Everyone that knows me know that I enjoy a nice cocktail especially if its in a nice, swanky cocktail bar. A friend of mine invited me out as her friend was spinning some cool tunes in this joint. She didnt know it was called Boleo...all she knew was that it was in the Kimpton Gray Hotel on the 5th floor. I instantly thought it was Vol. 39 but nope it was something else...a bit more loose than Vol. Definitely a bigger space than the mentioned cocktail bar that also resides in the same hotel and a bit more welcoming. I was instantly impressed as I walked in as the scene was pretty sexy. My friend and her friend had a hi-top in the bar area which was cool, but there were lounge seats all over the place so I'm not sure why they didnt get one of those..maybe they were reserved. Took a look at the menu and since I had just came from dinner with my mom, it was gonna be drinks only for me. I was instantly intrigued by a drink called Against The Glass. We all had a joke with the waitress (Madeline) about our thought process on the name of the drink...yeah we went there LOL! The drink consisted of Woodford Reserve Bourbon, coffee vermouth and ramazotti amaro...one of the best drinks I've had in 2017 thus far. I then got the Boleo Old Fashioned which was very good! This place could become my preferred cocktail bar of 2017! read more

My favorite place to have a get together. The atmosphere is amazing, the cocktails are divine and the small plates / tapas is to die for! I was able to make a reservation for 8 and invited my friends for a birthday gathering. They gave us a large area with 3 couches and table to enjoy the music and vibes. This place just has great energy and when the weather is warm they open up the roof. If you're trying to go to a place with a view this is not it but the music, food and ambiance make up for it. Enjoy! read more

Boleo - Cheers to Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had high hopes as we had seen the chef highlighted on a cooking show. The space is inside a hotel, it was very loud... The acoustics were not thought about. And the food was a little disappointing. Things seem either over cooked or not warm enough. Flavors were not exceptional. The drinks were good. It looks like a younger persons crowd read more

This place is phenomenal! My husband and I were visiting the city this weekend and decided to stop in for drinks and some appetizers and everything was amazing! The ambiance is very nice with an open roof, so you can see out to the sky. The bartenders were very nice and made great drinks. It is a small plate style place and couple of things we ordered were very delicious. I would definitely recommend the meat empanadas! They were so good we ordered 2! We also got the lobster tempura roll and that was good as well. Definitely will go back! read more

Boleo - Lobster tempura roll - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My friend and I were looking for a chill tapas place on a friday night. I am super excited to find Boleo! Its inside a hotel on 15th floor so I figure not too many people know about it yet? But its super chill bar fill with great food. It was about 75% full when we went at 8-9pm on friday night. So not crazily busy nor dead, i loved it. The food was really delicious as well. Good amount of seafood choices! Some tapas place don't have as much seafood choices compared to beef/pork/chicken. I have to say their octopus and the mussels dish was my favorite! I will be back read more

See all

Ray is the BEST server we've ever had!! The setting of this restaurant is so nice and cozy!!! Great food & drinks!!! Will definitely be back when visiting Chicago again!! Thanks so much for taking care of us .... The TN couple :) read more

We came here for happy hour and were really pleased overall! The atmosphere is great (although we did wish it was a bit more open for a nice summer day). To drink, we got the frozen disco punch. I had one with tequila, wine, and chamomile tea. It sounds like a horrible combination but was actually one of the most delicious drinks I've ever had! It was pricey for happy hour ($12) but super strong. Two drinks definitely felt closer to four. To eat, we started with the plantain chips. They were really yummy but we did wish they came with something to dip them in. I also got the vegetarian empanadas. Overall, I really enjoyed them - I thought they were really unique and flavorful. However, I do wish there were more vegetarian options on their menu (as this was the only one). It was busy while we were there, but the service was great until the end. Toward the end of happy hour, it was difficult to find a waiter to put in our final orders. But otherwise all the staff were very friendly! This is a great place to send a summer evening, and I would definitely come back! read more

Loud, expensive, limited menu, mediocre ambiance, and awful service. I cut them a little slack on service because it's hard to hire now and the server is nice but it took 25 or more minutes to get the beer and bowl of plantain chips I ordered and I am still sitting here 25 minutes later waiting for someone to check on me, offer another drink, ask what I want for drinks or dinner, or bring a check. It's not that busy. Went to another Peruvian place in Chicago two days ago, Tanta, that was stellar. Particularly annoying as I am spending almost a week at this hotel. read more

