I|O Godfrey's year-long rooftop keeps outdoor dining alive with new Happy Hour

I|O Godfrey in Chicago’s iconic River North neighborhood has released its new Happy Hour menu, bringing a fresh taste to outdoor dining as summertime comes to an end. The swanky lounge with skyline views resides on the fourth floor of boutique hotel The Godfrey and calls itself “Chicago’s largest and only year-round rooftop lounge.” 

Running from Tuesday through Thursday between 2-5 p.m. and on Fridays between noon and 3 p.m., I|O Godfrey’s Happy Hour offers a decadent selection of half-off appetizers and a vast offering of cocktail options. 

Mouthwatering favorites on the new Happy Hour menu include Wagyu beef sliders, which come with three for $11 and consist of bacon jam, blue cheese, and fries. Other specialties include blistered shishito peppers with black garlic aioli, charred lemon, and white soy for $8 and its signature black truffle fries with garlic aioli for $7. 

Happy Hour goers wanting a lighter snack can opt for the $7 house-made hummus or sauteed edamame. The menu includes a $9 avocado toast with sliced brioche, smoked salmon, cucumber, tomato relish and herbed cream cheese for a more satiating meal. The $9 caprese flatbread is another hefty option with buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes and pesto. 

Nothing completes an outdoor dining experience without a full bar, and that’s just what diners will find when they step onto I|O Godfrey’s rooftop lounge. The new Happy Hour menu boasts a full list of thirst-quenching drinks, such as half-priced glasses of wine, Ketel One cocktails and Maker’s Mark cocktails, all $8 or less. 

Specialty drinks on the menu include the $10 Frosé All Day with Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit & Rose, dry rosé, and strawberry lemonade. The $10 Fire And Ice is another refreshing cocktail with a frozen mix of Bacardi Mango Chile, Chareau Aloe Liqueur, coconut water and fresh lemon.

Finally, the most thirsty Happy Hour goers will not want to miss the menu’s $65 Cocktail Flights, consisting of five tasting-size portions of kitchen cocktails and an assortment of macaroons. The flight includes the popular purple gold-trimmed Amethyst Destiny, which comes with Grey Goose vodka, St. Germain, butterfly pea flower, gold powder, fresh lemon juice and “magic.” Four other drinks that come with the flight include the Scarlet Haze, I|O Cosmo, Bourbonberry Lemonade and Chef’s Margarita. 

Chicago Star’s favorites from I|O Godfrey

While the new Happy Hour menu is certainly ideal for those on a budget, I|O Godfrey’s main menu boasts a delicious selection of other special bites that our team at Chicago Star Media was invited to try. 

At $25, the meat and cheese plate on the Shareables menu is a perfect spread for snacking with a couple of friends. The full plate includes salami, capicola, Mediterranean speck, pecorino, grana padano, French brie, blue cheese spread and accompaniments, and grilled pita. 

Meat lovers will fall in love with the succulent and flavorful lamb lollipops, also from the Shareables menu. For $36, this plate comes with four lamb chops crusted with bourbon-smoked paprika and orange-caramelized potatoes underneath. The steak tacos are a mouthwatering go-to for just $20. This plate comes with three tacos filled to the brim with rib eye, fried onions, avocado, jalapeno, tomato and salsa. 

I|O Godfrey also boasts an extensive sushi menu. At $17, the Godfrey maki roll is a fan favorite, which includes crispy shrimp, habanero, cucumber, avocado and is topped with lightly torched tuna. One of our personal favorites was the Tako maki roll with octopus, tuna, pickled serrano pepper, wasabi mayo and unagi sauce for $20.

With several options for dessert, our team opted to try the $10 Trés Leches Cake, a light yet deliciously creamy layering of moist sponge cake and peach filling, topped with a dollop of whipped cream, a mint leaf, and a peach slice. 

We highly recommend ordering a Raspberry Sorbetto from the Kitchen Cocktails menu for those wanting to drink their dessert instead. This sweet pink cocktail comes with Bombay Sapphire Premier Cru, Starlino Rosé, Coastal Watermelon Rosé Spritz, raspberry sorbet and the rim is lined with pink pop rocks. Diners needing a pick-me-up after a filling meal can opt for an invigorating El Matador cocktail made with Herradura Anejo, Cointreau, fresh lime and comes with a Red Bull Red Edition. 

Visit I|O Godfrey at 127 West Huron and Lasalle for an outdoor dining experience that is not to be missed.