A Tour of Nightlife in Downtown Cincinnati: Music, Clubs and More
Our tour starts on Main Street, downtown in the heart of Over-the-Rhine. “OTR” is a historic district in Cincinnati attracting artists of all types. Final Fridays are held every last Friday of the month, when local art galleries and various other establishments open their doors to display original local and out-of-town exhibits and performance art. This monthly celebration of the arts is enjoyed by many and presents the community with an occasion to participate in a culture that is abundant in visual and performance art. Lively, yet contained, Final Friday’s are a great way to take pleasure in the city and the talents of it’s many artists without breaking your bank or staying out until the sun comes up. For the night owls, however, regulars of the Final Friday events can often be found after the galleries have closed at local coffee shops and bars, such as Kaldi’s and Cooper’s Pub, on the main strip.
If you are in search of a little more excitement, smoke, and debauchery, be sure to check out the local dance clubs and music venues. In the downtown area visitors should not overlook Alchemize, recently voted Cincinnati’s Best New Club. Open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday every week, guests should expect to always be amazed by the music in this eclectic venue. DJ, indie, post-punk, garage, new wave, funk, and hip hop are just a sample of the genres featured here. Local artists are also presented and dancing is forever a fundamental element. Comparable to this club is the newly launched Poison Room presenting local and national artists performing everything from metal to blues. Live music is available almost every night and they even sporadically host resident and national stand-up comedians. Interested in house music and plentiful strobe lights? The Lava Lounge is a definite must for the serious “club kids”, highlighting traveling national DJ’s in a comfortable, very stylish, option to other more random locations.
For a bite to eat, or more of a trendy environment, visitors should consider roaming from the downtown area up the hill to Mt. Adams. This area, surveying the city and the Ohio River, is residence to the admired Teak Thai Cuisine, The Celestial (featuring elegant French Cuisine), and an assortment of additional cozy bar-and-grills, coffee shops, and pubs.
Cincinnati’s famous Rookwood Pottery has been converted into a casual dining restaurant where customers can request seating in one of the large, now defunct, kilns. The ambiance in Mt. Adams can be as elegant or as casual as you require, depending on the venue you prefer. In addition, Cincinnati’s scenic Eden Park is nearby, allowing for amorous, moonlit walks around Mirror Lake or Murray Seasongood Pavilion.
Just minutes from Mt. Adams you will find Cincinnati’s college community. The University of Cincinnati invites visitors of all ages and backgrounds and offers various places for dining and entertainment. Bogart’s on Short Vine is a well-liked spot hosting local garage rock bands, and various national acts. The small, gritty, and inexpensive atmosphere is the perfect place for college students on a budget to indulge in some of the hottest music in the city. Clifton is also home to one of Cincinnati’s only art movie houses, presenting a far greater number of independent films than other local cinemas.
Completing out our trip is a quaint neighborhood known as Northside. First on the list is the popular Northside Tavern on Hamilton Avenue. It may seem unassuming, like a small neighborhood bar with its archetypal decor and pool tables. Nevertheless, wait until ten or eleven and treat yourself to some of the finest resident music existing in the city. The sociable and laid-back feel is ideal for everyone, and nightly music keeps the place packed virtually every day of the year. Rock-n-roll, blues, indie, and various other genres ensure a full bar with a spirited crowd of locals and passer-bys alike. It is diverse enough to be interesting, yet inviting enough to not be daunting. A little further up Hamilton Avenue is a similar venue, The Comet. If you feel like a change of scenery but the same surroundings as the Tavern, The Comet is the place to go. Sunday nights feature the Comet Bluegrass AllStars, who consistently draw a crowd, while the remaining nights host an array of different types of music. The Comet also offers a kitchen featuring the biggest and best burritos in town, served until one o’clock in the morning. It is not possible to go wrong with a visit to The Comet, whether you are looking for an undisturbed place to have a beer and chat or a wild time with outstanding music. Before live music begins you can also explore what is commonly known as the best jukebox in Cincinnati. You will not be disappointed and should absolutely make this a stop off on your route.
Cincinnati may seem hushed and somber during the day, but the love of art and music are evident when the sun goes down. A visit to some of this city’s little known or obscure venues is certain to effortlessly influence the outlook of even the most steadfast skeptic. So, on your next trip to the Midwest, do not neglect this trove of undiscovered originality and eccentricity.
