Best Outdoor Dining Breakfast Restaurants in Chicago
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
avec
High-impact Mediterranean small plates built for a tight, shareable order.
Notable Picks
#1
avec
8.6
A West Loop Mediterranean room built for shareable small plates that still eat like a real dinner: bold, wine-friendly flavors, smart technique, and a menu that rewards committing to a few signature lanes. The move is to anchor the table with one big protein, then stack 2–3 high-impact plates that bring spice, acid, and smoke into balance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates, Slow-roasted pork shoulder, Short rib hummus
What Makes it Special: High-impact Mediterranean small plates built for a tight, shareable order.
8.6
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits is a breakfast counter built around buttery biscuits, gravy, and seasonal pies served from a small house with a busy patio. Lines move quickly, and most people treat it as a casual morning stop for hearty biscuit plates and slices of pie with coffee.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gravy Biscuit, Scratch Biscuit with Sausage, Seasonal Pie Slice
What Makes it Special: A biscuit-and-pie specialist where breakfast is built around carb comforts.
#3
M henry
8.6
A brunch-and-lunch anchor that delivers globally-leaning New American plates with high-volume rhythm and reliable execution. The menu rewards decisive ordering—one signature sweet, one savory—so your table stays tight and the patio energy stays relaxed for dogs and humans alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fannie's Killer Fried Egg Sandwich, Lemon raspberry brioche French toast, Seasonal quiche slice
What Makes it Special: High-volume brunch plates with thoughtful, globally inspired twists and a dog-friendly patio.
8.5
A farm-to-table café and beer garden just off 18th Street, The Spoke & Bird anchors South Loop breakfast with a from-scratch menu, strong coffee program, and an unusually large courtyard patio. Regulars build mornings around hearty egg sandwiches, omelettes, and pastries before walking the nearby museum campus.
Must-Try Dishes:
Breakfast Sandwich, Chorizo Omelette, French Toast
What Makes it Special: A locally owned farm-to-table café with a rare, spacious breakfast patio.
Worthy Picks
7.8
Beatnik On The River is a boho-chic cocktail and Mediterranean-leaning restaurant perched over the Chicago River, known more for transportive decor and views than for purist regional cooking. Guests mix mezze, globally inflected mains, and elaborate drinks on patios and lounges that feel designed for date nights and group hangs.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken musakhan, Branzino al pastor, Baba ganoush with warm bread
What Makes it Special: Riverfront, plant-filled rooms and patios that frame mezze, Mediterranean-influenced plates, and cocktails against one of the Loop’s most theatrical backdrops.
7.8
River North Bistro is a hotel-adjacent American bistro that serves a full breakfast and brunch menu with patio seating along State Street. Guests use it for plated breakfasts or breakfast buffets with mimosas when they want a sit-down option that feels more polished than a typical grab-and-go spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Avocado & Goat Cheese Toast with Sunny-Side Eggs, Breakfast Burger, Breakfast Buffet with Unlimited Mimosas
What Makes it Special: A full-service hotel bistro offering plated breakfasts, brunch cocktails, and buffet options with a sunny State Street patio.
7.8
A café-market hybrid where the surprise is that the Smash Burger belongs in the conversation, not just the coffee and baked goods. It’s a daytime play—order, grab a seat, and treat the burger as lunch fuel rather than a late-night craving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smash Burger, Breakfast Sandwich, Seasonal Pastries
What Makes it Special: A coffee-and-market spot where the lunch smash burger actually hits.