50 Best Cocktail Bars in Cincinnati

“I have never fallen in love with a brand more quickly. The vibe was beyond amazing - the colors, the textures, the lighting, the music! The service was 10/10 - top notch. The cocktail menu is laid out like a story, and the writing is cheeky and clever. The cocktail matrix at the beginning of the menu was so helpful - I wish more cocktail bars did this. Oh, and the menu itself? Printed on thick paper with a smooth, matte cover. The cocktails - with alcohol and NA - were innovative and delicious. They’ve thought of all the details and have executed them perfectly. Bravo, King Pigeon! Can’t wait to see you again soon.“

“Shareable menu items that are tasty and unique…smelt fries and duck fat fried potatoes. Delicious. Great service and oh yeah - Longfellow charm all the way.“

“good food nice area“

“What an amazing place to hold birthday party and a night out! Over the weekend we hosted my husband’s birthday party at Ripples event space. They were amazing from the service to the food and they were very accommodating to all of our requests! Trish and Matt did an amazing job with service and then everyone kept going on about the food! Way to go!!! Thank you so much for an amazing night out!“

“Anjou is a beautiful cocktail bar in the dainty neighborhood of Walnut Hills. On a warm evening, Anjou props open their windows making the whole place hip and relaxing. I quite enjoyed their light and refreshing ube cocktail. Paid parking can be conveniently on the same street.“

“Chill vibes, great staff.. phenomenal drinks“

“From someone out of town, based in Chicago, me and my partner had a great night at Tillie's. We went to a couple other gay bars in the area and this was, by far, our favorite. The owner was there and was super friendly. Service was quick and also very nice. The crowd at this bar beat the crowds at the other bars, more inviting and felt welcoming. Overall, five stars for the atmosphere at Tillie's!“

“great drinks amazing bartenders good food!!!“

“I have been a regular for 6 months and sai and tori have been fantastic bartenders they make me feel like a person and always very kind and in good moods and its not easiest job to be in such a good mood all the time with pressures of dealing with so many people they are fantastic“

“My friends and I come to japps all the time and always have the best time! There is so much character in the space and the bartenders are always delightful and attentive. Special shout out to one of the bartenders Ryan, every time I go there he always remembers my drink preferences and has the best recommendations when I want to try something new! This is the perfect spot to go to on the weekdays for a happy hour drink or on the weekends if you want to dance. Highly recommend 10000/10. Oh and there’s a photobooth (;“

“Fun, intimate little bar with a "Hemingway" vibe. Imaginative themed cocktails named for Hemingway characters & events... really charming bartender and a dark "tropical" environment. (Bring your own snacks) Enjoyed this great "moody" hangout. Pineapple Upside Down Daiquiri was especially good!“

“The bartender was awesome and crafted a lovely mocktail for me. Nice outdoor seating area and casual atmosphere.“

“Experience would have been perfect, but service was terrible. We were visiting Cincy and the hotel told us about Härth. We sat toward the front of the bar & nobody came to take our order after being there for about 10 minutes. My husband went to the bar & tried to order. We were told that a server would be around. Another 10 minutes & we didn’t even see a server milling around. We tried to order at the bar again & bartender said he’d bring the drinks. Finally got them after another 10 minutes. Not one time did a server come by in the hour we were there. Tried to order a second round at bar & we were told the same thing. Waited for a server, who never showed, so we closed our tab of 1 drink a piece after being there for over an hour. I had a coffee drink & it was delicious. The music & the vibe were great. I so wish the service would have been better or even a bit friendlier. I will go back when we visit again. I just hope they have more people working or a new bartender.“

“Awesome, 1st time ❣️………we will definitely be back!!“

“When I arrived the very first time, everyone was nice. Smiles and hi's. I introduced myself and the guy I spoke with was very nice and found out we liked had a lot in common. Found out later he was the owner. U may think he did that for business, but he was genuine. The place is always open, and I made a lot of friends there. I want to move back here just to visit as much as possible. Sincerely, Larry Straub“

“Not open right now but soon!!“

“The Lackman is hands down one of my favorite bars in the city, and a huge part of that is thanks to Cindy. She’s the kind of bartender who instantly makes you feel welcome, always remembers your drink, and somehow keeps everything running smoothly even when the place is packed. Super friendly, fun to talk to, and just all-around great at what she does.

