A night out on the town doesn’t have to mean navigating through crowded bars and dodging elbows — there are plenty of laid-back bars in the Queen City to choose from. From a trendy greenhouse bar in Over-the-Rhine to some classics that have been around for over 100 years, we’ve found the best low-key bars in Cincinnati perfect for a chill night out on the town.

Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Low Spark 15 W. 14th. St., Over-the-Rhine This small, ’70s-inspired bar is centered around a big tropical aquarium, an oasis in the bustling Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Sip a pop culture-themed cocktail (or a glass of wine or one of the beers on tap) while jamming out to songs from the vinyl record player. Grab a massive $3 Budweiser that is always on tap, or if you’re looking for a pick-me-up, order their version of a vodka Red Bull: the Excita-Bull. Photo: facebook.com/LowSparkOTR
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
Queen City Radio 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine The historic Queen City Radio building was turned into a well-manicured full-service bar and outdoor beer garden. The bar serves rotating taps of local, regional and national beer, canned and bottled brews, wine, and a small cocktail program. Tables and heaters are placed throughout the patio and dogs are always welcome. Photo: facebook.com/queencityradiobar
Sundry and Vice 18 W. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine This apothecary-themed bar features an extensive and inventive cocktail menu. The drinks — meticulously crafted by be-aproned bartenders — take a little longer to make than usual, but that’s only because they’re so good. After a weekend of drinking like this, you’re going to need an apothecary. Photo: facebook.com/sundryandvice
Arnold’s Bar & Grill 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown Downtown’s Arnold’s Bar & Grill is renowned for being the oldest continuously operating drinking destination in Cincinnati — one of the oldest in America, in fact, at 160 years. There’s the infamous Arnold’s bathtub, reportedly used to make bootleg gin during Prohibition. There is even a rumor that this bar filled with spirits (as in alcohol) and other sorts of spirits (as in dead people). Photo: Maggy McDonel
Streetside Brewery 4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum Streetside Brewery is proud to be located in Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhood Columbia Tusculum. The Hickey family are residents of the neighborhood, and founded Streetside Brewery to share their talent with their community. Enjoy craft beer such as the Alpha and the GRL PWR, wine and guest taps. The Street Chef Brigade food truck is just outside serving Thai chicken tacos, the Street Chef burger, deviled eggs and more. Photo: Scott Dittgen Photo: Scott Dittgen
Covington Yard 401 Greenup St., Covington Covington Yard is an outdoor gathering destination offering different dining and drinking options located inside shipping containers on the grounds. Current food vendors offer tacos, sliders, Cubanos and wings. Grab a drink at their bar that features a rotating draft menu, specialty cocktails and alcoholic slushies. The yard is a hip place for friends, family and even pets to hang. Photo: facebook/CovingtonYard
Interior of the bar Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Hi-Mark 3229 Riverside Dr., East End Located in a renovated 1866 building in the East End, The Hi-Mark is truly a great neighborhood bar that serves up some delicious food. From the owners of Eli’s BBQ and Pho Lang Thang, this spot is just about a block and a half from Eli’s famed barbecue haven. The drinks menu focuses on craft and local beers — both on rotating taps and in bottles and cans. But the food is where it’s really at. With seven different wing sauces (including Eli’s barbecue sauce), pulled pork bánh mì, nacho fries, a veggie Philly and grilled cheese, there’s something for everyone. Photo: Mike Dew
2. Cobblestone OTR 1132 Race St., Over-the-Rhine “Great cocktails and beer selection. Awesome, friendly bartenders!!! DOG FRIENDLY!!!!! Our dogs love to come here! “Love the atmosphere! Great for a date or with a group of friends!!” — Melissa L. Photo: Paige Deglow
Woodburn Brewery 2800 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills This East Walnut Hills brewery offers a plethora of creative beers, from Salmon Shorts, a strawberry tea blonde beer to the Solo coffee-infused blonde ale and even old fashioned rootbeer on tap. Dogs are welcome to chill inside the taproom or outside on the renovated patio at Woodburn, where they will receive many pets. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Madtree Brewing Co. Oakley Taproom 3301 Madison Rd., Oakley MadTree’s massive 10,000-square-foot beer garden is a fun family hangout. With over 30 MadTree-exclusive taps, ambient lighting and an industrial brick façade leftover from the building’s factory days, there’s more than enough space to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at MadTree on the regular. Photo: Phil Heiden Reich
