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Cincinnati's 24 Hottest Bars Located Outside of Over-the-Rhine

By on Fri, Nov 8, 2019 at 7:06 pm

Over-the-Rhine may be a hot spot for nightlife, but if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle while seeking out a similarly trendy vibe, these drinking destinations are your go-to spots.
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Cincinnati's 24 Hottest Bars Located Outside of Over-the-Rhine
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Comfort Station 793 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Located in a former 105-year-old rest area (basically a public bathroom), Comfort Station has transformed a dilapidated space into an airy nightlife destination full of hip cocktails and outdoor lounge areas. Guests can choose their own adventure when entering, opting to go through either the women's or men's door. Head through the bright blue ladies entrance to access the main-floor space, replete with original skylights, plush blue-velvet seating and a living plant wall. From the main bar, you can access the back patio, which has multiple seating nooks, including an elevated perch with cushions. The entrance through the men's door leads guests to an eight-seater basement cocktail lounge for “nighttime revelry and good-natured mischief." Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Comfort Station

793 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills
Located in a former 105-year-old rest area (basically a public bathroom), Comfort Station has transformed a dilapidated space into an airy nightlife destination full of hip cocktails and outdoor lounge areas. Guests can choose their own adventure when entering, opting to go through either the women's or men's door. Head through the bright blue ladies entrance to access the main-floor space, replete with original skylights, plush blue-velvet seating and a living plant wall. From the main bar, you can access the back patio, which has multiple seating nooks, including an elevated perch with cushions. The entrance through the men's door leads guests to an eight-seater basement cocktail lounge for “nighttime revelry and good-natured mischief."
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Jerry’s Jug House 414 E. Seventh St., Newport Jerry's Jug House started as a garage with ties to bootlegging during Prohibition but went legal the 1930s as a "jug house." New owners have revitalized the joint while staying true to its roots. Says one of the co-owners, Stuart MacKenzie of the Northside Yacht Club, “To the legendary Jerry’s regulars, yes, we will have a $3 domestic neighborhood draft special. We will also carry eight wines by-the-glass and many others to go; our focus is on natural and organic, but we have something for everyone — as long as it tastes good.” Along with the updated cocktail selection, the Jug House also features two seating areas, an expanded bar, flat-screen TVs, garage-style doors to create an indoor-outdoor feel and a former back office has been transformed into a lounge. Photo: Hailey bollinger

Jerry’s Jug House

414 E. Seventh St., Newport
Jerry's Jug House started as a garage with ties to bootlegging during Prohibition but went legal the 1930s as a "jug house." New owners have revitalized the joint while staying true to its roots. Says one of the co-owners, Stuart MacKenzie of the Northside Yacht Club, “To the legendary Jerry’s regulars, yes, we will have a $3 domestic neighborhood draft special. We will also carry eight wines by-the-glass and many others to go; our focus is on natural and organic, but we have something for everyone — as long as it tastes good.” Along with the updated cocktail selection, the Jug House also features two seating areas, an expanded bar, flat-screen TVs, garage-style doors to create an indoor-outdoor feel and a former back office has been transformed into a lounge.
Photo: Hailey bollinger
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Aster 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown The name Aster comes from both the perennial flower that serves as an important food source for bees, and is ancient Greek for “star.” The team has added a third definition: “A social sippery where old friends gather and new ones are made.” Aster wants to bring “the farm to the cocktail world.” Their standout cocktails include the Eden Park with Spruce Gin, elderflower, Luxardo, simple syrup, lemon, egg white and fernet rinse. Tapping into the latest trend in mixology, there’s also a smattering of non-alcoholic and low ABV cocktails that go beyond soda and virgin mixed drinks to accommodate everyone in your party. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Aster

8 E. Fourth St., Downtown
The name Aster comes from both the perennial flower that serves as an important food source for bees, and is ancient Greek for “star.” The team has added a third definition: “A social sippery where old friends gather and new ones are made.” Aster wants to bring “the farm to the cocktail world.” Their standout cocktails include the Eden Park with Spruce Gin, elderflower, Luxardo, simple syrup, lemon, egg white and fernet rinse. Tapping into the latest trend in mixology, there’s also a smattering of non-alcoholic and low ABV cocktails that go beyond soda and virgin mixed drinks to accommodate everyone in your party.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Pearl’s 3520 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum It is hard not think about Cheers when thinking about Pearl’s — it’s clear that the motivation behind this place is to have a space in which everybody really does know your name. That, combined with the artful consideration for its architecture and design, should pique anyone’s interest in a drink — including Pearl’s popular Moscow Mule. Photo via Facebook.com/PearlsCincy

