Happy hour on a Saturday? Sign me up! We landed on Boleo as our option for early dinner for four of us before a tango concert and performance because it's South American, and we love a theme. We never expected happy hour to be relevant for us, but our wonderful server pointed it out. Since none of us had tasted pisco before she brought us a pisco sample to try. Three of the four of us ordered pisco cocktails, and they were great! The chilcano is a pisco variation on a Moscow mule. I'm not a big fan of mules, but I liked the chilcano a lot. Whenever I'm back, I'll probably go for the pisco sour, which one of our party had and also really enjoyed. The arroz chaufa was a nice satisfying dinner that wasn't too heavy for the early hour. The loma saltado and vegetable saltado were both very much enjoyed as well. Flan was just okay. The orange was a wonderful touch that probably saved something much too custardy for me to think of as flan. Service was absolutely great. Everyone we interacted with was super professional and easy going. We didn't know what to expect for the space, and when we arrived before sunset, it felt weird how bright it was in there. After sunset, the whole space felt a lot more swanky. Prices are a good value, even apart from the happy hour offerings. This is a great option for pre-show dining in the loop. read more

Cool covered rooftop. They sometimes have live music which was nice. Got pretty busy and loud... could barely hear the server. Everything we tried was good but not great. I think it is a bit overpriced overall. The lomo saltado was my least favorite. Heavier on the soy sauce taste than typical lomo saltado. The guacamole needed a little more salt/flavor. For dessert we got the mango cake. It was meh. Would not order it again. Everything was just forgettable. read more

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Recently had the opportunity to try this restaurant located in our hotel. Upon walking in, you are exposed to a dim, romantic atmosphere with a beautiful skyline view. When it snows, you'll see the magic come down during your dinning experience. Based on what we heard, they at times, have a DJ playing jams and people can dance to the tunes. Sometimes, they even have a live band is what I've heard. Sounds like a really cool spot for major events or holidays, like New Year's Eve. Staff was attentive and great with recommending options to us. We love it when they engage and share their thoughts on current dishes. From a food perspective, everything tasted decent. There are areas of opportunity that could have been better. Octopus was a bit overcooked and you can definitely taste the chewiness of it. Flavor is ok but text for this dish did not come through. Ceviche "Jipijapa" de Manabi was a bit salty also, but not to the extreme. Scaling back the sodium level to achieve balance would made this a good dish. If sodium is needed, salt can be introduced afterwards. Lomo Saltado was paired with an aioli sauce instead of the green Aji verde sauce. It would have been a better pair with the verde sauce to balance out the savory profile. Overall meal was ok. Love the vibe which made it a great place to catch up or go on a date. read more

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This place was overall pretty average to me. It's disappointing to say that because I went on TikTok to find recommendations and this was a place that I found. It's a rooftop and it's also supposed to have really good food. However, unfortunately, we went on a pretty chilly day, even though it was June and so the rooftop ceiling was closed so we couldn't even fully enjoy the actual open air rooftop experience. I will say my drink was really good. It was a pretty drink and was also tasty. However, my salmon was not the best. It was cooked nicely, but I feel like that's usually the case at any restaurant, but I didn't feel like it was seasoned to my liking at all. Thankfully, our server was really nice and definitely attentive and I asked her if she had any sauces that I could pair with my salmon and she brought me the perfect sauce. I'm not gonna lie that made a huge difference in how I was able to enjoy my meal because that really added to the flavor and I quite liked it. My mom got the chicken and that was pretty good... it was good standard chicken. It was definitely seasoned well so not many complaints there but overall the food just didn't really wow me and I wouldn't necessarily come back here compared to any other place you can try in Chicago. read more

The tres leches cake was probably one of the best desserts ever and is worth going for alone. The appetizer and main entree were also really enjoyable. The restaurant being located on the hotel rooftop makes it a really cute spot. The staff was very sweet and service was great. The tableside guac experience was pushed a few times, but it just was not our vibe at the moment. read more

