Japp’s Annex

When it comes to dancing and having a good time out at a 21+ bar you are very limited in Cincinnati. That’s why I love Japp’s Annex. You walk into the front door of Japps and it’s very fancy if you want to have a nice group outing with friends or a date, then you go in the back then take the corner to a great night. The DJ is always mixing the best of now and back in the 2000s that everyone can dance to. There’s always a crowd so you know you’ll have a good time dancing. The bar is always well staffed so you don’t have to wait for long to get a drink or close your tab. Just well done Japp’s Annex. The projector on the wall always shows random movies which is actually pretty interesting rather than distracting or odd.

Japp’s Annex is a great place for dancing and the great Japp’s cocktails, but the experience of a light and mysterious speakeasy has disappeared as the place has grown in popularity. After visiting on Friday night, it will be hard to convince me to stop by the Annex again. The place was packed — with more people than what is probably allowed — and everyone had to be on the dance floor. Rather than playing oldies or just fun dance songs, the DJ opted for a «bump and grind» variety, making the dance floor more of an explicit club experience. Extremely intoxicated patrons would throw themselves everywhere «dancing» — bumping into others and causing drinks to spill — with no remorse or even awareness they were ruining other peoples’ evening. Security seems to be lacking and everything just adds to the uncomfortable feeling I get when dancing with friends. If you are dying to visit OTR and this area — definitely stop by the Japp’s bar, but avoid the Annex.

fun, but crowded

A classic Speakeasy serving classic, hand-​crafted drinks. Whether you encounter Molly or not, thoughtful drink creations set the staff apart and honestly earn them a distinguished title like «mixologists.» During peak times, the main bar will turn into a shoulder-​to-​shoulder affair, but the floor plan is spacious. Explore around the corner and discover a patio as well as large dancing area branded Japp’s Annex. The complaint I hear is that the poorly ventilated Japp’s Annex leads to uncomfortably wet dancing during the warmer Cincinnati evenings. Although this is true, I deem the setting more fun than sweating on Neon’s patio while wishing I had a dog. If you are looking for «the scene» in OTR, set course for Main Street. At the heart of your Main Street adventure will be Japps.

I’m a fan of Japp’s for late nights on weekends. Their cocktail choices are pretty great, bartenders are fun, and the crowd is diverse. I’ve never been outside of Friday/​Saturday evenings… the dance floor is also perfect as there is nowhere else in Cincinnati like this. Fun for a group of friends!

A few friends and I decided to head downtown and spend most our night at Japps The Annex. It was good. I am not a big night club guy, I much prefer live music and a good drink, but it was still a good time.
At the bar next tot the dance floor they do not have the best drinks just the «stuff to get ya drunk» as a bartender told me. Since that’s not my game I had to go to the quieter side of the building to get my drinks. The far side, past the bathrooms with its own entrance was cool. Retro and laid back, but as the night went on the other side spilled over and it got rowdier. The bartenders over there were great and my drinks tasted amazing.
I like the older music mixed with some new stuff. These guys know how to give you a good time with two separate atmospheres for anyone. They ID at the door so be ready.

Got my drink, neat, at the main Japp’s, which has a great selection of drinks. Spent the evening until midnight at the Annex. It was cool to see people dancin’ and havin’ a good time. The music was okay, but IMHO the DJ needs to work on his playlist. At one point during the night, he was playing the theme song from «Ghostbusters». Ummm, yeah… don’t know what to say about that without being mean, other than work on your playlist dude. The crowd was also just okay. It was mightily segregated, which is pretty unfortunate. I like to see diversity as long as everyone is there to have a good time and not spoil anyone else’s. Overall, it was a good experience though.

Sometimes I wish i was more of a hipster than I already am. Then i might enjoy Japp’s and the annex a bit more.
in short, the annex is a hipster club for hipsters, wannabe hipsters and college students (who are mostly inherently hipsters.)
Be ready for BIG BIG crowds at the annex, especially on weekends. sometimes it’s hard to even move.
there are some positives though. the Annex’s projector is always playing weird, old-​timey movies that really draw the eye. Honestly I have more fun watching those than anything else.
The beer selection is pretty good and they always have new stuff on draught. The prices are fair but i’d recommend not getting a mixed drink, that can get a bit pricy.
Be ready for a bit of a wait at the bar as they get busy quickly.
The Annex is a good joint but it’s really just not my scene anymore. No fault of theirs.

