45+ new Chicago bar, restaurant patios

So, winter of 2014, right? That's all we have to say about Chiberia, snowpocalypse, polar vortexwhatever it was we all just lived through. Patio season is always highly anticipated in Chicago, but this year we may see stampedes to the first rooftops and sidewalks cafes open for business.

Thankfully, this summer promises plenty of brand new outdoor spots, from fourth-floor cocktail gardens to European-style sidewalk seating. Keep an eye on these 45-plus new sunny spots debuting this spring and summer. Raise a glass on a rooftopwe made it, Chicago.

10 MAJOR OPENINGS

IO Urban Roofscape 127 W. Huron St. 312-649-2000 IOthat stands for indoor/outdoorUrban Roofscape offers multiple areas for socializing on The Godfrey Hotel's fourth floor: tents, lounge chairs and a waterfall to one side of the video bar, plus an outdoor fireplace flanked by wooden benches, clusters of cabanas and more. Bottle service and cocktails by the pitcher encourage you to come with a group, and a retractable roof covers the outdoor bar when the weather won't cooperate. ETA:Open now, weather permitting We're picturing:Laid-back lounging during the day turning to bottle-service boozing by night

The Dawson 730 W. Grand Ave. 312-243-8955 Because it opened at the extreme tail end of last year's outdoor season, The Dawson's 150-seat patio didn't get the shine it deserves. A stone fireplace, communal tables and border greenery make the space a surprising escape from the busy intersection of Grand, Milwaukee and Halsted where it's located. Beverage director Annemarie Sagoi has new cocktails in the works including a margarita, a frozen mai tai and boozy freeze pops. >>Read our review of The Dawson ETA:Open now, weather permitting We're picturing:Finding every excuse possible to meet up with friends for mezcal freeze pops

Nico Osteria 1015 N Rush St. 312-994-7100 The latest hot spot from One Off Hospitality (The Publican,Blackbird,Big Star, to name a few) is about to get even hotter with the debut of umbrella-topped sidewalk seating around the restaurant's perimeter along Rush and Bellevue, plus more tables by the Thompson Hotel's entrance on Bellevue. The added seatsabout 80 in totalshould make it a bit easier to get a taste of pastas and seafood from chef Erling Wu-Bower and decadent breads and sweets from pastry chef Amanda Rockman. >>Read our review of Nico Osteria ETA:Early April, weather permitting We're picturing:Popping bottles of rose and savoring plates of crudo

Sportsman's Club 948 N. Western Ave. 872-206-8054 Partner Jeff Donahue likes to refer to the Ukrainian Village bar's forthcoming rear patio as a backyard. "Some of the trees back there are really old and create a nice canopy," Donahue said, and referenced plans for communal tables, a fire pit and earlier weekend hours (opening at noon) to facilitate Sunday afternoon DJ sessions. A satellite bar will serve refreshing cocktails, cans of beer and bottles of rose, with table seating for 40 people. ETA:May 1 We're picturing:A laid-back hangout hip enough to rival Parson's patio

Parlor Pizza Bar108 N. Green St. Get a load of these capacity numbers: This yet-to-open West Loop pizzeria from the owners of Stout Barrelhouse & Galley will feature a 145-seat patio out front in addition to a 176-seat rooftop deck above the main dining room, which will seat 125. A mobile pizza oven and an outdoor bar made out of a shipping container are in the plans.

ETA:Early May We're picturing:Looking for any excuse to order the Recovery Punch, a mix of pineapple rum and coconut water concoction served in a carved-out pineapple

Tanta 118 W. Grand Ave. 312-222-9700 This lively Peruvian restaurant and bar in River North is prepping its indoor-outdoor rooftop for a spring debut. A staircase near the main entrance will lead straight up to an indoor bar area seating 30-35 and an outdoor space with seating for about 100 surrounding a skylight that looks down to the dining room below. A smaller-scale food menu will be available, and similar to downstairs, a cebiche (Peruvian ceviche) chef will slice raw fish to order on the second floor. >>Read our review of Tanta ETA:Early May We're picturing:Pretty people sipping pisco sours

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45+ new Chicago bar, restaurant patios