Bogart's is a classic music venue where you can actually see bands in relatively close quarters. There are some VIP and seated areas available, but the venue is overwhelmingly a general admission space. While this can be harder for the older venue-goers like myself, I found it a bit refreshing to be able to jump into the throng, fight for a spot, and lose myself a little enjoying the bands up close. It was nice to be free of the seated mega-venues for a change. Bogart's offers a couple bar spaces with all the offerings you would expect including bagged snacks. I was not amazed by the specialty drinks on my last foray, so I might stick with the typical well cocktails on my next visit. Security was pretty aggressive at the entrance, so you might want to leave the purses and bags at home. They were even flagging things like pens, which seemed like a bit much. Parking in the Short Vine area can be a little tricky. There is mostly street parking and a couple lots, but they can be a bit on the pricey side even for just a few hours. read more

I was there for the Cin-City Burlesque show and the show was amazing. The venue was spacious and clean and was full of energy. Staff was very helpful AND the young man who was working downstairs (South African was extremely adorable. The popcorn was delicious and hot, drinks were cold. read more

Bogart's - Sweet Biscuit! - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This was my first visit in a while, and I had a nice time. I was especially taken with the fact that the staff were clearly trying to provide a nice level of service for this kind of venue. There was more than adequate security who were friendly but professional. There's nothing the venue can do about the fact that a general admission standing venue is not going to have great sight lines for those of us of average height. But this venue gets a lot of great shows and does about as good job as possible for its type. read more

Bogart's - The Raging Nathans on stage. - A band called Raging Nathans performs on stage with colorful lighting, in front of a crowd at a music venue. - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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What a great intimate venue in Clifton! Parking is a bit of a challenge, especially on game day, but a great venue to get an up close look. 4 bar and concession areas to stock up--we went to a seated show , but can tell this would be great for standing concerts as well. read more

The staff here was super friendly and made the experience so much better. For the Taylor Swift night they just played entire songs instead of remixes. Drinks were a little expensive but they tasted great! Might try to return for the Pink Pony Club night in the coming weeks! read more

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While not my favorite spot to see a show, Bogarts is an institute and does a lot right. The pros: - affordable tickets - good sound - great energy in the crowd - multiple bars, often with thematic drinks - HUGE bathrooms, and they keep aisles clear on the sides so you can actually get to them - a small but nice touch: the large portraits on the sides of the wall, which make it much easier to find your way back to your group if you do leave the floor to pee or grab a drink The cons: - general admission (which is maybe a pro depending on your POV) - the venue is deep rather than wide, which means it's not as easy to get a view of the stage #shortpeopleproblems read more

Attended the Taylor Swift Dance Party over the weekend. It was a good time, this is a great venue and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for future events! Bars were well staffed for the event. The restrooms were clean. The dance floor got a little crowded at times, but that was part of the charm. read more

Traveled from Indy to Cincy for a concert here last night (Stephen Wilson Jr) and was our first time at Bogart's. We were extremely disappointed and decided to leave early... not even getting the chance to see the artist we went to see. Way too overcrowded of a venue, was a sold out show but over sold by maybe 1,000 people. Yikes. First act came on stage and there was not a place to stand, couldn't see the stage, couldn't hear the performer with all the yelling & yapping from all the crowd. So disrespectful to the artist and those that paid good money to be there. No traffic pattern and extremely dangerous if there were to be an emergency. Fire Marshall could've shut them down last night. read more

I love this venue, I've seen four concerts here so far and the staff is amazing! Bar staff, security, everyone is awesome. There's so much character, good ticket prices, adequate bathrooms, and great energy in the crowds. My only complaint is that it's very difficult to get a view of the stage as someone who is 5'2". I've only had a good view at 1/4 of the shows I've been to, and one of them I actually never saw the performers except through my phone when my arm was fully extended upwards haha. read more

Small music venue but great sound. Standing room only so it feels intimate. There are multiple bars you can order drinks and small snacks from. Great place to see one of your favorite bands. read more

Bogart's - a crowd of people at a concert - A large audience is gathered in front of a stage with musical instruments, under colorful purple and orange lighting, at a live music event. - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a great night with OMD!! They put on a fantastic performance! So fun and there was a lot of energy in the crowd that had them completely dumbfounded on stage!! Couldn't have chosen a better venue where there's ample room to dance and having an open floor, made it more intimate with OMD! The acoustics sounded great as well! They do have a plethora of drinks variations! read more

