Nicholson's is our go-to restaurant in downtown Cincinnati. As soon as we step inside, we feel transported to a Scottish Pub. It's warm, cozy and unique. The staff are friendly and the service is excellent. We love the fish and chips and bangers and mash. But every dish we order, is perfect. The food is made fresh, not pre-packaged like so many other places. They have an extensive bar and the only place that I know of where you can get imported Belhaven Scottish Ale on tap! I love that they take reservations, especially when we are attending a show across the street at the Aronoff Center. I know we will be in our seats before the performance begins! read more

I stopped in for a dram and stayed for some great live music. The Kentucky specialty food was a tasty bonus. The servers were attentive and friendly. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Bourbon shelves - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Walked in and was seated immediately, but we were surrounded by empty tables filled with dirty dishes. Our server was super nice and attentive! The food was okay- I got a salad and added chicken. I felt the chicken was bland but it was hot when it came out. My friend got the pot roast and said it was good! The espresso martini has an interesting flavor, maybe raspberry? read more

Great Scottish-themed pub with remarkably reasonable prices for a place right downtown across from the Aronoff Center. Parking in that neighborhood is a pain, particularly when there's an event at the Aronoff and parking prices are hiked, but this place has Valet Parking. Sadly, we only found this out after paying $20 for "special event" parking around the block. I don't know what the Valet parking costs, but it's probably less than $20, even with tip. The food is pub grub, but with some Scottish-inspired items. I had Cock-a-Leeky soup, a small house salad, and flash fried Brussels sprouts side. The daughter had the Salmon, and the spouse had the Shepherd's Pie. Spouse and daughter split a large salad, and the house served them as two small salads in separate dishes, no upcharge. Everyone greatly enjoyed their food! There were a couple of mistakes in our orders: I initially got the mashed potatoes instead of the Brussels Sprouts, and the ladies' salads did not have the dressing on the side, as requested (my daughter hates salad dressing). The staff made those mistakes right immediately. We didn't order drinks, but this place has over 100 Scottish Whiskies, including some curated flights. I do enjoy a Single Malt Whisky now and again, and I can say they have a very impressive selection. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

In town for the weekend and overwhelmed by restaurant options we decided just to walk the streets and see where we found. We walked by this place and the decor grabbed our attention and luckily they had a menu posted outside. When we walked in we were asked if we had reservations and if not we could sit at these side booths newr the bar. This worked great and since it was busy and loud, it made for better conversation. The decor is like an old pub, the staff wear kilts and filled with stories. The menu has old English favorites fish & chips, scotch eggs, bangers and mash. We ordered beer cheese with pretzels which was very good. My husband got chicken schnitzel with bourbon glazed carrots and mash and I had to try the fish & chips (they come in 2 sizes and the small was plenty) l. My husband also tried a smoked old fashioned and he is very particular about these and said Soooo Good! read more

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Full disclosure: I need to order more food here before I give this place five stars. I wasn't blown away by the fish and chips, but... The servers here are fun and attentive, and the scotch selection is unmatched. Made me miss Edinburgh. Also: don't pass up Burns Night. It is a total hoot. read more

We were in town for the football game between the Bengals & Ravens. We used the Yelp app to choose this restaurant. The menu appeared to satisfy our appetites. The hostess was not very friendly, but eventually located us a table in a restaurant that wasn't very busy. Our best experience was with the busser that greeted us very warmly and quickly provided us with drinks. She also stopped by to ask how we were doing. Our server was Josh. He on the other hand he had an attitude that was not very friendly. He did manage to take our orders without too much problem. He delivered our food routinely. The burgers were ok, and I ordered shrimp and grits. My dish was very oily looking, but the taste was ok. Overall our experience was so-so. I know that there are better choices for a meal in downtown Cincinnati. read more

During our kitchen remodel we ordered out a lot, including orders from Nicholson's. Later that year during my 'big' birthday we stayed a week downtown and ate inside Nicholson's once. All dining experiences were very good. The food delivered via DoorDash was delicious. I'll admit I don't remember it super specifically, but I am pretty sure we ordered from Nicholson's more than once. Delivery can be spotty, but from Nicholson's it was always good. Since we were basically staying next door to Nicholson's for a week, it was inevitable we'd stop in once. This was not my first meal at Nicholson's, but it was my first with Mark. Everything was very good, including the Three Cheese Macaroni (TCM). Pretty sure we had fish and chips over and over again... and it was always good. And the TCM was delicious both delivered to our home and delivered to our table. Nicholson's is consistently delicious. The decor is kinda all encompassing. It's easy to forget where you are when you're inside. Not to mention they have a magical mirror! read more

