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Whether it’s the parking struggles, avoiding Vine Street crowds or you simply want to explore a new hood, there are plenty of options for imbibing outside of Cincinnati’s bustling Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

From carrot mules in Northside to boozy milkshakes in Bellevue or enjoying a cold beer on a string-lit patio, here’s where to head when you’d like to sip elsewhere than OTR.

Anjou 2804 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills Named after Margaret of Anjou, wife of King Henry VI, Anjou has many unique floral and fruity cocktails befitting its namesake. The East Walnut Hills bar opened with the goal of being “different than your average cocktail bar.” Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Standard 434 Main St., Covington The dynamic duo behind popular Covington dining and drinking destinations Otto’s, Frida and Larry’s opened The Standard, breathing life into a familiar corner in the neighborhood. Co-owner Emily Wolff says that when the opportunity to embark on a new journey to transform the former garage and filling station on the corner of Fifth and Main streets presented itself, they were all in. The Standard’s food menu features bright and playful flavors that complement the warmer season. The Standard has both indoor and outdoor seating, with plenty of patio space beneath the garage’s canopies and beyond to spread out and socially distanced. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Gulow Street 1614 Hoffner St., Northside Gulow Street, a cozy yet sophisticated bar and restaurant located at the corner of Hoffner Street and Gulow Street — the establishment’s namesake — is a family operation, owned by brothers/cousins Jonathan, Danny and Alex Mouch. Gulow Street’s food menu is small but mighty as is the cocktail menu. A favorite drink: the Carrot Moscow Mule, infused with fresh carrot juice. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Cutaway 3715 Madison Road, Oakley The Cutaway is the only bar in the newly opened Oakley Kitchen Food Hall. They have a wide selection of beer, wine, cider, sake and spirits. Their imaginative drinks are available to-go for those wanting to take advantage of any of the eight kitchens around the food hall. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Littlefield 3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside The Littlefield is a bourbon bar and restaurant with a fantastic string-lit patio. Dogs are welcome to visit with their owners on both the upper deck and ground patio, which has a pergola covering parts of it. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Hannaford 619 Madison Ave., Covington On bustling Madison Avenue in downtown Covington sits The Hannaford. The bar boasts a massive bourbon selection and some classic cocktails including the Hannaford Old Fashioned and Manhattan. If you’ve got some cash burning a hole in your pocket, you could try the $175 Samuel Hannaford made with Pappy 23-year, Grand Marnier Cuvee 1880, and Capano Antica Formula. Photo: Facebook.com/TheHannaford
Mom ‘n ‘em 3128 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington From brothers and restaurateurs Austin and Tony Ferrari, this laid-back and stylish coffee and wine bar is found on the corner of Colerain and Bates avenues in Camp Washington. With eclectic seating options and memories filling the hallways and dining rooms, Mom ‘n ’em serves an assortment of craft coffee, tea and housemade sodas. They also offer a menu of sweets, toasties and plenty of tinned fish, plus a curated wine selection and cocktails like a negroni and Mom’s Secret Milkshake (vanilla ice cream, Fernet Branca, mint). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pearl’s 3227 Riverside Drive, Columbia Tusculum Located in a historic building in the heart of Columbia Tusculum (Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhood), Pearl’s offers a rooftop bar and large outdoor patio for the warmer months and serves classic cocktails, draft beer and small bites. Named after the building’s last resident, Pearl, the entire establishment was designed to maintain a sense of authenticity and honor its former use as a house. The patio includes string lights, ample seating, cozy heaters and even a TV or two. Photo: Facebook.com/PearlsCincy
Karrikin 3717 Jonlen Drive, Fairfax Karrikin Spirits Co. is tucked away in an unassuming industrial park in Fairfax, but once you arrive you will be treated to excellent eats, craft cocktails featuring housemade spirits, seltzers and Karrikin-brewed beers. Their spirits range from vodka and gin to rum and “agave-spirit,” essentially tequila. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Green House Bar 424 W. Sixth St., Covington Green House Covington is located right in the middle of Covington’s MainStrasse Village in the space formerly occupied by Pachinko’s. The bar features seasonal cocktails, right now a G&T made with fresh herbs and citrus, as well as some of the classics including Manhattans and martinis. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Oakley Wines 4011 Allston St., Oakley Oakley Wines was taken over by the team behind Over-the-Rhine wine and cheese shop The Rhined in 2018. The upper floor wine bar and bottle shop is minimal, bright and full of grab-and-go selections, and an unassuming staircase leads down to The Cellar, a low-lit speakeasy-style space with room for live music. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Nomad 225 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Bellevue bar and eatery Nomad opened its doors last September. They serve craft cocktails and beer, but the main attraction is their boozy (and virgin) milkshakes, tater tot baskets and tacos. The bar offers a dreamy, string-lit patio for outdoor dining and drinking, as well as seating inside — including a pretty sweet game room with a big comfy couch. Photo: Facebook.com/NomadKY
Ripple Wine Bar 4 W. Pike St., Covington Ripple Wine Bar is one of those sweet little spots that hits all the right notes: good wine (and lots of it) paired with good food. The bar offers 40 varietals by the glass or half glass, bottle or half bottle and also does a half-bottle happy hour for gun-shy consumers or folks dining solo. The menu’s overall vibe is laid-back — a true “California kitchen,” with wine-friendly food that is seasonally inspired. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Jerry’s Jug House 414 E. Seventh St., Newport Newport’s Jerry’s Jug House experienced a revamp in 2019 thanks to co-owners Stuart MacKenzie, of the Northside Yacht Club, and Mark Ramler, an award-winning preservationist and the owner of Mansion Hill Properties. The bar is well-known for its craft cocktails and natural wine selection, and recently rolled out a menu of farm-to-table bites ranging from a pimento cheese plate to a pesto chicken salad on Sixteen Bricks bread. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Governor 231 Main St, Milford The mission of the Governor is to offer the perks of fine dining — locally procured meat and produce, a menu made from scratch, a carefully designed cocktail list — at a medium price point in a laid-back environment. Head to their walk-up window to grab a cocktail or rotating slushie to go. Milford now offers a DORA area to take your cocktails through the historic downtown. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Muse Cafe 3018 Harrison Ave., Westwood Located in the West Side’s burgeoning Westwood neighborhood, Muse Cafe has you covered for both your morning and evening beverages. The coffee shop/wine bar’s menu ranges from caffeinated beverages to fine wines and craft cocktails and beer. Photo: Facebook.com/MuseCafeCincinnati
Miamiville Trailyard 368 Center St., Miamiville The Miamiville Trailyard is a unique bar and restaurant at a great location right on the Little Miami Scenic Trail. With an emphasis on the outdoor space and warm, casual atmosphere for trail enthusiasts, the bar offers a petite menu of craft cocktails and a hefty rotating beer list. Photo: Facebook.com/MiamivilleTrailyard Photo: facebook.com/MiamivilleTrailyard
Night Drop 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills Night Drop boasts a spacious outdoor patio, which they have set up with socially distant tables and umbrellas. Choose from a menu of stirred, shaken or frozen cocktails. Check out the live music every Wednesday and weekly community events. Photo: Facebook.com/EatatBranch
Overlook Lodge 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge A self-described “rustic watering hole,” this Pleasant Ridge bar offers unique aesthetics harkening to the mysterious hotel in Stephen King’s The Shining and the retro vibes of 1970s. Their menu features cocktails inspired by the horror classic like The Hatchet, made with cucumber-infused tequila, Ancho Reyes and Spanish spice simple syrup. Photo: Facebook.com/Overlooklodge
The Hi-Mark 3229 Riverside Drive, East End Named in honor of the great flood that washed over Cincinnati in 1937, this bar keeps its patrons afloat with a selection of Vietnamese and Mexican-inspired dishes. The bar pours a solid variety of beer, wine and spirits and there’s plenty of seating inside and out. If you’re hungry, try their pulled-pork bánh mì made with Eli’s BBQ or chicken wings with gochujang sauce. Fries, salads and Lang Thang Chili, a Vietnamese style beef stew, are some local favorites. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Fermentorium 6095 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge While Nine Giant Brewing is an established Pleasant Ridge destination, the Fermentorium is a new hot spot located in the basement of the brewing company. The fermentorium offers a selection of housemade artisan wines, barrel-aged and experimental beers and tiki cocktails. Feeling a little bit hungry? Head back up to Nine Giant’s taproom for some scratch-made eats. Photo: Facebook.com/nfgermentorium
Bean & Barley 2005 Madison Road, O’Bryonville This cozy O’Bryonville drinking destination is part taproom, part coffee shop. Featuring a rooftop patio, outdoor beer garden and side patio, there’s plenty of options for sipping al fresco. Bean & Barley has 13 beers on tap featuring both local and national craft beers. On Saturdays and Sundays, stop in for $3 mimosas from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Photo: Facebook.com/BeanandBarleyObryonville
The Blind Lemon 936 Hatch St., Mount Adams Mount Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Walk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway. Outside, the relaxed garden patio is like a boho blend of Bourbon Street and Paris café life. With live music often on the schedule, it’s one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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