Alive & Well

09/17/2025 - First time visiting Alive & Well in Cincinnati, OH with one of my closest friends. The decor is contemporary chic. Modern comfortable sitting. Cool and modern U shape bar. I ordered their House Marg and it was on point; referring to the Tequila. There is an outdoor seating area (uncovered). They have some cool artwork. Down to earth crowd. Our bartender was cool. Parking out front that is difficult, but there is nearby street parking for a few. Also difficult. Had to circle a few times to find parking. Enjoy.

Located in a fun area of Cincinnati, this bar has a fantastic vibe. Great indoor space with outdoor seating as well. The drinks were smooth as silk & so yummy. & the truffle popcorn, pimiento cheese spread with crackers, & the seasoned nuts were delish! Respect to the bartenders, especially the blue haired gal. They shake up some yumminess at Alive & Well!!

Kyle is an incredible bartender. He gave great recommendations and went above and beyond for us. This was not our first time at Alive & Well, but easily the best time. We will most certainly be back. Please give Kyle the recognition he deserves.

This beautiful Lounge is delicious on every level. Its the most enjoyable bar in Clifton, and the people who congregate here come for many reasons, often. The prices are unbelievably low, the selection is wide, the service is fabulous; Kyle, Chloe, Lexi, and Jaxson always make my night. I have never left here not satisfied. Its always a delight.

Update: Still a perfect spot to chill in Gaslight Clifton before or after dinner or a movie, especially with nice enough weather to sit outside. $5 happy hour Manhattan was good. I also like their low- and no-proof selections. ----- Initial Review ----- Wow, great new (August 2023) cocktail bar near me in Gaslight Clifton. Def worth a visit. Enjoyed several cocktails. Awesome decor & music. Full bar so they can make whatever, but the stuff on the menu is all good. They are a few low bites like charcuterie. Service was excellent. Tuesdays are vinyl / turntable nights, so very cool, but their playlist is good regardless. The best drink included a scoop of Graeter's sorbet. The Gin Fizz was a close second. Ok, so was the Espresso martini. Everything was great actually.

Amazing bar with a really cool vibe. It almost feels like you are in a bar downtown. My friends and I ordered a few drinks and every cocktail on their menu was so good. The music is also not very loud so you won't have trouble hearing your friends. They have a nice outdoor area too.

Wow! I had a great experience at Alive and Well! The bartender Jackson was outstanding! He provided great service, was knowledgeable and crafted a great drink! I’ll be coming back!

Fantastic bar in the Clifton/Ludlow Avenue area. The atmosphere immerses you in a classy and dark academia like ambiance. Perfect place to unwind after a long and stressful week. The bartenders were absolutely splendid and the drinks were perfectly concocted. Best addition to the area!

Love having this place in the neighborhood. Clifton needed this and it is a nice complement for the Esquire, CCAC, and Kiki's. They also make a delicious Old Fashion and have a nice Gin menu. The vibe is upscale hip and the interior is very cozy and welcoming.

Per usual I tend to stumble upon places being the neighborhood and alive & well is no exception! What first drew me to this spot the dope neon Skelton hand sign, the lack of brand naming on the outside is actually very satisfying. The lady and myself ended up sliding in for a quick brew. Not a big selection of beer as this is a cocktail bar, but you can expect a couple ipas and mid to light lagers. On our second visit after a night out, I decide to try a cocktail (that doesn't appear to be in the menu any more) that was a tequila base, strong and delicious. The Bartenders have always been enjoyable, on point and have great service . New favorite spot to pull up to for sure!

Nice neighborhood bar - perfect for after-work meet ups. There's plenty of bar seating but also a table area for medium-sized groups. Their signature drinks were great and worth returning for.

Very cool hangout place in Ludlow, can confirm that you can safely hide from drunk UC college kids here, mostly fun and interesting adults. The vibe is very chic, Speakeasy like. Love the morbid, skeleton decor. Their vinyl collection is supreme and the charcuterie board is a banger. The whiskey cocktail with the smoky cinnamon bark was yummy and the service is fast with hardworking bartenders. Will be visiting them soon on vinyl night.

Came for a private event so I didn't get the full experience, but I will definitely be coming back to check this out during normal business hours. The space was cozy and clean, and they offer a snack menu as well as several n/a options. Will return!

Too noisy! Went to a Christmas party that rented a part of the bar. Too crowded and couldn't reach all the food service was good. They have a few comfortable chairs and couches. Good size wine pours.

Yes, me likey! I love the coziness of this spot. Been dying to come in and finally had the opportunity. The service was good, the artist behind the bar were talented. I had seasonal margarita which was apple cider base and it was amazing. Second round I tried a traditional margarita. It was very tasty as well. I love fresh ingredient drinks. I can't remember the name of tthe drink my friend had but she loved it and had a second round as well. They offer outside seating too with firepit!

