The Most Flavorful Lounges in Cincinnati

Red Star

★★★★☆ 3.7 (9)

"My husband and I have been to Red Star twice in 2 weeks and really love this place. The bartenders are friendly and down to earth. The flavor infused vodkas deliver what they promise. We enjoy playing darts and lounging on the plush sofas. Great decor! Just an all around good time. Would only be improved by the addition of food."

Wiseguy Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.4 (71) • $$

"Had a magical late summer evening at Wiseguy Lounge with friends. Expert bartender Chris kept the amazing cocktails flowing and we enjoyed them on the cool and comfortable upstairs patio with a great pizza from Goodfellas. Love the mix of top notch drinks paired with always satisfying pizza."

Station1

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (33) • $$

"Yup, just a whole in the wall that paid off. Needed a spot after a long drive and stumbled on this bar instead of the brewery for some reason. Either way we had some nachos and jalapeño cheesy bread they hit the spot. Nachos were burnt which was actually perfect and the bread had a hefty amount of cheese. Also got some beers and they filled up a growler for us. Definitely a cool spot to hang out in. Eat well and travel safe -ant"

Symphony Hotel Lounge and Jazz Bar

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"How are there no reviews for this lovely place?!?I went here about a year ago in search of a relaxed night listening to some jazz in a cool environment and that's exactly what I got!I'm not really into the noisy, crowded bar scene and this cozy spot gave me just the opposite experience with a bar tender that actually remembers your name, dark wood decor and small tables that allow for an intimate feeling with the jazz trio playing against the warm evening street lights framed by the tall windows by their side.I had a Sambuca with a coffee bean and it was lovely as was the education I received from the bar tender on the reason for why the coffee bean is put in this drink. You'll have to go and ask him yourself to find out! Hehehe.The Symphony hotel itself is like traveling back to the early 1900s as far as decor is concerned. Makes you want to wear a 3 piece suit and grow a curly mustache or strap on a bustle under a long skirt and carry a lace parasol. This place is for laid back history, music and cocktail enthusiasts."

Scene Ultra Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3 (53) • $$

"We were headed to another bourbon bar and walked by Scene when we noticed the Happy Hour advertisement out front. Yes, please. We walked in and sat at the bar, only to have a few drinks, not food. They did have a bar food menu though. I ordered an Old Fashioned and my friend ordered a pumpkin martini from the special list of seasonal features. Her martini was quite good, but my Old Fashioned was not good at all. The cherries tasted bitter and old. My next drink had a gnat in it. Two unfinished drinks is a rarity for me, but that was my experience here. Actually, I think that was a first for me. A couple sat down after our second drinks and waited a few minutes and weren't waited on or even acknowledged, so they walked out. The place wasn't crowded at all, so I would not like to see the level of service when they are crowded."

Bugatti’s Ultra Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3 (45)

"As I sit here enjoying my leftover Alfredo Turkey Leg (it's that big) and reading other reviews--I think to myself: do they enjoy frozen pre-made cuisine from chain restaurants or do they not know that real, southern style quality comfort food takes a little time! We stepped into this establishment for my husband's birthday, with a reservation for our party of 7 were seated promptly and kindly by Ray and treated like FAMILY. It was happy hour (until 8PM!!!) so all drinks & apps were half off and we ordered it all. Henny glazed wings () & shrimp, chicken street tacos, salmon bites, the huge shareable cocktails + frozen daiquiris, tequila shots, spiked vodka lemonade (). Highly satisfied 10/10 and we were just getting started. For our entrees we ordered: the steak with Mac & cheese and seasoned fries for my husband (), I had the Alfredo Turkey leg () and that Alfredo sauce had a perfect Parmesan + slighty seasoned fresh taste that was giving well trained chef/"what is a can?" energy. Our friends got the lamb chops with dirty rice (dirty rice is the only thing that could use more flavor) + a Caesar salad. And someone else got the Surf & Turk a seafood stuffed & smothered Turkey leg (). Even our friend that is notorious for complaining could not complain! It was all so good. Finally we enjoyed banana pudding that was out of this world and I don't even like banana pudding like that. And cheesecakes. All around this place is fire, I will recommend to anyone I meet and we can't wait to come back for brunch. I read the other reviews about food being slow, but if you can't spend the $$$ on the amazing drinks and apps while you wait for the best lamb chops in the Tri-state (bar The Capitol Grille) then just say that. If your date is not providing the stimulating conversation needed to sustain you until the meal comes out, don't blame Bugatti's my baby!"