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My boyfriend found this gem near a downtown event we were attending, and it ended up being an absolutely wonderful experience! The restaurant is located on the rooftop of a hotel (covered and enclosed, not open-air), and the atmosphere was elegant and delightful. We shared two large plates -- the Achiote-Rubbed NY Strip and the Vegetable Saltado. Both were delicious, but I especially loved the steak. It was juicy, tender, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The sautéed potatoes paired beautifully with it, too. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Boleo - Large plate -- Vegetable Saltado - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It's been almost six months since my last visit, but tonight's visit turned into a big reunion. Loved seeing staff from past visits and catching up like old friends. Guillermo and Chase are the kindest people you will ever meet. Met two new staff members: Hector, our bartender, and Jaime, chef extraordinaire. Truly love this staff who show up with smiles on their faces, ready to make your day. We only came in for a drink and a snack tonight. Tried two new cocktails from the menu: Very Demure (no egg) and Watermelon Smokehouse. Two vegan apps: Yaquitas and a special mushroom app from Vol.39 downstairs. Delicious! This lovely bar/restaurant will accommodate dietary restrictions with ease. We'll be back for full meals that I've been dreaming about since my last visit. If you're ready to be showered with kindness, taste flavorful handcrafted dishes, sip creative drinks, and enjoy a rooftop garden like oasis--come here. read more

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Arroz chaufa: love it has lots of shrimp, but different from traditional Chinese fried rice, this was much wetter and a bit sweet Empanada trio: like the vegetable one. Beef one is ok. Chicken one is too dry. Both could have more flavor and moist Crispy pork belly: really thick pork belly which is great. Maybe could be better if cut thinner and will be more crispy parts Yuca fries: pretty thick cut, crispy on the outside and soft inside. Just a bit pricy for this amount of fries Could be nice to sit down and enjoy. Price is reasonable. read more

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I'm usually all about trying new spots when I travel, and this Peruvian restaurant seemed like a convenient choice being right near my hotel. We were able to get a same-day reservation on a weekday, which was a plus. First impression: the dining area was much smaller than I expected based on the photos. There were plenty of open tables in the middle of the room, but for some reason, we were seated right between other diners with very little space to ourselves--kind of awkward, honestly. As for the food, it was a total letdown. I ordered the chaufa, which I really wanted to love, but the rice was absolutely inedible. It was rock hard--like, not even close to a typical fried rice texture. At first, I thought maybe there was wild rice in the mix, but nope. Just clumps of old white rice. The other dish, a chicken entrée, was equally disappointing. One piece was overcooked to the point of being dry, and the other was raw inside--this was the first time I've ever had to send food back at a restaurant. To their credit, the server was quick to bring the manager over, who took the dishes off the bill without hesitation. That was appreciated, but given the limited menu, we didn't want to risk ordering anything else. I do have to give kudos to the service, though--it was attentive, and they handled the situation well. Overall, I'm disappointed, especially since I was hoping to get a taste of something new. If you're in the area and looking for something solid, there are better options around. read more

Boleo - Arroz Chaufa - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Checked out this spot for a dinner with friends and I had a great experience! Their cocktails were all so well crafted and so was the food. If you're looking for a happy hour or dinner after work near the loop, I'd say this is def a good option to check out. read more

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Service was great and the cocktails weren't bad, but that was the end of the good experience. My steak was so underseasoned and the potatoes had a disgusting taste to them that I still can't place. I've had better steak and potatoes at a local Texas Roadhouse. I thought maybe I could redeem my meal by getting dessert - wrong. The chef's take on tres leches was a chocolate cake, which is a bit annoying if you're craving actual tree leches, but I'm totally fine with reinventing classics when it's done well. It was not done well - the cake was so incredibly dry it was just a mid, normal chocolate cake. I've had better at our local high end grocery store. Especially if you're latino/a, you'll be disappointed. Just save your money and go to a less pretentious place. read more

