32 Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars Where You Can Dine and Drink Outside
The weather is slowly starting to get warmer and that means more Cincinnati folks are moving outdoors, especially when it comes to enjoying a meal or drink while out on the town. Whether you're looking for a rooftop to look out over the Queen City, a family-friendly place where the kids can play or just a quiet patio tucked away from the rest of the world by greenery, Cincinnati has a number of options for dining and drinking al fresco.
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Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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.
Photo: Brittany Thornton
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.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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 10.
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.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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.
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!).
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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.
Photo: facebook.com/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.
Photo: Phil Heiden Reich
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.
