June 17, 2021

While patio season is off to a hot start, they’re still in high demand as people shed their COVID chains and enjoy spending worry-free time in the company of friends surrounded by strangers.

We’ve found five new patios to enjoy, and we’ll be bringing you a second round later this summer because more outdoor spaces are coming.

Squealer’s Smoke Shack

It was worth the wait. Squealer’s Smoke Shack in Tea touted a rooftop deck when it announced plans two years ago to build a new location for the restaurant. Squealer’s opened a little over a year ago, but the rooftop deck – great for watching sunsets and league play on the sand volleyball courts – wasn’t ready until late May.

The deck has its own bar, which opens at 4 p.m. every day, and it offers table service with the full menu of barbecue, burgers, appetizers and more. Squealer’s has a full liquor license, so cocktails are on the menu along with beer and wine. It seats 70 to 75, include a dozen at the bar, and dogs are welcome, said co-owner Andrea Kuipers, whose family started serving barbecue out of a trailer in 2014 and moved into its first space in 2016. The majority of the tables have umbrellas, and there are a couple of couches and fireplaces. It’s open until 10 p.m. or later if there’s a crowd. The partially covered ground-level patio seats 100 and features live music a few times a week, Kuipers said.

The Hello Hi

The new Hello Hi features an amazing decor inside that you can’t miss, but if you want to sit outside and enjoy your tiki-inspired cocktail, it’s an option. The sidewalk patio sits on the west side of the bar along Phillips Avenue, so you can watch all the action downtown Friday and Saturday nights. There’s a half-dozen tables, some with umbrellas, and large sea-foam colored planters filled with exotic plants and pink flamingos to help define the space. Ask your server to bring you a tiki classic like a mai tai or daiquiri or try one of the “yacht-tails” like a pina colada. Don’t forget to grab a slice from Pizza Cheeks in the back of the bar or order a whole pie. The Hello Hi is open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. the rest of the week.

Chef Lance’s on Phillips

Farther north, the new patio at Chef Lance’s on Phillips sits on the west side of the historic warehouse, so while you don’t get to look over at Levitt at the Falls, you get a nice view of the north end of downtown. The former loading dock is covered, so there’s a good amount of protection from the sun. Grab a seat at one of the half-dozen picnic tables, and order from the menu for lunch or dinner. Enjoy a glass of wine or a pint of beer – including some brewed locally. While you can make a reservation for the dining room, you can’t for the patio, said Jenny White, the wife of Chef Lance. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday. It’s not a late-night spot though and closes at 9 p.m.

DaDa Gastropub

Head next door to DaDa Gastropub – the revamped Icon Lounge – for a more urban vibe on the patio, which sits on the west side. It’s also a former loading dock for a historic building, but it’s compact, with room for about 20 at tables and a picnic bench. DaDa has a full liquor license, so you can enjoy mixed drinks like a pineapple mojito or the DaDa Collins with white gin, lemon, lavender syrup and lavender kombucha. Don’t drink? There are fun nonalcoholic drinks, too, like the Salty Chihuahua with white grapefruit and cranberry juices, lime, cane syrup, soda and salt. The menu offers elevated takes on a tostada and burrito and includes crowd-pleasers like a spicy chicken sandwich, beef chislic and hand-cut fries. It’s open from 4 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Saturday.

Shenanigans Sports Bar & Grill

If you’re looking for a place on the west side of Sioux Falls, Shenanigans Sports Bar & Grill has more room outside this summer. The neighborhood bar at 26th Street and Ellis Road started construction last fall to double the size of its patio, which is on the south side of the building. The patio is next to garage doors that open up to the second bar when the weather is nice. The new space is covered with a pergola. New patio furniture is on the way, along with a new fireplace. Shenanigans, which is in its 36th year and moved to its new home in 2014, has a full liquor license and a huge menu. Catch live music occasionally. It’s open daily, pretty much from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.