We’re only halfway through 2025, but there have already been quite a few new restaurants and bars that have emerged in Greater Cincinnati’s culinary scene this year. From bodegas and delis with fresh sandwiches and pizza joints to dry bars and cocktail bars alike, here is just a sampling of the new restaurants and bars that have recently opened.
Marigold
The newest concept from Crown Restaurant Group, English-style public house Marigold opened in The Foundry in February. Marigold brings an innovative culinary experience to downtown, offering an elevated, yet approachable atmosphere that blends British elegance with a menu inspired by Indian dishes commonly found in traditional public houses, including curries and charred meat and vegetable-forward plates. The restaurant’s design is modeled after the 19th-century Arts and Crafts movement, with soft, diffused lighting and deep, moody colors like emerald, crimson, amber and muted earth tones layered with rich textures, like pressed marigolds, aged leather, polished wood and silk, to create an elegant and warm, yet bold and rich space. 60 W. Fifth St., Downtown.
MadTree Parks & Rec
Cincinnati brewery MadTree opened its third concept in Blue Ash’s Summit Park this February. MadTree Parks & Rec is continuing the brewery’s creative and sustainable traditions of taking an old space and repurposing it. In this case, the team converted a 15,000-square-foot airplane hangar into an outdoor recreation destination, tying into the park’s green space and offering things like cornhole, plenty of seating outside and walking trails. The taproom has indoor and outdoor areas; a private rental space; and cocktails, food and, of course, MadTree’s specially crafted beer. 4321 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash.
High Note Rooftop Bar
You can now get a whole new look at downtown Cincinnati from the top of the new Homewood Suites in Newport. The hotel’s rooftop bar, High Note, features panoramic views of the city, handcrafted cocktails and live music. In fact, every night at High Note is a “perfectly curated playlist,” says the bar. “Think live vinyl sets, hidden cocktail omakase experiences, and a rooftop scene that keeps the energy flowing.” Live bands perform during select weekends, and guests can dance and enjoy the entertainment while sipping on drinks like the Rooftop Riff (New Riff bourbon, aperol, honey, fresh lemon, orange bitters, soda and rosemary smoke), the Twilight Shimmer (Tito’s Vodka, dragon fruit simple syrup, lemon and Silver Shimmer) and the Kingston Negroni (Appleton Jamaican Rum, campari, sweet vermouth and dried pineapple). 201 W. Fourth St., Newport.
Latonia Bodega
Brought to us by the same family behind Gutierrez Deli and OLLA in Covington, Latonia Bodega is a Hispanic and American grocery store and deli that opened in January. The deli offers a selection of thick and meaty build-your-own sandwiches and tamales, while you can also grab fresh produce, beer, snacks and other staples from the grocery. The deli also recently launched a new breakfast sandwich menu available from 8-11 a.m. Pick between the Ham, Egg and Cheese; Bacon, Egg and Cheese; Egg and Cheese; or the Spicy Avocado BLT, piled on your choice of a croissant, English muffin or bagel. 4302 Decoursey Ave., Latonia.
The Delmonico
Formerly the W Lounge, The Delmonico is now owned by Hickory Wald, which also owns Alive & Well in Clifton, and reopened in May. The cocktail bar is inspired by the golden age of rail travel, with a menu that blends timeless techniques with innovation so each drink feels both classic and new. Cocktails include the House Marg (blanco tequila, lime, lemon, orange and agave), Mint Julep (mint-infused bourbon and powdered sugar), What’s Going On (spiced rum, lemon, blackberry and rhubarb) and a seasonal sangria. The menu also offers a selection of canned and draft beer, Sunflower THC Seltzer from Fifty West Brewing and wine. 518 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming.
Pennyflower
Boca’s former chef de cuisine, Jacob Benavides, opened his own restaurant in downtown Cincinnati this winter. Pennyflower is a bistro and bar that’s rooted in local history and guided by culinary artistry, with a menu that blends classic comfort foods with innovation and global flavors, and the menu emphasizes sustainable sourcing from farms, ranches and oceans to create dishes that tell a story. Dishes include elevated yet approachable takes on classic comfort food dishes, including the Grilled Prime New York, served with Black Diamond cheddar pearls, beef tallow, smoked beets and bordelaise. There are also bold, innovative dishes like the Amish Chicken Pressade, served with fingerling potatoes, chimichurri and Calabrian chiles, and a mushroom lasagna, crafted with porcini mushrooms, duxelles, parmesan, béchamel and pesto cream. 701 Broadway St., Downtown.
10th Island Tiki Bar and Grill
10th Island, a Hawaiian tiki bar and grill concept, opened just steps from Ziegler Park and its pool in Over-the-Rhine this June. The restaurant is owned by Poco Moco Restaurant Group — the same couple behind Onolicious on Court Street — and offers a menu focusing on light bites like burgers and sandwiches, mussels, calamari and other seafood-centric appetizers. To drink, try from a selection of tiki cocktails, like mai tais and piña coladas, and traditional Hawaiian shave ice (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic options available). Inside, the space has been designed to make diners feel like they’re on an island getaway. The windows are completely covered in images of tropical foliage that complement the island-style interior décor. It’s also just steps away from Ziegler Park Pool, making it a premier summertime destination. 213 Woodward St., Over-the-Rhine.
