It’s finally summertime and who doesn’t love dining al fresco?! Eating out with a toddler can sometimes have its challenges, and I even shared some of my tips for it in this post. There are so many restaurants in Chicago, but not all of them are kid friendly so today I rounded up a few of my favorites.
Not all of the restaurants I chose have kids menus, but they all have toddler friendly food options as well as outdoor patios, high chairs, and most importantly they’re all Elle approved. It’s cold all winter here so why not take advantage of summer and eat outside! I’m sharing my favorite 10 places as well as what neighborhood they’re located in and a link to their website.
Let’s break it down:
1. SMALL CHEVAL (Old Town)
Who doesn’t love a good cheeseburger? Elle’s OBSESSED with the Au Cheval burger at Aster Hall, so she obviously was a huge fan of this place too. They have a cute outdoor area that’s perfect for families. It’s also easy to order and quick.
2. ATHENIAN ROOM (Lincoln Park)
I’ve been going to this place since high school. It’s really good, easy Greek food and they have a little outdoor area right in front. Some of my favorites from the menu include the gyros salad and greek fries. For kids, they make a great cheese pita or grilled cheese sandwich.
3. THE GRINGO (River West)
This place is one of my favorites for Mexican food these days. They have the cutest outdoor patio in back and are very kid friendly. Also their tacos are to die for and Elle especially loves their guacamole. Lastly, they have over the top churros for dessert. See the full menu here.
4. URBAN BELLY (Wicker Park)
If you follow me on Instagram, then you know that we actually ate here a few weeks ago and Elle loved it! It’s very casual, quick, and they have a great kids menu. The outdoor patio is super cute and it’s where we took the photos above.
5. LUXBAR (Gold Coast)
This has been a favorite of mine for years. They have THE BEST burger (the Lux Royal Burger to be exact) and amazing truffle fries. They also have a great happy hour menu, which coincides with when we like to eat with Elle. They don’t have a kids menu, but lots of kid friendly options and the outdoor patio provides perfect people watching.
6. PARLOR PIZZA (West Loop)
What kid doesn’t love pizza?! Parlor has a few locations, but we’ve only been to the one in the West Loop. It’s really fun and has two outdoor eating areas to choose from.
7. SHORE CLUB (Gold Coast)
Shore Club is located right at North Avenue Beach. It has great food and a perfect spot if you’re already hanging out at the beach. The patio is first come, first serve and we especially love their brunch!
8. BIG STAR (Wrigleyville & Wicker Park)
Elle has been to both locations and is a big fan. They have a kids menu (at least at the Wrigleyville one) and it’s always a fun time.
9. SUMMER HOUSE SANTA MONICA (Lincoln Park)
We love this place. The outdoor area is small, but they have a great kids menu and are extremely kid friendly. We also really like it on the weekends for brunch.
10. 8 BAR AND PATIO (Gold Coast)
This is the more casual area of Maple & Ash. They have a cute patio that’s available on a first come, first serve basis. The food is really good and we love the people watching. Lastly, their burger is the bomb.com.
So there you have it. Our 10 favorite kid friendly patios in Chicago. Hopefully the weather will start to warm up a bit so you can try some out!