Central Core
AliveOne
941 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, 513-721-6977
A hip space for Cincinnati’s YP crowd to socialize and groove to music on the juke.
Stuff to do:
All bottled beer is $2 on Tuesdays. Absolut drinks are $3 on Wednesdays.
Recommended drinks:
An extensive micro brew collection of about 75 beers.
Andy’s Mediterranean Grille
906 Nassau St., Eden Park, 513-281-9791
One of the city’s most exotic and fun locales, with flavored tobacco hookah pipes, delectable Middle Eastern food and a party atmosphere.
Stuff to do:
Belly Dancers Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Recommended drinks:
Real Turkish Coffee.
Food:
Traditional Lebanese fare.
Arlin’s
307 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-751-6566
The Gaslight district’s neighborhood pub for the thinking man or woman.
Stuff to do:
23-ounce Bud, Miller or Killian’s for $2.50 all day Mondays and Tuesdays.
Recommended drinks:
Amy’s bachi-blue shot.
Food:
Traditional pub food.
Bagpipe’s
700 Race St., Downtown, 513-421-7468
A taste of Scotland in the heart of the city with live Bagpipers during dinner.
Stuff to do:
Live music Fridays and some Saturdays.
Recommended DRINKS:
Bagpipe’s Lager Ale and Bagpipe’s Irish Coffee.
Food:
Full menu.
Blind Lemon
936 Hatch St., Mount Adams, 513-241-3885
Cavey, cozy and inviting, the Lemon is Cincinnati’s tribute to a Hobbit pub.
Stuff to do:
Live music nightly.
Recommended drinks:
Hot Toddy and Hot Buttered Rum.
Bogart’s
2621 Vine St., Corryville, 513-281-8400
Uptown’s premier live music venue.
C&D Cafe
1714 Hanfield St., Northside, 513-541-9881
An old-school bar offering free popcorn and beer that’s cold.
Stuff to do:
DJs Fridays. Karaoke Saturdays.
Recommended drinks:
Lou’s Bloody Mary with spicy green beans.
Chrity’s Rathskeller & Biergarten
151 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, 513-281-3600
The basement of Lenhardt’s German restaurant offers drinking and bawdy fun for the sophisticated college student or YP, with a lively outdoor patio with games.
Stuff to do:
Trivia Night 8 p.m. Tuesdays.
Recommended drinks:
Black Widow and the ’57 Chevy.
Food:
Available from Lenhardt’s.
City View Tavern
403 Oregon St., Mount Adams, 513-241-VIEW
A fine neighborhood bar offering panoramic vistas of our fair metropolis.
Recommended drinks:
Thick, rich and spicy Bloody Marys.
Food:
Burgers, soup, sandwiches.
Club Bronz
4029 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-591-2100
Bronz shakes the asses of everyone who comes through its doors, queer and otherwise.
Stuff to do:
Drag Sundays. DJ Thursday-Sunday; Karaoke Thursdays.
Recommended drinks:
The Nonta Bomb and the Slick Rick.
The Comet
4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-8900
It’s crowded for a reason: Big ass burritos, the retro photo booth and some of Cincinnati’s best live music are just a few of the draws.
Stuff to do:
Music without a cover on weekends. The Comet Blue Grass All-Stars play Sundays.
Recommended drinks:
Seasonal drinks include hot cider with rum and Grand Marnier, The Tequila Sol (lemonade and tequila) during warm months, The Irish Ass, made with homemade ginger ale.
Food:
Burritos and other Latin American fare.
Crowley’s Highland House Café
958 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, 513-721-7709
Crowley’s is an old-school neighborhood pub and the city’s oldest Irish bar. Good cheer and conversation abound.
Recommended drinks:
T-Bone Special, good draft selection.
Dana Gardens
1832 Dana Ave., Norwood, 513-631-2337
If you like Xavier basketball, this is the place to go.
Recommended drinks:
The secret recipe Hershel Special.
Food:
Pub fare.
Fries Café
3247 Jefferson Ave., Clifton, 513-281-9002
True grit with an old-school bar on the first floor and a basement billiards room.
Stuff to do:
Hosts the Annual Clifton Beer Fest where hundreds of different beers are available to try for $1 or $2.
Recommended drinks:
A wide range of craft beers on tap and bottled.
Gaslight Café
6104 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, 513-631-6977
A comfy Pleasant Ridge gem that’s more café than bar.
Food:
First-rate pub fare.
Gordo’s Pub and Grill
4328 Montgomery Road, Norwood, 513-351-1999
Gordo’s has delicious, gourmet food at reasonable prices and a fine microbrew selection.
Recommended drinks:
Excellent craft beer selection with new drafts weekly.
Food:
Gourmet bar menu including a Jean Robert Burger.
The Greenwich
2442 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, 513-221-1151
Walnut Hill’s answer to Greenwich Village offers Jazz, Spoken Word and Hip Hop.
Stuff to do:
Live Jazz most weekends. Spoken word performances Wednesdays. Occasional art shows in the upstairs gallery.
