Five Desitinations For Outdoor Drinking In Chicago

Five destinations for summer drinking

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Outdoor drinking is a noble pastime. Sadly, the season is all-too brief in this long-winter town.

So go ahead, take the afternoon off and find your place in the sun at one of these new (or newly improved) patios around town where you can indulge in the perfect summertime trifecta: fresh air, good drinks and snacks.

DESTINATION WHY YOU SHOULD DRINK THERE
Parson's Chicken & Fish

(Logan Square)

Spend an afternoon at a picnic table on Parson's sprawling patio, which opens at 11 a.m. on weekends. Sip away the hours with Negroni slushies, salty Micheladas or grapefruit-flavored Steigl Radlers, accompanied by fried chicken, grilled-octopus salad and exemplary pimento-cheese toast.

Little Goat Diner

(West Loop)

Sip local-fruit-spiked cocktails and Midwest-brewed beer on the new second-story patio of this West Loop restaurant. Bring up sandwiches, salads and spreads procured at Little Goat Bread below, or order from a limited menu of savory bar snacks.
Homestead

(West Town)

This seasonal rooftop restaurant returned for its second year with an ambitious new chef, Chris Curren, and bartender, Benjamin Schiller (formerly of Boka). Schiller shakes carrot juice with Aperol, gin and mint from Homestead's substantial rooftop garden, and serves mezcal with raspberry ice.

Fountainhead

(Ravenswood)

Though this tavern's rooftop patio isn't new, its compelling food program is. Pours from its epic beer and whiskey list, one of the city's largest and best, can now be paired with bites from new chef Cleetus Friedman, including Sriracha deviled eggs and smoked hummus.

American Junkie

(River North)

This sprawling restaurant complex might seem an unlikely fit with the others on the list. But its upstairs dining room, with a retractable roof, is an excellent spot for weekend-afternoon drinking. Pair a Solemn Oath draft with sophisticated snacks, like crispy cauliflower with almond vinaigrette.