Northern Kentucky Restaurants & Bars with Heated Patios for Sipping and Snacking

Braxton Brewing Co.

27 W. Seventh St., Covington
Braxton Brewing Co. opened its much-anticipated rooftop patio and bar in 2019, but the space has now been covered to keep the chilly weather out. The 5,000-square-foot deck features plenty of seating, a full bar and some pretty neat views of Covington and downtown Cincinnati. Braxton is also offering 2-hour reservations of heated “igloobars” for private parties of up to 8 for $30. Each features its own style with unique tables, chairs, couches and pillows.
Photo via Facebook.com/BraxtonBrewingCompany

Coppin’s at Hotel Covington

638 Madison Ave., Covington
There’s a strong local identity to the location and the menu at Coppin’s, with nods to history and the new South, the bourbon and the banter that starts at the Roebling Bridge. The spacious outdoor courtyard is open — and covered — for guests to soak in the heat from the heaters or enjoy a Manhattan by the wood-burning fireplace. Also look for Donna Salyers Fabulous-Furs blankets. The bar menu features local draft beer, cider, wine as well as cocktails on draft. To make a reservation, call 859-905-6800.
Photo via Facebook/CoppinsCovington

The Baker’s Table

1004 Monmouth St., Newport
To fulfill their mission to “Feed People with Love,” The Baker’s Table is offering patrons a seat in their heated patio tent with tables spaced between 10 and 12 feet apart, contactless menus and ample sanitation. Enjoy signature cocktails or sustainably sourced and local food options such as a tasty egg sandwich for lunch, handmade pastas for dinner, artisan breads and more.
Photo via Facebook.com/BakersTableNewport

Nomad KY

225 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
Located on Bellevue’s bustling Fairfield Avenue, this new bar and eatery opened in the fall and offers a variety of cocktails, beer, wine and boozy milkshakes (and some seasonal warm cocktails), plus a petite menu of “totchos” and tacos. Their outdoor patio space features heaters to keep their guests comfortable as the temperatures drop.
Photo via Facebook/NomadKY

Smoke Justis

302 Court Street, Covington
To work around new Kentucky indoor dining restrictions, Smoke Justis has set up storage PODs beside its heated patio — each with a table and chairs inside. If a POD is not available, patrons may still be seated at a regular table in the heated patio area.
Photo: Provided by Smoke Justis

Bridgeview Box Park

1 Levee Way, Newport
Newport on the Levee’s Bridgeview Box Park is an outdoor entertainment space perched right above the Ohio River, offering spectacular views of the Cincinnati skyline. The space, a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors conglomerated where Mitchell’s Fish Market used to sit, utilizes shipping-like containers — hence “box park” — and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. Establishments include Che on Wheels, Bon Mi Street, The Little Spoon Bakery & Cafe, and an outpost for Wooden Cask Brewery and Second Sight Spirits. Another Bridgeview Boxpark vendor is Kon-Tiki — which recently transformed into the seasonal Fire Lounge, offering reservable heated igloos. The box park has also scattered heaters throughout the area and has covered a portion of their outdoor space to keep their guests warm and safe.
Photo via Facebook/KonTikiOnTheLevee

Grassroots & Vine

1011 S. Ft. Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas
Experience Grassroots & Vine’s curated wine selection while sitting beside an outdoor heater, under a web of string lights. Pair your drink with a cheese plate, panini, flatbread, or fresh salad created with local ingredients.
Photo via Facebook.com/GrassrootsandVine

Greyhound Tavern

2500 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell
Stop by the Greyhound Tavern to escape the cold beneath their heated tent and warm up with award-winning food. Enjoy Southern-style dinner specials such as fried chicken, pork chops and pork loin.
Photo via Facebook.com/GreyhoundTavern

Blinkers Tavern

318 Greenup St, Covington
Voted “best steak” in Northern Kentucky for 8 years, this tavern is serving up meat, seafood, pasta and sandwiches to-go or on its back seating area through the holiday season. The patio is heated and covered with a wooden pergola.
Photo via Facebook.com/BlinkersTavern1

