Came here for drinks with friends and it was a grand experience. The ambiance is very chic and relaxed. The bar is a large open rectangle-bar island in the middle with smaller tables along the sides. I had a glass of the malbec and it was delish. The man had a grasshopper and it was also a tasty treat. We came on a quiet Wednesday night, and the service was cordial and to the point. A "what will you have" and some answers to a few questions, and then our drinks were presented quickly. Like I said, the ambiance is nice, the service is good, and the cocktails are tasty. I'll definitely return. read more

Top notch cocktail bar. Perfect spot to hit before, or after dinner (or skip it all together and drink your dinner). Malea and crew are the best bartenders in the city. read more

I was a little hesitant to try this placed due to the mixed reviews, but ventured out and wasn't disappointed. The cocktails were good (we had the Baya and Tropic Thunder) and came fast (of course we were the only people in the bar). We also had shots on the Sunday special and they were chilled to perfection. The bartender was friendly and gave us some of the special pretzel mix that other Yelpers raved about (which is locally made and really good). Sadly, the octopus has passed on to that great big ocean in the sky, but they've replaced her with really cool fish so the ambiance is the same. Overall, this place is good, cocktails were a little pricey which is why this didn't get 5 stars and I would have loved a small bites option, but still good all the same. read more

Nice drink menu - could do without egg whites in my cocktails (seems to be the new trend for OTR and not just these guys). Appreciate the large bar with a few small tables for seating. Glad to see they no longer have an Octopus on display. Friendly bartenders and a relaxed crowd for Friday happy hour. Slightly off the path of the main drag of OTR but worth a couple extra steps for some creative cocktails and just the right amount of crowded bar. read more

Bad server, no menus supplied, was aggressively pointed to QR codes on the table. I'm sure covid has gotten to this place but.. the dialogue has to get better. Don't shout QR at me if you want me to come back. Oh also.. they were out of the cocktail I decided on. Another unfortunate reality of covid I'm sure, but maybe I wouldn't have been upset if the initial interaction wasn't so brazen. read more

Great bar nestled on the east side of washington park, my cocktail, "Gary the Snail" was everything I expected and i'm a better person because of it :) read more

Low Spark - "Gary the Snail" - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Excellent service from Aaron! Extremely knowledgeable about spirits, and very friendly. Our cocktails were masterfully put together! Love it! read more

Low Spark - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

If you're looking for a little low-key bar in OTR look no further than Low Spark at the corner of Clay and 14th St. Nice quiet and unassuming walk right in and grab a drink. A friend and I stopped in after catching a bite nearby. She enjoyed one of their special cocktails and I had a beer on draft good quick service too. read more

I have stopped by here 2 times so far and have really enjoyed myself each time. It's a small place but I really like the setup especially the aquarium in the middle of the bar. All of our drinks have been good and the bar staff has been fantastic. It's in a great location and I have always been able to find parking when I was there. It's a great bar to have some drinks as a destination or as a way point on a OTR adventure. read more

This is an excellent bar! It's in a great location, and has a perfect atmosphere. That bartender tonight was amazing! (Beautiful, too!) I'll be here every time I find myself in Cincinnati. read more

This is a nice place to go if you don't have many people. It is very dark and hood vibes and the bartenders are always very friendly! They also have an awesome fish tank to look at while you sip read more

Low Spark is one of the many lowkey bars tucked away in the Over-the-Rhine area that I had no idea existed. I really wanted to go out on a weekday night so my one friend surprised me with this place. It was dimly lit and not very crowded at all as expected, but I didn't mind. It was perfect for the chill and relaxing night I was going for. Thanks to Low Spark, my friend and I had some pretty good conversation with a solid drink selection at our fingertips without getting thrown off by the hustle and bustle around us like with some other bars. The immediate takeaways we thought of was the dope lit up fish tank in the middle of the bar that really added to the chillness, the friendliness of the bartender (no bar service, she came to us) and her honest recommendation when my friend didn't know what she wanted, and the atmosphere just screamed "sit down a while, have a drink". This kind of bar usually isn't my scene, but it was a nice change of pace and I got to spend quality time with my friend. If you're looking to for a nice evening to relax and be in the moment with a friend or two, Low Spark can help you out with that. read more

Great little bar tucked away in OTR. Service was good. Wish they had a few more cocktails on their menu but I'd go back.

