The 26 best outdoor restaurants in Chicago

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 fried red snapper served with salsa, pickled veggies, peanut aioli and handmade tortillas. Make your time outdoors last with dessert—the arroz con leche is an instant classic.

This summer, Chicagoans have four Parson's to choose from: the original location in Logan Square, outposts in Lincoln Park and West Town, and the newest location in 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 tops the fried (if you can believe it).

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.

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 summer, the Duck Inn's tree-lined garden transforms into an intimate destination for brunch and dinner. Visit on Wednesdays for a backyard pizza night featuring Neapolitan-style pies baked in the restaurant’s wood-fired oven

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.

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.

Insiders know that tucked behind this Logan Square restaurant is a serene patio that offers a picturesque backdrop for leisurely summer evenings. Chef-owner Joe Frillman plans his menu around the season, whipping up thoughtful, produce-packed pasta dishes that rotate regularly. One dish that will always be on the menu? The addictive onion dip with handmade potato chips. Stop by for lunch from 11am to 2pm for a chicken parm or smoked whitefish sandwich and pick up some farm-fresh produce and handmade pasta to cook at home.

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 rum punch cocktail before tucking into an order of hush puppies with pimento honey butter and a fried shrimp po' boy. Wash it all down with a frosty frozen daiquiri.

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 more than 35 selections of sherry from across Spain, phenomenal pours of wine, a lineup of gin and tonics and zero-proof cocktails to boot.

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.

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 ramp butter or artichoke and spinach risotto paired with a glass of sparkling rosé or a refreshing cocktail like the Main Squeeze, a blend of strawberry vodka, Campari and hibiscus.

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. DJs add to the vibe from 4-10pm Friday and Saturday, but no matter when you go you can enjoy nigiri, sushi and small plates along with sake or a cocktail like a lychee and elderflower martini.

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 steak tacos with tomatillo salsa, a combination best paired with a mojito, margarita or spiked horchata. They also offer a $60 prix-fixe menu if you’re dining before seeing a show at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

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.

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 black truffle arancini and loaded waffle fries while cooling off with a hurricane or glass of frosé. If you’re feeling competitive, you can also try out their bocce ball court.

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.

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 with a Cuban omelet sandwich 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.

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.

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.

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 from executive chef Cedric Harden including slow-braised pork shank with giardiniera and a fried chicken sandwich with spicy remoulade while sipping a refreshing aperol spritz or Moscow mule.

This spot is simple, authentic, cheap, supercasual, friendly—and all about the 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).

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 awhile. 

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.

In Logan Square, there are plenty of action-packed patios to choose from, but not all of them boast one of the best burgers in Chicago. Even on the hottest summer day, this patty is best devoured outdoors. Grab one of the coveted seats on the sidewalk patio, gaze at the Centennial Monument and tuck into layers of melty American cheese, hoisin aioli, pickled jalapeños, pickles, miso butter, sautéed onions and a cloud of sweet potato frizzles.

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.

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.