Summer is finally here, and that means it is patio season. And what better way to spend time outside than with your four-legged best friend? (Especially since our constant presence at home with our pets during the pandemic has given them all a raging case of separation anxiety.) From drinking a cold-brew coffee to chowing down on pizza and craft beer, here is a list of pet-friendly patios you can enjoy with your dog. Note: This is just a small sampling; we will continue to build this list.
Fifty West Brewing Company 7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township There are many amenities offered at Fifty West Brewing Company’s beer garden, like sand volleyball, a retro-styled burger bar and futsol. In addition to these activities, the sprawling entertainment hub allows for dog owners to bring their furry four-legged friend out to have some fun. Grab a beer, snag a shaded seat and hang with your pup while you watch folks spike volleyballs into the sand. Photo: facebook.com/fiftywestbrewingcompany Photo: Facebook.com/fiftywestbrewingcompany
HighGrain Brewing Company 6860 Plainfield Road, Silverton HighGrain Brewing Company’s mission is to be a sustainable brewery. Throughout the years, the establishment has switched to renewable energy, reduced their carbon footprint and currently sells a carbon-neutral beer. Not only does this brewery strive to be environmentally friendly, but it is also dog friendly. Hang out with your pup at HighGrain’s patio. It has plenty of picnic tables and chairs to sit at while drinking a frosty brew. Service dogs are allowed inside, and all dogs must be leashed. Photo: facebook.com/highgrainbrewing
Dead Low Brewing Company 5959 Kellogg Ave., California Located within walking distance of Riverbend Music Center and Coney Island, this brewery offers food, wine and plenty of craft beer. Dog owners can also enjoy a drink or two outside on the patio while their pup enjoys the picnic table venue and bottomless water bowls. Photo: facebook.com/deadlowbrewing
Lucius Q 1131 Broadway St., Pendleton Located in Cincinnati’s buzzing Pendleton neighborhood, Lucius Q serves up all your favorite barbecue classics plus creative sides and other concoctions. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor patio behind the eatery. Humans can munch on a brisket sandwich, while dogs can get a bowl of water and plenty of shade beneath the plentiful picnic tables. Photo: facebook.com/luciusq
MadTree Brewing Company 3301 Madison Road, Oakley As members of sustainability group 1% for the Planet, MadTree Brewing Company sticks to their name by taking various actions to remain environmentally friendly. Since their founding in 2013, MadTree continues to donate 1% of their earnings to nonprofits that work toward a sustainable future. Known for IPAs, ales, ciders, customers can enjoy a drink or two outside in the whimsical — and giant — beer garden with their dog. facebook.com/madtreetaproom
Three Spirits Tavern 209 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Three Spirits Tavern offers “a little something for everyone,” according to their mantra. Whether you’re in the mood for an ale, a chardonnay or Woodford Reserve, Three Spirits likely has you covered. The bar offers a a petite menu of shareable bites and flatbreads in addition to bevs, but they also offer a beautiful, string-lit patio to enjoy them on — and your pup is invited. Photo: facebook.com/threespiritstavern
The Porch at Washington Park 1230 Elm St., Washington Park The Porch at Washington Park is a hot spot for dog owners (and dog lovers) as it boasts a front row seat to the dog park. After your pooch has run some laps and sniffed some butts, head to The Porch to relax with cold beer for you and a cup of water for your furry friend. Photo: facebook.com/porchatwashingtonpark
Mecklenburg Gardens 302 E. University Ave., Corryville Open since 1865, the German-inspired Mecklenburg Gardens remains a Cincinnati staple to this day. Not only is it the oldest restaurant in town, but it is also known for its beer garden, which can seat around 150 people, including your dog! Photo: Hailey Bollinger
R.P. McMurphy’s 2910 Wasson Road, Hyde Park R.P. McMurphy’s is an Irish pub located in the Hyde Park-area off of Wasson Road. With a decent-sized L-shaped patio, McMurphy’s loves to see dogs at their establishment. Staff have been known to serve your pup treats and even bandanas. Photo: facebook.com/rpmcmurphysirishpub Photo: Facebook.com/rpmcmurphysirishpub
Gypsy’s 641 Main St., Covington Gypsy’s is your classic neighborhood dive bar located in Covington’s MainStrasse. Gypsy’s offers indoor and outdoor seating for dogs and their owners. The cozy plant-filled patio offers plenty of shade and relaxation for you and your pooch. Photo: facebook.com/gypsyscovington
Oakley Pub & Grill 3924 Isabella Ave., Oakley This popular local pub serves classic bar food such as nachos, flatbreads, burgers and more. Rain or shine, hang out on their partially covered outdoor patio with your pup and enjoy the summer breeze. Photo: Oakley Pub and Grill’s Facebook Photo: facebook.com/OakleyPubandGrill
