Where to Find the Best of Cincinnati’s Nightlife
One of the greatest things about living in Cincinnati is having access to a wide array of brewery, winery, and bar options. In fact, CityBeat named Cincinnati the second-best city for nightlife in North America.
Are you itching to go out? Maybe you just want to unwind and relax with friends after work. Or you want to try out a new restaurant for a date. No matter what urges you to take a night out on the town, you have plenty of options to choose from. Make sure you visit one of these top Cincinnati breweries, wineries, and bars the next time you are out.
Want to give your friends a pass to their favorite Cincinnati brewery, winery or bar? Consider purchasing a GiftYa personalized gift card for them! Going out is not always friendly on the wallet, so having extra change on hand for another drink or appetizer always provides a great deal of relief. GiftYa cards are completely customizable, making it easy to send your loved one a personalized message along with their gift. Because GiftYa cards are entirely electronic, your friends will never have to worry about losing them. Go ahead and pick a place you know your friends will love to give them the gift of a fun night out.
Treat yourself to a beer as you join one of the brewery’s many old-school board games. Image courtesy of Rhinegeist Brewery
1910 Elm St.
Over-the-Rhine District
Since 2013, Rhinegeist Brewery has served high-quality beer and cider to the city of Cincinnati. Its 25,000 square foot, active brewing facility resides in the historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. The brewery shares a rich history, as it inhabits the former bottling plant for Christian Moerlein Brewing Co., a famous beermaker that was active before the Prohibition era.
The brewery is divided into two areas: the taproom and the rooftop. Guests are welcome to grab a beer and play one of the many taproom games provided. Cheetah, Little Bubs, Bubbles, and Wowie are just a few beer options offered in the taproom. Swizzle and Semi-Dry ciders are also sold here. Feeling hungry? Stop by Findlay Market to pick up a quick meal to enjoy with your drink. Because the taproom tends to fill up quickly, we recommend making a reservation before going. On nice days, the brewery opens up the rooftop bar. Cocktails and wine are offered up here. No food is allowed up there, however.
Rhinegeist also hosts regular events, including trivia nights and fundraisers on Wednesdays. The brewery also hosts one-off events, such as food cook offs and film nights. Check out the Rhinegeist website for a full schedule of upcoming events.
A variety of tour options are available for visitors. For an immersive, 90 minute tour of the Rhinegeist facility as well as a complimentary beer tasting, we recommend signing up for the VIP Tasting Tour. Specialty Tasting Tours are also available for visitors looking for a comprehensive beer tasting. Each tour focuses on a specific beer style, such as hoppy brews or Belgian beers. History buffs will be especially impressed by the Historical Tour, which focuses on the history of the Rhinegeist Brewery. Both private and public tours are also available.
“We always have to stop at Rhinegeist when in the area. Truly one of the best breweries. The beer is consistently awesome, as is the service.” - Yelp review
Give back to the community as you enjoy a sip of beer. Image courtesy of MadTree Brewing.
3301 Madison Rd.
Oakley
MadTree Brewing is passionate about providing high-quality beer while also giving back to the community. As a member of 1% for the Planet, MadTree donates 1% of its profits to organizations dedicated to environmental sustainability. Since its founding, MadTree has donated 15,000 saplings to regenerate forests, canned 3,000 beers a day in their production facility, sent 50,000 pounds of spent grain to local farms every week, and recycled 2,100 plastic handles a month.
Both general and private tours are available for visitors. General Tours include a walk-through of the facility and a token for a beer of your choice. Private Tours must be scheduled at least one week in advance, and require a minimum of 15 people per group.
MadTree hosts Taproom Trivia every Monday at 7 PM and Vinyl Night every other Tuesday. Each year, the brewery hosts the MadTree Bonanza, a community celebration filled with beers, food, and live music. Admission is free! However, guests will be unable to enter the event if it reaches capacity. We recommend trying to get there early to secure a spot there. Visit the MadTree website for a full list of upcoming events.
Buy a GiftYa To MadTree Brewing >
“In my opinion, this is the best brewery in the city. MadTree's taproom is a great place to go regardless of the time of year. In the warmer months, the outdoor patio is the place to be.” - Yelp review
Experience historic Cincinnati in one of the most unique breweries in the city. Image courtesy of Urban Artifact.
1660 Blue Rock St.
Northside
Built into the old gymnasium of the historic St. Patrick’s Church in Northside Cincinnati, Urban Artifact is one of the most unique breweries in the city. Aside from its taproom, Urban Artifact has a full bar and a venue for live music. When the weather is nice, guests can enjoy a beer in the brewery’s outside courtyard. For colder nights, visitors can stay warm in the expansive taproom, which fits up to several hundred people.
