The Yummiest Music Venues in Cincinnati

Rose Music Center At The Heights

★★★★☆ 3.8 (82) • $$

"Small "shed" outdoor experience. No lawn seats. First impressions visit. So happy I went. *Name brand diversified acts at good ticket prices. *Still a processing fee and order fee(see pic). *Every ticket holder can carry in 4 unopened 33oz bottles of water. *If you have a seat in the Pit area, you will be provided cups that water MUST be transferred into. (See pic)* Located conveniently off freeway exit. * Plenty of well marked paved parking areas. *Reasonable concert concession prices. (See pic)*Green space outside the seating area to chill. (See pic)* Plenty of clean bathrooms. * not sure if the cool mist spray tent is regular* All ticket holders get a seat under the pavilion. (See pic)* Permanent video screens on each side of stage. (See pic)* Decent size stage is only chest high. (See pic)* Pit seating is folding chairs that have the rows too close together. Extremely difficult to get past others in your row. Any drinks on the floor are inevitably spilled. * Sound varies by seat and event artist sound team. I stayed for the very last song and was in the car and back on the interstate within 30min. Venue is 60miles from 270. I'm glad I went on the weekday and gave up far less sleep than driving to Cincy or Cleve. I will definitely be following for future events."

Phone Booth Lounge

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (19) • $$

"Excellent service and food! Jacob was our bar tender today. He was very outgoing. We had so much fun socializing and playing pool tabs here! Even won on a few today! They have pool tables as well if you like playing pool! They do have food menus. I got the chicken wrap it was fantastic!"

Al's Bar

★★★☆☆ 3 (9)

"What makes a great dive bar? How about when the bartender finishes her shift, she comes to the other side of the bar, sits down with you and starts drinking??? Years ago, Al's was the bar you were never allowed to take your boss to. Mostly because at any given time, any number of my co-workers might be in there drinking during work hours. Now, it is just the great little dive bar it aspires to be. Cold beer, really cheap. Nice location. Park around back, your boss, or your wife will never see you!!"

Bar Granada

★★★★☆ 4 (35) • $$

"Bar Granada is a cool modern bar/restaurant in Downtown Dayton. The space itself is stunningly beautiful and very inviting. It has a very upscale feel to it. The staff are very friendly and great with explaining the menu and drink options. The menu is somewhat limited/small with a South American theme but it seems that they've hit gold with the selections on offer. We started with the Guacamole and it was delicious, fresh and bursting with flavor. For entree I had the Birria Bowl and it was pretty great. It definitely was not a traditional Birria which is very stew like but still delicious. Overall I will definitely be back to Bar Granada and I'd absolutely recommend them."

Heather's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (80) • $$

"While visiting from out of town, we were looking for a spot for breakfast that didn't have a 30-40 min wait ‍ I'm so glad we found Heather's! The cafe is in an old house in an adorable, quaint little downtown. I had read another review that mentioned ordering at the counter and then seating ourselves, but they actually had us sit at any table and then brought us menus. I got a cinnamon sugar latte which was just lovely and got my day off to a great start. For breakfast we each got the southwestern tortilla which was DELICIOUS. The sauce was super tasty, and it was a satisfying breakfast without being too much food. Notably they have several vegetarian options on the menu!Heather's was right up my alley and is the perfect little brunch or lunch spot - or just for coffee. Definitely would recommend!"

PNC Pavilion

★★★★☆ 3.9 (21) • $$$

"Nice Venue at Coney island. Musical groups of all quality. Wish you could buy tickets oytside of ripoff Ticketmaster. Went recently for Rick Springfield. Very low tech. Food and drinks are overpriced. Alcoholic drinks are a major ripoff!"

Grandview Tavern

★★★☆☆ 3 (135) • $$

"I remember it being better 3 or 4 years ago, maybe the dinner menu. Flight delayed at CVG airport, stopped in for a quick drink & bite. Nice bar ambience & outdoor seating. Red pepper soup was good! Fish & Chips were alright. It was served on toast, which I thought was weird. Usually a Fish & Chips Sandwich comes on a hoagie or something bigger for the two pieces. A bit over fried. Bartender was nice & quick."

