Your day in the sun

Exploring Chicago’s best beer gardens and why you should spend a day at one of them doing absolutely nothing

By Trent Modglin

Beer gardens. Close your eyes, picture the sunlight on your face or the warm evening breeze. The cold beer. The good friends. The laughs.

Summer may be short in our fair city, but luckily, our local bars know how to make the most of it. We here at The Real Chicago came up with a list of our favorite beer gardens we believe you should hit before the leaves start to change.

Our only prerequisites to be considered a “beer garden” are that they aren’t located on a sidewalk and that, well, they serve beer and have places to sit down. That’s about it.

By no means is this alphabetical list as long as we’d like it to be, but we had to cut it off somewhere. If you think there’s one that deserves to be mentioned in a future issue of The Real Chicago, give us your opinion at info@therealchicago.org. Until then, get outside and enjoy. Cheers!

 

Fizz
3220 N. Lincoln

Fizz already has plenty of character on the inside, with its copper-topped bar, brick walls and artwork, so the beer garden in the space next door only adds to the value of this Lincoln/Ashland/Belmont favorite. What the beer garden lacks in trees and overall view, it makes up for in space (seating capacity near 150) and drink and menu selection. You can get a taste of the tropics on Wednesdays, when Fizz blends up piña coladas in pineapples, mojitos, flaming mai-tais and other flavorful options. TVs are available to catch a Cubs or Sox game, and it’s dog-friendly as long as it’s not too crowded.

Commentary: “Our beer garden is one of the best in Chicago because we’ve got a great staff, way better than normal bar food and a homey atmosphere that makes it feel like you’re in your own backyard.” — Weslie Bellini, co-owner

 

Galway Arms
2442 N. Clark

If you’re tired of every other bar declaring itself Irish by putting up a few a Bass mirrors, serving shepherd’s pie and learning how to pour a Guinness, then you’ll be glad to step foot in Galway Arms, which feels about as close to a stately, old-school Dublin bar as you’ll find in the Windy City. They open the covered beer garden in the front each year around St. Patrick’s Day (imagine that), complete with heat lamps, and it draws a consistent gathering throughout the warm summer months. It often caters to a slightly older, more sophisticated crowd than what you’ll find in some of the neighboring bars on Clark Street.

Commentary: “I love the inside, as it’s so intimate and has so much character, but in the summer I’m drawn outside to one of the tables to hang out, catch up with friends and watch action on Clark Street. The Fish & Chips special on Tuesdays is worth stopping in for.” — Cindy, patron

 

Jack’s Bar & Grill
2856 N. Southport

For those of you who grace Jack’s with your presence for the vast wine selection and cozy fireplace in the winter, you shouldn’t forget about the sparkling, recently renovated beer garden now that it’s summertime. Pleasantly shaded by trees and decorated with glass latticework-designed walls and lines of stringed lights overhead, Jack’s is the ideal place in which to stop off for a drink or their famous homemade chicken pot pie no matter what time of day. It’s easy to miss in an otherwise quiet neighborhood, so keep an eye out of the sign.

Commentary: “The layout really feels comfortable, as we have a natural and very pretty setting, as well as a friendly, efficient staff. It doesn’t take long for friends to join other friends and make the party grow. It’s a neighborhood bar, but people really come from all over the city to enjoy it.” — Phyllis Carlucci, owner

 

Justin’s
3358 N. Southport

Often considered one of the best options on the north side of Chicago when it comes to enjoying a beverage outdoors, simply mentioning Justin’s conjures up visions of the beer garden for most any 20-to-40-year-old in the neighborhood. Located conveniently just steps from the Brown Line and near several dining establishments, the folks at Justin’s realize where their bread and butter is. A massive tree in the center serves as the centerpiece, and old-fashioned street lights and a covered bar that runs nearly the length of the garden and offers TVs to watch the game are keys.

Commentary: “You’ve got all the greenery and the full bar back there, and it’s always a laid-back crowd. It’s kind of hidden from the street, and I like that. It’s definitely one of my favorite beer gardens in the city. I don’t go to the bar much in the winter, but the atmosphere in the summer is second to none.” — Sara Vinson, patron

 

Matisse
674 W. Diversey

The chances of seeing the front patio of Matisse less than busy on a sunny weekend afternoon or warm weekday evening are like North Avenue Beach being empty on the 4th of July. Matisse, a mellow lounge with an upscale but friendly vibe, offers seating for about 50, great daily specials and food, sangria and martinis worth crowing about. You won’t sacrifice style or substance here if you’re on a budget.

Commentary: “A great, unique drink menu and good specials. It’s a good place to go and unwind on a Friday after work.” — Sarah Ihmels, patron

Mickey’s
2450 N. Clark

More than 100 people can fit in Mickey’s sprawling outdoor patio, elevated to just the right height for some great Clark Street people watching. New owners and a renovated interior (think less snack shack and more upscale sports bar) led to the addition of plasma TVs facing outside and a wooden sun screen to keep the glare at a minimum.

Commentary: “It’s a great tree-shaded, outdoor deck with great food and great service. We were out there recently on a sunny Sunday afternoon watching the Cubs game. It’s a quick hike to the beach too, so it makes for a good stop-off point on the way there or back, or both.” — Sarah Ihmels, patron

 

O’Donovan’s
2100 W. Irving Park

O’Donovan’s, operated by the same people who run Kincade’s, Kelsey’s, Kendall’s and more, is a great Lakeview spot for outstanding food and specials (like gigantic $2 burgers on Mondays), as well as kicking back outside with your pooch at your feet and a cold drink in your hand. The expansive beer garden is covered and heated during the colder months. A nice microbrew selection and a loaded Sunday brunch for $10.95 keep people coming back for more of the outdoor experience.

