Creative Outdoor Bar Ideas

Considering adding an outdoor bar to your backyard? It’s a great way to gather and socialize. A backyard bar seriously elevates any backyard space. Explore some of our creative ideas to make your backyard bar even better.

Creative Outdoor Bar Ideas

1. Indoor/Outdoor Bar

We’ve started seeing this unique bar idea grow in popularity. Have your basement transition right to the outdoors with an intelligently designed indoor/outdoor space. This can take a few forms. Large, accordion-style doors that can be sealed during the cold months but flung wide open during the warm months. Or an indoor/outdoor gas fireplace, where occupants both inside and outside can utilize the fireplace. 

For this style, we recommend placing your bar inside with seating outside. This makes it easier to winterize.

2. Pizza Oven/Stone Oven

This idea pairs well with a full outdoor kitchen, but it works well for simple bars as well. A stone oven makes it easy to cook up delicious bar food like pizza, wings, or simple appetizers. There’s also no denying the ambiance and visual appeal a stone oven adds to your bar area.

Related Content: Landscaping Additions for Homeowners Who Love Hosting

3. Built-in Ice Maker

For serious home bartenders, a built-in drink maker is an absolute must. You can use a freezer to store ice-cubes, but a built-in ice maker speeds up your creation and spares you the hassle of remembering to replenish your ice after each outdoor gathering. It’s the little things that make the biggest difference.

4. Nearby Herb Garden

Imagine always having a stash of fresh garnish on hand. With an herb garden, you don’t need to imagine it. You can thoughtfully place your herb garden nearby your outdoor bar. This adds two extra benefits to your space: it looks beautiful, and it smells lovely.

5. Fire features

Fire features take your bar to the next level. You have a ton of options to choose from that work well in a bar area:

• Torches or bowls for lighting
• Bar height fire tables
• Standard size fire tables
• Outdoor fireplace

The possibilities are endless. Fire features add a natural ambiance of both lighting and heat that make your outdoor bar feel cozy.

Related Content: Why You Should Add a Fire Feature to Your Patio 

6. Swim-Up Bar

A swim-up bar is a unique and fun option for homeowners who love their in-ground pool. A swim-up bar creates an immediate and undeniable resort-like experience for you and your guests. It also helps save patio space for other uses.

7. Integrated Smart Lighting and Sound

With the endless smart lighting and sound options available, it’s easy to integrate this smart tech into your outdoor bar. You can control both lighting and sound from your phone for ease of use. Our landscaping experts work with you to help choose the best options for your setup, and to ensure they’re integrated seamlessly so they can be winterized without damage. 

8. Heated Outdoor Furniture

Get more year-round use of your bar area with heated furniture. From bar stools with built-in seat warmers to full lounge sets that radiate gentle warmth, this luxurious upgrade transforms your space into a cozy space even on chilly nights.

9. Mosaic Accent Wall or Countertop 

Make your outdoor bar pop with a vibrant tile backsplash or countertop. Mediterranean patterns, monochrome geometric designs, or glossy handmade tiles can tie the bar into your broader landscape theme while creating visual wow.

10. Weatherproof TV or Projector Wall

Turn your bar into an entertainment hub with a weather-resistant TV or a retractable projector setup. This idea is great for movie nights, sports watch parties, or just background ambiance during gatherings.

Your outdoor bar can be as creative and customized as you are. With the right design elements, your backyard bar becomes more than just a place to pour drinks: it becomes a stylish social hub that works beautifully in every season.

Where to Find Minnesota Landscaping Experts

Our experts would be happy to start discussing your landscaping job if you’re interested in adding on to your outdoor living. Outdoor Innovations has served the Twin Cities since 2007, and we have over 100 years of combined experience through our owners, management, and installation staff.

Our professional designers and landscaping architects at Outdoor Innovations will design, plan, and install the necessary structures and features to help you enjoy your landscaping year-round. Curious to see what we can do to bring your dream backyard to life?

Outdoor Innovations Landscaping creates elevated backyards for homeowners in Minnesota. From in-ground pools to luxurious grilling stations to outdoor living rooms, we do it all. Explore our past projects and get a quote online to make your dream backyard a reality.