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It’s getting cold out here in Cincinnati, but just because the mercury’s dropping doesn’t mean you have to move the party inside. There are a number of restaurants, bars and breweries in the Queen City offering ways to eat, drink and stay warm on their patios and rooftops this winter, whether you’re looking for an igloo to cozy up in with your friends and family or if you want to gather ’round a firepit with other winter revelers.
Keep scrolling to see some of the Greater Cincinnati restaurants and bars that will keep you warm this winter.
Braxton Brewing Co. (Covington)
27 W. Seventh St., Covington
Keep cozy in one of Braxton Brewing Co.’s heated rooftop igloos. Order piping-hot pizza from Dewey’s to enjoy in the igloo, and to drink, Braxton has 15 beers on tap, as well as two wines (a red and white option), High Noon vodka sodas and a small selection of liquor. You can reserve an igloo for $35 for a two-and-a-half-hour time slot. Each one seats up to eight people and includes a Bluetooth speaker. Photo: Provided by Braxton Brewing Co.Shires’ Rooftop
309 Vine St., 10th floor, Downtown
Shires’ Rooftop has brought back its igloos and special garden greenhouses for the season. Reservations are required in advance for parties of two to eight people to snag a spot for up to two hours. Each dome has a heater and individual speakers, plus a food and drink minimum. Photo: facebook.com/ShiresRooftopCurling and Ice Skating at 50 West
When: All weekend
Where: Fifty West Brewing Company, Columbia Township
What: Ice skating and curling
Who: Fifty West Brewing Company
Why: There are skate assistants available for new skaters and you can learn what curling actually is. Photo: Provided by Fifty West Brewing CompanyRusk Kitchen + Bar
2724 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills
Rusk Kitchen + Bar is offering heated igloos so guests can continue to enjoy its rooftop even throughout the colder months. A reservation is good for two hours in the igloo for up to eight people, and each igloo offers the restaurant’s full bar and menu, as well as a speaker. Guests can make their reservations on OpenTable for $50. Photo: facebook.com/RuskBarkitchenCovington Yard
401 Greenup St., Covington
Food container park Covington Yard has transformed into its Winter WonderYard for its third season. Winter WonderYard aims to capture “the nostalgia of loading up the car with family and friends and heading out into the neighborhood to enjoy the wonder of holiday displays.” Guests will be able to enjoy heated and covered seating, as well as a special menu of themed holiday cocktails, like the food park’s warming signature Hot Chocolate Flights, and food from El Jefe’s and San Jeanetta’s Table. Photo: facebook.com/covingtonyardFrosthaus
115 Park Place, Covington
Enjoy frozen cocktails, ice cream, tater tots and flatbreads in a private igloo for up to eight people. Reservable for two or three hours for $25. There is a food and drink minimum of $75 or $100, depending on the day and time. Photo: facebok.com/Frosthaus CovingtonThe Blind Lemon
936 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
Walk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway: The Blind Lemon, Mount Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Outside, the relaxed garden patio is like a boho blend of Bourbon Street and Paris cafe life — one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city. The bar has a large, outdoor wood-burning fireplace to warm you up, weather permitting. Photo via facebook.com/The Blind LemonLittle Miami Brewing Company
208 Mill St., Milford
Founded by brothers-in-law Dan Lynch and Joe Brenner, Milford’s Little Miami Brewing Company sits on the banks of its namesake river, pouring beers alongside a selection of brick-oven pizzas and other tasty bites. In the colder months, the brewery warms up with fire pits. Photo: facebook.com/Little Miami Brewing Co.Narrow Path Brewing
106 N. Karl Brown Way, Loveland
Head to Loveland to book one of these adorable garden domes, which you can reserve for 45 minutes for $25 to enjoy some beers from Narrow Path. These seat up to eight people. Photo: facebook.com/Narrow Path BrewingQueen City Radio
222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
The former auto body shop-turned multi-level Over-the-Rhine hang features rotating taps of local, regional and national beer, canned and bottled brews, and a small cocktail program. Enjoy a boozy bev gathered around one of Queen City Radio’s outdoor fire pits, or warm up in its enclosed patio. Photo: Facebook.com/Queen City RadioPig Candy
5901 Kellogg Ave., California
Located in a former historic jail near Coney Island, Pig Candy specializes in smoked, barbecued meats with pulled pork, smoked and sliced turkey and grilled bone-in chicken thighs on the menu. The name “Pig Candy” comes from their specialty: a fluffy gluten-free waffle pressed with pulled pork and topped with peach maple glaze. The restaurant has put tarps and heaters up on the patio to keep guests warm this winter. Photo: facebook.com/eatpigcandyPhoto: Hailey BollingerAC Upper Deck
135 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks
Get a birds-eye view of The Banks from the Glow Pods at the AC Upper Deck. Each pod comes with its own unique theme — ranging from Alien Invasion to Retro Gamer and I Love the ’90s — can seat eight people and includes a heater. Glow Pods are $32 to reserve, and there is a food and drink minimum. Photo: facebook.com/AC Upper DeckThe Porch at Washington Park
1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Located in Washington Park, The Porch is an outdoor bar and gathering place with beer, seltzers and liquor from local brands like Boone County Distillery, Rhinegeist and Fifty West. In the colder months, standing heaters keep guests nice and toasty. Photo: facebook.com/PorchAtWashingtonParkCatch-a-Fire Pizza (Blue Ash and Lebanon)
9290 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 511 N. Broadway St., Lebanon
The woodfired pizza joint offers reservable igloos at its Blue Ash and Lebanon locations. Each igloo features fun winter decor, lights and Bluetooth speakers. They are $25 to reserve and sit up to six people, and you can order food and drinks from the full menu, as well as special Toasty Treats like hot chocolate and Cinnabread. Photo: Catch-a-Fire PizzaMadTree Brewing
3301 Madison Road, Oakley
The heated, winter tent is up at MadTree’s taproom for the season. The tent is dog-friendly and the perfect place to gather with loved ones all winter long. You can also hang out around the fire pits outside. Photo: facebook.com/MadTreeMecca 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 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) and the most creatively decorated — dare we say selfie-ready — bar bathrooms in the city. The patio keeps cozy in the colder months with a fire pit to gather ‘round with friends. Photo: facebook.com/Mecca OTRBig Ash Brewing
5230 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township
This beer co-op was founded by a group of 25 homebrewing friends in an Anderson Township basement in 2011 and expanded to 52 friends by 2019. The group obtained the old El Rancho Grande restaurant space on Beechmont Avenue, gutted it and transformed it into Big Ash Brewing. Featuring a self-serve tap wall (with 28 taps), specialty pizzas and a spacious outdoor patio, Big Ash Brewing is an ideal spot for a casual night of eating, drinking and socializing. Head to their outdoor biergarten for fire pits and live music. They also wrap their patio to keep it warm. Photo: Facebook.com/BigAshBrewingThe Monkey Bar & Grille
7837 Old 3C Highway, Maineville
As a family-owned operation, this place has not allowed any monkey business since its transformation from a biker bar, but it does permit a lot of fun. Enjoy fine bourbon or a frosty brew while chatting with friends outside next to one of their outdoor fire pits, and grab a bite from one of their rotating food trucks. Photo: Facebook/TheMonkeyBarAndGrille