This is the last weekend of summer for a lot of school-aged kiddos, and it’s going to be HOT so we wanted to round up some of our favorite local brewery patios for you to cool off with a frosty drink. Whether you need space for the kids to play or are craving an adult-focused outing, these breweries offer plenty of fresh air, cold drinks and endless reasons to stay for another round.

(To be clear, none of these businesses are exclusively 21+ but based on vibes we’ve split them into more family-friendly and adult-friendly categories).  

KIDS + FAMILY

KC Bier Co. — Lenexa (and Waldo)
KC Bier Co.’s new Lenexa Biergarten is basically a backyard party on a much bigger scale. Parents can settle in with German-style beer and food while the kids enjoy the play area, and the outdoor bar, stage and dog zone make it easy for the whole crew to spend an afternoon here.

Big Grove Brewery — Prairie Village
Big Grove is big enough to handle your entire group chat—and everyone’s children. Its sprawling patio has fire pits, yard games, TVs, turf and room to roam, while the full food menu means nobody has to survive the afternoon on pretzels alone.

Transparent Brewing Co. — Grandview
This Grandview brewery checks nearly every family-outing box: a dog-friendly patio, green space, lawn games, an on-site dog park and scratch-made tacos. The kids can stay entertained, the dog can burn off some energy and the adults still get legitimately good beer. Everybody wins.

City Barrel Pizza + Patio — Waldo/Brookside
Pizza for the kids, craft beer for the adults and a big covered patio for everyone—City Barrel understood the assignment. Add games, cocktails and a relaxed neighborhood setting, and you have an easy dinner option that doesn’t require your children to sit silently in a booth for 90 minutes.

Brewery Emperial — Crossroads
Brewery Emperial’s beer garden feels more like a lively backyard gathering than a downtown restaurant. There’s sunny and shaded seating, yard games, a heated patio, toys for younger visitors and a full menu that gives grown-ups just as much reason to get excited.

Transport Brewery — Downtown Shawnee/Gardner
Transport brings a friendly neighborhood feel to downtown Shawnee, with a welcoming atmosphere, rotating events, live music and plenty of opportunities to linger outside over a pint. Kids and dogs are both welcome, making it an easy stop when your group includes drinkers, snackers and small people who refuse to sit still.

Rockcreek Brewing Co. — Mission
Rockcreek is a cozy neighborhood brewery with a laid-back patio and an ever-changing lineup of beer styles. Outside food is welcome, so grab takeout from a nearby Mission restaurant, claim a table and turn dinner into a low-key family patio night.

BETTER FOR THE GROWN-UPS

Border Brewing Co. — Crossroads
Border’s secluded backyard patio brings string lights, murals and relaxed Crossroads energy without feeling like one of the district’s louder nightlife stops. Order a flight of small-batch beer, cider or cocktails and settle in for a date night or an unhurried drink with friends. Families are welcome, but the atmosphere still leans grown-up.

Cinder Block Brewery + The Commons — North Kansas City
Cinder Block is already a favorite for local beer, but The Commons next door turns it into a full afternoon or evening destination with outdoor seating, yard games, cocktails and food from Bay Boy. Better yet for the adults: The Commons becomes 21+ after 3 p.m., making it one of the clearest kid-free patio options on the list.

Friction Beer Co. — Downtown Shawnee
Friction pairs an ever-changing beer lineup with a music-soaked taproom and an intimate downtown Shawnee patio. It is technically kid-friendly, but the soundtrack, creative beers and laid-back bar atmosphere make it an especially good choice when the babysitter is booked and the adults are ready to reclaim happy hour.