Low Spark

Update 2: They have great house cocktails and mocktails. Always good music playing. Update 1: They carry a few N-A beers, which is good for when I'm out but not drinking. ----- Initial Review ----- Friendly and fun - just like the best neighborhood bars, but it's also cozy, and classy. Good music. Nice aquarium. A dozen drafts plus a solid cocktail, beer and wine selection. Great bartenders and fast service. Happy hour and daily specials are the best. Ideally located for drinks before or after dining at the best restaurants in OTR. Outdoor seating available in warmer months.

This was a pleasant surprise!! We stopped on a whim. Very nice atmosphere. The drinks were good. The bartender was very efficient and thorough. He kept a very clean bar and bar area! We met some very nice people here.

A refreshingly unpretentious cocktail bar. Very friendly with mid-century vibes. It also has a nice selection of tap beers. Overall, a cool and comfortable place to hang out.

I've always loved going into Low Spark during my 5 years in Cincinnati! The vibes are very chill and the staff has always been friendly. By far my favorite bar downtown.

Feels like our local in the UK, nice atmosphere, really friendly people and great to chat with them. Played bingo for a tee shirts and shots great fun. Didn't have any food just great beer and bloody marys.

Lower lighting but still an amazing atmosphere. Also still a bit of a hidden gem in OTR. I have been going here for years and have never had an issue getting a set. If you are waiting for a seat at a close restaurant I highly recommend checking out Low Spark for a quick drink.

What a cool cocktail bar! The craft cocktail menu was intriguing with lots of great options, and the staff was very attentive

A mainstay in OTR for over 5 years, Low Spark has stood the test of time for being a low-key spot with a simple list of excellent cocktails and a solid group of beers on tap. The fish tank and low lighting make it an amazing date night spot with reasonable prices. Always find myself coming back.

Very cool atmosphere and vibe. Bartenders are very good and the drinks menu is very inventive. Love the location.

Great music! I ordered the pencil cocktail and it was crafted well. SO ordered Stagg Jr at a reasonable price.

Flew in from LA arriving late Thursday 1am. Looking for somewhere open in OTR. Found Low Spark about 5 mins from our air bnb. It was pretty quiet at that hour, but our bartender welcomed us warmly and made a fantastic Old Fashioned to warm us up. She was super friendly and gave us all the good places to visit on our little vacay. I love the ambiance here and we visited a couple more times and the cocktails were always amazing. Next time we visit beautiful Cincy we will definitely drop in to Low Spark.

Low spark = low stars Wow. Surprisingly bad service for such a slow night. It's Friday and I'm outside at the covered seating and my server completely neglected to serve me, nor did she bother to let me know that if you want a drink you have to order inside. She was kind enough to tell me...as she clocked out an left for the night. I'm literally the only outside table, the place is only 1/2 full inside, and I've been ignored for more than 20 minutes. For such an overpriced cocktail and lacking service...just go elsewhere.

This was a good bar!!! The drinks were delicious and the service was friendly. Smaller than it looks from the outside. I will definitely be back! Super chill.

Low Spark is a cool, modern bar with an upscale feel in the OTR of Cincinnati. My partner and I stopped by this weekend while walking around and were treated to a great selection of beers and full bar. The bartenders were friendly, helpful and great to make sure that we had everything that we needed. The fish tank at the center of the bar makes for a cool vibe and we thoroughly enjoyed our short stop by the Low Spark.

Went on a Saturday night with friends and loved it! It wasn't too busy when we arrived so service was really quick, and the bartenders were easy to converse with too. The drinks were really good, we got the Burr-Lima (seasonal) and the sandstorm and loved it. The ambiance was super cozy and intimate, it was great for catching up with friends

Our server was fantastic, she made really good cocktails and was a pleasure do deal with. Each cocktail we got was presented quick, looked and tasted great. We had a group that came here after dinner and had planned on skipping around town, but everything was so good we stayed out for the night.

Absolutely perfect afternoon spot for cocktails in the afternoon. We stopped in after doing an underground OTR tour. Loved the vibe here and we were well tended. Had several specialty cocktails. Stop in. It's a great spot for afternoon drinks and some people watching too.

This was a great little spot to take in the local flavor before a Cincinnati soccer game. Great drink options and a little behind the bar. The young lady entertained us with some volume calculations of the aquarium. She's did t seem to think we were odd at all. We're definitely odd. Then, somehow she was able to arrange for an Orlando City Soccer Club win over Cincy. How accommodating.

We went after dinner and were looking for a spot for a chill drink in OTR within walking distance. Low Spark was the winner! The fish tank in the middle made for ambient lighting (albeit the only light in the bar), but this spot would be perfect for date nights or the beginning of a night around OTR. Very calm vibes, appropriately priced cocktails -- definitely a cocktail bar ($8-12 for a nice drink), and within walking distance to other bars in the area.

Great ambiance and perfect spot to meet a friend or two (not a big group, the bar or too small) or a date. Prices are very reasonable and they have great cocktails!

I love this place. Great atmosphere and great cocktails. The staff was so friendly. Even though we had a member of our group that couldn't walk. Ha

Low Spark is cozy little bar. Sophisticated and quaint. Honestly there isnt a lot to make this bar stand out. I think a lot of folks stop by while they wait for dinner reservations at neighboring restaurants. Now Im absolutely not knocking them for that. We got exactly what we needed, enjoyed tasty drinks, had a place to sit and enjoyed a pre-dinner date time. While I wouldn't be like lets go out to Low Spark for drinks they definitely met the need and did it with friendly quick service. Shout out to Low Spark. Stop by if you are waiting on reservations and support local!

Visited with a friend while we were visiting town and we sampled the seasonal and signature cocktails. Everything was fantastic and the ambiance of the bar was very relaxing.

Stopped by at noon on a Sunday and Codi was amazing. Opened all the windows and doors and welcomed us with a smile!

i can't tell you why but i love this place. The vibes, the staff, the bar is just awesome. Very 70's. Drinks can be interesting to standard.

It was Sunday afternoon, so it was empty-ish which i am not complaining about because its always nice to seat whatever you want and not feel rushed. The bartender was very welcoming and friendly, he promptly greeted us and offered water while we gazed at the menu. My mum ordered the Violet Beauregarde, and I ordered the Rye Summer, both were perfect! Not only did they look pretty but tasted incredibly good. The Violet was strong but sweet you could really taste the rosemary in it, on the other hand the Rye summer was very strong and had a woody flavor just how i like it. Furthermore, the place itself wasn't super vibrant but it was neat and tidy, the fish tank in the center is i guess the main attraction and it could be prettier but the service and drinks make up for that. I wil for sure go back and i recommend you don't miss out on this bar.

It was okay. People that were working weren't great at making drinks. Would be impossible to come with a group of friends a group of 2 max. Drinks were fair and just as expensive as other great bars in downtown Cincinnati.

Met up with some friends here before a soccer game and was expecting insane crowds and maybe grabbing a drink if I was lucky. Instead, was met with a vibing spot with plenty of options, minimal wait, excellent service, and quiet enough atmosphere to still have a conversation while being lively enough to get pumped for the upcoming game. May be the new go to spot for any event at TQL stadium. Cheers!

Great atmosphere, great bartender, great drinks! We popped in to Low Spark after dinner at Zula and it was a great little spot!

Is there a more aptly named bar in Over-the-Rhine? This diffusely lit cocktail lounge resides inconspicuously within the heart of this city's hottest neighborhood. Without an open door and a fluorescing salt water aquarium to lure your gaze, you'd likely pass by without a thought or glance. Low Spark is a calming oasis in a sea of jam-packed, elbow-to-elbow pubs and bars. Don't get me wrong, this place is still a bit quaint and can get bustling, even loud at times; but something about Low Spark allows you to maintain an inner calm and a flare of romance. Great for a drink or two, a little pricey for drinking the night away.

I would call this a super chill and hip local neighborhood bar. You walk in and you have square geometric lay-out shaped bar, it is a bit small (I wish it was a little bigger) but super intimate. Drinks are nice and high quality. The aquarium in the center is actually pretty dope! What I really liked is that you can easily have conversations with the locals, catch up throughout the week and make some NEW friends as well who are from the area.

I enjoyed my visit to Low Spark. It's an intimate space with limited seating, but that's kind of my jam. I met a friend here for drink before a show during the week around 5pm. There were few patrons and one bartender. She was knowledgable and made me a very tasty cocktail. I ordered the brawny, a cocktail made with bourbon, amaro, cinnamon, lemon and aromatic bitters. Sweet and earthy, yum!

