Chicago’s Best Riverfront Restaurants
Few cities do riverside dining like Chicago. Steel and glass give way to water and light; boats drift past as glasses clink; sunsets turn the skyline copper. These five riverfront restaurants deliver the full experience: serious cooking, attentive hospitality, and outdoor terraces that feel like front-row seats to the city.
🗓️ Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for terrace seating and golden hour.
1) Gibsons Italia — Skyline drama, Italian soul
A three-level showpiece with a rooftop terrace perched above the river. Think white tablecloths, polished service, and a menu that moves confidently between prime steaks and Northern Italian classics.
Why it’s special: Gibsons’ hospitality DNA meets Italian sensibility. One table is carving a Bistecca alla Fiorentina; another is sharing saffron risotto and delicate crudo. The room hums with celebration — proposals, promotions, and the kind of nights you plan around.
What to order: The 7-year aged aceto drizzle over Parmesan is a quiet flex to start. Follow with housemade pastas (the cacio e pepe is silk) or the prime ribeye. Finish with olive oil cake and an amaro.
2) RPM Seafood — Modern, multi-level, made for the river
A statement piece from the RPM team: three levels of dining and terraces with sightlines straight down the river. Refined without stiffness, and a seafood program that respects pristine product.
Why it’s special: This is the sleek, contemporary option where the details land — from chilled towers to artful plating. Service is efficient and warm; cocktails are bright and balanced; the room is a low-glow of glass and river light.
What to order: Start with an RPM Seafood Tower or oysters and a martini. Follow with the spicy miso glazed black cod or a simply grilled fish with Sicilian lemon. Sides are shareable; don’t skip the crispy Brussels.
3) Beatnik On The River — Bohemian escapism with a river breeze
A transportive space of carved wood, patterned tile, hanging palms, and sun-faded textiles — as if a traveler’s salon drifted onto the Riverwalk. Cocktails are playful; the all-day Mediterranean-leaning menu is built for sharing.
Why it’s special: Few rooms in Chicago feel this cinematic. Afternoon light flickers off the water and through the greenery; by evening, lanterns and low beats take over. The vibe tilts effortless — celebratory but never fussy.
What to order: Whipped feta with honey and herbs, spiced lamb kebabs, charred octopus. Cocktails lean tropical-meets-Med — bright, herbal, photogenic.
4) River Roast — Social dining on the water
A generous, convivial restaurant set right over the river, with a sprawling patio and a menu designed for passing plates and lingering.
Why it’s special: This is the crowd-pleaser — professional but relaxed, with a front-row patio. Whole roast platters arrive carving-board style; the dining room hums with celebration dinners and out-of-town visitors discovering the river for the first time.
What to order: Whole roast chicken or whole fish to share; prime rib for traditionalists; smoked carrots and potatoes on the side. Pair with a local lager or classic spritz.
5) Pizzeria Portofino — Coastal Italian energy, feet from the water
Sun-washed, breezy, and impossibly close to the river — like ducking into a Ligurian beach club for spritzes and pies. Lighter, faster, and more casual than its neighbors, but still polished.
Why it’s special: The room is a mood: wicker and white, yachts bobbing past. It’s the rare place where pizza feels elegant and a Negroni makes perfect sense at 2:30 in the afternoon.
What to order: Thin-crust pizzas (clam or burrata & pesto are standouts), crudo, rigatoni alla vodka for the table, and a crisp spritz or Liguria-friendly white.
Also worth noting: Chicago Cut Steakhouse
A power-dining classic with a sweeping river patio and serious steak program — ideal for business dinners that still want the river moment.
Why it’s special: Prime beef, sprawling wine list, and a patio that feels like the city’s open-air boardroom. If your night calls for steak with a view, this is a sure bet.
Reserve at Chicago Cut →How to choose the right riverfront spot
For a milestone: Gibsons Italia (classic luxury, rooftop terrace, Italian steakhouse polish).
For seafood & skyline: RPM Seafood (multi-level decks, modern plates, stellar service).
For design & cocktails: Beatnik On The River (bohemian beauty, brunch to golden hour).
For groups & shareables: River Roast (big patio, social platters, approachable pricing).
For casual-by-the-water: Pizzeria Portofino (spritzes, thin-crust pies, summer state of mind).