Looking up into the sky is the perfect way to have your meal! This restaurant is located inside the Gray Hotel (Kimpton) on the 15th floor. There is very limited street parking around the area but there are many paid lots in the general vicinity. Looks like for the most part either hotel guests or loop workers roll up into here. Nice spot to visit but not exactly a night out kind of crowd. Overall very chill. Recently went here for Chicago Restaurant Week with a friend on a weeknight. I was surprised they were also still offering happy hour specials but since it wasn't busy at all, makes sense. Staff were very attentive and at one point the manager stopped by our table to check on us at let us know about their new menu and cocktails. Since this is a loop locations drinks were definitely on the pricier side but they were tasty! We ordered some items off of the happy hour menu, the yaquitas-yuca fries and the pork belly sliders. They were super tasty and made for a great first appetizer! We also did the Chicago Restaurant Week menu and we divided and conquered the 1st course of empanadas (I got chicken, friend got beef); and for desserts we got one flan and one chocolate cake. For our entrees we both got the steak! We thought the portions were just right and loved the empanadas and our steaks were cooked to our desired temps. I enjoyed the flan because it wasn't too sweet. The chocolate cake was very chocolatey to me but enjoyable with the flan! I would consider visiting again for happy hour since it's from 5-7pm; perfect for after work. read more

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The food here is delicious! I had the pan con pancita as an appetizer and it was fantastic. The pork was perfectly crispy on the outside while tender inside. I then had the Arroz Chaufa. The mix of flavors in the rice and shrimp had me wiggling in my seat with delight. Our waiter, Chace, was so helpful and friendly too. He even remembered my friend from when she came before. I definitely recommend sitting at one of his tables. You'll be glad you did. Finally, I saw a great Flamenco show. I clapped, swayed, and was enthralled with the music, singing, and dancing. I talked with the band afterwards. They're super nice! It was all in all a great time! read more

As part of the pre-theatre birthday celebration for my girlfriend, we came to Boleo for dinner. As a beautiful rooftop bar with a retractable roof, it makes for a lovely happy hour location. We had a few appetizers and split some empanadas. Yuca fries are always a favorite of mine so I loved the yaquitas. The waitress asked if we were celebrating a birthday and when she found out we were, we got a complementary glass of rosè. Capping it all off with a candle in our little dessert cake, we had a wonderful experience at Boleo and would definitely recommend coming here before going to a show in the Loop. read more

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Had a great time at Boleo! The food tasted amazing, the service was great, and they had a live dance going on as well. Our server Adrian, was very accommodating and made sure we were having a great experience. The dancer had amazing energy and made the dinner that much more enjoyable! read more

We went for Valentine's Day! The service was superb, the staff is unbelievably accommodating and so so kind. There was a professional dancer there when we dined. Food was delicious and the Valentine's Day specials were so cute. I can't wait to come by again for Happy Hour and stay at the hotel. read more

Had a week day dinner reservations to celebrate a bday. The atmosphere was fine not too crowded, service was attentive, drinks were spot on but the food was a bit lacking. Overall a decent experience. Will be sure to give it another shot. read more

Boleo - Dinner!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First, we really enjoyed the food and the room was pretty. The roof is pretty cool. . The service though was kind of bizarre. The restaurant was pretty empty , so crowds weren't a problem. All 5 dishes we ordered came out within 5 minutes of each other rather than being paced on a very small table and then no one bussed the empty plates basically until we got the check. We had to ask for dessert and we really weren't checked on to see if we wanted more dishes during dinner. They seemed to have staff standing around so just a fairly odd service experience. Standouts for us were the salmon and chicken skewers. Empanadas were fair. We don't eat pork or beef & the menu is pretty small so not a ton of choices but the food was the best part. read more

Boleo is an upscale rooftop restaurant on the 15th floor of Chicago's Kimpton Gray Hotel. They offer Peruvian and Argentinian cuisine with shareable small plates, fresh ceviches, and grilled meats. The space boasts a retractable glass roof, city views, and a sophisticated bar offering Latin American spirits. While expensive, it's well-suited for special occasions and business dinners, offering a blend of upscale dining and dramatic atmosphere in The Loop district.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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My coworkers and I often stop by Boleo for drinks and bites during their happy hour after work. The pork belly slider is incredible, and the service is consistently great. While I do wish the happy hour food menu offered more variety, Boleo has still earned a spot in our regular rotation for being reliably enjoyable. The ambiance later at night and weekends is much different. A nice clubby vibe. read more

Absolutely Amazing food and service! 100% recommend. The restaurant is beautiful and the view of the Sears Tower is amazing. Cheers to the staff and Chefs for an amazing experience! read more

