These are Some of the Coziest Restaurants and Bars in Greater Cincinnati

Highland Coffee House

2839 Highland Ave., Corryville
Although Highland Coffee House isn’t your traditional coffee shop (it doesn’t open until the afternoon), it does offer the same coziness with its artsy, plant-filled interior and comfy seating. This mellow bohemian spot offers a full bar alongside its coffee drinks, as well as boozy milkshakes, pie and cookies. It’s also a favorite spot among University of Cincinnati students to burn the midnight oil to study and finish papers.

Wódka Bar

1200 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Inside the intimate space of Wódka Bar, patrons will be enveloped by deep Prussian blues and rich golds, luxe velvet upholstery and distressed plaster walls, elegant wood paneling and all the intricacies of Eastern Orthodox architecture. The bar is owned by Sarah Dworak, the granddaughter of Ukrainian immigrants and the mastermind behind Babushka Pierogies and the newly opened Eastern European kitchen Sudova, and offers an extensive list of vodkas. The selection includes over 50 types, including Polish and Ukrainian brands lesser known in the United States. To eat, you can try some of Dworak’s cult-favorite pierogies or the Kielbasa Bowl, which features slow-roasted kielbasa, pork ribs and sauerkraut over garlic mashed potatoes.

Sudova

22 W. Court St., Downtown
Recently opened on Court Street, Sudova is the newest concept from Sarah Dworak (Babushka’s Pierogies, Wódka Bar). This Eastern European kitchen features a warm and convivial Old-World-style aesthetic, where traditional dishes, timeless European style and modern tastes blend together. Outside is a gated courtyard for al fresco dining, while the dining room features custom millwork, framed Ukrainian tapestries, stained glass windows from Wooden Nickel Antiques and locally salvaged Eastern European sconces. But the highlight of the dining room is a family heirloom — a well-worn and well-loved dining table that was once in Dworak’s grandmother’s home. On the menu, diners can enjoy modern takes on classic Eastern European dishes, including rye pelmeni (a type of dumpling) with salt cod and potato brandade and topped with caviar beurre blanc; hand-formed varenyky — another type of dumpling — stuffed with house-made tvorog (similar to cottage cheese) and crispy pork belly; Ukrainian specialty green borsch, made with chicken, sorrel and a soft boiled egg; and ice cream made with sea buckthorn berries.

Luca Bistro

934 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
Simple and French cuisine make up the unlikely duo at Luca Bistro. The menu is filled with cozy, flavorful and laid-back dishes that Chef Frédéric Maniet says are common in French foods. Breakfast offers familiar favorites like omelets, tartine and croissants. For lunch, the menu changes to include salads and sandwiches, like a classic Niçoise salad and a mouthwatering croque monsieur layered with delicious ham, gruyère and béchamel. The dinner menu is similar to lunch, with a few more options, including starters like a charcuterie board and basil Boursin crostinis, plus decadent dessert options like chocolate mousse and orange crème brûlée. Diners also can order an assortment of French table wines, along with beers and cocktails. The space is decorated with vintage European posters to really transport you to the bistros of Paris.

Mt. Adams Bar & Grill

938 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
Opened during Prohibition and believed to have ties to infamous bootlegger George Remus, Mt. Adams Bar & Grill looks like you’re stepping back into a charming bar of the past with its vintage wooden bar, stained-glass windows, antique lamps and coffered pressed-tin-style ceiling. While the interior takes you back to another era, the menu is all modern, with varied options like hearty burgers, soups and appetizers like the must-try fried jalapeño ravioli.

The Blind Lemon

936 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
Often called one of the most romantic drinking destinations in Cincinnati, The Blind Lemon’s interior calls to mind an English pub — all moody lighting, copper pots over a fireplace, wooden ceiling beams and stone walls. It’s a cozy spot to enjoy one of the bar’s specialty hot cocktails or a glass of bourbon or scotch when the weather begins to cool. Or, if you prefer a mix of Bourbon Street with a Paris cafe, the boho garden patio allows you some fresh air while still feeling tucked away — not to mention the opportunity to snuggle up around its wood-burning fireplace in the colder months.

