"Let's go to The Lackman." I don't even know what the hell it was... but, quite honestly, that name had me right away. The name really raised the expectation bar, strangely. We stopped by post Reds game, and I was sort of dreading a long line for beer, not enough room, etc (because that's what this city does, right? Baseball. Beer. Baseball. Beer. Repeat). And, lo, everything but. A very chill crowd. A very cheery & chill bartender. Two out of three us (me included) were and are Dodger fans (in dodger regalia) and we weren't boo-ed or kicked out or shat on anything. Honestly, I expect getting shat on in my Dodger hat, and they treated me like a shiny local plebeian; thank you. My buddy Bunt and I are local beer freaks. Yeah, the annoying kind. "Is it lohcal!?" "I mean, I see the awesome beer selection, but *is it local?* That can be annoying -- my apologies. But we're just simply interested in guzzling the local flavor of The Nati (being from Indy). They did get Bunt a local beer -- in a bottle -- and as Dogfish Head is no longer distributed in Indiana... it was a special treat to have 60 Minute IPA on draft -- and it was only $3.20.... Like West Virginia... it was wild, wonderful. I dig the men & women solo bathrooms with the shared sink trough. I suspect if you're interested in meeting people / friends / your future spouse... this would be a stellar opportunity to do so. The giant windows open and the frame can quickly become a seat outside at the table with friends when there's a *lack* of one last chair. Like Alex S wrote: this place is fantastically safe, terrific and a stellar option (straight up Vine) in OtR -- pre or post game at Great American Ballpark or any other day you're interested in being better off with a beer. read more

I tend to give a lot of 4 star ratings. It's just there are not a lot of places that are so absolutely perfect that there is nothing that they can improve on or some little downfall. The Lackman is one of those places. It is almost perfect but runs into a few small things to bring it down a star. I'd say that the atmosphere of The Lackman is Great. It consists of a nice arrangement of people not being home to just one demographic so that is nice. The inside is another one of your OTR bars which means it is a longer narrower bar kind of like The Drinkery but definitely not as big. That is one of my problems, it gets pretty jammed pack, canned sardine-esque on a weekend. Not too bad though as to not be able to grab a drink. You may have to vulture around keeping an eye out on the tables or bar for a seat but they'll eventually open up. There are a few small tables out front when the weather is right so there are a few additional seating areas. The big bay window/doors also open up which give the bar a feeling of being bigger than it actually is so that is another plus. Those tables and bar run along the opposite sides of the walls. the Tables sport one long cushioned bench seat with chairs for the other side of the tables. The bar is on the other side with a decent amount of seating. The drinks prices are average, about on par with everything else in the area, so not too bad. While your waiting you have to try the snack pretzels, they are some sort of jalapeno snack pretzel that have a serious bite to them. Perfect amount of bite to cool off until after you get your drink, not too hot that you'll blow flames out, as Goldilocks would say, they are "Just right." One of the most unique places about this bar is the bathroom. I should actually say, the sink portion of the bathroom is exposed right outside the actual bathrooms themselves. Instead of two separate sink areas they are combined in the middle of the two bathrooms to form one big communal sink area which is kind of neat. The women may not enjoy this because heaven knows what they do in the mirrors inside the bathroom but I had never seen it done this way and done so well. The Lackman has a very good spot, located on Vine St. it's not too far from the downtown center if you wanted to head that way and not too far from the OTR center if you wanted to go more towards that way. It is indeed, as Goldilocks said again "Just right". It is an elegant place that has a sort of rustic-classic look and feel but not too stuck up. Which is also neat. Overall, the place get 4 stars from me losing the last precious star because of the size. I don't know if there space next door is available but it would nice if they could buy it out and utilize it. The Lackman is not perfect but is suitable for Goldilocks because it is indeed, Just Right. read more

