This New Rooftop Bar At State And Wacker Has Stunning City And River Views

Here's a first look at Raised, a new rooftop bar coming to State Street and Wacker Drive.

Raised rooftop

DOWNTOWN — The newest rooftop bar coming Downtown is Raised, a third-floor hotel haunt overlooking the Chicago River.

The bar will open May 13 at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel at 1 W. Wacker Drive, or the southwest corner of State and Wacker.

Once unused meeting space, the new bar is going for a "conservatory" look with lots of reclaimed wood. It will sell wine on tap, among other things.

The bar's name isn't just a nod to its rooftop, but also being raised in Chicago, raising a glass and the raising of nearby bridges, said Colleen Quinlan, a restaurant sales rep at the hotel.

^{Looking east from the Raised rooftop. [DNAinfo/David Matthews]}

Raised is the latest in a herd of new rooftops getting built on Downtown hotels and office buildings. But unlike many of its peers, Raised is lower to the street, giving guests a closer look at Wacker Drive and the river just beyond. The menu has yet to be determined, but the hotel said it will focus on small plates.

The bar's inside will seat 107 and the outdoor deck will seat 103, the hotel said. Once open, Raised will be open from 4 p.m. to midnight outdoors and approximately 2 a.m. inside Monday through Saturday. The restaurant also plans to serve Sunday brunch.

The rooftop bar is part of a $32 million renovation of the hotel including new rooms and lobby. The bar will also feature "Urban Blue," a room for 70 that can be reserved for weddings and other events.

Check out the slideshow above or scroll down below for a look at the bar before it opens:

^{[All photos by DNAinfo/David Matthews]}