Explore Cincinnati
Cincinnati Nightlife
Cocktail bars, dive bars, dance clubs, and late-night hangs — from downtown to neighborhood spots across the metro.
28 spots
$$$SpeakeasyGhost Baby
1314 Republic St, Cincinnati, OH 45202Four stories down in a 170-year-old brewery lagering tunnel -- one of the most atmospheric drinks-only nights out in the city, with a genuinely inventive cocktail list.
$$Cocktail BarSomerset
139 E McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202A garden-and-greenhouse cocktail bar built around a converted double-decker bus food stand -- the closest thing OTR has to an outdoor oasis on a warm night.
$$Cocktail BarJapp's Since 1879
1134 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202A classic-cocktail institution from Molly Wellmann in a building that dates back to 1879 -- exposed brick, careful drinks, and none of the pretension the history might suggest.
$$Barcade16-Bit Bar+Arcade
1124 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202Free-to-play retro arcade cabinets and pinball alongside a full cocktail bar -- a genuinely fun, no-cover-charge night out that skews a little more nostalgic than a typical OTR bar.
$$Rooftop BarRhinegeist Brewery Rooftop
1910 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202A five-time CityBeat "Best Rooftop Bar" pick inside a massive historic brewery building -- 24 taps and a skyline-view patio that's a genuine Cincinnati summer institution.
$$$Wine BarHart & Cru
1206 Broadway St, Cincinnati, OH 45202A wine shop and tasting room in the Pendleton Arts District at the eastern edge of OTR, recently named a top wine bar by industry press -- a quieter alternative to the Vine Street crowd.
$Live MusicMOTR Pub
1345 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202Free, original live music seven nights a week with no cover -- an indie-rock institution and sister venue to Woodward Theater next door, and one of the easiest ways to find a new local band.
$$Dance ClubMr. Pitiful's
1323 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202OTR's go-to dance-and-DJ spot -- a former jazz-club space that's become the neighborhood's default late-night dance floor.
$$Sports BarRhinehaus
119 E 12th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202OTR's dedicated soccer-and-all-sports bar -- 14 4K screens plus a projector, and the default answer if a transplant asks "where do people watch European football here."
$$Sports BarHoly Grail Tavern & Grille
161 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202A classic gameday tavern practically on top of Great American Ball Park -- 31 screens and a patio that fills up fast before Reds first pitch.
$$$Rooftop BarAC Upper Deck
135 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202A rooftop lounge atop the AC Hotel at The Banks with sweeping views across the river into Northern Kentucky -- a good pick for showing out-of-town visitors the skyline.
$$Live MusicTin Roof
160 E Freedom Way Ste 150, Cincinnati, OH 45202Dueling live bands and a packed weekend dance floor steps from Great American Ball Park -- loud, high-energy, and squarely built for a group night out.
$$Cocktail BarJefferson Social
101 E Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202A neighborhood-feel cocktail bar with a riverside patio at The Banks -- crafted drinks and small plates without the sports-bar energy of its neighbors.
$$Live MusicThe Blind Lemon
936 Hatch St, Cincinnati, OH 45202A cozy, garden-patio tavern with roots going back almost 60 years -- live music most nights of the week in one of Mt. Adams' most character-filled rooms.
$$Sports BarMonk's Cove
1104 St Gregory St, Cincinnati, OH 45202A tropical-themed neighborhood hangout for sports and drinks -- a lower-key alternative to the hillside's more scenic rooftop spots.
$$Rooftop BarCity View Tavern
403 Oregon St, Cincinnati, OH 45202Burgers, beer, and a genuinely panoramic view of downtown, the river, and Northern Kentucky from a Mt. Adams hillside patio -- closed Monday and Tuesday, so plan around that.
$$Dive BarMt. Adams Bar & Grill
938 Hatch St, Cincinnati, OH 45202An 1875 building with a backbar reportedly salvaged from a Prohibition-era bootlegger's speakeasy -- more neighborhood dive than polished lounge, and the more low-key sibling to Mt. Adams' rooftop-view bars.
$Live MusicNorthside Tavern
4163 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223Free original live music almost every night of the week and a year-round patio -- the anchor venue of Northside's music-first identity, and host of the annual North by Northside festival.
$Dive BarThe Comet
4579 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223A quintessential Northside dive since 1996 -- famous for its burritos as much as its drinks, with a sun deck and regular live original music.
$$Dive BarNorthside Yacht Club
4231 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223Nautical decor and house-smoked wings inside a dive-bar shell, with a full gastropub menu -- Trivia Tuesdays and Sunday karaoke/brunch keep it a weekly habit for a lot of Northside regulars.
$Live MusicChameleon
4114 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223A pizza-and-dive-bar hybrid that hosts Cincinnati's longest-running comedy open mic alongside regular live music -- a good pick for a cheap, unpretentious night in Northside.
$$Live MusicSouthgate House Revival
111 E Sixth St, Newport, KY 41071A converted 19th-century church with three distinct performance rooms -- one of the region's best venues for touring independent acts, just across the river from downtown Cincinnati.
$$Live MusicGangsters Dueling Piano Bar
18 E 5th St, Newport, KY 41071Interactive dueling-piano shows with a rowdy, sing-along crowd -- a fun group option in Newport that doesn't take itself too seriously.
$$Live MusicHofbrauhaus Newport
200 E 3rd St, Newport, KY 41071America's first authentic Hofbrauhaus -- a full German beer hall with an on-site brewery, biergarten, and live bands most weekends. Also listed under restaurants for its Bavarian food menu.
$$Cocktail BarKon-Tiki on the Levee
1 Levee Way Ste 21377, Newport, KY 41071A laid-back tiki bar at Newport on the Levee with classic tiki cocktails and river views -- a change of pace from the beer-hall and sports-bar options nearby.
$$$Rooftop BarBeeline
1 Levee Way Ste 2124, Newport, KY 41071An elevated ales-and-spirits lounge at Newport on the Levee with sweeping Ohio River and Cincinnati skyline views -- half-price happy hour on weekdays makes it an easy after-work stop.
$$$SpeakeasyWiseguy Lounge
603 Main St, Covington, KY 41011A Roaring-'20s, gangster-themed speakeasy tucked upstairs above a Mainstrasse pizzeria -- a 250-plus bourbon selection and low-lit leather-sofa rooms make it a genuine hidden-gem stop.
$$$Cocktail BarOld Kentucky Bourbon Bar
629 Main St, Covington, KY 41011An extensive bourbon library and an unofficial Kentucky Bourbon Trail stop right on Mainstrasse's Main Street -- a solid pick for anyone getting into bourbon after the move.
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