The Outdoor Greatest Hits List
Our guide to Chicago's classic summertime spots.
Adrian Kane
17 Spots
After a brutal winter and the "will it or won't it" continual cliffhanger of spring, there is nothing like the reward of Chicago in the summertime. So naturally, every day it's nice out, you're going to want to be outside. Here's our list of the quintessential places for you to do that.
Update June 10th 2020: After months of being closed, Chicago restaurants have been allowed to reopen. Check out the list of Chicago Restaurants Reopened For Outdoor Dining for up-to-date info.
The Chicago Summer Guide
the Outdoor spots
Susie Lacocque
Superdawg
$$$$ 6363 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Superdawg has definitely put the time in to qualify as an outdoor greatest hit: it's an old-fashioned drive-in that's been around since 1948. You can order your hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and milkshakes from a speaker, and a carhop will bring them out to you. They'll even hook a tray to your window so you can eat without getting mustard on your dashboard. Afterwards, go to a drive-in movie, if you can find one. If you do, let us know.
Sandy Noto
Kaiser Tiger
American , Bar Food , Burgers in West Loop
$$$$ 1415 W Randolph St
When it comes to a big group hang outside, Kaiser Tiger in the West Loop is indispensable. This place has giant picnic tables that can easily fit you and 18 of your closest friends, and its sausage-and-beer-focused menu includes something called The Bomb - five pounds of beef and pork sausage stuffed with bacon and wrapped in a brown sugar bacon weave. It's served with buns and fries, and in case this wasn't painfully clear, it's a good thing to share. If everyone is able to function after eating it, there's a bocce court here, too.
Park + Field
Bar Food in Logan Square
$$$$ 3509 W Fullerton Ave
Park + Field in Logan Square is less of an outdoor patio and more of an outdoor empire. The space is gigantic, with tables, bocce courts, Adirondack chairs, multiple firepits (where you can make s'mores), and a camper-turned-bar. If you're forced to go inside for some reason, you'll find that it's decorated like an old-timey gymnasium. But unless you're curious about what the Olympics looked like during WWII, just plan on enjoying the patio instead.
$$$$ 1059 N. Wolcott Ave.
If you're afraid of change, we have some bad news: this fall, Happy Village is getting renovated. But the good news is you still have one more summer to take advantage of this divey cash-only spot in Ukranian Village just the way it is. This place feels a little bit like going to visit somebody's house - the backyard has mismatched plastic furniture, tents, and a little pond that belongs at your aunt's place in the suburbs. Come for cheap drinks and bar food that's perfect for summer day drinking before this spot changes forever.
Tacos , Tex-Mex in Wicker Park
$$$$ 1531 N Damen Ave
Back in 1776 when America was founded and we did our first Summer Guide, we pledged that as long as The Infatuation had a Summer Guide, Big Star in Wicker Park would always be on it. This is because it has one of the most likeable patios in the city. It's lively, perfect for day drinking, and dog-friendly, too. The tacos are perfectly fine, but you're here for the space. So unless a meteor destroys it, it's staying on here.
Sorry—looks like you screwed up that email address
INFATUATION NEWSLETTER
Get our newest guides & reviews first,
plus more restaurant intel you won't find anywhere else.
TRVL ATL ATX BOS CHI LDN LA MIA NYC PHL SF SEA DC
Smart move. Excellent information will arrive in your inbox soon.
Do you have friends and family who also eat food? Enter their emails below and we'll make sure they're eating well. (Don't worry, we won't subscribe them to our newsletter - they can do that themselves.)
Help Your Friends
Well done. You're a good person. All good. We still like you.
Want to quickly find restaurants on the go? Download The Infatuation app.
Parson's Chicken & Fish
American , Southern in Humboldt Park , Logan Square
$$$$ 2952 W Armitage Ave
Parson's is another spot that has an outdoor area more memorable than its food. We're not saying the food is bad - the fried chicken and fish here are pretty good. But as with Big Star, we're mostly here for the patio, which is big and enclosed so you don't feel like you're sitting on the street. Plus, there's an outdoor bar serving negroni slushies. The large picnic tables make it perfect for groups, and there are big umbrellas to shade you from the sun. Basically, if there is an inside to this restaurant, we don't want to know about it.
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!
Spanish in Lincoln Park
$$$$ 2024 N Halsted St
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba has been in Lincoln Park for more than 30 years, and it's still going strong. It's a friendly, upbeat spot for tapas, and works for all sorts of groups, from a low-key girls' night to dinner with the family. It's even better when you're in the large, open-air room, and you particularly want to come for brunch, when you can try a lot of different small bites, like waffle-battered chicken sticks or shrimp and grits. There's a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar, too, and as far as we're concerned, the garnishes count as tapas.
American in Lincoln Square
$$$$ 4539 N Lincoln Ave
Your Northside outdoor go-to for everything from dates to group meals. The American food at this Lincoln Square spot is tasty, and there's a fantastic brunch with great pastries. The nicely-sized covered back patio is spacious and pretty, decorated with plants and flowers, and because it isn't in a trendier neighborhood, you can typically get a seat. Order one of the charcuterie boards to share.
