Julia Momose’s drive helped ensure state lawmakers allowed bars to sell to-go cocktails, which isn’t a small task. The star bartender, and her partners at Kumiko, continue to sell to-go drinks that are expertly mixed and balanced with a lean toward Japanese flavors and spirits. Momose is trying to bring Kumiko’s unique experience home and even offers craft ice to those who want to go the extra mile. As the staff gears up to reopen for indoor service, they still serve up patio drinks from a pickup window.

The much-hyped Japanese restaurant from Robert De Niro has finally arrived in West Loop after eight years. Chicagoans aren’t sure they care, but upstairs, the rooftop has a lovely view of the city, and staff seem dedicated to social distancing off Randolph Restaurant Row. A winter strategy hasn’t been shared, so enjoy it before the ice. Reservations at the link.

The busiest patio in Pilsen (which also has a Lincoln Park location), serves plenty of margaritas inside a boisterous space that draws younger customers. Expect to wait in lines on weekends.

Osito’s, which opened in 2019, is geared for the rain with tent and heaters for outdoor service. Find an array of fancy liquors like mezcal and tequila, and a great selection of beer. Osito’s also sells food, including tacos. Reservations via OpenTable. They have offered to-go cocktails and growlers.

Inside the Sophy Hotel, Mesler Kitchen has become a community meeting space along busy 53rd Street in Hyde Park. This isn’t a normal hotel bar. It’s well designed and comfortable. A covered sidewalk patio provides outdoor space and two cocktails are available to go. Reservations via Resy.

Pilsen Yards is a home run as the bar owners revamped their space during the pandemic by adding a patio with a heated floor and a remodel. Serious cocktail fans are still waiting for the speakeasy-style cocktail bar inside the space. The Alderman, the bar inside the bar, will open later this summer. But for group hangs, Pilsen Yards may be the gold standard along 18th Street.

Pilot Project arrived in Logan Square and filled a niche for both bar goers and the beer industry. The massive patio and well-lit indoor space attracted crowds with a comfy spot to drink the fresh beer, coffee, and kombucha made on premises. For the beer industry, Pilot Project gave newish brewers an opportunity, as the unique set up is a low-cost way for beer makers to pursue their craft. There are five brewers, including Azadi and Brewer’s Kitchen, on tap currently.

Marz Community Brewing has brought its South Side suds from Bridgeport to the border of Bucktown and Logan Square. This is a mini version of Marz’s headquarters, with a zany space for friends to gather and machinate. There’s a tight beer list, CBD seltzers, and more. For snacks, find hot dogs and Polish sausages, which just amps the space’s Chicago credibility.

Will summer 2021 be the season of mini golf? The owners of Big Mini along Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park hope so. They’ve brought a DIY ethos in creating a mini golf bar with a full cocktail list to enjoy while playing on a 9-hole course. The windows swing out to Milwaukee for plenty of air, and customers can order from Big & Littles, which is a few doors northwest.

Navy Pier has been a ghost town until recently with the arrival of Lirica, the new restaurant inside the tourist attraction off Lake Michigan. The views are stellar with a patio along the pier’s boardwalk, and the cocktails are refreshing and potent. This will make a good summer spot for people watching.

Crushed by Giants, from the owners of DryHop Brewing — a Lakeview brewpub — has made adjustments since debuting during the pandemic inside the second-floor space where Heaven on Seven stood. But as one of two breweries in Downtown Chicago, the space and beer merit second looks so customers can enjoy thin-crust pizza and light and refreshing beers.

An anchor of the development on top of the former Children’s Memorial Hospital site in Lincoln Park, Verve is the Chicago location of the San Francisco restaurant with a New York retail shop. The focus is “anti-snob” service, where customers aren’t shunned for a lack of wine knowledge. Find wines by the glass and bottles, plus house cocktails.