Allfather’s Meadery
A new meadery is bringing the nectar of the gods to Northern Kentucky. Allfather’s Meadery, opened in May, is a Norse mythology-themed meadery that produces small-batch mead with locally sourced ingredients like honey, fruits and spices. While honoring the ancient art of mead-making, the meadery also offers a modern twist, having been equipped with the latest technology in mead-making and crafting brews with innovative flavors to appeal to contemporary palates. Allfather’s meads are named after figures from mythology, mostly from the Norse pantheon, like Odin (oak-aged traditional mead made from clover honey), Frigg (vanilla oak-aged mead made with wildflower honey) and Muninn (a melomel — a mead created with fruit added to the fermentation process — featuring wildflower honey and wild blueberries). The tasting room will also offer food in the future. 6685 4 Mile Road, Camp Springs.
The Frank
The Frank Neighborhood Deli & Grill opened in Lower Price Hill this April. Located in the historic Andrew Frank building, this charming deli offers a variety of fresh and affordable options like sandwiches, salads and soups. Diners so far are loving the Chop Cheese, featuring ground beef, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, white onions and American cheese; the Po’ Boy, made with southern-fried colossal shrimp, lettuce, tomato and house-made remoulade sauce on an Italian roll; and the Turkey Club — honey-smoked turkey breast, caramelized onions and cheddar on your choice of sourdough or wheat bread. 2212 South St., Lower Price Hill.
The Green Door
High vibes only — Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky’s first-ever dry cannabis bar opened this spring in Covington. The Green Door, conceptualized by the team at Kentucky Botanicals Co., offers an alcohol-free experience with handcrafted THC mocktails, kava infusions and adaptogenic spritzers, as well as THC-free options. The team says the bar offers an inclusive and elevated alternative to traditional nightlife that puts wellness, connection and creativity first. Inside, the space is moody and modern, fusing Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles. On the menu, you’ll find Bespoke Beverages that can be infused with THC, CBD, adaptogens or kava, like the soft, floral “That Lavender Haze” (blueberry, lavender and citrus) or sweet and sultry “The Spicy Mock-arita” (mango, citrus and habanero). Or you can try a mocktail like the “Not Gin + Tonic” or “Whiskey-ish + Soda.” 5 E. Eighth St., Covington.
Wayfarer Tavern
Pizza joint Wayfarer Tavern opened in Dayton, Kentucky, this winter. The menu features bar-style pizzas, snacks and salads, along with full bar service. Founded by Mike Dew, Wayfarer’s pizza is the culmination of Dew’s years spent exploring pizza styles across the United States and abroad, experimenting with different regional styles and refining the recipes through monthly pizza parties at his home. What resulted was a combination of East Coast thin and crispy bar-style pizza with a Detroit-style caramelized cheese edge. The pizza is cut into Midwest tavern-style squares. Popular pizzas include the “Tavern Classic” with housemade fennel sausage, onion, banana peppers and red sauce, as well as the “Pickle Power,” featuring roasted garlic white sauce, pickles, crunchy potato chips, herbs and magic ranch dressing recipe. 635 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Ky.
Flamingo Drive
A sister establishment of Milford’s The Governor, Flamingo Drive is a restaurant and bar that pays tribute to the dishes owners Paul and Neil Barraco enjoyed as kids in South Florida. Flamingo Drive blends Miami’s cultural influences with fresh, local ingredients and an added twist on Southern Italian food. Stepping inside the restaurant is like being transported to an episode of The Golden Girls, with vibrant pink and green palm tree motifs, white-tiled tables and design details reminiscent of the ‘80s and ‘90s. The menu was recently expanded and offers items like the Cuban Sandwich, featuring crispy pork belly, salami, sweet-and-spicy pickles and a Jarlsberg cheese spread, or the Swordfish Milanese (pan-fried swordfish, roasted tomato picadillo, fingerling potatoes and olive mayo). To drink, we recommend fitting the vibe and opting for something with rum, like the Cuba Libre, the Coconut Mojito or The Santiago (white rum, Haitian forest bitters, lime, grapefruit and orgeat). 227 Main St., Milford.
West Sixth Covington Haus
Lexington-based West Sixth Brewing opened a taproom in Covington this past winter on the first floor of a former firehouse along W. Sixth Street, just below cocktail bar Second Story. The taproom offers snacks and an expansive tap list of West Sixth’s beer, including their signature IPA and Amber Ale, the Covington Haus Lager, a new cherry cider and much more. The menu also offers non-beer options like a ginger bourbon slushie, wine and Athletic non-alcoholic beers. 100 W. Sixth St., Covington.
Privee on Elm
A cocktail bar offering a new take on upscale cocktails opened in a former discothèque in Over-the-Rhine this February. Privee on Elm has set out to excite its guests by becoming “a place where business meets pleasure,” bridging the gap between two traditionally separate concepts. With menu items like Carmen Temptation (gin, lime, raspberry and dragonfruit), The Monarch (bourbon, cinnamon-vanilla maple syrup, angostura and orange bitters) and The Midnight Lover (bourbon, cassis, lemon and demerara), Privee says its cocktail and tasting menu has a little something for everyone. Inside, the main bar is surrounded by comfortable seating arrangements in what is essentially an enlarged four-seasons room. The expansive windows also allow for a great amount of natural light during the evening/happy hour timeframe, and the dark ceilings help balance out the lighter wooden tones, allowing for a deeper, more seductive environment come evening time. 1905 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.