We've seen dining igloos take over Fulton Market and heated cabanas pop up on Pilot Project Brewing's patio, but Maplewood Brewery's outdoor structures are a bit more intimate. The four lounge pods seat up to five people each (four comfortably) and will allow the Logan Square brewery to continue welcoming guests outdoors, in spite of the colder weather that's surely on its way.
Designed by Proletariat Woodshop in Sauganash, Maplewood's lounge pods are housed in a single glass-enclosed structure separated by wooden walls and outfitted with individual space heaters. Guests will be able to enjoy Maplewood's menu of beer, cocktails and hot toddies in the pods, as well as burgers, poutine and corndogs from the kitchen.
"We were in need of a safe and quick solution for outdoor service as temperatures began to drop in Chicago," Maplewood marketing manager Rita Beckman told us. "The Lounge Pods seemed like the best option, having their own entrances and ventilation systems ideal for social distancing."
The lounge pods were set up this week and Maplewood is taking 90-minute reservations via Tock, charging a $7 fee that goes directly to the brewery's staff support fund. Despite the warm temperatures in the forecast, reservations for this weekend are already sold out, so book ahead if you want to take advantage of the heated pods once the mercury begins to drop again.
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