As soon as the weather hits above 70 degrees, its NKY law that you have to celebrate outdoors with a drink. The hardest part about following this rule is finding places you haven’t been before.

Luckily for all of you, I have been to just about every bar, restaurant and brewery in the Northern Kentucky area and have found my favorite places for a drink this summer.

Covington Yard

Starting off the outdoor season at Covington Yard is a necessity, and if for some reason you haven’t been since their 2020 opening, now is the perfect time. Located on Greenup Street in Covington. This is the backyard barbeque of your dreams. Cornhole, food trucks, live music and most importantly any kind of drink you can imagine. From beers to craft cocktails to frozen alcoholic slushies; they have it all. The Roebling Mule is my personal favorite, a peach and orange flavored Moscow Mule that is dangerously refreshing.

 

Covington Yard is pretty much only outdoor seating, but if you’re fair skinned like myself and burn easily, fear not. Although they are exactly as they sound, a large open yard, there are plenty of places you can find shade and cool off. They have a tented area near the bar, umbrellas, as well as a few other covered areas throughout the yard. This is one of the more family friendly places you’ll find on this list, I often see as many babies there as I do adults, so if you’ve got a mixed group, this is a great spot to sit and sip this summer. And as an added bonus, they are very dog friendly, your pups can enjoy the sunshine and endless pets they are sure to get.

Governor’s House Wine Bar and Kitchen

 A new addition to the many choices on Greenup, Governor’s House has yet to disappoint. Their outdoor patio offers more of a calm classy atmosphere. This is a place where you can sit down and actually get to talk to your company as opposed to yelling. Their extensive wine menu can be daunting if you’re not a wine connoisseur, but their staff is very willing to help make recommendations and test out any wine before committing to a bottle. Best suggestion is to go with a group that has a similar taste in wine as you so that you can order a bottle versus glasses, it tends to save you a fair amount of money.

But if you’re a white wine fan and your friends are red wine fans, they will cork the bottle for you to take home and enjoy later. If you’re not a wine fan, they also have plenty of cocktails and beers to choose from but let’s be honest drinking a Rosé on their patio is just too classy to pass up.  

Beeline on the Levee

Newport on the Levee is not the same Newport on the Levee that only had the Aquarium and Dewey’s was when I was a kid. This place has had a major facelift and there are so many great places for a drink here, but Beeline needs to be your first stop on the new Newport on the Levee tour.

Beeline features a wrap around bar, so you can see the Cincinnati skyline from wherever you’re seated. As well as a drink menu for all your varying tastes; beer, seltzers, Red Bull Martini’s, just to name a few.  A stunning riverfront view and the ever so popular espresso martini are the perfect way to watch the sunset this summer.

Fort Mitchell Public House

If you’re looking for a quiet, tucked away hidden gem with beer garden vibes, Fort Mitchell Public House is the perfect spot. Sitting on their outdoor patio, you’d never know that Dixie Highway is just on the other side of the greenery. This patio does a really nice job of transporting you to another city, very reminiscent of European beer gardens. The Brooklyn or the Pimm’s Cup are both refreshing options for a nice summer evening drink. Or if you want to really feel like you’re living your best beer garden life, opt for any of their twelve draft beers for a truly authentic experience.

Grassroots and Vine

Grassroots and Vine has a cute little patio perfect for an afternoon pick me up or a post dinner drink. Located in Fort Thomas, Grassroots and Vine is a wine bar, cocktail lounge, and beer bar all in one. They even have a mocktail menu for when you want something refreshing without the headache the next day.

Best known for their wine and wine cocktails, this is a great place to stop by and order a pitcher of Mimosas or a bottle of your favorite red wine with a group of friends. Their spacious and private patio lets you unwind and relax while enjoying the sunshine without being disturbed by excess noise, all while looking out at greenery. Although they specialize in wine, they have one of the best Aperol Spritzes I’ve ever had outside of Italy. This is THE drink in Italy in the summer months, and have the Italians ever led us wrong with it comes to food and drink? I think not, try the Aperol Spritz when you’re there and you’ll be transported to the Italian coast.

859 Taproom Bar and Grill

 If you’re looking for a sports bar with a patio that you can drink and watch the game and bring your dog, 859, is the perfect spot to try. Just ask them, “There isn’t any place that’s better for Bourbon, beer, and sports than The 859 Taproom and Grill.”

They have just about any beer you can imagine on tap, and tap beer is the equivalent to a McDonald’s Diet Coke, it’s just scientifically better. When you can order a Blue Moon and get the Orange wedge versus drinking it out of a can, it really makes for a better summer beer. They have the classics like Budlight, local favorites from Braxton and Rhinegeist and some specialty beers I’ve never even seen. So, if you’re an IPA fan, a light beer lover or even a bourbon expert they have a drink for you to sip while you watch the latest game on the patio.

Greenhouse Bar

Greenhouse may be the most aesthetically pleasing bar I’ve ever been too. They offer indoor seating, a covered back patio as well as outdoor seating, so they truly have a spot for any weather and any occasion. Their covered back patio is one of the cutest places for a drink to shield from the sun, without getting overheated.

They offer more cans and your bar basics but what they offer in craft drinks makes up for it. For starters they have basically an adult juice pouch, the flavor rotates seasonally but never disappoints. They also always offer a frozen drink of some sorts, so on very hot days you can hang out on the back patio and drink a frozé to cool down. Their outdoor patio is perfect if you want to people watch, and the back patio is great if you’re looking to catch up with a friend. The cocktails here are endless and delicious, I have never had a drink here that wasn’t delightful and just down right pretty. Pastel toned and often garnished with fruit or flowers you won’t be able to stop yourself from taking a picture and ordering another round.   

Regardless of where you want to have a drink this summer, there are so many amazing NKY options that I couldn’t even list them all. These spots have perfect patios to enjoy the weather, your company and of course a drink.