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beatnik on the river, beatnik, patio, outdoor
Photograph: Francis Son Photography

The 30 best outdoor restaurants in Chicago

Enjoy a meal outside at these patios, terraces and sidewalk cafés.

Written by
Zach Long
&
Morgan Olsen
Contributors
Samantha Nelson
&
Jeffy Mai
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Chicagoans love to make the most of the warmest months by eating outside. Some of the best restaurants in Chicago offer alfesco dining every spring and summer with outdoor seating. When the weather is pleasant, you can grab a seat on a sidewalk table that affords great people watching or on a huge enclosed patio at one of the best pizza spots in the city. Whether you’re looking to soak up the sun in a lively atmosphere or want a chill outdoors bar, you’ll have plenty of options. So check the forecast and head to one of the best outdoor restaurants in Chicago for a fun and breezy time.

RECOMMENDED: Scope out the best rooftop restaurants in Chicago

Outdoor restaurants in Chicago

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4

Inside the ivy-covered walls of this Italian oasis, it’s as lush and romantic as a fairy-tale forest. It’s hard to complain about the light, simple Italian dishes, but the food doesn’t stand a chance against the perfectly balanced setting, bathed in warm, golden light. Antipasti and something from the enormous, reasonably priced Italian wine list is all you need for a perfect summer evening.

  • Bars
  • Mezcalerias
  • Wicker Park
  • price 1 of 4

When you say the words "restaurant patio" to a longtime Chicagoan, the packed scene in front of Wicker Park taqueria Big Star probably comes to mind. It's a classic for a reason—the al pastor tacos are delicious, the margaritas arrive by the pitcher and there's enough chips and salsa for everyone to get their fill. And if the Wicker Park location is at capacity, you can try your luck at the newer Wrigleyville outpost.

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  • Restaurants
  • Soul and southern American
  • Logan Square
  • price 1 of 4

Chicagoans have four Parson's to choose from: the original location in Logan Square and additonal outposts in Lincoln Park, West Town and Andersonville. Ordering a negroni slushy is practically a requirement, and you'll need some snacks to be able to drink more than one. The hush puppies are your best bet, and the grilled chicken is just as good as the fried (if you can believe it).

  • Restaurants
  • River North

You'll hardly notice you're seated on the bustling corner of Superior and State Streets when food from chef Carlos Gaytán starts arriving at your table at Tzuco’s all-season covered patio. Cool off with an order of tuna ceviche before digging into heartier entrées like the whole red snapper served with guajillo aioli, red fideos, green tomatillo salsa, crispy enfrijoladas and handmade tortillas. Make your time outdoors last with dessert—the arroz con leche is an instant classic.

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Pan-Asian
  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended

This popular West Town spot brings in the crowds with creative Asian-inspired bites—the cabbage stuffed with pork is a must—and one of the best burgers in Chicago. Come patio season, the experience somehow gets even better thanks to a lush patio that invites guests to order another round and hang out a while.

  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Avondale
  • price 2 of 4

Named for an Irish immigrant who served as the General Superintendent of Chicago's police force at the turn of the 20th century, this Avondale spot is known for its massive patio and an all-you-care-to-eat Sunday brunch buffet. Head for the back when it’s warm out, and get in the Irish spirit with some fish and chips and a pint of Guinness.

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  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Bridgeport
  • price 2 of 4

If there's anything better than eating a gourmet Chicago-style duck fat dog on a lush, hidden patio in Bridgeport, we have yet to find it. Come warm weather, the Duck Inn's tree-lined garden transforms into an intimate destination for brunch and dinner.

  • Restaurants
  • American
  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4

The massive patio, with a bar, tables, greenery and high walls, makes you feel like you’re far away from the busy corner next to the Grand Blue Line stop. Order up dinner, then stay for rounds of cocktails, including an array of Old Fashioneds and seasonal drinks made with gin, tequila and mezcal.

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  • Restaurants
  • Spanish
  • East Village

Taking over the Black Bull space in Wicker Park is a smile-inducing restaurant that's painted a shade of pink that stops you in your tracks and begs you to look at the menu. You'll be rewarded with Spanish treats made for noshing the day away—and the sprawling patio out front doesn't hurt either. But it's the bar program that will really seal the deal, with dozens of sherry selections from across Spain, phenomenal pours of wine, a lineup of gin and tonics and zero-proof cocktails to boot.

