Cincinnati is no doubt home to an amazing food scene. But apart from offering delicious eats and drinks on the menu, bars and restaurants across the Queen City are making sure their aesthetic and vibes are on point with beautiful settings where you can unwind and enjoy yourself.

Whether you’re looking for a moodier spot with low lighting and dark decor, one that’s light and airy and full of plants or another buzzing with vibrant colors and fun drinks, you’ll find it in Cincinnati. Keep scrolling to see just a handful of our beautiful bars and restaurants.

Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Alice 1432 Main St., Over-the-Rhine This colorful cocktail bar doesn’t take its name or inspiration from the one of Wonderland fame, but the spot is just as charming and beguiling. Located in an old garage warehouse, Alice stands apart from the other bar options in the area with colorful industrial vibes and clever cocktails like the Smoke and Mirrors (tequila, house sour, lime and pepper tincture) or the Dinner Party (vodka, green tea, ginger, orange, lemon and bitters). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge 1432 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine This intimate, 1940s-inspired lounge has the perfect ambiance for a romantic night out or even just a solo date. Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge offers an inclusive approach to wine culture, focusing on minority and women winemakers and producers. They offer 40 wines available by the glass or bottle, including eight on tap, and curated flights, cocktails, spirits and charcuterie boards – the best combination to nosh on while listening to live jazz, soul, hip-hop and R&B music. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Son of a Butcher Steakhouse 7630 Gibson St. STE 110, Liberty Township With an aesthetic and design described as “Alice-in-Wonderland-meets-Baroque,” it’s no wonder Yelp said Son of a Butcher Steakhouse, a.k.a. S.O.B., was one of the five most-photographed places in Cincinnati in 2022. The food, with menu items like USDA Prime cuts, wagyu, caviar and shaved truffles, also photographs like a delicious dream. Photo: facebook.com/SOB Steakhouse
Homemakers Bar 39 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine Sip like you’re in a magazine. With a “slightly retro-mostly modern” vibe, Homemakers is a colorful, fun place to find your next favorite cocktail. The menu is inspired by domestic drinks of the 1950s-1970s and features nontraditional spirits with a cocktail program featuring lesser-known liqueurs, herbal and fortified wines and no-proof cocktails. There are also classic drinks complemented by modern and refreshing takes. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Boca 114 E. Sixth St., Downtown A trip to chef David Falk’s Italian/French gemstone is an experience to be savored as much as the food itself. Take your time, invest a few hours and allow him and his attentive, knowledgeable staff to unfold an epic tale of two or three courses, plus dessert. The Pommes Soufflés “1949” — puffy french fries — are a call back to the restaurant’s former iteration as the Maisonette. Photo: facebook.com/Boca Restaurant
Ghost Baby 1314 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine This subterranean nightclub/music venue 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 the bar. Guests can expect an immersive experience with art, design, cocktails and live music. Photo: Aparna Avasarala
Sotto 118 E. Sixth St., Downtown Located under Boca restaurant, the Tuscan-inspired Sotto offers a more approachable atmosphere and price point than its upstairs neighbor. Its interior calls to mind a rustic Italian wine cellar with its rough brick walls and wooden ceiling beams. With multiple dining rooms, the kitchen is open to view, including the custom-made wood-fire grill in front and a fresh-pasta room in the back hallway. Menu items include handmade pasta, Salumi & Formaggi (cured meats and cheeses) and big-ticket items like Bistecca Fiorentina, a grilled Creekstone porterhouse steak. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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
Ivory House 2998 Harrison Ave., Westwood Ivory House offers upscale dining in the heart of Westwood’s business district with a space that’s fresh and contemporary. Guests walk into the restaurant and are greeted by a classy white piano and tall bistro tables and an open, inviting dining room. The dinner menu features steak and seafood favorites like the filet mignon, lobster tail and grilled scallops. Ivory House also offers brunch and a wine program, which allows you to explore and discover new wines, as well as get a subscription to one of their wine lockers, which is perfect if you want to curate a personal collection. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pepp & Dolores 1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Pepp & Dolores is an Italian eatery from restaurant group Thunderdome and was inspired by Sunday dinners at co-founders Joe and John Lanni’s grandparents’ house. “We designed the space to have a timeless look and feel with elements of a classic cafe or bistro from the early to mid-20th century on the first level and a lower level that is darker, cozier and reminiscent of a New York City supper club,” says John Lanni. The menu features housemade pastas — like the Butternut & Mascarpone pasta — along with a focus on shareable dishes, salads and bread. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Primavista 810 Matson Place, East Price Hill Primavista offers their menu of high-end Italian meals along with a panoramic view of Downtown Cincinnati. Their menu specializes in veal and fresh fish, but they offer dishes from all regions of Italy and feature nightly specials. Have an antipasto of fried calamari or bruschetta before your plate of ravioli or veal marsala and top it off with a glass of vino from their extensive wine list. Cap off your dinner with the Gelati Misti or tiramisu for dessert while you marvel at Cincinnati’s beauty. Photo: facebook.com/Primavista