The vibe at The Lackman is always on point, cool without trying too hard, with a solid drink selection and some really creative cocktails. But honestly, even if the drinks weren’t as good as they are, I’d still keep coming back just to sit at the bar when Cindy’s working. She really makes the place special.“

“Wonderful Vibe. Great atmosphere!“

“Excellent service and Food. Compliments to the Chef and staff. Had French Pork Chop. Absolutely phenomenal! Fried Green Tomatoes - best I’ve ever had! Martini was also perfect! Very classy place! Highly recommend! Wish there was a location near me!“

“Come and enjoy nice people and great food“

“I love this place. The atmosphere is beautiful!! Their patio area just amazing!“

“Outstanding in every way. Stopped in for a much-needed meal on the high route from Nashville to Philly.. could not have been more impressed with both food and service. One of the best meals I’ve had in a while.. everything was superb.“

“I was in town and Agave & Rye was recommended to me. I stopped in on 9/10/22 talked with Emma the hostess and explained I was having a few friends to stop by not sure how many between five and ten. She accommodated me at the high rise table back by the windows which was perfect for my nine guest. Sarah was our excellent server, she continually checked in on us even thou I saw her working outside as well. Our drinks were awesome and our food was really good. Next time I am in town I will definitely return here.“

“Transcendental empanadas, arepas bursting with fresh fillings, frosty beverages, and a little shop where you can scarf up South American comfort foods and ingredients. The Arepa Place is amazing. My first bite into the chicken empanada sent me on a long journey to a far away planet named Delicious Prime. I landed, mid chew, in a great battle of shredded chicken, buttery flaky fried crust, and an assortment of salsas. There was purple smoke, the screaming of my teeth, and a salty wave of energy that made me urinate my pants. Moments later my wife and daughter shook me awake and I found myself on the floor moaning like a cow in heat. "Are you okay?" they asked, frantically. My response, "more arepas. And some of that aguapanela." The EMT team, curious, ordered some as well. Then, with my EMT team, I transcended back into the fever dream of flavor. Dedicated gluten free. Cute wall decor.

Vegetarian options: Lots of bean and cheese

Dietary restrictions: All gluten free!

Parking: Front and side parking, dozens of spots.

Kid-friendliness: Good music and color. They have a bar but it's a nice place.“

“Absolutely fabulous experience! Amazing food, drinks, and fun vibes. The roasted eggplant is to die for, and the Sauvignon Blanc blend was fantastic. Great time with friends and wonderful staff made it even better!“

“We just had to share a huge thank you to Quarter Bistro for making our son’s night so special! Our 17-year-old son took his girlfriend there for homecoming dinner on Saturday. We had told him to make sure he was ready — check prices, reservations, have enough to tip, the whole parent talk. He chose Quarter Bistro because it’s a place they always drive past, and it felt special to them even though they’d never been. He came home absolutely glowing! He said the food was amazing, the staff was wonderful, and the atmosphere was perfect — even if, in his words, it was “all older people” 😂. The best part? The manager came out, told them how much he loved seeing young couples there, and took care of their bill. That kindness meant the world to him — and to us as parents. Thank you so much to the staff and management for such a thoughtful gesture. It made their night unforgettable. ❤️ We’ll definitely be visiting soon ourselves!“

“Y’all, Francesca is the best. These are the best croissants I have had in Cincy, and some of the best coffee. I came in to pick up a birthday cake and Francesca spoke with me in Italian and was so, so kind and generous. Definitely go see this place.“

“Was in town for the week on business. We all had a blast!!“

“Love everything about Urban Stead Cheese!“

“Today we picked Fireside cause we wanted to try some Cincinnati pizza! All I can say is what an amazing place. The gentleman working was amazing!! Helped tell us about other places to go, had us try some different draft beers, they made the best pizza’s even my kids loved all the different types and loved drawing plates to put on the wall. If we were to ever come back this way definitely would be coming back! Recommend 100x!!“

“Great local low key bar with friendly attentive staff“

“We had dinner with 7 people and everyone enjoyed their meal. The Gnocchi was phenomenal. 10/10 highly recommend!!“

“As I’m writing this review I’m still in shock! I’m in Cincinnati on business and I was craving Italian. I can’t believe there’s not a line around the block just for the meatballs! My family owned an Italian seafood restaurant in NJ for 26 years and I can say without hesitation the meatballs here are the best west of Arthur Ave in the Bronx! My NJ mind is blown!“

“Love the food and the Staff!!!“

“The food was delicious. Had my husband hollering, lol scared the ppl at first then the other customers joined in. Service was amazing“

“Celebrating our 15th anniversary at The Blind Lemon. Few of our date nights there! My partner Joel
Mellon has been there in 1984! When we met in 2003 we came here often! Our favorite drink is the Grand Mariner warm! The solo guitarist voice was amazing! The magical part of the night was as we were about to leave she sang our song! Norah Jones ‘ come Away With Me’
It was perfect! The night ended well!’
?❤️?“

“Excellent hand crafted cocktails made by highly skilled and friendly Bartenders. The smoked carrot hummus was devine!“

“What a great find! We were looking for a place to take a bunch of kids after a birthday Zipline adventure. Decided to try this and it was perfect! The upstairs is amazing! So big and spacious with a bar and balcony and party room with games.
I don't think they want to be known as a place for kids parties, but they were accommodating nonetheless and it was a hit with the kids.
They even had pizzas ready for us when we got there (I called about 20 minutes before we arrived).“

“Love this place! Service was great, drinks were unique and you can’t beat the view of Washington park and music hall!“

“First visit. Got the special… best French Dip sandwich I’ve had. Baguette was perfection for this dish. Will be back.“

“Great espresso, coffee, and other beverages. Always happy to support local.“

“just looking for dinner before a show at the Aronoff. greatly surpassed expectations. waitstaff (Jamie) was very friendly and highly efficient. would recommend“

“This establishment is top notch in every way! I recommend the “Kyle” and the “Yolanda Mai Tai” 😊“

“Food was fabulous! Great beer! Will definitely be back. Kudos to Chef JB 👏👏“

“Our drinks were amazing the bar manager was so helpful and great atmosphere can’t wait to go again“

“This place is just a couple blocks away from the downtown Starbucks and the coffee is heaps better. They freshly grind and press each espresso shot and their coffee comes from local roasters. The space is small but they make the most of it in terms of seating. When the weather is nice there is a nice outdoor area as well.

They sometimes have a selection of pastries, but they are limited so I don't count on the food here. If you're looking for a good cup of coffee or tea, though, this is the perfect spot.“

“Very friendly bar staff, delicious food, awesome live music, spacious indoor and outdoor seating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“I have been a HUGE fan of "The Ferm" for a while now. I live in the neighborhood and it is my favorite spot to drop in on. Just when I didn't think I could love them more, they proved me wrong. I organized a corporate holiday party here, and Megan was such an amazing partner in the coordination from start to finish! The actual event exceeded ALL expectations! Megan, Emily and Jean Luc were an all star team! This is my third year organizing this event and this was absolutely THE BEST! THE Fermentorium checks ALL THE BOXES!!! I recommend them for a planned evening out, an impromptu quick drink, or to host a private event!!!!“

“10/10, highly recommend. Great music and food“

“Great environment with a friendly wait staff“