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Don’t make plans to stake out your regular table at your old beer garden standby just yet. From backyard patios to sure-to-be-a-scene rooftop decks, we’ve got the scoop on outdoor scenes at a dozen new bars, all gearing up for their first alfresco season. Get ready to jockey for a spot at these watering holes.
UPDATE: Read up on two alfresco-driven bars, The Red Canary and Cedar Hotel, in the works for mid-June.
District Bar
The 80-seat dining room of this coming-soon sports lounge and eatery gets plenty of air time, thanks to a facade that opens up to the street.
Fuel Kitchen & Cocktail Lounge
Thanks to 75 seats along Division and Hermitage, there’s plenty of room to munch on thin-crust pizza and smoothies by day and sip flavored mojitos by night.
The Ledge Bar & Grill
This neighborhood hang in Wicker Park offers two spots to catch some fresh air: near the French doors at the front of the bar, or on the backyard patio, stocked with benches.
Market (pictured)
The biggest decision you’ll make at this soon-to-debut West Loop sports bar won’t be whether to sit outdoors, but where to sit outdoors. Will it be the sidewalk cafe, the TV-stocked beer garden or three floors up on the rooftop deck boasting cabanas and a stunning skyline view?
ETA: Now open
Edge
Owner Anastacio Gonzalez was lured to this Division Street location because of its double-wide sidewalks, which he's now making use of with 104 seats along both Division and Paulina.
Bull & Bear
Thanks to its location on a southwest-facing corner, there are plenty of rays to soak up until the sun sets on this bar’s 80-seat patio tricked out with lanterns, flowers and umbrella-topped tables.
Sully’s House Tap Room
Both sun and shade seekers can find common ground at this laid-back bar’s 80-seat sidewalk patio, partially covered by a canopy. A 35-seat rooftop terrace is in the early stages of build-out, aiming to debut sometime this summer.
Rockit Bar & Grill Wrigleyville
Love snacking on truffled fries at Rockit’s sidewalk cafe in River North? You can do the same at its sibling location with an 80-plus-seat patio along Waveland Avenue.
Theory
Outdoor seating at this sophisticated sports lounge is limited (just 12 seats in front of the bar’s French doors), but thanks to new TVs installed facing the sidewalk, you can keep one eye on the game and the other on who’s passing by.
Crocodile
Known for its free pizza perks and basement DJ bashes, this Wicker Park lounge has set its sidewalk with wrought-iron tables that can be smooshed together for groups or separated for duos.
Roof
This rooftop cocktailing destination on the 27th floor of new Loop hotel The Wit boasts a fireplace inside, firepits outside and a glass-enclosed extension from the roof housing an 8-person table.
Simone’s Bar
This Pilsen bar has supplemented its indoor booths made from seatbelts and pinball machines with sidewalk seating along Morgan Street.
Lisa Arnett is the Metromix nightlife producer. lmarnett@tribune.com
