When the sun is out in Chicago, there is no better place than a beer garden to spend lazy afternoons. Finding a comfortable spot and holding a chilled beer glass beneath an umbrella in a beer garden is heaven on earth. Step out with our guide and find the city’s best beer gardens.

Miller Lite Beer Garden Grove

Entrance at Miller Lite beer garden, Source: Website

Located at the Navy Pier, the Miller Lite beer garden is a seasonal spot offering the city's best view of the lake and skyline. This beautiful waterfront venue boasts a grand selection of beers, cocktails, and classic American foods. You can try the bar favorites like chicken tenders and loaded nachos along with frozen drinks. The spot is perfectly placed over Lake Michigan as you enjoy live music on the lake from reggae to blues to DJs. 

Where - 700 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Hours - Mon-Sun (12 pm - 8 pm)

Sheffield's Wine & Beer Garden

Sheffield's Wine & Beer Garden, source: Website

Located south of the Wrigley Field, Sheffield’s Wine & Beer Garden has been known for pioneering the Chicago craft beer movement and recently for its authentic in-house smoked BBQ. Sheffield’s offers many craft beers on draft like Fader Lager - American, Furious IPA - American, over 100 in bottles, and a huge vintage beer collection. They provide options for canned cocktails, classic cocktails, wines, and whiskeys. Sheffield also has a smoke room bar where they have beers on tap and smoke everything from baby back ribs to beef brisket.

Where - 3258 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

Hours - Mon-Sun (11 am - 11 pm)

The Northman Beer & Cider Garden

The Northman Beer & Cider Garden, source: Facebook

Alongside the stunning riverwalk of Chicago lies the beautiful Northman Beer & Cider Garden. The place holds the capacity to accommodate over 500 customers at a time. It is a European-style beer & cider garden with craft beers on draft like Aleman Ladies Man, Off Color Apex Predator, Temperance Escapist IPA, and ciders like Stem Paloma, The Northman Pub Cider, and many more.   For designated drivers, Northman offers non-alcoholic drinks like Otto's CBD Cider or sparkling tonics. The Northman also organizes live music even where you can listen to your favorite artists playing indie, pop, jazz to rock music.

Where - 233 E. Riverwalk, Chicago

Hours - Mon-Sun (11 am - 10:30 pm)

Nick's Beer Garden

Nick's Beer Garden, source: Instagram

Established in 1977, Nick’s Beer Garden is a popular neighborhood staple, keeping traditions alive and pushing innovations. Nick’s was first situated at Lincoln Park in 1977, later it moved to Wicker Park in 1994 and was freshly renovated in 2020. The venue offers different varieties of lager, IPA, and ciders.  Get $1 off on well drinks, draft beers, shots, and domestic & imported bottles during their daily happy hours from 4 to 7 pm, Monday to Friday. . Come join the diverse crowd of drinkers for any occasion and you are sure to find weekly live music events, DJs, and sports.

Happy Hours - Mon-Fri (4 pm - 7 pm)

Where - 1516 N Milwaukee Ave

Hours - Mon-Sun (4 pm - 4 am)

Kaiser Tiger

Kaiser Tiger, source: Facebook

The much-awaited Kaiser Tiger is now open with indoor and outdoor service including their dog-friendly front patio and a massive all-weather beer garden. The place is filled with shimmering lights and features its own bocce court. The drinks menu extends from 23 beers on tap, vodka, ciders, scotch to varieties of wines and house-made cocktails. The main attractions are drafts from the city’s best breweries and  "the Bomb," a five-pound hunk of beef and pork sausage surrounded by a crispy bacon weave. Swing by on Wednesdays and Thursdays to catch live music from 7 to 10 pm—and don't forget to make a reservation.

Where - 1415 W Randolph St
Hours - Mon-Thu (12 pm - 12 am)
Fri & Sat (11 am - 2 am)
Sunday (11 am - 12 am)

Chief O'Neill's Pub

Chief O'Neill's, source: Instagram

Since 1999, Chief O’Neill has been serving Chicagoland with its pub, restaurant, banquet facility, majestic beer garden, and private rooms. The old Irish pub has a lush garden, verdant with grass and lined with blooming trees to overshadow the gray landscape of Elston Avenue. The garden offers a spot for sipping ciders, beers, scotch and you can enjoy hearty dishes like fish and chips or shepherd's pie.  Sit inside if you prefer air conditioning and sip on your favorite craft cocktail or wine. The venue also offers you a party space for  25 to 300 guests.  

Where - 3471 N Elston Ave, 

Hours - Mon-Fri (3 pm - till late)
Sat & Sun (10 am onwards)

Resi's Bierstube

Resi's Bierstube, source: Facebook

In 1972 Herbert and Ingeborg Stober first opened this authentic German restaurant and bar. Resi's Bierstube still practices all the German traditions with the help of  Herbert's son, Richard. Some old patrons and newer folks frequent this place for its sausage-heavy menu and the wide selection of mostly imported beer. Try the hearty rahmschnitzel, a breaded pork loin swimming in mushroom gravy. There are 17 German brews on tap and another 150 foreign beers in the bottle. In the summer, Resi's has one of the best, and most well-hidden beer gardens in the city. Tables are first-come, first served.

Where - 2034 W Irving Park Rd

Hours - Monday (4 pm - 2 am)
Tue - Thu (4 pm -12 am)
Friday (1 pm - 2 am)
Saturday (1 pm - 3 am)
Sunday (2 pm - 2 am)

Half Acre Beer Co. Balmoral Taproom & Garden

Half Acre Beer Co. Balmoral Taproom & Garden, source: Facebook

The Balmoral Brewery is located in the sprawling parking lot of the Half Acre Beer Company. At Balmoral Avenue, they have a taproom and a kitchen where they offer multiple beers on tap and food. The beer garden is at Balmoral ave and features beers like Daisy Cutter, Bodem IPA, TOME Hazy Pale Ale, Hallow DIPA, Fader Lager, Pony Pilsner, and coffee. The on-site kitchen serves a menu of roasted meats and veggies to share. that you can eat yourself or share among a group.

Where - 2050 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, United States

Hours - Wed & Thu (11 am - 10 pm)
Fri - Sun (9 am - 10 pm)

The Village Tap

The Village Tap, source: Facebook

The Village Tap is Chicago’s premier neighborhood tavern. There are 26 draft beers in a heated beer garden here. The beers include IPAs, Double IPAs, Lager, Pilsners, and many more. Sip on your favorite ciders and test your alcohol-added vocabulary with a game of Scrabble.

Where - 2055 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618, United States

Hours - Mon-Fri (11:30 am - 2 am)
Saturday (11:30 am - 3 am)
Sunday(11:30 am - 2 am)

Header image, Source: Facebook