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Great place to stop in for a bite and a drink before or after a show or other downtown event! Delicious food -- the pretzels and beer cheese appetizer is one of my go-tos, and others I've gone with really like the fish and chips. Wine selection could be better, but there are plenty of beer and whiskey options if that's your jam. Service speeds vary depending on how busy they are, but they're usually good. Atmosphere is casual and truly embraces the pub vibes. They also have a happy hour during the week with discounted drinks and small bites. They sometimes do themed menus to match the show currently at the Aronoff, which is fun. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - House Pinot Grigio - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Good service and drinks. We only had appetizers, but plan on coming back to try the dinner menu. I recommend this place.

We wanted to really like the place it is a great interior. Somehow it felt like a cheese cake factory. Over all solid service and a nice selection of beers and whiskey but it fell kind of flat. Maybe it was just my mood I will try again, but I'm not in a hurry. We had dinner here a couple of years ago and left feeling the same way read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Apps the pretzels and beer cheese. Beer cheese was the highlight. Guinness spring rolls great idea but some how just fell flat - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Overall a good experience but did have some flaws. After arriving at 7pm to the restaurant we didn't end up with our cocktails on the table until 7:38. Though the waitress did kindly bring our waters out before then. We waited again until 8:13 for our meals to come out from the kitchen. We only had two appetizers that were long gone before then in case of curiosity. The bread board appetizer was very good. I enjoyed the mix of flavors and the goat cheese especially. Though the honey butter had no honey flavor. When the food arrived there were some issues with the temperature. The mashed potatoes were lukewarm at best as were the French fries. These issues and time issues were a little frustrating as the restaurant was practically empty until 2 small tables arrived later on in the night. But the restaurant ambiance was great the lighting was perfect and the live music was the perfect volume to hear throughout the restaurant while not impacting the conversation. read more

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Always love it here but love even more to find out they do theme drinks for the theater across the street. This will get me here every show! Otherwise I enjoy an afternoon or early evening at the bar, with a few drinks and a cheese tray. Love cutting the cheese with friends. Saw a tiny lady get the largest sandwich I ever saw. Turns out she shared it, but it was big enough for a family of four! She didn't even finish her half. Huge portions are a turn off for me. read more

We stumbled upon a fantastic experience at Nicholson's when visiting Cincinnati for a concert with friends. Coming from a sports city (Pittsburgh) it was our guess that there were no games the Saturday that we stopped in because there was no wait for seats at the bar or for a table -- in fact the entire city was pretty much empty during our stay. The bar is beautiful -- if you enjoy interesting woodwork, classic lines, and dark finishes this is one you definitely want to visit. The hostess, bartender, and server were friendly, and they seemed genuinely interested in sharing their knowledge of the food and drink. Drink selections were good -- especially for the scotches, whiskeys, bourbon, and beer. Our party enjoyed some imported beer, wine, and their signature old fashioned. The food is definitely the star here though. I finally got my first SCOTCH EGG, and it was incredible. We also tried the Kentucky Burgoo. Our ultimate food compliment is when we decide we need to "replicate this at home", and we've been reading up on how to make the best Burgoo for the last two weeks! The bangers and mash were tasty -- and the slightly spicy cabbage was a perfect compliment. The fish and chips were ok, but I would probably pass it up in favor of trying something else from the menu. For a totally unplanned meal this was a great choice, and I would definitely return next time we're in town! read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Made reservations weeks in advance. We were seated in the emergency exit "hallway" where it was just a high top table for 2 by itself. It was really COLD that night 01/18/25 and that table right next to the door was just a bad idea. To top it off, the barstool was broken and there was nothing to rest your feet on. Was told there was no other stool for that table. We had charcuterie and it was fine but there was no way to enjoy a meal in a cold, tiny space sitting on a broken stool. We made plans for this and the attitude that there was nothing they could do. I really wanted fish & chips but you need to be comfortable to truly enjoy a meal. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Broken stool in the tiny emergency exit door area - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

So disappointing! The service was atrocious. I asked for a whiskey menu. She brought it over then just walked away. When she eventually came back she whined about having too many tables. NP. We order quickly and wait and wait. Our food finally arrives and it was not hot or even warm. I think the food had potential fresh and hot. I will never know. I wanted so much to fall in love with this place. There are so many things on the menu I wanted to try. I am so disappointed. read more