Boleo seemed like it would be a fun place to grab a quick drink and go atop of the Kimpton Gray considering Vol. 39 on the second floor is spectacular for creative drink blends. Boleo came up short, not bad but not great. Cocktails missed any uniqueness ... and alcohol largely, the food was again nothing to rave about. Yuca fríes were undercooked and the empanadas lacked flavor. There also is not much I terms of views for this being on the 15th floor. Bottom line: better places with better food, drinks, and views for the same cost read more

Located on the 15th floor of the Gray hotel. I went on the opening weekend with my family. We didn't know the restaurant was 21 and older but they seated us anyway and brought out etch-a-sketch for my kids to play with. It was such a nice touch! The ambiance is laid back swanky feel. There are tables under the retractable roof and sectionals and leather seats around the perimeter of the restaurant. You can dine or hang depending on your mood and company. Food was excellent! We ordered the trio and tuna tataki and both were delicious! Kids ate chicken skewers and enjoyed it. We also ordered rice chaufa and chorizo skewers but they were not as impressive. Rice was a bit salty and chaufa was a bit bland. Service was excellent as well. Our waitress was friendly but not hovering. She also made it special for the kids by surprising us with pokeball macaroons! Nice unexpected surprise. I hope they change the policy and let kids dine there from 5-8pm. I'd definitely go back there maybe on a double date or ladies nite. read more

See all

What's most incredible about this experience is the combination of good music, ambiance and bold flavors. Top that with incredible service, from Sam the bartender to the hostess to coat check to our waiter, Nicholas. It felt like having dinner in a place full of friends. We can tell everyone here genuinely enjoys doing what they're doing. Start with a Pisco and follow that with the Disco Punch. End your meal with the Alfajores but not before you've had the Pollo A La Brasa and the Papa Rellena. read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved the big spacey ambiance. It is not a rooftop bar so if that is what you're looking for you mat want to try something else but it is more like an open air lounge. It was empty on a late Thursday night since it's in the loop and we had an entire couch to ourselves. Its located in a hotel which feels very lavish. The drinks were atypical, I didn't find then delicious but still a cool experience. I'd love to be back with coworkers and try the food. read more

Great restaurant located in the rooftop of the Kimpton hotel. The atmosphere has a lounge feel to it rather than an Argentinian/Peruvian restaurant. They were playing loud music so it kind of threw the vibe off as far as it being an elegant restaurant. Parking is a little tough in the area. Not many options unless you pay for spothero or something. The service was excellent I found that the staff was very attentive in clearing or plates and filling our drinks. The portions are very small here just like spanish tapas. You will find yourself ordering more and more. I thought the carne empanadas were just ok. The clasico ceviche had great flavor but the portion size was offensive. You can finish it in two tablespoons. My favorite had to be the chicken anticucho. The cilantro sauce that comes with it is delicious and the portion size of the dish is what I expect. It ends up being pricey because you keep ordering a bunch of little dishes till you are full. I enjoyed this place but I'm really paying for the rooftop atmosphere vs an authentic Peruvian/Argentinian experience. read more

See all

Came here with a friend for restaurant week, we enjoyed our meal but both left feeling like it wasn't anything extremely special. My favorite part was the chocolate soufflé cake, and my delicious cocktail. For the price I would rather go somewhere else, though the drinks and the atmosphere were lovely. read more

Boleo - Chocolate Souffle Cake - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I can't speak more highly of this place. What a beautiful experience. We came for drinks and small snacks before dinner and didn't want to leave. Our service was wonderful, food incredible, and the atmosphere is beautiful! Our server, Ray, was the sweetest! I had the Esta Vez and it was delicious! All of the meals are small plates so perfect for trying lots of different things and not getting too full. I love this place and will definitely be coming back! Thank you for such a wonderful experience! read more

Decent selection of good bourbon. The food is very tasty. A great spot to quietly chill. read more