Recommended drinks:
Greenwich Long Islands available in two varieties: “regular” and “high-test.” The Butt Naked is their high-test variation on Sex on the Beach.
Highland Coffeehouse
2839 Highland Ave., Corryville, 513-861-4151
One of Cincinnati’s great coffeehouses, Highland is the place Jack Kerouac would be found.
Recommended drinks:
Alcohol-infused coffee drinks.
Food:
Sandwiches.
Holy Grail Tavern & Grille
13 W. Charlton St., Corryville, 513-961-2200
The place to go to watch the Bearcats.
Stuff to do:
Happy hour 3-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. College Night Thursdays.
Recommended drinks:
Blueberry Ale.
Food:
Bar fare.
Incline Lounge at The Celestial
1071 Celestial St., Mount Adams, 513-241-4455
Elegant dining and drinking with a picturesque view of the city.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 4-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Live music Fridays and Saturdays.
Recommended drinks:
Extensive wine selection, signature martinis and cocktails.
Food:
Steakhouse.
Junker’s Tavern
4156 Langland St., Northside, 513-541-5470
A Northside neighborhood bar that has withstood the test of time … and karaoke.
Stuff to do: Karaoke on Friday and Saturday.
Recommended drinks: Specialty drinks offered on Sunday nights.
Food: Extensive selection of microwavable options.
The Lackman
1237
Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-381-0741
This place has big city charm and down home respect for the beermaking craft.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 4-8 daily, craft beer event final week of each month.
Recommended drinks: 50 different bottled beers and a rotating selection of craft beers on tap.
Food: Gourmet pretzels.
Lavomatic
1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-621-1999
An eclectic urban restaurant and bar in the heart of the Gateway Quarter.
Stuff to do: Happy Hour 3-7 p.m. includes half-priced appetizers on Thursdays and half-priced wine on Wednesdays. Recommended drinks: Flirtini.
Food: Casual new american.
Longworth’s Tavern
1108 St. Gregory St., Mount Adams, 513-651-2253
With six nights of entertainment, it’s always a party here.
Stuff to do:
Free pool and jukebox Mondays. Open mic Tuesdays. DJ Wednesdays and Thursdays. Live bands on Friday and Saturday.
Recommended DRINKS:
Root Beer Barrels.
Food:
Full dinner and lunch menus.
Mac’s Pizza Pub
205 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, 513-241-MACS
It’s kind of a collegiate Chuck E. Cheese. There are games, live music, gobs of cheesy pizza and lots to drink.
Stuff to do:
Tuesday karaoke. Live Music every Friday and Saturday.
Recommended drinks:
Irish Viagra and scores of microbrews.
Food:
Vegan pizza, burgers and sandwiches.
The Mad Frog
1 E. McMillan St., Corryville/Mount Auburn, 513-784-9119
One of the great dance bars in Cincinnati with live Salsa, Hippie music and Reggae.
Stuff to do:
Tropicoso Salsa every Monday. Open mic Tuesdays. Live bands Fridays and Saturdays.
Mayday
4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, 513-541-0999
A terrifically crazy Northside bar with live music, outdoor patios, hip theme nights and more.
Stuff to do:
Live music every weekend. Movie-oke Mondays. Trivia Night Tuesdays. Drunk Bastard Bingo on Wednesdays. Slurring Bee every third Thursday. Homo-a-go-go (gay themed music) every third Friday.
Recommended drinks:
Dark N’ Stormy served Ginger Beer.
Food:
Gourmet hot dogs with vegan options.
Mecklenburg Gardens
302 E. University Ave., Corryville, 513-221-5353
The closest you’ll come to Germany in Cincinnati.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Free shuttle rides to all UC football and men’s basketball games; on Thursdays German students and enthusiasts meet and speak in the language of the Fatherland.
Recommended drinks:
Excellent beer selection including plenty of German imports.
Food:
Traditional German fare.
Mixx Ultralounge
1203 Main Street, Over-the-Rhine, 513-621-6499
A sleek urban lounge for the craft cocktail and sushi enthusiast.
Stuff to do: Jazz night Wednesdays, extended happy hour on Friday nights 4-9 p.m. With half off appetizers, half off sushi and drink specials.
Recommended drinks:
Ciroc Obama.
Food: Full menu along with sushi menu.
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
6111 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, 513-531-0700
Molly’s offers an authentic Irish pub experience inside and out.
Stuff to do:
Live Irish music Saturdays. Trivia Night Tuesdays.
Recommended drinks:
Beers from around the globe. The Blacksmith is an excellent mixed beer drink.
Food:
Irish-American fare.
Monk’s Cove
1104 St. Gregory St., Mt. Adams, 513-703-7600
An island-themed haven in the heart of Mt. Adams.
Stuff to do: Karaoke on thursday nights; Nintendo Wii, Guitar Hero and and foosball whenever.
Recommended drinks: Jello shots and Oreo pudding shots.
