28 Hidden Bars, Lounges and Speakeasies in Cincinnati

Schwartz Point

1901 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
Pianist Ed Moss is a Cincinnati Jazz legend for his musical achievements, but he was also beloved for his low-key venue, Schwartz Point, which was written about as one of the area's "Best Kept Secrets" so often, it really wasn't a secret anymore, particularly among the city's Jazz players. When Moss passed away in 2016, his daughter, Zarleen Watts, decided to honor her father by keeping his passion project going. The club reopened in 2017, retaining the eccentric character and regular Jazz performances that were part of Moss' vision, but modernizing it a bit and adding a new drink menu.

Longfellow's Other Room

109 E. 13th St. and Brackett Alley, Over-the-Rhine
Attached to Longfellow, the bar's Other Room is a separate back drinking spot that has a large list of fluctuating rums. With the vibe of a '50s basement bar — where Desi Arnaz would perform but was managed by David Lynch — the rum curators and bartenders are more than happy to help you find a favorite new spirit from their global collection. The unassuming entrance is at 109 E. 13th and Brackett Alley along Longfellow's strip of side doors and windows, but can also be accessed by walking through the bar's bathroom hallway.

Ghost Baby

1314 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
You'll literally need to go underground to visit Ghost Baby. This subterranean nightclub/music venue is located several stories below Vine Street in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel formerly used by Champion Brewing (beer was aged and cooled in lagering tunnels before the advent of refrigeration). The historic, dimly-lit space, which has been vacant since the 1850s, features soaring ceilings with stone archways and decor that is adorned with "crushed velvet and unpredictability," according to the bar. Guests can expect an immersive experience with art, design, cocktails and live music.

Comfort Station

793 E. McMillan Ave., Walnut Hills
From the team behind OTR's Sundry and Vice comes Comfort Station. This cocktail bar is located in a century-old Walnut Hills rest area. Without much signage outside, guests enter via the original women's room door — now painted a beautiful bright blue — into an industrial and airy space with skylights, inventive cocktails and a living plant wall. A back patio and lounge create an indoor/outdoor feel.

Bar Saeso

1208 Sycamore St., Pendleton
A glowing red, neon sign reading "BAR" is the only hint you get that you're about to enter Saeso, which is tucked away in a small, unassuming building in Pendleton. But once you walk in, you'll know you found something special. Saeso offers an airy, Europen feel as you walk in, greeted by terracotta floor tiles, plants and exposed brick. A marble-topped bar beckons you to sit and chat with a friendly bartender while you browse a cocktail menu that takes the work out of ordering. Walk down a narrow hallway to find another bar space and the entrance to the back patio.

Wiseguy Lounge

1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 603 Main St., Covington; 6099 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
Featuring low lighting, dark wood and rich leather sofas, Wiseguy Lounge will pull you back in time to the days of the Roaring '20s and speakeasies. While inspired by Prohibition, Wiseguy Lounge, found nestled in any Goodfellas pizzeria, doesn't require a secret password. Instead, just walk up and order one of the more than 800 bourbons, hand-crafted cocktails or wide variety of beers from your knowledgeable bartender.

Unexpected

580 Walnut St., Downtown
For some real speakeasy vibes, with all the hush-hush nature and feelings of exclusivity, visit Unexpected. You can access the bar through steakhouse Prime Cincinnati; just inquire with a staff member and you’ll be led down a mural-covered hallway to a secret bookcase entrance. The space is low-lit and moody, perfect for imbibing one of Unexpected’s cocktails or samples from the bourbon selection. You can also become an Unexpected member and enjoy private events.

VII Lounge

7 E. Court St., Downtown
Court Street Kitchen’s attached VII Lounge has a dedicated bar, dimmed lighting and a state-of-the-art DJ booth. When designing the restaurant, owner Braheam Shteiwi said he envisioned the lounge as a space to hang out before or after dinner, grab a drink with friends or catch a game. VII Lounge is accessible through the restaurant’s front door, and tableside cocktail service is available upon request.

The Lounge at Liberty Exhibition Hall

3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside
This watering hole is located in Northside's historic Liberty Exhibition Hall and offers a "friendly vibe in a throwback scene." The Lounge itself is part of a larger nonprofit to preserve the building and aims to be a home to artists of all kinds. Specializing in live music and weekly Jazz nights, the bar offers cocktails, wine, beer and non-alcoholic tea concoctions on the menu.

The Blind Lemon

936 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
The Blind Lemon has been Mt. Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Walk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway. Outside, the relaxed garden patio is like a boho blend of Bourbon Street and Paris café life. It’s also one of the most romantic drinking destinations in the city, offering a delicious selection of cocktails, beer, wine bourbon and scotch.

