By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Jun 14, 2019 at 4:40 PM

Today is the day. The Rooftop – located  two floors above Glass + Griddle, 1130 N. 9th St. – officially opened tonight at 4 p.m.

But we paid a visit this afternoon as crews were prepping for the patio's first guests to give you a firsthand look at what you can expect from the newest rooftop in the city.

Get some fresh air

To get to the rooftop, enter Glass + Griddle and veer to the right. You'll see a sign indicating whether the rooftop is open or closed and a host will let you know if seating is available. From there, just take the elevator to floor R. 

A third-floor oasis

The patio features both soft and hard seating. Currently, the entire patio is open air, but soon the south side of the patio will showcase a covered roof, offering a bit of shade and protection for the bar from the elements.

The bar

During  its inaugural weekend, the patio will feature bar service only; guests sill find a menu showcasing craft cocktails, beer and award-winning wines. A food menu featuring dishes from Glass + Griddle, the beer hall restaurant located just below the patio, will also be available beginning in the next week or so.

Take a seat

Most of the patio features soft seating, perfect for hanging out with a beer or cocktail and visiting with friends.

A view to the northwest

The southwestern view

More seating and a view to the east

The Rooftop will be open Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to close and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to close.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.