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    The Cliff Dwellers

    4.8 (25 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    The Cliff Dwellers Photos

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    Recommended Reviews - The Cliff Dwellers

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    Reviews With Photos

    Menu
    Sue L.

    Located on Michigan Avenue, this club for artisans and creative members of the community has the one of the best unubstructed views of views of the lakefront. From the terrace, one can see the Shedd Aquarium down to the Millenium Park. The dining options are modest but there's a fine collection of alcoholic beverages. The club offers spacious inside dining with vintage appointments and outside dining. There's a collection of historical memorabilia and artwork.

    Alexandra H.

    I came here for a private party on Friday night in order to help raise money for charity. Riding the elevator up to the 22nd floor felt like I was going to a secret club. As soon as I got off the elevator, I was surrounded by this wonderful, classy space. I really like the old wood feel on the walls, old pictures hanging on the wall, and the big fireplace. As soon as you step out on the balcony, you can see everything from Millennium Park to the museums to the lake front. The views here are spectacular (during the day and night)! The bar was serving free drinks all night and there was a band playing. The food was also very good. There were cheese and meat platters, curry chicken on a stick, crab cake balls, samosas, and strawberries with cream. I would love to come back here soon!

    Views from the Club's terrace are stunning

    Love the view, love the artists, musicians and architects...love the Cliff Dwellers! The Cliff Dwellers is a surprisingly affordable niche private club, on the top floor of 200 South Michigan. The monthly dues are about the same as a loop area gym membership: I see this Club as a gym membership for my brain. The private events members (and their guests) can access here are excellent. Private theater performances, musical performances, book club meetings (with the author present), architectural lectures, journalistic interviews of political candidates, sabrage lessons (yes, members got to do it, not just watch)...there are typically 1-3 amazing events offered per week! Tip: after joining, sign up for the substantial discount granted to members, at the Grant Park parking garage. This discount is good any time (not just when attending events at the Club). Tip: after joining, ask about members' access to purchase limited edition bourbons. The recent single cask offering sold out to members quickly: one bottle was sold to the Club. When visiting, it's worth purchasing a shot or pour while it's still available at the bar.

    Cold appetizers
    Ali C.

    What a wonderful close knit club with so many artists. The members are warm and friendly, employees are gentle and helpful. The view is breathtaking overlooking Lake Michigan. We were here for their annual Christmas celebration. A buffet lunch starting with fresh crab claws, raw oysters, jumbo shrimp and smoked salmon. Delicious. Then came the main entrees - duck breast, prime rib, ham and more. Great food. Fabulous service. Perfect ambiance.

    Jane V.

    We went here for a private event. The cliff dwellers Club is a private club it was originally founded in 1907 by members of the Chicago Arts community. The purpose of the club is to bring together men and women who are practicing, or interested in the Arts. The club occupied the space above Orchestra Hall from 1909 to 1996, when the cliff dwellers moved to the penthouse of 200 South Michigan Avenue, across from the Art Institute of Chicago and next door to the Symphony Center. It is located on the 22nd floor and the space includes a permanent collection of art and other memorabilia, an art gallery for temporary exhibits, a piano for musical performances, a lounge area featuring artifacts from the old Clubhouse, a bar overlooking the clubs magnificent view of Chicago's lakefront, and outdoor Terrace, and a private dining room. We were there on a beautiful day and we had drinks and food and the outdoor Terrace where we were able to enjoy the gorgeous views of Chicago's Lakefront. They do rent out the space for meetings and weddings. I do know that you need to be referred by a current member member in order to become a member. They do offer a 3 month trial membership for $150. If you're ever invited to the cliff dwellers club for any occasion, be it a Meetup / meeting / wedding, be sure to go, this is a real treat.

    View 3 spots
    Harish V.

    I was here as part of event hosted by a MeetUp group and it was a great spot to be.Rooftop gives you an amazing view of the skyscrapers ,chicago Bean and the Lake.It is on the 22nd floor.The bar is not to big but sufficient enough.The decor is pretty Minimalistic with paintings,books and with some antiques. Food was ok but the rooftop pretty much makes for all of it.Seems like a good choice for a Date.Better to go around 6pm and stay till close in order to view the day/night view. Pros: Rooftop view Minimum Prices Spacious Clean Restrooms I would recommend this Place for sure.Go check it out.

    June birthday girls celebrating at the club
    Emma ..