Lost & Found 22 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine Lost & Found is a funky, community-driven gathering space with an inventive drink menu and small bites inside of a creative, art-filled environment – once a multi-car garage – where work from local artists fill the walls from room to room. It’s located on a quieter street in Over-the-Rhine — if it weren’t for the green light perched outside the bar, you just might miss it. Co-owners Steven Clement and Camilo Otalora want Lost & Found to be a hub where guests can feel welcome and inspired. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Nolia 1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine Bringing New Orleans-style flair and fare to Over-the-Rhine, Nolia offers diners an upscale, yet approachable, experience. The exposed brick and bold floral wallpaper add a bright and airy feeling to the intimate setting. The menu features delectable Southern-inspired dishes like the Pecan Flounder, Eggplant Etouffee and Duck & Oyster Gumbo. And while you shouldn’t expect Nolia to play zydeco or serve hurricane cocktails in novelty cups, the restaurant’s drink menu will truly laissez les bon temps rouler (let the good times roll). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Mama’s on Main 621 Main St., Covington Decked out in all the colors of the Italian flag, Mama’s on Main brings traditional red-sauce Italian fare, starting with basic spaghetti and meatballs and extensive wine list, to Covington. In putting Mama’s together, owner Emily Wolff focused on the color red as a recurring motif, having decided that “Mama wears red lipstick.” Red barstools and other prominent splashes of scarlet enliven the two main rooms and adjacent spaces. The restaurant’s most prominent design element and dining room centerpiece is a large stained-glass window salvaged from a MainStrasse church that had been destroyed by fire in the ‘80s. Photo: Catie Viox for Zest Cincy
Bromwell’s Hearth Room 125 W. Fourth St., Downtown With its dark walls and floors and fiery lighting, Bromwell’s recently renovated Hearth Room is a warm, welcoming place to grab a seat, drink a cocktail or craft beer and listen to some live jazz music. A beautiful fireplace serves as the centerpiece for this stylish, urban lounge, fitting as the bar serves as an extension of Bromwell’s grand showroom of fireplaces and accessories in the neighboring retail space. The business serves coffee and light bites into the afternoon, while the bar offers classic cocktails like Manhattans and Old-Fashioneds, as well as their own cocktail creations and a selection of beers and wine. Photo: Mary LeBus
The Precinct 311 Delta Ave., Columbia Tusculum The Precinct, housed in a historical Romanesque-style former police precinct, opened in 1981 and was the first in a long line of Ruby steakhouses. The interior is lavish, with chandeliers, colorful stained glass windows, splashes of red and a large wooden bar. On the menu, you can’t go wrong with a sirloin or porterhouse, named after current and past Cincinnati sports greats. Photo: facebook.com/Jeff Ruby's Precinct
Bar Saeso 1208 Sycamore St., Pendleton If you’re looking for an otherworldly escape without leaving the city, or a cocktail menu that takes the work out of ordering, Saeso may just be your new favorite bar. The bar provides an intimate and vacation-like getaway with a limited, but ever-changing menu. Photo: Brian Rineair
Mita’s 501 Race St., Downtown Chef Jose Salazar is a continent away from his mamita and the hand-cranked mill she still uses to grind corn for arepas and empanadas, but his restaurant, Mita’s, is a tribute to her spirit and to Spanish and Latin American food. Mita’s menu is described as eclectic and farm-inspired with both traditional and modern food and drinks from both regions. You’ll find tapas, ceviches, cured hams, cheeses and large plates on the menu along with a wine program that “emphasizes Spain and the Old World,” says Mita’s. Photo: facebook.com/Mita's Cincinnati
The Blind Lemon 936 Hatch St., Mt. Adams The Blind Lemon has been 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. It’s one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city, offering a delicious selection of cocktails and hot drinks. Photo via facebook.com/The Blind Lemon
Mecca OTR 1429 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine This hip OTR hideaway is a welcoming hangout for those interested in no-frills drinking and L.A. vibes. 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 and the most creatively decorated — dare we say selfie-ready — bar bathrooms in the city. Photo: Brittany Thornton
Anjou 2804 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills Anjou breaks the mold when it comes to cocktail bars. Its owners said when they first walked through the space, they were inspired by the sunlight spilling through the building’s tall windows and wanted to weave in the light and airiness of the space into their concept and offer a contrast to the other darker, moodier cocktail bars that were popular at the time. What they have now is a graceful aesthetic with bright, punchy drinks like the She-Wolf (pear, ginger, herbal and elderflower liqueurs with gin and lemon) and the Bill Murray (tequila, pisco, agave lime, pineapple-mango shrub and salt). Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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