I went here by myself on a Sunday night. I was told it is pretty mellow on Sunday night and an older crowd. I am early 50's and felt comfortable just having a beer and some conversation with people at the bar. I was told they have jazz music on Monday night. I plan to visit it again when in Cincinnati. It is a nice place to just sit and listen to music and have a drink.I would have liked it a little more if there were more table seating. read more

Great location, friendly staff, several bars, live entertainment, decent bathrooms, pool tables. This place seems to have it all. They have a good selection of alcohol, and a few interesting curiosities laying about for your perusing pleasure like the book on Elvis Presley. Since they do have lounge areas, it is not uncommon to see people hanging out and just reading. If they have live music in the back, it is still perfectly easy to carry on a conversation at the front. read more

If you've never been to the Northside Tavern, you're life is truly incomplete. I come here eight days a week and have a genuine love for each and every bartender. You can come here in your pajamas or your Sunday best - just come. I mean, for real, at the risk of sounding like an exclusive local, don't come and act like a jerk, a hipster, or a douche. We'll try and help rehabilitate you, though. read more

It's a bar, within a bar.. Unleash your inner rock star with karaoke and great beer specials. The front bar is a great place to enjoy a quiet drink with friends. But the entertainment starts once you go behind the curtain and engage in Karaoke on a Thursday. A great cast of characters and a welcoming vibe makes this place a great spot to hang out. read more

I really enjoyed our night last week at this pub. Cozy, warm and friendly, just the place on a cold January night to sip a Baileys and coffee, and listen to Motel Faces, Mangrenade and Skulx. Wow! How cool to meet Eric Nally that night as well! Lots of nice folks who really appreciate Rock music and talent, of all ages, were present.. Being mobility challenged I was particularly grateful for low tabletops n chairs and attentive service. Little things mean a lot and thanks to the staff that went above and beyond. We will be back to hear more music or just enjoy a delicious drink. What a gem of a pub! read more

I've found myself here almost every night of the week, and an occasional saturday afternoon, and every time, I'm not disappointed. It's a large old building (maybe an old house?) in the heart of Northside that attracts a diverse crowd that is often specific to the live band playing in the back. They have a good variety of local brews on tap and a full bar, but the mixed drinks are served in tiny little glasses, for reasonable prices. Something is on sale every day. No kitchen in this place, but you can get delivery and if you're around after midnight, a local pizza place brings over pies and sells pieces that go quick. Pool tables in the middle are in use all night and an outdoor patio would be a great hangout spot, if it wasn't the smoking paradise. Ah, hipsters and cigarettes. read more

What a cool place! They have two full bars and a space for events and life music. The night my friend and I went there was a fashion show going on. I really like the atmosphere and I will definitely be back! read more

Seems like a lot of regulars at this bar, which I like, even if I am not one of them. Sometimes it is fun to be a fly on the wall. We followed a guy with a guitar case into the bar after standing outside of Melt, wondering what to do after dinner. So we ended up watching Ohio basketball on a tiny TV with rabbit ears, then sampling some local beer and local music in a place with friendly people, lots of character, and an obsession with Elvis. Not a bad way to spend a Tuesday night. read more

small front bar, pool tables, sweet outdoor patio, larger back room for bands. good beers on tap. fun place to hang. good bar. can sometimes be a bit crowded, other than that, no complaints. read more

What can I say about Northside Tavern that hasn't already been said? I don't know there is anything I can say. They have a tremendous space available to them and they use it very wisely. The front room has a bar and tables for the main attraction (drinking). The second room has pool tables. The third room has a stage and another bar. Bands who play there are usually pretty good too. They even have a courtyard in the front of the building. The Tavern isn't really missing anything. I haven't tried their food yet, so I can't speak for that, but every time I go there I have a great time! read more

My problem with Northside Tavern... what took me so long to get my ass in the door here?! LOTS of space to hang out, a BIG courtyard, two bars, live performance space, pool tables, good bathrooms. Love having drink specials, and just being a great place to relax, chill, chat, move around, jam, or whatever!! read more

I always meet the nicest people at this bar! nice patio. can get really crowded though. the people are what makes this bar fun, as far as i'm concerned. read more

Maybe it's because of the Elvis clock on the wall or the stove fires outside, the Northside Tavern is the place to take mom and dad for booze. The crowd certainly tends to be in their twenties or thirties but it is a comfortable place for the older age brackets as well. The Tavern recently expanded their walls that now form two bar areas and a nice stage for musical artists. Live music is constantly a go at the Tavern and sometimes they'll have great dance parties. Be sure to check out their calendar on myspace. read more

Northside Tavern is a great place to hang out, relax and have fun. The bar has great atmosphere, excellent beer selection and friendly patrons. On weekends it can get crowded with bigger music acts and Dance MF but on weekdays the Tavern is probably one of the chillest places in Cincinnati. I definitely would recommend it to anyone! read more

Having just moved to Northside recently, I guess it's time to write a quick review of Northside Tavern. It's really everything you want your neighborhood casual bar to be. Friendly, super laid back and a great place to meet up with friends for a drink or to see a show pretty much any night of the week. They offer a nice happy hour as well, where I can get a good craft beer on draught for like $3.75, which is awesome. As far as the back venue room and bar, it's just as great. You don't even have to come back up front to grab a drink when enjoying the show since there's another bar in the backroom. There's always a good time to be had at the tavern. read more