Behle Street by Sheli

2220 Grandview Drive, Ft. Mitchell
Behle Street by Sheli will be adapting to the cold with a covered, heated patio this winter. Stop by for lunch and dinner or happy hour from 3-6 p.m.
Photo via Facebook.com/BehleStreetBySheli

Three Spirits Tavern

209 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
Sit by Three Spirits’ outdoor fire pit and warm your belly with a selection of 100-plus bourbons and ryes or one of 60 beers. They also offer wine and cocktails. Complement your drink with a flatbread, dip or cheeseboard.
Photo via Facebook.com/ThreeSpiritsTavern

Gypsy's Covington

641 Main St., Covington
A MainStrasse favorite, Gypsy's indoor space may have temporarily closed due to Gov. Beshear's mandates, but they have cozied up their back patio space with heaters to keep the party going. The bar has added vinyl curtains to keep in the heat, while allowing for circulation.
Photo via Facebook.com/GyspysCovington

Covington Yard

401 Greenup St., Covington
This long-anticipated outdoor establishment opened in the fall, offering a small community of repurposed shipping containers housing local restaurants like Django Western Taco, Mr. Bulgogi and Yard Bird, plus a selection of draft and craft brews. The dog-friendly space is equipped with heaters.
Photo via Facebook/CovingtonYard

Cancun Mexican Bar & Grill

401 Riverboat Row, Newport
This Mexican restaurant on the river has brought out heaters to fight the cold this winter and keep outdoor dining going through the holidays. Pair a margarita with your choice of fajitas, tostadas, enchiladas, chalupas, tacos and more.
Photo via Facebook.com/CancunRiverfront

Muggbees Sports Bar & Grill

8405 U.S. Highway 42, Florence
Muggbees is warming guests with a fire pit and outdoor heaters this winter to keep the party on the patio. Stay updated via the Muggbees Facebook page for information on local outdoor music performances and menu specials throughout the season.
Photo via Facebook.com/Muggbees2.0

Pompilios

600 Washington Ave., Newport
This historic establishment has served authentic Italian eats — from pasta to sandwiches — since 1933. The restaurant has its patio open with outdoor heaters on select days this winter, depending on the weather. Call ahead at 859-581-3065.
Photo via Facebook.com/PompiliosRestaurant

Garzelli’s Pub

3160 Dixie Highway, Erlanger
Garzelli’s has covered their outdoor patio and added a big projector for football games and heaters for cold winter nights. Enjoy a wide variety of pizza, heaping grinder sandwiches and game day starters.
Photo via Facebook.com/GarzellisGrinderandPizzaCo

Ludlow Tavern

214 Elm St., Ludlow
This Northern Kentucky neighborhood bar is a gem within the community, offering your typical bar food, like hand-breaded mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, sliders and chili — but made with some love you can taste. They also have some draft beers and signature cocktails to sip on. Due to the mandates, the bar is closed, but the patio is open and warm.
Photo via Facebook.com/LudlowTavern

Bircus Brewing Co.

322 Elm St., Ludlow
Bircus Brewing Co. — a circus-themed brewery in Ludlow — recently celebrated its third anniversary. The outdoor beer garden features cozy fire pits and the brewery has also recently opened the new Bircus Grill, a wood-fired pizza kitchen (with a pasta menu coming soon) — launched with help from Michael Cusumano, head chef of Venice, Italy’s JW Marriott Fiola at Dopolavoro.
Photo via Facebook.com/BircusBeer

Wooden Cask Brewing Company

629 York St., Newport
Since the pandemic began, Newport’s Wooden Cask Brewery has revamped their patio situation, offering folks a spacious and covered space to stay socially distanced and warm with scattered heaters. They also offer a variety of of their own special brews, as well as wine and bourbon.
Photo via Facebook.com/WoodenCask