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Went to see my favorite band ever Bayside and they decided to kick me out and my friend because the guy in front of us kept shoving us back because he didn't want his girlfriend to have any kind of contact whatsoever (including hand waving). Said if we didn't leave they would call the cops. Slammed the doors in our faces when we asked to look at the cameras. read more

Honestly this place is giant and old but the concerts are fun here! The only bad part is the parking can be horrible and the drinks here at usually $10 minimum and no free water. Otherwise the staff is friendly and the music and lights are always good read more

Bogart's - Restaurant across the street - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Overall, this place was absolutely amazing. Easy entry, great sound quality, quite a bit of room, bathrooms, smoking area, great ticket prices, and several bars. My only complaint is that once everyone was in there, it was probably 100 degrees. It's expected to get hot with a lot of people but it felt like there was no AC or fans at all and it became muggy very quickly. I would still go back, I would just recommend wearing something to help with the heat and prepare to sweat a lot. read more

Bogart's - Main stage - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Bogart's is a chill concert venue with bands a lot people don't care about any more or don't know coming around. It's not a big venue so it's a little more intimate. I don't like that there's so place to sit and concert goers are so rude that constantly push and shove and punch their way through the crowds. It's a huge hazard and I'm surprised more fights haven't broken out. Bright side, however, since bands that come here aren't as popular their merch is cheaper. They have two bars, one upstairs and downstairs. The bathrooms are super gross and I was scared to use them both times. I normally try avoid coming here but I as to go when the All American Rejects were here! read more

Small venue in a great area. I stayed at the Hampton Inn which was about three blocks away and very convenient. I had a GA ticket for Angels and Airwaves and got in line an hour before the doors opened. Within thirty minutes it started snowing so we paid $15 to advance to their fast lane! Love that concept. We were about 8th or so in that line and were able to get second row seats. Show was amazing but then again it was Angels and Airwaves! They had coat check, plenty of room for merch booths and the women's rest room was pretty clean. They had staff come around the front of the stage with a sign showing drink prices and were taking orders. I love this concept too because no one has to lose their spot to get a drink! I'd make the four hour drive again to attend a show here. read more

Bogart's - 3rd row. Worth waiting in the snow! - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

First time visiting Bogarts and we saw the Cin City Burlesque show. It's a cute venue on Short Vine right by UC. It was intimate and clean. Had a bar and thr drinks were good. The show was the highlight! read more

Bogart's - a red ceiling with lights - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I was here for a show this evening and left early because the band wasn't very good. It was a seated show tonight, which is a first for me at this venue. Not a bad idea considering it can get a bit crowded towards the stage area. I've been to this venue more times over the years than I can count. Bogarts gets a range of acts for the size of the venue. I've seen well known national acts and cover bands here. It's pretty dated inside but it looks like they've done some painting inside recently and added some graffiti style art in a few areas. Everyone that works here has always been friendly. They check your ID outside and give you a wrist band if you're over 21 and you have to be wanded by security and have you purse checked - just like all other music venues. The restrooms are located downstairs and are usually kind of dirty. There's a VIP area that's upstairs. It's usually a bit quieter up there and has a decent view of the stage and crowd below. The drinks are overpriced and the sound system & sound engineers aren't good. Plus, the acoustics are terrible. But it's a decent enough venue to see a cheap show and even better when they give out free tickets. Which they do frequently. read more

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I absolutely love Bogarts! Its an awesome venue for all the different events that I've had the pleasure of attending. I recommend you check it out if you're interested in having a great time listening to good music and having good service from the employees read more

What a fantastic concert venue! I recently went to see the Silversun Pickups show and had what can only be described as a great concert experience. The queues to enter Bogart's were short and quick while still maintaining a sense of security and safety as bags and persons got checked. Entering the venue there is a main bar as well as some floor level bars to help people get their drinks without long waits. The only piece I wasn't prepared for was the sticker shock for the drink prices - $16 for a can of wine (yes, cans are the new thing for wine, I guess). But given my experience at other similar venues this price seems to be the going rate these days for beverages. The sound was a bit wonky at points with mics having some feedback and the female singers not being entirely audible sometimes. However it was a great sound system otherwise carrying the bands tunes and getting the crowd pumped. The staff and security seemed friendly and competent. Overall, it was a great experience for my first concert at Bogart's! read more

