NeighborhoodBars
71 comfortable places to raise a glass and raise your spirits.
Human beings long for connection, and we find it in the places we gather: school, church, work, the gym, and, yes, the bar. Scattered throughout our neighborhoods are those welcoming spots, places where strangers can become friends, where the day’s troubles are eased, where people come together in support—for a team, a cause, each other. Grab a seat. We’ll buy you a drink.
By John Fox, Claire Lefton, Aiesha D. Little, and Amanda Boyd Walters
Photography by Lance Adkins
Edited by Amanda Boyd Walters
Downtown/ OTR/Mt. Adams
Bars in the heart of the city.
Central
Where to grab a drink in centrally located areas like Reading, Norwood, and Pleasant Ridge.
East
The prime watering holes of eastern neighborhoods like Milford, Hyde Park, and Madeira.
West
The West Side's best drinking spots.
North
The bars of the 'Burbs.
Kentucky
Southern sports that serve beer, bourbon, and beyond.
Apartment Bars
These watering holes inside (or adjacent to) residential buildings have a built-in roster of regulars for whom “going out” means staying in.
Name Game
We looked into some of the area’s eponymous establishments and found some interesting history.
Byron Cochrum Says “I Do” to Good Food
Esoteric Brewing’s Artist-in-Residence Series Explores Theme of Connection
Your Guide to Bockfest 2026
Topia Coffee Co-Op Rebrands as Radical Bean Cooperative
