Privee on Elm 1905 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine A cocktail bar offering a new take on upscale cocktails opened in a former discothèque in Over-the-Rhine this February. Privee on Elm has set out to excite its guests by becoming “a place where business meets pleasure,” bridging the gap between two traditionally separate concepts. With menu items like Carmen Temptation (gin, lime, raspberry and dragonfruit), The Monarch (bourbon, cinnamon-vanilla maple syrup, angostura and orange bitters) and The Midnight Lover (bourbon, cassis, lemon and demerara), Privee says its cocktail and tasting menu has a little something for everyone. Inside, the main bar is surrounded by comfortable seating arrangements in what is essentially an enlarged four-seasons room. The expansive windows also allow for a great amount of natural light during the evening/happy hour timeframe, and the dark ceilings help balance out the lighter wooden tones, allowing for a deeper, more seductive environment come evening time. Photo: Evan Shibel

The newest take on an upscale cocktail bar has landed in Over-the-Rhine.

Located at 1905 Elm St., Privee on Elm is set to open Saturday, March 1. The new joint has a prime location, set just north of Findlay Market but near other Cincinnati hotspots like Rhinegeist Brewery and Northern Row.

Privee has set out to excite its guests by becoming “a place where business meets pleasure,” bridging the gap between two traditionally separate concepts. With menu item themes like Carmen Temptation, The Monarch and The Midnight Lover, Privee says its cocktail and tasting menu will have a little something for everyone.

Open from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, as well as 4 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Sundays, the cocktail bar will surely become a new weekend hotspot for both those living in and around the northern OTR district, as well as folks coming into the downtown districts for a night out.

“We want everyone to know that this new establishment will be for everyone. We will have funk, house music, hip hop, Latin nights and much more,” said Zanormity Day, brand ambassador for Privee on Elm. No matter the occasion or time you stop by, “at Privee, it’s always a celebration,” Day said.

The main bar is surrounded by comfortable seating arrangements in what is essentially an enlarged four seasons room. The expansive windows also allow for a great amount of natural light during the evening/happy hour timeframe. The dark ceilings help balance out the lighter wooden tones, allowing for a deeper, more seductive environment come evening time.

Upon entering, friendly staff will be there to greet you and provide recommendations on their favorites on the menu, while also taking into consideration the personal preferences of each customer. The menu is well balanced between providing plenty of classic cocktails, as well as some more inventive options.

This new joint is one of many bars and restaurants that are seeking to further develop the Brewery District on the northside of Findlay Market and OTR. Privee says it aims to continue to show the potential of this area to become one of the better bar-hopping areas in the city.

Privee on Elm, 1905 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. More info: priveeonelm.com.

This article appears in Feb 19 – Mar 4, 2025.