Terrible service. The female bartender is honestly the rudest and nastiest bartender I've ever met in my life. Aren't bartender supposed to be friendly and inviting? Management should definitely know their employee is being so nasty to guests. Not a good look at all. Next time she wants to be so mean to a customer, she should probably be aware of who it is and who they themselves know. What a shame.

This is a nice quiet low key bar nestled between the major areas of OTR in a corner space. Our bartender was really cool and knowledgeable. They have a great weekday happy hour and some unique and tasty cocktails along with great craft beers, especially on tap. There is comfy bar seating or several tables along the edges of the small space. Good spot to grab a few drinks before or after dinner with a few friends. Not really large group friendly. Love the salt water tank that is the focal point of the bar.

Small spot in OTR with good craft cocktails. Was a perfect happy hour spot for our group of young professionals.

Delicious drinks and cute fish! The chairs are comfy and the music is really good as well

Stopped in on impulse while walking past. The space is a little small but it's got a cool vibe. Loved the aquarium! Made it really nice to sit there and peacefully watch the fish while hanging out on my own. The cocktail list was unique and interesting and the drinks were good. Service was standard - not exceptional but not bad. It was fairly early when I popped in but gearing up for the Friday evening rush. I'd go back, but with so much other competition from bars out there in the area, the small size may work against it and it didn't really stand out as extra special in any way either.

Apparently they don't let your drinks. "Christian" told me to leave a review. Worst customer service in OTR.

One of my favorite bars in OTR. I've actually only been here in the afternoon/early evening, so I can't speak to what it's like at night. Great Sunday drink specials ($3.50 liquor drinks with anything from the soda gun). Love the Bubbles cocktail ($10, but worth it in my opinion). The salt water fish tank in the center of the bar is really cool - so is the rest of the bar's decor. I definitely recommend coming here for a good cocktail or beer.

Love this spot, great cocktails, great place to sit, cool people. People go out so others are nice to them. It's that simple. They do it well. Thanks for being cool.

Great, low key bar located a street off the Main Street. Loved the vibe of the aquarium, wood bar and comfy orange bar stools. Trouble is that the aquarium is pretty much the only light to read the menu in after the sun goes down, which was difficult for the entire group. Telephone flashlights were brought out. Ordered the Gary, The Snail - a tequila cocktail which was my favorite beverage for my week long visit to Cincinatti. Very well balanced with flavors and with big 'ole ice cube, pretty classy looking. Bartender was attentive and gave us a tip about other places to visit in the OTR district.

I've been to Low Spark a couple times and have yet to fall in love with it. I feel like it's a good option if you're in OTR and all of the other bars are too busy, or you have a large group, but it's not my first choice. The decor is nice. I like the lounge vibe with the fish tank in the middle of the bar. Normally not as crowded as other places in OTR. If you're getting a beer, you're fine, but their cocktails are inconsistent. I was here on Saturday night, and I ordered the Harvey Wallbanger cocktail ($10) to start. It was awful. It was completely imbalanced...There was way too much bitters and almost all of the lemon vodka was floating on top, almost as if it wasn't mixed. I still drank it because I paid $10 for it, but I made a *disgusted* face the entire time. My friend ordered the same drink from a different bartender and his was much better (still not great, but at least it was stirred). I think they need to work on their training of their staff. There are better options in OTR for cocktails.

Low Spark is my favorite "wait for my table to be ready" bar in OTR. Anyone who has every tried to eat in OTR on a Friday or Saturday night knows the 30-45 minute wait struggle, and then what do you do when the bar at that restaurant is full?! The answer is walk down to Low Spark conveniently located right by many of my favorite restaurants. It's layout, which is one single bar wrapped around a giant fish tank gives every couple or small group just the right amount of privacy, maintaining a casual yet moody atmosphere. Although their excellent bartenders could probably handle a crowd, this wouldn't be my top choice if I had a large party. Drinks here are top notch, be sure to try one of their handcrafted cocktails. I have been getting the old fashioned here just for the baseball sized ice cube sphere they put in the drink.

