By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor Published Jun 26, 2015 at 11:07 AM Photography: Bobby Tanzilo

It's summer. The sun is high and the winds are pleasant. And nobody wants to eat (or drink) inside anymore.

Fortunately, Milwaukee has a great collection of outdoor seating spaces where you can enjoy food or drink. And its seems there are almost always more on the way.

Here are eight new outdoor spaces to check out, as well as a couple you might have forgotten about, but  shouldn’t overlook, this summer.

1. Black Sheep
216 S. 2nd St., (414) 223-0903
blacksheepmke.com
Open:. Tuesday through Saturday 4 to 11 p.m,  Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It’s trendy to build a patio on the street these days, and that’s exactly what Black Sheep has done. Their brand new parklet features communal tables, string lights and music pumped outside through speakers, making it a great place to hang and enjoy a few drinks along with a bite to eat. 

2. Camp Bar - Wauwatosa
6600 W. North Ave., (414) 763-3793
campbarmke.com

Open: 4 to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
You can’t go wrong at this East Tosa spot which features both a ground-floor patio, a four-season patio and a raised patio that seats up to 80 people. Grab a cocktail and enjoy the view; if you get hungry, grab some popcorn or  take advantage of their pizza delivery service from Cranky Al’s.

3. Hue Vietnamese Restaurant - Wauwatosa
6519 W. North Ave., (414) 585-0577
huemilwaukee.com
Open:  Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
This pretty patio, located behind the restaurant, features 12 tables, classic string lighting and multiple planters offers a cozy private space. is a great spot to relax and enjoy a few cocktails while indulging in delicious Vietnamese fare. More features in the works include a water feature, fire pit and heaters -- all due to roll out starting this fall.

4. Morel
430 S. 2nd St., (414) 897-0747
morelmke.com
Open: Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. And Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Morel has one of the newest patios on the block; the 32-seater provides an intimate outdoor space just behind the restaurant. The patio, which opened on June 18 will provide seating Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturdays from 5 to 10 p.m. 

Have plans for this beautiful evening?Morel's patio will be opening for the first time tonight! Come check out our new space, it feels a lot more like summer around here now. Patio time!!!! Posted by Morel on Wednesday, June 17, 2015

5. MOVIDA
524 S. 2nd St., (414) 224-5300
movidamke.com
Open: Tuesday-Sunday 4 p.m.-close and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch 
Enjoy the sun by taking a seat just outside of this popular restaurant in Walker's Point. Current seating features communal tables which seat approximately 14 customers. In the coming weeks, the restaurant will add a parklet which will include approximately 30 feet of patio space extending into the street.

6. Plum Lounge
780 N. Jefferson St., (414) 210-3236
facebook.com/PlumLoungeMKE
Open: Monday through Saturday 4 p.m. to midnight
You’ll be pretty in purple sitting on this brand new patio on Jefferson St. Sheltered overhead, it’s a perfect hangout for sunny or rainy days. But, with only 20 seats around a community table, it fills up fast.  Plum serves a combination of food and beverages, including snacks and small plates.

"The look inside the lounge is purple and sleek. An astroturf wall lines the north side of the space in front of the... Posted by Plum Lounge on Thursday, June 4, 2015

7. Pub Club
1103 N. Old World 3rd St., (414) 988-5000
http://mke.thepubclubmilwaukee.com
Open: Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a small plates menu served from 9 to 11 p.m.
Get your pub fare on while dining on their new, spacious parklet made from wine and whiskey barrel staves. There’s plenty of action at this nighttime hot spot, and plenty of people-watching to boot.

Posted by The Pub Club Milwaukee on Saturday, May 23, 2015

8. The Vanguard
2659 S. Kinickinnic Ave., (414) 539-3593
vanguardbar.com
Open: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
This patio in back of Milwaukee’s "go to" sausage joint is a winning proposition. It comes complete with shade, string lights, picnic tables and tables for smaller groups of two to four.

BONUS:
Here are a few patios you may not have visited, despite the fact that they’ve been around for a while.

Motor
401 W. Canal St., (414) 287-2778
motorrestaurant.com
This is a great spot with a fine park-like view of the Menomonee River that is simply underutilized. Grab a seat and a cocktail and while the time away.

Hotel Metro - Zen on Seven
411 E. Mason St., (414) 272-1937
hotelmetro.com
This gorgeous rooftop patio at Hotel Metro is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights during the summer and is the perfect place to grab a martini and relax above the Milwaukee Ave craziness that is seven floors beneath you.

Zarletti Mequon
1515 W. Mequon Rd., (262) 241-5990
zarlettimequon.com
If you find yourself in Mequon, this is one of the best patios on the block. The fenced in space  overlooks a neighboring woods and features a fountain at its center and a brick fireplace along its west side. Decorative pergolas define the patio's boundaries.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor

As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.