Cincinnati's Most Beautiful Patios for Outdoor Drinking and Dining

Residence Inn’s Top of the Park

506 E. Fourth St., Downtown
On the roof of downtown’s Residence Inn hotel, Top of the Park has 360-degree views of downtown and the river from its vantage point at the base of Lytle Park. Amenities include tabletop fire features, TVs and live music, plus a tapas menu with snack options like sliders, charcuterie and chocolate churros. Try: The Re-Fashioned, with Bulleit bourbon, fresh blood orange, crème de cassis, rhubarb bitters and bourbon cherry.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Blind Lemon

936 Hatch St., Mount Adams
Mount Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Walk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway. Outside, the relaxed garden patio is like a boho blend of Bourbon Street and Paris café life. With live music every night, it’s one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar

638 Madison Ave., Covington
The patio at Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar (at Hotel Covington) is a dreamy destination filled with plants, chic patio furniture, yard games — like cornhole and giant Jenga — and even live music some evenings. It’s the perfect place to wind down with a cocktail or share a meal with family or friends.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Upper Deck at AC Hotel Cincinnati at The Banks

135 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown
On top of the new AC Hotel at The Banks, the Upper Deck boasts excellent views of the riverfront and Great American Ball Park. Lounge under string lights while gorging on Grand Slam Nachos (salsa, guac, cheddar, nacho cheese, jalapeños, corn, black beans, onions, olives, sour cream and carnitas or chicken on tortilla chips).
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Southwest Porch at Washington Park

1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
This 3,000-square-foot space features carnival-style string lights, patio chairs, a giant chess set, ping-pong tables and cornhole. Add those public party games to the selection of local beer from breweries like Taft’s Ale House, Rhinegeist, Fifty West and Christian Moerlein and you’ve got a space for happy-hour-goers, families and competitive gamers alike.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Rhined

1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
This OTR cheese shop has an adorably cozy patio outback. With baby pink chairs and leafy plants, it's hard to imagine a more pleasant destination to nibble on cheese and sip on bubbles.
Photo via Facebook.com/TheRhined

Eli’s BBQ

3313 Riverside Drive, East End
With plenty of outdoor seating and some Southern hospitality, this restaurant is a literal breath of fresh air. The no-frills affair specializes in meats, pulled and smoked and served in a red plastic basket.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Aladdin's Eatery Mediterranean Cafe

1203 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Housed in the space on the corner of Main and 12th streets that once held Mixx Ultra Lounge, this Middle Eastern cafe chain boasts the same food menu as other locations, but with the addition of a large patio and outdoor bar, plus industrial-modern-meets-Lebanese decor.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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, vinyl tunes and free popcorn. 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 summer the patio is decked out in greenery as well) and the most creatively decorated — dare we say selfie-ready — bar bathrooms in the city. Dogs are always welcome, as long as it’s not too crowded; nobody wants to see stressed-out doggos. Mecca has water bowls, poop bags and sometimes treats on hand for furry guests.
Photo: Brittany Thornton

Madtree 2.0

3301 Madison Road, Oakley
With 32 brewery-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.
Photo: Phil Heidenreich

Arnold’s Bar and Grill

210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
A friendly, diverse and historic gin joint, Arnold's is the city's oldest bar — in operation since the 1830s. The cheap (strong) drinks and almost daily live music — from Bluegrass and Americana to Jazz — complement the awesome interior courtyard, which used to be a stable and carriage house.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Findlay Market Biergarten

1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Summertime means extended hours at this Over-the-Rhine drinking destination. Grab a bite, sit on the iconic Findlay Market chairs and sip on something cold while the sun goes down. Open through October.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Cozy’s Cafe and Pub

6440 Cin-Day Road, Liberty Township
This cafe features an L-shaped gray-brick patio with a pergola that lights up at night. The patio is very large but secluded so guests can feel like they're being transported to a vacation destination.
Photo: Susan Keller

Mecklenburg Gardens

302 E. University Ave., Corryville
For a taste of Zinzinnati’s German heritage, Mecklenburg Gardens showcases some of the best German cuisine the city has to offer. Their specialty is wienerschnitzel, a tender, pan-fried veal cutlet topped with lemon; it’s served with mashed potatoes and cabbage. They have about a dozen beers on tap, most of which are German, along with some local microbrews. Nationally ranked as one of the best biergartens in the country, and one of the oldest restaurants in Cincinnati (open since 1865).
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Arthur’s

3516 Edwards Road, Hyde Park
Arthur’s Cafe is the perfect little plant-filled, vine-lined patio cove for relaxing lunches or romantic dinners.
Photo: Brittany Thornton

Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar

2637 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
OKBB has an extensive array of bourbons and craft cocktails, making it a killer destination to sit back and relax on the cozy, shaded patio, complete with sparkling string lights.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

UnWind Wine Bar

3435 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park
This wine bar features an upscale-casual ambiance with a wide selection of New World and Old World wines and small plates that complement the drinks. All of the food is either vegetarian or vegan (the owners are vegan), with choices such as crostini, flatbread, warm olives, a hummus sampler, and their artisan cheese board ($16), along with a few desserts.
Photo via unwindhydepark.com

Rosedale

208 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
When Neons closed in 2016, people were devastated to lose “OTR’s backyard.” Then, 4EG — the entertainment group behind Lackman, Mount Adams Pavilion, Igby’s and more — announced they’d be taking over the space. After some upscale renovations, they reopened as Rosedale in January 2018. It’s a little more classed up than comfy-old Neons but has retained the former’s focus on craft cocktails… and the giant, dog-friendly patio (now with brand new seating). Sip discount drinks from the monthly $3 menu then grab some grub and support your community at the MORTAR Mess Hall, where food entrepreneurs hone their skills in a professional setting.
Photo: Ty Wesselkamper

Dutch’s

3373 Erie Ave., Hyde Park
This pony keg turned bar, bottle shop and artisanal larder is an East Side hang with an expansive kitchen, pantry and patio, complete with a fire pit and backyard bocce court. Pair one of 200 different available wines or craft beers on-tap with farmstead cheeses, natural meats or snacks like truffle popcorn.
Photo: Ty Wesselkamper

The BonBonerie Bakery & Cafe

2030 Madison Road, O'Bryonville
Enjoy tea time in the garden while the aroma of freshly baked cakes and pastries linger in the air around you.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger