Nathan M.
Yelp
Built in 1861, this is the oldest bar in Cincinnati. My wife and I love to go to Arnold's when we are downtown because of four Arnolds-only experiences: elevated food + outdoor arboretum seating + live music + cool vibe and styling of an old local pub. We often go here before a Reds Game, FCC soccer game, or before seeing a show at the Arnoff.
We always like the food. The menu is always changing, but whatever they create is always a unique take on a dish and very good. On this night I had a harvest salad with Salmon. It had beets, oranges, roasted spiced walnuts, goat cheese and more. It was simply outstanding. My wife had the fried green tomato BLT sandwich which had pimento cheese spread, bacon, and of course fried green tomatoes. Arnolds also offers an array of in-house conceived cocktails, local craft beer and a strong bourbon list.
The outdoor arboretum, or courtyard, seating area is special. It is basically a hidden-from-the-street area surrounded by brick walls but completely open on top to the sky, like you would find in an Italian Villa. The ground is not even so your table will probably rock a little and not be level. There were a couple of leveling wedges under mine that let me make it rock solid. It's kind of a euro-cafe vibe in this way. The courtyard also has a full awning to protect during rainy or cold weather and a steam radiant heater for winter, making this one of the best equipped outdoor 365 areas I've experienced. The table spacing is densely packed so more people can enjoy the area. This adds to the vibrance of the experience for me.
The hours are more limited as we've come out of Covid, so I recommend looking at their latest before you go. Also with the increased downtown population connected to the new Condo developments, Arnold's can get quite busy so a reservation, although not always required, will ensure you can get your seat when you arrive.