20 Breezy Greater Cincinnati Riverfront Patios to Cool Off on This Summer

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, Jul 30, 2021 at 9:06 am

Summertime in the Queen City is best served with a cold drink and a riverfront view. These local bars and eateries have some prime real estate perched right along the breezy Ohio River (or other regional rivers), making them must-visit Greater Cincinnati destinations this season.

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Cabana on the River

7445 Forbes Road, Sayler Park
Located right on the water, Cabana on the River is a no frills (paper plates!) Tiki bar tucked away on some prime riverfront real estate on the West Side. The large and varied menu has plenty of options for everyone, including items like a Black & Bleu California Steak Salad, gourmet grilled cheese and Caribbean fish tacos. Cabana on the River also has a full bar and plenty of bar seating. Drink specials are mostly rum-based with an island vibe, and they have a large selection of premium, local and craft beers.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Kreimer’s Bier Haus

6052 State Route 128, Cleves
Located in the backyard of Kreimer’s Bier Haus, this Bavarian biergarten on the Great Miami River has three decks, fire pits and a ton of Black Forest-inspired wood features, from picnic seating to a whimsical cuckoo-clock-looking German grill house, which serves snacks like sauerkraut balls, pretzel bread, bier cheese and plenty of juicy metts.
Photo: Facebook.com/KreimersBierhaus

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Cancun Mexican Bar & Grill Riverfront

401 Riverboat Row, Newport
This Mexican restaurant is located on the Ohio River, serving authentic Mexican food and some stunning views. Dine inside this colorful restaurant, or outside on their patio. Pair a margarita with your choice of fajitas, tostadas, enchiladas, chalupas, tacos or go a little wild and order the Fajita Tropicana — half of a pineapple stuffed with chicken, shrimp, steak, chorizo, veggies, pineapple and queso.
Photo: Facebook.com/CancunRiverFront

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Little Miami Brewing Co.

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 craft brews and offering a selection of brick-oven pizzas. The small-batch brewery offers up to 16 different brews on tap, from classics to experimentals and seasonals made with real fruit, like their Cherry Creak Wheat made with real cherry. Pterodactyl is worth a sip based on its name alone — it’s a classic Bavarian wheat beer infused with hints of banana and clove.
Photo: Facebook.com/littlemiamibrewing

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Bridgeview Box Park

1 Levee Way, Newport
Bridgeview Box Park — a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors conglomerated where Mitchell’s Fish Market used to sit at Newport on the Levee — has become a hot destination for great views and excellent eats. The establishments are housed next to each other in shipping-like containers (hence the name “box park”) and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. The breezy space overlooks the Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline and features turf lounge areas, string lights, and outdoor games like corn hole and giant Jenga.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Pirate’s Cove

4609 Kellogg Ave., East End
“Stay-cation” means something to the folks at Pirate’s Cove. They have the occasional pirate roaming the grounds for the kids, signature cocktails, Key West-inspired cuisine and live music. The patio overlooks the Ohio River and the Four Seasons Marina.
Photo: Facebook.com/PiratesCoveCincy

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Monkey Bar & Grille

7837 Old 3C Highway, Maineville
As a family-owned operation, this place does not allow any monkey business since its transformation from a biker bar, but they do permit a lot of fun. With a full schedule of live entertainment, food trucks and a large patio that overlooks the Little Miami River, they provide a relaxed and friendly atmosphere to grab a drink and listen to some music with your friends (and pup).
Photo: Patty Salas

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Riverside Marina Bar & Grill

145 Mary Ingles Highway, Dayton, Kentucky
Customers can come by car or by boat to visit this Northern Kentucky floating bar and grill. They offer a little bit of everything, including wings, salads, hoagies and sandwiches, sliders, fish 'n’ chips, burgers, pizza and more. It can’t get much better sitting on their gorgeous patio overlooking the Ohio River with a cold one.
Photo: Facebook.com/RiversideMarina

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Knotty Pine on the Bayou

6302 Licking Pike, Cold Spring, Kentucky
This Cajun-style restaurant is located off of the Licking River in Kentucky, serving a seafood-lovers paradise. On the menu, you can find anything from oysters, crab, and shrimp to catfish and alligator. This family-owned and -operated restaurant is the perfect place for a little bit of Louisiana culture.
Photo: Facebook.com/KnottyPineontheBayou