This place is incredible. Also it's not closed!!! I don't think they've updated it since lockdown. The food is absolutely to die for. My boyfriend and i couldn't choose what to get so we just got a bunch of things...top favorite was the pork belly sliders! Insanely good. You HAVE to get those. Also the ceviche is the best I've ever had in my life. Y'all this restaurant is SO good that I'm still sitting here right now because after i tried the food 10min ago i was like "i need to write a Yelp review right NOW" SO GOOD MUST GETS: -pork belly sliders - ceviche -yuca fries Drinks: -"In the morning I'll feel better" (plantain infused scotch) -hotty toddy read more

Boleo....we had such high hopes based on the early reviews. Staying as a guest in the hotel for a girls weekend and thought it would be easiest to do dinner at the hotel before heading to Hamilton. Overall, seems like a lot of kinks still to be worked out. We sat for easily 15 minutes before a server came over and apologized that no one had acknowledged us and she would be taking care of us (THANK YOU!). The drinks were probably the high point - I had a tequila concoction (tanglefoot?) with smoked tomato water. Sounds weird but tasted great if you like tequila... Ordered several of the small plates from a very limited menu. Shrimp ceviche was not what I was expecting, with a few whole shrimp doused in a sauce. Nothing wowed us and we left a bit perplexed and hungry for the show. $200 with tip for the four of us - 2 drinks each and 4 entrees. Seemed a little steep for what we got. read more

Had an excellent experience at Boleo this weekend. We got several drinks, which were fantastic (the Whiskey Smash is not on the menu but I highly recommend it if you're a bourbon drinker). The food was top notch. We got the Empanada Pollo, Pan Con Chicharron Slider, and the Yaquitas (yucca fries) to start. All were very tasty. For main courses we got Arroz Chaufa (shrimp fried rice), and Lomo Saltado (stir fried beef, veggies, and french fries). Everything was fresh and high quality, and delicious. Staff was very attentive, bathrooms were clean, etc. I will be back! read more

Really cool space, its airy and reminds me of 3 Arts Cafe. They have $5 skewer happy hour and drink specials. Eveything we ate was delicious, we basically just ordered everything on the happy hour menu to taste and will be back for dinner no doubt! read more

The Good - the space is really cool, the ambiance was great with the modern lighting scheme and music and the staff were friendly. The food was tasty. The "Meh" - The portions were quite small, even for a shared plate type joint and the prices are high. I left this place still hungry after spending $60 per person. My bottom line - come here for a cool place to have cocktails and some apps. If you're looking for actual dinner, your wallet will appreciate you going elsewhere. read more

Okay so 3stars is not because of the food but because of management. They tell you to wear the mask whenever servers or anyone comes by to give food, ok no problem of course. But not just my table but 2others that were non American I noticed..whenever the manager guy came by..he stood 6ft away and then made sure we put our masks on and then came closer, but the American table with 3+guests...he didn't say a word to them about placing it on. I can't believe with everything going on in the world..like cmon man why. Disappointed and won't return just because of that. Let's move on to food... pollo a la brasa(very good), costillas(very good), gambas(good), empanada pollo(very good, sauce has a spicy kick to it), arroz chaufa(good but a bit too salty with the pork), ceviche(okay), yaquitas(good). Tried the spicy margarita which was really good and the vodka with cucumber juice which was really good as well. read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great happy hour special right next to my office which works out nicely for a post work hangout spot - the $5 skewers come in 4 varieties. I tried pork belly, rib eye and chicken and all were delicious. The drinks are decent but the food is what sticks with me! read more

See all

For a cool atmosphere in the Loop, Boleo is a solid spot. I hadn't heard of it until we went here for a work happy hour. They serve Peruvian food and for lack of a better pun, you could say I a-peru-ve. (I approve. Don't hate me for trying.) With the retractable roof and decor, you'll instantly feel like you are on vacation in a tropical oasis. The happy hour menu is great and different than your typical restaurant. We had the cocktails and appetizers from that menu and they were affordable and delicious. BONUS: there is a neon pineapple sign which is ~lit. Come here for the 'gram, stay for the grub. read more

The food was delicious! We really enjoyed the fried rice, chicken empanadas, yuca fries and steak.

