A new year means a new slew of rooftops and patios for you to nosh on bites, sip on drinks and soak in the summer sun. Whether you’re in it for the vitamin D or to turn up the heat on your Instagram, al fresco dining is here for you in the few warm months we get to enjoy before we’re plunged into darkness and cold again.
We’ve rounded up 40 spots for you to check out this year, organized alphabetically by neighborhood. Unless otherwise noted, most patios will open once the weather decides to stay consistently warm.
Bucktown
Etta has a fully retractable awning on its rooftop that allows for both an indoor and outdoor space with string lights and plants. Enjoy the full menu or grab a drink and snack. — 1840 W. North Ave., 312-757-4444, ettarestaurant.com
Fulton Market
Aba will bring Mediterranean summer vibes on its 220-seat rooftop patio with lounge-style and dining seating, fire pits and an indoor-outdoor bar. Leave the doggos at home for this one. — 302 N. Green St., 773-645-1400, abarestaurantchicago.com
Stephanie Izard’s newest restaurant, Cabra, is serving up Peruvian-inspired fare. Choose from two outdoor lounges — one by the hotel pool — to nosh on ceviche while sipping on pisco sours. — 200 N. Green St., 312-761-1717, cabrachicago.com
Sip on craft roasts, cocktails and specialty teas on Fairgrounds’ 22-seat patio with yellow chairs and whitewashed wood. — 1330 W. Fulton Market, 312-265-0761, fairgrounds.cafe
Joe’s Imports has a 15-seat patio with bistro tables where you can enjoy seasonal wines, dinner and brunch. The front of the restaurant also opens up to the patio with accordion doors. — 813 W. Fulton Market, 312-736-1750, joeswineimports.com
Hang out on Punch Bowl Social’s patio for drinks and bites before heading inside for bowling, karaoke and VR games. — 310 N. Green St., 312-809-9551, punchbowlsocial.com
Ramen-San will have a 16-seat patio with four high-top communal tables and large umbrellas to shield you from the sun while you slurp on ramen or throw back sake bombs. — 219 N. Green St., 773-645-0085, ramensan.com
Gold Coast
The Lunchroom at SPACE 519 will have a puppy-friendly, 24- seat patio with black and white striped umbrellas, white tables and chairs, and white planters with box hedges. Sit outside for breakfast and lunch or brunch on weekends. — 200 E. Chestnut St., 312-751-1519, space519.com
Mozzarella Store, Pizza & Caffe will offer fresh, made-daily “Fior di Latte” mozzarella and burrata in addition to fresh and aged Italian cheeses. Enjoy pizza on the 42-seat patio that is decorated with umbrellas and planters with greenery. — 822 N. Michigan Ave., mozzarellastores.com
Hyde Park
Red Fish Bleu Fish is serving hot and cold dishes outside this summer, so prepare your body for red snapper, fresh oysters, lobster, pastas and more. Order a margarita and sit on the 30-seat patio. — 5121 S. Harper Ave., 773-952-4744, redfishbleufish.com
Lincoln Park
Tokyo-based Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya will have a 15-seat, dog-friendly patio where you can enjoy miso ramen, chicken karaage, takoyaki and Japanese beer. — 1457 N. Halsted St., 312-631-3165, kizuki.com
Shore Club has expanded its beachfront patio with new lawn games, cabanas, daybeds and lots of summery cocktails. — 1603 N. Lake Shore Drive, 312-635-8058, shoreclubchi.com
Parson’s Chicken and Fish will feature 12 umbrella-topped tables, plus a dozen or so outdoor bar seats. While lounging in the sun, You can order from the full menu, with such items as fried and grilled chicken, mac and cheese, popcorn chicken, fish dinners, ceviche, Negroni slushies, pickle backs, beer and more. — 2952 W. Armitage Ave., 773-384-3333, parsonschickenandfish.com
Logan Square
Lonesome Rose already had a sidewalk patio last summer, but this year, it will have a rooftop deck with 40 seats. Both food and drink menus will be available on the rooftop that overlooks California Avenue. Look out for dishes like a Texas tinga taco, cheesy shrimp tostada and margaritas. — 2101 N. California Ave., 773-770-3414, lonesomerose.com
Mini Mott is already known for its Mott burgers, wings and soft serve, and now you eat them outside on its 22-seat patio with your pup. Don’t miss out on the cocktails and milkshakes. — 3057 W. Logan Blvd., 773-904-7620, minimott.com
Celebrate Indian flavors at Superkhana International’s open-air, Haveli-style courtyard hidden inside the restaurant. It will be decorated with twinkle lights and plants, providing an oasis for you to eat and drink. — 3059 W. Diversey Ave.
