Pilar

Hemingway was a complicated man. Raised by an overbearing mother, pushed to question his masculinity . . . the man drowned his sorrow in alcohol. But man, he would have been an interesting dinner companion and would have been an interesting drinking buddy.Pilar's menu offers riffs on Hemingway novels and the Hemingway daiquiri. I had the classic Hemingway, which was a little sweeter than what I'm used to, but still very good. Mad with rum, luxardo, lime, grapefruit. I also had the Green Hills of Africa, made with reposado, dolin genepy le chamois, pineapple poblano cordial, lime, and tajin. Lighter and more refreshing than the original daiquiri.I loved how the menu explained how each drink related to a Hemingway story, and I wish I had paid more attention to this while there. Makes me want to go back again. And would definitely be fun to choose your drink according to the literature description rather than the flavor description.For example, I would definitely try the porter, which is described as, "centering on a conversation between a hotel porter and a guest, Hemingway encapsulates themes of loneliness and the longing for understanding in a world marked by social divides."There is a whole section for different daiquiris and pretty much all rum and gin based drinks with a vodka cocktail or two. They also have beers, seltzers, wines, and a mocktail called "Hemingway's last choice."Super reasonable prices.I wish I had gotten more photos of this colorful bar with the large open windows, inviting patio, and tropical wallpaper, but I was with a guest and try not to spend too much time on my phone.Staff is attentive. Wasn't too crowded when we went, but it was a Monday afternoon. I can see this place getting crazy on weekends on game days. But very nicely decorated and beautiful dark wooden bar.I don't visit Cincinnati often, but if I come back, this place is definitely on my list. So much more to explore here and a lot more fun to be had.

I really liked this bar upon my first visit. The nods to Hemingway are really cool. A lot of the drinks are inspired by his books and life. The bartender was very friendly and explained the drinks well. It's extremely clean with a great patio. Good view of Court Street when the windows are open. The happy hour prices are really good. I had the Hemingway daiquiri and it was nice and strong. Good flavors. Lots of traditional daiquiris on the menu to try. Great place to get a few drinks before dinner on Court Street. Will be back.

Had a great time at Pilar! I love a cocktail-focused bar menu and they certainly have their share. Bartenders were really cool and quick with their service. The atmosphere is really cozy and cool. There's outdoor seating for nice days and they host different events often.

Pilar is a small cocktail bar with a Hemingway theme. The menu has a number of daiquiris and cocktails with names and descriptions from Hemingway novels. I liked that it was decorated for Christmas.I had the Cafe Papa, which had rum, coffee liqueur, cold brew, and vanilla. This drink was pretty good - kind of like an espresso martini, but not as creamy.Second, I had the Snows of Kilimanjaro, which had Bourbon, rhubarb, tamarind nectar, house made grenadine, lemon, grapefruit bitters, and a flamed luxardo cherry and a lemon peel. This drink was definitely much better than the first. Very tasty.

Super cute cocktail bar that is perfect for a quick stop before or after going to dinner nearby! The bartenders were friendly and very experienced. We had a group of 5 and we had 4 different types of cocktails among us and we all loved our drinks!They also have a cute patio that I would love to sit on with a couple drinks when the weather is nice.

Great happy hour prices! Can't beat $5 pours of wine for happy hour. The cocktail menu is also great. Some of the cocktails are too sweet for me, however tiki type cocktails are supposed to be that way. I always have a great time here and I love the different events they throw - from watching soccer games to live music to DJs at night.

Came to Pilar during Santacon this year, LOVE it. It's in such a hole in the wall in OTR, a smaller bar that gets to be pretty crowded, but in the best way. I felt like it was such a great place to go with family/friends because you can still hear each other talk. The drinks are fabulous. They are known for their daquiris, and they will exceed all expectations. I don't quite remember which drink I got but I think it was the "Up in Michigan" cocktail. My whole group was sampling each others' drinks, and not one disappointing. If you're not a fan of mixed drinks, Pilar has a surprisingly extensive tap list, hitting all taste pallets. I would totally come back here with my partner, a group of my girlfriends, or even my family again. The bar is Hemingway theme and was totally hip and perfect for young professionals.

Been here several times and it's always great. Plenty of draft beers and wide variety of cocktails b average price, friendly staff, great vibe. Happy hour on weekdays. Beware there's no food. Would return.

Great service and good drinks! We stopped in over the weekend and thought it was a cool place. It has a Key West and Hemingway theme. It's pretty small but there's a patio and seating along the large open windows. That's where we found a seat, after ordering drinks at the bar, for some fresh air and people watching during the food festival. I had a Manhattan and it was fantastic. The bartender had to look up how to make it but she nailed it perfectly. My husband decided to order a cocktail after he had a beer. I've only seen him drink a cocktail one other time in 14 years and that was in Key West. He ordered a Zombie. The bartender, having never heard of it, looked it up and found it was an old drink. He eagerly made the cocktail and my husband said it was awesome. We'd stop in again when visiting downtown.

What could make someone put Hemingway and bar together, I have no clue. But I love it!! The atmosphere, the names of the cocktails and the staff all work well together to make your experience awesome. They have a nice variety to keep to pleased and yet the menu isn't so diverse that you get lost in it. The staff were courteous and helpful in their recommendations and the service was well above average and quick. I can not say enough good things about my experience here. Tips to make your visit a success:1) Order at the bar. This place is quaint in size but robust in talent. They have ample bar staff ready to help and so you can easily go to the bar to order your drinks and then take them to your table and relax there.2) Don't sleep on their Daiquiris. Are you a daiquiri persons? Maybe you are or maybe you're not, nonetheless you must try one here. They were so good I got several and wrote about it later, literally doing that right now. Need i say more.Check out Pilar and enjoy a great time!!