50 Best Cocktail Bars in Cincinnati

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“great drinks amazing bartenders good food!!!“

“Who is Luke? In geography, my world. In history, my king. In math, my solution. In art, my muse. If Luke has 100 fans, I’m one of them. If Luke has 1 fan, it’s me. If Luke has no fans, I’m dead. Luke is my hero. The peach ring margarita is the best drink I’ve ever had. Also the band was really good. I love this place.“

“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.“

“Come and enjoy nice people and great food“

“nice reply mates, I do think you may want to talk with your connections and express concern. The table next to us was not amused and didn't sound like they were in a hurry to come back.

Pilar remains among our favs. The drinks are phenom and live music on Fridays. But another, sure to count on, bonus is the front-row view of the Redbike rack across the street.
It is the local main stage for the most brazen, hilarious chaos downtown. We watched open drinking skirmishes and incredibly obvious drug deals go down with absolutely zero regard for the entire patio watching.
Come for the excellent Hemingway-inspired rum drinks, stay for the lawless comedy show. 10/10, will be back next weekend for act two.“

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

“Wonderful Vibe. Great atmosphere!“

“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.“

“Not open right now but soon!!“

“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.“

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

“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“

“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.“

“Wiseguys Lounge in Pleasant Ridge is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you get a great neighborhood-lounge atmosphere that feels welcoming, relaxed, and full of character. The vibe is fantastic, making it an ideal spot to kick back, enjoy some good food and drinks, and spend time with friends.

The staff is friendly and attentive, the atmosphere is lively without being overwhelming, and there’s a great energy throughout the place. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual night out, meeting up with friends, or just looking for a fun local spot to unwind, Wiseguys delivers.

Pleasant Ridge is lucky to have a place like this. Great atmosphere, great service, and a genuinely fun experience—I’d definitely recommend Wiseguys Lounge and will happily 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“

“Great local low key bar with friendly attentive staff“

“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 food was amazing! Eli’s BBQ and Pesto Plus was the best pizza I’ve had in a very long time! It’s a must eat“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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!!“

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

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

“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 environment with a friendly wait 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!“

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

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Love the food and the Staff!!!“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“This is the best Mexican food in Cincy and NKY. Drinks are phenomenal too. I highly recommend it.“

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

“Such a great coffee shop in the heart of Cincinnati! We loved the atmosphere, the friendly vibe, and all of the options they had to choose from. There was truly something for everyone, from drinks to food and bakery items. Everything looked amazing! It’s the kind of place you could stop into again and again and still have new things to try. Can’t wait to come back!“

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

“We had a lovely Mother’s Day dinner! The restaurant is gorgeous and very welcoming with great music playing. Our server was very friendly and did a great job telling us about Mad Tree and explaining the menu, and the food was delicious! I would highly recommend Alcove!!“

“I never have a bad time at World Glass. The drinks are great, trivia and karaoke nights are killer, but the real reason that keeps me coming back is the bartender Amber. She IS World Glass.
I absolutely recommend this bar to anyone that wants bomb cocktails, fun events, and a bartender with a great personality.“

“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!“