We all need to cosplay a little bit to keep life interesting, even if that doesn’t necessarily look like dressing up in costume. In Greater Cincinnati, that could, however, look like checking out one of the really cool themed bars and restaurants in the area.

From the over-the-top experience that immerses you in your favorite movie to the subtler themes that come out through the menu, Cincinnati has a number of bars and restaurants ready for you to have a good time and fuel your imagination a little bit.

No. 2 Best New Bar: Ghost Baby 1314 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine This subterranean nightclub/music venue opened beneath the streets of Over-the-Rhine last winter. The venue holds 160 guests and is located several stories below Vine Street in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel formerly used by Champion Brewing (beer was aged and cooled in lagering tunnels before the advent of refrigeration). The historic, dimly-lit space, which has been vacant since the 1850s, features soaring ceilings with stone archways and decor that is adorned with “crushed velvet and unpredictability,” according to a release. Guests can expect an immersive experience with art, design, cocktails and live music. Photo: Aparna Avasarala Photo: Aparna Avasarala
Overlook Lodge 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Luckily this Overlook is much more fun than the hotel and isn’t haunted…that we know of. The Overlook Lodge is a rustic, neighborhood bar based on The Shining that features a seasonal cocktail menu along with a list of domestic, imported and craft beers; rotating taps; and wine you can order from the non-ghostly bartender. You can listen to live music here on Friday and Saturday nights to keep Jack from becoming a dull boy, and hopefully you won’t spot any creepy twins at the end of a hallway. Photo: facebook.com/Overlooklodge
Bircus Brewing Co. 322 Elm St., Ludlow Ludlow, Kentucky’s nonexistent craft beer scene sent in the clowns, leading to the launch of Bircus Brewing Co., a branch of an original concept from Ghent, Belgium. Pronounce it like “beer-cuss,” a hybrid of beer and circus, as the brew shares the limelight with carnival performances at the taproom. Performers can do everything from breathe fire to fly on the trapeze. Photo: Brittany Thornton Photo: Brittany Thornton
Schoolhouse Restaurant 8031 Glendale Milford Road, Camp Dennison Built in the 1860s, this former Hamilton County schoolhouse was bought and saved from demolition by Donald and Phyllis Miller, who turned it into the Schoolhouse Restaurant. Keeping the schoolhouse theme, the restaurant features windows, yellow oak floors and blackboards, on which the menu is written, from the late 1800s. The menu features American comfort food like fried chicken, mashed potatoes, smoked ham, country-fried steak and homemade meatloaf. Photo: facebook.com/The Schoolhouse Restaurant
Sundry and Vice 18 W 13th St., Over-the-Rhine This apothecary-themed cocktail bar has drinks that lend more textures, colors and flavors than a classic list of libations in a warm, vintage-vibes atmosphere. The list of “tinctures, tonics and remedies” includes the Magical Mystery (rye whiskey, strawberry, amaro, lemon, egg white and bitters), the Night Cure (bourbon, honey, lemon and grapefruit oil) and Penicillin (blended scotch, honey, ginger and lemon), among a menu of other crafty cocktails, beer and wine. Photo: Provided by Sundry & Vice
Tiki Tiki Bang Bang 965 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Take a trip to the tropics at this hidden gem in the heart of Walnut Hills. Tiki Tiki Bang Bang is the only bar in Cincinnati that will take you on an island exploration without leaving the Ohio River Valley via the Discovery Rum Club. Ask your bartender about it to buy the super secret book ($25 with a special flight of rum to get you started), choose your faction (are you Team Prof. McCaw or Team Capt. Dory?) and get to sipping on some rum. If exploring isn’t your game, you can kick back with one of Tiki Tiki Bang Bang’s punch bowls or island-themed cocktails. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The main bar and karaoke stage inside Tokyo Kitty Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pirate’s Cove 4609 Kellogg Ave., East End “Stay-cation” means something to the folks at Pirate’s Cove. They have the occasional pirate roaming the grounds for the kids, signature cocktails, Key West-inspired cuisine and live music. The patio overlooks the Ohio River and the Four Seasons Marina. Photo: Facebook.com/PiratesCoveCincy Photo: Facebook.com/PiratesCoveCincy
Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge 1432 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge, which officially opened on Aug. 21, features bottles from women and minority winemakers, as well as eight wines on tap, live music, a limited selection of spirits and beer, and small plates from local businesses. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Slaughterhouse Five at Sugar n’ Spice 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine; 4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills Open since 1941, Sugar n’ Spice is a Cincinnati diner mainstay. The Slaughterhouse Five is a breakfast platter with a sausage link, pork patty, one slice of bacon and half a slice of goetta, plus two eggs any style, home fries and white or wheat toast. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Lonely Pine Steakhouse 6085 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge This steakhouse, located next door to the Shining-themed Overlook Lodge, is “inspired by Midcentury Modern styling and the spirit of America’s great landscapes” and features a display of available steaks in a glass case at the front of the restaurant. Owners Jacob Trevino and Otto Baum have tapped chef Jared Beckman and butcher Sam Mischenko to create a menu that features filets, ribeyes, strips and rare cuts, along with steakhouse sides, cocktails and a “bold” wine list. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