Pearl’s

3520 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum
It is hard not think about Cheers when thinking about Pearl’s — it’s clear that the motivation behind this place is to have a space in which everybody really does know your name. That, combined with the artful consideration for its architecture and design, should pique anyone’s interest in a drink — including Pearl’s popular Moscow Mule.
Photo via Facebook.com/PearlsCincy
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Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar 629 Main St., Covington A mind-boggling bourbon selection (over 600 bottles of bourbon and whiskey to be exact) is available, served in snifters by a well-educated, passionate staff. For those less interested in straight booze, enjoy select pre-Prohibition cocktails or bourbon barrel-aged beers. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar

629 Main St., Covington
A mind-boggling bourbon selection (over 600 bottles of bourbon and whiskey to be exact) is available, served in snifters by a well-educated, passionate staff. For those less interested in straight booze, enjoy select pre-Prohibition cocktails or bourbon barrel-aged beers.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Northside Yacht Club 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside A loosely nautically themed and ironically landlocked Rock club from two local music and mixology veterans, the Northside Yacht Club is all fun. The cocktails — served by tattooed bartenders in the vein of Sailor Jerry — are masterful, made with fresh juice, fruit and herbal garnish. The tropically themed and navy-inspired drinks are served in Tiki glasses and deceivingly potent. Lay down a base layer with a bar-food menu that features satisfying items like house-smoked wings, poutine with duck fat gravy and vegan lentil chili fries. Photo: Kellie Coleman

Northside Yacht Club

4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
A loosely nautically themed and ironically landlocked Rock club from two local music and mixology veterans, the Northside Yacht Club is all fun. The cocktails — served by tattooed bartenders in the vein of Sailor Jerry — are masterful, made with fresh juice, fruit and herbal garnish. The tropically themed and navy-inspired drinks are served in Tiki glasses and deceivingly potent. Lay down a base layer with a bar-food menu that features satisfying items like house-smoked wings, poutine with duck fat gravy and vegan lentil chili fries.
Photo: Kellie Coleman
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The Fairfield Market 700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue This hip market and coffee and wine bar recently opened in Bellevue. The fresh, light-filled space is a perfect place to start or end your day. Try one of their build-your-own charcuterie boards with their happy-hour wine special or one of their delicious evening bites like the lamb nachos or chicken kebabs. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Fairfield Market

700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue
This hip market and coffee and wine bar recently opened in Bellevue. The fresh, light-filled space is a perfect place to start or end your day. Try one of their build-your-own charcuterie boards with their happy-hour wine special or one of their delicious evening bites like the lamb nachos or chicken kebabs.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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The Overlook Lodge 6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge This The Shining-themed bar features rustic cocktails like the My Friend Tony and The Writer’s Block that can help guarantee some much-needed play after a hard day’s work. Combine the cozy atmosphere and weekend Bluegrass performances and you’ve got a recipe for a terrifyingly addicting watering hole. Photo via Facebook.com/OverlookLodge

The Overlook Lodge

6083 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
This The Shining-themed bar features rustic cocktails like the My Friend Tony and The Writer’s Block that can help guarantee some much-needed play after a hard day’s work. Combine the cozy atmosphere and weekend Bluegrass performances and you’ve got a recipe for a terrifyingly addicting watering hole.
Photo via Facebook.com/OverlookLodge
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Mom ‘n ‘em Coffee Shop 3128 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Helmed by brothers Tony and Austin Ferrari in a converted 19th-century home in Camp Washington, Mom ‘n ‘em coffee shop and wine bar sparkles with Italian vibrancy and straightforwardness. There’s a diverse offering of wines selected by certified sommelier Austin, and the idea, he says, is to be meaningful but playful. Food includes tinned fish, cheeses, cured meats, pastries from North South Baking in Covington and sandwiches. They have a full liquor license with cocktails like a classic negroni and Manhattan, and a smart selection of beer in their cooler. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Mom ‘n ‘em Coffee Shop

