Dive Bar

Nothing too fancy and nothing below my standards. A great place to get a burger and a beer to watch football on Sundays. I’m sure it’s the place to be Saturday Nights being so close to UC so might have to go and check it out. Other than that I recommend the Dive Burger with a Not Your Father’s Root Beer.
The Bartender will talk with you and make sure you’re doing alright. He’s very friendly and knows everyone that walks into the place, so it’s a great warm atmosphere.

Food was decent and the atmosphere was incredible! Super friendly staff and patrons. I will absolutely be back when I have the opportunity — I’m from out of town. Unfortunately, I’ll probably avoid it in the warm months. Only one window air conditioning unit for the whole place! It’s HOT in there!

The way bar food should be, simple, good, a little spicy with a cold draft to boot. (Fried pickles are it baby!) Thank you Milo (from an out of town guest)

An appropriately named bar. Nothing fancy or interesting about this place if they put up about 10 flat screens and turned it into a sports bar this would be a cool place to grab a bear with friends.
However I would say this is probably a great place to go if you are a college student wanting to get Messed up on a Friday or Saturday or want to pick «interesting» men in their 40’s

My wife and I had dinner here while we were passing through on vacation. Loved the atmosphere and friendly staff. Great craft beer selection and good drinking food! The tachos (tater tot nachos) are a must try before you die.

Okay location and nice décor with the two story set up, but horrible music selection. For a super chill nigh and nothing more.

This place is a little nicer than the name implies. They have a surprisingly good craft beer selection and decent food. Try the veggie burger, probably the best I’ve had in town. This bar is filled with locals, usually people above college age, but sometimes it’s packed to the brim with college kids. The employees are always nice and it’s a nice place to catch a few drinks and talk with people. I’ve always had a good time here.

What a cool spot for a beer. The atmosphere is great and the staff is very friendly. The bartender did most of the remodel work himself and quality work at that. From the hand painted alcohol labels to the unique lighting fixtures, you can tell that paid very close attention to detail. All very cool.
The beer selection was great but unfortunately we did not get to try the food as the kitchen had closed down by the time we got there (11pm) but it smelled great. Until next time…

This place is a diversity of awesomeness. I had my first Old Rasputin here, a shit ton of Breakfast Stouts and the bartender gave me a little clip she was finished with. I repayed the favor the next day.
The relevance of this place is, it was my first bar I actually went to solo. I had not done this up until this point and could not understand for the life of me why he did, now I do not know why I haven’t this whole time???
It’s on a cool strip of tattoo shops and Alabama-​Q, which produces some of the finest BBQ I have ever experienced.
Small, dark, down to earth cool people. A step outside the box from the goofy college kids and spots they frequent.
This song may paint a picture of the experience and feel you will have after and during for that matter at this place.

This is a great bar to start and finish at if you’re going to a concert at Bogarts. They have a pretty good selection of bottled beers and a huuuge behind the bar which was awesome to watch the end of some college football games!
The prices were reasonable and it was even more fun to people watch because there are some eclectic people there to chat with. always fun after a few beverages.
If you can get the front high top to the right as soon as you walk it, it’s a great spot… close to the bar but out of traffic and since we were there during the winter, there is a heater underneath the seat up against the front window.
There is also a deck out back but as it was winter, we chose to stay indoors… looked cool though.
Super tiny bathrooms with the faucets outside of them which is an interesting quirk. I’d definitely stop back again if I was in the area for another concert!

Mon-​Fri 3 – 7 $ 1.50 PBR and $ 3 Wells.
No taps but great beer selection otherwise. Didn’t eat this time but will try something next time. Great outdoor patio in back as well.

Dive Bar is an appropriately named bar right in the bustling chaos of Vine Street. We stopped in for some food and brews before catching Marc Maron at Bogart’s and I definitely believe we made the right choice. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart to what looks good. The bar is far less divey than the name suggests, and it’s actually quite comfortable and inviting inside. The bartender was extremely nice and made a good drink and the people inside were calm and conversational and just there to enjoy a few drinks and good company. It’s about average in terms of prices, and the only food in the bar comes from Café de Wheels in the back (definitely give it a try; it will be reviewed soon), which was delicious. There isn’t tons of seating, but plenty of standing room, and a huge outdoor patio for standing, sitting, and drinking. I can imagine that it will be packed during the summer. I felt very comfortable in Dive Bar and the next time I find myself in Cincinnati, I’ll certainly stop in.