Mom ‘n ‘em Coffee & Wine 3128 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Dedicated to Theresa Ferrari by sons Tony and Austin Ferrari, Mom ‘n ‘em is an eclectic coffee and wine shop located in Camp Washington. The inside offers unique art and seating arrangements and the outside boasts picnic tables and an assortment of chairs. Dogs are more than welcome to sit inside or outside while you enjoy coffee, a pastry or some wine and tinned fish. Photo: facebook.com/momenemcoffee
Eli’s BBQ 3313 Riverside Drive, East End Since its establishment in 2011, Eli’s BBQ has become a tried-and-true barbecue go-to in the Queen City. It can be found in five different locations across the Greater Cincinnati area (two brick-and-mortars and three in-Kroger hubs). Their East End eatery boasts a generously sized patio, which welcomes hungry humans and four-legged friends alike. Photo: facebook.com/elisbbqcincy
Libby’s Southern Comfort 35 W. Eighth St., Covington Libby’s is the place to go for Southern comfort food in Covington. Named after the owners’ daughter, Libby, the logo depicts a young girl with the family’s black lab, Yuma. Dogs are able to hang out outside under the covered patio. During the colder and rainy days, the patio is weather-proofed with heaters and clear tarps. Photo: facebook.com/libbyssoutherncomfort
BrewDog Cincy 316 Reading Road, Pendleton While there are BrewDog locations in 60 other countries, the Scotland-based brand’s Pendleton taproom was the second-largest BrewDog bar in America when it opened in 2019. On the rooftop patio, dogs are more than welcome to hang out while their owner sips on one of BrewDog’s craft beers. facebook.com/brewdogcincy
Grassroots & Vine 1011 S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas Located in Fort Thomas, Grassroots & Vine is your classic neighborhood restaurant and wine shop. Enjoy lunch, brunch or dinner on one of their two patios with your dog by your side. Photo: facebook.com/grassrootsandvine
Streetside Brewery 4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum Known for hosting family-friendly events like “Sips and Succulents,” Streetside Brewery is also dog friendly. On their outdoor patio, dogs can enjoy the covered shady parts, along with treats and water bowls, or they can sit out in the sun with their owners. Photo: instagram.com/streetsidebrewery
Big Ash Brewing Company 5230 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township Big Ash Brewing grew from a basement hobby to a full-scale taproom with beer, bites and live entertainment. Dog owners and dogs can enjoy the sound of live music in the beer garden, or chow down on Big Ash’s Buffalo Bill pizza out on the patio. Photo: facebook.com/bigashbrewing
Delwood 3204 Linwood Ave., Mt. Lookout This Mt. Lookout-based Latin American restaurant is well-known for its love of soccer as well as being family- and dog-friendly. Dogs owners can watch an FC Cincinnati soccer game outside — on the front or back patio — while sipping a cold margarita with their dog. Photo: facebook.com/delwoodcincy
Americano 545 Race St., Downtown Located in downtown’s Central Business District, Americano is best known for its burgers, beer and bourbon. The eatery offers plenty of seating inside, but if you’d like to bring your pooch along, you can snag a seat outside on the eatery’s patio. Photo: instagram.com/americanoburgerbar
The Littlefield 3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside The Littlefield is a bourbon bar and restaurant with a fantastic string-lit patio. Dogs are welcome to visit with their owners on both the upper deck and ground patio, which has a pergola covering parts of it. Photo: instagram.com/thelittlefieldns
Mt. Carmel Brewing Company 4362 Mt. Carmel Tobasco Road, Mt. Carmel Known for being Cincinnati’s oldest craft microbrewery, Mt. Carmel Brewing Company serves cocktails, wine and around 20 hand-crafted beers. With three outdoor patios, Mt. Carmel Brewing boasts plenty of space for you and your pup to hang out. Photo: twitter.com/mtcarmelbrewing
Unataza Coffee 620 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky This Northern Kentucky-based Honduran cafe is known for their coffee-based bevs, teas and small menu of lunch/brunch bites. The shop is dog-friendly inside and out, but with a flower- and mural-filled patio like theirs, it would be a shame not to dine al fresco with your pooch. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Nation Kitchen & Bar 1200 Broadway St., Pendleton; 3435 Epworth Ave., Westwood Nation’s mission is to “extend your home into their restaurants.” And what better way to do that than bring your dog with you to lunch, brunch or dinner? With two locations — one in Westwood and the original in Pendleton — your four-legged friends are welcome to hang out while you enjoy a beer or one of their many specialty burgers. Photo: facebook.com/nationpendleton
Coffee Emporium 3316 Erie Ave., Hyde Park This sage green house-turned-coffee-shop is a Hyde Park staple. Start your morning off right with a walk, run or drive to snag a cup of joe, then grab a seat on the dog-friendly patio and enjoy the sunshine. Photo: Google Maps screengrab Photo: Google Maps