The Westside Venue

★★★★★ 5 (3) • $

"Great place! Great central location in the heart of Cheviot. Perfect venue for weddings, showers, get togethers, company parties, class reunions, reveal parties, birthday parties, family reunions, the list goes on. Would highly recommend. Very accommodating and great service. Mary the owner is awesome!! Cannot say enough good things about this place and the owner."

The 86 Coffee Bar

★★★★★ 4.7 (100) • $

"Wanted to try a new coffee shop and got to visit the 86 Coffee Bar on a Saturday afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of outlets available for people who were doing work and I appreciated the free WiFi with no time limit. The chairs also had some cushion to them and the booths were comfortable. Parking is slightly more challenging with street parking, but it wasn't too hard to find a spot a short walk away. I'm sure this place is probably extremely busy during the school year, but over the summer, there were plenty of seats. Can't forget the drinks which were pretty good too - excited to come back again!"

Broadway Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (10) • $

"This used to be a happening little place back in the day so I figured I would take a step back in time and see how it was. Some things never change the drinks are still cheap believe it or not you can still get a beer for $2.50. They serve food until I think 9 pm that maybe wrong. After 9pm they allow patrons to smoke inside the bar. YUCK!!!! Which is something that hasn't changed from when I went back in the day. Music is subpar but they have darts and pool. Over all if you go there to socialize with people and haveit's not an awful time."

Blue Note Harrison

★★★★☆ 4 (5)

"I hadn't been inside this place in ages and it hasn't changed much. We saw a comedy show here this weekend. The comedian commented that he felt like he had stepped back into the 80's and thought it was great. We did too! The venue has a weird set up with it kind of being divided into two rooms. It makes seeing the stage and performer(s) difficult from tables in the back of the farthest room. The sound was fine, the comedian could be heard all around. The bar service was friendly and quick. The restrooms were clean and well lit. The security/event staff were all friendly too."

KJ's Pub

★★★☆☆ 2.5 (20) • $$

"Locals kind of bar. Nothing to shake a stick at. The food was typical bar food but after seeing the bathrooms I wish I would have not eaten there."

Tin Roof

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (155) • $$

"Tin roof is always a good time. Just a cool place with a fun atmosphere. The food is killer and the drinks are priced well. Even when it's packed we get pretty good service. Plus who doesn't like a place with live music. I must try for sure"

The Southgate House Revival

★★★★☆ 4 (92) • $

"I much prefer seeing artists/bands in small venues. As such, I was greatly anticipating seeing one of my favorite bands, Son Volt, in the Sanctuary at the Southgate House Revival. While there wasn't much, if any, parking directly adjacent to the venue, there was plenty of parking available in the neighborhood a block or two away. My expectations were reasonably high given that the Southgate House Revival was a repurposed, historic church built back in the 1860s. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, it was very nice that the owners kept the old pipe organ and all of the beautiful stained glass. It made it one of the most unique live music venues that I've ever experienced.I figured, rightly, that the Sanctuary would be large enough to attract a national act like Son Volt, but intimate enough to offer excellent sightlines to the stage. It was a sold out show. I don't know what constitutes a "sell out" in the Sanctuary, but it was standing room-only venue. I'm guessing there were around 500-600 people in the crowd. Additionally, since it was an old church, I assumed, correctly, that the acoustics of the room would be much better than your average music venue of comparable size and definitely much better than an outdoor "shed" like the sonic mud bog, Rose Music Center in Huber Heights. I was up by the stage and the sound was clear, but not ear splitting. I didn't move around so I can't say if there were some places, which may have been acoustically better or worse.In my mind, I couldn't find any negatives for my first Southgate House Revival show. Would I go back? In a heartbeat, if a band or artist that interested me was performing."