3128 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Helmed by brothers Tony and Austin Ferrari in a converted 19th-century home in Camp Washington, Mom ‘n ‘em coffee shop and wine bar sparkles with Italian vibrancy and straightforwardness. There’s a diverse offering of wines selected by certified sommelier Austin, and the idea, he says, is to be meaningful but playful. Food includes tinned fish, cheeses, cured meats, pastries from North South Baking in Covington and sandwiches. They have a full liquor license with cocktails like a classic negroni and Manhattan, and a smart selection of beer in their cooler.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Night Drop 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills Folks from Northside’s Littlefield Restaurant Group rehabbed the historic 1920s-era Central Trust Bank building in East Walnut Hills, opening the aptly named restaurant Branch and its adjacent downstairs speakeasy Night Drop. Cocktails take their sobriquets from financial terms and feature interesting and creative house-infused liquors and mixers. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Night Drop

1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills
Folks from Northside’s Littlefield Restaurant Group rehabbed the historic 1920s-era Central Trust Bank building in East Walnut Hills, opening the aptly named restaurant Branch and its adjacent downstairs speakeasy Night Drop. Cocktails take their sobriquets from financial terms and feature interesting and creative house-infused liquors and mixers.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Dean’s Hops & Vines 3722 Harrison Ave., Cheviot Finally a place where beer and wine drinkers can raise a glass together for the love of booze. Dean’s Hops & Vines in Cheviot has a wide selection of beer, wine and liquor to serve every kind of drinker. If booze is not for you, they also serve food — paninis, salads and a few signature grinders. Photo via facebook.com/deanshv/

Dean’s Hops & Vines

3722 Harrison Ave., Cheviot
Finally a place where beer and wine drinkers can raise a glass together for the love of booze. Dean’s Hops & Vines in Cheviot has a wide selection of beer, wine and liquor to serve every kind of drinker. If booze is not for you, they also serve food — paninis, salads and a few signature grinders.
Photo via facebook.com/deanshv/
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The Hannaford 619 Madison Ave., Covington This Covington cocktail lounge mixes industrial accents with wood and leather to create a living room feel in the middle of Madison Avenue. Their broad selection of bourbon and rye is rounded out by craft cocktails, rotating drafts, wine and events like trivia. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Hannaford

619 Madison Ave., Covington
This Covington cocktail lounge mixes industrial accents with wood and leather to create a living room feel in the middle of Madison Avenue. Their broad selection of bourbon and rye is rounded out by craft cocktails, rotating drafts, wine and events like trivia.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Higher Gravity 4106 Hamilton Ave., Northside These guys really want to help you love beer — so much so that they’ve installed iPads around the store to help you browse their inventory and find your perfect brew. Let their friendly “beeristas” pour you a flight, and don’t leave without visiting their growler and crawler station to take a cold one home with you. Higher Gravity is kid and dog-friendly, as well as B.Y.O.F. (bring your own food), so bring the whole fam and order in something tasty from one of their Northside neighbors. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Higher Gravity

4106 Hamilton Ave., Northside
These guys really want to help you love beer — so much so that they’ve installed iPads around the store to help you browse their inventory and find your perfect brew. Let their friendly “beeristas” pour you a flight, and don’t leave without visiting their growler and crawler station to take a cold one home with you. Higher Gravity is kid and dog-friendly, as well as B.Y.O.F. (bring your own food), so bring the whole fam and order in something tasty from one of their Northside neighbors.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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The Littlefield 3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside This neighborhood bar specializes in bourbon and regional craft beer. Clever cocktails mix sweet and savory flavors and the kitchen puts out excellent seasonal plates and heavenly desserts. Try cocktails with names as interesting as they taste, like the Mad Anthony or the Cluxton Alley. Grab some friends and sip on some drinks while sitting on the spacious string-lit patio in the warmer seasons, or grab a cozy seat inside. Photo: Izzy Viox

The Littlefield

3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
This neighborhood bar specializes in bourbon and regional craft beer. Clever cocktails mix sweet and savory flavors and the kitchen puts out excellent seasonal plates and heavenly desserts. Try cocktails with names as interesting as they taste, like the Mad Anthony or the Cluxton Alley. Grab some friends and sip on some drinks while sitting on the spacious string-lit patio in the warmer seasons, or grab a cozy seat inside.
Photo: Izzy Viox
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Arcade Legacy: Bar Edition 3929 Spring Grove Ave., Northside Retro arcade games plus alcohol and hot dogs (even vegetarian ones). Monday Night Fights are for serious players, and there’s a high-score board for some local fame. Some arcade bars are for drinking and gaming; Arcade Legacy is for gaming and drinking. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Arcade Legacy: Bar Edition