Commentary: “There are a lot of sponsored sports teams there at night, and it’s fun for bigger groups. There’s not a lot around there on Irving Park, so it becomes a destination. You don’t just walk by it and stop in, you plan to go there and stay. Especially with all their great specials.” — Sara Vinson, patron

 

The Red Lion
2446 N. Lincoln

To many, The Red Lion is one of the best-kept secrets in Chicago and surely boasts the city’s most quotable owner/bartender in the charming Colin Cordwell. An old-school English pub that the History Channel has featured for its haunted past, it recently was rated in Esquire magazine as one of the nation’s best bars. The secluded beer garden (seats about 50) upstairs was discovered by this writer almost on accident a few years back while meeting friends after the Taste of Lincoln Avenue festival. With trees hanging over and strings of lights at night, it feels almost like the private deck off a friend’s house. The only thing that’s missing is the grill.

Commentary: “Most people don’t look three inches past the end of their nose, so it might take a few visits before they realize it’s up there. I think the biggest asset is its ‘quietude.’ It’s peaceful, a place where Shelley would’ve been able to sit, relax, have a drink and write a quatrain or two.” — Colin Cordwell, owner/bartender

 

Scully’s
433 W. Diversey

Formerly known as Ollie’s, this summer hotspot is located at the east end of Diversey, close to Sheridan. Whether you’re playing volleyball, laying out at the beach or on a bike ride through the park, Scully’s is one of the easiest spots to hit on your way home for a bite to eat and a drink in the front patio that overlooks Diversey.

Commentary: “We’re just a short stroll from the beach, and there really is no other outdoor patio like this around for blocks. Things are really picking up with our new menu, and we don’t get beat up in the sun that much, so it’s always comfortable.” — Brian Scullion, co-owner

 

Sheffield’s
3258 N. Sheffield

Just a few blocks from the heart of Wrigleyville, Sheffield’s can actually seem miles away when you’re relaxing in the spacious outdoor area set to the side of the main bar. Like Justin’s, it’s well-known for its beer garden, where trees provide plenty of shade, not to mention a nice ambiance. One major selling point, besides the list of more than 100 brews, is the way they utilize several picnic tables, making it easier for large groups to hang out and not feel isolated from one another. Also, with the way the tables are aligned and with an outside bar set to the side, it never seems overly congested despite its widespread popularity.

Commentary: “I think it’s one of the bigger beer gardens around that I know of. I like that there’s a lot of outdoor seating and the fact it’s easy to get to. Between the back bar and the waitresses, it’s easy to get a drink outside too.”
— Mark Schwalenberg, patron

 

The Southport City Saloon
2548 N. Southport

If you haven’t heard of this hidden spot, also referred to as “The Port,” you need to pay more attention when driving down Southport, because the beer garden in the back beyond the bar and restaurant is not to be missed. Labeled as “an ideal neighborhood treasure” by regulars, the garden boasts red brick pavement and a looming three-story surrounding facade when, combined with old-fashioned lanterns, leafy plants, hanging decorative lights and wooden tables, gives it a European square type of feel. Always friendly and rarely overcrowded, it’s a can’t miss with seating for about 125. Perhaps the most charming aspect of The Port’s beer garden is what looks like an old coach house in the middle that holds a convenient bar with stools, a couple TVs as well as an enormous tree sprouting up through the middle of the roof to add a little more character to a century-old building. Talk about a great place to enjoy the popular Sunday brunch.

Commentary: “I think the biggest thing is that we’re enclosed back here, so you not crowded in right next to the street and don’t get all the noise distractions. People always say we’re the best-kept secret in Chicago, and we kinda like it that way, to an extent.” — Cheryl Kaufman, manager

 

The Union
2858 N. Halsted

The home for Big Ten sports, the Union, formerly known as Gaslight Corner, boasts a sizable beer garden out back that can hold 60 or so. A big-screen TV is available to catch the Cubs’ game, and plenty of specials help out the wallet when you’re outside hanging out.

 

Zella
1983 N. Clybourn

Zella offers a little bit of everything: upscale restaurant, lounge, as well as one of the premier beer gardens in the city, not to mention one of the more aesthetically pleasing ones, with its canopy of trees, extended bar and strategic surrounding fence to block off the Clybourn and Armitage traffic and create a more intimate feel. The place seats around 100 though, so it’s certainly not cramped for space. It is a popular spot in the evening though, so get there early to secure a seat.

Commentary: “It’s a more trendy beer garden. Upscale but not pretentious. You go there a little more dressed up at night, and it’s a great place to secure a table with friends, have dinner and stay for drinks amongst the trees.”

Other beer gardens worthy of your attention: Star Bar (2934 N. Sheffield), The Village Tap (2055 W. Roscoe), Melvin B’s (1114 N. State), Cactus (1112 N. State), Joe’s Bar (940 W. Weed), Pontiac Cafe and Bar (1531 N. Damen), Northside Bar and Grill (1635 N. Damen), Murphy’s Bleachers (3655 N. Sheffield), Casey Moran’s (3660 N. Clark), John Barleycorn (658 W. Belden) and Life’s Too Short (1177 N. Elston).

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