31 Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars Where You Can Dine and Drink Outside

Top of the Park

506 E. Fourth St., Downtown
For a stunning, nearly-360-degree view of downtown Cincinnati and its riverfront, plus some amazing craft cocktails, snag the elevator in the lobby of The Phelps hotel and take it to the very top where you’ll find one of the best rooftop bars in the city. Top of the Park is intimate, with plenty of comfy seating, including a glass bar top where you sit with your drink and enjoy the bird’s-eye view. Grab a Rooftop Lemonade (Ketel One Citroen, muddled strawberries, fresh lemon juice and wild berry simple syrup) and toast to an amazing summer ahead.

MECCA OTR

1429 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine
This hip OTR hideaway is a welcoming hangout for those interested in no-frills drinking, L.A. vibes and vinyl tunes. Find the main courtyard entrance tucked away down 15th Street, and cross the big-ass gravel patio, past colorful street-art murals, a panoply of rainbow lighting and a plethora of communal seating to enter a world of hanging plants. In the summer, the patio is decked out in greenery.

Cabana on the River

7445 Forbes Road, Sayler Park
This Margaritaville-esque oasis on the river will make you feel like you’re on vacation with their neon palm trees out front, sand volleyball courts, multiple walk-up bars where you can snag a drink while you wait for a table and just overall Jimmy Buffett vibes. While all the seating is technically outside, the best seats aren’t underneath the awning, but on the lower deck closest to the river. The menu is similar to what you’d find at a beachy restaurant – fish tacos, burgers, chicken sandwiches and shareables – but they also have some great salad options as well as the Cincinnati touch of metts, brats and franks. We also highly recommend a margarita while you’re there to 1) complete the aesthetic and 2) because they’re delicious. Cabana on the River officially opens for the season on April 15.

Rhinegeist

1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
The sun feels warmest on the roof at Rhinegeist. Or, at least, it sure seems like it when you have 360-degree unobstructed views of OTR. The brewery has amazing, crushable beers like Glow and Cheetah that are perfect for a warm outdoor happy hour, but Rhinegeist’s cocktails are also surprisingly top-notch. A word of advice: Arrive early on especially gorgeous days if you want to secure your spot on the roof.

Eli’s BBQ

3313 Riverside Drive, Columbia Tusculum
Eli’s has provided over 15 outdoor picnic tables for dining, both in the sun and the shade. Celebrate a spring afternoon with a cold brew and some delicious barbecue, like their pulled pork sandwich with a slide of jalapeño cheddar grits and baked beans. Bring your own beer and enjoy the warmth by the river.

Bishop’s Quarter

212 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland
Doesn’t everyone love a good rooftop? Bishop’s Quarter not only offers full service on the rooftop patio, but also regular live music entertainment. Outdoor seating is also available on the two other patios that wrap around the building (yes, that’s three patios total!).

Braxton Brewing Co.

27 W. Seventh St., Covington
The Rooftop at Braxton Brewing Co. in Covington provides comfortable outdoor seating, shade and greenery. Sip on all of your favorite Braxton drafts, and if you’re hungry, you can grab a pizza from the new Dewey’s next door.

Somerset

139 E McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine
Somerset features both an outdoor and indoor bar that’s perfect for events or just relaxing. The bar’s exotic garden gives off a nice feeling of seclusion and you almost forget you’re in a city. They also recently released a new vibrant cocktail menu just in time for spring.

Somm Wine Bar

3105 Price Ave., East Price Hill
Food and wine are perfectly paired at Somm, and the outdoor patio with its fountain, Edison-bulb string lights, fire table and meticulous landscaping is the perfect spot to enjoy them. This Incline District wine bar and restaurant has over 80 kinds of wine to choose from and a menu ranging from charcuterie boards to the Somm burger to filet mignon.

MadTree Brewing Taproom

3301 Madison Road, Oakley
MadTree’s massive 10,000-square-foot beer garden is a fun family hangout. With over 20 MadTree-exclusive taps, ambient lighting and an industrial brick façade leftover from the building’s factory days, there’s more than enough space to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at MadTree on the regular.