Loved this place. Went a couple of times. They have my all time favorite beer, Old Speckled Hen, and the food was very good. I sat at the bar both times and found the staff both engaging and attentive. Plan accordingly with a theatre across the street. Later plans are better after everyone leaves for the opening of the theatre doors. Next time I'm downtown I'm heading right back here again. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Old Speckled Hen. My favorite! - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Stopped in on 12/8/25 after seeing the Heart concert. Just walking in we were greeted by the bar staff. All the staff my husband and I encountered were friendly, polite and helpful. I don't remember our server's name but she was spot on. She was able to explain the items on the menu in great detail and the difference in the Scotch they offered. The restaurant was clean and decorated to the style of food and alcohol they served. They offer dozens of different types of beer. Neither of us were in the restrooms. The Belhaven Cheese Dip was awesome! It was served with soft pretzels, carrots and celery. I could have eaten it as my dinner. I had the Lamb Loin Chops with Truffle Parmesan Risotto. They were cooked to perfection. I make lamb at home once in a while but mine won't ever taste as good as these. My husband had the shrimp and grits. He ate every bite. He then had their bread pudding for dessert. If you are looking for a place to eat later in the evening Nicholson's Gastropub is a good choice. You don't have to have reservations but if you are going to eat earlier in the evening, you might want to give them a call. read more

Looking for a place to grab a bite and a drink before the game, this place hit the spot. Had a nice whiskey selection. The service was great and the fish n chips was excellent. It has a nice ambiance. It's pretty big too. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Fish n Chips - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This was good. Had a dinner with coworkers. I didn't feel like it was too expensive. My coworkers liked the fish and chips and commented on the large portion. The roast was good. My chicken schnitzel didn't have enough flavor for me. Cheesey grits were the best part. The scotch egg appetizer was good and the pretzels were slightly dry. read more

Hubby and I stopped by Nicholson's to enjoy a couple pints of Guinness. We both thought it was a pretty cool spot for drinks. The bar area was huge with plenty of seating. The private event space/garden room was adorable! It would be the perfect place for a birthday party or gathering. The service was great. Attentive and helpful. If we didn't have plans for dinner, we totally would have ordered food. The menu sounded delicious. read more

This was my first time here. Our water, Caleb was friendly and had tremendous attention to detail. The food was amazing. Definitely will be back! read more

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Started with a Scotch egg - yum! Then had the beer cheese pretzel followed by shepherds pie. Great meal and service in a very nice atmosphere. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Great double IPA. Name on glass. - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Only popped in for a few drinks. What a beautifully decorative bar. Our server explained it was brought over from Scotland and assembled here, stunning. Great staff. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Ornate dining chair - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Made a reservation for lunch before heading across the street to see Anastasia. Their feature menu looked great, my friend and I each ordered a St. Petersburg Mule, we thoroughly enjoyed them! The blood orange juice is perfect and they were reasonably sweetened with simple syrup to balance the ginger beer in them. I ordered the Nicholson's Signature, medium rare. It came out thoroughly medium with no hint of rare, but still had excellent flavor. The sourdough was excellently toasted, and incredibly buttery tasting. The other toppings really complimented the overall experience, and I loved the little bit of sweetness the sweet onion jam provided! Tavern fries came with my burger, so I didn't switch it up this time. The house made ketchup is good, it complemented the fries well. My friend ordered the Kentucky Hot Brown, she said she enjoyed it, and based on how clean her plate was after our meal, I believe her! This is the second time I've been here, the first was a few years ago. I definitely enjoy the experience and hope to make reservations more often when going to shows at the Aranoff. I do recommend making a reservation in advance; by the time we were leaving, this place was packed! read more

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We stopped at Nicholson's for dinner before enjoying Blink. This isn't the first time we tried the restaurant, and it won't be the last. Of course, I had to start with a scotch (McCallan's 12-year). I ordered the salmon, and my wife had the pot roast. Both dishes were delicious. After the meal, my wife commented on how reasonably priced the menu was. Cheap, terrible food is never a bargain. But Nicholson's offers outstanding food at a fair price. Plus, they had live music. This is a winning combination. If you're visiting downtown Cincinnati, don't hesitate to try Nicholson's for a meal. And order a McCallan's on the rocks. read more