I admit that I haven’t been to this establishment in a while so this review may be irrelevant by now but I thought I’d share my thoughts because I do think that this place has a lot of potential. For all of the hype that Japp’s has received since it’s opening, I was not very impressed with the Annex. It’s great to see lively establishments pop up in Over-​the-​Rhine but I think in order for its rebirth to be sustainable there has to be a focus on quality.
The space is so great and that’s why it is disappointing to see the way it is used. The drinks aren’t bad and the layout isn’t bad at all but the execution is poor. Honestly the music was the deal-​breaker for me – it was pretty terrible. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Oldies and some 80s hits but that’s what you listen to when you’re cruising down Route 66 by yourself or having a nostalgia night down memory lane with your friends not what you listen to when you’re going out dancing at an establishment with a full dance floor and a DJ. It seriously felt like a tacky wedding reception or a high school prom/​Sadie Hawkins dance in there. Very awkward.
The ambiance felt forced and amateur as if the DJ did not actually understand the concept of hipster/​rockabilly culture and definitely does not understand the irony that hipsters are so famous for. Yes hipsters may dress like 1950s housewives and dapper gents but they don’t actually like to dance to exclusively 1950s music. Just like everyone else (though they may try to deny it) hipsters like to dance to house, hip-​hop, and top 40s hits.
I personally think that the DJ could have maintained an Oldies/​80s theme but just synthesized it with some contemporary electronic/​house beats and broken it up with the occasional trashy pop song/​top 40s hit. This would have sustained the lively crowd much more sufficiently than the pure Oldies/​80s mix that was played.
My suggestion for this establishment would simply be to book a different roster of DJs – ones that are a little more contemporary, urban, and understanding of hipster culture – maybe some out-​of-​towners and some independent acts – and watch this place transform. It really does have the potential to be a legendary Cincinnati establishment but right now it just feels too amateur for its own good.

I love the annex– it’s a great place for dancing.
But I love the annex of last year, when they placed mostly 80’s music with old movies projected on the wall and before it was taken over by the migrating Mt. Adam’s crowd and they conformed to playing Top 40 and having credit card minimums. Boo.
Last weekend I went there around 10pm and it was empty and nice and they played Alanis Morrisette. I left about midnight just as the music switch over was happening and so maybe that’s the way to go now :)
Anytime past midnight is what we call «wait o’clock» as there will be a crowd and you’ll have to wait outside.

I went to Japp’s Annex last weekend, any my American Express card was billed $ 50 for $ 28 worth of drinks. I will not go back until my credit card situation is fixed.

Fun place, great atmosphere, LOTS of dancing!
I HAVE to knock it down 2 stars because the heat in there is pretty unbearable. I’m not sure how they haven’t been able to do anything about it yet, but it is pretty bad. Instant sweating once you get in there, until you leave.

The Annex is a great addition to help stem the crowded Japp’s and not only that, you get to watch lots of hipsters strut their dance moves after imbibing expensive cocktails or PBR’s. I really like the old movies that are played on the wall, although the angle is a little wonky probably due to the position of the projector. No biggie. Sometimes the action on the screen syncs with the music and that’s cool. The DJ perched high overlooks the the dancefloor and usually spins a great mix of music spanning many decades. The bar is not as crowded as Japp’s main bar so it is a lot easier to get your drink order placed.
*Occasionally there are special events that take place here (check facebook, twitter, etc). liquor promos, food demos, etc.
*Rest your dancing feet on the couches or have an actual conversation with a real live human being and not your 500 twitter friends.
*The doormen do ID so don’t leave that at home.

Unique epic dance party anyone? If you are looking to get your groove on the Japp’s Annex is just what the doctor ordered!
Nearly every weekend there is some type of fantastically themed dance party. What’s more fun than getting dressed up and dancing to amazing DJs mixing songs old and new. They project retro movie clips on the wall in front of the dance floor. I very often find myself watching in the middle of a giant dance party… what can I say I’m a sucker for Gene Kelly’s dance moves!
The Annex has two large bar areas and yes your tab from up front carries over to the back! They offer a large array of beers, fancy cocktail, and specialty shots.
I’ve honestly never had a bad time at The Annex. The people at Japp’s know what they are doing and how to have a darn good time. So if you haven’t checked out The Annex yet you absolutely MUST!