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Lower West Side

Named after a bygone lumberyard in the area, the music-fueled Pilsen Yards specializes in tacos and other Mexican eats plus a long list of cocktails and beer. There's a pair of outdoor spaces for guests to enjoy—a covered section with wooden beams overhead and another open-air patio that's festooned with glowing lights. There are heaters over nearly every table and pergolas in the open-air section so you can have a warm seat year-round.

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  • Restaurants
  • Loop

Upon entering this breathtaking riverfront oasis, you might catch yourself wondering if you've been transported to a faraway destination. An offshoot of the popular West Town dining destination by the same name, Beatnik on the River draws inspiration from the bohemian freethinkers of the ’50s and ’60s, offering dishes and drinks from around the globe. The best tables in the house are on the terrace, which sits along the Chicago River and is outfitted with colorful tile, Indonesian daybeds and fringe-lined umbrellas. Order a glass of bubbly and stay a while. 

  • Restaurants
  • Lincoln Square

This sweet, veggie-heavy American joint in Ravenswood boasts a sprawling patio surrounded with plenty of lush greenery—the perfect backdrop for the bar's colorful, bird-themed cocktails like the Purple Martin made with rye, lime and beet juice. Seating at its bar and high-top tables can’t be guaranteed with a reservation, so show up early to secure your spot to hang out while sharing a plate of pork belly nachos or a roasted mushroom flatbread. 

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  • Restaurants
  • River North

This all-day concept from Lettuce Entertain You serves lunch and dinner, with a menu centered around hand-stretched pizzas, artisanal pastas and grilled seafood. Second only to the food is the sizable outdoor terrace, which hugs the Chicago River and offers breathtaking views of the city. The all-season patio features retractable sidewalls and a paneled roof that opens and closes to provide shelter from the cold and the rain. Grab a spritz and take it all in.

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • West Loop
  • price 3 of 4

Inspired by the natural elements of Croatia’s Adriatic coast, the patio at Rose Mary features light wood tables topped with blue and white striped umbrellas and surrounded by plants. Beat the heat at the Mediterranean oasis with a light meal of grilled clams with smoked lobster butter or roasted sunchoke risotto paired with a glass of sparkling rosé or a refreshing cocktail like the You Know, a blend of vodka, Aperol, salted grapefruit and hop cordial.

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  • Restaurants
  • Latin American
  • Bucktown
  • price 1 of 4

This spot is simple, authentic, cheap, super casual, friendly and all about the enclosed patio that wraps around the kitchen. Start with an order of beef & potato and plantain & cheese empanadas dipped in a creamy green sauce. Make it a meal by adding the Guy Fieri-approved steak-and-beans “pepito” sandwich and sweet plantains. Bring a bottle of malbec to match, or some rum to add to a piña colada pitcher. End the meal with an oatmeal shake (sounds strange, tastes great).

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Mckinley Park
  • price 1 of 4

Enjoy beachside vibes all year round on the breezy patio of La Palapa. The Mexican mariscos specialist pulls out all the stops to bring diners to the coast, decorating its outdoor space with gravel, thatch umbrellas and fake palm trees. Grab a table, order some shrimp empanadas or ceviche pescado and you’ll feel like you’re in paradise.

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  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Lincoln Park

Situated right next to Lake Michigan and the Lakefront Trail, this restaurant inside Chicago Park District event venue Theater on the Lake offers an unparalleled backdrop. The menu features approachable Midwestern fare but the main attraction are the stunning views of the water and skyline that accompany every meal on the 80-seat patio.

  • Restaurants
  • Contemporary American
  • River West/West Town
  • price 2 of 4

The sprawling indoor-outdoor terrace at Frontier beckons from Milwaukee Avenue, luring diners in with trays of just-shucked oysters and the scent of crispy fried chicken sandwiches. The summer-ready cocktails and ice-cold bottles of Miller Lite don't hurt either.

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  • Restaurants
  • Wicker Park

Tucked just off the beaten path in Wicker Park, chef Brian Jupiter's Ina Mae Tavern is a tasty tribute to Southern comfort food and New Orleans. The wraparound sidewalk patio is the perfect place to smash a hurricane cocktail before tucking into an order of hush puppies with honey pimento butter and a fried shrimp po' boy. Wash it all down with a boozy sno-ball.

  • Restaurants
  • Hamburgers
  • Wicker Park
  • price 2 of 4

The menu at this Wicker Park offshoot of Au Cheval is extremely simple: hamburgers, cheeseburgers, fries and booze. Claim your patty and exit the dark, cozy interior in favor of the sunny patio out back. Surrounded by greenery and adorned with bistro lights, the quaint outdoor space transports diners to a casual backyard barbecue.

