Aerial view of a large multi-level patio where people sit at tables drinking cocktails together. — Recess has the largest patio in the city.

Where to Drink Outdoors in the West Loop and Fulton Market

Seats at these bars and restaurants are hot commodities

by Samantha Nelson May 26, 2022, 12:39pm CDT

If you book a reservation through an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

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Recess has the largest patio in the city.

| Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

by Samantha Nelson May 26, 2022, 12:39pm CDT

If you book a reservation through an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

The West Loop and Fulton Market are home to some of the trendiest restaurants and bars in Chicago, and when summer rolls around spots on their patios become valuable commodities. The area offers a wide variety of options for drinking outside, ranging from party patios with games and shots to quiet covered spaces perfect for sipping cocktails and sharing small plates. Seats in these ten places are sure to be in demand, but they’re worth the wait.

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Bunker

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The brand-new spot from the owner of Heritage Bicycles with a menu from chef Rick Ortiz of Antique Taco boasts a dog-friendly courtyard with a dedicated bar and outdoor TV. Order a burrito or Mexican-inspired dip with your drink. The cocktail menu is a mix of spins on classics like a gin and tonic made with celery and tarragon and more adventurous offerings like Improbable Purple, a frozen sipper made with gin, aquavit, blueberry, lavender, and balsamic vinegar.

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thru the patio, 1515 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60607

(773) 823-5818

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A cobblestone alleyway with tables. — Bunker serves burritos and cocktails on an outdoor patio.

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Kaiser Tiger

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Kaiser Tiger’s beer garden is open year round, hosting curling lanes in the winter and bocce courts in the summer. There’s plenty of space to hang out under the louvered roof and sip a seasonal cocktail or something from the extensive beer menu, plus a cheese curd-stuffed brat topped with beer mustard. Dogs aren’t allowed in the beer garden, but they’re welcome in the bar’s seasonal front patio.

1415 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 243-3100

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Federales Chicago

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Tequila ice shots are the signature drink at Federales, an open-air space. When revelers finish their shots, they can chuck their spent glasses at a bell to try to ring it. For drinkers looking for something a little bit less intense, the bar also offers a wide selection of margaritas made with tequila at every age and price point, plus a long list of mezcals ranked by smokiness.

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180 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607

(773) 831-9696

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An outdoor bar surrounded by counters and stools. — Open-air Federales specializes in frozen tequila shots.

Marvin's Food & Fuel

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A pair of heated pergolas on the corner of Fulton and Morgan streets offer a place to drink outside year-round. Indulge with bottomless bloody marys and mimosas during brunch or join the many hospitality workers that visit Marvin’s after their shifts for a late night menu of mozzarella sticks and grilled chicken wings. Pair the snacks with a strong drink like the Velvet Stiletto made with rum, fernet branca, and strawberry. The bar also recently launched happy hour, serving $6 cocktails and $3 rotating shots from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

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954 W Fulton Market St, Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 291-9255

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Bar Takito

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Shelter under the sidewalk pergola, which is lined with planters and hanging baskets filled with flowers, while sipping a classic Latin cocktail like a margarita or mojito and sharing a hamachi ceviche or guacamole with grilled pineapple. To make the most of the sun, come for brunch and order chilaquiles or an arepa benedict with a round of mimosas.

201 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 888-9485

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A sidewalk cafe with white tables with red umbrellas. — The patio at Bar Takito is a good place to sip a mojito or a margarita.

Gaijin

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Gaijin’s 20-seat, dog-friendly covered patio is the perfect place to enjoy the restaurant’s summer menu of “kaki-tails” poured over kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) such as More Than a Peeling, a blend of Japanese whiskey, cocoa nibs, dried banana, and chocolate bitters, or Summer in Osaka, sake mixed with aloe liqueur and blackberry tea. Sweeten the experience with a chewy matcha-citrus mochi doughnut.

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950 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 265-1348

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The inside of a dark-hued restaurant and bar. — Gaijin serves Japanese-themed “kaki-tails.”

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PB&J: Pizza Beer and Jukebox

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Grab a seat on one of the umbrella-topped picnic benches outside of PB&J and order a Neopolitan pizza and a summer cocktail like the Kiwi Paradise made with gin, pear apple liqueur, kiwi syrup, and prosecco. The bar welcomes dogs with a Pupwich, a bone-shaped sandwich made with Wonder Bread and peanut butter.

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205 N Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 498-7080

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Cabra

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The patio on the Hoxton Chicago’s rooftop provides great views of the city along with Peruvian-inspired fare from Stephanie Izard and Boka Restaurant Group. Grab a seat at one of the tables surrounded by palms or one of the loungers near the pool and order a refreshing sipper like a classic pisco sour or a Frozen Pisco Fever made with vodka, guava, and pineapple.

200 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 761-1717

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A rooftop restaurant right lots of sunshine and modern decor. — Cabra, Stephanie Izard’s rooftop restaurant at the Hoxton Chicago, takes her goat theme to Peru.

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Recess

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Recess is home to Chicago’s largest patio, a brightly colored 14,000-square-foot dog-friendly space surrounded by boxcars with plenty of room for big groups to play games of Jenga and sip frozen drinks and classic cocktails. The bar is currently hosting a Bob’s Pizza pop-up, serving their Pilsen-style pies including pickle pizza with garlic cream and fresh dill.

838 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60642

(312) 801-1181

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Two slices of pizza sit on a table in front of a large patio. — Recess has Chicago’s largest patio.

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Joe's Imports

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On Joe’s Imports’s 40-seat patio, which is strung by lights and surrounded by flowers, choose something from the constantly changing menu of wines from around the world, then pair it with the chef’s choice of cheese and salumi. Finish on a sweet note with bread pudding and a glass of moscato.