Best Patios for a Summer Evening
7 stops · about 4 hours · Updated October 11, 2026
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Plan a summer evening in Rochester & Rochester Hills, MI around outdoor seating along Paint Creek, a patio dinner or drinks at a barbershop-and-cocktail-lounge combination. Ernie's On The Creek pairs its riverfront seating with Greek cuisine reimagined for today, plus beer, wine, cocktails and happy-hour food and drinks. Dinner reservations are recommended, and Friday and Saturday hours extend to 1 a.m.
RH House brings contemporary American cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and a high-energy setting to its outdoor patio. Chomp offers a counter-service alternative, with gourmet burgers, sandwiches, salads and vegan and vegetarian options. Dogs are welcome on its patio; closing time is 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday.
For outdoor drinks, BAUS combines outdoor seating with cocktails, beer and wine, while weekend offerings include events and bottle service. Downtown Cafe belongs on the daytime itinerary: its breakfast-and-lunch patio closes at 3 p.m., or 2 p.m. Sunday. The list also includes two drinks-focused stops: Twin Peaks for beer, American comfort food and sports viewing, and Bitter Tom's Tasting Room for craft cocktails, mocktails and after-dinner drinks.
Patios
evening
Stop 1
Ernie's On The Creek
4.8(822)Rochester
Ernie's On The Creek pairs outdoor seating along Paint Creek with reimagined Greek cuisine, cocktails, and happy-hour food and drinks.
Stop 2
Downtown Cafe
4.7(970)Rochester
Downtown Cafe offers a daytime patio for breakfast, brunch and lunch, with coffee, comfort food, vegetarian options and a children's menu.
Stop 3
RH House
4.5(1722)Rochester Hills
RH House combines an outdoor patio, contemporary American cuisine and handcrafted cocktails, with happy-hour offerings and vegan and vegetarian options.
Stop 4
Chomp
4.5(1075)Rochester
Chomp's dog-friendly patio pairs with counter-service burgers, sandwiches and salads, plus vegan and vegetarian options for lunch or an early dinner.
Beer outside
evening
Stop 5
BAUS
4.8(462)Rochester
BAUS brings outdoor seating to its shared barbershop and cocktail lounge, with beer, wine, happy-hour drinks, weekend events and bottle service.
Stop 6
Twin Peaks
4.7(3154)Auburn Hills
Twin Peaks combines sports viewing and American comfort food with beer, cocktails and happy-hour offerings in a casual, lodge-like setting.
Stop 7
Bitter Tom's Tasting Room
4.7(109)Rochester
Bitter Tom's Tasting Room offers craft cocktails, mocktails, coffee drinks and boozy shakes in modern, warm interiors, with reservations accepted.
