Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are the coolest and which shops are your best bet for dropping a pretty penny. While Greater Cincinnati is home to some amazing cocktail bars, sometimes all you crave is a cold beer in an atmosphere that’s very come-as-you-are, with zero pretense. Sometimes there’s a game on TV, a local band on stage or a pool table in the corner calling your name.

Keep scrolling to see our readers’ favorite no-frills bars throughout Greater Cincinnati. 

No. 10 Best No-Frills Bar: HomeMakers Bar 39 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine What to order: Miso Jungle Bird: rums, Campari, miso, plum, pineapple, lime and cinnamon. Photo: Provided by Homemakers Bar
No. 9 Best No-Frills Bar: Crazy Fox Saloon 901 Washington Ave., Newport What to order: The Bloody Mary comes highly recommended and is basically a meal and a drink combined. Photo: Brittany Thornton
No. 8 Best No-Frills Bar: rhinehaus 119 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine What to order: rhinehaus has a good selection of craft, domestic and imported beers, but you should also try one of the “Haus Shots” while you’re there. The Mexican Rhino is their bestseller and features el Jimador Blanco Tequila, Rose’s lime juice and a splash of Cholula hot sauce. For a more refreshing crowd-pleaser, opt for the Fresh Rhino, a blend of cucumber vodka, watermelon schnapps and Sprite. Photo: facebook.com/rhinehausotr
Longfellow Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 6 Best No-Frills Bar: Queen City Exchange 32 W. Court St., Downtown What to order: Queen City Exchange features 40 taps, and the prices fluctuate in a Stock Market-esque fashion. If the price is high, you know that beer is in demand, but don’t be afraid to buy low and risk finding a new favorite. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best LGBTQ+ Bar No. 5: Rosie’s Tavern 643 Bakewell St., Covington Photo: facebook.com/RosiesTavern
Pub Food 1. Knockback Nats, searchable on Facebook 2. Arnold’s Bar & Grill, arnoldsbarandgrill.com 3. Incline Public House, inclinepublichouse.com Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 3 Best No-Frills Bar: Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar 629 Main St., Covington What to order: Opt for a classic bourbon cocktail like an Old Fashioned or Manhattan, or try one of their rotating Mules and cocktail specials. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 2 Best No-Frills Bar: Northside Tavern 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside What to order: Your favorite beverage to enjoy while listening to live music, which Northside Tavern is best known for. They have a full bar and drink specials Monday through Saturday from 5-8 p.m. Photo: facebook.com/northsidetavern
The Belle and the Bear 8512 Market Place Lane, Montgomery This neighborhood dive bar is known for its live music and affordable drinks, but The Belle and the Bear’s generous happy hour is even more of a reason to come here and admire the poster-lined ceiling and neon-glowing stage. Happy hour runs from 3-8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Beers on tap include classics like Bud Light and Blue Moon, but you’ll also find some local brews like Truth from Rhinegeist and Astra Red Cream Soda Hard Seltzer from March First Brewing and Distilling. Photo: facebook.com/thebellethebear