Got together with some of my girls for dinner. This place is so cute, with the tropical feel and decor. We were told that the rooftop retracts in the summer so we will definitely be back for that! When we walked in, my best friend realized she knew the manager from where she used to work and he was so kind as to give us some free champagne to start off the night! Thank you Matt!! The food was tapas style and SO GOOD! We got plantain and puffed corn to start, gambas, vegetarian empanadas, and arroz chaufa! Everything was so flavorful and delicious, my favorite was by far the arroz chaufa. Now the cocktails! I got the B-Side to Hollywood which was like juice, so delicious but a little on the sweet side. I then switch to the Moscatel (recommendation from our server, who was extremely pleasant but can't remember his name!) this was a very strong drink but it didn't taste strong, it was subtle yet flavorful. At the end of the night we found out the manager had the food comped and we were so extremely thankful and will definitely be back when the weather is nicer!! read more

Really enjoyed the atmosphere here. Fantastic drinks prepared by the bar. Was not quite ready for a more "tapas"-esque menu, but we got to try multiple items and all were great. read more

First time ever writing a review. Went on a Friday night, and was completely empty. Zero atmosphere --Maybe 3 other couples there. Ordered the lomo saltado and my steak was completely burnt. Other tapas were ok. Service wasn't great. read more

Great atmosphere Food was great (chicken skewers, steak skewers, fried yuka) Service was ok (waited 15 minutes to be served, did not really check up on our table well) read more

Okay so I don't always give 5 stars to restaurants unless I feel like they really deserve it and this place totally deserves it. I had an instance where I had made a reservation in advance but unfortunately the manager had called to tell me they had to cancel because of a private party. I was really bummed out because I had wanted to try it but these things happen so I understand. What really stood out for me is the awesome management as the manager (Caila, sp?) took great initiative and invited us over for a different time. And she really took care of us due to our previous inconvenience. Now that kind of good service is what makes restaurants succeed in our amazing city. But enough about the awesome service here, let's talk about the other stuff. The retractable rooftop is just gorgeous, perfect for a girls night out or a date night, or any fun social gathering if you ask me. The food was super delicious, from the empanandas, to the octopus, to the chicken skewers everything had so much flavor that really was mouth watering. I definitely want to come back in the summer time to enjoy some summer cocktails while the weather will be nice on their rooftop. But I think this place can really be fun at any season because it still captures those great Chi town views even when the rooftop is closed. This is definitely a great place to try if you want authentic South American cuisine with a fusion twist in a fun, trendy environment. Also, the prices are very decent and totally worth it for what you're getting! read more

Loved it! Great ambiance and amazing food and cocktails. I love that it's kind-of hidden in a hotel. Can't wait to come back!

Boleo might be my newest obsession. I must admit that i've been twice in a matter of eight days. It's a tapas bar that sits atop the new Kimpton Grey Hotel in the Chicago Loop. The ambience is elegant, yet casual at the same time and has a way of making you feel like you're on vacation even if you live in the city. It's a perfect spot for date night or an evening out with a group of friends. The drink menu is pretty long (overwhelming even) but none of the drinks disappointed and I'm pretty picky with my cocktails. Their mixologists know how to do the classics justice (the old fashioned and mint julep were on point) while also mastering their house specialties. Now for the eats...I'm actually quite relieved that everything comes in small plates because the food is so delicious that I could see myself easily overeating if everything came in standard sizes. I highly recommend the carne empanadas, which get a slight and welcome touch of sweetness from the raisins. I've had a lot of empanadas but I'd say these are easily some of the best I've had. The Arroz chaufa is like a Latin version of fried rice and made an exceptionally good side dish. I'd return for that alone. For dessert we got the Alfajores, which were buttery shortbread cookies with a dulce de leche filling that comes alongside a lemon mint ice cream. The ice cream was the perfect compliment to the sweet cookies as it tasted clean and refreshing. The citrus and mint together made for an effective palate cleanser which was welcome after the very flavorful meal. Our very attentive, friendly server and the awesome DJ were the cherries on top of our evening at Boleo. The music was a mix of pop hits and new and classic R&B. If you haven't been to Boleo yet you should definitely add it to your list. I can't wait to go back! read more

