While the number of gay and queer-focused bars in Cincinnati might be declining, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of places to celebrate Pride in the Queen City region this month.
All the bars in the list below are either explicitly queer bars or bars owned by queer people, or both. Whatever your speed, you can find somewhere below to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community both in June and all year long.
Bloom OTR
1120 Walnut Street, Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnati’s premier gay nightclub, this bar has drag shows every night.
Tillie’s Lounge
4042 Hamilton Ave, Northside
This Northside queer gathering spot is open six days a week, and is the host bar of the Center Stage Cincy pageant.
Bar 901
901 Race Street, downtown
Downtown’s corner gay bar, this dive is probably the only place in the city where you could watch a Bengals game, a Judy Garland movie and an Ariana Grande music video at the same time.
Home Base Tavern
2401 Vine Street, Clifton
This Clifton dive is the only lesbian-focused bar left in the Cincinnati area.
Bar 32
701 Bakewell St, Covington
While not strictly a gay bar, this Covington classic is queer owned and operated.
Crazy Fox Saloon
901 Washington Ave, Newport
Similar to the bar above, husbands Carl Fox and Terry Bond Jr. refer to their saloon as an “everyone bar.”
Rosie’s Tavern
643 Bakewell Street, Covington
As with the two above, Rosie’s is queer owned and operated and caters to a majority queer clientele, but everyone is welcome.
Old Street Saloon
13 Old Street #B, Monroe
This bar in rural north Cincinnati has been quietly hosting drag shows for over 30 years now.
Good Judy’s
4169 Hamilton Ave, Northside
This Northside hotspot closed for a while after an ownership debacle, but has now reopened for business.
Dice on Draft
20 E 5th Street, Covington
This board-game-focused bar is not a gay bar, but it is queer owned.
Queen City Exchange
32 W. Court St, downtown
This stock-market-themed bar is more of a sports bar than anything, but it is queer owned.
C&D Northside
1714 Hanfield Street, Northside
This beloved Northside dive isn’t a gay bar, but it is queer owned.
The Mockbee (soon)
2262 Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine
This event venue is under new ownership and will soon turn its second floor into a gay nightclub. In the meantime, it hosts several queer events on the first floor’s concert stage.
The Birdcage (soon)
927 Race St, downtown
While The Birdcage shuttered last year, it is now under new ownership and is soon to reopen.