If you love beer, like me, you'll be quite pleased with the selection on tap at Lackman. That was the first thing that really attracted me to this bar. In addition to having a fantastic beer selection, which rotates quite regularly, they also host a number of beer related events and really hype up when new brews come to town. Beer lovers, rejoice! In addition to the great beer selection, Lackman has a nicely sophisticated but not pretentious feel to it. The set up is cozy, with a long bar counter on one side and a long plush bench with small tables and bar stools down the other side. The colors are warm and comforting. The bar itself is lovely, and the lighting and decor go great with the whole ambiance of the place. The bar counter is comfortable to sit at, and there are plenty of hooks for coats and purses in front of the stools. The service, even when it was super crowded, was extraordinarily fast and friendly. The bartender was happy to give advice on different beers and help us decide what to imbibe on on a particular evening. The bathroom is a little different. At the back of the bar you walk into an area with a long sink that can be approached from either side, with mirrors, and then the doors into a single toilet men's or women's toilet on either side. I sort of like this approach. For one, people are much more likely to be sure they washed their hands if they know anyone could be watching, right? I always hate grabbing onto the bathroom door handles when leaving while out, because I just don't trust the hygiene of all the other patrons. Here, I get to wash my hands post- door handle, so no worries! Secondly, with the sink and mirror outside of the bathroom, this has to cut back on the primping time spent by other female patrons in the bathrooms. Yay for no more blocked sinks due to primping sessions! But back to the main focus, beer. Definitely worth it for just the beer. The rest is just a bonus! read more

I'm calling this place the Black Hole of Productivity! The BHOP bar! Because when you enter it is hard to leave, you forget that you were just supposed to be stopping in for one drink! And if you do try to leave, you somehow get sucked right back in by their open air windows and small patio outside, because it turns out you found some friends and so you stay for "just one more!" Plus, I felt very Ally McBealish with their communal sinks! (Yes, I just aged myself) read more

So let me start off by saying that I only visit this spot once a month a most, but I am a huge fan. Back when it first opened, I remember walking in and thinking "this place is packed," quickly followed by "that's it?" The place is small, they don't serve food, and there are no sinks in the bathrooms... BUT THATS WHATS COOL ABOUT IT! Stop by, have a quality drink, talk amongst your friends and judge the people who come out of the bathroom and don't wash their hands! read more

Came here for happy hour last Friday and really enjoyed sitting at the bar (but unclear if they have a happy hour special). I found the daily drink/beer menu to be a plus since I never know what to order off hand. The bar had a great cozy vibe, with the leather covered stools, dark wood bar/tables, and dim lighting, so it was perfect for a gloomy/rainy afternoon. This place is definitely not meant for large groups..I wouldn't go with more than 3-4 people as the tables won't comfortably fit more and the bar lends itself to a more intimate gathering, especially during happy hour. read more

Really nice place. It's dimly lit and feels comfortable, not too noisy (this was a Thursday night). The cocktails on their menu are very good. The service was excellent. The bartender didn't rush us to order but also checked on us just enough. It's pretty small so thankfully it wasn't crowded when we were there. Large bourbon selection and they have a menu to show you all there is to offer. read more

Lackman Bar - Can't remember the name but it has tequila in it. Really good! - Lounges Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My friends and I went out for one of our friend's birthdays and while we were waiting on our table at another restaurant, we stopped in here. What an awesome place! The bar was great, drinks were awesome, bartender was soooo nice and it was just, chill. We liked it, a lot. I would love to go back just for an afternoon meal. We got the egg rolls which were very very yummy! Stop in if you're looking for a cool, original place! read more

Finally! A place where you can meet women while washing your hands! The separate bathrooms but shared sink is a weird set up, but I immediately had to think about the possibilities. Imagine you go to wash your hands and a beautiful woman exits the restroom and walks to the sink. You already know that you have something in common, hygiene. The bar was pretty nice, a little bit small, with a good selection of beers and in a pretty cool area of downtown. Prices can be a bit high on beers but they run specials that are very affordable. It does get pretty crowded but in general I like the place. read more

I thought Lackman Bar was great. My favorite thing about this place was how trendy yet comfy this place feels. It really does look beautiful on the inside. I love the crown molding and the back wall. Whoever decorated this place or put it all together was very talented. It is worth it to pop in and check out this beautiful bar. Overall I thought the drinks were good. I got a margarita and the bartender was very generous with the tequila. However, the drink was a little pricey. My friends who got a beer though paid $3 for a Guinness. Now that is a good price! I might just get a beer the next time instead.... I also liked that Lackman Bar it is a very much a neighborhood bar. In fact, while I was there I saw a fellow Yelper! I was so excited to be at the cool hang out place. There was another group of people at a table who were super fun and welcoming. I was definitely thrilled to come here and will be back again. read more