The Härth Room

★★★★★ 4.6 (72) • $$

"long story short: a cozy spot for tasty cocktails & live musicWe went to the Härth Room for the first time on a Saturday night to catch some jazz. We were seated in the far back, away from the stage, but we could still hear & enjoy the music. The waiters were attentive, but also gave us our space, which allowed us plenty of time & privacy to drink & talk. The bar itself was very warm & welcoming, with fireplaces & dim lighting. We ordered the espresso martini & the amaretto sour. The espresso martini was too strong- both the vodka & the coffee- for my taste, but I definitely prefer sweeter drinks. The amaretto sour was delicious though. We also got a slice of tiramisu, which also had a strong coffee flavor but was better balanced. Overall, we had a wonderful night & look forward to going back sometime soon."

Cru Gastro Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (34) • $$$

"Nice and relaxing spot for wine and great food. Just a special place to spend quality time. And besides the wine beg exceptional, the food is great."

Tillie's Lounge

★★★★★ 4.6 (21) • $$

"How have I not written a review of Tillie's? Tillie's is a Northside Staple and you could definitely call me a fan. I'm not sure if Tillie's identifies as an LGBTQ+ bar, but the clientele is definitely heavily LGBTQ+ (though friendly and welcoming to anyone who walks through the doors). For drinks, I would recommend Tillie's most for their cocktails (as opposed to beer/wine selection). The drinks are strong and so are the good vibes. There's a great sense of community here. I'd also strongly recommend Tillie's for a GREAT karaoke night (I think they still do it on Saturdays). There's a patio area out back with additional seating. It's been entirely too long since I've visited and I can't wait to get back. If you see Nigel, the owner, ask him about the origin of the bar's name (It's named after an elephant!). High fives for being such an awesome part of the community, Tillie's!"

Valley View Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.2 (5) • $

"Awesome little town bar with good bar food, great bartenders, and plenty of things to kill time with"

Lounge24

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (12)

"Good place for a drink and a conversation. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. Didn't care for the local wine but I'll have something different next time. The fruit and cheese tray was good - wish they had a few more things to munch on."

Metropole

★★★★☆ 4 (415) • $$$

"We love Metropole! We stayed at 21C for a week last year for my birthday. We ate at Metropole once. We revisited this past Monday for dinner before a show. I love the ambiance of Metropole. It's comfortable and low-key, yet still quite fancy. I do love that the dress code is 'casual'. That said, there were some folks there dressed to the nines.Last year I remember the Crispy Deviled Eggs and Tuna Tartar. The deviled eggs are outstanding. I'm sorry we didn't get them again. We did, however, order the Tuna Tartar, which is a little flavor bomb! One of the best bites of the night.We did order oysters with raspberry cocktail sauce. It was a special and it certainly sounded delicious. They didn't hit the mark for us. The sauce was good, but the oysters were the slightest bit sandy and tasted more of the ocean than I'd prefer. I considered giving four stars just because of this dish, but everything else about Metropole is truly great.I started with a Hocus Pocus cocktail, which included a house made curry syrup. The last ingredient on the menu is "magic". This cocktail is truly magical. The flavors are difficult to explain. Suffice to say, it's unlike any cocktail any of us have ever tasted before. For dinner we ordered the Herb Brined Chicken and the Black Hawk Smash Burger. The chicken was fantastic. The chicken itself was moist and flavorful. The burnt carrot risotto was cooked to perfection. Everything else on the plate combined with the chicken was extraordinary. It was SO good! And... it was a LOT of food. Much as I tried, I still left a bit of the risotto behind.Mark thoroughly enjoyed his burger. He raved about everything, including the bun, which was apparently soft and actually had flavor that supported the burger itself. I can attest the fries were great because I stole a few from his plate.On to dessert. Last time we were here they had a corn ice cream that was unique and out of this world. On Monday I had a dip of chocolate and a dip of pumpkin. The ice cream melts exactly how a high end ice cream should. Mark ordered the Mocha Mousse, which as a nice size dessert that was simply delicious. I got a few bites. The mocha flavor was very present and the crunchy crust was fantastic with the more smooshy mousse. I absolutely recommend the Mocha Mousse dessert.Our waitress was kind and attentive with the perfect amount of attention for our dining needs.There are so many things we haven't tried, we will have to come back again and again."

