Blind Lemon

Love the outdoor garden area… but that’s it! The older tall man who acted as host or manager was incredibly rude. He said there wasn’t enough room for us although 3 benches were empty. He spilled a hot drink on my daughter’s hand with no apology. He moved chairs around and slammed them into the back of our chairs. Rudely said to my friend «you need to move» –so that he could put wood on the fire. Cool place –not cool customer service.

Great cozy little space. Very intimate. Drinks are strong and flavorful. Staff are friendly and helpful with drink selections. Great date night place.

Best little bar in Cincinnati! My dad and I went for drinks and enjoyed great wine, music, & service. We sat inside but the outdoor area looked spacious and fun for a warmer night. We were surprised they didn’t have any food offered but the building is old and they don’t have a kitchen, that’s OK. As for drinks & ambiance — this place is a hidden gem!

Very cosy. Almost hobbit like. The winter drinks are wonderful on a snowy day and the butterscotch rum is excellent. Can’t wait to go back in the summer and sit in their garden with something cool and refreshing.

The Blind Lemon is a great spot to grab a table and share a few drinks with friends. You can easily miss the entrance as it is down a dark stairwell in between Mt. Adams Bar & Grill and another business. Once you make your way down to the bar, you find yourself in a little pub type setting. The ceilings are low and there is a lot of woodwork — it’s like a charming little Hobbit-​hole. There are a good deal of specialty drinks and the staff are very friendly and willing to make recommendations. I’ve been when it’s busy, but I’ve never had trouble getting a table. I recommend going while it’s cold out and getting a hot cider.

My husband invited me to check this bar out with him. Given the name, I was a bit hesitant. Once I got there… OMG! This bar is the cutest!!! From from your typical bar! The atmosphere was super relaxing and it was quite. We went on a live band night. The restrooms have a sliding door which made it seem like I was in a train or something. One thing I do advise is watch for the steps when you leave. lol I cannot wait to visit this place once it starts snowing here!

The Blind Lemon is my go-​to, favorite bar in Mt. Adams. A quick walk from either sides of the hill, it is the perfect place to start or end an evening. Walking downstairs, you are greeted by a very intimate setting — whether out on the patio or inside. The servers are attentive and nice. On the weekends, they usually have live music going. And their cocktails are wonderful! Offering all the classics, they also have a winter and summer menu — filled with options that hit the spot for all preferences. My favorite is the Hot Apply Toddy — a warm, spiked apple cider drink with lemon! Definitely stop by when in Mt. Adams, or just make a special trip to visit them! You will not be disappointed.

This place is real find! The atmosphere is very home town and cozy. Their service was great! The waitresses were really friendly.
I ordered the strawberry colada. It was very tasting and the whip cream added the sweetness balance.

Chocolat chaud avec ou sans café et agrémenté de toutes sortes d’alcool… Bayles, Amaretto, Bourbon… Tout simplement délicieux.
L’endroit est unique, décoration hors du temps.
Live musique avec un guitariste dont la voix était tout simplement magnifique !
Endroit à recommander en fin de soirée pour finir dans un endroit exceptionnel !
J’y étais en semaine, mais à priori l’endroit est bondé le weekend !

Dear god, I love this place. This spot offers some versatility that I wasn’t quite expecting when I walked in. You can either sit outside in this awesome walled in back area or go inside and enjoy the ambiance and some live music.
So outside first. When it gets chilly, they have this awesome and ENORMOUS fire pit that you can crowd around for a cozy evening with friends. The servers will bring you warm (alcoholic) drinks while you hang out, and if you get bored, you can throw about eight people in the fire pit because it’s that damn big. We stayed outside for most of the night, but I decided to venture inside to check it out before we left for the night. And here’s the deal. I have a slightly massive obsession with old buildings, and I love quaint little cozy spots with interesting things on the wall. Walking into this place was like walking into a hobbit’s home. It was so neat and unique. They had this great band playing in back, there were a ton of really cool old cups and pots on the walls, and all the tables were all cute and petite. I am 100% coming back really soon so I can enjoy the inside as much as I did the outside.
In short, if you can find a parking spot, check the Blind Lemon out. I can’t believe I’ve lived around here as long as I have and have missed this spot, but it’s going to become a favorite quickly!