Came here for drinks with friends and it was a grand experience. The ambiance is very chic and relaxed. The bar is a large open rectangle-bar island in the middle with smaller tables along the sides. I had a glass of the malbec and it was delish. The man had a grasshopper and it was also a tasty treat. We came on a quiet Wednesday night, and the service was cordial and to the point. A "what will you have" and some answers to a few questions, and then our drinks were presented quickly. Like I said, the ambiance is nice, the service is good, and the cocktails are tasty. I'll definitely return.

Low Spark = Low Service. If this were my neighborhood bar, I'd dig it, but it's not. It's another trendy bar in a neighborhood packed with other bars, and the service was just bad enough that I don't imagine I'll head back. I asked a question about a beer offering I wasn't familiar with. It was Alpine brewing, recently acquired by Green Flash and newly distributed in the area. The reply I got was "I have no idea dude", with a little attitude that I was an idiot for asking the bartender about the beers they offer. Heads up - OTR is filled with knowledgeable bartenders. When I went to order my second beer, the bartender told me he'd be right with me. He then proceeded to wander off, refilling the snack bowls on the bar. Not sure that would be my priority, but whatever. When I caught the other bartender's attention a few minutes later, I ordered another beer. To my surprise, happy hour had ended 1 minute before, so my beer was $2 more than the last one. I made a comment about trying to order a beer earlier, and the reply was "Nothin' we can do. Computer says so." It's not the computer, it's the attitude that make this place not worth going back to. If that is how you are going to treat your customers when you've only been open a month, I'll take my business somewhere with knowledgeable, friendly staff. It's not that hard. The only reason this didn't get one star was the prices at happy hour seemed pretty good for the neighborhood.

Low Spark - how cool and unexpected are you?! I am totally digging the vibe at Low Spark, and my advice is don't compare this place to any other bar in OTR because that is just not fair. Go in with an open mind and take it for what it is. We stopped in for happy hour on Halloween night. Happy Hour includes: $2 off drafts $2 off wells $1 off wine $3 Budweisers in throwback mug all day, evr'y day. This is one of the cheapest places to snag a drink with wines ranging from 7-10 a glass and cocktails starting at $10. I can't remember the last time I saw a glass of wine for only $7 somewhere. And during HH the bf got some really nice local brews for only $4 bucks! The space is a chunky rectangle but I kind of like it because you can see all the action from anywhere you sit. Also a giant fish tank frames the inside of the bar and it's kinda neat to look at. The space at night transforms and the color scheme of the purples, reds, and oranges really sing. Check out my picture below. I got a grapefruit, champagne and Boston bitters cocktail and it was one of the better ones I've had. Well made and very balanced. All fresh ingredients here. I also scored a prosecco split for only $8 bucks helllllo, yes please! My only qualms with this place is the service. When a customer comes in and sits down at the bar, it's nice to be greeted with a smile, and a rundown of the menu (especially when you are a brand new business!) What we got was a cold, what-do-you-want kinda deal. When we asked the bartender some questions about the menu she seemed seriously annoyed that we were bothering her. Maybe she was just having a bad day, but I feel like that first impression really sets the tone of the experience. Overall, a funky new spot that I definitely encourage you to check out and put on your happy hour radar!

Love this place! Low Spark gives off a cool 70's vibe and is a comfortable place to grab a drink. Their cocktails are inventive, great bourbon selection, and diverse selection of craft beer. The staff at Low Spark are friendly and able to answer any questions I have. I once asked for a bourbon list and they did not have one, but then the bartender listed all of them for me from memory. It was great! My favorite cocktail is the Rye Summer. Now the best parts of Low Spark: they have an octopus AND they are pet-friendly! My cat Arlene and dog Eliza both love Low Spark. One time we were there on a Sunday afternoon and the bartender even gave Arlene a water with an umbrella in it (see the pics). She appreciated that thoughtfulness and attention to detail. The octopus (I think her name is Shelia) can be difficult to spot at times but when you do it's very exciting! She is striped and oh so interesting to watch. I loved that they explained to me how she is cared for and it sounds like she has a pretty good gig going there. Living the good life! One time a fire truck pulled up and a bunch of firefighters came in. We were afraid something was wrong but they simply said, "We heard there's an octopus, we're here to see it." It made my day. This is definitely one of my new favorite spots in OTR!

Top notch cocktail bar. Perfect spot to hit before, or after dinner (or skip it all together and drink your dinner). Malea and crew are the best bartenders in the city.