I was kinda very disappointed by this place. I found it on yelp and kept sushi pics in my mind. We made a reservation for 8pm Saturday night and when we arrived we figured out it was pointless because the entire restaurant was empty. Apparently this place recently changed its menu because it was almost nothing compared to the pics posted on this page here on yelp. No rolls, no appetizers like on the pics... The menu is very small (like super small) and every item has terribly small portions. We had a server who was good at his work, however he kept interrupting our conversation every 5 minutes which was really pissing me off. No music, no Dj, no entertainment at all. The cocktails were really unique and they have like 90% of the entire menu. The overall interior is very cozy and beautiful! The restaurant is located on 15th floor. If you would like to have a delicious drink in a beautiful quite atmosphere you should definitely come here. But I doubt we will come back anytime soon because in my opinion this restaurant should really work hard on its menu and portions as well as the atmosphere to have more clients and don't stay empty on Saturday nights. read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome rooftop hideaway. There drinks are a bit much for me - but have an eclectic mix. The menu is limited. But has a mix of 4 different proteins , so there is something to much on. A great after work place to hang out and relax- has a dj and the music is great nice volume - enough to hear it, but not have to scream to have a conversation. Staff is super attentive and friendly. A hidden gem On the 15 th floor of the Kimpton read more

Boleo is located on the top floor of the Kimton Grey hotel. I was staying here and decided to check out this Peruvian/Venezuelan restaurant. Needless to say, the food and service were incredible. I ordered the Porton Acholado cocktail to begin from a recommendation from my waitress. It was delicious! Boleo has tapas-style small dishes for food. I ordered the plantain & puffed corn, pollo skewer, and arroz verde. The plantain & puffed corn was a bit salty which I related to my waitress, who let me know that the dish would be on the house. The chicken skewer was spectacular and came in a light savory sauce. The arroz verde was the highlight of my meal, however. The dish features green rice with a mix of veggies including asparagus and sprouts. I would definitely return to this restaurant for not just the food and service, but also the ambient bar vibes read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is nice if you just wanna grab drinks with friends. I doubt I will come back. I didn't have a bad experience, it's just not a place I'd come back to. Warning on the food- it's pricey, small portioned, and just overall not good at all. However I will say, I did enjoy the chicken empanadas, but they're an inch away from being bite sized and you only get two. read more

Let me start this off by saying: This place is SO GOOD that I've decided to GET MARRIED HERE. SO with that being said: Boleo is the best hidden secret in Chicago. The loop is DEAD after 5pm but Boleo an the Gray Hotel are bringing life back to what should be a great downtown spot. Their inventive Peruvian menu, the BEST COCKTAILS I HAVE EVER HAD (standard feline will blow your mind, so ya know, heads up), this place is such a solid spot for post work drinks, a date night out, or a late night hang. There's always a great vibe in this space the retractable roof is such a BOMB extra! We also hosted our recent summer outing for my company at Boleo and the service and experience were fantastic. There is simply nothing like Boleo in the loop, and situated in the Gray Hotel makes it a one-of-a-kind hotel experience. Enjoy! read more

Came here for a friend's birthday. It was a bit confusing, Boleo is not the restaurant on the first floor, you will have to take the elevator up a couple floors. Once upstairs you will see this beautiful layout, with a retractable roof, it almost makes you feel like your no longer in Chicago anymore. Our group of 7 chose to sit on the big comfy couches! We ordered snacks like empanadas, and ceviche, choripan, all were amazing. Next the drinks were strong and really good. I wanted try everything! Towards the end of the night a band was setting up to play, sucks we didn't get a chance to see them. But I wonder if this place would have gotten more lively, because it is a bit more on the calmer romantic side. Overall love places like this, will deff come back here, especially to too it rooftopless! read more

Boleo - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came here with a group of young coworkers for happy hour. We called ahead to let the host know we would have a large group and to make sure that would be okay. When we arrived, the host was short and rude when we told him about calling ahead. I wasn't going to complain but our entire group was so put off by his attitude right off the bat. It would be nice if they treated younger professionals with the same respect as older ones. Hopefully the host can work on his people skills... there are a lot of other places we can go. read more

I'm so glad my friend put me on to this rooftop! This was our third stop of the night on NYE. Once you walk in the ambience is amazing! The greenery sets the perfect backdrop to this super swanky Peruvian Rooftop. We had a few bites, but what really blew me away were the drinks. There was a prix fixe cocktail menu that evening and I think I tried 4 of the 6. Really refreshing and delicious flavor combinations. I've never been to Peru, but if it's anything like this rooftop I want to go. Also just a side note normally I don't do rooftops/hotels for NYE, but this place was FANTASTIC! It wasn't overly crowded and we were able to sit down and move around without feeling claustrophobic. read more

Boleo - NYE - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois