Hipster as f**k is how a coworker described Mecca OTR before I went, and I can't say that I disagree. All the concrete and hard surfaces make it feel a little sterile, but the space has a good vibe with hanging ferns, eclectic artwork and an amazing courtyard with a fire pit (too bad they opened in winter). The bartender was friendly and personable, explaining the drinks (various San Pellegrino sodas with an airplane bottle of liquor stuck in for $10; rum punch for $8; or any can of their five beers for $5) and food (Cheapside Diner corndogs and Servatii pretzels). I guess their MO is to keep things simple, but for what I got with the rum punch, I'd rather go to Myrtle's Punch House in East Walnut Hills for better quality, a lower price and a stronger drink. Free popcorn eased the sticker shock, though. I'd go back if it were a bit warmer and I could hang by the fire. Bonus: I did enjoy the treasure hunt to find the entrance since Mecca's street address is actually a locked back door. Head down 15th street to find your way inside. read more

If you are interested in Cultural Appropriation you should totally check it out!. Beautiful child-like quality elephants painted on the wall. Very culture, hip, cool scene. Although there isn't any actual authentic culture there, you totally feel like you're in a different country or something. Basically if you are tired of your regular American bar and want to feel edgy go check out Mecca ?? they claim it is only spelled mecca... Anyways!! if you want to feel like your in the middle east without the violence go check it out!!!! read more

I've been to Mecca twice. First time: 5/5, second time: 2/5. The first time around 9 pm was great and it was really cool. The second time was kind of a shit show. This place is pretty unique and creative, and I'm a huge fan of Cheapside so I had to check it out. The drinks: I thought the Pellegrino cocktails were neat and original. I'm glad they dropped the price from $10 to $8, which seems more fair with the rest of OTR. I also had the new hot cider which was nice, and reminiscent of cold winters at Neon's. So the second time was around 11 pm on a Thursday, and the crowd was mostly young students aggressively pounding shots and bartenders doing shots with them, drinking cheap beers, people bumping into you around the bar, stumbling drunk dancing, etc. This caught me and my guest off guard compared to our first time where it was late 20s and 30-somethings relaxing and moderately quiet. For perspective, I would say it was much more of a Japp's dance floor or The Drinkery on a Friday night crowd vs what you see at the main bars at Japp's or Neon's. It felt like Clifton to me. Not that there's anything wrong with Clifton -- I like Mac's, Keystone, etc _but_ that kind of vibe is uncommon in OTR. Maybe that's what Mecca is / is trying to be, and that's cool, but it wasn't the impression I had the first time at all. Maybe it's changing now that it's become popular, or the 9 pm crowd is radically different than the 11 pm crowd. I'll try it a few more times, probably on weekdays, and see how it plays out. I'll update the rating to include future trips then. read more

Very cool and trendy addition to OTR. Beware though the entrance is very difficult to find. I love the atmosphere but was a bit disappointed with the drink selection. Their special is the clunker, basically a San Pellegrino with one of those mini alcohol bottles, but that is the extent. I guess I expected with such a hipster vibe with glow-in-the-dark paintings and a mannequin head dangling from the ceiling they would have edgy cocktails to match. The courtyard is nice and open and will be beautiful in the summer with live music. I can't wait to check it out. The bathrooms are definitely a unique feature. Each one is completely different, so of course I had to take a couple of mirror selfies. Plus, the staff awesome! read more

Mecca is the real deal! As soon as you walk in you feel these hipster vibes that make you have an incredible time! The bartenders are nice, full of recommendations, and very helpful! They have a food truck on summer nights and very unique drinks! Ping pong and pool always available which is a fun activity. Also, free popcorn! read more

Mecca - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Looking for something different? Then check out Mecca. This was the final stop one evening and it was just what we needed. The place isn't large so I would imagine that one weekends it would be quite packed but I was there on a Tuesday night. The primary draw is the outdoor area. There is a small bar outside, plenty of picnic tables and what appeared to be a small area for live bands to set up. Lots of crazy artwork and ferns. Yes there were hanging potted plants everywhere. I would recommend this place as the either start or end to a night in OTR. read more

Fun little hole in the wall. The staff is approachable and the drinks come out fast. Love all of the plants and open space.

Everything here seems to be an attempt at a new neons (staffing included). But it's just not the same. The outdoor space is updated and expanded, which is a huge plus. But no draft beer, a VERY limited beer selection, and flashing lights mask what could be a very cool spot. read more

Mecca - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

With all the bars opening up and closing down around OTR, Mecca is a definite treat and a nice addition to the bar scene here. It took me a little bit to find the entrance as the entrance is not labeled. The journey of getting here makes it feel like a hidden gem. Spoilers the entrance is off of 15th street and you can't miss all the lights and the fire pit out front! Follow the bowling balls and you are inside. Now walking inside, there is an alternative tone to Mecca with the music to the graffiti on the tables and the walls. Hanging heads and plants, a fog machine and the ever changing dim lighting really adds to the vibe. We went on a Friday night about 9 PM which was a very chill vibe and returned again about 11:30 PM and you really need to shuffle through to get to the bar and the back! Gets pretty busy after 11 PM! Definitely worth checking out, nice vibe with a lot going on, if you're grabbing a drink I suggest getting a chunker or two. Little travel sized liquor bottles placed upside down into San Pellegrino sodas, these are great! A few of these get you right to where you need to be! read more

I love this place! It is so unique and so fun. The inside is full of murals and plants. The patio is equally cool.

Came here for a few drinks and to enjoy the patio. Loved the plants hanging up around the tables. It also wasn't super packed and we were able to find a table to hangout at which is always nice. We ended up get the chunker drink, essentially you pick a can of juice and then you pick an alcohol and they put the "travel" size alcohol inside the lid. As you drink through the straw the alcohol slowly enters the drink. I thought this was a very unique concept and the drink was overall really good. Inside was a little different for my taste. I was only there for a bit to use the restrooms. I liked that it was gender fluid restrooms I just wish the light didn't change colors every few second. It felt a little aggressive, just wasn't my taste. I would definitely come back to have drinks on a nice day outside! read more

We had our corporate event for a sales conference at Mecca and we had the absolute BEST experience! Best venue, amazing accommodations and absolute best in class bartenders... Patrick and Tony were amazing! Do yourself a favor, check this place out!! read more

This will be my new summer hang out (RIP neons). It's definitely best during the week because it tends to get too crowded on weekends. Awesome environment, good selection of beer, and free popcorn! I also really appreciate that they have $3 Tecate...a lot of Cincinnati bars lack Mexican beers. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

Mecca - $3 tecates and awesome art work everywhere - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a really interesting bar. I wasn't sure what to think. I was there at 1 am on a Saturday so I don't know if this is what it is like all the time. There was a fog machine thing going which I didn't totally love. Made it almost hard to breathe and see! Lots of funky lighting going on and plants on the ceiling. Almost felt like what I imagine the 70s to be like?? Drinks were a little pricey. The crowd was super hipster. They did have a great little courtyard area so maybe I will go back when it's warmer and check that out. Would have rather been out there by a fire than inside. I appreciate trying something totally different though! Just wasn't really for me. read more

tina was incredible! amazing conversation, incredible laugh and what a nice little dumper she has on her! not to mention her bathroom she painted?! one of a kind, never been done before, showstopper. she made true most incredible shot i've ever had. she should own this bar. 20/10 will be returning! anthony is incredible too!! read more

Went to this place for the first time recently. I was really looking forward to it, and was let down very quickly. First of all parking is VERY challenging! There is a lot next to it but apparently it's cash only? Street parking is out of the question. Drink options were so so. Nothing special. It has a mix of hipster and 70s. I felt that the inside was a little dirty and you could tell that it was recently converted from something else. Bartender was very nice and answered questions I had! For sure not in a rush to go back but I wish the best of luck to this business! read more

This place is a hidden gem. Quirky yet friendly and a large selection of beers, wine, and booze. Fun atmosphere and the occasional wandering local canine. Friendly and fun, weird art everywhere (in a great way) read more

Mecca - Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Sensory overload with poor acoustics. Service at the bar was subpar and it took a while to be waited on although it was not very crowded inside as it was a nice summer night (the majority of the crowd was outside). I will not be going back here any time soon. read more

Definitely one of my new favorite spots. I love how tucked away it is, and the atmosphere is great! I love the kind of grungy but friendly feel to the place, and it's packed with really cool art and plants. If you get a chance definitely visit the bathrooms, they're so cool ;). The bartenders are really friendly and approachable, and the back patio is really spacious, with a great atmosphere and lots of cool art. Their drink prices are reasonable and they make a great gin and tonic! If you want to show people a cool Cincinnati bar, this is a great candidate! read more

Berlin? Brooklyn? No...it is Cincinnati. Mecca goes beyond the traditional bars in Over-the-Rhine and delivers something with a bit more of an artsy, vibey spirit. During the summer, their outdoor area is hopping and full of luscious plants and cool lights. Year round, their indoor area feels like a trendy oasis that blasts color and greenery to create something special. Honestly, I've been to many bars in Brooklyn, Berlin, Lisbon, and beyond...Mecca delivers and stands among them as one of my favorites. read more

As far as interesting bars go, this place is top 10 in cincy. Its hipster, kind of trippy vibes are a refreshing change from same old same old in over the rhine. The ambiance is relaxed, casual and hole in the wall yet trendy. Bonus points for the good DJ on weekends. Space inside the bar is kind of tight and cramped and the drinks are way too sugary and diluted for my taste, though. Prices are reasonable and atmosphere is usually popping on Friday/Saturday nights. I'd definitely go once to check it out if you haven't been! read more

Mecca is a super cool and artsy diver bar in OTR. Their drinks are reasonably priced and the service is quick. They have a ping pong table inside along with the ring toss game outside. I was told the artwork on the walls both inside and outside changes monthly. Very cool off the beaten path bar. read more

We finally got here on a Wednesday night when there weren't a lot of people, but we had so. much. fun. Love the vibe (the artwork, the brightness) and the vintage store was open! I went with friends who are semi-regulars, so they knew where to find the entrance, but it would have been difficult if it was my first time. The bathrooms are great (I unfortunately don't subscribe to the whole bathroom selfie trend, but if I did, this would be a place to do it) and it was chill while still being funky. I only had beers, so can't comment on their other drinks, but we will be back. read more

Mecca has a cool atmosphere and is a great spot to grab drinks. Our bartender Patrick was awesome! He recommended the chunker for me and I loved it. He was accommodating, efficient, and a great conversationalist. Even though the bar became busy, he handled the crowd with ease and never let my drink go empty! Thanks Patrick for the great service!! read more

I've wanted to try Mecca for so long and finally was able to make the leap. A recent Saturday night out in OTR struggling to find something different to do, it came to me.. GO TO MECCA. I had friends in town from San Francisco and was determined to show them that they should move back to Cincinnati though taking them to the best the city has to offer. Mecca turned out to be one of the favorite bars of the weekend by a long shot. The first thing that you see is the amazing patio, if it weren't for on and off sprinkles this would have been the place to be. We ended up inside and it was probably the most interesting bar I've ever stepped foot into. I genuinely didn't feel cool enough to be there, but also felt instantly more on trend then I was before I stepped foot inside. I highly recommend everyone go to this bar for a reasonably priced drink, and really see one of the best bar options Cincinnati has to offer. read more

I like this place; if you come during the week, it's real laid back with a great outside area and an alright drink selection. The place gets PACKED OUT OF ITS MIND on the weekend though, so be prepared for that. Still fun, but a lot harder to navigate from the bar to the bonfire and back. read more

We went here last week for a friend's birthday party...loved it! The energy is bohemian and quirky...didn't seem to have the pretentious vibe OTR spots can have. They let our party bring in outside food and the bar staff were very attentive. Umm..plus, there is a consignment shop inside! I bought my new favorite shirt there for $10! Great establishment and glad there is a "Mecca" in OTR! read more

Mecca has a wonderful vibe and aesthetic and the drinks are delicious with plenty of variety, however, the service is horrible. I've waited almost every single time for my check to an excess of 20+ minutes. I do not know if the solution is hiring more servers or firing the current ones, but it makes me weary to go back. read more

Laid back bar, tucked away. Great patio space and simple decor on the inside made me feel welcome. But the only part that matters is the extremely cheap beer and drinks. read more

I love everything about this place! Very cool and hipster patio (dog friendly with hours restrictions on weekends). Very affordable price on drinks! If you are looking for a nice and calm bar (week days) this is your spot (On weekends it gets a little too crowded for me). read more

I live close to Mecca, so I saw it change from an office building to the bar it is today. After seeing all of the artists come and go and the work they left behind, I was excited to try Mecca. Once I tried it, it was obvious the only thought that went into this bar was what they'd paint on the walls and hang from the ceiling. Drink selection and comfort was an after thought. The liquor, beer and cocktail selection is weak and extremely disappointing. The inside isn't very comfortable and feels like you're in a concrete box with some black lights and plants hanging from the ceiling. The outdoor space is Mecca's only redeeming quality. read more

How did we get so lucky with all these new places opening up? This spot is off the path a little bit and better off for it. You have to go to the side street as the front of the building doesn't even appear as a bar. Once you find it you will be treated to a sweet courtyard with some really cool art. There is a giant fire pit in the middle and according to the staff you can bring dogs as long as its not the weekend or too busy (score). Anyways inside is even more amazing art (be sure to scope the bathrooms) and at the front of the joint is a thrift shop (amazing). To top it all off one of my favorite bartenders (Kelsey) has relocated from Neons to here and has brought her cocktails with her. Come check it out. (do it...more parenthesis) read more

Mecca used to be a casual, eclectic and fun place to grab a drink. The bar is now overrun by obnoxious frat bros, and the "security team" (bouncers) are outright combative and violent. Last night, they were very rude to my friends and I while checking our IDs. We almost left right then and there. Moments later, we watched one of the bouncers follow and punch a young man in the back of the head on the sidewalk outside the bar, without any physical provocation. The police and paramedics were called and the scene turned into a total mess. Based on what I saw, I hope the bouncer is fired. Regardless, I won't be returning. The bar has totally lost its fun, easy-going vibe. read more

Such a fun interior. This place is great place to grab a drink before heading to dinner. The art murals are amazing!! They have a great selection of alcohol. Word is going to spread like wildfire when word gets out about this place. Bar tenders are nice and knowledgeable as well. read more

I love the vibe at Mecca. I have been here a couple times already and enjoyed the atmosphere. It's fairly new so not many people know about it yet. I remember the bouncer there being very nice. The inside is somewhat narrow and it can get pretty packed. But there is also a huge outside area to hang out with a fire pit. Check it out read more

The security staff/ people working the door really make this place great. They were so friendly and inviting and it made my time there very enjoyable. Would choose this bar over the rest simply due to the wonderful humans who work there. The plants and artwork are on point as well. read more

This bar is awesome, great successor to neons, love the art and the outdoor patio. But do not recommend coming here on Wednesday evenings, but, the music on the patio is terrible right now. From noise music to jazz, it's really hard to have a conversation and hear my thoughts. But, I will absolutely be back at this bar many times throughout the summer (just not on wednesdays anymore) read more

This Place Discriminates: Not LGBTQ friendly - The weekend of July 17 I was in from Washington DC. visiting some of my old college buddies and checking out Cincinnati. After a couple bars, we decide to take our last slice of pizza over to Mecca to get one last drink and wrap things up. At what could be described as the back gated entrance to Mecca, a line had formed. I waited in line with one of member of our group who had gone ahead with me to secure a table. When we got up to the gate we show our IDs to the bouncer. He looked at my friend and I and stated that they were at capacity. We said "OK we're happy to wait". Another bouncer joins the first. Both, from the other side of the closed gate proceeded to ask "Are you a top or a bottom? Which one of you is the top of the bottom. You guys together? Who tops and who bottoms?", along with other related questions. It was unclear what was happening but became evident they'd made an assumption that we were gay and then were laughing and harassing us about it. I happen to be gay. My friend is not. We were both appalled at the questions and the antagonistic way BOTH bouncers repeatedly asked us. We sort of shrugged off the first one off and we're told to stand against the side of the wall while awaiting entry. A large group of patrons exits, maybe 10 to 15. They are ushered out the gate and the bouncers let the 10 to 15 people behind us go in. They close the gate again and my friend asks "what's the deal." The bouncer says they're at capacity and said "y'all don't have bitches with you." Right after they return to the "top and bottom" line of antagonizing questions about who does what to who sexually and things complete inappropriate to ask, laughing with the other bouncer. It was clear that they thought or deduced one or both of us were gay and we would not be allowed entry. This was extremely humiliating and was completely unwarranted. Seemed like a cool place but we will not be returning. Would love to hear the owners take on this. read more

Last night I went to Mecca for the first time with two of my girl friends. It will be my last time visiting this bar. We went up to the bar to order drinks. My one friend asks the male bartender with shoulder length bleach blonde hair and light pink beanie "what IPAs do you have?" To which the bartender responded "Miller High Life." My other friend says to him, "that's not an IPA" and then he looks her dead in the eyes and says "I remember when I had my first beer." I was bewildered. Side note-we are all 25-26 years old. The first friend then asks "I see you have a rotating IPA on your menu, what is it?" The bartender reaches down into the fridge, takes a can of beer out and slams it down on the bar and goes "do you want it or not?" My friend was speechless. The bartender then says "we're too busy for this" and points to the group of guys behind us to take their order. He then proceeded to ignore us for the next five minutes and would not serve us. This bartender singlehandedly ruined the night. I was so upset I just called an uber to go home. While waiting for the uber, I made conversation with the bouncer and vented to him about what happened. He was nice enough to offer to have another bartender serve us right away but we were too upset to go back in. I cannot believe somebody, let alone an employee of a business would treat someone that way. I will not be coming back to Mecca after such a terrible first impression. Y'all were busy, but not so busy that you couldn't answer questions about the beers you have at your establishment. I would think you'd be proud of the items you serve and would be happy to talk about them with customers who are interested. read more

When I first arrived to this bar I was impressed by the patio area and was pretty excited to check the place out but upon entering I was severely turned off by the intense odor of cheap insense that was being burned inside the very small bar area. Stood at the counter, money in hand, for about 15 minutes while the bartender served everyone around me their drinks. When said bartender asked a gentleman next to me for his order (keep in mind this guy had only been standing there no more than a minute) I naturally became upset. Seeing as I had been waiting quite a bit of time with zero acknowledgement. The bartender reacted to me being upset with extremely rude comments and little to no acknowledgment of his incompetence to keep up with his bar guests. I understand that things may get overwhelming but please at least acknowledge customers instead of ignoring them and trying to push blame for your lack of organization onto guests. The patio is not worth the wait for drinks that's accompanied by shitty attitude. Spend your money elsewhere. read more