50 Best Cocktail Bars in Cincinnati

“Chill vibes, great staff.. phenomenal drinks“

“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.“

“great drinks amazing bartenders good food!!!“

“My wife and I went here with my parents who live nearby. We'd been here once before, and I know we'll keep going back when we visit Cincinnati. I had the cortado before, because cortados are delicious. This time I had drip coffee and the overnight oats, which were super good. It was the day after Christmas and very mellow inside. The staff are really nice and friendly. We found a cozy booth to sit in and spent about 30-40 minutes there. Highly recommended!“

“I always have such a great experience at Afterlife. The bartenders are incredibly engaging and genuinely caring, which makes the whole atmosphere feel welcoming and fun every time I visit. They even have small blind bags, which is such a unique and playful touch.

There are a lot of Asian-inspired drinks out there, but Afterlife really stands out—they do an amazing job bringing out the flavors without making the drinks overly spirit-heavy. Everything feels balanced and intentional.

The rice ball drink is by far my favorite—it smells just like sweet rice cakes and has a perfectly balanced flavor with tea and pandan liquor. It’s honestly one of the most memorable drinks I’ve had.

The interior design is super trendy and ties in perfectly with the music and overall vibe of the space. Definitely a spot I keep coming back to.“

“The energy in the place is something special. The mixology is some of the best in Cincy and the music and atmosphere is such a vibe. We enjoyed listening to incredible jazz musicians and sipping the most exquisite cocktails. A gem in the downtown area, don’t miss it!!!“

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

“I like it here. The vibe is chill and the indoor-outdoor setup is cool. I don't go out a lot anymore, but this is a good place to have a drink with friends after work downtown. I can't speak to how it is at night or on the weekends.“

“Wonderful Vibe. Great atmosphere!“

“Not open right now but soon!!“

“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“

“Came in during Bockfest and was really impressed. The place was packed, but the bartenders were still attentive and friendly the whole time. They took the time to answer my girlfriend’s questions about the cocktail menu, and they made me a fantastic Old Fashioned. Great service even in the middle of the chaos.“

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

“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 wife and I went to this restaurant today, after a great recommendation from one of my employees. This place is absolutely amazing! The food is fantastic, the atmosphere is wonderful, and the service is completely top notch! Literally better service than I have received probably ever, and we go to A LOT of restaurants. Literally, my wife’s napkin fell to the ground and after I picked it up, the lady who was the host to us seen it and brought her a new one. Drinks did not run dry, and every single member of the staff was helping out and conversing with us. The owner and chef even came out to shake my hand. What an absolute gem in Cincinnati. This is a place NOT to miss out on. And don’t forget to order the cornbread! Hands down the best I have ever tasted. We left and wished we were hungry again and could turn around and go back inside.“

“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.“

“The Lackman is one of my favorite spots in Cincy easily. Their vibe was exactly what you want in a neighborhood bar chill, friendly, and full of history. I love stopping bye for a quick drink or making a whole night of it.

Bartenders are fun, fast, and genuine they gave good recommendations. All my drinks were great. Also as a big coors banquet enthusiast I was so happy to see they carry it.
Everything was priced fairly. The crowd is a perfect mix with an enjoyable atmosphere. It should be on your bucket list for Cincy bars.
The Lackman is a must.“

“It’s a small bar but mannnn it’s dope. Their bartenders are cool, Owners are cool, everyone there is honestly just cool🤌. Every night I go there interesting things happen. Save ur plane tickets for Miami just come to Hyde. It’s worth it. Just watch out for money hungry women.“

“Come and enjoy nice people and great food“

“OK, I keep going back thinking that there’s no way that they’re food is as good as I remember. I’m wrong every time. It’s delicious!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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!“

“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.“

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

“The best cheese I’ve eaten! I live 100 miles away but stop in every time I’m in Cincy. I buy it at Christmas for neighbors gifts and they look forward to it every year.“

“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!“

“Great local low key bar with friendly attentive staff“

“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!“

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

“good food nice area“

“Amazing place !! Highly recommend“

“The pizza is always really good! The employees are always welcoming and friendly. I love this place. I eat here at-least once a week!“

“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 the food and the Staff!!!“

“Went here to actually get photos for a college project, a jazz themed session, the staff were so welcoming and understanding! This tavern is so cozy and unique. I love this hidden little gem! Would return here as a customer due to how polite the staff were.“

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

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

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

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

“Customer service incredible Drinks delicious and the food great them Greens was theeeeeeee best 10/10 recommend“

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

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

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Great place! Great central location in the heart of Cheviot. Perfect venue for weddings, showers, get togethers, company parties, class reunions, reveal parties, birthday parties, family reunions, the list goes on. Would highly recommend. Very accommodating and great service. Mary the owner is awesome!! Cannot say enough good things about this place and the owner. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

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

“My aunt had her retirement party here and rented out the whole place. The drinks were amazing and the appetizers served were PHENOMENAL, I couldn’t believe it was brewery food. I definitely recommend renting out for events! Great environment too.“

“Seriously so delicious! We enjoyed every single bite! My husband ordered the charred pork belly over rice, my daughter ordered the chicken teriyaki bowl, and I ordered the 3 mix and match skewers! We were all very pleased with our choice. We also ordered the tornado fries and they were incredible! The pricing was reasonable, the staff were friendly, and I can’t even express how amazing the food was! Definitely check it out!“

“My new favorite coffee stop in Cincinnati. The staff was very friendly, the menu had a delightful selection of exciting seasonal drinks and the atmosphere was great. I ordered the iced girl scout latte and was very impressed with the drink I received. I brought my laptop with me to get some homework done and was very happy to find ample outlets and comfortable seating -- not as easy to find in a local cafe as you might think. It was quiet in the late afternoon but definitely started picking up in the evening as people transitioned from ordering coffee to the actual bar. All in all, there's a little bit of everything here. Good quiet vibes for some afternoon work, and a little more excitement rolling in during the evening. I wish I could have stayed and ordered a cocktail“

“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!“