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What a cool musical venue. This is my THIRD time coming to this place to check out concerts, from EDM to Rock to Reggae, it has it all. It is spacious, lots of room to dance, TWO bars (maybe even more??), but either way, if you want a drink, super easy to obtain. The acoustics are great too, so anywhere you stand, you will clearly hear the tune. It is located right next to University of Cincinnati, parking can be tricky to find on the street but it is not too bad. Looking forward to going to more events! Thanks for reading! read more

Bogart's - Some good tunes - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I love the venue. It gives an old school feel. It's small though, and so cramped for shows. Lining up down the street for a show isn't the worst, but it's a busy street with tons of people and large rats running past your legs. I guess I don't have much negative to say toward Bogarts but more so the area outside while you wait to enter. The alcohol is expensive. read more

Bogart's - a crowd of people in a dark room - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The staff was friendly. Every corner of this place smells like vomit. Went for Emo nite and it was amazing only complaint is the puke smell and the lack of line/admission efficiency. read more

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Excellent concert! I love ACDC and Thunderstruck did an awesome job as a cover band. There was plenty of security and people keeping the place clean. The are three bars- four if you count the one in the VIP section which is located upstairs.There's plenty of drink choices and it's very accessible. The venue is capable of holding hundreds of people. They even had a handicapped area. Considering ACDC has been around for years and years, the crowd ranged in age from actual kids to the elderly. The venue accommodates everyone. The bathrooms are up in the front under the stage so even if you were to be in the back of the place you're going to have to fight your way through dancing people at some point. They try to keep an open path, but it's still a pretty tight squeeze especially after everyone's been getting their drink on. It's a great venue. Depending on the band playing it determines the crowd and the behavior of the crowd. I would take that into consideration when planning to attend a concert. The people that want to be front and center are not very nice. read more

Bogart's - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Bogart's is a decent music venue in Cincinatti. I haven't been anywhere else in the area for a concert so I can't compare, but my husband and I had a good time here for a show. We spent most of our time up in the VIP balcony, which is great: separate entrance, good views of the crowd & stage, private bathrooms, personal bartender(s), seating, and ample space to move about. The sound wasn't very good in the balcony, though. I heard everyone else talking more than I heard the band. The main floor? Much different! Much better sound! More room to move about (the crowd wasn't super big), a couple bars, and plenty of posters of previous shows within a cozy space. Not too big, but not too small -- the perfect size for a large-ish intimate venue. I did think it was odd the stairs to the bathroom were near the front of the stage and that you had to go downstairs, but I guess everyone deals with it. Bogart's line-up is very unique -- some big names, some cover bands, some small names, and everything in between. I dig it. If a performer I love is playing here, I would definitely consider coming back. My only gripe is that the area was under construction and parking was really annoying (several blocks away in a somewhat sketchy neighborhood). I'm sure it's better when there's no construction, though. read more

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I went here on Friday to see Dayseeker and Silverstein for their sold out show. I honestly loved this venue! I just assumed it was small but once you get inside it's a lot bigger than it seems. They check your bags outside beforehand and once you get inside you can see how big the place actually is! They have four (I think) bars, which I thought was awesome- and a snack bar! They also had an area where you could sit down if you don't prefer to stand in the general admission area. The drinks were a little expensive (but I expected that), the bathrooms were clean despite how busy it was, and the bouncers were on it! There were quite a lot of crowd surfing and there was always a bouncer there to catch the person. The only things about Bogart's I didn't care for were the sticky floor, the lack of parking (I'm there is ample street parking on a normal day but there was none when we came- had to pay $10 to park in a garage) and the fact that the bathrooms got closed for cleaning almost immediately after the show. It's a little difficult to go during depending on how rowdy it gets but I recommend going then, otherwise you'll be forced to find another restroom. read more

We came here from Indy for the Neighborhood concert. My daughter was so excited to come. The line to get in was wrapped around the building. The staff got us in quickly. Security was fast and friendly. The venue is very large with convenient restrooms. They do squeeze in there though. It got hot fast and people are always trying to get up front so you have to stand your ground. All in all sound quality is great. Security is on it. Parking is convenient too. read more