I can say one thing for sure, the Bar Pretzels are worth 5 stars by themselves. I don't know where they got them but damn are they good. Spicy and sweet. But on to the bar itself. I would call it a hip little bar. While you can get 50 people in the place it is going to get hot! The Beer selection was awesome with some hard to find Belgium beers on tap. read more

Driving through Cinci on my back to Columbus from Nashville. Watched the cityscape coming in from Louisville, and began to crave some red wine. Circled the campus area looking for a place with a clean glass, to no avail. Only saw one bar that looked reasonably populated, but too divey for tonight. Came down Vine Street, then double take as I spotted a small patio and open bar doors in the Over The Rhine area. Open meter right next to it = win. The buildings I had passed on my left and right looked abandoned and underdeveloped, but this place looked clean. Sitting at the bar, I now realize this isn't far from the Cincinnati art school. Summer culture here around midnight is young professional. Bar is nice. Reminds me of the Short North. Attentive bartenders. Seven Falls Cab better than the Malbec. Either way, satisfied my cravings... back to the road! read more

Wow, what a selection of craft beer! I honestly didn't think something like this would exist in Cincinnati until I recently walked in to check it out for myself. Hard to find and rare beers are up and down the tap list. I would be here all the time, though I fear it would quickly take all of my money, since it did seem to be pretty high priced. Well over $20 for 3 drinks. read more

If this isn't my favorite bar in Cincinnati, then it's certainly my favorite in the Over the Rhine. Cool vibe, cool crowd, good bartenders, intimate but not crowded, very comfy barstools (such an undervalued attribute) and an always excellent beer selection. I come back for that draft beer selection because it changes so much and reflects just about the best of beer that you can get in Cincinnati. The best part is that the bartenders actually know a lot about the beer and, when it's not busy, will answer your stupid or geeky questions. I would agree though that, if you don't really know or like beer that much ("beer" not including Blue Moon and Yuengling, but real beer), then you're not going to have a great time here. There are a ton of other bars around though that serve the more mediocre stuff, and they're a lot cheaper to boot. This is not a bar for everyone. Downside is that they're pricey. But where is not pricey in OTR? read more

This is a classic bar that is a good place to meet your friends for an evening in OTR. The bouncers are nice and the bartenders can make you any drink. No live music but still a great place to go read more

Lackman is a perfectly acceptable corner bar. The style is a bit higher end, but the prices are reasonable. It's in an odd place in OTR, pushing up towards Liberty a bit farther than most of the typical customers are hanging. It also acts as a nice waiting room for busy Senate nights. Bartenders are friendly and attentive. Drink selection is acceptable. Decor is attractive & thoughtful. Biggest negative is the tight space for patrons. The bar is short & the tables small and packed. Parking is streetside or the 12th & Vine lot. Lackman is completely average & unoriginal and that is a-ok. They've invested in OTR with a nice bar and a location that is great for Vine St. shoppers. Though I'm not likely to go out of my way to visit Lackman, there is enough there to get an occasional dollar from me. read more

Nice little place where you can either chill at the bar and enjoy some great beer on tap or have the bartenders mix up a nice custom cocktail. The place can get a little too crowded for my tastes, but that's no big deal. There is often some yummy pretzel thingys at the bar that really satisfy one's salt cravings. This place has a good, first/second date kinda feel. It's low lit, kinda romantic, etc. So, maybe hit up Venice on Vine for food, and Lackman for drinks, and then go to Neon's for outdoor festivities. Your date will be impressed and enjoy your urban experience date. read more

I came to Lackman on a weekday night. I think I'm just missing something here because I didn't really see how the decor/ambiance, drinks, or service was anything special. The bartenders in general weren't too interested in serving us (and they weren't very busy either). I don't require a lot of a attention, but i felt like more of a burden than a guest. The bar is not large but it is loud! I was yelling a lot at my friends and a few times I did that awkward thing where I asked them something but they couldn't hear me :( We only stayed for one drink and left to go a different (read: better) bar. They had like 10 bottles of Blanton's behind the bar which was neat, I'm a fan of Buffalo Trace. The main selling point of Lackman for me is it's location in OTR... right next to many of the most popular restaurants in the area. But that also means there are so many other places nearby I can choose to grab a drink at. read more