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  • Restaurants
  • Pizza
  • Hyde Park

The only thing better than pizza is pizza on a patio. At Hyde Park favorite Nella Pizza e Pasta, pizzaiola Nella Grassano churns out extraordinary Neapolitan-style pies for you to enjoy outside. Order a classic margherita as well as a spritz—it’ll almost feel like you’re vacationing in Naples.

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Douglas

Start your day at this Bronzeville staple owned by celebrity stylist Peytyn Willborn and helmed by chef Larry Pierce. The sizable side terrace offers plenty of seating as well as heating and overhead covering in case the weather turns. You’ll find breakfast dishes served all day with specialties including jerk shrimp and grits and a Cajun crawfish omelet. Come for lunch for Italian eats like calamari fritti and spicy chicken alfredo.

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  • Restaurants
  • Japanese
  • West Loop

Take in picture-perfect views of the Chicago skyline on the 11th floor of the Nobu Hotel, which offers a lounge-like atmosphere with plush chairs, couches and low, long tables perfect for hanging out with a group of friends. You'll also enjoy nigiri, sushi and small plates along with sake or a cocktail like a lychee and elderflower martini.

  • Restaurants
  • American
  • West Loop
  • price 2 of 4

The enclosed patio as Saint Lou’s Assembly proved so popular that 16” On Center transformed the concept to Lou’s Backyard. Grab a spot at one of the umbrella-shaded picnic tables or on the bleacher seating around the perimeter and snack on tater tots and loaded waffle fries while cooling off with a glass of frosé. If you’re feeling competitive, you can also try out their bocce ball court.

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  • Restaurants
  • Cuban
  • Logan Square
  • price 1 of 4

The festive four-seasons patio at 90 Miles Cuban Cafe is a great place to hang out any time of day. Visit in the morning for the strong kick of cafe con leche or bring your own bottle of rum or tequila to pour into a pitcher of mojito or paloma mix and spend the evening drinking while nibbling empanadas and traditional entrees like ropa vieja.

  • Restaurants
  • Contemporary American
  • River North
  • price 3 of 4

Watch boats go by on the Chicago River on River Roast’s plant-lined patio, which features umbrellas to keep you shady during a hot summer day and strings of lights to add to the city’s glow at night. Feast on tavern fare including roasted rack of lamb and a fried chicken sandwich with spicy remoulade while sipping an old fashioned or espresso martini. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Soul and southern American
  • Hyde Park
  • price 2 of 4

The interior dining room at Virtue is a special place, thanks in no small part to the art chef-owner Erick Williams has curated for the space. But come summertime, the sidewalk patio offers diners some fresh air while they feast on chicken- and sausage-studded gumbo, blackened catfish atop Carolina gold rice, and banana pudding with Nilla wafers and cool whip.

  • Restaurants
  • Eclectic
  • Lincoln Park
  • price 3 of 4

One of the most romantic restaurants in the city also boasts a front patio with fireplace tables. Have a fondue date night—filled with cheese, chocolate and more—with that special someone or gather a group of friends for a fun evening outside. Outdoor seating is by request only, so inquire when making a reservation.

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  • Restaurants
  • Latin American
  • Streeterville

Get a view of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline from the 150-seat patio at Lirica on Navy Pier. The waterfront restaurant offers a menu of Latin-inspired fare including beef empanadas with chimichurri and Spanish fried chicken with morita mole, a combination best paired with a mojito, margarita or gin and tonic. They also offer a $60 prix-fixe menu if you’re dining before seeing a show at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

  • Restaurants
  • Pizza
  • Lincoln Park
  • price 2 of 4

Located a short walk from the Lincoln Park Zoo, Ranalli's boasts a sidewalk patio that's nearly always packed when the weather cooperates. Snag a seat under one of the red umbrellas and dig into a menu that features buratta, burgers and hearty thin-crust pizzas (the hot honey soppressata is always a good bet). Leave room for dessert from Sugar Junkie, an adjacent concept serving gelato, sorbet, cookies and more.

Find more of the best outdoor spots in Chicago

  • Restaurants

We've found sky-high options to suit every dining mood, whether you're looking to feast on a towering plate of French toast at brunch, grab some classic pub grub or spring for a night out at one of the fanciest hotels. Like all Chicago restaurants, the locations on this list are still subject to capacity limits, so it's best to call ahead or make a reservation before visiting. 

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