Boleo - Octopus was delicious - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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10/10 recommend! Had the Arroz Chaufa and it was delicious!! Had the pleasure of being served my Chace! Will definitely be back read more

Went to Boleo last night while staying at the Kimpton Gray Hotel (which it is in) and had a great experience! I ordered the Pisco Sour to drink and honestly, it was probably one of my favorite cocktails I've ever had. It was fruity, smooth, and delicious. To eat, I ordered the yaquitas and the vegetarian empanadas and both were tasty. I cannot write this review without bringing attention to our OUTSTANDING waiter, Chase. He was entertaining, knowledgeable, and honestly wish I could be bestfriends with him because he was a great time. Thank you to Chase and the rest of the team for an AMAZING first experience at Boleo! read more

Boleo - Pisco Sour - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just got out of here a couple of hours ago for a company event. A few of us were late, we met our group of 10 that were already seated on a long table. We asked if we could add a table at the end for the additional 3 people and the staff blatantly and I affectionately said we can't, we are fully booked tonight, even though it was only 4 o'clock in the afternoon we were surrounded by empty tables. By the time our group left at 5:50pm we were still surrounded by empty tables. This reception felt very rude to me, considering she's going to get a hefty tip from out group. The ambiance, food and drink were very good. But I will not be recommending this for group or company functions during to the disrespectful service. read more

Great open air bar for a nice drink at the end of the evening. We stayed at the Gray- but would go there with friends if in the area. Quite and lovely sky view. Roof able to close in inclement weather. read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I loved the ambiance of this place, would definitely be on my go to list if I'm ever in Chicago again. Drinks and food were great. Servers were nice and quick with drinks and food. read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Located on the 15th floor, this large dining space has Peruvian food and bar. I was hoping for authentic Peruvian food, but it should be advertised as Peruvian American. Some of the ingredients are there, but the Peruvian spices are missing and overseasoned with salt. I think that the ingredients are not Peruvian, too. The lomo saltado traditionally is served with rice. The waitress was nice enough to swap out the fries for the rice. I was looking forward to the little tasty Peruvian potatoes. I also tried their shrimp fried rice. I like that there were chunks of shrimp, but the flavor was lacking. The glass rooftop is retractable in the summer. There's salsa dancing on Fridays. The second floor bar is very well decorated with books. I would give it another chance but not for the food. The waitstaff were friendly. read more

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If you're looking for authentic South American cuisine, this is not your spot. But if you're looking for some tasty appetizers, nice cocktails, and a fusion Latin flavor you'll enjoy Boleo. The Yuka frita was perfect, the ceviche (Mexican style) was tasty, and we really liked the chilcano de pisco. The staff was super friendly - even the chef came out to say hello. For mains, my husband got the lomo saltado, I got the saltado de verduras (veggie saltado). Mine was super tasty, and I recommend this plate. Only the rice was not to our taste, since it came already buttered and was too strong a flavor to provide the background for the saltado sauces. The restaurant is located on the 15th floor of a swanky hotel and in the summer they open the roof, and they also have performances such as flamenco and guitarists. read more

Great time thanks to Hector m, a true host and Alfredo was so welcoming. This is a superior hotel bar and experience. The drinks are top notch. Thanks so much for a wonderful time Hector! read more

Still a 4-star establishment in my book My first review was a couple of years ago so the venue is still a real nice place to have a date night or happy hour excursion Tonight's event was a pre-party for Lollapalooza kickoff here in Chicago with the one the only Jazmine Sullivan Man, we had a time last night from the live DJ to the musical gas to the past appetizers and the unlimited free drinks at the bar. This place knows how to host an event. I'm still thinking about it. Everything was great. The venue was perfect and the crowd was nice and diverse read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came to the rooftop for a girls hang out. There was a table that was available last minute and we snatched it as soon as we could. Torali had a private event so we had to opt for somewhere else Boleo is Peruvian so the items were themed Latin style. Lots of aji( peppers) and Peruvian seafood inspired items. We ordered 2 cocktails and a red wine. My pisco sour was super good . Very authentic . My friend ordered a violet cloud that's very strong yet refreshing. For food we ordered some bar like snacks which were empanada and yucas fries before hitting our evening musical read more

