The J. Parker, the upper-level bar at the Hotel Lincoln, recently got an all-season upgrade: a retractable glass rooftop that affords views of both downtown and the lake. And while that's going to be quite the enticement come summertime (just think: roof open, 2 p.m. on a sunny Saturday in July, lounging with a glass of white wine and some bar bites from chef Paul Virant as you take in a full-scale lake view), it's still worth a visit in the chillier months.

When we stopped in on Saturday night, there was quite the collection of patrons: gangs of trendy twentysomethings, kids showing off the city to their parents, lively gatherings of grey-haired hotel guests. Everyone had a cocktail in hand–several went for one of two hot options–and the scene stayed buzzy all through the night. This makes for a scenic addition to a night of bar crawling or city exploration.

Here's what all we saw when we stopped in.