HomeMakers Bar 39 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine The retro-inspired HomeMakers Bar in Over-the-Rhine is a go-to for uncommon libations, including spritzers. An “entire low- and no-proof menu” will be available through February. The Landlocked includes mint, celery bitters, lemon, pineapple juice and demerara syrup with Seedlip Garden non-alcoholic spirit, topped with Athletic Brewing’s NA Hazy IPA. The Sport Pilot features Seedlip Spice NA spirit plus orgeat, falernum gomme syrup, pink grapefruit juice, fresh-squeezed lime and a cinnamon stick garnish. Photo: Provided by HomeMakers Bar
Hi-Fi Cincy 941 Pavilion St., Mt. Adams If the feeling of getting a little drunk or stoned on your living room floor and popping your favorite vinyl into your record player while the rain falls outside were a bar, it would be Hi-Fi. This music-themed bar embodies the nostalgia of analog music and is itself almost like a giant crate of old records you can sift through while sipping on a handcrafted cocktail, listening to the songs that make up the soundtrack of your life. Photo: facebook.com/hificincy
Northside Yacht Club 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside A little bit naughty nautical, a little bit rock ‘n roll, Northside Yacht Club serves up delicious sandwiches, burgers, wings and fries, as well as vegan and gluten-free options. They also have an extensive craft cocktail list – including their infamous peanut butter tequila shooter – as well as brunch during the weekend. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Hap’s Irish Pub 3510 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Named after its former owner’s nickname, “Happy,” Hap’s boasts that it is the biggest Guinness distributor in the area and calls itself “the most authentic Irish pub you will find outside of the Green Isle.” Whether you want to pick up a casual game of darts, play a song on the jukebox or enjoy the dog-friendly outdoor patio, a visit to Hap’s is bound to be a good time. Photo: facebook.com/Hap's Irish Pub
Hofbrauhaus 200 Third St., Newport This German bier hall is modeled after the original Hofbrauhaus in Munich, featuring house-brewed beer, German fare like soft-dough pretzels with bier cheese and wurst sausages, and servers in traditional dirndls. You’ll often find the sounds of German polka music, cheering and laughter drifting out into the streets, especially from the biergarten. Photo: facebook.com/hbhnewport
Fifty West Burger Bar 7605 Wooster Pike, Newtown Fifty West Brewing Company continues to build upon their Columbia Township empire with the addition of the new Fifty West Burger Bar, an homage to the 1950s roadside root beer stand. Offering a variety of proteins (including the vegetarian-friendly ‘Beyond patty’), each is offered in 12 different ways, named for the 12 different states U.S. Route 50 travels through. Photo: Savana Willhoite Photo: Savana Willhoite
Queen City Exchange 32 W. Court St., Downtown Queen City Exchange’s happy hour gets a little risky. This bar’s beer prices operate much like the stock market, with prices rising or falling based on customer demand. This dynamic drink exchange means any of their 41 draft beers can fall to as low as $4. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Saturday Morning Vibes 3539 Reading Road, Suite 101, Avondale If you crave those memories of grabbing a bowl of cereal and plopping yourself in front of the TV to watch Saturday morning cartoons, this new cereal bar can help you relive those days. The nostalgia is real at Saturday Morning Vibes as it features cereals from around the world, as well as toppings like strawberries, whipped cream and more to add to your bowl. Their menu also has avocado toast, waffles, muffins, bagels, fresh fruit and local coffee. Photo: facebook.com/saturdaymvcafe
Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey 9039 US-42, Suite H, Union This restaurant is inspired by the trappings of the American frontier and California’s 19th-century gold rush and is helmed by chef Christian Gill, who has appeared on several cooking competition shows. At Boomtown, the true delight comes plated. The signature biscuit isn’t a run-of-the-mill, thousand-layer, flaked baked good: it’s a buttery, soft disk with a close crumb and a browned, lightly bubbled top that no breakfast chain can compete with. Order the Gold Shoes to get this delightful biscuit topped with delicious sawmill, peppercorn, mushroom or goetta gravy. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Cock & Bull 601 Main St., Covington; 275 E Sharon Road, Glendale; 2801 Short Vine St., Corryville With three locations, Cock & Bull brings the spirit of the U.K. to Cincinnati with a name derived from two of the oldest pubs in London. With a beer menu featuring stouts and porters, and award-winning fish and trips, you’ll feel just like you’re in jolly old England. Photo: facebook.com/cockandbullpublichousemainstrassevillage
Twenties Have you SEEN the mood lighting in Twenties? The 1920s-themed craft cocktail bar has low ceilings with dramatic brick arches that are lit from below, giving you a Bond-like backdrop to sip your gin martini and not-so-subtly seduce your lover. Photo: facebook.com/Twenties Cincinnati
Photo: Casey Roberts