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The Queen City is overflowing with new restaurants and bars. From the retro-inspired Homemakers Bar and the treehouse-esque Yonder rooftop patio to Comfort Station, in a renovated century-old bath house, we can’t get enough of these creative concepts. You’ll definitely want to add these hot spots to your bucket list this summer.
Coming Soon: Comfort Station
793 E. McMillan Ave., Walnut Hills
From the team behind OTRs Sundry and Vice comes Comfort Station. The cocktail bar is located in a century-old Walnut Hills rest area and will serve dual purposes as a daytime cocktail/co-working destination and a sexy subterranean cocktail lounge. Slated to open June 28.
Photo: Hailey BollingerYonder
621 Main St., Covington
Inspired by owners Chris and Tess Burns’ love of Kentucky State Parks, this new bar concept by the folks behind Covington’s Commonwealth Bistro features a chic treehouse-esque rooftop bar with a small rotating menu and craft cocktails, as well as inventive mocktails.
Photo: Hailey BollingerHomemakers Bar
35 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
Cincinnati hospitality mavens Julia Petiprin and Catherine Manabat have opened Homemakers Bar at the corner of 13th and Walnut streets. The duo worked together to create a space inspired by a retro vibe and the domestic cocktails of the 1950s through the 1970s.
Photo: Hailey BollingerFairfield Market
700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
This hip new market, coffee and wine bar recently opened in Bellevue. The fresh, light-filled space is a perfect place to start or end your day. Try one of their build-your-own charcuterie boards with their happy-hour wine special or stop by for a sammy or picnic salad at lunch.
Photo: Hailey BollingerWódka Bar
1200 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
An extension of Babushka Pierogies, Wódka Bar carries an ambitious selection of vodkas, stocking upward of 60 types including many Russian, Polish and Ukrainian brands that are lesser known in the United States.
Photo: Hailey BollingerFausto
44 E. Sixth St., Downtown
Foodie entrepreneurs and brothers Tony and Austin Ferrari the minds behind downtown’s Ferrari Barbershop & Coffee Co. and Camp Washington’s Mom ‘n ’em Coffee are tackling a new venture inside the lobby cafe of the Contemporary Arts Center. Fausto offers all-day “coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, good California style cuisine and always good company,” according to an Instagram post by Austin.
Photo: Hailey BollingerTaglio
56 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
Taglio, the Columbia Tusculum pizza joint from brothers Nick and Jared Wayne (also of A Tavola) and partner Jake Goodwin, has expanded into Over-the-Rhine in the space once occupied by sports bar Lachey’s. Taglio is known for both its traditional and deep-dish Detroit-style pizzas, among other menu items, and the fact that they deliver their entire menu including wine and beer.
Photo: Holden MathisMom n em Coffee
3128 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Brothers Tony and Austin Ferrari opened Mom n em Coffee in Camp Washington to honor mom Theresa. Mom n em serves coffee and espresso drinks along with toasts and pastries. They also sell beer and wine to go or to be enjoyed there. Their menu features items such as cheese and salumi, anchovies, sardines and an egg sandwich named the Dirty Nati.”
Photo: Hailey BollingerComing Soon: Northern Row Brewery and Distillery
111 W. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery is located on West McMicken Avenue in a building that was originally constructed in 1895 as Christian Moerleins icehouse and storage space. The storied taproom will pour a slew of traditional lagers and inventive brews, in addition to a variety of wine and spirits. Opening date has not yet been confirmed.
Photo: Hailey BollingerComing Soon: BlaCk Coffee
822 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
This new coffee shop and hookah bar is from the owners of BlaCk OWned and is slated to open July 4.
Photo: Hailey BollingerLonely Pine Steakhouse
6085 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
Pleasant Ridges restaurant scene has really beefed up now that Lonely Pine Steakhouse is open. The casual dining destination takes a simple concept quality food at an affordable price and elevates it with Southwestern flair and retro decor.
The newest venture by Gorilla Cinema Presents, Lonely Pine is the first foray into food service for the company.
Photo: Hailey BollingerComing Soon: Lost & Found OTR
22 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine
Cocktail bar coming this summer to Over-the-Rhine.
Photo: Cody CunninghamTortilleria Garcia
5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Popular Springdale Mexican eatery Tortilleria Garcia opened a second location in College Hill. The restaurant uses old-fashioned techniques for their straightforward cuisine like freshly-made corn tortillas, tamales, burritos, housemade salsas and rotisserie chicken in addition to their beloved tacos.
Photo: Hailey BollingerComing Soon: Goose and Elder
1800 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Goose and Elder is chef Jose Salazars third Cincinnati restaurant venture and will offer American comfort food along with healthy and gluten-free options. The restaurant will be located near Findlay Market and is slated to open this summer.
Photo: Paige DeglowComing Soon: Bridges Nepali Cuisine
133 E. Court St., Downtown
Bridges Nepali Cuisine announced their plans to open a second location on downtown’s Court Street this summer. The restaurant opened its first brick-and-mortar in Northside two years ago and is the first full Nepalese restaurant in the area. Guests can expect a similar experience in terms of menu and style as their first location, but they also plan to offer breakfast at their downtown location.
Photo: Hailey BollingerComing Soon: The View at Shires’ Gardens
309 Vine St., 10th Floor, Downtown
Set to open this summer, The View at Shires Garden will be on the 10th floor of the City Club Apartments with views of the riverfront and the surrounding cityscape. This new rooftop spot will feature an indoor dining room, an outdoor patio and a private event lounge with a bar, cigar patio, baby grand piano and firelit tables. The décor will mix modern furnishings with the style of the original Shires Gardens from the 19th century a historic Queen City amusement resort of sorts in this same spot at Vine and Third streets.
Photo: Hailey BollingerComing Soon: Kiki College Hill
5932 Hamilton Ave., College Hill
Chef Hideki Harada, former co-owner and chef at Kaze OTR, and his wife Yuko are slated to open Japanese gastropub Kiki in College Hill this summer and have hosted popular pop-ups at Northside Yacht Club as a way to test potential menu items.
Photo: Maija ZummoComing Soon: La Ofrenda
30 Findlay St., Over-the-Rhine
From the team behind popular themed bars and restaurants like The Video Archive, Tokyo Kitty, Overlook Lodge and, most recently, Lonely Pine Steakhouse, comes a Mexican cinema-inspired bar.
Photo: Gorilla Cinema Presents’ Jacob Trevino // ProvidedComing Soon: Thunderdome Italian Restaurant TBA
1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Thunderdome Restaurant Group the team behind The Eagle, Bakersfield, Currito and Maplewood Kitchen and Bar plans to open a new concept this September at the corner of 15th and Vine streets. Italian cuisine will be the focus of this yet-to-be-named eatery, with a pasta-heavy menu.
Photo: Paige DeglowComing Soon: Teak Thai Cuisine and Sushi
1200 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Mount Adams beloved Thai restaurant is getting a new life in OTR. The popular eatery closed its doors in 2017 and will reopen across the street from Washington Park.
Photo: Holden MathisComing Soon: NoBaked Cookie Dough
5503 Deerfield Blvd., Mason
Nashville-based NoBaked Cookie Dough shop is opening location in Mason’s Deerfield Towne Center this summer.
Photo via Facebook/nobakedcinci