Here's Your Exclusive, First Look At The City's Hottest New Outdoor Lounge: The Dec

(Photos: Ritz-Carlton Chicago)

Let's just get this out of the way: dec Rooftop Lounge + Bar has nothing to do with local restaurateur Billy Dec (Rockit Bar & Grill, Sunda).

It's instead the sleek new outdoor component to deca Restaurant + Bar in the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. The lounge is located on the 12th floor, seats 57, and accommodates 100 guests for light bites, craft cocktails and draught beers from a number of craft breweries.

Here are a few more highlights you'll need to know before dec opens in mid-May:



• An opaque, color-changing LED waved wall and polished stainless steel circular sculpture, "The Lenz," by artist David Sorenson, are certain to catch your eye.

• The food menu's still under construction, but look for light bites beginning at lunchtime. It'll be designed to pair with the libations.

• Get excited about an old-fashioned ice cream cart rolling through with sundae selections.


Dec's B-"Arack" cocktail

• Look for a number of kegged drinks such as Cucumber Collins (cucumber gin, St. Germain, house-made cucumber thyme soda); a batch bourbon cocktail with pineapple juice and a syrup of lemongrass, Thai chilies and maple syrup; and a second-day, barrel-aged rum drink with Pimms #1, Fernet, peach bitters and rose water.


El Diablo's Mule

• The craft cocktails will take a little longer to whip up, and most contain locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include the B-"Arack" (with Chicago-based Few Whiskey flavored with anise, beet juice from Nichols Farm and Bee Love honey) and El Diablo's Mule (tequila, ginger beer, Casis and lime juice).