Inviting Outdoor Beer Gardens in the Great Lakes Bay
Nothing goes with a cold brew better than fresh air & sunshine! Discover plentiful options to sample the best of the season at welcoming outdoor beer gardens. Enjoy waterside views and vibrant cityscapes as you try new & inventive craft beverages, toss back standby faves with friends, and revel in delicious flavors.
Find yourself feeling carefree at these memorable outdoor spaces that will quench your thirst for good brews & great times when you Go Great Lakes Bay in Pure Michigan!
Bay City
Enjoy a laid-back atmosphere and stunning sunset views of the Saginaw River at Drift Shoreside Beer Garden in Downtown Bay City. Order right from your boat or dine dockside on a multi-tiered deck! Sip handcrafted cocktails, split buckets of cold brews, and enjoy street fare from a fleet of rotating food trucks available on-site!
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Bay City
Support local charities while sippin' away under the string lights at Drydock Beer Garden. A seasonal outdoor beer garden in cozy Unity Park, grab a brew or glass of wine with friends — you’re welcomed to bring in eats from nearby restaurants & food trucks — and enjoy outdoor relaxation in the heart of Downtown Bay City’s dining district.
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Tri-City Brewing | @brain.of.j
Bay City
Tri-City Brewing Company Beer Garden
Experience Bay City's hometown brewery from the comfort of a classic outdoor beer garden. With a year-round pavilion and glass garage doors for a seamless indoor/outdoor space, sip your choice of beers, wines, and ciders on tap. Look to the Loons Summer Ale for a smooth blonde ale with citrus aroma and a thirst-quenching finish!
Midland
Enjoy summer evenings spent around fire pits & picnic tables at the Midland Brewing Company Beer Garden — and savor inventive, locally produced craft beers you won’t find anywhere else! Try Lumberjack Brawl or Jenny Series selections with your 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 an old shipping container, transformed into an outdoor bar!
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Frankenmuth
Raise your glass to summer at Schnitzelbank Biergarten, a 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 Frankenmuth is buzzing with busyness, but you’ll find relaxation and open-air fun at the Biergarten!
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Frankenmuth
Discover a music cafe reminiscent of the outdoor beer gardens of Germany — Fischer Platz outside the Bavarian Inn Restaurant! Open daily during summer months since 1973, hear Linda Lee fill the air with delightful accordion music while sipping a cold brew or a glass of wine in the Frankenmuth sunshine. Look for a regular schedule of talented accordionists, and a never-ending supply of Bavarian-style fun!
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Discover
Outdoor Social Districts
Make your way to Midland and Bay City where select streets are open only to foot traffic, and city spaces become exciting, inviting social zones — you don’t have to look for outdoor beer gardens, they’re everywhere!
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 entertainment fills the city streets.
Molasses | @molassesmidland
Try These Hotspots at The Commons:
Indulge in St. Louis-style barbecue at Molasses Smokehouse & Bar, and fall in love with their house-made mules, Bone-In Bloody Marys, or Molasses Sweet Tea — and the sights & sounds of Downtown Midland!
Step into an atmosphere of rustic charm and watch the distilling process through a viewing wall at Three Bridges Distillery & Taproom. Then, step out front to sip your spirits on a cozy patio with comfortable seating, and enjoy live music with your Raspberry Hibiscus Lemonade or Hazy IPA!
The Commons in Midland | @oxygenbarmidland
Linger in the upscale ambiance of The H Hotel, a dining destination with stunning settings for dining al fresco. Enjoy gorgeous cityscape or courtyard views and select cuisine & cocktails from on-site Cafe Zinc, ONe Eighteen, or Oxygen Lounge.
Experience homegrown-gourmet, farm-to-table creations on the intimate streetside patio at Aster. Dine on Smoked Whitefish Hush Puppies to Mushroom Risotto, then take your (Rye Rum Punch, Rosemary Hibiscus Fizz, Rhubarb Blush...) cocktail to sip on in The Commons.
Sit outside and discuss your brew at Whichcraft Taproom, where the beverages have stories to tell! Select from more than 80 Michigan-made craft beer & cider selections (40 available on tap), all produced by passionate artisans.
Visit Grape Beginnings Winery for a down-to-earth tasting experience. Enjoy fresh air with your glass of something seasonal, or sip a Wine Crushy (slushy) in the summer sun!
Pop by Tavern on Main to enjoy a Tavern Sandwich or a Tavern Burger, then wander through The Commons with your draft beer, wine, or cocktail to-go, like the Bourbon Basil Lemonade.
Bay City
Feet on the Street
Discover magical outdoor spaces, open only to foot traffic, and enjoy open-air dining, drinks, and even dancing to live music and street performances!
MI Table | @michewsbrews
Try These Feet on the Street Hotspots:
Grab a seat on the patio (or bring your own chair) for Beats on the Streets while enjoying your favorite beverage outside Old City Hall. Savor casual-upscale dining under the stars (or sun umbrellas), and relish an unforgettable wine list.
Bask in sunshine at Beaver’s Pub, a whiskey bourbon bar that specializes in smoked, seasonal cocktails. With a full menu and easygoing environment, enjoy your time on this welcoming patio. Grab a picnic table, toss bags at the cornhole area, or pull up chairs around the fire pit!
Linger outside MI Table to dine on Michigan-sourced menu items on a gorgeous, intimate patioscape — and pair your locally inspired meal with a flight of Michigan craft brews!
Located underneath the string lights of the Third Street Star Bridge, enjoy the scenery in & around a neighborhood go-to, Jake’s Corner Lounge. Grab a patio beer or two and join in for line dancing in the streets, live music, or even Karaoke Night!
Sunrise Pedal Trolley
Coast Into
Good Times on
Pedal Trolleys
Pedal Trolleys
More like mobile beer gardens, these trolley bikes are bars on wheels — made for pedaling your way from pub to pub!
Bay City
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 power your way through waterfront Bay City’s shopping districts, historic neighborhoods, and area bars.
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Frankenmuth
With cold brews in-hand, or another favorite beverage, pedal through streets of "Little Bavaria" lined with the blooms of summer! Ride the 16-person PedAle Trolley in Frankenmuth — book the whole trolley for your group, or purchase single seats for a Thursday- or Saturday-evening pub crawl. Either way, “Sit. Smile. PedAle for Awhile.”
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Things To Do
No matter the season — or whether you’re craving craft beer, wine, or cocktails — you’ll find plenty of places to savor in Pure Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region. Make your way through this hand-picked guide of artisans & opportunities, and discover for yourself!
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Summer Trip Ideas
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
