The snow has melted and temperatures are breaking 60 degrees, and Chicagoans are all too eager for the breath of fresh, springlike air. While more restaurants are offering dine-in options as COVID-19 restrictions loosen, dining al fresco couldn’t be more in vogue.
Grab your mask and head to one of these Chicago-area hot spots, featuring patios, tents, bubbles and other pandemic-prompted enclosures. Many are heated or enclosed, meaning it’s still worth checking out if temperatures dip.
Aba
Enjoy the heated rooftop patio at this Mediterranean escape in the West Loop. Chef CJ Jacobson draws from countries such as Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece, and the restaurant’s impressive wine menu is globally influenced as well. 302 N. Green St., 773-645-1400, abarestaurants.com
Allgauer’s on the Riverfront
Overlook the Des Plaines River over classic American cuisine at this Northbrook establishment’s patio. Dine on pan-seared scallops and red wine-braised pot roast from a spot that’s been around since 1973 and continues to impress almost a half-century later. 2855 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook; 847-664-7999; allgauersriverfrontrestaurant.com
Athena Restaurant
Chicago’s Greektown is ideal for transporting you to the sunny Mediterranean — precisely the vibe you want on a springy day. Soak up some rays on the patio while feasting on Greek staples like saganaki, feta-stuffed chicken and braised lamb shank. 212 S. Halsted St., 312-655-0000, athenachicago.com
Bacino’s Italian Grill
Sit back in an Adirondack chair and cozy up near a fire pit while sipping one of many specialty winter cocktails. Warm up your vocal cords for weekend karaoke. 248 W. Diversey Parkway, 773-880-9633, bacinos.com
Beatnik on the River
Sweeping views overlooking the South Branch of the Chicago River enhance the sense of an Eden-like escape in the middle of downtown. A newly added transparent enclosure protects guests from inclement weather without obstructing views. Patio heaters will keep guests warm, too, allowing them to daydream their way to a tropical destination without chilly disruption. 180 N. Upper Wacker Drive, 312-526-3345, beatnikontheriver.com
Beatnik West Town
Known for its tropical, lush decor, Beatnik wants to keep the summer vibes going all year, utilizing its retractable roof and fully openable floor-to-ceiling facade and its extensive botanical garden to bring a breath of fresh air into its dining experience. 1604 W. Chicago Ave., 312-929-4945, beatnikchicago.com
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Bien Trucha
Individually heated pods seat up to eight diners at this suburban Mexican restaurant. Food is packaged to go, but served with the restaurant’s plates and glassware. Though the seven pods are heated, Bien Turcha invites diners to BYOB (bring your own blanket). Reserve on the site; no minimum for lunch, $50 minimum for dinner Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, $125 Friday and Saturday. 410 W. State St., Geneva; 630-232-2665; bientrucha.com
The Boiler Room
The heated, covered patio at this Logan Square restaurant is decorated with string lights and leafy plants for an enchanting effect. When it gets cold, a gas-powered fireplace will keep things toasty. 2210 N. California Ave., 773-276-5625, boilerroomlogansquare.com
Boleo
Enjoy rooftop dining in the heart of downtown, with superb Peruvian food to boot. Snack on ceviches and empanadas, and large-format punch bowls are perfect for a hang with your pod. 122 W. Monroe St., 312-750-9007, boleochicago.com
The Bristol
“Snow globes” is what they cleverly call the outdoor dining domes at The Bristol (and sister restaurant Formento’s). In this case, the snow (when it comes) would be outside the globe. Book one of the four private “snow globes,” each seating up to four and equipped with a heater, an ionizer for air purification and a Bluetooth speaker so you can be the DJ. Order a la carte or a prix fixe menu. $200 minimum food and beverage minimum per snow globe. Reservations required. Heated patio dining in a tented space also available, as well as indoors along open window walls. 2152 N. Damen Ave., 773-862-5555, exploretock.com/thebristol
Cabra
Revel in the Peruvian-inspired cocktails, ceviche and toothsome dishes from Girl & the Goat chef Stephanie Izard at this Fulton Market rooftop escape. The garage doors that flank its dining room close during the winter to keep the space warm. 200 N. Green St., 312-761-1717, cabrachicago.com
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
This Spanish stalwart in Lincoln Park (it’s been serving tapas since 1985) touts a patio completely enclosed in glass, allowing diners to stay warm while enjoying the view. 2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000, cafebabareeba.com
Celeste
The rooftop garden, located four floors up, allows a dose of escapism under a glass-enclosed roof, decorated with Victorian-style furniture, tropical greenery and vine-covered brick walls. 111 W. Hubbard St., 312-828-9000, celestechicago.com
The Dawson
This West Town restaurant will help keep you cozy all winter long, with branded blankets available for $15 that guests can use while dining, and then take home. The restaurant’s outdoor heaters and fireplace will ramp up comfort too. 700 W. Grand Ave., 312-243-8955, the-dawson.com
Federales