Regretting that it took me this long to try the Blind Lemon. Easily the best spot in Mt Adams for a relaxed evening. Great drinks, beautiful outdoor area, well-​executed theme + atmosphere.
It was packed on Friday when we got there, my friends and I were quickly found a place outside by the host. Our waitress, Bethany, was extremely attentive and speedy, despite having at least a dozen other tables to tend to.
Definitely an older crowd. If you’re looking for a crazy «college feel» type bar, this is not it. If you’re over 35 or feel like you’re over 35, the Blind Lemon is the best spot to hit in Mt. Adams.

Seriously — this was our first time here. I know, I know… we should probably be kicked out of Cincy for that. Good thing we live in NKY.
So, we crossed the ocean and grabbed dinner at The Rookwood (updated review in-​process) and walked a few blocks to this cool spot. I think the charm of the Mt. Adams neighborhood is really the beginning of the Blind Lemon. Ivy covering the building, a narrow walkway to the back patio — which is where you should hang out, according to everyone and their brother.
The name comes from an early 20^th century Jazz musician from what I picked up, so, their ‘thing’ is the live music. You’re not going to get screamed at, though, from what I could tell. The musician for this weeknight was an acoustic guitarist playing Neil Young and other classic hits. The volume was pleasant and my wife and I were able to enjoy some adult conversation. Often times at other bars it’s like a yelling match with the music — not here.
They’ll serve you pretzels with your beverage, they do not offer food. I had a «Pearl Harbor» (seriously…could you come up with a more positive name) and they brought it out to me with a massive strawberry and mint leaf on top. I felt manly. My wife had a Malbec that was OK.
We arrived early in the evening (~6pm) and we had the patio mostly to ourselves, which was nice. As the night progressed, more and more groups came. There was plenty of seating, and didn’t feel super crowded. Personally, I’ll probably avoid this place on a weekend, though, as being cramped isn’t my style.
So, for a weeknight date — this is a new ‘place’ we will frequent. If you’re like us, and hadn’t checked this place out, do it! …on a Wednessday.

There are two places in Cincinnati that I waiver back and forth between calling «the best patio in the city», and Blind Lemon is one of them! They have great cocktails (there’s a menu both for the summer and the winter), and a decent craft beer selection. Sitting in the outdoor area in the summer is fabulous because they have some comfy seating where you can listen to the live acoustic music. In the winter, the outside area has heaters and fire pits, so you don’t get cold! There are servers, so you are able to sit and listen to the music without having to get up. The outside area is covered in lush greenery, with climbing vines going up the walls surrounding you.
There is also an inside area, but with what I just described to you, who needs to be indoors? If you insist, the inside has some very unique décor and is dimly lit, making Blind Lemon a perfect place for a date night. My only tip is to be careful with the bathrooms — they aren’t labeled well, and you don’t want to find yourself wandering into the wrong one! :)

One of the cutest little places that you wish you had known about earlier. As a place with options for both indoor and outdoor seating, blind lemon adapts to all seasons (after all… This is ohio!) In the summer, they have live music and patio furniture set out with a great seasonal cocktail menu. During the fall, they have giant fire bit to gather around and keep you warm. And during the winter you can enjoy a hot drink inside in a cozy atmosphere. My favorite drink here is the hot scotch hands down. Great vibes here and perfect for a relaxing night with close friends.

One of the best spots in the city — any time of year. I’ve been here in autumn and winter, and love the fire pit. We went here earlier in the spring and they had live music inside. We used to go in college if we wanted a «classy» night out instead of the overdone house party kegger scene. They drinks are great and the staff is friendly.
FUN FACT: I was telling family members about this place, and my mom said she used to go here in the 70s. Here I was thinking I was cool finding a place like this. HA!