Urban Artifact offers a variety of beer options on-tap, including The Gadget, Pinwheel, Bloody Mary, and Finn. On-deck options include Photo Booth, Spyglass, Gramophone, and Astrolabe. Urban Artifact also sells a variety of carry-out beers. Not in the mood for beer? A full cocktail menu and wine list are also available for guests. Their non-alcoholic options include Deeper Roots Coffee, Pepsi products, and Skinny Piggy Original Kombucha.
Urban Artifact hosts weekly and monthly events, including a Tuesday Night Open Mic night and a Parfait Tapping Bar. Live music, of course, is hosted on a regular basis. For a full list of upcoming events, visit the Urban Artifact Facebook page.
Want the latest updates and information on local brewing? Check out the blog page on Urban Artifact’s website. Everything from features on fruit beers to seasonal goses is covered.
“The sheer amount of breweries in Cincinnati has turned me into a beer lover! And Urban Artifact is a MUST TRY in Cincy.” - Yelp review
Enjoy wine made from American heritage grapes. Image courtesy of The Skeleton Room.
38 W McMicken Ave.
Cincinnati, OH
Housed in a historic 1900’s warehouse in the northern area of Over the Rhine, The Skeleton Room offers a unique experience for wine lovers. Before becoming a winery, the building housed a stamping company and a sign manufacturer.
The Skeleton Room prides itself on its focus toward revitalizing the local grape growing region. The winery mainly works with obscure American heritage grapes. All of their wines are dry-focused and heavily-inspired by the heritage of the local region. They are also made on-site and are vegan-friendly.
Since it is a small winery, the wine selections change frequently. Tasting flights are available for all wine selections. Shareable light bite foods are also provided. Their homemade pie, regional meats and cheese, and vegetarian snacks all go great with the wine!
The winery occasionally hosts private events, so make sure you check their Instagram and Facebook pages for their current schedule of events.
Buy a GiftYa To The Skeleton Room >
“The Skeleton Root is the kind of establishment you hope is passed down for generations. The owners have done an amazing job telling a story with their wines. The cultural history of the Cincinnati wine region/Cincinnati altogether is told in this building.” - Yelp review
Attend weekly events and wine tastings at this boutique Cincinnati winery. Image courtesy of Revel OTR Urban Winery.
111 E 12th St.
Over-the-Rhine
Revel OTR is a boutique urban winery that specializes in promoting local, regional, and family-owned wineries. Its historic 3,000 square foot building is able to house up to 44 barrels of wine. The winery is also known for handcrafting small-batch wines using a process that originated in Italy by the Maieron family. This process has been passed down in the family from generation to generation before reaching this OTR-located winery. Not in the mood for wine? Revel OTR also brews small batches of beer.
Patrons can enjoy wine, food, and beer throughout the first and second floor of the winery. During the weekends, the winery hosts live music on the second floor. Weekly events including Tasting Tuesdays and Give Back Thursdays are also held. For a full list of upcoming events, visit the Revel OTR website.
Revel OTR is perfect for guests looking for a casual, artistic space to relax in. Visitors can also look forward to a new rooftop deck, which is currently under construction.
Buy a GiftYa To Revel OTR Urban Winery >
“I love that Revel hosts community events and parties as well as renting their space upstairs - you can join in on a public event like the Pineapple Day Party series without feeling weird for not rsvp'ing. It's also cool they host comedy nights on Tuesdays.” - Yelp review
You’ll immediately feel a sense of nostalgia as you step into this unique Cincinnati bar. Image courtesy of 16-Bit Bar and Arcade.
1331 Walnut St.
Over-the-Rhine
Ready to relive your childhood memories? 16-Bit Bar and Arcade offers over 50 classic video games, including Donkey Kong and Gauntlet, in its vintage bar. As you relive your childhood, don’t forget to order a beer or cocktail. New wave cocktails, old school cocktails, drafts, and cans are all on the menu.
Want to bring your kids to join in on the fun? All ages are permitted every Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM. Want to change up your after-work drinks? 16-Bit Bar and Arcade also hosts happy hour every Monday through Friday until 7 PM. Signature cocktails, drafts, and wine are all $2 off.
Theme nights, private events, tap takeovers, and pop-up tournaments are hosted on a weekly basis. For the latest news on upcoming events, visit the 16-Bit Bar and Arcade website.
“This place is an absolute blast. We had a ton of fun. Some of these games I have not played in years and it was a ton of fun to play again. We had some of the boozy slushees and they were delicious and dangerous at the same time.” - Yelp review
Cincinnati offers a vibrant and exciting nightlife. Whether you are in the mood for a quiet evening of drinks with friends or a rambunctious night out on the town, Cincinnati has the perfect place for you. What is your favorite Cincinnati brewery, winery, or bar? Tell us in the comments!