Tipsy Cow Cynthiana

★★★★★ 4.5 (2)

"This place just opened a week or two. My daughter was asking if we tried it. There Facebook book page showed $2 tacos on Tuesday.They really good and we were really pleased with our experience.I've been there Georgetown place once, So I had no expectations.If you want a drink and light meal & not a pay lot. Great alternative to paying double or triple at a Micro brew.They have live music Friday & Saturday.We paid $27 for 5 Tacos, loaded fries & 3 beers..."

Lawrenceburg Event Center

★★★★☆ 3.8 (11) • $$$

"We came here for a Sinbad show, the faculty was very clean and huge! I loved the concession stands in the actual room we were in. We were in the 2nd row on the bleachers and could actually see Sinbad pretty good. The venue looks a lot bigger from the outside. I also loved that there was security and metal detectors walking in - YOU know people are crazy now days :( Bathrooms are nice, location is perfect and I would absolutely go back to this venue. I loved the show also."

Lori's Roadhouse

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (41)

"Went for line dancing! I actually had a good time will definitely return! Jennifer provided great service!!"

Stanley's Pub

★★★★☆ 3.6 (37) • $

"Great venue for up coming bands!!! Great sound in the room. Yes it has a bit narrow quarters but it's just right!! They have an outdoor patio that you can get away to chat a bit with your fellows. They have a plethora of alcohol drinks!! I had their Wild Turkey bourbon straight which is one of my favorites that has a huge kick so ladies be careful unless your tough to handle it!! Enjoying the music tonight!! Stringbreakers and Stuffbreakers band from Brazil They made their first debut in the States at Stanley's Pub!! How awesome.....the manager has a huge heart and was a pleasure to meet all of them!! Gone Solo!!"

Our Place Dance Club

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (14) • $

"This place is OK. I can't say that I go around to many dance clubs, but this is a dance club in a place you would not think there is a dance club! It is tucked behind the McDonald's and Max pizza pub in Landon Square.To be honest, I thought the name Our Place was something to do with retirement or older people. I was wrong! You can definitely tell that the owners put all of the money they receive it back into the place. There is beautiful comfortable seating all around the dance floor, as well as a place for bands to play on stage. The couple times I have been here, it has not been live music -there was a DJ- but it definitely has the capability to have a live band if they wanted to.Bathrooms are clean, the staff was friendly. They play either 70s 80s disco music or Latin. Usually they are only open on Fridays or Saturdays, but sometimes they are open on both Fridays and Saturdays. Check their website for details. As it goes in the dance world, most people don't get there until late. I showed up when the DJ started around nine (doors opened at 8:30). Unfortunately, there were about less than 10 of us until late in the evening. When I left around 1130, the dance crowd had still not arrived. I had a blast with my girlfriends, but if you are looking for partner dancing, it just depends on when the dance crowd will show up. Because the dance club is open until 230 or 3 o'clock in the morning, dancers tend to come in late. The cover was $6 to get in with a costume since the night was themed or $10 without. Just no they only take cash throughout the place! To get any drinks (they only sell bottled water for two dollars) or to get in, you need cash. They do have an ATM at the front door if needed."

Know Theatre of Cincinnati

★★★★★ 4.6 (69) • $$

"This was my first time at the Know Theatre. It's located downtown Cincinnati with meter and other parking options. There appear to be restaurants in the area as well to grab food before or after the show. Getting in was very easy. There is a bar located inside and you are able to take drinks up to the theater. There is an elevator for those who need it. Awesome show and great cast. I grew up in the theater so I am critical of shows. The cast did a great job in their various roles. I love how it all plays out in front of you and how they utilize the stage. Although there were five actors playing various parts, you were able to connect with each role being played. I would definitely return to the theater for additional shows. I did hear them mention one that stood out to me so I will be following them to support in the future."

Yelp's VIP Concert Experience at Bogarts!

