Warm weekends in Chicago call for rooftops, patios, and frozen cocktails. Whether it be a day drinking extravaganza with the girls or guys or a swanky date on a gorgeous rooftop, the perfect frozen boozy drink can take things to the next level. Here are 5 of our favorite spots for the best frozen cocktails in Chicago this summer.
PB&J: Pizza, Beer, & Jukebox
Starting next week, the West Loop hotspot is offering diners a variety of frozen cocktails to cool off this summer. Sip on a frozen “Sour Watermelon” featuring Pink Lemonade Smirnoff, Lemon, Red Bull Watermelon Edition. In addition, the menu at this restaurant in Chicago features a frozen drink called the Chi Colada. The drink is mixed with Captain Morgan, Pineapple, and Coconut. Lastly, diners can sit on the expansive patio and soak in the sun while enjoying the best of both worlds with the new “West Loop Vice”, featuring a mixture of both the Sour Watermelon and Chi Colada.
The Smith
Located in River North, The Smith is elevating diners’ frozen cocktail experience by offering a frozen twist on the classic French 75 and turning it into a “French 75 Slushie”. Diners can sip and enjoy this frozen beverage on the expansive Clark Street patio while enjoying light bites or The Smith’s signature Mac & Cheese.
Old Pueblo Cantina
Nestled in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Old Pueblo Cantina is “the” spot for frozen margaritas. Featuring fresh fruit, lime, and agave, diners can sip and sit on the patio while indulging in homemade Chips & Guac, sonoran cheese crisps, taco platters, chopped salads, and more.
Recess
Chicago’s largest patio, Recess, debuted the “Aperol Freeze” this summer, a frozen Aperol spritz with similarities to the classic cocktail. The frozen cocktail includes Aperol, watermelon vodka and sparkling wine — giving it an interesting tingle that has similarities to the effervescence of sparkling wine even when frozen. This summer, the Recess patio is becoming even bigger and better: with more second-floor seating offering amazing views and more street art along the shipping containers.
urbanbelly
Chef Bill Kim’s beloved fast-casual in Wicker Park offers something you don’t see everyday: frozen Kirin beer. The frozen Kirin beer trend in Japan has worked its way into the US, but locating it is still like finding a unicorn. This frozen drink can only be found in Disney’s Epcot, New York, California, and now… urbanbelly. Beer lovers rejoice as the frosty top keeps the draft beer below it at the same temperature as it was poured, perfect for sipping on the patio.