The Lackman certainly isn't LACKing anything (get it? ha!), but has yet to really impress me. It does provide a nice, clean, inviting establishment in which to meet friends and grab a drink, but isn't anything outstanding. I will say that when I was there late on a Friday night, with a fairly full house, I was still able to get a drink within a reasonable amount of time! The selection of drinks was appreciable - great bourbon selection (definitely not run-of-the-mill) and has some great wine and beer options. The decor is supposed to be impressive - I think? But I find it rather standard - not interesting, but not tacky. It's a rather small venue - making a handful of people seem larger than actuality. But the seating is ample and very comfy! read more

The Lackman is a great place to start the night. Seating is limited so make sure you get here early for happy hour. Happy hour is 4 - 8 and specials are $2 off drafts, $2 domestics, $3 imports, $3.50 microdrafts, $5 wine, $3.50 calls, and 2.50 wells. You gotta try the spicy pretzels!! I am in love with these things. Also they are really cool if you want to bring in outside food. We went to the pizza place next door and brought in some dinner. read more

The Lackman is A-OK. I like the rotating selection on tap and the super friendly bartenders. It's a small, comfy and cozy little bar. Good times are always had here by my friends and I. read more

I've been heading to Lackman a bit more recently and really like it. It's relatively quiet, unless you're swinging by on a Friday after work. The music is always great, which is nice, because I feel like good music is something that's become much less of a focus for places lately. Prices aren't bad either. I'm a big fan of the "A Bit Foreword" -- a tequila cocktail! read more

Based on happy hour(s) alone, Lackman is my favorite bar in the Cincinnati area. This distinction was formerly held by Righteous Room, which is also a 4EG establishment, but I think that the beer selection and ambiance elevated Lackman to the top spot. In warmer weather, especially, this social gathering place--with its windows open to Vine and 13th Streets--is prime locale for sitting streetside and enjoying fantastic beer, cocktails, and passersby. More so, Lackman is a wonderful place to spend some time before or after a Reds game, or while you wait for a table at one of OTR's hip (and always-packed) restaurants. Day drinking and happy hour are wonderful, as well as post-1am trysts. Visit any time in between at your own discretion, as it gets pretty packed. read more

Perfect place to get drinks. Cocktails are prepared well using quality ingredients and they always have a great variety of good beers on tap. Service is strong. Tiffany was polite and conversational while me and a large group of friends changed our orders over and over again. I've been several times now. Very consistent with quality of drinks, service, and atmosphere. read more

If You're looking for a well made drink while waiting for your reservation or after dinner this is the perfect spot. Comfortable, friendly and great cocktails. When the weather cooperates try to grab a seat in front of the giant open windows to watch all the street activity. read more

Lackman Bar - Lounges Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

So in a matter of weeks the Lackman has become my bar of choice. Not only because it is a block from where I work, but because of the great staff and incredible selection of beer. I'm a beer snob, so I love it when I look down the taps (2 of them are nitro) and I see maybe a couple big producers and then bunch of craft breweries. The manager tends to bring in very limited brews and usually only a keg at a time. Which means that the taps change almost constantly. If draught isn't your style, you can also go for the decent bottle selection (a few nice bombers are available). Of course you can also go for the cheap route and buy a PBR, high life, or any other cheap lager, you're not stuck buying some super trendy double-black-imperial-ipa-lager-amber-hefeweizen. If beer isn't your thing they do have one bartender in particular who is an encyclopedia of cocktails. You tell him what you like and viola! He'll make you a great beverage that you've probably never heard of before. If you see a moustache of epic proportions you can feel comfortable asking for bartenders choice. I will say it does tend to get crowded fairly easily, but with the excellent staff and selection you can understand why. read more

Well, I'm no connoisseur of Cincinnati bars but I am a fan of the Lackman. I agree with most of the reviewers whose main complain is the size. It would definitely be better if there was more room. I like the style which is on the upscale end without being pretentious. Plus, their happy hour is pretty fantastic. I was very surprised when I went to pay my tab and found out that my beer was $2... always a plus! Overall, the Lackman is a great addition to the growing Gateway Quarter. read more