Oddfellows Liquor Bar

2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Columbus-based watering hole Oddfellows Liquor Bar is an eccentrically themed place to hang out and drink, complete with a wall full of antique finds. It's attached to its sister operation, pizza joint Mikey's Late Night Slice, and visitors can access either through "the grotto," a trippy space featuring a fountain, pink neon signs and ceiling mirrors. On Oddfellows' menu, you'll find tons of beers on tap and seasonal cocktails.

O’Malley’s in the Alley

25 W. Ogden Place, Downtown
Opened in 1892, O’Malley’s in the Alley bills itself as the second-oldest bar in Cincinnati, making it the only bar on this list to be around for and survive Prohibition. The pub offers a straightforward imbibing experience, drink specials and homemade dishes that have stood the test of time, like its beer-battered fish sandwich, fish and chips or wings. You’ll find the entrance in a shady alleyway along Ogden Place, not too far of a walk from Great American Ball Park, making it a must-stop spot before or after a game.

OTR Stillhouse

2017 Branch St., Over-the-Rhine
Want to feel like you're actually back in the 1920s? Head over to one of the first distilleries to open in Cincinnati proper since prohibition, OTR Stillhouse. Try some of their gin, bourbon and blended whiskies on their own or in a specialty cocktail. The petite facade hides the bar and venue's true size. The indoor/outdoor space occupies more than a half-acre of real estate and includes a stage.

The Skeleton Root

38 W. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine
This working winery and event space in Over-the-Rhine pays homage to Cincinnati's wine history by producing heritage and French- and European-style wines, crushed and aged on-site. Wines are produced in-house with minimal intervention, showcasing the terroir of the fruit in bottles of red, white and even rosé wine. The tasting room, with its beautiful illustration of grape harvesters on a Cincinnati hillside, is the perfect backdrop for happy hour.

Mecca OTR

1429 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine
This hip OTR hideaway is a welcoming hangout for those interested in no-frills drinking and L.A. vibes. Find the main courtyard entrance tucked away down 15th Street and cross the big gravel patio, past colorful street-art murals, a panoply of rainbow lighting and a plethora of communal seating to enter a world of hanging plants and the most creatively decorated — dare we say, "selfie-ready" — bar bathrooms in the city.

Merchants Club

18 Distillery Way, Newport
Tucked behind Newport’s Party Source, cocktail bar Merchants Club says it's the only club in town where everyone is a member. The space evokes the memory of its namesake — a long-gone mob haunt from Newport’s seedier days. The space is both sleek and welcoming, with leather and velvet accents and a menu of strong and delicious drinks.

Prohibition Bourbon Bar

530 Washington Ave., Newport
This Newport bourbon bar may not be tough to find geographically, but their hours make them a hard-to-catch destination. Open only on Fridays and Saturdays, Prohibition Bourbon Bar has the look and feel of a speakeasy and offers a selection of thousands of bottles, including the largest collection of bourbon and rye found anywhere in the world, according to the bar. Among its offerings, you'll also find several of the rarest, well-aged whiskeys, as well as Scotch, Irish, Tennessee and Japanese brands; wines by the glass; and craft beers.

Lost & Found

22 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine
Located on a quieter street in Over-the-Rhine, this cocktail bar is a funky, community-driven gathering space with an inventive drink menu and small bites inside of a creative, art-filled environment; it was also once a multi-car garage. Work from local artists fills the walls from room to room.

Northern Row Brewery & Distillery

111 W. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine
Tucked down a quiet street in Over-the-Rhine, Northern Row's taproom and patio slings more than a dozen taps of its own beer, and features a full bar and cocktails made with house-distilled spirits, Five Stories. Northern Row embodies the speakeasy spirit, stating it comes from a "long line of hard-headed, free-spirited hustlers who bent the rules and ignored the laws," and there's only one rule that matters to them now: you indulging in "The Row."

Second Story

100 W. Sixth St., #2, Covington
Covington’s Second Story bar, the latest vision from Lost Co., is an artistic, Southern Gothic oasis for every sort of reveler. Located on the second floor of a former Covington firehouse, the bar’s main space is a large room with stylish and comfortable seating, dazzling chandeliers and hand-painted murals, complemented by large windows. It also brings some garden vibes indoors, featuring a giant artist-created tree “growing” behind the bar that houses bottles of spirits. On the menu, patrons will find cocktails with a variety of bases, not leaning on any one spirit too much. Drinks are made with housemade syrups and housemade tonic and feature amari, which are herbal liqueurs that typically come from Italy and France. There’s even a housemade version of “Fireball” cinnamon whiskey. And like the views through the windows in the main space, the cocktail menu will change seasonally, offering guests fresh experiences with multiple visits.