Congrats to Ghost Baby for making USA TODAY’s list of the Best Bars in America. As one of the most unique places in the country. (Where else can you find a 1920s-meets-1980s cocktail bar carved out of a 19th-century lagering tunnel?) I think it’s well deserved.
That said, I’d like to propose five other bars USA TODAY might consider for future lists. From a dive bar near Findlay Market to a 1930s architectural masterpiece, each is unique in its own way.
Lost and Found, Over-the-Rhine
Located in a former garage, this unassuming bar is about as cool as it gets. The space feels like a punk rocker’s first grown-up apartment, with its exposed brick walls, bamboo chandeliers, well-tended plants and artwork. But it holds onto a makeshift aesthetic that makes newcomers think they’ve stumbled upon an undiscovered gem.
The diverse crowds skew younger, but everyone should come here for the beautifully crafted cocktails, not to mention some of the most delicious bar food Cincinnati has to offer, including an excellent bolognese dip and, for my money, the best grilled cheese sandwich in the city.
22 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-834-8441, lostandfoundotr.com.
O’Malley’s in the Alley, Downtown
Often outshone by its younger sister bar − the kicked-back Blind Pig, which is accessed through a hallway in the back − O’Malley’s is a Cincinnati institution worth celebrating. Opened in 1892 on West Ogden Place, it’s the second oldest bar in the city. And with its battered woodwork, tin ceilings and Irish flags, it feels that way.
Regulars gather here for lunches of burgers, wings, fish and chips and a pint or two of Guinness. At night, it’s the ultimate neighborhood joint to catch a Reds game on the TV or just connect with your fellow Cincinnatians.
25 W. Ogden Place, Downtown, 513-381-3114, omalleyscincy.com.
Uncle Leo’s, Over-the-Rhine
Former Senate executive chef LeRoy Ansley and his wife, Jamie, have taken the idea of the nuevo dive bar and finally done it right. Uncle Leo’s − a haven for the service industry, OTR residents and surly old men with hearts of gold − is a recreation of those edgy, dimly lit bars of long ago. But what I like most about Uncle Leo’s is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Ansley and his staff have created a fun gathering place that makes everyone, from young hipsters to old square dads in Polo shirts like me, feel welcome.
Their tongue-and-cheek attitude is especially evident on their Instagram page, which includes videos that might remind you of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” While there’s no kitchen, the bar offers daily specials that might include oysters, beef bourguignon (served out of a crock pot), red beans and rice and lobster rolls, among others.
1709 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-381-2403, uncleleosdive.com.
The Lounge at 1931 (formerly The Bar at Palm Court), Downtown
You will find nothing like it anywhere else. Located inside the 1930s French art deco masterpiece that is the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, the Lounge at 1931 is a place that makes you feel like you’re living a decadent and dangerous lifestyle a la New York City during the Jazz Age. That’s especially true on Friday and Saturday nights when big bands and jazz singers take the stage.
The cocktails are classic and the wine list is so good that it’s been lauded by Wine Spectator magazine. But it’s the atmosphere that draws us with its Brazilian rosewood walls, Rookwood fountain and stunning Romanesque murals. While I still miss the adjacent restaurant’s heyday under the leadership of chef Todd Kelly and pastry chef Megan Ketover, the bar itself is still something we should all cherish.
35 W. Fifth St., inside the Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel, 513-564-6465.
Covalt Station, Milford
Owner Joe Creighton opened this rustic, timber-framed bar and restaurant with his wife, Robin, older sister, Carrie Santoro, and her husband, John, in 2022. In doing so, they wanted a place that reminded them of their family vacations in Northern Michigan and New England.
Two dining areas are decorated with maritime artwork, Native American ephemera and a wood stove. The result is one of the coziest, most relaxed bars in town. A menu of fresh oysters, po’boys, shrimp burgers, salads and soups also makes it a great place for lunch or dinner.
222 Wooster Pike, Milford, 513-239-8155, covaltstation.com.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 more Cincinnati spots worthy of USA TODAY’s Best Bars in America list
Reporting by Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