I think I would have liked it better if I was here on a different night.
I was a first time visitor in Cincinnati for a NYE concert… came by to check out the venue location and wanted to stop for a drink somewhere nearby. I had high hopes after reading the great reviews, but when I walked in the place was flat — granted, it was a Sunday night. There were about 5 of us there, plus the bartender. Now I will never fault a place for being slow — even the best spots have their down nights. Instead, I was hopeful that this would be a place that would give me real local flavor. As I parked my bottom on a barstool, visions danced in my head of a quick witted, chatty bartender and friendly regulars who would be eager to welcome me to their spot and share their suggestions for «must-​dos» while I was in town. Not so much.
The bartender quickly poured me a small, weak drink (Note: this is likely the type of place where ordering a beer is your better bet), took my money and returned to doing stock. Two drunk girls played 90’s hits on the electronic jukebox, and the two gentlemen at the bar sipped their beers with eyes firmly glued to the football game on screen. It’s cool… maybe just one of those nights where no one wanted to be bothered. But everyone was doing their own thing, there was nothing really fun going on. An attempt to chat with the bartender fell flat… so I finished my drink and left.
If I was back in town though, I’d probably try here again, maybe on a busier night. Rereading the great reviews, I just feel like I was missing out. I must echo previous reviewers in saying that this not a true dive, but is some steps up. Still, I loved that the interior and vibe was, to quote Alex S., «dark and shady yet warm and inviting.» From the looks, it seems like exactly the type of spot I’d love hanging at.
Next time I’m in Cincinnati, I’ll try again… hopefully with better results.

I like this place.
It’s not really as Dive-​y as the name portrays it to be, but it is on Short Vine, so they get some dive points just for location.
The upstairs is like a completely different bar than the rest of the bar– which I love– and then the back patio/​deck is completely different still. I love that being able to go to different rooms in the same place, you totally change the feel. My favorite is to have a group of 10+ and just take over the entire upstairs.
This is home base for several of my friends who live close, and we almost ALWAYS end up back here or Knockback Nat’s after a night of drinking anywhere else.
The drinks are decently priced, always an interesting mix of people.
I give this place a thumbs up. I haven’t even tried the food… that I remember. ;)

A-​OK. Not a place I would throw out there with friends to go to, but if we were in the area I would totally stop in for at least one drink. Especially compared to the other bars in Clifton this is by far the best one.
Not a big dive bar fan but for those of you that are, this is your place. Friendly bartenders, cheap drinks, great atmosphere. Cheers!

I don’t know, it seems like «dive» bar is an overused phrase.
I guess when you’ve been to worse, a place like this doesn’t seem bad. This isn’t the type of bar where the only thing I would touch is my beer. The floor wasn’t sticky. The walls aren’t dirty, dug out of the earth or anything. The bathroom is functional.
If you come visit you have to check out the bathroom sinks. A single concrete slab, they are an architectural marvel.
I think I kind of dig this place. Nice little upstairs. Good lookin’ set up. Decent food. Cheap beer. What do you want from a bar near campus?