The Loop
About Last Knife’s patio offers views of Millennium Park while you sip on the large-format St. Germain Spritz that comes in a branded pitcher. The full menu is available on the patio. — 168 N. Michigan Ave., 312-392-2440, alkchicago.com
Enjoy lunch outside or post-work drinks at Fisk & Co.’s 672-square-foot patio. Bring the pup and enjoy city views while you sip on rosé and summer shandies. Open May 4. — 225 N. Wabash Ave., 312-236-9300, fiskandcochicago.com
Soak in the sun and Bohemian vibes at Beatnik On the River’s 80-seat riverfront patio with pillow-topped Indonesian daybeds, Moroccan lanterns and lush greenery. There also will be an expansive patio connected to Cafe Bonhomme on Wacker Drive. — 180 N. Upper Wacker Drive, 312-526-3345, beatnikontheriver.com
Taureaux Tavern’s all-season pergola is adorned with string lights, large overhead lanterns and Parisian bistro chairs. The space can seat 72 people for single diners or private events and is dog-friendly. Saturday brunch will also include brunch dishes in Taureaux Tavern-branded food and water bowls for your fluffy friends. — 155 W. Van Buren St., 312-624-8778, taureauxtavern.com
Magnolia Glen
Enjoy Indian fare and Indian-inspired gin and whisky cocktails on Mango Pickle’s 10-seat patio this summer. Snack on paneer pops with ginger, green chilies and cilantro chutney, or lamb khichda with moong dal, basmati rice, house-made yogurt, sev, mango pickle and garlic chutney. — 5842 N. Broadway, 773-944-5555, mangopicklechicago.com
Near North
Sip on rosé or take turns pouring from a porron on Bar Ramone’s 16-seat patio. Enjoy dishes like pan con tomato with manchego, crispy Spanish rice and Galician octopus. Leave your four-legged friends at home. — 441 N. Clark St., 312-985-6909, barramone.com
Blue Door Kitchen + Garden has a 70-seat patio surrounded by lush, leafy greenery, vintage chandeliers, wicker armchairs with plush cushions and pillows and oversized umbrellas. — 52 W. Elm St., 312-573-4000, bluedoorkitchenchicago.com
Old Town
BomboBar’s new location has a 20-person patio, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the warm weather this summer while getting your ice cream, doughnuts and sweet treats. — 1529 N. Wells St., 312-549-8433, bombobar.com
Oak Brook
Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner or coffee on Beatrix’s 40-seat patio. — 272 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, 630-491-1415, beatrixrestaurants.com
Pilsen
Monnie Burke’s has a huge patio with more than 200 outdoor seats, a dedicated bar, fire pit, private events area and heaters. Sit outside for dinner on weekdays and brunch on the weekends. — 1163 W. 18th St., 312-243-2410, monnieburkes.com
River North
Mason, an American supper club-style restaurant featuring steaks, seafood, pasta and salads, has a 20-seat sidewalk patio where you can order from the full dinner menu every night and indulge in happy hour on weekdays. Open mid-May. — 613 N. Wells St., 312-643-0449, masonrestaurant.com
Relax on Torchio Pasta Bar’s patio that’s lined with flower boxes, yellow patio umbrellas and string lights. The 170-foot patio seats 16 people and is dog-friendly. Plus, all patio guests get roasted rosemary assorted nuts before chowing down on pasta Bolognese and spring vegetable fettuccine. Open mid-May. — 738 N. Wells St., 312-643-0538, torchiopastabar.com
South Loop
SX Sky Bar at Hotel Essex is a bilevel restaurant and lounge with retractable floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Grant Park and Lake Michigan. Look out for small plates with Californian and Asian flavors, as well as cocktails. — 808 S. Michigan Ave., 312-939-2800, hotelessexchicago.com/restaurant-bar.html