I was a little hesitant to try this placed due to the mixed reviews, but ventured out and wasn't disappointed. The cocktails were good (we had the Baya and Tropic Thunder) and came fast (of course we were the only people in the bar). We also had shots on the Sunday special and they were chilled to perfection. The bartender was friendly and gave us some of the special pretzel mix that other Yelpers raved about (which is locally made and really good). Sadly, the octopus has passed on to that great big ocean in the sky, but they've replaced her with really cool fish so the ambiance is the same. Overall, this place is good, cocktails were a little pricey which is why this didn't get 5 stars and I would have loved a small bites option, but still good all the same.

I felt like I was in a bit of a time warp while I was in Low Spark. The padded walls, the long mirror on the left, and the awesome aquarium in the middle of the bar which is home to a real life octopus. It has a classy feel to it. They had Motown on the Pandora which was great and meshed well with the vibe of the place. The space is very small. The max capacity sign stated 46 customers at a time. I'm not so sure that many people could fit in there at once. The bartenders were great, the cocktails were good, and the beer selection was pretty decent. The cocktails weren't as good as Sundry or Japp's for that matter so I was a bit shocked to see $12.00 for a pretty basic Rye Manhattan that wasn't anything special. I guess that is the direction the neighborhood is going in. All-in-all I like Low Spark. It was very chill and laid back, although it was a Monday night, so I'm sure that tiny space gets packed Thursday-Saturday. It will probably make its way into my rotation of places in my neighborhood to hangout at.

A nice change of pace for OTR. The space, the decor, the music. It's all different, yet still all fits in the neighborhood. We were there on Halloween, a few days after they opened so it wasn't crowded at all. The first thing we noticed was the 70's playlist playing in the background. Nice touch. They tout themselves as a throwback to the 70's kind of place and I think they nailed it. Mirrors on the walls, yellow/orange old school bar stools, a fish tank in the middle of the bar. It's definitely giving off a 70's vibe - but not tacky. The drinks were fairly priced. There were a bunch of wines under $10 which you won't find many places in OTR. I also really liked how their beer menu was laid out. They had them separated by the characteristics that each one entailed. For example, there was a 'Dark and Roasted', category, a 'Fruity & Spicy' category, etc., each with a few beers. This makes it easy to find what you're in the mood for. They don't have food, but you are greeted with some pretzels and nuts - very old school etiquette. If you're a Budweiser lover you'll enjoy this bar. They serve up the Buds ($3 all day, every day) in a throwback Budweiser mug. A small but unique touch. The cocktails coming out looked high quality. That is to say there were no pre-made syrups and flavorings being used. Everything was crafted with love (and flames sometimes). They also have a great Happy Hour so I'd recommend going in for that if you can. Overall, Low Spark is a great in-between spot bar option that is a little off of the main drag. It will surely be a great stop if you are waiting for a table at Salazar. Cool vibe, good drinks. What else do you need?

Nice drink menu - could do without egg whites in my cocktails (seems to be the new trend for OTR and not just these guys). Appreciate the large bar with a few small tables for seating. Glad to see they no longer have an Octopus on display. Friendly bartenders and a relaxed crowd for Friday happy hour. Slightly off the path of the main drag of OTR but worth a couple extra steps for some creative cocktails and just the right amount of crowded bar.

Bad server, no menus supplied, was aggressively pointed to QR codes on the table. I'm sure covid has gotten to this place but.. the dialogue has to get better. Don't shout QR at me if you want me to come back. Oh also.. they were out of the cocktail I decided on. Another unfortunate reality of covid I'm sure, but maybe I wouldn't have been upset if the initial interaction wasn't so brazen.

Great bar nestled on the east side of washington park, my cocktail, "Gary the Snail" was everything I expected and i'm a better person because of it :)

This is an excellent bar! It's in a great location, and has a perfect atmosphere. That bartender tonight was amazing! (Beautiful, too!) I'll be here every time I find myself in Cincinnati.

Excellent service from Aaron! Extremely knowledgeable about spirits, and very friendly. Our cocktails were masterfully put together! Love it!

If you're looking for a little low-key bar in OTR look no further than Low Spark at the corner of Clay and 14th St. Nice quiet and unassuming walk right in and grab a drink. A friend and I stopped in after catching a bite nearby. She enjoyed one of their special cocktails and I had a beer on draft good quick service too.