★★★★★ 4.8 (16) • $$$$

""I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die..."A group of us Elite were treated to a VIP experience at Bogart's during a fantastic Johnny Cash tribute band show a couple nights ago! Great show, yummy food, nice company, and all the Yelp swag that you could have!The good:- Our own VIP area with bartenders & waiters.- Private staircase straight up to the VIP area.- Our own bathrooms!- No lines, no waits.- Complimentary pop[Yelp]corn!- Samples of chicken with different sauces.- Chocolate coins on the tables. - The swag bags (with free tickets to an upcoming show).- Reduced price drink specials.- Feeling exclusive in the VIP area.- Great view overlooking the main floor -- and not too far from the stage.- And of course, the free tickets for the night!- JOHNNY CASH! Love.The reasons I hesitantly took away a star:- The acoustics. The VIP area itself is sweet but we couldn't hear the music well due to the high conversation level and the music seemed to stop before it hit the VIP balcony. When we went down to the main floor, the sound was SO much better. I wonder why.- The lighting. I'm a newbie to the area and I depend on sight to communicate (I'm hard of hearing). Usually, there is decent lighting before a show but it was really dark up in the area before and during the show. My husband and I decided to keep to ourselves since we didn't know anyone and couldn't really see. Fortunately, Cindy introduced us to a couple other Yelpers early in the night; we hit it off and enjoyed the wonderful company (thanks, Cindy!).- It was cold. Too cold for a music venue in an area where we sit.- The drinks were OK. We didn't love them. Bummer.The people who work at Bogart's are very friendly -- it's a very pleasant venue. And, not only did each person with a swag bag get two tickets to an upcoming Pink Floyd cover band show, but as we walked out of Bogart's, we were each handed two MORE tickets! NICE! My husband and I look forward to coming back for a few more concerts. There's been some (and will be) big names here. We enjoyed our evening, thank you Yelp/Cindy + Bogarts!"

PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation

★★★☆☆ 3 (10) • $$

"This place is almost--almost--a carbon copy of the Columbus venue, except that it's better. Here's the edge:- Parking under the venue. It's a little annoying to get in and out, but the fact that you can 1) hang out in your car instead of waiting in a huge line to get in and then 2) take one of the stairwells at the back of the hill straight down to your parking spot is great. Worth $20 in my opinion. - Two entrances, which is one more than C-bus. - Two counters serving food. Unclear if Mikey's Late Night Slice is actually made on premises, but you can get it at the bars on either side of the stage. This prevents the Pizza Pile-Up that tends to happen in Columbus as people come in and head straight for the food just inside. - Many, many bars. In addition to the big two with pizza, I counted at least 3 more (one is in the VIP area). - A little more lax on the rules (maybe?). My review of the Columbus venue recounts the time I arrogantly thought my small crossbody purse would be allowed inside. At this venue, I saw plenty of women (and some men) with actual bags that size, not just the tiny clutches that are supposed to be allowed. Heck, I saw someone with an honest-to-goodness umbrella, which is definitely not allowed per the official rules on the website. I'm not saying you should purposely flaunt the rules here, and you still have to get your whole self through a metal detector, but you might have a tiny bit more wiggle room across the river here. - Finally, THE VIEW! Enjoy a lovely Queen City backdrop as you listen to your band of choice into the night."

Knotty Pine Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (13) • $

"Top live music venue at the corner of Blue Rock and Cheviot. They have live acoustic Wed and Thurs and then full bands 9-1 on Fri and Sat. Super fun place with pool tables and killer sound and light shows for the bands. Check them out!!"

J.D. Legends

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (51) • $$

"Went to a concert and loved it! Took girls from work! It was a fun night. They danced a lot!"

Pirate's Cove Tropical Bar & Grill

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (161) • $$

"Three stars for the location in the Marina, decent service, live music, and who doesn't feel like they are on vacation drinking in a tiki hut? Food? meh. Stick to what the staff eats and you'll be fine."

Trillions Sports Bar And Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (11)

"Great band atmosphere. Great musicians on our night. Food was really good. Quesadilla was made with love. Boneless wing basket was generous and great batterReal people. This is us."