    Cliff Dwellers has become my very "happy place" in the city of Chicago. I am so proud to be a member of this wonderful club, where the moment you step in, you feel welcomed. It feels like a family. The food is always so delicious, anything that I come to order, dinner or lunch, it is satisfying and perfectly made. Chef Victor really puts in a special touch. All the servers are so hard-working here and so attentive to the needs of those dining. Michelle is fabulous and a lovely addition to the Cliff Dwellers crew. I enjoy the monthly special events at the club as well, including the musicians that visit and authors. Our family has had many celebrations at the club and we thank you for being part of our family memories!

    Greeting at the Door
    Andrew A.

    I was enjoying an excellent view from the terrace, although today was oppressively hot, I felt (or imagined) a cool Lake Michigan breeze on my face. Here, the venue for artists and musicians in the city is welcoming and relaxing. The portraits and sculpture work remind one of an art-lover's club, the friendly chats are reminiscent of a university discussion on the arts, an element missing in pretentious city clubs trying to appear erudite. The bar and dining service is very attentive, and did I mention the breathtaking lake view?

    View
    Steve A.

    In a city of spectacular views, this is among the most spectacular, not so much because of its height, but because of the perfect placement, centered on Michigan avenue overlooking The Art Institue. The historical feel of the interior has been preserved during a move from an earlier location. We had a pleasant lunch here at the start of an historic tour.

    Hanging with fancy folks! An amazing view, great food.

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    13 years ago

    Excellent, kind, and helpful staff. Food is always marvelous. The view and the premises are lovely.

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    Ask the Community - The Cliff Dwellers

    Where is the best parking for visiting?

    Millenium parking garage, south entrance. You can take a staircase to street level that lets you out 5 yards away from The Cliff Dwellers' entrance.

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    Review Highlights - The Cliff Dwellers

    “The Cliff Dwellers is a surprisingly affordable niche private club, on the top floor of 200 South Michigan.”

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    Union League Club - Second floor dining/reception room

    Union League Club

    (120 reviews)

    The Loop

    The service and food are excellent. That eggplant Parmesan wasn't just beautiful to look at on the…read moreplate, but was delicious too!

    Normally, the Union League Club wouldn't be available to us because we aren't members. However,…read morebecause the conference my wife was attending was held in one of its conference halls, we were able to book a room there. The club is an interesting place to stay, even if the security is a bit hardcore--no, there weren't full cavity searches or anything similar, but you better have your key card ready if you enter from outside and want to use the coffee house outside the perimeter. We'll start with the pluses (or whatever comes to my mind first). The building has its historic charm, being that it was built in 1926 with 23 floors, including four that comprise the health club and spa, at least two for conference halls and gatherings, an historic library, and a bar and restaurant that offers a breakfast buffet in the mornings -- so long as you have tickets. The grand wood-paneled hallways and chandeliers, combined with the craftsmanship of the designs in the doorway, the elevator exterior, and the stairwell etchings, make you feel like you are touring a museum. Combined with the extensive artwork, you would feel that way. The Union League Club holds one of the largest private art collections in the country, second only to the Art Institute of Chicago in the number of artworks on display (about a 10 to 15-minute walk away). The collection is impressive, especially in the Presidential Hall on the third floor, where many American Impressionist paintings are located, including a presidential portrait of George Washington. For an historic building, they do have really good fitness facilities, including a gym, a lap pool, steam rooms, and a whirlpool. They also offer a spa if you need a massage or other pampering, which I thought was cool. For food and beverage, the first-floor coffee house has convenient workspaces with Wi-Fi that works better on the lower floors than the higher ones. While the coffee house offers quick, ready-made breakfast and sandwich items, along with solid espresso drinks, the fourth-floor bar and lounge offers more conventional meals and cocktails, with a respectable spirit shelf selection. For breakfast, a buffet is offered that can be either included if you're staying there, or if you have vouchers based on whether you're attending a conference. Otherwise, there is a surcharge. If you are staying at the Club, note that Wi-Fi is incredibly unreliable in the guest rooms, especially on the higher floors, such as the eighth. If you're working remotely, you will need to access either the third-floor presidential hall or adjacent bar room, or go down to the first-floor coffee house. That can be a challenge if you're looking for a private area without people walking in and out or there being a scheduled event. You could try the vacant telephone stalls on the third floor as well (remember those if you're a Gen X or older?), since the lighting and sliding doors work and can provide a quiet, isolated space--but there are no outlets for plugging in laptops or cell phones. The Union League Club also has a strictly enforced dress code throughout most of the building, except on the top four floors for the fitness and health center and when you're heading to the coffee house or outside. If you're perusing the hotel, colored shirts with pants, dresses, blouses, or pressed jeans without holes, with closed-toe shoes, will be required, as security will call you out if you're not dressed appropriately. And speaking of security... this is a Club that strictly enforces membership or granted access, with a highly vigilant front desk and security staff tracking every single person that comes and goes from the building. While this makes the building incredibly safe and keeps those without access or unwelcome persons from entering, it can be burdensome for those staying there who forget their keycard or identification. You will be asked to provide an appropriate hotel key card or ID upon entering, unless you are recognized by security personnel. If you don't have it, you won't be allowed to enter. This can be burdensome, especially if you're coming from outside and want to use the coffee house, and the guards think you're trying to steal a painting, even though you came through 30 minutes earlier with your access. If you're trying to use the coffee house after coming down the escalator and it's before their 7 AM opening, they will physically come after you, and it will look like they're going to frisk you. They may not, but the constant vigilance is tiresome. The building has a lot of history, and if you do have the chance to stay there, it can be fun. But the security measures are a challenge if you do.