3929 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
Retro arcade games plus alcohol and hot dogs (even vegetarian ones). Monday Night Fights are for serious players, and there’s a high-score board for some local fame. Some arcade bars are for drinking and gaming; Arcade Legacy is for gaming and drinking.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Oakley Wines 4011 Allston St., Oakley Oakley Wines is a cozy spot off of Madison Avenue’s main drag. The upper floor wine bar and bottle shop is minimal, bright and full of grab-and-go selections, and an unassuming staircase leads down to The Cellar, a low-lit speakeasy-style space with room for live music. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Oakley Wines

4011 Allston St., Oakley
Oakley Wines is a cozy spot off of Madison Avenue’s main drag. The upper floor wine bar and bottle shop is minimal, bright and full of grab-and-go selections, and an unassuming staircase leads down to The Cellar, a low-lit speakeasy-style space with room for live music.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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Somm Wine Bar 3105 Price Ave., East Price Hill This worthy wine destination is in the Incline District in Price Hill. Somm Wine Bar offers a seasonal large patio with tables and lounge chairs, live music on Fridays and weekday specials. You’ll find a lot of food choices — from the light fare you expect at a wine bar to several more substantial entrées. Photo via Facebook.com/SommWineBar

Somm Wine Bar

3105 Price Ave., East Price Hill
This worthy wine destination is in the Incline District in Price Hill. Somm Wine Bar offers a seasonal large patio with tables and lounge chairs, live music on Fridays and weekday specials. You’ll find a lot of food choices — from the light fare you expect at a wine bar to several more substantial entrées.
Photo via Facebook.com/SommWineBar
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Coppin’s at Hotel Covington 638 Madison Ave., Covington There’s a strong local identity to the location and the menu at Coppin’s, with nods to history and the new South, the bourbon and the banter that starts at the Roebling Bridge. The hotel restaurant features a swanky bar and lounge space to enjoy a nice cocktail, or sit outside in the spacious courtyard in the warmer seasons. Their bar menu features local draft beer, cider, wine as well as cocktails on draft. If you’re hungry, stay for a meal. Chef Mitch Arens has created a menu that focuses on local and sustainable eats, pushing his New Orleans cooking experience to the foreground. Try any of the “for two” options for a delicious, romantic date-night meal. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Coppin’s at Hotel Covington

638 Madison Ave., Covington
There’s a strong local identity to the location and the menu at Coppin’s, with nods to history and the new South, the bourbon and the banter that starts at the Roebling Bridge. The hotel restaurant features a swanky bar and lounge space to enjoy a nice cocktail, or sit outside in the spacious courtyard in the warmer seasons. Their bar menu features local draft beer, cider, wine as well as cocktails on draft. If you’re hungry, stay for a meal. Chef Mitch Arens has created a menu that focuses on local and sustainable eats, pushing his New Orleans cooking experience to the foreground. Try any of the “for two” options for a delicious, romantic date-night meal.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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The Hi-Mark Bar 3229 Riverside Drive, East End Named in honor of the great flood that washed over Cincinnati in 1937, this bar keeps its patrons afloat with a selection of Vietnamese and Mexican-inspired dishes. The bar pours a solid variety of beer, wine and spirits and there's plenty of seating inside and out. If you're hungry, try their pulled pork bánh mì made with Eli's BBQ or chicken wings with gochujang sauce. Fries, salads, creamy tomato bisque and Lang Thang Chili, a Vietnamese style beef stew, are some local favorites. Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Hi-Mark Bar

3229 Riverside Drive, East End
Named in honor of the great flood that washed over Cincinnati in 1937, this bar keeps its patrons afloat with a selection of Vietnamese and Mexican-inspired dishes. The bar pours a solid variety of beer, wine and spirits and there's plenty of seating inside and out. If you're hungry, try their pulled pork bánh mì made with Eli's BBQ or chicken wings with gochujang sauce. Fries, salads, creamy tomato bisque and Lang Thang Chili, a Vietnamese style beef stew, are some local favorites.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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