Liberty’s Bar & Bottle 1427 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Liberty’s offers the best of both the bar and the bottle with rotating craft beers on tap and more than a dozen wines available by the glass — including half-pours — along with bottles of wine and craft beers via retail. Dogs are welcome and you’ll frequently find one or two sleeping under their owners’ stools at the bar. Spend some time sipping on an IPA and admiring the sleek interior. Photo: facebook.com/Libertys-Bar-Bottle
Fries Cafe 3245 Jefferson Ave., Clifton Before opening as a bar in the 1930s, Fries Cafe was a Kroger grocery store. Today, it brings nearby college students and local residents together to kick off the weekend. It offers a large selection of craft beers on tap. If you’re in the mood for games, Fries offers shuffleboard, dart boards and pool tables. You can also head out back and chill on the massive patio. Photo: facebook.com/FriesCafe
Mecca OTR 1429 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine This hip OTR hideaway is a welcoming hangout for those interested in no-frills drinking, L.A. vibes and vinyl tunes. Find the main courtyard entrance tucked away down 15th Street, and cross the big-ass gravel patio, past colorful street-art murals, a panoply of rainbow lighting and a plethora of communal seating to enter a world of hanging plants (in summer the patio is decked out in greenery). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Second Place 3936 Spring Grove Ave., Northside Second Place is a self-deprecating sports bar with outdoor ping pong, boozy slushies and free popcorn. It aims to be a place to watch sports, while not beating you over the head with a sports bar theme. Unimposing TVs above and around the bar show football, basketball and soccer games; but there’s also a pool table, dart boards and a bookshelf full of various board games and card games. Instead of TV commercials and referees’ whistles assaulting your ears, there’s actual music playing, chosen by the bartenders. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Fibonacci Brewing Co. 1445 Compton Road, College Hill Fibonacci offers an expansive outdoor beer garden and urban farm next door to its microbrewery. They have two taprooms, a covered patio, grassy garden space, friendly goats and chickens and plenty of craft beer and wine to sip on while enjoying the open outdoors. Photo: facebook.com/fibonaccibrewing
Northside Tavern 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside A laid-back neighborhood drinking destination, with a front bar, back bar and huge patio. There’s free live music almost every night of the week, including infrequent live band karaoke. Not uncommon for happy hour here to last far into the night. Photo via Facebook.com/NorthsideTavern Photo: Facebook.com/northsidetavern
Highland Coffee House 2839 Highland Ave., Corryville Highland serves coffee, booze and great music, complemented by an artsy, plant-filled interior and some comfy seating. It’s a mellow place to relax while watching students from the nearby University of Cincinnati campus burn the midnight oil to finish their papers. Photo: Holden Mathis
West Side Brewery 3044 Harrison Ave., Westwood Overseen by four passionate homebrewers, the taproom offers 20 West Side beer taps, including West Side’s amber ale, common ale, pale ale and more, plus a handful of other local brews, cider, wine and soda. The bar also offers a ton of TVs and games. Photo: Megan Waddel Photo: Megan Waddel
Milton’s 301 Milton St., Prospect Hill Prospect Hill’s neighborhood joint is chatty, diverse and full of character. A great place to have a beer, relax and chat it up with the regulars, not people you went to high school with. Photo: Holden Mathis Photo: Holden Mathis
Arlin’s 307 Ludlow Ave., Clifton The is Clifton’s Gaslight District neighborhood pub for the thinking man or woman. Have a beer on the big back patio and beer garden or enjoy live music and bar food. The no-frills atmosphere includes a pool room, plus 20 taps, sports on TV and a jukebox. Though the bar has changed names, there’s been a drinking spot at this location since the 1890s. Photo: facebook.com/ArlinsBar
Dutch’s 3373 Erie Ave., Hyde Park This pony keg turned bar, bottle shop and artisanal larder is an East Side hang with an expansive kitchen, pantry and patio. Pair one of many different available wines or craft beers on-tap with farmstead cheeses, sandwiches, soups, salad, snacks or even truffle popcorn. Recently taken over and reopened by chef Brad Bernstein of Red Feather Kitchen, the menu and grocer features an elevated and refined version of the classic Dutch’s. Photo: facebook.com/dutchslarder