Arnold’s Bar and Grill

210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
Downtown's Arnold's Bar & Grill is renowned for being the oldest continuously operating drinking destination in Cincinnati — one of the oldest in America, in fact, at 160 years old. There's the infamous Arnold's bathtub, reportedly used to make bootleg gin during Prohibition. While the inside has some history (and spirits – both the alcoholic and dead kind), the walled-in patio is also a big draw, offering a quieter oasis in the middle of the city.

Pins Mechanical Co.

1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
If you’re overwhelmed by the sound and commotion inside the many levels of games at Pins (understandable), this rooftop will be your calming oasis. The spacious-yet-cozy Pins rooftop has views, firepits and just a few chill games for those who’d rather play in peace.

AC Hotel Rooftop

135 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks
This modern hotel situated right at The Banks is sure to offer perfect views of the city. Enjoy some cocktails from the Upper Deck, one of the largest hotel rooftop bars downtown, or, if you want to stay the night, many of the rooms offer city views with their own balconies.

The Well

8 W. Seventh St., Covington
One of Covington’s newest hangouts, The Well has good food and good vibes on the menu. This neighborhood bar strives to make sure it’s a fun, welcoming place for everyone. Described as equal parts cool and casual, The Well provides a laidback and cozy lounge, as well as a large patio, with plenty of seating throughout and large-screen TVs, making it a great game-day destination.

The National Exemplar

6880 Wooster Pike, Mariemont
This cozy spot has been a Mariemont staple for 40 years. Located in the historic, Tudor-style Mariemont Inn, National Exemplar is well known for its American-style cuisine that uses only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. In addition to its spacious main dining room, Southerby’s Pub (found in the inn’s lobby) and the north bar, the restaurant also has a relaxing outdoor patio surrounded by lush greenery in the warmer months. It’s the perfect spot for enjoying a breakfast of their Berry French Toast or their slow-cooked prime rib for dinner, finished with the Exemplar cocktail (prosecco, chambord, cranberry, pineapple, simple and lemon).

Queen City Radio

222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
The historic Queen City Radio building has been turned into a well-manicured full-service bar and outdoor beer garden. The bar serves rotating taps of local, regional and national beer, canned and bottled brews, wine, a small cocktail program and boozy slushies. Tables are available throughout the patio and dogs are always welcome.

Bridgeview Box Park

1 Levee Way, Newport
Bridgeview Box Park, a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors, is open year-round but the best time to visit is when the weather is nice. The establishments are housed next to each other in shipping-like containers — hence “box park” — and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. The breezy space overlooks the Ohio River and city and features turf lounge areas, string lights and outdoor games like corn hole and giant Jenga.

Incline Public House

2601 W. Eighth St., East Price Hill
Named after the Cincinnati inclines that traveled to Price Hill, Incline Public House features a gorgeous view of the city and delicious American food for brunch, lunch and dinner. While you enjoy the view of downtown Cincinnati on their all-season patio, try one of their popular pizzas, like the equal-parts sweet and salty Prosciutto Fig, featuring fig jam, Italian ham, goat cheese, caramelized onions and arugula on top. Or, build your own using the expansive list of sauces, cheeses and toppings. Pair it with one of their local craft brews on tap and their mouthwatering short rib poutine to split with the table to top off the experience.

Senate Blue Ash

1100 Summit Place A, Blue Ash
Summit Park’s Senate features delicious glammed-up hot dog creations, plus appetizers like oysters, poutine and roasted marrow bones. The eatery offers an expansive outdoor patio that overlooks the park where you can sip on beer, wine or craft cocktails.

Covington Yard

401 Greenup St., Covington
Covington Yard is the kind of bar that feels like an “Oops All Berries” cereal – it throws everything at you at once: TVs blaring a local game, music, dogs, games, college kids, actual kids. And yet, Covington Yard’s park-like setting doesn’t make you feel overwhelmed, just at home. The come-as-you-are bar is perfect for those who want the energy of a packed sports bar while still being able to stretch out and sip something crafty.