    Events & Adventures

    Events & Adventures

    (97 reviews)

    The Loop

    I didn't join because I wasn't a fan of their sales tactics. I said I only wanted to sign up for 6…read moremonths and she said that I wasn't committed enough. I did some homework on the Better Business Bureau website. There were no shortage of complaints and negative feedback. When I told her she denied it and said that they must have an A+ rating. I really do love being gaslighted. The bottom line was that there was nothing on their calendar that interested me. For example there was a beach event, but nothing was included. Why spend thousands of dollars for unimaginative events that you have to pay extra for. I prefer Meetup.

    I hope your customer service rep, Destinie, is removed from service. She clearly doesn't understand…read morewhat service means. She doesn't know how to communicate or read messages. This is not how a business treats a customer. It's disorganized and asks me to accommodate instead of the other way around. She told me there was a computer glitch, and they could not honor my confirmed appointment. She wanted to bump it back an hour, but I told her that would force me to rearrange my day, and I would expect some sort of gift card or discount for my inconvenience if I signed up. I said why can't we talk right now if you're texting me? She said that they can't go over it over the phone. It has to be in a zoom call and cannot be done at my confirmed time. Then she starts sending me duplicate text messages and more confirmations about my 9 AM appointment. This is getting rather confusing, so I asked her to call me. At that point she starts going over the pricing and says can you afford this? I said I was under the impression that we wouldn't be going over the details over the phone. Isn't that the point of the required zoom call? Clearly she was just trying to scare me with your prices ($150-200/month) so I would back down, and that's exactly what I did. I don't know what your members are like, but if they are anything like your glitchy and incompetent staff, I don't want any part of it. Dating has enough run around. You are supposed to be a better alternative. You are a business. I am the customer. Get your shit together.

    Young Professionals of Chicago

    Young Professionals of Chicago

    (6 reviews)

    The Loop

    I attended my first YPC event in February of 2010, part of the CEO Breakfast series. It was well…read moreattended, around 40 people or so, who joined me in the early hour for coffee, networking, and to hear the CEO of a multinational firm speak about his experience and rise to the title. The CEO was very engaging, and spoke to us on a very real, and down to earth level; no posturing or puffing. When he closed his speech, we were invited to speak to him further, and we networked as we waited our turn to ask him questions. When I finally met him, I told him a little about myself; who I was as a young professional and what I wanted to do. We exchanged business cards, and he actually took my resume, right there! Four weeks later, I was working in that very CEO's firm, and was promoted in just a year. I'm proud to say that I still work for this company, and truly believe that attending that YPC event, and being prepared to network, attributed to my success in my current role. I made several connections that day, and almost 3 years later, we remain in touch. Because I believe in YPC, I joined the professional development committee and have been working ever since to see others reap the same benefits I have from the organization. Note: These events are only as fruitful as you make them. You can't just come and stand there. You have to be purposeful and willing to make real connections with people who can help you, or who you can help. That's what networking is. Exposure to CEOs, Managing Directors and other executives is a key benefit of professional development events. Take advantage!

    I think this organization may have gone belly-up. I…read morerecently bought a "lifetime membership" for several hundred dollars and haven't had a single event to attend. It looks like they stopped having events at the end of 2013, and their website hasn't been updated since about the same time. Most of the site display the below fatal error message. Their Facebook page's last post was from 4 months ago and is a link to an online quiz for "TIP FOR MANAGING MILLENNIALS OR ADVICE FOR PUPPY OWNERS?" "Fatal error: Allowed memory size of 67108864 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 122880 bytes) in /home/ypclive/public_html/wp-content/plugins/s2member/includes/classes/querys.inc.php on line 125" http://ypchicago.org/events/

    The Cliff Dwellers - nonprofit - Updated October 2026

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