Nicholson's was delightful. The restaurant was warm and welcoming, with live music playing in the front. We sat in a smaller room farther from the band in front of a fireplace. It was perfect for a cool evening. Our service was excellent. We started with the Bellhaven Beer Cheese with Pretzels and we both loved it. I had the chicken schnitzel. It didn't seem to fit with the menu but we learned Cincinnati had many German immigrants so it made sense. It was excellent. My husband had the Kentucky Hot Brown, which was so good he wants to make it at home. The spirits list was extensive though we had wine and beer. read more

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Neat restaurant/bar in Cincy. We came here for a relatively early lunch on a weekday and it was empty so can't speak to much about what it's like when it's packed out but they have plenty of space and the decor is very neat. I really enjoyed my meal and they had plenty of options. read more

Everyone in our group of five loved their food and drinks. The waiter fun, quick, and knowledgeable. I had the lamb chops and risotto with cremini mushrooms. The chops had a great crust on the outside and super tender inside. The risotto was creamy and paired great with the chops. We had the blueberry crumble for dessert which was a great sweet ending to a meal. The place is an Irish pub and the decor exudes Irish pub so it was spot on. read more

Reportedly the first gastropub in Cincinnati. Has been around about 23 years. Based on a pub in Edinburgh. We waited around 15 minutes for a table (less than the quoted 30 minutes). It was busy and loud, but not out of the ordinary. Our server was very kind and charming, and the team (food runners, servers, managers) worked together to ensure we were taken care of, but you could tell our server had been over-sat, and despite her earnest efforts, we would go for long stretches without seeing anyone to refill our water or bring us new cocktails. For an appetizer, we got the smoked salmon dip, served with celery, carrots, and crostini. It was good, but not what we expected. Reminiscent of canned tuna in texture, though not in taste. I wish we'd gotten the pretzel and cheese dip instead. I had the shepherd's burger, which is made with beef and lamb, with herbed goat cheese, aioli, arugula, tomato, and onion along with the fries. The burger was a little dry (I suspect it sat under the warming lamps a while), but overall had a lot of great flavor. The aioli and goat cheese really gave it a kick. My husband really enjoyed his fish a chips. Delicious house made tartar sauce. The fish wasn't greasy and was crispy, but not burned in any way. My husband enjoyed his beer. My two grapefruit based cocktails were ok, but not sure I would go here just for the drinks. Again, it was overly busy and they seemed short staffed (these are the times we live in), but everyone was kind and worked as a team. They also have schnitzel, bangers n' mash, shepherd's pie, pot roast, and other Scottish fare, and extensive scotch list. And much more. I do recommend this establishment for elevated pub fare. read more

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Usually so good but haven't had in a while. Do not order to go! Everything was cold, not good and didn't include sauce on sandwiches or any requested modifications. However customer service was great. I understand on a weekend they will be busy but for the price take out should be held to the same standard as dine in. Will not be ordering out from here again but I will return for happy hour. read more

Nicholson's saved the evening when our group of nine wanted dinner on the last day of a convention at The Westin. It was a Saturday, and other restaurants were either not taking reservations or had 25 minute waits for seating, even if we were okay with being at separate tables. We called before walking over, and Nicholson's said they'd be ready for us in around 10 minutes, and we could all sit together. Score! We were quickly seated when we arrived. I noticed the menu had reasonable prices- great for younger people. Nicholson's has a Scottish and Irish feel, with servers wearing kilts, lots of whiskeys, and entrees like fish and chips. We ordered a round of appetizers to share, including duck fat fries, spinach dip, beer cheese and pretzels/chips/veggies, and brussels sprouts. The brussels sprouts app was so good, that I decided to order that as a side with my fish sliders entrée. Even though the sandwiches come with a side of fries, you're allowed to switch the side if you want something else- or if, like me, your body needs a vegetable after a few days of junk food. The fish sliders were great and held up well, and they weren't overly greasy. The portion was perfect since I was staying in a hotel and didn't need the leftovers. I didn't have anything to drink, but my friends who did enjoyed theirs. We also celebrated a friend's birthday, and the chocolate covered cheesecake was rich, delicious, and large enough for us to share. At 7 PM, a band started playing, and it was great to have live entertainment with no cover and reasonably priced food. The band was really good and you could hear them throughout the restaurant, although if you are seated directly by the band, it may be a little loud. The only drawback of Nicholson's is that vegetarian options are limited. They do not serve meat alternatives, and the fries are cooked in animal fat. The vegetarian in our party was satisfied with sides, but if you're a vegan, you may want to just go for cocktails and live music. I'd recommend Nicholson's to anyone staying in downtown Cincinnati and looking for upscale pub food and fun. read more

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On a quest for a hot brown in Cincinnati. Gone for many years is the old faithful Watertower in Mt Airy. And Kennings in Bridgetown, but this place may be the last to have it on the menu. It did not disappoint. Also had the scotch egg and pretzel beer cheese appetizers. These were good portions, excellently presented and delicious. This place gets it right. This place has great service, good energy and good music playing in the background. A great place to bring kids while the adults have a draft or a glass of wine. read more

Location: 625 Walnut Street, Cincinnati OH Website: www.nicholsonspub,com This warm, heavily-wood-paneled gem of a location is touted as Cincinnati's first gastropub. The food menu is interesting, featuring duck fat fries and scotch eggs but we stopped here after dinner for more drinks before heading back to our hotel, nearby. The architecture and features are gorgeous. The whiskey selection is slightly more gorgeous. Bourbons and scotch, galore. This is a beautiful location with extensive liquor selection and very knowledgeable staff. We tried a 2 ounce poor of Baker's, Booker's, and Jack Daniels' as a nightcap. The only disappointment was last call on a Saturday night happened at 10:45 PM for 11:00 PM closing on a Saturday night. Thanks, Covid. You are rotten. read more

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Popped in here while in town for the weekend. Needed a quick bite before dinner. It was quite busy as there was a show scheduled across the street. We ate at the bar and ordered a beer and margarita along with a cup of Burgoo and the bread board. The Burgoo was quite good and we enjoyed the goat cheese and bread as well. Bartender was friendly and helpful. Neat place! read more

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Stopped in around 8 pm on a Monday. Seated quickly by friendly staff. Good beer selection. Ordered the hot brown and a small salad. 40 minutes after being seated, my food was brought out. Lots of cheese melted on the top. Small pieces of tomatoe were sprinkled across the top of it. Overall, ok tasting. Cool atmosphere and will return to try something else read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Hot brown - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My wife and I stopped in on a Saturday night, no reservation. Short wait, and we were seated out on the patio. Ordered crab cakes for an appetizer. Excellent. Good size, great flavor, perfect for two people. My wife ordered the pot roast for her dinner, and I had the fish and chips. The fish and chips was good, with special praise going to the chips (fries). Coleslaw was good, but honestly, it was a tiny portion. Let's talk about the pot roast. First, that may be the best pot roast I have ever tasted. Second, the roasted carrots were perfection. Third, the mac and cheese was very good. My wife said that meal could easily be a "last supper". We both ordered dessert - I had their English toffee cheesecake, which was scrumptious, and my wife tried their "tipsy laird", which she devoured. There was a mix up In the kitchen, and they accidentally brought my wife the wrong dessert initially. They corrected the mistake as soon as they realized it, no extra charge to us. Because of this, we got to try their Seasonal Crumble dessert, which was very good also. Our server was good, and we really liked the vibe of this place. The patio is covered, so we were neither too hot nor too cold. It's a great spot if you're catching a show at the Aronoff, and they switch up their menu a bit on nights when a performance is happening. Would not hesitate to come back here again! read more

Service was fast. Food and drinks were delicious with lots of yummy choices! I did think it was interesting their pot roast came with mac n cheese and not potatoes, but I'm not mad about it! Watch out for the slick floors by the kitchen; it's a bit oily on the way the to the bathroom. read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Pot roast - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Have returned to this lovely pub many times the food never disappoints. Our server was courteous and the food came out quickly. Noted the macaroni was a little clotty today and they gave us a discount without us really complaining. (Usually its amazing) We had several different dishes all very tasty read more

Nicholson's Fine Food & Whiskey - Pot roast melts in your mouth and carrots cooked just right - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I had such a great first time here. My friend and I walked in on a busy Friday night and were able to get a table right away due to a canceled reservation. The ambiance was warm, brown, and cozy. Our server's name was Phe Phe - she was remarkable, kind, and took such great care of us. I had a Scotch egg for the first time - so tasty and jammy, I could eat 10 more. I also ordered the Welsh Dip and it was worth every penny and bite. My friend ordered The Bonnie and I was a bit jealous of it. I'm so excited for my next visit! read more