Juniper’s

409 W. Sixth St., Covington
Gin is the star of the show when it comes to Juniper’s cocktail menu, with drinks that are crafted with time-tested techniques, but through a lens of innovation that keeps everything exciting and fresh. The bar features a collection of over 200 gins — which is always growing — and an Old World-inspired aesthetic, with low lighting and decor that looks straight out of a Victorian parlor — perfect for sipping on some botanical delights. To eat, you’ll find a rotating selection of tapas, which currently includes bread service featuring local bread with honey brown butter, watermelon salad and Wagyu beef meatballs. Juniper’s also offers Sunday brunch, with a menu featuring twists on classics like the Indian breakfast burrito, birria-stuffed waffle and a toaster pastry with ube (a purple yam common in Filipino desserts) cream cheese.

Nolia

1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine
Bringing New Orleans-style flair and fare to Over-the-Rhine, Nolia offers diners an upscale, yet approachable, experience. The exposed brick and bold floral wallpaper add a bright and airy feeling to the intimate setting, and the rotating, seasonal menu features innovative and delectable plates that add modern twists to classic Southern flavors. To drink, the bar can mix up one of Nolia’s signature cocktails like the honeydew melon martini Irma Thomas or Big Freedia (watermelon-infused mezcal and housemade ginger prickly pear syrup). Nolia also has a selection of red, white, sparkling and dessert wines, as well as its Bloody Mary-style apéritif, the Bayou Shooter.

Abigail Street

1214 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
This wine and tapas bar offers decadent small plates to share in a vibrant, yet cozy setting. The interior is rustic, but modern, with a Mediterranean lean to it, much like the menu. Diners can order a variety of small plates to share, like wood-grilled octopus, fattoush, roasted beets with lebna and baklava and Turkish coffee for dessert. Wine on tap is available by the glass, quartino or bottle.

Zip’s Cafe

1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
Tucking into one of Zip’s Cafe’s vintage vinyl booths or family-style tables and then tucking into one of their famous burgers that will feed you both body and soul is the ultimate cozy dining experience. The dining room is small and classic, transporting you back to a simpler time. It also features an adorable model train that circles the restaurant against the painted backdrop of a small town.

GlendAlehouse Brewery

310 E. Sharon Road, Glendale
You can truly feel like you’re cozied up at home at the GlendAlehouse Brewery. The owners of this family-owned and operated brewery took the first floor of their house and transformed it into a warm, inviting space to enjoy some pizza and beer with loved ones. The interior is still very homey, with comfy chairs, bookshelves and nooks around the space to give it that lived-in feeling. The beer selection is varied, so there’s something for everyone, and the wood-fired pizzas are made from scratch daily.

Caffè Vivace

975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills
For a cozy night of jazz and drinks, Caffè Vivace is the perfect spot. The space is intimate and decked out in autumnal colors that come to life when the lights go down and the music starts to play. During the day, it serves a coffeehouse menu along with hot breakfast sandwiches, a vegan African peanut stew, flatbreads and pastries. But at night, Caffè Vivace transforms into a jazz lounge complete with live music, café drinks, specialty cocktails, beer and wine.

Second Sight Spirits

301 Elm St., Ludlow
Distillery and lounge Second Sight Spirits is truly a sight to behold. Giving off the air of a turn-of-the-century boardwalk carnival mixed with some 19th-century séance vibes, the space is eclectic but cozy. The focal point of the room is where all the spirited magic happens: the Second Sight Still on display on a stage for all to admire. While Second Sight is located on Kentucky’s famed bourbon trail and does distill plenty of good whiskey, it also crafts delicious rums, as well as a hazelnut liqueur and red absinthe.