We came here on a recommendation from a friend. Was a little difficult to find due to the fact that we had never been to that area before. We needed a little Siri assistance to find it, but the hidden nature adds to the charm. One of our friends said that she felt like we were entering something from Harry Potter. It has an underground feel that, like a few other great places in Cincy (namely Sotto), makes you feel like you are walking into a «roaring 20’s» experience. There was a live violinist playing along to the music and a fire pit out back. We each had a few drinks and enjoyed the ability to conversate at a reasonable volume level. This place really delivered. We will be returning soon!

I want so badly to call this place a «hidden gem» but since the majority of the reviews already say that, I’ll refrain. The Blind Lemon is quaint, laid back and the perfect place to enjoy live music and good conversation. The outside area is a definite must! It’s an adorable little garden area where you can sit and enjoy your friends or date and a few cocktails, if you’d like. Blind Lemon gets an A+ from me!

I went here on Valentine’s Day. This place is very unique, and a spot on perfect date night.
The staff was extremely friendly, and the hot alcoholic beverages were great. I cannot wait to go back

I love this place. You don’t even have to drink alcohol to love this place. It’s a super casual bar with outdoor seating (I love in the fall/​winter time when they get a bonfire going) live music, and a great historical vibe. You walk through the strange alleyway into a hidden oasis of history. The bar itself has a ton of character, lots of old items and decorations to gaze upon if the conversation lulls. I’m lucky that I’m only 5’3″ because beware, the ceilings are pretty low. I love sitting outside, though, in the fall/​wintertime. Not only is there a bonfire to keep you warm, but there is an excellent selection of warm drink options that fit right into the season.
If you haven’t been yet, go at least once, it’s totally worth it!

The Blind Lemon is (and I despise this word, but let’s call a spade a spade) a hidden gem. I always suggest this place to couples whenever they ask me for a romantic hang out. The interior is kitschy and dimly lit. They often have live jazz or acoustic music. But the outside garden is where I think the real magic happens. You have to duck down under the concrete façade to get to it, but once you do you will be in awe.
Covered in Ivy and beautiful wrought iron furniture everywhere, this place is as romantic as it gets. You will seriously feel like you are in the movie The Secret Garden. I love it in the summer when the cool breeze whips through the air and I love it even more in the fall and the winter when they break out the heaters and fire pits.
They are known for their warm winter cocktails (Menu here:
). I also love that they have servers outside so you don’t have to run back and forth.
I smile just thinking about this place. It’s pretty much the bee’s knees. Don’t just pit stop here. Make a night of it, sit back relax and enjoy it.

Walking into this little gem in the Mt. Adams neighborhood, you feel like you’ve been transported into a storybook. Even getting in heightens this feeling of visiting something hidden and magical, as you step down steps into a narrow stone alley and into an unobtrusive door nestled off to the side. As a note, I did hear there is a bit more commonly accessible street entrance, but I never found it.
Once inside, you are mixed with an odd combination of a charming, old-​world pub that is distinctly evocative of a Hobbit hole — combined with live music of a distinctly guitar-​strumming American style (aka James Taylor covers an the like). Everywhere you poke, there are tons of detail in this cozy space. The bathroom doors are stained glass. Wooden models of trucks and trains are perched in display shelves just below the rafters and hanging from the ceiling. Copper cups and brass taps abound. Every surface is glossy, dark wood. A working fireplace separates the two main areas.
The «stage» is a little area tucked into the corner of the main room, and the musician who played stayed on beyond his set. The music was great.
Our waitress was welcoming and explained things, and the pretzels are free. I had the buttered rum (a shot-​and-​a-​half of rum in hot water with a pat of butter mixed-​in) and it was delicious. My wife had hot tea. Our friend had apple cider, which she reports was good.
One thing that was a bit odd is that in some places, the sign says «Blind Lemon Café», but they don’t serve food. That’s probably not the best. I liked that it was a bar, but had none of the sleazy edge you find in many.
Bottom Line: I had a great evening when we stopped by, and if I lived anywhere near the neighborhood, it would be a regular haunt.