American in Hyde Park
$$$$ 5311 S Lake Park West
This spot is from the same people who own Dusek's/Thalia Hall in Pilsen, and is similar in that it also serves modern American food (like pierogi ravioli and a great cheeseburger) and has an upstairs music venue. But one big difference is that at Promontory, there's a huge outdoor patio. So have dinner on it with your parents, or come before a show with friends.
Saint Lou's Assembly
American in Fulton Market , West Loop
$$$$ 664 West lake Street
The West Loop is full of brand new restaurants, so it's not surprising if you're inclined to choose one of those over St Lou's Assembly. But during the summer, this place needs to be in your rotation, primarily because of its backyard, which is perfect for a number of situations. In addition to a covered area with picnic benches, you'll find round tables on mulch, some stadium seating benches, bocce ball, and an outdoor bar so you never have to go inside. All this combined with upscale cafeteria-style food (like meatloaf and sides) and small plates like foie gras with biscuits makes Saint Lou's unique.
Spacca Napoli
Pizza in Ravenswood
$$$$ 1769 W Sunnyside Ave
Spacca Napoli, on a quiet corner in Ravenswood, is one of our favorite pizza places in all of Chicago. It has the most authentic Neapolitan pies in the city, and the non-central location keeps the patio peaceful and relaxed. You probably won't leave without briefly considering buying a house with a yard in the charming tree-lined neighborhood, but honestly, just keep coming back for pizza instead. It doesn't require as much maintenance.
Moody's Pub
American , Bar Food , Burgers in Edgewater
$$$$ 5910 N Broadway St
This Edgewater classic has been around since 1959, and while we weren't regulars back then, it feels like it probably hasn't changed a lot. The menu is short, focusing on drinks and a small selection of sandwiches and burgers, all of which are solid. But what makes Moody's particularly special is its outdoor area. The patio, surrounded by large trees and decorated with twinkly lights, is huge - so come with a group and camp out.
Piccolo Sogno
Italian in River West
$$$$ 464 N Halsted St
For an easy romantic Italian meal outside, the answer is Piccolo Sogno every time. The patio here is covered with string-lit trees, sequestered from the street, and large enough to accommodate a lot of people without feeling too crowded. As mentioned, it's great for dates, but it also works for dinner with just about anyone else - parents, colleagues, friends, time-share salespeople, etc.
Cindy's
American in Loop , Magnificent Mile
$$$$ 12 S. Michigan Ave.
Cindy's is an all-season player. The covered rooftop offers a fantastic view of the Chicago skyline, so even when it's 15 degrees outside, you can show friends and family why living here is still a good idea (yes, you can see Pequod's if you squint). When it's nice out, you can also make use of the terrace. Come here with a group for brunch - their large-format dishes (like blueberry pancakes and lox and bagel platters) are meant to serve three to four.
Parlor Pizza
American , Bar Food , Pizza in West Loop
$$$$ 108 N Green St
Parlor is Big Star's college freshman brother home for the weekend. This spot has two patios (guaranteeing you won't have to wait too long to snag a seat) and plenty of shade, so basically, you can hang out here for as long as the beer and food last. While the pizza isn't going to win any awards, it's tasty, and the long menu of solid bar food makes this spot a crowd-pleaser. It works even if you're not rushing a fraternity.
Calumet Fisheries
American , Seafood in Calumet Heights
$$$$ 3259 E 95th St
Do a few sets of tables and chairs outside a seafood shack count as outdoor dining? We vote yes. And those tables and chairs are the best place to enjoy the smoked fish at Calumet Fisheries on the 95th Street Bridge. Also valid: eating while leaning against your car, or sitting in the trunk with the back door open (don't eat it with the windows closed unless you want your whole car to smell like fish). Get the smoked salmon and fried shrimp.
Mott St.
Fusion in Noble Square , Wicker Park
$$$$ 1401 N Ashland Ave
We like the Asian fusion food at Mott Street in Logan Square more and more every time we eat here. And we enjoy this place the most when we get to sit on the outdoor patio. It's large enough for a group, but still calm enough for date night. Plus, if you come for brunch, you can eat the delicious burger outside (normally it's reserved for those sitting at the bar).
Chicago Restaurants Reopened For Outdoor Dining
A running list of the reopened Chicago restaurants where you can eat and drink outside.
The Best Chicago Rooftops (That Are Open Right Now)
The best rooftop restaurants and bars in the city.
Where To Have Date Night Outside
The best restaurants in Chicago for a summer date night.
The Best Ice Cream Shops In Chicago
Where to go for ice cream in Chicago.
New in guides
23 Brunch Spots With Heated And Covered Patios
Brunch places where you won't need mittens to pick up your Bloody Mary.
The Best Pizza In Chicago
Our guide to Chicago's best pizza spots - from deep dish to thin crust and beyond.
The 13 Most Exciting New Delivery Options In Chicago
Bored of ordering the same thing? Order takeout from one of these spots.
Chicago's New Restaurant Openings
The new restaurant openings you should know about.