Pretty nice venue. I've seen a lot of bands here. Like any musical venue, this place can get pretty tight for lack of space. There is an outdoor area that has some coverage with umbrella tables that you can use to take a smoke break or get some fresh air. Most beers on tap will run you about $8 and they have a decent selection. There is also pizza sold by the slice if you get the munchies. I've never had issues while being checked in, they have standard Covid practices and security checks. I've never had any issues with mobile tickets. I do question the staff's ability to react to customers in a professional manner and the managements oblivious nature towards it. I had an issue with a staff member shoving me at a concert to get through the crowd. I understand that it is a metal concert and most people are shoving each other out of having a good time. However, I wasn't jumping around, just standing with my drink enjoying myself and a staff member shoved me. When I stood my ground to not be knocked over, I was shoved again and accused of elbowing them... of course when I argued back, the staff member decided to show their entitlement by showing me their "staff" t-shirt and said I was going to be thrown out. I'll go back to this establishment just because it is one of the few venues we have in cincy but hopefully my next experience will be better with the staff. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I WOULD. I attended the Jazmine Sullivan concert on March 22nd & the bar service was extremely horrible & very unorganized. They messed up on my margarita not once, not twice, but THREE times. How do you confuse a margarita & a sangria? The upstairs bathrooms were extremely filthy. Like nobody did rounds to check AT ALL. I wouldn't recommend this place to anybody ever & especially not for a concerts. Jazmine was wrong for even having it here. read more

I always have a fun time at this venue. They pull lots of great acts in. Can't wait to go again! read more

I have not been here since Live Nation took over. It no longers reeks of beer when you enter the building. But the biggest difference is the level of security. They are not playing! Seriously leave your pepper spray keychain and belts that look slightly dangerous at home. There is now more exclusive seating up front, separated from us paupers with retractable rope dividers. On this particular night, I was watching a Burlesque show, so not much chance of crowd surfing. CinCity Burlesque always receives 5 stars!! The performers are dynamic so you never get bored. This is not like an old Western. These are real women with PERSONALITY and their own brand of sass! I could do without the MC, but the crowd seems to love her. She definitely engages with them. For some reason I am always running late when omw to a concert venue. I can appreciate the pizza and chips\crackers\cookies at Bogarts. I grabbed a double vodka cranberry and a slice of pizza. Then I was able to relaxx and enjoy the show. You go girls!! read more

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I normally have an amazing time here but lately they've been screwing over people who wait all day to be in the front row. The vip lounge people used to not be able to go down to the floor until after fast pass people get in. Lately, they've been just letting them down to the floor before the doors open. What's the point of offering fast pass if it doesn't do anything? Only offer vip lounge and GA or just fast pass and GA. Adding the vip lounge has been the worst possible thing Bogarts did. This place is starting to go downhill again and it's a real shame. Don't bother paying for fast pass. You're just wasting money. read more

When they entertain Here come the Mummies.... need i say more love love love!! Absolutely an amazing band! read more

Bogart's - Mommara - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Bogart's is a music venue located in the Clifton area of Cincinnati, near the University of Cincinnati. The venue remains under management of Live Nation and has two levels- a pit, and a balcony which is open for larger events. I've always watched the bands in the pit area. I love the intimate setting and the up-close experience. I've been to Bogarts on numerous occasions. Mostly rock/alternative and each one leaving a great experience. Well put together and organized. Pricing very reasonable and they also have a VIP section. My only con with this music venue is the parking and currently that area is under construction. read more

Not the best music venue, but they attract the best bands, and that's really what matters! Came to Bogart's last night to see Lord Huron (they were amazing, by the way!). I was really surprised when I walked in to see that it is basically just one large hall with a few bars in the back. There's essentially no seating (unless you pay an extra $20+ for VIP tickets), and there's no stadium standing, so if you're 5'4" like me, well...good luck! We ended up standing in the back area that is slightly elevated behind the sound guys, and that allowed me to see the whole stage. The sound...I'm not sure if this is because of the venue or because the band was late so they had a shortened sound check. But the sound was pretty bad last night. There was a lot of feedback, and the mics weren't balanced...I couldn't make out a lot of the singing. We tried going up to the top balcony because they have chairs, but the sound is even worse up there. The best part about this venue though is the size of it. It's pretty small, so there's only going to be a couple hundred people here, which means that you're a lot closer to the band, and the show feels more intimate. So much more enjoyable than a huge stadium. If you think of Bogart's as an open dive bar with just a really big stage, then it's great. As a music venue, it's just ok. But I'll keep coming back because they get the best indie bands to play here! read more