Arnolds Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4 (386) • $$

"A step into Cincy history always a good time. Service and food very good. Crowded sometimes but in a fun way."

Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra

★★★★☆ 3.8 (23) • $$

"Very nice space and concert experience.The lobby is large and spacious, able to accommodate multiple bars and a merchandise table.The theater is large and comfortable with good sound.The staff are friendly and helpful.We walked to the venue from a hotel, but there seemed to be parking nearby."

Riverfront Live

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (19)

"Great place to watch live bands. No food served but plenty of beverages. You can also rent a table for the show if you get here early enough."

The Mockbee

★★★★☆ 4.3 (16) • $

"The Mockbee is under new ownership and back open for business in Brighton/edge of OTR district along Central Parkway.The new team has a bar open on weekend nights and working with variety of organizations - Contemporary Arts Center, local bands on having events on a regular basis.Come check out one of the coolest spaces in Cincinnati there area all sorts of areas to explore in this historical space & more to come soon including working on a parking lot on the side of the building."

Minglewood

★★★★☆ 4.2 (150) • $$

"The food, decor and service are stellar! I was born and raised in Lexington, but moved to Georgia after graduating undergrad where I have remained since. We didn't have anything as unique, inviting with such engaging service when I was growing up and going to school in Lex! This collage is from a trip in 2017 and I still think of this place often 7 years later. I only wish I could stop in at least once a week for a bite and the exceptional, kind and genuine people that work and tend to patronize this one of a kind place! Can't recommend enough - if you're considering just do it!"

The Woodward Theater

★★★★☆ 4.1 (41) • $$

"This isn't a grand hall or an elegant venue, but it's filled with charm and TONS of character. The exposed wood on the ceiling instantly told me that I was in a facility that was embracing the character of Main Street and Over-the-Rhine as a whole. I came for a performance by Passion Productions (think aerial arts/silks/artistic pole dancing... SUCH a cool performance), but the venue holds tons of different acts and private events.I had the chance to interact with the bar a decent amount while at The Woodward Theater (What can I say? I was wearing my party-pants.). The staff was quick and efficient and remembered my name and drink order! I was really impressed with how relaxed the staff was even as the venue filled up and the line at the bar lengthened. Overall, I was super impressed with the venue and its staff. I can't wait for the next excuse I have to come to The Woodward Theater."

Northside Tavern

★★★★☆ 4.2 (118) • $$

"Northside Tavern is a good neighborhood bar. It's located in a hipster neighborhood, but this is very casual. The bar hosts a lot of local bands. It's a good music venue considering it's a dive bar. The atmosphere is good for conversation or listening to live music. I had a whiskey and Coke. It was only about $3 for a good size glass. The happy hour is good, and it's usually not loud until later. In the middle of the week it's a lot quieter, except sometimes if there's a show. Many times even then it won't be that loud though. It has multiple rooms all with varying loudness. The front of the bar is the rowdiest. It has a quieter lounging area in the middle. The courtyard is the nicest place. It's a little better than a pure dive bar. It's kept up s lot better. This is a good place for seeing local bands cheap."

Peach's Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (212) • $$

"This is one of many stops at Peach's Grill. My husband had the wings but was disappointed that they weren't crispy as he asked for them to be. He liked the sauce. I had the chicken wrap and it was tasty as usual. Since it was Saturday, the place was packed. We were told it was a 20 to 30 minute wait. We could see an open table. After 20 minutes, we were seated there. I assume this was done deliberately for staff not to be overwhelmed. Our server was great. Not too many options in Yellow Springs especially on a busy Saturday. This is my favorite choice."

The Andrew J Brady Music Center

★★★★☆ 3.6 (46)

"I have been to a few events at The Andrew J Brady Music Center. It's definitely one of my favorite venues in Cincinnati! The way the auditorium is set up allows for great seating no matter which level you're on. I usually opt for the first balcony as it gives a perfect view. The venue works well for both concerts and conferences. There are several bars and concession stands. Highly recommend grabbing tickets to an event here."