8UP Elevated Drinkery & Kitchen 350 W. Chestnut St., 631-4180 Oversize couches, designer drinks and panoramic views of the Louisville skyline from a rooftop. What more could you want in a bar on a steamy summer night? And if your allergies are bothering you, 8UP has dining inside with windows on the city.
Louis’s The Ton 1601 Story Ave., 494-4007 The beautifully-restored building in historic Butchertown has it all: craft beer and cocktails, great food, fine art, live music — and a no-cover policy. Out back is a capacious, comfortable place to sip outside.
Garage Bar 700 E. Market St., 749-7100 Yup, it was a garage in the NuLu district. Now it is a bar with all the bar stuff you would expect and wood-fired pizzas you might not, in addition to Southern dishes. Outside are plenty of places to sit, play ping pong and watch kinetic art: Jonathan Schipper’s “Slow Inevitable Death of American Muscle” (two cars slowing crush into each other).
El Camino 1314 Bardstown Road, 454-5417 Are you wandering around Bardstown Road looking to take in some sun with your Margaritas (or just straight tequila, mezcal or rum)? El Camino has the patio — and list of tequilas, mezcals and rums — for you!
Saints Pizza Pub & Sky Bar 131 Breckenridge Lane, 891-8883 One of the great, intimate patios in St. Matthews, Saints brings the neighborhood bar-and-grill feel, and TVs for any sports fan. Ensuring that the craft beers stay seasonal and plentiful, the staff is friendly, welcoming and attentive. Saints also has some of the most underrated chicken and wings in the city, as it’s all cooked out on the back patio.
Captain’s Quarters 5700 Captains Quarters Road, Prospect, 228-1651 Louisville’s go-to, by-the-river bar and restaurant for years. When the weather cooperates, there’s hardly a better venue for drinks while watching the boats and barges on the Ohio River. Some of the boats and boaters provide some good, free entertainment at the docks.
Somewhere Louisville 1135 Bardstown Road, 552-6942 As the newest outside-drinking (or eating) addition to Bardstown Road, it’s good to have “Somewhere” to go next to “Nowhere.” The oversized garage doors let the outside festivities spill inside, where the food and drink mix well with the music and dancing.