this was the first bar we stopped at to begin our night after leaving dinner from celebrating a friend's birthday in our group. We had never been to low spark before, but had heard good things about it so we were excited to check it out. We had only been there maybe 30 minutes in which we all ordered a drink and a shot, when one of my friends accidentally knocked her tall glass over on the bar. We all promptly attempted to clean up the mess on the bar as well as ourselves. My friends and I all work in customer service and understand how annoying it is when someone spills a drink, but let's face it, accidents happen. The female bartender working that night (i unfortunately didn't catch her name, but she was younger and had lighter brown hair), reacted by proceeding to grab my groups' entire round of FULL drinks that we had just finished paying for, dumped them out in the sink, and then nastily told us that she was refusing us service from here on out. I understanding "cutting off" patrons when they seem too intoxicated, but neither of us had a drink prior to this other than a single glass of wine with dinner. To react in such a rude way was extremely unprofessional and, quite frankly, ridiculous that she seemed so inconvenienced by a minor spill that my entire group was unable to finish our drinks that we payed, and tipped, decently for. If you have no patience, simply don't work in customer service! read more

Ordered a Buffalo Trace on the rocks, menu said that it costs $8.50. Bill comes and it's $17.00. Asked the waitress if there was mistake and it got rung up twice and she proceeded to tell me "oops I'm sorry the menu must be out of date" and didn't do anything. What a joke. read more

One of my favorite bar spots in OTR. Always has a cool, laid-back vibe. Somewhat small, but the lighting is low and the music is chill. Handmade cocktails are really good. The fish tank in the middle is also relaxing. Great spot for first dates. read more

Low Spark is my favorite bar in the city. The staff are incredibly friendly and the ambiance is spot on. The location is perfect because it's a bit off the beaten path of OTR's main spots but it's not far if you want to incorporate it into a night of bar hopping. It's right next to Washington Park and they have great Sunday specials, so it makes for the perfect Sunday Funday Spot, too. I like to hit up brunch and Washington Park and then once Low Spark opens at 4, I head over to grab $3.50 Jameson. When the weather's nice they have nice big windows that open to create a really nice breeze throughout the bar. Huge fan of Low Spark! read more

I was excited to see the newest bar in OTR, now that I have, I doubt I'll be back. The drink specials were great during happy hour and the free snack mix is a nice touch. However, the attitude from the bartenders is unneeded, there are plenty of other watering holes in the neighborhood. read more

Love this place, everything about it. Classy yet hip, spacious yet intimate. Giant square for the bar for ample seating and the center is nice and open with no massive overhang. Has a retro vibe, makes you want to stick around. Great selection of beer and cocktails. Would be great for a date or pre-gaming or night out with a few friends. Great locale this goes perfectly with vibe and feel of the bar itself. Good times too which is always nice. read more

Beautiful interior however been sitting here 10 minutes and neither of the bartenders have even acknowledged us :( read more

Low Spark - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We stopped at Low Spark for a drink on Halloween. It is a beautiful little bar across from Salazar. We were greeted by a fun crowd and bartenders who made just a little effort to dress up. The drink menu is short and a bit inventive. My 86 year old grandfather is an old bartender. I was pleasantly surprised to see one of his go to drinks- the Harvey Wallbanger on the menu. I ordered their delicious version of a Harvey Wallbanger- we will not tell Grandpa that they do not float the Galliano :). They had an excellent selection of beer for my friends and the bartenders were very knowledgeable about mixed drinks not on their menu. They also had delicious snack mix. If you are a budwiser fan, you might enjoy the special cup these beers are served in. Service was excellent during our visit. Our bartenders made sure we had drinks and kept water glasses full as well. Three cheers (and five stars) for Low Spark. This is definitely a nice stop in OTR. read more

I'm not sure about all these peeps handing out 3 stars and the 4 stars. B****** be cray. This place should be collecting them like Mario and Luigi! I've been here a few times and have never had to wait, never had a bad drink, never had a bad bartender. I should probably add we've ONLY come here during peak hours. Plus the drinks here are delish. That Rye Summer is where it's at! (yes I'm aware you shouldn't end a sentence in a preposition). If you haven't been you should definitely stop by for a drink or three. The fish tank full of vodka is well worth it :) read more

I finally got to come here for a drink or two last week and loved my experience, with one caveat. The drinks (we both got stout-type beers) were delicious and service was quick and friendly. We also loved that in this aquarium filled bar, they serve Jefferson's Ocean, which is a bourbon that's aged "at sea" - the barrels are sent out on a boat to age- gimmicky and also delicious! The Octopus has been replaced by tropical fish, which are much easier to spot :) The one caveat to our experience was simply a loud, drunk dude who was shouting at people sitting next to him and the bartenders said that unfortunately he's a regular and the reason they "turn up the music." A bummer and a total vibe ruiner, but he left partway through our visit and we just loved the quiet, dark ambiance and the friendly bartenders! read more

Inconsistent service overall, some bartenders are pleasant and quick to serve, whereas others are not. particularly this middle age blonde haired woman. She was talkative with coworkers despite having customers who just walked in right in front of her ready to order. I was disappointed by the rude demeanor she had as previous visits have been great! needless to say, I will not be back as their bar is 1 in 1 million here in OTR read more