I’m a fan of the simple Japp’s, long before the crowds took over turning this niche hangout to a destination spot. The nice thing is though, Japp’s Annex still offers activities for folks like me throughout the week to enjoy the open spaces and casual times.
The Annex is known for its vast weekend dance floor, 1950’s dance tunes, and big screen projection wall that shows everything from black and white movies to vintage cartoons. Recently, they began Bloody Mary Sundays, where six craft Bloody Marys are up for order containing everything from pepperoni to BBQ to shrimp. These pint sized beverages are a liquid meal with a kick. What keeps me hanging around the Annex all day are the Bottomless Mimosas. For $ 15.00, you get as many champagne glasses as you wish. Normally, a single mimosa costs $ 6.00, so if you can drink three of these, you’re in the gold. (And yes, you can certainly drink at least three!)
Other weekend survival liquors are served on Sundays as well, like the «Corpse Reviver» and «Sunshine In A Glass.» Plus, a DJ is spinning easy going tunes making the ambiance great for relaxing or for getting some work done.
If you like to get your dance on, head on over to the boogie crowd on weekends. If you like your space, enjoy Japp’s Annex on Sunday afternoons. Whatever your pleasure, you’ll find an environment you love.
Price per person: $ 5.00 — $ 8.00

I love Japp’s Annex, because…
— the cocktails are as amazing as the ones next door
— there is space
— there are sofas for quiet conversation
— and last but not least, this is heaven for people who love to dance! The times I’ve been here, there was a good mix of older and not so old music, all great songs to dance to — and then you have the black and white movies showing on the screen, the giant ventilator… what else do you need for a great party?
Always on my list for a girls night out!

The Asian in me still gets an off-​putting racist vibe every time the name of this establishment comes up. But it never seems to bother anyone else, so onto the review then, shall we?
I finally got an excuse to go here for Alex’s going away party (remember him?). Both Japp’s and the Annex are like nothing I’ve ever been in before. Very cool sophisticated old-​timey feel. What marked me as a noob was rounding the corner outside the building, seeing people I knew through the big window, and trying to enter in the door next to it. Nope. Don’t make the same mistake I did, the only entrance is through the main Japp’s door, then you reach the Annex by going past the long bar and turning left a couple times towards the bathrooms, then right into the big Annex space. Every time I came back in I felt like I was making a grand entrance.
The layout was really cool, the DJ sounded great, and I had one of Molly’s new delicious concoctions: strawberry, jalapeño, and tequila. Yum! Looking forward to coming back.

5 stars and here’s why… No other space in Cincinnati, or OTR more importantly has the look, and feel that the Japp’s Annex does. Maybe I am biased because I am constantly being told I am an «old soul» but this place makes me feel like I am right in the heart of an old time speakeasy.
The space itself is just stunningly beautiful. Dimly lit with pale green walls, dark hardwood floors and a sleek wooden bar the runs almost the entire length of the room. The stools are leather and super comfy too!
Not only can you get a fabulous cocktail but most nights you get the swanky music to go with it. Friday and Saturday nights they usually open it up and do dance parties with live DJ’s. They even have a projector that plays old black and white musicals while you are dancing! I just love the extra love and attention that Molly and her staff have put into making this place feel so authentic.
Put this on your «Impress that new lady friend» date spot list!

If Japp’s is the classy good-​girl side of the bar, then the Annex is it’s darker, livelier, seedier and yet sexier side that you don’t see until it’s late at night, the lights have gone down and you’ve had a few drinks.
But then it comes out to play in full force.
I love Japp’s as a bar, with it’s classic retro feels and equally classic retro cocktails, but it can be a little small. Opening the Annex was a great idea. This event space right now is only used on the weekends, but they’re working to fix it.
It’s one giant room with it’s own bar (and own staff). As the weekend goes on, it can get packed in here — crazy packed, especially if they have something like swing dancing going on. Still, for the excitement and energy alone, it’s worth checking out and maybe stopping in for a drink.
Just remember, there are those giant windows. So anything you do in this bar can be seen by people on the outside. You may think that it’s dark and you’re alone (with strangers who feel the same way) and everything’s on the down-​low … but not so fast.
Happy drinking.

If Japp’s is the opener, then the Annex is the closer. Big, and airy, great for dancing, and it’s got the Beer Taps, and they have a pretty good beer selection, from trendy microbrews to your go to hudy and yuengling drafts. It can get crowded, there can usually be a swing dance instructor or some other kind of vintage demo going on on any given saturday. Great for crowd watching, especially the giant picture windows that let you look at the street and watch the world go by, because it’s a great place to party. I won’t make any Anne Frank Annex jokes…