The West Loop tequila and tacos hang is taking advantage of a large patio out front by packing in heaters. The retractable roof and windows also allow and indoor/outdoor effect. Reservations required. 180 N. Morgan St., 773-831-9696, federaleschicago.com
Fireside Restaurant and Lounge
With a fireplace anchoring the dining room and an all-weather patio touting a retractable roof, guests can eat, drink and spend time with friends. A dog-friendly outdoor cafe offers open-air dining. 5739 N. Ravenswood Ave., 773-772-4322, firesidechicago.com
Fiya
A wood-burning oven features in the Israeli fare of Fiya in Andersonville. Enjoy the winter menu inside one of six heated outdoor dining bubbles seating two to four in the smaller enclosures and four to six in the larger ones. Open to walk-ins as available and also for reservation via OpenTable. Fiya also has a fire pit as well as propane heaters for open-air tables. 5419 N. Clark St., 312-493-0443, fiyarestaurant.com
Formento’s
More snow globe dining, this time at the Italian spot along Randolph Street. As at sister restaurant The Bristol, the enclosed dining spaces seat four and come equipped with heater, ionizer and Bluetooth speaker. Reservations required. $200 food and drink minimum. Reservations required. Formento’s also offers tented dining space stocked with heaters. 925 W. Randolph St., 312-690-7295, exploretock.com/formentoschi
Frontier
A fireplace will heat up an outdoor patio during winter, making for a cozy space to feast on hearty dishes like barbecue-smoked pork shank, or enjoy a shared group dinner of sumptuous meals like roasted wild boar. 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322, thefrontierchicago.com
I|O Godfrey Rooftop Lounge
Dine in your own heated igloo, piled with blankets and plush furniture, with up to six people at this posh rooftop bar. Make the most of fire pits, where guests can toast s’mores, and hot cocktails made tableside. 127 W. Huron St., 312-375-1830, iogodfrey.com
Jerry’s
Order your favorite sandwiches from the nearly 20-year-old restaurant and dine on-site at one of five heated outdoor dining bubbles set up on Giddings Plaza in Lincoln Square. Seating up to six and warmed by electric heaters, the bubbles are available for 90-minute gigs, with a prepaid deposit ($100 minimum on weeknights and $150 Friday through Sunday). $1 mylar blankets available. Walk-ins welcome if bubbles are not reserved. 4739 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-344-9379, jerryssandwiches.com
Joy District
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Enjoy cocktails at this trendy, Instagram-ready River North spot surrounded by colorful murals under the string lights. Brunch specials include chicken and waffles and pork breakfast tacos. 122 W. Hubbard St., 312-651-3983, joychicago.com
The J. Parker
Take in views of Lake Michigan from Hotel Lincoln’s rooftop bar, which offers both indoor and outdoor heated seating. 664 W. Lake St., 312-600-0600, jparkerchicago.com
LH Rooftop
Known for its iconic views of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and the Magnificent Mile, LondonHouse’s rooftop perch is the perfect place to sip on cocktails while soaking in the sun. 85 E. Wacker Drive, 312-357-1200, londonhousechicago.com
Ranalli’s
The famed large patio in Lincoln Park is equipped with heaters for outdoor dining. The hot pizzas should also help. Reservations required. 1925 N. Lincoln Ave., 312-642-4700, ranallislincolnpark.com
Perilla
Perilla’s expansive, enclosed patio features draped greenery and string lights which will transport you during your dining experience. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy inventive takes on Korean dishes, like kimchi fried rice, stir-fried glass noodles and silken tofu stew with braised beef. 401 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-243-3344, perillachicago.com
Piccolo Sogno
The popular back deck of this Fulton River District Italian restaurant sports a tent overhead, enclosing the large garden-like space. 464 N. Halsted St., 312-421-0077, piccolosognorestaurant.com
Porto
In the atrium located off the main dining room, this European-inspired spot fills the room with the crackling sound of wood burning in a nearby wheel grill. Its entire facade, which faces Ashland Avenue, is comprised of sliding windows that allow for a hybrid of indoor-outdoor space on warmer days, while the glass roof helps natural sunlight pour in. 1600 W. Chicago Ave., 312-600-6336, portochicago.com
Stella Barra Pizzeria
The Lincoln Park restaurant’s courtyard has a retractable roof to let in sunshine during the summer; but during winter, diners can warm up near the 6-foot fireplace. 1954 N. Halsted St., 773-634-4101, stellabarra.com
Tzuco
The Mexican restaurant by chef Carlos Gaytan has built a heatable and encloseable structure around its patio. The new all-season dining space is open for dinner daily and brunch Saturday and Sunday. 720 N. State St., 312-374-8995, tzuco.com
Virtue
Known for its award-winning takes on Southern cuisine, Virtue added a sidewalk patio during the pandemic. The bustle of Hyde Park’s thoroughfare provides a cheerful background as you devour hoe cakes with pimento cheese, gumbo, shrimp with buttered grits and blackened catfish. 1462 E. 53rd St., 773-947-8831, virtuerestaurant.com
VU Rooftop Bar
Grab a seat on one of the couches around the ritzy South Loop spot’s fire pits, or reserve space in one of the igloos set up for winter. 133 E. Cermak Road, 312-528-0191, vurooftop.com