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My wife and I were looking for a very late lunch before heading to the airport. Boleo was perfect. We hit the happy hour and had the happy hour white wine (an Italian white) for $10 a glass, and the happy-hour ceviche for $11, plus an order of empanadas and the arroz chaufa. We got what we needed AND what we wanted (thank you very much, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards). Sometimes happy hour offerings are ripoff of sad wines the teeny portions. I have learned to ask questions like, "Is the happy hour ceviche the same size as the regular-menu ceviche?" Yes. Yes, it was. No sad wine. No teeny portions. Everything was great. The place was pretty quiet at 3:30 on a Wednesday afternoon, and the service was just a touch slow, but nothing really to complain about. read more

This place was welcoming and had a great vibe across the board. Connor was our server and he was wonderful. We had the yucca fries and the brisket. Enjoyed both of them. One issue was that the table was so off balance that it was difficult to not nearly lose our drinks - but this seemed to be common for some reason as they were fixing a few tables over the period that we were there. The best thing of the meal in my opinion, was the chocolate soufflé cake. It was one of the best desserts that I've ever had. read more

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Overall a very nice bar located inside a hotel. You have to take the elevator/stairs to get to the bar area itself. The way it's decorated makes you feel as if you are sitting outside on someone's patio. Lots of creative drink choices and not too horribly priced for being in downtown Chicago. My girl friend and I enjoyed our time. Service was good too! We didn't get any food so I cannot comment on that. read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Surprised in a bad way. Empanadas: greasy and flavorless. Set the tone for the rest of the meal really. Chicken: tough old bird. Yucca fries: more like yuck fries. Flan: the texture of a Barbie doll. Chocolate mousse: like a hershey kiss picked out of a sandbox. Ceviche: why even try to describe it, I'll leave it alone so you're not offended. God knows why the reviews rate it more highly. The dining room was pretty bare on a Friday night, so it's not a hot spot. Both stars are for the excellent service. Otherwise, it's expensive blech. read more

Generally, I don't trust hotel restaurants as they tend to be overpriced and the quality is meh. Boleo was no different - my daughter and I looked around and did not see any "No Salt Allowed" signs - everything was underseasoned and there are no salt or pepper shakers at the tables. The above said, the house ceviche and the pork belly sliders were excellent (while still needing salt). Unfortunately, the empanadas (what I was really looking forward to) were overcooked, greasy, and generally lacking flavor (the sauces, though, were darn tasty). Service was great (they were at 15% capacity, so, I would hope so) and they kept filling up our water glasses without being asked - something I appreciate as my daughter can go through 5-6 glasses of water at a sitting. So - mixed review. They do have happy hour pricing on most days, making the two treats above an excellent value for the money. I will go back if only to see how they handle a busy dining room. read more

My husband is Peruvian. We came here for a date night. The place was empty on a Saturday night. There was a huge dance floor so you could see from the posters they must do double time at night. We gos some classic Peruvian appetizers. We quickly realized the food was not really Peruvian. Ceviche was cut too small with using lemons not limes and no leche de tigre. The empanadas were deep fried and so over done the quality was no better than street food which is way cheaper. The Antiocuchos did not even use the anticuchos sauce. The mushrooms (there were two skewers with one mushroom each costing 12) had no taste and were slathered in mayonnaise to attempt to make up for it. The pan con chicharron was some American version of sliders and gave my husband indigestion for days. There are much better much more authentic Peruvian places in Chicago. read more

The vibes were immaculate , food and drinks even better! Thank you for a great time can't wait to be back! read more

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Beautiful ambience. I love that my hotel is downstairs. Service was OK. Food took a while to come out. I only ordered one empanada. You only come here after a long of travels, and you don't want to wonder outside. read more

I came here on a Friday night with an Internet date. While the date was a bust Boleo was the highlight of the evening! They don't have bartenders but they have mixologist. In my opinion. Since I am a bartender I'm particular about my drinks. I ordered an old fashioned and the mixologist did a fabulous job in making the drink and stirring it in a glass pitcher. Classy and very well done. The DJ was playing some very hip, chill music. The dining area looked busy and the bar area was not too crowded. Drinks aren't cheap but the ambiance, the amazing customer service are well worth it. I'd definitely return but with a different date! read more