Visited on a Saturday night around 9:30 PM and it was pretty crowded. There was a mix of patrons - some folks who looked younger and college age, but also an older crowd. Overall the place at this time was very calm/chill. The place itself is very nice and you can tell they spent time in making the aesthetic flow. Also great they have big outdoor street seating area. The bar is stocked with everything! It seemed like they had every liquor, wine, aperitif, etc. that you could ever want. I opted for a classic martini, while my partner had the seasonal margarita which was apple-spice. Drinks were $10/$11 so not too expensive. Only downfall here is parking, as it took us a long time to find a spot nearby to be able to walk over to bar.

A craft cocktail lounge with vibes to die before, but you'll be alive and well to enjoy them. It's almost like a speak easy with the dim lighting, but the decor has hints of spooky skeleton vibes with glam elegance. They have classics but also rotating specials that are each handmade in front of you. They were incredibly delicious. And they're cheaper than my hometown and reasonably priced which was awesome. I personally didn't interact with the 2 bartenders, but my boyfriend ordered and got them in a reasonable time. Craft cocktails take time so there is some wait time to be expected and totally worth it.

Looking for the grown & sexy crowd in the middle of a college town? This...is......it! I looooved this place! Experienced bartenders, Kyle gave awesome customer service but also made a killer dirty martini. Lots of fresh ingredients in jars all over the bar, love me a fresh cocktail. How has this place been hiding from me all these months? I can't wait to go back...seriously. Seems like they have lots of regulars as well. If you park a few blocks away from Ludlow, you will find free parking in the residential area. Definitely in my top 5 for sure. Their sister bar is Hannaford in Covington.

Cool location in the Ludlow area of Clifton . A cocktail bar with an upscale feel nestled in the Ludlow neighborhood. Minutes from UC. Street parking. Drinks are standard price but well made. Good vibe just to chill out here.

I love, love, love this cozy little spot! The bartenders there are so nice and friendly, they give great drink recommendations, and they make GREAT DRINKS!! The ambiance there is so dope and artsy. The happy hour is amazing as well with their $5 old fashioned. It's a great place to meet up with a friend or two and just catch up. Even the music selection is always good, a little something being played for everyone!

Light bites but amazingly creative cocktails. Personable but not pushy bartenders. Cool and funky decor, vinyl music, lively ambiance.

Met up with a couple coworkers after work for happy hour... LOVED IT! The drink I got was so good. It has a very nice mystery library vibe inside. The bartender was amazing. I will definitely be returning with more friends!

One of my favorite bars in the area! I loved the dim lighting and comfortable seating. They had plenty of space and the service was great! We got the charcuterie board which was cheap/pretty tasty. Definitely recommend for a chill night out.

Tucked away in the charm of Ludlow, Alive & Well is a great spot to grab a cocktail, hang out and enjoy some good vibes.

This bar was extremely elegant and cozy. The service was outstanding and the bartender even made me her best recommendation! A must visit especially if you're catching a film at the Esquire!

Coolest bar in Clifton and though I've only been once, I think this may be one of my favorites in the whole city. The location, tucked away off Ludlow, is quaint and cozy. There are many different types of seating - comfy at the large bar; cozy in the sofa grouping; at the classic tables inside or out; and the seats around the fire pit you may get lucky enough to snag! The decor is hip and classy. Perhaps they'll add some heaters to extend the outside seating even away from the warmth of the fire. Oh! Also, the drinks were substantially poured and the drink menu is interestingly as creative as I've ever seen. I'd come back just to take an adventure into that menu! Well done. The reason I didn't go 5 stars is that the parking is on street in that area that's tough to deal with. Not the bar's fault!

If you're into dimly-lit drinkeries hidden down side streets in the city, you've gotta check this place out. Located in the gaslight district of Clifton, this place provides a welcome reprieve from crowded, loud bars. An extensive vinyl collection is flanked by Marshall amps around the space, lending a retro vibe that blends nicely with the dark wood and dark art adorning the walls. The cocktails were masterfully crafted by excellent bar staff who were inviting, friendly, and accommodating. Prices for the specialty cocktails were more than reasonable, and the presentation was exceptional. If you enjoy effervescent tequila cocktails, try the Thunderbird. The watermelon garnish is an excellent and unexpected touch. Nicely done. If you're seeking a downtown-level cocktail bar in Cincinnati without the downtown hassle, Alive and Well should be on your list to visit.

The drinks are very tasty but the men working there that I've interacted with have made me feel like an inconvenience. They are kind of condescending and act as if you are their last priority. Otherwise the atmosphere is very nice and it's a great place to hang out with friends. Just don't take the bartender's attitude to heart.

I was so happy to see a new spot pop up off of Ludlow! The bar staff was so friendly, and our drinks were great! There is a lot of seating both indoor and outdoor. Great spot if you're wanting a more chill vibe- also great for a date night. We'll definitely be back!

Great vibe! It's so nice to have a local cocktail lounge in the neighborhood that wasn't absolutely packed on a Friday night. Drinks were lovely and the bartenders were kind.

Excellent ambience, great cocktails, and kind and friendly bartenders. Helped me out when a creepy guy wouldn't leave me alone! Shoutout Hannah!