I stopped in last night with my sister for a drink before we walked around Blink. There were only about 10 customers in the bar, yet the bartender was puttering around for about 10 minutes before he even acknowledged me. When he said hello, I said hi and began to order my drink. He said oh, it'll be a minute and I said OK. For the next 10 minutes he puttered around behind the bar, picked up the checks from customers who had already left, and I could not catch his eye again. To top it all off, new customers walked into the bar and sat down and got their drinks in about two minutes! I sat there getting more and more annoyed. Did he have an attitude or was he just this bad at bar tending? If it's this hard to get a drink when the bar is half empty, I would hate to see it when they were busy! But I won't, because I won't be going back! read more

great customer service and friendly conversation with one of the bartenders Malea she asked what I liked and after gathering all information with the answer of surprise me she nailed a great cocktail read more

Low Spark - a bar with a fish tank in the background - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

A great local bar. No TV's, just good conversation and good drinks. Jake and Stephen kept the bar conversation lively and poured delicious cocktails. I can highly recommend the Roxanne is a perfect balance. The atmosphere is electric and clean. The fish tank in the center of the bar is cool but needs more fish! (There are currently none! Just an octopus.) This bar gives me a good feeling. I will be back often. read more

Cool lounge space with a great quaint vibe! Nice change up of decor for the OTR scene. Love the 70's feel of vinyl/button bar stools, paneled wall covering, dim lights, chunky wood tables, and color scheme. Oddly not with the bar styling though, was the overdone subway tile and French styled farm sink for the bath areas. Could have been such better choice. Bartenders were great, attentive, friendly, and offering great cocktail and beer options. For a second you feel like you are in an an alley bar in NOLA! (Only much cleaner!) we'll be back read more

Low Spark - Craft cocktail fun - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Great beer. Great cocktails. Great bartenders. What a wonderful addition to OTR. I recommend the cocktail tropic thunder. It's delicious and it's served in a tiki man glass. Vacation in a cup! Who wouldn't like a drink called tropic thunder? read more

Cute, cozy and average priced. Drinks were good and very tasty. The bar is kinda small but if you go during the week, you should be fine.

Ok let's face it....who doesn't want to stare at a fish tank while drinking? It is truly fascinating! I really like this place and the staff has always been super friendly. They have a super chill environment and it definitely a great place to grab a drink. Selections are not amazing but they have the best snack. It's like crack. Seriously we stop by for the "crack snack". I am not sure of the official name but so delish. We are hooked. You have to ask for the "crack snack" as it seems now they keep it behind the counter unless you ask. I swear, we come back just for that. But while we are there have a good drink and generally great conversation with the bartenders. You have to check this place out. read more

It has no spark! Over priced drinks with no atmosphere! Worst bar in Over the Rhine! Seriously waste of time and cash

Great addition to the OTR bar scene. The service was friendly and fast and the drinks, while a little pricey, were great. I had the delicious Grasshopper ($10) and my wife had the Baya Sour ($12) which she reluctantly let me try and that was great too. Let's take a moment to reflect on the very tasty complimentary pretzel treat that is served at the bar. Oh my goodness. I love pretzels and the extra "stuff" that is blended in with them. I enjoyed our first experience here and will have to come back for happy hour or maybe the Sunday Vinyl night where one can bring in records (those black circular things that some might remember their parents having) and play them hopefully to the aural enjoyment of those at the bar. *parking may be tricky in this area so plan accordingly and travel in groups if possible. ;) read more

Haven't been to this place in over a year and I'm still reflecting on how good the bar snacks are... great drinks too!

Came here for a quick drink with clients after doing Yoga in Washington Park. It wasn't super crowded so we were attended to immediately. They had a nice snack mix on the bar and we all had wine. Great location too! read more

Cool lowkey spot that's perfect for happy hour. Their prices are beautiful during happy hour and their selection is pretty good as they always have some different beer on tap that I end up liking. Also their playlists are always on point, nice mix of old school Motown/soul! Weird fact: something about this place drives conversation whenever I'm with someone. read more

Perfect little bar to get away from the madness of OTR. Ambiance, delicious cocktails, a nice draft selection, in addition to great and personable bartenders. read more

Low Spark is a cute little bar I never heard about until going with a new group of people. They don't have much space, but it doesn't feel cramped. Very low lighting, but the focal point is the saltwater tank in the center behind the bar. (I was told they had an octopus but I guess they got rid of it at some point.) They have nice cocktail menu, both classics and new twists. Their bartenders seem pretty knowledgeable, too. Location is nice, it's down the street from a few places and there's street parking and a garage at Washington Park. Overall a decent place to spend a couple hours! read more

Great mix of drinks. Love that they have some of my top shelf favorites. Happy hour is even on Saturdays before 7p! Woot! Try my favorite Rye Summer. read more

Loved the atmosphere & our bartender! Especially loved meeting the fish who inspired their cocktails.