Where are some great outdoor beer gardens in Michigan?

There are plenty of relaxing outdoor beer gardens in Michigan to enjoy when you Go Great Lakes Bay, including: Drift Shoreside Beer Garden, Drydock Beer Garden, and Tri-City Brewing Company Beer Garden in Bay City; Midland Brewing Company Beer Garden in Midland; and Fischer Platz and Schnitzelbank Bier Garten in Frankenmuth.

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Drift Shoreside Beer Garden | @driftbaycity

What are some relaxing outdoor beer gardens in Bay City, Michigan?

  • Drift Shoreside Beer Garden Enjoy a laid-back atmosphere and stunning sunset views of the Saginaw River in Downtown Bay City — and relax dockside on a multi-tiered deck! Sip summery cocktails, split buckets of cold beer, play lawn games, and sample street fare from food trucks on-site!
  • Drydock Beer Garden Support local charities & organizations while sipping under the string lights at this seasonal beer garden in cozy Unity Park. Grab a brew with friends, and relax in the heart of Downtown Bay City’s dining district.
  • Tri-City Brewing Company Beer Garden Experience Bay City's hometown brewery in a classic outdoor beer garden setting. Under a year-round pavilion, sip your choice of beers & ciders on tap. Look to the Loons Summer Ale for a smooth blonde ale with citrus aromas and a thirst-quenching finish.

What are some relaxing outdoor beer gardens in Midland, Michigan?

  • Midland Brewing Company Beer Garden Enjoy summer evenings spent around fire pits & picnic tables — and savor inventive, locally produced craft beers. Pair your pints with pub-style food, and pick up a bean bag for a cornhole toss. This beautiful backyard beer garden cozies up to the Pere Marquette Rail Trail — and features a former shipping container, transformed into an outdoor bar!
Fischer Platz | @bavarianinn

What are some relaxing outdoor beer gardens in Frankenmuth, Michigan?

  • Fischer Platz Discover a music cafe reminiscent of the outdoor beer gardens of Germany outside the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. Open daily during summer months, listen to delightful accordion music while sipping a cold brew or a glass of wine in the Frankenmuth sunshine.
  • Schnitzelbank Bier Garten Raise your glass to summer at this seasonal gathering space located in front of the Bavarian Inn Lodge. Throughout the summer months, enjoy drinks, dinner, and entertainment in the lively Bavarian atmosphere.
Downtown Bay City
Discover
Outdoor Social Districts

Make your way to Bay City, Frankenmuth, and Midland, where city spaces become inviting social zones. You don’t have to look for outdoor beer gardens — they’re everywhere!

Views of the crowd gathered in the city streets at dusk for The Commons Live Music Series in Downtown Midland, Michigan
The Commons Live Music Series | @downtownmidlandmi
Downtown Midland
The Commons

Frolic in live turf areas with trees & plants, lounge furniture & yard games at The Commons Pedestrian Plaza in Downtown Midland. Experience The Commons Refreshment Area, too, where adult beverages are available to sip while strolling, outdoor dining options are many, and live entertainment fills the city streets.

Person holding a to-go beer from Frankenmuth Brewery in a Frankenmuth Social District cup in front of colorful flowers in the outdoor Frankenmuth Social District in Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth Social District | @frankenmuthbrewery
Frankenmuth
Frankenmuth Social District

Stroll, shop, and explore your way through Michigan's Little Bavaria — with an adult beverage in-hand! Grab a brew, wine, or cocktail to-go from over 20 establishments, and wander about Frankenmuth while sipping until you reach "The Pint of No Return" (the Frankenmuth Social District's boundaries)!

Sun setting over the expanded outdoor dining area beneath the Third Street Star Bridge during Feet on the Street in Bay City
Feet on the Street in Bay City | @jeffcaverlyphotography
Downtown Bay City
Third Street Social District

Gather under the glow of the Third Street Star Bridge, and discover a magical outdoor space, open only to foot traffic on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Enjoy open-air drinks, boogie down to live music, or saunter up for a line dancing session with In Cahoots Country Dance Club.

Coast Into
Good Times on
Pedal Trolleys

More like mobile beer gardens, these trolley bikes are bars on wheels — made for pedaling from pub to pub!

Group of riders on the Sunrise Pedal Trolley, stopped by the Third Street Star Bridge during Feet on the Street in Bay City
Feet on the Street in Bay City | @miles2gobeforeisleep
Bay City
Sunrise Pedal Trolley

Hop aboard a mobile party and catch a colorful ride on the 16-person Sunrise Pedal Trolley! Whether you’re pedaling for a special occasion, or just gathering a group together for fun, bring what you’d like to drink and bike through waterfront Bay City’s shopping districts, historic neighborhoods, and area bars.

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PedAle Trolley
Frankenmuth
PedAle Trolley

With cold brews in-hand, or another favorite beverage, pedal through streets of Little Bavaria lined with the blooms of summer! Book the whole 16-person trolley for your group, and “Sit. Smile. PedAle for Awhile.”

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Things To Do
Best Places for Beer, Wine + Spirits in the Great Lakes Bay

No matter the season — or whether you’re craving craft beer, wine, or cocktails — you’ll find plenty of places to savor local flavor when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Michigan. Make your way through this hand-picked guide of artisans & opportunities, and discover for yourself!

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Guy sitting along the Saginaw River in Bay City with his stand-up paddleboard by Real Seafood Company in Uptown
Saginaw River in Bay City | @mi_playground
Summer Trip Ideas
Best Patios for Outdoor + Waterfront Dining in the Great Lakes Bay

It’s summertime in the Great Lakes Bay, and there’s no better way to savor this delicious season than to dine al fresco! Gather up in inviting neighborhoods pleasantly packed with patios — and discover social zones where city streets become one big outdoor dining space!

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Author
Jen W. O'Deay + Go Great Lakes Bay

By: Jen W. O'Deay | Updates: Go Great Lakes Bay | Jen is a Saginaw native and owner of Feel These Words, an independent copywriting studio & home to the free "5 Day Website MiniBoost". Jen specializes in writing that connects, delivered through website copy, branded content articles, and WingWoman writing services. You'll find Jen camping with her family, laughing, and at feelthesewords.com