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.“

“We had dinner at Ivory House on 3/21. It was an absolutely delightful dining experience. The food was superb. The staff was welcoming and worked hard to ensure we had a very pleasant dining experience. We will most definitely return.“

“Everything was outstanding! Really surprised we haven't heard about this place more. We split dishes so we could try more. Loved the stuffed poblano peppers, ahi tuna and the lobster roll was absolutely the best I've had outside of New England. Appreciated the half glasses of wine as well. We will definitely be back!“

“Every time I stop at Anjou I feel like I’m on vacation. Everything from the glasses, the tables, the decor - perfection. And then there are some amazing craft cocktails. My favorite spot.“

“great drinks amazing bartenders good food!!!“

“Chill vibes, great staff.. phenomenal drinks“

“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.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Sai, the bartender does a fantastic job providing great service and interactions with the patrons throughout the night.

Always friendly and treating customers with respect while having a smile on his face even if the bar gets very busy and overwhelming,“

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

“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“

“Wonderful Vibe. Great atmosphere!“

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

“Not open right now but soon!!“

“A long time, top notch cocktail bar in downtown Cincinnati (in the Over-The-Rhine area). Nice lounge / sofa seating. Karaoke too (check their socials).

They have great specialty cocktails, but can make most anything, including zero proof mocktails (they also have N-A beer).

It's 50 feet from the 12th and Main streetcar stop (also called Hanke Exchange Station).“

“I’ve been passing by The Lackman for so long now and finally gave it a shot. They did NOT disappoint! I was interested in their seasonal drinks and after asking the bartender some questions I started with an espresso martini. It was smooth and what I would consider PERFECT, then I switched to their harvest spritz which was light and delicious especially if you love apple cider like me.

The space was unbelievably clean and the perfect setting for meeting friends or a date. I will for sure be back and recommend you give it a shot when looking for your next cocktail bar!“

“Phenomenal would be an understatement to describe this establishment. 10 out of 5.“

“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!“

“Come and enjoy nice people and great food“

“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.“

“This year we have made it a point to try more restaurants downtown. This place is Heaven. Absolutely the best restaurant we have experienced in a long time: upscale casual vibe, strong flavorful drinks (try the Distrito Federal!), and the food... lord... the Moroccan Eggplant served tableside is sultry, sweet, smooth and savory. We also enjoyed the Coquilles appetizer with perfectly cooked scallops and 1 bite of the Davidson burger raised the bar for all of the local competition. Shout-out to our wonderful server, Alexis, and the roaming Manager DJ for the warm welcome. Everything was perfect.“

“The beer and food here were both awesome. I highly recommend Voodoo Love Child (Fruited Tripel) and 37 Pieces of Flair (Rye IPA). The pickle pizza and Tikka masala chicken sandwich were both delicious. The owner and staff were also super friendly and entertained my oldest daughter with a scavenger hunt (she was so proud of the pin she won) lol. We've talked about visiting Cinci more and will definitely be back. This was the perfect spot for lunch and brews with the family!“

“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.“

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

“We’ve been to Fireside before and the pizzas and salads are great as always. But we tried the canolas for desert this time. Don’t wait as long as we did to try them, they were exceptional.“

“Great local low key bar with friendly attentive staff“

“Everything was so delicious and service was great. Can’t wait to go back and try more of the menu.“

“Absolutely brilliant meal. Lovely fine-dining experience with a chef that nailed every dish.“

“Visited Rosie’s Italian Kitchen. Cannot believe it took us so long to check it out. Our server Austin gave very good suggestions and everything was outstanding ! We had the Arancini and Fried Lasagna bites to start and then the Honey Pie! Perfect blend of sweet heat . We also split the Cannoli Cookie with a scoop of vanilla gelato . Forgot to get a photo as we dug right in. We also met the Manager Alex and Kitchen Manager Victor who were so welcoming and made us feel like family . Already planning when we can go back !“

“Emillie was a great server! Let's start with the great things. We did apps and sides. Dumplings were so good but broth was phenomenal !!! Burrata and tomato jam was basically an amazing caprese, sooo good. We also had truffle mushrooms which we added to dumpling broth, YUM! and also had the perfect broccoli with just an ok aioli. Was unimpressed with crab avocado toast, not worth the expense. Have had a a lot of crab food options s and this underwhelmed. My husband is a brownie sundae officianato and he seriously loved the s'more brownie dessert. Overall, great food and sat outside away from a noisy interior on a Friday night.“

“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.“

“Love the food and the Staff!!!“

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

“We absolutely loved our experience at Safi start to finish. The atmosphere is marvelous, very unique and inviting. The food was delicious, unique, and very well presented. The large variety of drinks suited everyone in our party; I was particularly impressed at the unique wine options including dessert wines. The service was absolutely excellent and I enjoyed conversations with several helpful staff. I can't wait to go again!!“

“Our server Gold was absolutely fabulous! The food and ambience was amazing but she blew us away!! It was our first time trying Alara, but definitely coming back again, she was knowledgeable , attentive, and sweet—if you dine here ask for Gold!“

“I've lived across the street for two years now. Parkside opened roughly a year ago with great enthusiasm. Almost immediately the place was packed with a constant stream of people dining, drinking, hanging out on the patio etc.

The food is as great as it gets with a delish cheese burger (try the pimento), guacamole, buffalo spring rolls, & even the salads.
The staff are service industry elites who are use to a high volume & high energy place Parkside has achieved.
The atmosphere is like a busy neighborhood hangout. People bring their dogs and kids to the patio, everyone talks amongst groups, while the inside offers a cozier more calm traditional restaurant area.

On the bar & drinks... Even if you're just there to down a few pints or cocktails after work or there to make some new friends, you never feel like 2nd priority. The bartenders and staff are friendly and efficient and while I personally would like a wider variety of wines, Parkside gets high remarks with choice selection of glass pours, a wide variety of beers, & a exquisitely constructed cocktail menu.

Sadly, I depart the neighborhood next week but Parkside has become a staple of what every place should desire to achieve in Hyde Park. Kudos.

Vegetarian options: Premium salads, guacamole/pimento cheese, and a few other options!“

“One of my regular spots and also one of my favorite places in town. It's always nice to know I can come in here and grab some really good pizza and then come upstairs for great cocktails. The peanut butter tequila is weirdly good and they do a chocolate martini with it that is absolutely amazing.“

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

“Best bartenders in town great food and drinks and a fun atmosphere with live music there’s always something going on at The Spot.“

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

“Love everything about Urban Stead Cheese!“

“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!!!!“

“Great atmosphere and food“

“Loved this place! Great atmosphere, music and cocktails ♥️“

“So happy to have this fantastic cocktail bar in our neighborhood. The cocktail and wine selection is wonderful and the staff is friendly. The atmosphere is dark and moody and lends itself well to the curated music and extensive vinyl collection. My only critique is the overpowering fragrance of the bar. You can get whiffs from down the street and I can’t help but taste it in my drink and water. Dial that fragrance back and it’s a 10 out of 10!!!“

“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!’
?❤️?“

“Recommended visiting when there isn’t a bengals game going on. Cute seasonal menus for their coffees and drinks. Very simple and small but with a lot character. I think this should be a regular spot for anyone who enjoys a nice tucked away spot to sit and sip.“