Cincinnati's 10 Best Bars and Clubs for Every Vibe

CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati for more than two decades, highlighting the city’s most outstanding selections in Eats, Shops & Services, Music & Nightlife and more. And the responsibility of selecting these exceptional entities is divided between our readers and staff. This year, more than 900,000 votes were tallied to determine our Reader Picks — and readers logged on to the ballot site to vote for their favorites in a slew of categories, including Best Overall Bar/Club. Cincinnati likes to drink. With bars/clubs/breweries popping up on every block, the options for grabbing a cold one are (almost) endless. There's something for everyone in this city; whether you like to sip your cocktail while rocking out to live jams, you're a gamer who prefers a Popsicle with his/her vodka or maybe you're in the mood to groove, we're confident a place exists to tickle your fancy. And were here to help you find that place. Your friends and neighbors voted on their favorite go-to local bar/club. We put those bars together in a pretty little list with pictures. If your favorite didn't make the top 10 this time, make sure to vote for them in next year's Best of Cincinnati ballot.
Scroll down to view images
Page 1 of 2
1. 16-Bit + Arcade
1331 Walnut St., OTR
16-Bit Bar + Arcade has more than 50 free arcade games and a tasty selection of celeb-inspired cocktails for you to slurp down as you relive your childhood nerdy nostalgia sans the quarters. Pictured is the Hulk Hogan cocktail.
Photo: Patty Salas

1. 16-Bit + Arcade

1331 Walnut St., OTR
16-Bit Bar + Arcade has more than 50 free arcade games and a tasty selection of celeb-inspired cocktails for you to slurp down as you relive your childhood nerdy nostalgia sans the quarters. Pictured is the Hulk Hogan cocktail.
Photo: Patty Salas
1 of 23
1. 16-Bit Bar + Arcade
1331 Walnut St., OTR
The bar at 16-Bit Bar + Arcade; grab a drink then play.
Photo: Patty Salas

1. 16-Bit Bar + Arcade

1331 Walnut St., OTR
The bar at 16-Bit Bar + Arcade; grab a drink then play.
Photo: Patty Salas
2 of 23
1. 16-Bit + Arcade
1331 Walnut St., OTR
Reach pinball wizard status with 16-Bit Bar + Arcade’s collection.
Photo: Patty Salas

1. 16-Bit + Arcade

1331 Walnut St., OTR
Reach pinball wizard status with 16-Bit Bar + Arcade’s collection.
Photo: Patty Salas
3 of 23
2. Queen City Exchange
32 W. Court St., Downtown
Queen City Exchange is Cincinnati's first and only stock exchange-themed bar, featuring beers with prices that rise and fall depending on demand.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

2. Queen City Exchange

32 W. Court St., Downtown
Queen City Exchange is Cincinnati's first and only stock exchange-themed bar, featuring beers with prices that rise and fall depending on demand.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
4 of 23
2. Queen City Exchange
32 W. Court St., Downtown
Queen City Exchange has 40-something beers on tap. 
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

2. Queen City Exchange

32 W. Court St., Downtown
Queen City Exchange has 40-something beers on tap.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
5 of 23
3. Arnold’s Bar and grill
210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
A friendly, diverse and historic gin joint, Arnold's Bar and Grill is the city's oldest bar — in operation since the 1830s.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

3. Arnold’s Bar and grill

210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
A friendly, diverse and historic gin joint, Arnold's Bar and Grill is the city's oldest bar — in operation since the 1830s.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
6 of 23
3. Arnold’s Bar and grill
210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
The cheap (strong) drinks and almost daily live music — Bluegrass and Americana to Jazz — complement Arnold’s awesome interior courtyard, which used to be a stable and carriage house.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

3. Arnold’s Bar and grill

210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
The cheap (strong) drinks and almost daily live music — Bluegrass and Americana to Jazz — complement Arnold’s awesome interior courtyard, which used to be a stable and carriage house.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
7 of 23
3. Arnold’s Bar and grill
210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
They claim to have one of the best bourbon lists in Cincinnati, with nearly 40 options on the menu.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

3. Arnold’s Bar and grill

210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
They claim to have one of the best bourbon lists in Cincinnati, with nearly 40 options on the menu.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
8 of 23
4. Queen City Radio
222 W. 12th St., OTR 
Head to the beer garden at Queen City Radio for a local pint, boozy slushies, wine and cocktails.
Photo: Patty Salas