If you call yourself Dive Bar, you’ve set yourself up for some pretty high expectations, especially from a dive bar connoisseur like myself. And you know what? It hits every single mark. All of them.
The atmosphere: My favorite dive bars are both dark and shady and yet, somehow, warm and inviting at the same time. Check and check here! This is a dark bark with a friendly staff. You walk in and feel like a regular. Dark wood on the walls and funky furniture throughout (barrel seats on the second floor! Yes!) help keep the weirdness of this place going, and a literally glowing selection of liquor behind the bar make it feel like an easy place to get a drink. Which it is.
Beer: Yes. Yes, yes and yes. An awesome selection of both your normal drafts and craft beers in bottles, with some nice locals like Rivertown and Mt. Carmel.
Food: Here’s where they really won me over. In a second window (with a second register so if your card is at the bar you have to go get it, which is a little annoying, but not enough to dock them heavily) you order food … but not just any food. A crazy collection of bar food, including hot dogs, sandwiches and homemade chilies. And each one is named … amusingly. You open that menu and go, «Oh my!» From a dog named the Cincinnati Bow Tie to a bowl of chili, cheese and Fritos called the Skat Lover, you know you’re in for a treat. But above all, it’s cheap (nothing seemed more than $ 5 and most was like $ 3) and delicious. Plus, if you’re sitting upstairs, they’ll even walk it up to you!
The staff: Friendly, funny with great suggestions. Not sure what to get, either for a drink or food, ask’em!
We had a book club meeting here and held it in the room on the second floor and it was a great space. Lots of chairs, giant table, TV, music, pool table. Couldn’t have been happier.
Honest to god, my only real complaint is it’s too damn far away! I so rarely go to Corryville for anything. However, with a bar this good, I might have to get down there more often. If anything could do it, it’s a great dive bar.

Dave Bar isn’t.
There’s nothing dive about it. Nestled next door to a Cincy PD substation the place is clean with nice décor, great selection of beers from domestic plain Janes to the pretentious. The bartender was friendly and offered up a suggestion with I couldn’t make up my mind. I didn’t order a cocktail. There seemed to be a bit too many Vodkas displayed. Vodka is for college kids and we were near a campus so I can’t blamed them but when I see that many vodkas I don’t trust I’ll get a good cocktail.
I kinda figured it’d be a college bar but not really. There were the obligatory, tuned-​in-​to-​sports TVs but not blaring obnoxious, techno music. Drinkers could talk.
I don’t think anyone would really feel out of place walking into it until…
Let’s just say I wouldn’t bring my auntie here to eat. Or a female client. Why? They have a food station that serves hotdogs. All are given wacky names. I learned that these wacky names are supposed deviant sex acts. Someone will feel the need to whip out their smart phone and look them up and read them aloud. I don’t really need to hear the definition of an Alabama Hot Pocket while trying to enjoy myself with female company. Or male company. Or just drinking by myself. It almost made me drop them down to 3 stars but… in a culture as disgusting as ours this seems almost Victorian.

I am not into the Clifton crowd but this is a nice bar. Very good craft beer selection, nice seating spaces, pool and darts. Several rooms that can be used for gatherings.
The food is bar style food with a twist of their own — bring your appetite and forget about calories… this isn’t a waistline friendly selection.
Bartenders are very nice and so is the owner. I didn’t go on a weekend night so I can’t speak for the crowd or lack of parking.
I kind of wish this bar was located in OTR or DT or someplace with an older crowd but if you go on a weeknight it wasn’t too bad.

This place is great. Plain and simple. You must have one (or 2 or 3) mini beers. Now, I won’t spoil the surprise, but they are actually not beer but an amazing concoction that I had never heard of.
The bartender the night I was there, Will, is awesome. Kinda soft-​spoken, but a very good bartender and knowledgeable about the beers (tons of imports and crafts!!) and made some great suggestions for me and my group.
Now, why was I here? Through random chance I went to this place on their Vinyl Night Mondays. The premise is simple: bring about a half hour to hours worth of records and you get to DJ your music. Cool! I along with another music friend, brought a few of our records and we shared a set. Music was rather mixed and pretty much all of it was awesome, although I did sneak in an Elvis Christmas song for the holidays.
The upstairs is awesome, kinda akin to a cool lounge complete with a pool table and poker table. It was empty the night I was there, but I assume it fills up on the weekend. Oh! and there are a few old school video game systems for you to play. For free! As Charlie Sheen says, Winning!
While it’s called Dive Bar, it really is clean and has a vibe similar to some of the cool bars in SF that I visited on a recent trip. (Noble Experiment, Bourbon and Branch, etc.) BTW, their bathrooms are lined with chalkboards (but no chalk in mine :(, and their communal sink is a huge concrete slab that looks like the water should spill over. Cool!
Ha ha, so in closing, support this bar and buy me a mini beer the next time ya see me there. And feel free to dust off your records and bring a few on Monday.