I hesitated whether to go three or four stars for this one, and eventually went with the higher rating because my reservations are entirely tied to being there during happy hour on a Friday. It was incredibly crowded with the hip young professional crowd, and as a slightly crusty academic, I did feel a wee bit underdressed and out of place. BUT. That will not keep me from going back, and I would highly recommend it to any young, hip, Cincy professional. The bar is beautiful--small!, but beautiful. The beer selection was incredible and the service very friendly. The happy hour prices were great, and I was madly in love with my strange Good Island Pepe Nero, served in a gorgeous Goose Island glass. (They treat the beer right here). I would love to go back in the early evening on a weeknight when it's a bit less crowded and enjoy the happy hour prices on some extremely fine craft beer. Also: a random detail. The bathroom was fabulous! As it's a small bar, I suppose it's alright to have only a single stall for women and one for men. But the ingenious part is that there is a single communal sink outside the bathrooms. Not only does this speed up the bathroom line (moving all primping, etc, outside the toilet area), but also, the sink is super cool looking! I told you it was random. read more

It fits nicely between cozy and swanky. I hear the beer selection is excellent. I was there on a Friday night and it was too crowded for me to really even see what they had on tap. My goal is to get down there for a happy hour soon. It's in OTR so it's full of relaxed, fun people but it still has the feel of a downtown establishment. It's a little to small of a place for how popular it's already become. I would enjoy it better if I had a place to stand. The bathrooms are enough to leave a lasting impression. The sink is communal. So you can tell if a boy doesn't wash his hands after he uses the bathroom. (which I unfortunately witnessed. gross) Generally speaking, Lackman Bar is an all around good time. read more

If this place had about 200 more sq ft I'd totally give this place a star or two more. When this place is busy, it becomes almost impossible to enjoy oneself. However, I've had some good times with friends and every once in a while Yelp has events there and those are always fun. My husband likes the beers here as they are often unusual and from interesting breweries. When I've asked for wine, particularly white, there has been little or no options. Kinda sad for a bar, but maybe they were out at the time. The communal bathroom sink is kinda quirky and cool. If you can snag a table, the comfy seats along the wall are great to take in the place. Parking in the area is hit or miss, some nights we can find close parking, others we have to trek through some semi sketchy places. read more

Great beer selections! This will be our to go spot to stop for a drink while waiting for a table in OtR. Prices are extremely reasonable for the beer selection. Bartenders are great. The only downside is how crowded it can get. But it's not fair to review a place based on the size. Just a warning for all you Yelpers out there, there might be a crowd. But if you are in OtR, you have probably come to except this! read more

The Lackman... This is definitely one of my favorite 4EG bars, or just bars in general for that matter. It has a dark, modern, comfortable atmosphere. It's kind of small, but makes good use of the space. The biggest draw is that they have an excellent draft beer selection. I guess I'll break it down like this. The Good - Great draft beer selection. Plenty of high quality craft brewed beers. - Attentive and knowledgeable staff. - Cozy atmosphere - Good location The Eh - Small size means it gets ridiculously crowded on the weekends - It gets crowded around the bar, so I wish they had a sign with their draft selection and prices. It's nice that Lackman is right by several awesome restaurants like Senate, Lavomatic, A Tavola, Bakersfield, and Abigail Street. Most of these restaurants will take your phone number and call you when a table is ready, meaning you can pop into Lackman for a drink while you wait. read more

We were a groupd friends, coming out of the Cincinnati wine festival and looking to have some more fun in a chill-out place. On the advice of a local, we went to Lackman, and we were not disappointed. A cosy little bar, a little dark - but just enough. The drinks were reasonably priced, the staff courteous and the ambiance just perfect to have a conversation with your table neighbor. read more

This is a good bar on Vine street. It's a bit small, and there's barely room outdoors to drink, so I don't often end up going there when I have other bar options only a few streets away. The only time I've been in there when it wasn't shoulder to shoulder crowded was on Halloween. I'm not entirely sure why, but it always seems unbelievably loud in there, louder than other bars, and I'm guessing that's due to the close quarters. But limited space aside, this is a really beautiful bar with a good selection of beer on tap and a nice area to sit in (if you're lucky enough to actually get a table). I've never had the chance to sit in the front by the windows, but I'd love to do that on a warm night sometime. If it had more space, this would definitely be a place I'd visit more often because it's a genuinely good bar. read more

