Drink in Cincinnati
Forbes Magazine ranked Cincinnati's nightlife first in the nation for singles. With several very popular clubs and bars closing recently due to a somewhat dubious claim of a 'slowed business', actual Cincinnati singles may raise their eyebrows at their city's exalted status. However, Cincinnati and the tri-state area do provide an amazing array of bars, clubs, and concert venues.
The Main Street Entertainment District (located on Main Street north of 12th Street in Over-the-Rhine) was a popular area featuring many clubs and bars. However the riots did their number on the district forcing just about every bar to close down during the 2000s. This isn't all doom and gloom as, there have been attempts to bring bars back up there with a few night spots opening up in the last 2 years. After a few years of Kentucky getting the attention, the center of nightlife in Cincinnati has shifted to the area near Fountain Square and the Arnoff Center, or Restaurant Row generally bounded by 8th St to the North, 5th St to the South, Vine St to the West and Main St to the East. The area is always busy on weekends, especially with many young professionals. Over the last few years it has been slowly growing with many new bars/clubs and other night spots opening up.
Across the Ohio River in Kentucky, many restaurants and nightspots are located along the riverbank in Covington and Newport, particularly the Newport on the Levee.
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Local Beers
Due to its heavily German population Cincinnati was at one time one of the largest producers of beer in the United States . Prohibition and the anti-German backlash following World War I were not kind to Cincinnati's brewing legacy and by the end of the 20th century very little beer was produced in town. Today there is a revival of long dead local brands and recipes led by the new Christian Moerlien Brewing Company. They are even starting to brew them in an old brewery in Over-The-Rhine. If you see beers at a bar such as Burger, Hudy/Hudepohl, Little Kings, and the premium Christian Moerlien beers, get one of them for a bit of local culture. Surprisingly the only large Brewery left that currently brews in town is Sam Adams, which just happens to produce more beer in Cincy than in its hometown of Boston and is according to its founder based off of an old Cincy recipe!
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The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave (Northside), ☎ +1-(513)-541-8900, . Bar open daily 4:00pm to 2:30am, Kitchen open daily 4:00pm to 1:00am. Featuring a huge selection of beverages including over 200 beers, The Comet's famous San Francisco - style burritos, the hippest jukebox, 2 pool tables, work from local artists, and live music weekly and there is never a cover! �
Havana Martini Club, 441 Vine Street (Downtown, Inside Carew Tower with the entrance outside), ☎ +1-(513)-651-2800, . M-Th 4PM-1AM; F 4PM-2:30AM; Sa,Su 6PM-2:30AM, Happy hour: M-F 4:20PM-7:30PM.. The Havana Martini Club bills itself as an after work bar for professionals. �
McFadden's, 19 East 7th Street, ☎ +1-(513)-621-6800 ( , fax: +1-(513)-621-2179), . 11:30AM-2AM daily. �
Rock Bottom Brewery and Restaurant, 10 Fountain Square (Downtown, On Fountain Square), ☎ +1-(513)-621-1588 (fax: +1-(513)-621-1722), . M-Sa 11:30AM-10PM, Su noon-9PM. Part of the Rockbottom Brewery chain. Features beer brewed on-site and typical bar food. �
The Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 318 East Eighth Street (Downtown,), ☎ +1-(513)-241-WISP, . Hours: Su-W 9AM-midnight, Th-Sa 9:30PM-1:30AM. Well regarded local jazz club with tinted windows and blue lights. At one point it was even smoke filled, but Ohio's smoking ordinance has for better or for worse put an end to that. Check website for performance listings and covers. �
The Dock, 603 W. Pete Rose Way (Downtown,), ☎ +1-(513)-241-5623, . Tu-Th Su 8PM-2:30AM, F-Sa 8PM-4AM. Gay night club. �
Mainstay Rock Bar, 301 West Fifth Street (Downtown, Entrance across the street from Convention Center), ☎ (513) 721-7625, . Neighborhood style bar complete with large screen tv's for sporting events that also is a rock music venue that generally features local bands. Large craft beer selection as well as 24 oz beer for $4. �
Whiskey Dicks, 700 W Pete Rose Way (Downtown/Riverfront), ☎ +1-(513)-421-6200 ( ), . Whiskey Dicks is a popular college bar/club with Rock, Country and dj's. �
Alchemize, 3929 Spring Grove Ave. (Northside), ☎ +1-(513)-541-6777. Alchemize features many locally and nationally known indie music acts. Alchemize is also home to popular dance nights such as girls and boys. �
City View Tavern, 403 Oregon St. (Mount Adams), ☎ +1-(513)-241-VIEW, . City View Tavern has for years been a popular spot amongst locals to grab an after-work drink. The outdoor deck is small but offers one of the best views of the city. �
Coffee Emporium, 110 E. Central Pkwy. Cincinnati, OH 45202, ☎ 513.300.9185 [email protected], . M-F 7 am - 6 pm Sat. and Sun. 8 am - 4 pm. A locally owned and operated coffee house since 1973. We specialize in artisanal roasted coffee, fine teas, and accessories, as well as a mixed menu of locally made pastries and light meals. Harkening back to an era before coffee house homogenization, Coffee Emporium is a meeting place of art, ideas, and tastes. �
Neon's Unplugged, 208 12th St E (Over-The-Rhine, 1 block east of Main), ☎ (513) 827-9361, . M-W 4 pm-1am, Th-F 4pm-2am, Sat-Sun 12pm-12am. Back in the 1980s and 1990s there was a bar filled with Neon Signs that was the cornerstone of Over-The-Rhine's Mainstreet Entertainment District. This bar is now back, and offers a visitor a large selection of craft and local beer, a beergarden with a bocce ball court, and a laid back friendly atmosphere. Live music sometimes is out on the beergarden. �
Highland Coffee House, 2839 Highland Ave (Corryville near the University of Cincinnati), ☎ (513) 861-4151. 5pm-3am-ish. Bohemian, hipstery, and friendly coffee house/bar near the university in an old building with high ceilings, a two level outdoor patio, and tons of character. Service is purposely laid back as there is usually only one bartista/bartender to serve the many people who frequent here. �
Sitwells Coffee House, 324 Ludlow ave., ☎ 513-281-7487, . Coffee house. Good coffee? �
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Cincinnati
