake Michigan in the background.
We got cocktails and fries. The «grey garden» is a very light and refreshing drink. Almost can’t taste the alcohol but it does hit you after a bit. The citrus was not too overpowering. Recommended. Drink prices were not that much more than you would expect in Chicago, $ 12-​$ 16. The fries, however, were $ 10 and I thought that was a bit unreasonable. Nicely seasoned and came with ketchup in a small bowl, but nothing else special.
Come for great view and drinks. Expect it to be pricey!

The view doesn’t get better then this! The bean, the skyline and lake all in the same view, what more could someone ask for when you think of Chicago. The rooftop bar is fairly small and offers only one bar, which can be difficult and slow at times when you really itching for that drink. What’s great about Cindy’s is that it is open and lit with natural sunlight even when you are underneath the glass roof. Atmosphere is definitely on point!
The wait up to Cindy’s wasn’t as bad as expected (20 mins at about 5:30pm on a Saturday), but once inside there was definitely enough room to spread out on the patio and not bump into anyone. The cocktails were very creative but more on the expensive side (~$ 15+) for a drink. One of the mocktails that my friend got, really stood out! The Fizzgig was delicious and would definitely taste really good if it had some vodka in it
Overall, once you see that view, there is no reason why you wouldn’t wanna come back. The drinks are definitely a bonus. Try the old fashioned for something alcoholic and the fizzgig for something non-​alcoholic (maybe add some vodka and let me know how it taste). Happy munching!

Incredible view. They could be super rude and serving drinks mixed with Skol and I’d probably still come for the view. Luckily they are making delicious drinks and super friendly.
Came on a Thursday for happy hour right around 5 and there was a short wait to get upstairs. Probably the most annoying thing is having to stand in line by the elevator before heading up. Though it looked as though if you have a reservation, they let you up right away. There is quite a lot of seating, tables and lounge style, some of it outdoors. You need a reservation or to put your name down for those, but there are also counter style areas which are first come, first served. Didn’t get to try the food because the only menu I saw had platter style options. Not sure if I just didn’t look at the right menu or what, but I wish there had been apps or small plates to choose from.
Definitely looking forward to coming back, possibly to try the brunch. It also looked like they do private events because a portion of the indoor and terrace area where blocked off for an event.

Awesome view of Millennium Park from this very cool rooftop joint sitting atop the Chicago Athletic Association.
I mean you can clearly watch the cars and foot traffic go north and south on Mich. Ave, you get a good view of The Bean along with Grant Park and not to mention the boats on Lake Michigan.
I got here a little after 5pm on a Tuesday and the crowd wasn’t too bad. I could tell that the bar area was a little busy but the bar tenders seemed to get the people served in a good amount of time. The interior of the place is made up of wood communal seating and while the outside corners had nice couches and of course the awesome view.
I was told the «We’ll always Have Paris» drink was what I should get. It was good but and I could see myself getting very hammered after a few… I decided to have just 2. The drink includes gin, strawberry, pistachio milk, cocchi americano, lemon, date syrup and a rose petal. I then jumped over to the recommended Spritzker in which most people seemed to be enjoying. Its dolin blanc, tonic and a basil leaf… very refreshing and summery… not to mention good as hell! Tried the Grey Garden (vodka, dolin blanc, lemon, pearl tea and crème de violet) also and it was ok. In terms of food we got the Shellfish Platter ($ 72) which supposedly can serve 3 – 4 people according to the menu… thats debatable, by the way. It came with lobster, oysters, shrimp and king crab. The dish was kinda ok and It all comes chilled so do not expect warm lobster. My dad was still hungry after sharing this meal… LOL
My only real issue with this place is the service as people saw us standing around for quite some time and didn’t ask if we wanted a drink as the waitresses are assigned to serve certain areas outside of the bar. They seemed to have the bus boys coming around picking up glasses more often than the girls taking the orders. Once we were able to get their attention, they were pretty nice gals, but need to be more aware of their surroundings.
Good spot which will get much attention due to its awesome roof view and good drinks

The first rooftop with a view of all of Millennium park. You see the bean, sculptures, people walking everywhere– it’s awesome.
My advise is to go 10 minutes before opening to get in line, and then get outdoor seats with an expensive food menu. The food is great, the service is excellent, but all the cocktails from there list are weak so stick to beer and wine. A perfect date spot, a small group hangout, and a nice casual atmosphere. I will come back one more time in our short summertime Chicago but I’d rather go to Epic or J parker instead.