I love spending time at the Lackman Bar. The vibe when you walk in just makes you feel like you are being invited into an ultra-exclusive club with a mysterious ambiance; the low lighting, the boutique tables, and the decorations make the Lackman stand out as quality establishment in Over-the-Rhine. Having visited multiple times, I usually used the Lackman as a venue to pass any wait times for another restaurant, but it has quickly turned into a place I love to visit regardless of the day of the week or time. On the weekends, they do tend to get a little busy, with the total area available for patrons being SMALL. This entails a lack of seating for the majority of customers and an overall loudness to the room with the various conversations, but it is still a great place to visit. The bartenders do their best to make sure everyone standing is served with care and quality and the variety of drink options is on point. If you like a more intimate, but not overbearing, bar scene with plenty of drink options, definitely stop by the Lackman for an amazing experience. read more

You cannot go wrong with this bar any night of the week. There is always someone you can spot that you know, or even making a new friend. Everyone enjoys meeting a new friend...friends, especially that buy you drinks. I'm not saying that's what happened to me. I'm just saying that's what constitutes a good friend. So won't you be my friend, ;) But yes, this bar has yummy free snacks - and very reasonable prices. You go primarily for the atmosphere though. It's laid back and friendly -- what else can you ask for? read more

While waiting out a 45 minute wait time at The Senate, I took my troupe over the The Lackman for a pre-dinner drink, based on another Yelp reviewer's suggestion. What a great idea! Its a small room with a long bar. Happy Hour is 4-8 everyday so when we got there at 7 on a Friday night, we caught some deals among the bustling crowd ($2 off drafts, $2 domestics, $3 imports, $3.50 microdrafts, $5 wine, $3.50 calls, $and 2.50 wells). When we stepped in we caught the only table left but as we waited, this place was filled to the windows. I was glad to go get some dinner (albeit in the equally crowed Senate). I usually judge a bar by what they have on tap (I like to drink local and get some "flavor"), which was leaving something to be desired but I've heard they have a nice bottled beer section. I like a dark beer so I had the Arrogant Bastard. I would definitely go back during happy hour. read more

Two aspects of Lackman to pay attention to: the space and the beer selection. Every weekend this place is just slammed with customers. It's about the only bar on that side of OTR, so it is understandable that the bar is crowded, but the main problem is that the space is tiny. There are booths along the wall and stools against the bar. It is probably 25 feet wide and about four times as long (the bar takes up about half of the space). I like crowded bars more than empty ones, and I am glad that Lackman gets a lot of business, but I am excited for new bars to open up to reduce some of the congestion inside the bar. The beer selection is the best part about this bar. They always have a good variety of beers (a little slanted toward IPA's). I had a Breckenridge Christmas Ale when I was there and it was delicious. It was $5 so it isn't really expensive to drink there, but they typically have beers one step above the traditional Bud and Miller. They appear to have a lot of microbrews as well as some local brews available. There is no doubt I will return here! read more

What I like about Lackman is that it is a great pub, in an old authentic OTR building. On top of that, they have cider. 3 stars for that. However, I have never liked pubs where you can't talk. Why would you to a pub if you can't talk to each other? On a Friday night this place is so overcrowded, I would have turned my back immediately if we didn't have a -more than an hour- wait in A Tavola. It was hard to understand my friends and even when we got a spot to sit, I didn't really feel at ease. I feel like I would really like this pub on a weeknight, when not that many people are around. For now, it's not a lot more than a very loud pub to me. read more

This is the perfect spot to grab a drink (or six) while you wait two hours for your table to come up at one of the new OTR restaurants. We had a few drinks there last night while waiting on our table across the street at A Tavola. Pros: - great beer selection, both drafts and bottles. - reasonable prices - $4 for a UFO hefeweizen. - Cons: - unisex bathroom area is a little strange. - the only 'food' they have are the strange spicy pretzel sticks sitting in cups on the bar. I'll go back again, but it's not the type of place you could spend all night at. read more