Mt. Adams Bar & Grill
938 Hatch St., Mount Adams 513-621-3666
One of the city’s most picturesque taverns with lots of wood grain, class and photos of famous patrons.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. daily.
Recommended drinks:
Specialty margaritas.
Food:
Full dining menu.
Mt. Adams Pavilion
949 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, 513-744-9200
Stunning views, thumping beats and sexy clientele.
Stuff to do:
Drink specials Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Recommended drinks:
The Double Decker: a shot of Stoli Peach Red Bull and cranberry.
Murphy’s Pub
2329 W. Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, 513-721-6148
A kickin’ neighborhood pub with bar games and team sports, frequently offering free pizza, soup and hot dogs.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 2-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon-8 p.m. Saturdays; and noon-7:30 p.m. Sundays.
Recommended drinks:
Shamrock Bombs, Murphy’s exclusive Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Whiskey.
Northside Tavern
4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-542-3603
Northside’s and one of the city’s favorite spots for live Indie Rock. Never a cover.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 5-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Mondays $3.75 margaritas. Tuesdays $2.25 Beer Specials. Live music nightly, no cover.
Recommended drinks:
Excellent beer selection.
Food:
Available from neighboring restaurants including Melt and Northslice Pizzeria.
Oakley Pub & Grill
3924 Isabella Ave., Oakley, 513-531-2500
Top notch food like the Grouper Sandwich and Fish Tacos combined with a streetside patio and friendly atmosphere make the Pub an integral link in the Oakley entertainment district.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 3-6 p.m. weekdays; 40-cent wings and $2 beers Mondays. Trivia Tuesdays. Burger Mania Wednesdays with $2 beers.
Recommended drinks:
61 different beer selections.
Food:
Traditional bar fare.
Quatman Café
2443 Quatman Ave., Norwood, 513-731-4370; second location at 224 West Main St., Mason, 513-229-0222
Party like it’s 1966 at this classic neighborhood bar with a deli on site.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Recommended drinks:
Local beers on tap including Hudy Delight and Christian Moerlein
Food:
Deli food and bar fare.
The Rookwood
Bar & Restaurant
1077 Celestial St., Mount Adams, 513-421-5555
Dine and drink inside the historic Rookwood Pottery kilns. A true piece of local history.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Recommended drinks:
Pre-prohibition era cocktails and modern twists on the classics.
Food:
Full menu.
Sidewinder Coffee
4181 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-542-8321
Northside’s favorite neighborhood coffeehouse.
Stuff to do:
Happy Hour 4-8 p.m. daily.
Recommended drinks:
Hot Buttered Rum, Irish Coffee, Black Forest Mocha and the Sacred Cow Martini.
Food:
Sandwiches.
Sitwell’s Coffee House
324 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7487
An international, eclectic coffeehouse along one of Cincinnati’s favorite entertainment and shopping strips.
Stuff to do:
Live music weekly (call for schedule).
Recommended
drinks
:
Sweet exotics including the Erotica Latte, Milky Way Malt and the Multiple Orgasm.
Food:
Sandwiches. Waffles every Sunday.
Sonny’s All Jazz Lounge
1227 California Ave., Bond Hill, 513-242-4579
Sonny’s is a retro haven for Jazz lovers.
Stuff to do:
Men’s night Tuesdays and ladies night Thursdays with DJ music. Karaoke Wednesdays. DJ music Fridays and Saturdays. Live jazz Sunday. Complimentary bar food during Happy Hour weeknights 5-8 p.m.
Recommended
drinks
:
Long Island Iced Tea and Apple Martini.
Food:
Bar fare.
Sonny’s All Blues Lounge
4040 Reading Road, Paddock Hills, 513-281-0410
One of Cincinnati’s best destinations for live Blues.
Stuff to do:
Karaoke Mondays; ladies night Thursdays. DJ Friday and Saturdays. Live Blues as scheduled.
Recommended
drinks
:
Long Island Iced Tea and Apple Martinis.
Stockyard Café
3112 Spring Grove Ave., Camp Washington, 513-591-2233
This diverse and eclectic neighborhood lounge in the heart of Camp Washington was named for the nearby stockyards.
Stuff to do:
Open mic Tuesdays and live music on weekends.
Recommended
drinks
:
Jager Bombs, The Grass Is Greener and Stockyard Juice.
Food:
Bar fare.
Tap & Go
950 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, 513-381-3584
Cincinnati’s bar for rugby enthusiasts also showcases international soccer.
Stuff to do:
Live music Saturdays; rugby on TV.
Recommended
drinks
:
Local brews Hudy Delight, Christian Moerlein OTR and Helles.
Uncle Woody’s Pub
339 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, 513-751-2518
A college student’s rec room dream.
Stuff to do:
Open mic Wednesdays. Karaoke Thursdays. Happy Hour 5-8 p.m. Fridays. Dance and DJ Saturdays.
Recommended
drinks
:
Spin the Shot Wheel for one of 16 different shots.
This article appears in Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2011.