Another Cincinnati bar is getting some big love from USA TODAY. But first, a little backstory.
Cincinnati has quite a history when it comes to brewing beer. In the 19th century, it was among the largest producers of German lagers in the United States. That’s thanks to the thousands of German immigrants who came here, settling primarily in the city’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Back then, there was no way to refrigerate the beer barrels, and Cincinnati’s climate made it hard to keep them from spoiling during the hot summers.
The solution was a series of interconnected lagering tunnels that were dug hundreds of feet below the city. Once refrigeration came into play, those caves were mostly abandoned, the last of them shuttering around 1850. But in 2019, Josh Heuser was approached by a local development firm to see if he could bring at least one of them back to life. The result is Ghost Baby, a Roaring ’20s-meets-Duran Duran ’80s cocktail bar and live music venue that’s turned into one of the most popular joints in town.
The bar’s reputation extends beyond the Ohio River Valley, winning the hearts of out-of-towners and, it seems, the national media. Want proof? Well, USA TODAY just named it one of its 29 USA TODAY Bars of the Year for 2025.
Heuser said he is thrilled his unique vision of a juke joint-meets-jazz bar is resonating nationwide. But he has a good idea why. “Some places serve a drink. Ghost Baby serves a moment,” he said. “We’ve always said that if guests leave feeling transported – even just for an hour – then we’ve done our job. We’re honored that USA TODAY recognized a destination where history and hospitality meet.”
What makes Ghost Baby in Cincinnati, Ohio, stand out
Located four stories below the ground, Ghost Baby is accessible by either stairs or an elevator. There is no sign outside, just two purple lights on a quiet Over-the-Rhine side street, giving it the feel of a 1920s speakeasy. Since Heuser grew up in the ’80s, he wanted to bring an element of the ’80s “rock star rebel” into the mix. “Tension in design always makes for a good space,” he said.
Ghost Baby is done up in 1920s jewel tones electrified by neon-hued Duran Duran-era purples and pinks. It’s a stunning venue, divided into two connected spaces. The Den, as it’s called, is located beneath a breathtaking brick-and-mortar archway. Surrounding a large stage are bistro tables and crushed velvet banquettes illuminated by sepia-toned table lamps. A cocktail bar called the Rattle Room (the bar is shaped like a rattle) is decorated with ’20s fringe and ’80s turquoise chandeliers, combining two dramatically different eras into one. Wood millwork adds warmth, and there’s plenty of seating, including more of those crushed velvet banquettes.
Live music happens in the Den, where you might find Dan Radank, aka Old Green Eyes, who plays songs from the Great American Songbook, including those of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and Tony Bennett. Ghost Baby also offers bluegrass, party bands and burlesque.
About that name.
According to Ghost Baby’s website, it was inspired by an odd incident that happened during the construction of the bar. Apparently, just after a construction worker installed the first light bulb to illuminate the tunnel to start construction, he climbed a ladder (then the only way to access the space) to retrieve a second one. When he returned, the first bulb was shattered, the wire swinging as if it had been hit by something. Some people have also claimed to hear odd noises in the tunnel, including the sound of a baby crying.
The USA TODAY honor is not the first time Ghost Baby has been recognized nationally. In 2022, Esquire magazine named it as one of the best bars in the country, with writer Joshua David Stein describing it as “an ambitious Babylon Berlin-feeling nightclub.”
Heuser thinks he knows why people are so attracted to his bar. Beyond its quirky location, its haunted history and its high-end cocktails, it offers people something that’s hard to come by in this digital age where everything we want is at our fingertips. “What customers really want right now is a sense of discovery.”
What to order at Ghost Baby
The No. 3: This combination old fashioned/Manhattan is smoked with a combination of cherry wood, star anise and cinnamon. It’s made with Bulleit bourbon, amaro and a combination of Luxardo, tiki and Angostura bitters.
The No. 5: Inspired by the Penicillin, a 21st-century scotch-based cocktail invented at New York’s Milk & Honey Bar, it’s made with Johnnie Walker Black, Cointreau, maple chili, simple syrup, carrot juice, ginger jam and lemon juice.
The No. 7: Ghost Baby’s take on the margarita packs a punch with Astral Blanco tequila, the warming spice of falernum, lime and orange juice, mint-infused agave, mango and cream.
Ghost Baby does not display a full drink menu online, as it prides itself on being a little mysterious. But feel free to reach out on social media, or go in blind, as we recommend. You’ll find something you like.
Details: 1314 Republic St., Cincinnati (Over-the-Rhine), Ohio; 513-381-5333, ghost-baby.com. Instagram: @ghostbabyotr.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati underground bar named one of best in US. We reveal its spooky secrets
Reporting by Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