Cozy Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (19) • $

"* breakfast is serviced only on weekends!!The food is served up until 1:00am! You can go to this place alone and would feel comfortable being there :)"

Japp's Since 1879

★★★★☆ 4.1 (269) • $$

"1. Great ambiance 2. Great Old Fashioned3. Joe, the bartender was a freakn delight with a very fantastic ability to make a perfect drink."

Up Over

★★★★☆ 3.8 (12) • $

"Not a bad little bar. Not too bad at all. The only thing that seems to distinguish it from the other dives in MainStrasse is the decent blues bands they book, whose originals are as enjoyable as their covers. Up Over sits in a shot gun building between Strasse Haus and Cosmo's (sure there are other places in between, but I just mentioned the landmarks). $3.50 for a Warsteiner Dunkel is reasonable, but they don't serve food. You'll have to go down the road for that. I visited on perhaps the springiest spring day on record, so the patio seating was taken. The atmosphere inside was jovial (gotta love a place where people introduce themselves to the newbie), but a bit rough-shod. Overall, a nice little joint but not particularly unique."

Wiseguy Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (61) • $$

"Stopped in for a drink after being gone from Cincinnati for 6 years and amazed at how things have changed. Located in the ever changing OTR area of downtown Cincinnati. Located above the Goodfellas pizzeria Wiseguy lounge is def worth checking out. For the bourbon enthusiast this place is heaven as they have an amazing selection that are reasonably priced. The bartenders were helpful in making recommendations and offering up information about local and store picks. The bar had their stools divided in group of 2 and separated by plexiglass. Helping you feel safe while enjoying a drink. We are in town for a few more days and will definitely be back."

Salar

★★★★☆ 4 (401) • $$$

"Fantastic ambiance, very attentive servers, fine spirits selection, and a delectable menu. Salar provides an excellent option for a finer dining experience where you will be treated with superb service and very tasty menu items with generous portions.The Lomo Saltado was purely reminiscent of the top-tier Lomo Saltado dishes I've had in the past. The beef here seems a bit of higher quality than your standard tho. The Machu Picchu Pork Chop was a behemoth but quality was not lacking despite the quantity served. The Duck Fried Rice was not a necessary order but I wanted to try it so there I was, in a gluttonous fashion just enjoying the delicious of every bite regardless of me being nearly full to capacity The duck flavor wasn't too overpowering, and the slight savoriness of the rice was so flavorful.I started the evening at the bar for drinks and slowly made my way to the main dining area. The bar is a very comfortable place to relax and enjoy cocktails. Coupled with friendly and attentive bartenders, I wouldn't have minded staying there all night. But the dining experience was also superb, with the wait staff being very pleasant and frequently checking in on our table."

Garment Factory Events

★★★★★ 4.8 (25) • $$

"Ok so.. here is the deal. This place is legit an under the radar gem. I'd never been there but heard a couple people mention it.. friend of a friend is the owner. I'd heard they had a good bourbon selection, but had my doubts. I was wrong... their bourbon selection is great and the costs reasonable. I ended up having a Parkers Heritage Heavy Char.. incredible pour if you have the chance to try it. I NEED a bottle of it in my life, but its incredibly hard to find. Had the alberta whiskey.. whiskey of the year, not my flavor, but apparently some people like it. Food... i had the mini pork tenderloin sandwiches. Crazy good.. I'm not a huge tenderloin fan, but these were great and had some yummy stone ground mustard. Give them a whirl. Service.. super awesome. our server was on top of it, water constantly refilled, friendly and just cool. Owner came by to catch up with my friend, so it was fun chatting with him. Nice dude. Good spot.. give it a whirl!!"