Fable Cafe

3117 Harrison Ave., Westwood
Fable Cafe owner Brandie Potzick sees the value in third spaces — those places we go between home and work or school that allow us to unwind, maybe catch up with friends or family. That’s partly why she chose the name Fable for her Westwood coffee shop — envisioning friends and families gathered with cups of coffee in hand as they share stories, or parents, like herself, who may tire of the ‘kid places’ but still want to bring their children somewhere with a little bit of magic. And there is magic in the walls of Fable, which offers coziness in a bright and airy space with its rustic, chic design, including a whimsical mural featuring vignettes of fairytale-esque characters drawn by Brandie’s friend, and all-are-welcome ethos. Fable’s menu is classic coffeehouse — simple, no-fuss drinks with a small selection of seasonal, housemade syrups. To eat, try one of the made-to-order breakfast sandwiches or a delicious pastry.

Purple Poulet

846 York St., Newport
Bourbon-bistro Purple Poulet offers its diners a lot of homey, Southern-style charm. The centerpiece of the restaurant is its bar, both the bar’s offerings and the literal bar — like the restaurant’s name, it’s purple and it adds some fun eclecticism to the cute, country-style decor. As for what’s behind the bar, it’s bourbon (and lots of it). Purple Poulet has over 500 bourbons and ryes you can try, and it’s always looking to add to its collection. The restaurant is also well-known for its fried chicken, offering five different ways to try it, including the Fried Chicken and Waffle and "Claim to Fame" dinner. But this isn’t just a fried chicken joint; the Chef Z’s Southern Supper portion of the menu offers up a number of Southern comfort-food dishes, including Z’s Uptown Hot Brown (turkey, ham, bacon, Mornay and fried green tomato on a biscuit), Cola BBQ Ribs and Cornmeal Fried Catfish.

The Härth Room

125 W. Fourth St., Downtown
With its autumnal colors and fiery lighting, The Härth Room is a warm, welcoming place to grab a seat, drink a cocktail or craft beer and listen to some live jazz music. A beautiful fireplace serves as the centerpiece for this stylish, urban lounge — fitting as the bar serves as an extension of Bromwell’s grand showroom of fireplaces and accessories in the neighboring retail space. The bar serves coffee and light bites into the afternoon before switching to classic cocktails like Manhattans and Old-Fashioneds, as well as a selection of beers and wine, later.

Wildflower Cafe

207 E. Main St., Mason
This farm-to-table restaurant offers a menu of elevated American fare from an actual (and adorable) farmhouse in Mason. Wildflower Cafe’s old-school dining room is painted a bright, sunshine yellow to make you feel like you’re sitting in a loved one’s kitchen, and the walls feature chalkboard menus and illustrations of where the restaurant’s locally and sustainably sourced and high-quality ingredients come from. Beef is farm-raised locally and grass-fed, while the extensive wine list offers products from Cincinnati-area vineyards. And to complete the fresh, homecooked-meal experience, be sure to try one of Wildflower Cafe’s desserts, like the gluten-free peanut butter cheesecake or Grandma Sheila’s bread pudding.

Somm Wine Bar

3105 Price Ave., East Price Hill
Food, wine and coziness are perfectly paired at Somm in Price Hill’s Incline District. Share a bottle of wine with loved ones in the intimate dining room or out on the outdoor patio, with its fountain, Edison-bulb string lights and fire table a prime setting for date night. Somm has over 80 kinds of wine to choose from and a menu ranging from charcuterie boards and Angus burgers to filet mignon.

Mid City Restaurant

40 E. Court St., Downtown
Helmed by the same team as popular Over-the-Rhine bar Longfellow, Mid City Restaurant describes itself as intimate and relaxed, with a menu of savory small (but hearty) plates like mushrooms in foil, chicken skewers and a petit steak filet; classic cocktails like the Gibson martini, Manhattan and highball; and vintage desserts like Baked Alaska. The restaurant features cafe-style seating and walls lined with traditional-style oil paintings, as well as a calming beige, white and green color palette for a laid-back dining experience.

Muse Cafe

3018 Harrison Ave., Westwood
This Westwood coffee and wine bar offers up cafe items like frappes and smoothies, plus a sizable food menu that includes breakfast, lunch, tapas and cheese plates. Speaking of cheese, do not sleep on the paninis. Muse is more than a cafe with delicious meals and drinks, however; community is what really sets this place apart, as you also go for the welcoming third-space experience: gathering with friends to catch up, unwinding after a long day with a glass of wine or taking in the live music performances or local art displays.