4. Queen City Radio

222 W. 12th St., OTR
Head to the beer garden at Queen City Radio for a local pint, boozy slushies, wine and cocktails.
Photo: Patty Salas
9 of 23
4. Queen City Radio
222 W. 12th St., OTR 
The former auto body shop turned gigantic, multi-level OTR hang features 14 rotating taps of local regional and national beer, canned and bottled brews, a small cocktail program and adult-themed treats including alcohol-infused Popsicles.
Photo: Philip Heidenreich

4. Queen City Radio

222 W. 12th St., OTR
The former auto body shop turned gigantic, multi-level OTR hang features 14 rotating taps of local regional and national beer, canned and bottled brews, a small cocktail program and adult-themed treats including alcohol-infused Popsicles.
Photo: Philip Heidenreich
10 of 23
4. Queen City Radio
222 W. 12th St., OTR 
Garage doors create indoor/outdoor space, weather permitting, and the patio boasts not only a ton of seating, but the on-site Queen City Whip food truck (which serves burgers, shakes, and chili fries) and a new outdoor bar in a converted Airstream trailer.
Photo: Patty Salas

4. Queen City Radio

222 W. 12th St., OTR
Garage doors create indoor/outdoor space, weather permitting, and the patio boasts not only a ton of seating, but the on-site Queen City Whip food truck (which serves burgers, shakes, and chili fries) and a new outdoor bar in a converted Airstream trailer.
Photo: Patty Salas
11 of 23
5. Below Zero Lounge
1120 Walnut St., OTR
LGBTQ+ nightclub Below Zero Lounge is nestled snuggly between the nightlife action on Vine and Main streets in OTR.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

5. Below Zero Lounge

1120 Walnut St., OTR
LGBTQ+ nightclub Below Zero Lounge is nestled snuggly between the nightlife action on Vine and Main streets in OTR.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
12 of 23
5. Below Zero Lounge
1120 Walnut St., OTR
A summer cocktail at Below Zero Lounge.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

5. Below Zero Lounge

1120 Walnut St., OTR
A summer cocktail at Below Zero Lounge.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
13 of 23
6. Japp’s Since 1879
1136 Main St., OTR
A bourbon cocktail at Japp’s.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

6. Japp’s Since 1879

1136 Main St., OTR
A bourbon cocktail at Japp’s.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
14 of 23
7. MOTR Pub
1345 Main St., OTR
Hosts some of the best live shows in the city, highlighting local and touring Indie, Rock and Folk acts — all without a cover.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

7. MOTR Pub

1345 Main St., OTR
Hosts some of the best live shows in the city, highlighting local and touring Indie, Rock and Folk acts — all without a cover.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
15 of 23
7. MOTR Pub
1345 Main St., OTR
MOTR has almost nightly live music.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

7. MOTR Pub

1345 Main St., OTR
MOTR has almost nightly live music.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
16 of 23
8. Northside Yacht Club
4321 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Northside Yacht Club is a loosely nautically themed Rock hangout from the minds of two local music veterans. The mixology is masterful, made with fresh juices, fruit and herbal garnish.
Photo: Kellie Coleman

8. Northside Yacht Club

4321 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Northside Yacht Club is a loosely nautically themed Rock hangout from the minds of two local music veterans. The mixology is masterful, made with fresh juices, fruit and herbal garnish.
Photo: Kellie Coleman
17 of 23
8. Northside Yacht Club
4321 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Northside Yacht Club's bloody mary decked out with a smoked wing, slider and bacon. 
Photo: Catie Viox

8. Northside Yacht Club

4321 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Northside Yacht Club's bloody mary decked out with a smoked wing, slider and bacon.
Photo: Catie Viox
18 of 23
8. Northside Yacht Club
4321 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Outdoor patio at Northside Yacht Club. 
Photo: Kellie Coleman

8. Northside Yacht Club

4321 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Outdoor patio at Northside Yacht Club.
Photo: Kellie Coleman
19 of 23
9. Sundry and Vice
18 W. 13th St., OTR
Sundry and Vice's apothecary-inspired drinks lend more textures, colors and flavors than a classic list of libations.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

9. Sundry and Vice

18 W. 13th St., OTR
Sundry and Vice's apothecary-inspired drinks lend more textures, colors and flavors than a classic list of libations.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
20 of 23
Page 1 of 2