Overlook Lodge: A Rustic Watering Hole

★★★★★ 4.5 (156) • $$

"Fun, rustic neighborhood bar inspired by the movie 'the shining'. The movie itself was playing when we stopped in. The bartenders are helpful and efficient. We stopped in for to-go cocktails and even in a big styrofoam cup, they tasted great! I got the 'imaginary friend' which was light and refreshing. I don't love rose flavored drinks/food but the bartender assured me the rose was simply a spray mist after the drink is made. He was not wrong, It was just a finishing and while it added to the overall cocktail, I didn't taste it, it wasn't overpowering. So if you don't like rose, don't let it stray you away from this cocktail!Definitely planning to come back to hang in the various nooks and enjoy the ambiance with a group of friends."

Cocktail Terrace

★★★★☆ 3.7 (55) • $$

"The Cocktail Terrace at 21C Hotel is a new rooftop bar that just opened on to the public about two weeks ago. The atmosphere is stunning! Sleek white couches, and the light up railing made of glass is just awesome. There is a great view of Mt. Adams on the far side. They also have a very unique drink selection: poptails, craft beer, craft cocktails. The first time I came here I got a Lavender Poptail which I assumed was a popsicle in a cocktail. This is actually a huge flavored popsicle in a shot of alcohol. The popsicle was overly sticky and just not good. I wouldn't recommend that one. Maybe the others are good. Cool idea though! The other times we've went I ordered a gin and tonic and it was significantly cheaper than the gin and tonic cocktail that was on the menu. Here is my advice when coming here: - Get a beer, or a mixed drink to save money unless you want to splurge on something because the prices are around $9-$12. - Avoid happy hour after work this place is swamped.- Come here when you can relax and spend some time enjoying the atmosphere. I like to come here after dinner when it's night and the railing is all lit up. It's really beautiful. Would easily get five stars if it wasn't for that uber sticky poptail in the shot for $12. Hands down my favorite place in the city for after diner drinks. Check it out!"

Lackman Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (195) • $$

"One of my favorite neighborhood bars in OTR. It's not pretentious but still has great quality. Solid heavy pours with reasonable prices. I love pretty much everything about The Lackman, it's the perfect size of a bar, the design is great. I do wish they brought back the pretzels. Service is top knotch, great bartenders especially Terry."

The Righteous Room

★★★★☆ 3.9 (163) • $$

"Great place for drinks and near many restaurants. They also have a happy hour, which would be great after work with friends. It's located in the heart of downtown and a few minutes walk from many things to do! It's a small nice & cozy place to relax and people watch. Outside seating is also available, which is quite lovely once the sun goes down."

Zazou Covington

★★★★☆ 3.8 (21) • $

"Tuesday-Thursday: 3 1/2 to 4 starsFriday, Saturday, Sunday: 2 1/2 to 3 starsDuring the week, this cool little lounge in the heart of MainStrasse is a nice spot to grab a happy hour cocktail or take a mid-week date. You simply must try their pizzas (served until 2 am), which rank among the best pizzas in Cincinnati in my opinion. They also serve burgers, salads, and other pub fare, but I'm always too psyched about eating the pizza to order anything else. DJ Eli is there on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, spinning fun mash-ups of today's hits with yesterday's classics. One of his sets seamlessly transitioned from Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" to Audioslave's "Like a Stone" to Gwen Stefani's "Hollerback Girl." I was enjoying the tunes so much I wished Zazou had a bigger dance floor (theirs is basically non-existent).On the weekends, Zazou becomes popped collar central. Frat boys and sorority sweethearts mingle in what becomes a shoulder to shoulder crowd, all binging drinking and swapping digits. Word of advice: if you are out to get wasted, don't waste your money on the Fishbowl. For 12 bucks, you get like a gallon of a red hooch-like concoction that tastes like cherry Kool-aid. You'd think for the sheer quantity involved this would bevy would do the trick, but you'll probably just end up with a dyed tongue and a sugar buzz."