Bogart's - Unzoomed view from the back elevated area where we stood. Still a pretty good view! - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My relationship with Bogart's began long before I even knew that Bogart could refer to anything other than a person's name. From the age of thirteen onward, I have seen some pretty amazing shows there, shows that I still brag to my friends about. Though much of the purposeful punk rock decay of Corryville has been replaced by actual urban decay, Bogart's remains much in the same form as it did decades ago. Seeing a gig at Bogart's is dirty business. The floors are sticky with beer and the bathrooms are something straight out of an 80's horror flick, but if that really bothers you, you've missed the point of Bogart's. Because Bogart's isn't really a music venue. It's a dream-catcher made of spider-webs and rusty beer cans that holds the memories of a life-time's worth rock concerts. read more

Bogart's - Image from Bogart's website - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Went there for a comedy act, the act was really good. The venue wasn't worth it. The seating was fold out chairs, it was difficult to see some of the act and we were on floor level, it's like a junior high auditorium. The security is obnoxious, I read that the venue had security issues before, but this is overboard. Everyone gets body scanned with a wand at the door, then guards in black clothing stand all over the venue. I'm all for protection, but this was ridiculous. During the act my iwatch turned on and I was immediately by security to explain where the light was coming from...wtf. Also if you want to drink make sure you get the bracelet in line, because apparently the bartenders are unable to look at an ID and only go by bracelets. It gets 2 stars for the act alone. read more

2.5 Stars By far, Bogart's is one of the cleanest inside music venues that I have visited in a long time, from the main floor to the bathrooms.Other than the fact they had two smaller bars on the main floor and a larger bar in the back, I was less than impressed with this venue. - Sound- If your all about the bass, then this is your place. The sound setup and overall design of the venue is just shitty. The vocals and instrument sound come out convoluted. Even with the boards placed on the ceiling to help the sound travel, it just doesn't work. - Setup- the main floor is general admission. The wooden floor isn't the worst thing to stand on, but after a few hours it can get rough. If standing isn't your thing or you don't feel like you need extra space between you and your fellow concert goers, get VIP tickets that have seating and are on an upper level that is set higher than the main floor. -Bathrooms- The main bathrooms are located down a flight of stairs and are extremely tight space wise, but that is expected for how old the building is. -Smoking- So the venue is supposed to be smoke free, but not so much. There is smoking outside, but you do have to go down the stairs by the bathroom. - Live Nation- This is a Live Nation club. They do bring in some decent artists, but expect to pay their ticket fees While Bogart's does provide a more intimate venue and provides you with the opportunity to see the artists up and close, it isn't the best venue to hear them. read more

I am writing this before I read any of the other reviews so I don't let anybody else influence what I want to say. Let me start by saying, this venue has a lot of potential. The building was very clean, the bathrooms were straight out of an upscale trendy restaurant, and the staff were very friendly. The drinks were reasonably priced, but the bartenders wouldn't let me open a tab. (Being a concert venue, they have a lot of cards left behind.) so my advice is to bring cash, or you'll be running your card for every drink. I am a DJ by profession, which does NOT make me an expert, but does give me some credibility with the following critiques. First off, the sound engineer needs to make some major adjustments. I stood in several locations and was never once able to understand the lyrics of either band playing. Several people around me made similar comments as well. We came for a concert, we want to hear the band ya know :/ My other issue was with the lighting. I am not sure if the lights were provided by the band, or the venue, but they really drew away from the show. Somebody didn't think things through wen they places two huge can/spotlights on top of the speaker stacks POINTED RIGHT AT THE CROWD! The person at the control board flashed them at full strength about every 20 seconds, causing the entire audience to glance down at the ground to avoid burning their retinas. If they changed these two things, the place would be awesome!!!! Much better than similar venues in the area. read more

Bogart's - Gogol Bordello - Music Venues Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I love the cool vibe of the building. I have never had such a great experience as I've had inside those walls. Amazing bands and cool employees. The big sign out front is iconic of Clifton. read more