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Brent’s Landing

229 Mary Ingles Highway, Highland Heights
This historic river property has been around since the early 1900s and was used as a ferry landing for decades. While Brent’s Landing no longer serves that purpose, you will find that it still holds on to its rich history today even as a restaurant. Serving classics like burgers and hot dogs to ice cream and floats, at Brent’s Landing, you’re sure to enjoy your meal under a cool, shady spot overlooking the Ohio River.
Photo: Facebook.com/brentslanding

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Montgomery Inn Boathouse

925 Riverside Drive, Downtown
A Cincinnati staple known for its barbecue ribs, the Montgomery Inn Boathouse is also a great spot for dinner and a view of the Ohio River. Enjoy live music on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-8 p.m.
Photo: Provided by Montgomery Inn

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Moerlein Lager House

115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown
Moerlein Lager House celebrates Cincinnati’s brewing tradition in a giant restaurant and brewery with sweeping views of downtown and the riverfront. The eatery features a large something-for-everyone menu of burgers and pastas, plus fancier dishes like filet mignon and squash wellington. With over 80 different beers to choose from — house brews and other craft drafts, plus bottles and cans — there’s a drink for every thirst.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Buckhead Mountain Grill

35 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
Facing the Cincinnati Skyline, Buckhead Mountain Grill has a view that is hard to beat. The menu is stellar, too, with the shareable Nacho Mountain, bourbon butter ribeye and a steak and rib combo. This all-American eatery has all the charm with all the view.
Photo: Facebook.com/BuckheadBellevue

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Skippers

395 Susanna Way #4, New Richmond, Ohio
Located on the Ohio River, Skippers is the perfect place to go for a bite to eat after a long day on the boat. Enjoy their angus Steamboat Burger or a BLT wrap with mayo and cheese. Wanting a boozy tropical drink? Try out the Skipper’s Rum Runner with three different rums mixed with peach and pineapple flavors.
Photo: Skipper’s River Cafe and Steamboat Marina’s Facebook

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Brothers Bar & Grill

1 Levee Way, Newport
With a patio that overlooks the river, Brothers offers daily drink specials and a variety of bar bites. Catch some sports playing on the bar's multitude of TVs and share a cocktail pitcher with some pals while you drink your worries away.
Photo: Facebook.com/BrothersBarandGrillNewport

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Chart House

405 Riverboat Row, Newport
This upscale riverside chain restaurant serves steak and seafood with New England, Caribbean and Southern influences. Start with a steaming bowl of creamy clam chowder or beautifully seared ahi tuna. Massive windows offering a panoramic view of the bridges straddling the Ohio give this dining room an upscale feel. Even better is the view from the patio.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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13 Below Brewery

7391 Forbes Road, Sayler Park
This brewery is located right next to Cabana on the River in Sayler Park on the West Side of Cincinnati. At 13 Below Brewery you can find nearly 20 different beers on their menu, along with an extensive menu from the Incline Smoke Shack food truck. The truck is open every day except for Tuesday, when you can enjoy some Taco Tuesday specials at the brewery instead.
Photo: Facebook.com/13belobrewery

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Front Street Cafe

120 Front St., New Richmond, Ohio
This quaint cafe is located along the Ohio River in the historic town of New Richmond, Ohio. At Front Street Cafe, they serve coffee, sandwiches, soups and salads, and sweet treats. This cafe has also opened a fully-stocked bar and added a few dinner entrees to their menu as well. Enjoy dinner and a show with live performances along the Ohio River at Front Street Cafe.
Photo via frontstreetcafe.com

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Jim & Jack's on the River

3456 River Road, Riverside
Perched right across the road from the Ohio River in an industrial-looking area of the West Side, the eatery and bar hosts a variety of live entertainment acts nearly every day of the week ranging from bands and DJs to line dancing.
Photo: Jim & Jack's Facebook

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RiverWatch

1 Walnut St., Lawrenceburg, Indiana
This family-owned and -operated restaurant is known for their signature burgers and Key West grouper. Located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, RiverWatch is a Key West-themed floating restaurant with a riverfront view of the Ohio River. Delivering an island-like atmosphere and serving your choice of a margarita, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation.
Photo: Facebook.com/RiverWatchLawrenceburg

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