35 of Our Favorite Greater Cincinnati Bars and What to Order There

Somerset

139 E. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine, somersetotr.com
Somerset is basically a giant urban oasis in Over-the-Rhine. It has two indoor bars — a cozy library-lounge and a large light-filled conservatory — but the main attraction is the back patio, which boasts a collection of the owners’ architectural treasures collected from across the globe. It feels like a Moroccan riad, with unique seating areas like out-of-commission tuk-tuks. What to order:The cocktails are made with house-infused spirits, like peach-Thai basil vodka, and all are delicious. But the mocktail menu is equally unique. The Ziggy Stardust is a favorite, with coconut milk, pineapple, lime and hibiscus. (MZ)

Alice

1432 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, aliceotr.com
If Somerset and Mecca had a baby who was always grounded for sneaking out, her name would be Alice. While Alice is new to the scene, the bar is already cemented on my rotation. Rarely do true craft cocktails and dancing fall under the same roof, let alone in such an artfully designed space. The environment casts a happy-go-lucky vibe that makes it easier to bond with strangers. What to order: I’m always looking for some kind of Last Word variation, so I’m in love with Death of a Clown. It’s Chartreuse-forward with Vinho Verde, fennel, lemon and Ango, garnished with red bell pepper. Refreshing and fancy at just $10, so it doesn’t break the bank the way Chartreuse cocktails often can. (MF)

Bar Saeso

1208 Sycamore St., Pendleton, barsaeso.com
Bar Saeso offers a transportive experience in Pendleton. Stepping through the skinny front doors into the petite space feels a bit like you’re stepping into a different city — a different country — entirely. Replete with flickering candles, exposed brick, plenty of plants and a terracotta color palette, it very much gives an old-world Barcelona vibe. Co-owner Christy Wulfson once told CityBeat, “Everyone who walks in here [says] it reminds them of somewhere they’ve been, and no one ever says the same place — Argentina, Mexico City, Lisbon, Rome, all across the globe.” What to order: The Condesa. Named after the hip La Condesa neighborhood in Mexico City, this drink is smoky, spicy and sweet featuring mezcal, lemon, hot honey and a Tajin-dusted orange slice. (MZ)

Alcove

1410 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, madtreebrewing.com/alcove
MadTree’s renovation of the historic Wielert’s Café in Over-the-Rhine — where legendary Boss Cox once manipulated local politics in the 19th century — takes a step beyond the Oakley brewery’s crowd-drawing beers with some great specialty cocktails as well as smashes and sangrias. Alcove offers three distinct spaces: an indoor bar and lounge with a phenomenal wall of living foliage; an outdoor patio with trees, string lights and widely-spaced tables; and a glassed-over, year-round Greenhouse Bar. In addition to drinks, the food menu has lots of shareables and snacks. What to order: You can’t go wrong with a negroni — gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, with an orange peel garnish. (RP)

Mecca

1429 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, meccaotr.com
The original OTR garden bar with plants everywhere. Nestled between buildings on 15th Street, you’d miss it if you didn’t know it was there. It’s a relaxing, secret hideaway in the early evening hours but comes alive at night, attracting crowds of in-the-know revelers. Staffed by artists and musicians, colorful surrealist art covers the walls inside and the vibes are immaculate. What to order: The signature drink is the Chunker, an airline-sized mini-bottle of liquor inverted in the mouth of a can of fizzy water, served with a straw. Try 1800 Silver Tequila in a can of orange San Pellegrino, or keep it classic with vodka and LaCroix. (BC)

Junker’s Tavern

4156 Langland St., Northside, facebook.com/northsidecincy
Junker’s is the center of the universe, or at least the center of the Cincinnati rock-and-roll universe. Luckily, it is mostly untouched by time and trends. It is also one of the best live-music venues in the city and has one of the best jukeboxes. What to order: Anything — it’s all cheap; cash only with heavy pours and cheaper prices. A classic lager will work nicely, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, a Stella Artois or Grolsch. Anything will complement a re-listen of The Stooges’ Fun House on the jukebox. (BS)

Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar

Hotel Covington, 638 Madison Ave., Covington, hotelcovington.com
Coppin’s, located in the boutique Hotel Covington, has a glamorous, modern bar that manages to boast an approachable vibe with serious mixology flair. The seasonal drink menu is always distinctive and innovative. This summer, the bar staff picked five ingredients out of a hat and each employee had to use the spontaneous list and an assigned spirit to craft a one-of-a-kind cocktail. Every drink name is locally inspired, a complement to the locally-sourced ingredients. What to order: The Monmouth Mango is a refreshing lavender- and nectarine-infused gin concoction with a lavender-sugar rim. A bite from the mango skewer finishes the crisp and fruity but not-too-sweet drink. (KG)

Holiday Spirits

1538 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, holidayliquorbar.com
This hip and unpretentious spot offers a variety of activities. Have Zoltar tell your fortune, play Skee-Ball or pinball, nuzzle up to your sweetie in the photobooth or shoot a game of pool, or you can enjoy delicious Middle Eastern delights from the on-site food window, Forty Thieves. What to order: On a hot summer day, the frozen concoction that helps me beat the heat is the Frozé (frozen rosé). The pink slushy wine cocktail is tart, sweet and refreshing. (BC)

Oakley Wines

4011 Allston St., Oakley, oakleywines.com
As the name suggests, Oakley Wines is primarily a wine bar and bottle shop, but it does have a nice, streamlined cocktail menu. Owned by the same people who run The Rhined in Findlay Market, the shop offers small plates, great cheese and frequent food pop-ups. In the colder months, head to the speakeasy-style basement for some raclette — hot cheese scraped over meat, potatoes and vegetables. What to order: An Aperol spritz to enjoy in the outdoor “Alley” patio. Follow that up with a build-your-own wine flight. The expert bartenders will help select the pours. (MZ)

Symposium

2835 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, symposiumcincinnati.com
A new entry in the café-by-day, bar-by-night trend, this East Walnut Hills spot aims to be a neighborhood hangout but is worth the drive from farther away. Though it bills itself as a wine bar, there’s actually only a small selection of glass pours. Instead, go for the fun cocktails. Sit in the pretty corner called The Nest, featuring easy-chairs arranged for conversation with the people you came with, or maybe with a perfect stranger. Small plates include truffled grilled cheese and tiny sweet peppers stuffed with goat cheese or tuna. What to order: Magpie Gin & Tonic combines Empress 908 gin, lime bitters and elderflower tonic over a giant ice cube encasing a colorful flower. The house Old Fashioned has a few captivating grace notes, too. (PM)

Dee Felice Cafe

529 Main St., Covington, deefelicecafe.com
Dee Felice Cafe is Covington’s understated jazz speakeasy with New Orleans-inspired cuisine. Behind the bar is an elevated stage with a piano and drum kit; some days, a three-piece band booms, other days, it’s a solo pianist. Something about the ambiance makes you want to sip a martini in a sequined dress, mysterious and alone at the bar, tapping your foot to the music while the hum of conversation buzzes in the background. What to order: An Orange Creamsicle Martini. The drink is smooth and sweet with a simple orange slice garnish. Every Friday, martinis are $5 and as long as the doors are open, live music is playing. (KG)

OTR StillHouse

2017 Branch St., Over-the-Rhine, otrstillhouse.com
OTR StillHouse is home to the Knox Joseph Distillery, where gin, bourbon and blended whiskeys are created in a shiny copper still. It opened in 2021 in a century-old structure that once housed an ice manufacturer. Fresh pure groundwater from aqueous underground caverns was frozen for ice back then. Today, it’s used to make award-winning spirits. What to order: The smoky-sweet Ezzard Charles Patio Punch, a blend of James Scott Whiskey, Laphroaig Scotch, spiced cranberry demerara, Montenegro amaro and orange juice. More than a dozen housemade beers and non-alcoholic sodas offer additional options. (RP)

Mid-City Restaurant

40 E. Court St., Downtown, midcitycinti.com
Mid-City is more of a dining destination than a bar, but it’s from the team behind Over-the-Rhine’s Longfellow, so you know the cocktails and atmosphere are excellent. It’s a perfect spot for older millennials who still enjoy a hip night out, but who also enjoy sitting in chairs and not shouting over loud music/loud humans. What to order:The drink menu is a list of quintessential mixology, with options ranging from a Manhattan made with 120-proof bourbon to a tequila sunrise. I like an ice-cold Gibson, featuring London dry gin, French vermouth and cocktail onions. And the bread with housemade pickle butter. (MZ)

Paddy’s on Main

520 Main St., Covington, searchable on Facebook
Paddy’s on Main offers the self-proclaimed largest selection of Irish whiskey in the city. Tons of top-shelf, iconic options like Redbreast 27-year whiskey are available, among familiar selections that frequently take a backseat to bourbon in other area drinkeries. Stop by for a cold-brewed Irish coffee and stay for a tall tale about the owner’s great, great, great grandfather’s dog, Paddy Seamus Ryan. What to order: The Pudding Shot is a must-have. It’s a boozy, chocolate pudding boasting a flavor similar to an Irish Car Bomb. A touch of culinary magic infuses different whiskeys into the fluffy mixture. For optimal enjoyment, the shot is served with cookies for dipping, which is the recommended slow-and-steady route of consumption. (KG)

Sundry and Vice

18 W. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, sundryandvice.com
These bartenders are nothing short of artists working in the medium of booze. Grab a spot at the bar and be mesmerized watching them create drinks with equal parts precision and passion. The cocktail menu organizes your choices as “Fresh & Playful,” “Light & Elegant,” “Lively & Restorative” and “Spirit Forward & Timeless.” Good luck narrowing it down. What to order: I can’t resist a Penicillin; whether or not it’s on the current menu, the bartenders will make a killer version of this classic combo of blended Scotch, ginger, honey and lemon. Night Cure, a bourbon drink, also has been a standout here since day one. (PM)

The Littlefield

3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, littlefieldns.com
The Littlefield is a Northside bourbon bar and bistro known for seasonal eats, craft cocktails — including a drink of the month to benefit a local cause — and a lovely patio. What to order: The Littlefield’s Mad Anthony now goes by the name Fergus, honoring another one of Northside’s streets, but — thank, Bacchus — it’s still the same fabulous blend of Evan Williams bourbon, basil syrup, homemade ginger beer and balsamic vinegar, topped with basil leaves. That basil fragrance stayed with me during the early days of the pandemic; every time a colleague promised to get together for a drink when it felt safer to go out, there was only one destination for me. Maybe absence made the heart grow fonder, but Fergus has only gotten better. (AA)

Gaslight Bar & Grill

351 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, gaslightbarandgrillclifton.com
Clifton’s nicest restaurant also has the neighborhood’s most welcoming bar. With more than a dozen bar stools and a few high-top tables, it has happy hour discounts ($4 off everything on the cocktail list) from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. In good weather, you can imbibe upstairs on the comfortable rooftop patio. What to order: Puck’s Fizz is a refreshing summer drink with Ketel One peach and orange blossom vodkas, white wine and “seasonal fruit” — most likely peach puree. Or try Holly Golightly — a mint and cucumber martini. But the hidden gem on this drinks list is a glass of the dessert wine, Boston Bual Madeira: subtly sweet with cinnamon-clove spice and an enticing orange-scented bouquet. (PM)

Bar at Palm Court

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, 35 W. Fifth St., Downtown, orchidsatpalmcourt.com
It’s no secret that the Bar at Palm Court is one of the best places in the city to grab a cocktail, blending artful alcohol creations with awe-inspiring Art Deco décor. Sidle up to the bar — if you’re lucky enough to find a stool — and enjoy some live jazz while you drink. What to order: The NP is a best-of-both-worlds cocktail that pairs bourbon with something bubbly. Named after the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (the hotel which houses the bar), the cocktail features Four Roses bourbon, lemon, ginger, bitters and sparkling wine. It’s light, refreshing and still packs a boozy kick. (MZ)

The Birdcage

927 Race St., Downtown, thebirdcagecincinnati.com
Downtown LGBTQ+ nightclub The Birdcage is one of the best places to be yourself, sing or dance your heart out and, of course, drink. This spot is always a good time, with weekly events like karaoke night, DJ dance parties and tons of drag performances. If you’re broke (like me), the bar offers drink specials including $3 White Claw Wednesdays, $5 Absolut Vodka on Thirsty Thursdays and $5 Screwballs on Screwball Sundays — the perfect way to finish off brunch. What to order: Obviously try any of the drinks on special, but the bar is also known for its bird-themed cocktails. My favorite is the Orange Sparrow Spritzer, made with Jameson Orange and Sprite and topped with an orange wedge. (MM)

Bromwell’s Härth Lounge

125 W. Fourth St., Downtown, facebook.com/harthloungecinci
This jazz-club-turned-coffee-lounge is only open for boozing on Friday and Saturday nights for now but remains committed to quality classic cocktails. The newly redesigned space brings the attached, historic Bromwell’s retail fireplace brand to life, immersing you in cozy, dark hues accented by charred wood installations and working fireplaces. What to order: An Old Fashioned, made the right way — stirred and strained, not shaken. Great coffee and mocktails top off the menu for non-drinkers. (BC)