Best Bars in Cincinnati

Four stories underground in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel, Ghost Baby pairs imaginative cocktails with intimate live sets. Recognized by USA Today’s Bars of the Year and previously by Esquire, it’s a transporting OTR experience with Cincinnati swagger.

Part garden campus, part cocktail playground, Somerset channels global-travel vibes with thoughtful drinks and seasonal food vendors. A frequent pick by local editors, it’s a singular outdoor-into-indoor hangout that feels both adventurous and unmistakably Cincinnati.

Open since 1861, Arnold’s is the city’s oldest tavern and a fixture of downtown culture. Lauded by Esquire and Thrillist, it blends a storied courtyard stage, local camaraderie, and classic drinks in a way that feels quintessentially Cincinnati.

Mt. Adams’ legendary hideaway delivers fireplace glow, Tiffany lamp ambiance, and live music most nights. Celebrated by local critics for decades, its craft cocktails and romantic courtyard make it a timeless Cincinnati rite of passage.

This intimate OTR bar keeps the neighborhood feel alive with precise cocktails, amaro love, and its rum-focused Other Room. Cited by USA Today among standout bars, it’s where great drinks meet easygoing hospitality.

An apothecary-styled cocktail bar that helped put OTR’s craft scene on the map. Frequently praised by local publications, it balances classic technique and playful signatures in a warmly cinematic room that feels tailor-made for conversation.

A colorful, art-forward bar born from creative parties, now known for inventive cocktails and a lively patio. Featured by Esquire’s travel series and Cincinnati Magazine, it captures the city’s DIY energy in drinkable form.

Rock-and-roll bar meets gastropub—with smoked wings, strong cocktails, and late-night neighborhood parties. A perennial CityBeat readers’ favorite, NSYC embodies Northside’s inclusive, music-loving spirit without losing the craft behind the bar.

Northside’s late-night mainstay pairs a deep beer list and strong pours with live music and famed burritos. CityBeat’s Burritofest underscores its role as a grassroots arts hub as much as an essential neighborhood bar.

A Pleasant Ridge original inspired by The Shining, this lodge-like spot builds clever themed cocktails, trivia nights, and weekend music into a warmly theatrical scene celebrated by local media and national roundups.

A compact OTR bar built around a glowing aquarium, Low Spark leans into neighborhood hangout status with solid classics, seasonal specials, and bourbon nights. Regularly highlighted by local guides, it’s a reliable pre- or post-dinner stop.