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Dana Gardens

3.9 (43 reviews)
InexpensiveDive Bars
Closed 7:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

Dana Gardens Photos

DANA GARDENS ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Divey
Casual
Juke Box

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Recommended Reviews - Dana Gardens

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Vodka
Steve A.

Dana Gardens is a great campus bar. It's the most popular bar at Xavier. The bar looks like shit on the outside, but it's kind of better inside. It has cheap ass beer and cocktails. There's also some greasy ass food. I got confused the first time coming. It has a front door. This isn't as much of a door as it is part of the wall. It's not possible to enter through it. The entrance is actually on the side. It's right next to the gravel parking lot. The drink menu has some great specials. I had a vodka and tonic to start the evening. This is only about $2, and strong too. Speaking of strong, if you want something that will kick your ass and take your name, then order the Herschel's Special. Try being man enough to chug it, wow. This place is a madhouse for basketball. Make sure you aren't wearing UC gear. They will seriously cut you.

D - DIVE bar A - AWESOME place to watch games (especially Xavier basketball games) N - NICE off-street parking A - ALWAYS welcoming (but probably not if you're a uc fan). G - GREAT prices on food and drinks - it is a college bar after all. A - A place that always feels like home. R - READING everywhere. Every inch of this place is covered in signatures, phrases, inside jokes, etc from current and past students. D - DECENT outdoor seating. Multiple long picnic tables and plenty of space to stand with friends if you can't get a seat. E - EVEN has an upstairs bar for those super busy nights. And you can rent out the upstairs room for a private party. N - NEED to try a Herschel. It's a drink named after one of the bartenders. Don't bother asking what's in it though - it's a top-secret recipe. S - SPICY balls. Enough said. Order them and thank me later.

Packed on a Friday night
Cindy G.

Dana's. Phew. Never thought I would ever utter that word. This past weekend I agreed to partake in a Norwood dive bar crawl led by one of my best friends a former Xavier cheerleader. As a UC alum I was horrified, but as the Yelp Community Manager I was up for the adventure and agreed. Of course the with the horrific winter we are having everything was covered in snow, but I have to start by saying this little dive boasts a pretty killer double decker patio. Walking in we were greeted with wall to wall Xavier students, parents and alumni. I was actually surprised to see so many older people here. I thought for sure it would be a bunch of drunk kids. We walked up to the bar and my friend insisted I order "The Hershel Special." Apparently this Hershel dude has been working here for decades and he created his own signature drink. I asked what was in it and he just shook his head indicating that there was no way I was getting this top secret recipe. I ended up ordering one of those and a beer. The drink was $7 which I thought was steep for a dive, but once I watched him make it this thing looks 3/4 of the way full of whatever came out of that secret bottle. It was definitely potent and I ended up pawning it off on my friend. I also want to add that they have a tiny food window that I think is so great. Every dive should have this! Fried food and beer? Yes please. We didn't get a chance to try, but I did get a chance to visit the restroom right next to the window and although this restroom is tiny, every inch of it is signed by former Xavier students. A true nostalgic gem and one heck of a dive bar. Dana's, I gotta tip my hat to you, just don't tell anyone ;)

Gabrielle H.

Last night we ended the evening at Dana's with my friend that goes to Xavier. It was a very chill environment and we got the spicy balls (pictured) which are a must!!! We also got to sign the wall, which is cool! Definitely a chill place to end the night. We love the spicy balls and signing the walls!

a display of beer bottle caps
Maggie J.

Dana's IS Xavier. We used to go to Dana's just about every weekend senior year of college... as you've probably heard, it's one of 3 bars within walking distance to Xavier and definitely the most iconic. It is a hole in the wall, run down, shot gun place so don't expect anything elaborate BUT the drinks and the food are PERFECT. The Hershel special will knock you on your a**. Hershel and BJ have been there forever and love it. Pitchers are cheap. Games and darts are fun. Patio is awesome when it's nice out. Upstairs is rarely open but when it is, it's packed. I was at Dana's this past weekend with some friends for a Xavier reunion, I graduated in 2011 and NOTHING has changed and that's what makes it Dana's.

a view of the bar and dining area

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16 years ago

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10 years ago

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14 years ago

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Review Highlights - Dana Gardens

as you've probably heard, it's one of 3 bars within walking distance to Xavier and definitely the most iconic.

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Monk's Cove - Back room with pool table

Monk's Cove

3.7(46 reviews)
3.1 miMt. Adams
$

I'm in between a 4 and a 5, this place is good and if a group of friends wanted to go back I would…read moredefinitely go!! The bar itself is pretty cool, atmosphere is fun, and being able to get little funny goodies with the purchase of a Jell-O shot is a very fun idea! I just think there are a few things that could be fixed! There's free popcorn which is a GREAT touch, however it was sooo stale it tasted like it had been there for hours! Obviously though, it's free and I don't judge them too much on that. I went on a Saturday night and they weren't that busy, but they only had two bartenders so maybe they just never got around to it! Now to the bartenders. They weren't bad, but not that great. Didn't know how to make the mixed drinks, so had to take back the menu they'd just given us to relearn how to make it. Also, weren't aware of what beers they had on tap, and there were only like 4-5 beers. So when I asked for one of them, they were confused on what I was asking for and chalked it up to "haven't seen that one in a while" but my friend literally just ordered it moments before me from the other bartender. Lastly, they have a pool table and that cool ring game where there's a ring on a string and you try to hook it on to a hook on the wall! Both were super fun, however far too close! It seemed that the people playing each game kept getting in each other's way. However, it's a small bar, and they are obviously just trying to give customers as many options for fun as possible! If you're in Mt. Adams, check this place out! Better for smaller groups than larger groups though!

This bar is great! It has a tiki theme that makes you feel like you're having drinks in Myrtle…read moreBeach. We came here with a relatively large group on Friday night, after we had a terrible experience at the Blind Lemon down the street. They were happy to accommodate our group size and were quick and accurate with their drink service. Overall this was a great place to end our night and continue to celebrate our friends' engagement!!

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Monk's Cove - Patio flowers

Patio flowers

Monk's Cove
Monk's Cove - Outside of the bar

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Outside of the bar

Dana Gardens - divebars - Updated May 2026

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