VU Rooftop Bar has an outdoor patio 22 stories up so you can catch views of Lake Michigan and hang out near fire pits while having brunch on the weekends or cocktails on a weeknight. — 133 E. Cermak Road, 312-528-0191, vurooftop.com
Streeterville
The Hampton Social has a 62-seat patio and a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows that opens up for a full-on coastal vibe despite being surrounded by skyscrapers. Look out for seafood bites and frosé. — 164 E. Grand Ave., 312-414-1861, hamptonsocial.com
West Loop
Perle at soon-to-open Politan Row Chicago is a beer garden and Politan Row’s first stand-alone beverage concept. Look for the matte-black shipping container that fits 158 people, German beers on draft and seasonal German wine. Opening in May. — 111 N. Aberdeen St., chicago.politanrow.com
The Press Room has a 50-person patio where you can sip on Old-Fashioneds, Australian wines and cocktails while you nibble on charcuterie, caviar and lamb meatballs. — 1134 W. Washington Blvd., 331-240-1914, pressroomchicago.com
Proxi is launching its 30-seat patio with a mix of lounge and bar seating, and tables for dining. Head there for bar and dinner hours or for brunch. — 565 W. Randolph St., 312-466-1950, proxichicago.com
West Town
Funkenhausen will have a 16-seat patio where you can enjoy Southern and Bavarian flavors in dishes like Schnitz and Grits and a Black Forest doughnut. — 1709 W. Chicago Ave., 312-929-4727, funkenhausen.com
Wicker Park
Dine on Filipino fare like lumpia, lechon belly and kalamansi tart in Cebu’s intimate, dog-friendly back patio. There’s room for 50 people. Take in the warm weather while sipping on Filipino-inspired cocktails like the Hoy Pinoy, made with Uruapan Charanda Blanco rum, Ocho Plata tequila, Contratto aperitivo, hibiscus syrup, fresh lime juice and saffron bitters. — 2211 W. North Ave., 773-799-8650, cebuchicago.com
Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods has a patio on both Beach Avenue and Wood Street so you can have brunch, dinner or happy hour outside. Look out for the Sno-Ball made with finely shaved, fluffy ice and flavored sugar syrup with the option to make it boozy. — 1415 N. Wood St., 773-360-8320, inamaetavern.com
Machine will serve seasonally inspired fare and cocktails on its 105-seat patio. Look for the flower cart where you can buy bouquets. — 1846 W. Division St., 773-276-7422, dinemachine.com
Wrightwood Neighbors
The Backyard at Broken Barrel Bar boasts a 2,000-square-foot outdoor beer garden and patio with a full bar, bleachers and communal seating, life-sized Jenga, live music, flat screen TVs and graffiti walls. Sit outside and have dinner, brunch and late-night noshes. — 2548 N. Southport Ave., 773-327-4900, brokenbarrelbar.com
Wrigleyville
Hush Money is the second-floor patio above Mordecai and will be slinging cocktails all summer. Rare spirits fans will be delighted by this bar’s collectible vintage liquors. Opening this spring. — 3632 N. Clark St., 773-269-5310, mordecaichicago.com
Maddon’s Post will serve Italian-meets-Polish food, and you can get it all on its 22-seat patio. Tony Mantuano and Cubs manager Joe Maddon teamed up for this restaurant which will offer dishes like freshly baked pizzas, pastas, pierogi and paczki. — 1119 W. Waveland Ave, maddonspost.com
This article has been updated with two new patios, Lonesome Rose and the new Parson’s in Lincoln Park.
Twitter @GraceWong630
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