The Coachman Restaurant And Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (218) • $$

"This is an old-school restaurant and it is popular among the older crowd. It does not have real good signage and can easily be passed. The building itself it not marked. You will only see the tall restaurant sign along the street. It is tucked away near the Cracker Barrel, if that helps. It has a large private parking lot, with more than enough spaces and a huge dining area. There ia also have a full bar with seating and a small patio area. You will find televisions, without sound, around the dining and bar areas.The restaurant serves up you typical diner favorites such as burgers, fish, salads, steak, tenderloin, wings and Mexican food. They have a packed menu. Be sure to ask about there daily specials.I went with the prime rib and cheddar melt, with a side of fries. It took about 12 minutes minutes for them to prepare my food and have it at my table. It was fresh, hot and delicious. The prime rib was tender and flavorful. I really liked it and highly recommend it.The staff was nice and the restaurant was clean. It had a nostalgic, antique/historic vide. This is an obscure diamond in the rough that is definitely a viable option for diner or lunch."

Vista at Lytle Park

★★★★☆ 4 (37)

"Who doesn't love a rooftop bar? The Vista at Lytle Park was great with an even better view. I had yet to go to a rooftop bar here in Cincy, and this one was so much fun! Upon walking into the hotel where it's located, you make an immediate right and take the elevator up. I'm glad my friend knew how to get there as I had never been here before, but the signs are pretty clear with directions as well. My friends and I all each ordered the Pineapple Express margarita to start, and that was super yummy. Food wise, we ordered the cheese curds, margherita pizza and lamb burger to split amongst ourselves. I really could not pick a favorite because they were all delicious, but the lamb burger was exceptional. I would definitely come back and get that one just for myself.In general, this is a really fun place to go since it is right downtown and has a great view of the city. We went right at sunset, so we were able to get some nice views and it was still warm outside, so it made for an overall fantastic experience. I think it would be even more fun to come when a Reds game is going on so you can see some of it from the rooftop. Vista was definitely a little bit on the pricier side for food and appetizers, but I would still recommend!"

Almost V'Gan Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (22)

"We entered AV Lounge as a part #UCHC24 celebrations. This was my first time coming here and I had my in town guests trying it out with me. Since it was more of an after hours menu we didn't get to partake in their full menu, but were able to have a drink or two...or three! With it being a popular weekend having Blink 2024 going on at the same time, the staff maintained their service and were very attentive to our table throughout the night. Even as people left and new people came just within our group, they maintained the room and made sure we all had what we needed. The atmosphere of the place after hours was really chill while the music and decor brought a real vibe that has me interested in coming back to check out the menu."

Igby's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (157) • $$

"HAPPY HOUR REVIEW:Look no more!! This is the Best happy hour downtown! I'm a Tito's girl and during HH it's only $3.50!!! Until 7pm. Taylor and Sara are literally the best. Love them so much. The ambience is really chill and in the winter you can sit by the fire. Alternatively, in the summer, they have a nice patio that's outside. Highly recommended for any happy hour with friends or coworkers alike. Come on thru!!"

Cinema OTR

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (9)

"Braden was amazing! I enjoyed him being my bartender on a weeknight. It was probably on 6 ppl in the bar. The only thing they are missing is bar bites. There was a DJ coming in as we were leaving. I'd say the environment depends on the night and what's happening."

Grillerz

★★★★☆ 4.2 (62) • $$

"Super friendly staff and the portions were more than enough!! I had the prime rib(Only served on weekends) and my wife had the meat loaf. Both were 5*. Highly recommend this little gem that's off the beatin path!!"