20 New Cincinnati Patios to Drink on This Summer

The Standard

434 Main St., Covington
The dynamic duo behind popular Covington dining and drinking destinations Otto's, Frida and Larry's opened their most recent project, The Standard last summer, breathing life into a familiar corner in the neighborhood. Co-owner Emily Wolff says that when the opportunity to embark on a new journey to transform the former garage and filling station on the corner of Fifth and Main streets presented itself, they were all in. The Standard's food menu features bright and playful flavors that complement the warmer season. The Standard has both indoor and outdoor seating, with plenty of patio space beneath the garage's canopies and beyond to spread out and socially distance.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

Vista at Lytle Park

311 Pike St., Downtown
Cincinnati’s new Lytle Park Hotel features a spectacular rooftop patio named the Vista at Lytle Park. The 5,000-square-foot rooftop lounge offers panoramic views of the Queen City and Ohio River. The space is equipped with an "indoor" lounge (where the bar is located) lined with windows that open up to the outdoor patio with two fireplaces, seating and tables. Choose from a selection of cocktails, wine, beer and spirits. They also offer a selection of light bites and shareables.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Westwood Nation Kitchen & Bar

3435 Epworth Ave., Westwood
Nation Kitchen & Bar offers a variety of burgers and sandwiches like the popular Nation burger, with a 6-ounce brisket patty, smoked cheddar, whiskey barbecue sauce, onion straws and horseradish aioli on a challah bun. On the weekends, guests can enjoy a menu of brunchy bites. After slingin’ patties in Pendleton since 2015, the Best of Cincinnati award-winning eatery opened a second location in Westwood in the revitalized Junietta Avenue Firehouse in October.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Nomad

225 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
Bellevue bar and eatery Nomad opened its doors in September. They serve craft cocktails and beer, but the main attraction is their boozy (and virgin) milkshakes, tater tot baskets and tacos. The bar offers a dreamy, string-lit patio for outdoor dining and drinking, as well as seating inside — including a pretty sweet game room with a big comfy couch.
Photo: Facebook.com/NomadKY

Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge

1432 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, which officially opened last summer, features bottles from women and minority winemakers, as well as eight wines on tap, live music, a limited selection of spirits and beer, and small plates from local businesses. Their dreamy outdoor patio is cozy and private with plenty of palm trees.
Photo via Facebook.com/NostalgiaOTR

Bridgeview Box Park

1 Levee Way, Newport
Bridgeview Box Park, a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors conglomerated where Mitchell’s Fish Market used to sit at Newport on the Levee, hosted its grand opening in June. The establishments are housed next to each other in shipping-like containers — hence the “box park” in the name — and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. Choose from establishments like Bon Mi Street, Kon Tiki on the Levee, Little Spoon Bakery & Cafe and Wooden Cask Brewing. The space overlooks the Ohio River and city and features turf lounge areas, string lights and outdoor games like corn hole and giant Jenga.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Dear Restaurant & Butchery

2710 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
This Hyde park eatery and butcher shop takes over the space formerly occupied by Teller’s of Hyde Park — the historic space was once a bank. The menu ranges from Wagyo beef tartar, charcuterie and oysters to main dishes like lamb sugo and duck — or opt for a shareable dish like the truffled chicken cushion or chicken-fried mushrooms. The eatery also boasts a pretty great patio.
Photo via Facebook.com/DearHydePark

Covington Yard

401 Greenup St., Covington
This long-anticipated outdoor establishment opened in the fall, offering a small community of repurposed shipping containers housing local restaurants like Django Western Taco, Mr. Bulgogi, Hungry Omar’s and Yard Bird, plus a selection of draft and craft brews.
Photo via Facebook.com/CovingtonYard

Green House Bar

424 W. Sixth St., Covington
A well-known MainStrasse watering hole recently turned over a new leaf. After 26 years, Pachinko Bar has transformed into a chic and breezy West Coast-inspired drinking establishment called Green House Bar. The new bar and restaurant opened in August and offers a trendy spot for visitors to "kick back, relax, have good conversation and a little tomfoolery.” The menu offers several seasonal cocktails, like Recession Proof with CBD seltzer and vodka, and The Green House, a vodka, lemon and lavender cocktail, plus classic cocktails, craft nonalcoholic beverages and a petite list of wines. In addition to sips, they also have a few light bites like pimento cheese and Tommy Dip. There’s two spaces to sip and enjoy inside, but the space offers a breezy outdoor patio space as well.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Agave & Rye

3825 Edwards Road, Rookwood
Agave & Rye is known for its “epic” tacos and over-the-top decor. Its inventive menu includes a wide variety of eats, including a generous helping of outlandish tacos. Some of the standouts include The Bomb with carne asada steak, chopped bourbon-poached shrimp, mac and cheese, A&R spicy chili, barbecue jam and tobacco jam; and The Cat’s Meow with white cheddar, grits, andouille sausage, bourbon shrimp, green onion, jambalaya sauce and crispy bell pepper. The Covington-based taco chain opened up their Rookwood location last fall, featuring a spacious outdoor patio space with plenty of table seating and lounging spots to enjoy.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger