The Drinking Issue: 18 Suburban Dive Bars in Greater Cincinnati We Love

Rosie’s Tavern

643 Bakewell St., Covington
For more than a century, there’s been a bar with a pressed-tin ceiling and stained glass windows at West 7th and Bakewell Streets in Covington’s Mainstrasse Village. For two decades Rosie’s Tavern has been a dive bar that welcomes everyone, gay or straight — that intersection even has rainbow crosswalks. Inside a dozen barstools face the fully stocked bar — six taps and shelves of liquor and spirits. No food (just chips and nuts), but friendly bartenders will point you to good dining nearby. Pool table is ready and waiting, and drinks are very affordable, especially on Mondays. (Rick Pender)

Poor Michael’s Sports Cafe

11938 Hamilton Ave., Springfield Township
Located in an unassuming strip mall in Springfield Township since 1977, Poor Michael’s has been the friendly neighborhood bar for residents of Pleasant Run and Fairfield for over 40 years. It hasn’t changed much in that time, which lends that peculiar dive feel we all love: walls covered in vintage sports memorabilia, diner-style booths with vinyl seats and a drop ceiling. Poor Michael’s serves no food, but good times are always on the menu. (Brian Cross)

Pelle’s Bar & Restaurant

5146 Mary Ingles Highway, Silver Grove
Head down toward the river from Ft. Thomas to Mary Ingles Highway, and a few miles beyond the Dollar General you’ll come to Silver Grove’s dive bar, Pelle’s Bar & Restaurant, across from the railroad tracks (and next door to Pelle’s Tax Service). Chatty proud owner Joe Pelle has run it since 1997, but it’s been his family’s nostalgic neighborhood hangout since 1974. It’s a basic bar with funny signs, six beer taps and a list of American standards in bottles and cans, nothing fancy. Smoking inside is permitted (hey, it’s Kentucky). The unique attraction: deep-fried burgers and hoagies, served with hand-cut fries, under $10. (RP)

Larry’s Ryland Heights Tavern 10078 Decoursey Pike, Ryland Heights
Larry’s Ryland Heights Tavern calls itself a “no aggravation location,” an atmosphere essential for a serious dive bar. A hangout since the 1950s, this is truly a Kentucky destination with ashtrays all around the U-shaped, pounded-copper bar. It’s festooned with jokey signs — “This town is so small we don’t have a town drunk. We take turns.” — and wall decor (neon beer signs and a pair of grimacing, sculpted Laurel and Hardy faces). Canned beer is all-American (mostly “lite”) brews; bestseller is Michelob Ultra, and bucket specials are offered. Larry’s is worth a stop on Wednesdays for meaty chicken wings with a tempting array of sauces. It’s pretty much an indoor place, but there is a small patio deck on the side of the building. Cash only. (RP)

Maloney’s Pub

408 Greenwell Ave., Delhi
This pub has been a West Side staple for 35 years — at least for drinking. Before that, it was known as Eddie's Tavern and Carry Out and had been a restaurant since 1928. Nowadays, Maloney’s Pub serves up plenty of brews, burgers and Irish vibes, thanks to a renovation a few years ago. Sit on the fenced-in back patio around the firepit with a Guinness or enjoy their tasty wings in front of the Reds or Bengals game. There’s always something fun going on too, whether it’s music bingo on Tuesdays, trivia on Wednesdays or live music on Thursday and Sunday nights. And the best part is they serve hearty breakfast dishes all day, so you can stop by again in the morning to soak up all the alcohol from the night before. (Katherine Barrier)

The Fill Inn 52 Donnermeyer Dr., Bellevue
In 1994, Lois Miller purchased Jim’s Fill Inn and renamed it to The Fill Inn. This year Miller retired, and Hickory Wald Kentucky LLC — owners of The Hannaford, Rhinehaus, and Nation Kitchen + Bar — purchased the bar and dropped her namesake. However, they’ve opted to keep most things intact — like darts and a bowling machine — but have added a taco truck. Live music still occurs on most nights, and the booze is still inexpensive and dependable. (Garin Pirnia)

Olde Towne Tavern 35 W. Pike St., Covington
On a random weekend night you’ll not only find cheap domestic beers here, but also an entire wedding party belting out karaoke. Besides the beer, they also offer fancier canned cocktails — the least divey thing about the bar, which opened in 1986. One room hosts the karaoke and has a pool table, and the other room has a few dartboards. Olde Towne is a one-stop joint for music, sports and an affordable bar tab in the hub of more expensive (and karaoke-less) places like Coppin’s. (GP)

Gypsy's

641 Main St., Covington
Located in Mainstrasse, Gypsy’s bills itself as “your neighborhood bar.” It’s a place in which people can root for the Bengals, bring their dog, sing karaoke and get a pint of good draft craft beer for $4. They have free popcorn, too. In the summertime, they make boozy slushies. Drink those on their patio, featuring flowers, plants and a zen-like fountain. (GP)

The VFW in Southgate

6 Electric Ave #6, Southgate
Known as the John R. Little VFW Post 3186 and Auxiliary, the Veterans of Foreign Wars outpost accommodates veterans and the public alike. They have a banquet hall, and a room with gaming. Support the troops with $3 cans of High Noon and Rhinegeist alongside $1.50 Buds and Sutter Home wine. Several TV screens show sports, and trivia night occurs frequently. Sometimes, people will bring a potluck, which adds to the homey environment. (GP)

McDog’s Lakeside Saloon

3611 Bevis Lane, Northbrook
If you like Harleys, rock and roll and heavy pours, McDog’s is your place. Outdoor seating and a small fishing lake sets this bar apart from the crowd. Add a pool table, darts and friendly faces, and you’ve got a special dive bar that deserves a visit. A simple menu of pizza and hoagies is there to soak up the cheap drinks. (BC)

Sit ‘N Bull Cafe

2401 Alexandria Pike, Southgate
Previously known as The Cottage, seemingly Sit ‘N Bull is a drive-by-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of place, except for the giant satellite atop the roof. But stop in and have a drink, play pool, darts and Keno. Watch a game on one of their many TVs. The friendly bartenders are happy to make a pineapple upside down drink or pour a glass of bourbon. (GP)

Larry’s

536 West Ninth St., Covington
Don’t let the flower boxes outside of Larry’s fool you, inside of the cheery exterior is everything you could want from a dive bar. Pool, pinball, greasy food and PBR on draft, Larry’s encapsulates the American dive bar experience complete with an eclectic ‘80s soundtrack. Between rounds of beers and pool don’t forget to sign your name on the signature wall to claim Larry’s as your dive bar home away from home. (Emma Segrest)

Lagoon Saloon

859 Elm St., Ludlow
After the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club got hit by a barge and closed down, owners invited patrons across the street to keep the party going at the Lagoon Saloon. This dive bar gives you room to roam, with a large outdoor space with plenty of seating, corn hole boards and live music. The saloon serves up better-than-bar-food with options like a blackened grouper sandwich among the typical fried and grilled favorites. (BC)

Jocko’s Pub

4862 Delhi Rd., Delhi
Jocko’s Pub owners Kathy and Ron Jacimine say they made it their mission to make their bar the best place to hang out, listen to some live music, enjoy a cold drink and just have a good time. You can stop by Jocko’s after work for happy hour until 6 p.m. during the week, take part in open mic nights on Wednesdays or stop by and hear local bands play on Friday and Saturday nights. They also have some great game-day specials when the Reds and Bengals play. (KB)

Club Trio Lounge

5744 Springdale Road, Colerain Township
This no-fuss, no-frills bar is the perfect place to make new friends with its come-as-you-are attitude and narrow spaces between tables that’ll help you strike up a conversation with your neighbor. The bar at Club Trio’s entrance beckons you to grab something cold and foamy before making your way to the stage and small dance floor where local bands play classic rock hits. And outside on a warm night, the back deck is the perfect spot to throw back a few brews with some old friends. (KB)

Old Street Saloon

13 Old St #B, Monroe
Say it with me: Rural. Gay. Dive. Bar. Old Street has served (and served) the Monroe-area community for decades. There’s something magical about the ebb and flow of a glamorous dive bar. Dusty stage lights illuminate queens, kings and all kinds of performers. Some in the crowd match the occasion, faces beat to the gods, others appear to have just gotten off work at a local farm or factory. Whether your order is a bay breeze or a Bud Light, a lemon drop or a whiskey shot, there’s no wrong way to do Old Street. While the weekly Saturday night drag shows are always 10/10, it’s worth planning ahead to show out for the bar’s annual drag pageant, Miss Old Street. This year’s pageant will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30 with the theme “From Sunshine Days to Boogie Nights.” Just because Old Street is a tiny suburban-rural dive bar doesn’t mean the talent isn’t outstanding. Old Street has attracted the best-of-the-best queens and kings from Dayton, Cincinnati and beyond for nearly 30 years. (Madeline Fening)

Dutch Tavern

2716 N. Verity Pkwy, Middletown
Drop ceilings? Check. Wood paneling? Check. Pool table on a linoleum floor? Check and check. Dutch Tavern gives you all the essentials for a successful dive bar experience, including live music and ghosts from your hometown past. By the light of a neon beer sign, you can be as alone or in community as you want while you enjoy simple bar bites like pizza and take in the view of a kickass antique barback. As should be the case with most dives, the prices are never hurtful and you never have to wait longer than a breath or two of the once-smoky air for a drink. (MF)

Gateway Inn

1895 US-50, Batavia
If you’re taking US-50 East toward your hometown, a hiking trip or just for the hell of it, you should stop at Gateway Inn in Batavia along the way. The cabin-like building is something out of a movie, and the interior something out of your uncle’s garage-turned-man cave. A pitched roof gives way to an endless gallery of vintage beer signs, dollar bills, colored holiday lights and dart boards. Stretch your legs after a long drive by playing some pool and fill up on $3 nachos. Plus, everyone is so nice, solo travelers won’t be hard-pressed to find a temporary drinking buddy. (MF)