The live music is out-freakin'-standing. I went here last week, and this group was playing Beatles songs with violins, cellos, and basses... worth the price of admission.... trust me read more

So my opinion of this place is based on a blind date I had at Northside Tavern. we met around 7 had a couple beers each & a pretty nice conversation. As the hours wore on the music got progressively louder, the heat went up & the lights went down. It was not a conversation friendly environment. The plus was they had Yeungling on tap & several pool tables. read more

I enjoy Northside Tavern. Great place to have fun and discover new music :)

I have seen more good music here without cover than any other bar in Cincinnati. They have decent selection of beers and a good selection of liquor. Prices are medium. It can get crowded, but the asshole ratio is relatively low, so it doesn't seem as bad. I could drink for years here. read more

This place is pretty chill. I had the pleasure of coming here for the first time on an unseasonably cool night so the fire pit really added to the overall experience; there's sitting outside with a beer + cigarette shivering in your hoodie and then there's sitting outside with a beer + cigarette listening to live music and the crackling bonfire all happy toasty warm watching an assortment of local hipsters mingle. That's Northside. read more

What isn't to love? I admit I was nervous my first time going here about what kind of scene this was going to be. For some reason I thought the bar would be chalk full of judgmental yuppies but when I arrived my first visit it was a huge dance party and everyone was beyond laid back and welcoming. This bar attracts the best people, I had a blast and I've been going ever since to enjoy their outside bonfires and seasonal taps. Two bars, two pool tables, a stage, outside patio, plenty of seating... Can't really ask for more... Other than I wish they stayed open later! read more

my go-to, weekly hangout. friendly folks, pool tables, giant back room with stage, excellent local and travelling bands play there, outdoor patio WITH A FIRE PIT. moderately good beer selection. chill atmosphere up front most nights; sometimes there's live music both in front and back sections, so that can be crowded and loud, but generally worth sticking around for good tunes. Monique and Melanie are my favorite bartenders anywhere in the city. live band karaoke every Wednesday night and regular karaoke with the nicest KJ anywhere, Sean Hafer, every Thursday night, if you're into such things. the live band karaoke is completely fun and rad. jukebox is 3rd best in the city. parking is easy, especially after 6 pm. walking distance to 2 awesome record shops, other good bars, great taco joints, Sidewinder coffeehouse and the Hoeffner Lounge art collective. love this place. regular for life. read more

Great place to grab a drink, play some pool and listen to music. Nice outdoor seating area. Definitely a fan!

Great place to grab a drink and catch some live music. Good but not great selection of drinks. The building itself is a great draw with a large outdoor seating area. read more

Cool owner. Fantastic bartenders. Great selection of booze. Kind to musicians. Feels like it's been there forever. No TV. Food next door (both sides), record store across the street. My patio/living room away from home. read more

The egos on the bartenders here are at sky high levels even for that of hipsters. When you try to order a drink they will hardly acknowledge you or the money you have in your hand. Mind you this isn't just on crowded nights this happens when some no name local group like the rumpke mountain boys are playing where you have to get so drunk just to enjoy them so no excuses on that front. The drinks are watered down even at way below state alcohol legal limits to the point you'd have to throwback about 15 tallboys just to get a decent buzz going. The jukebox has the same old tired hipster selection and hasn't been updated since Weezer was still popular. I would also recommend for this place to get a bigger stage for the acts that play as of right now its about the size of a junior high stage. The lighting is very dim as in almost gas lantern standards and the most known thing about this bar is that its in Northside. How that makes it supposedly better than other places is a complete mystery to me. I see mostly positive reviews on here and no doubt that is from local people who live and breathe vicariously through the high school popularity contest this place indulges in night after night. No amount of pabst blue ribbon beer, cowboy boots, skinny jeans, flannel rejects shirts from the Soundgarden days will make this place cool ever! read more

Rockin' bar with diverse live music. Patronize and enjoy and you won't be sorry. Enough said.

It's the perfect neighborhood pub, unless you're in the mood to watch sports (Arlin's in Clifton is a good spot for sports and has good drink options too). The Tavern has everything else you need: Live music, the best live trivia host in town, a solid beer selection and an educated, eclectic crowd. It's a Northside institution, and for good reason. read more

Watered down drinks. Food not good. Service super slow. My bad for suggesting it to my group. Won't do that again.

Good mix of people, and a good happy hour. Some new pool cues wouldn't hurt.

I like this place a tone especially on Wednesday Karaoke night. You are really sing with a live band and the words are on a screen in front of you. The band is really good and can play almost anything they are a basically a real life jukebox. The crowd ranges from night to night but usually there is always a great showing. Being in Northside you might think the music would be of a single genre but its normal to here songs from Elton John to Bruno Mars on stage. It is loads of fun and everyone should try it out with there friends. The crowd is really encouraging and you can be a rockstar for about 2 minutes. The bar is separated in two parts the front bar without a stage is real laid back and more of a lounge. Separating the two is a pool room with 2 well kept pool tables then the back bar with the stage. There is a patio to the left of the tavern but i did not get to go out there so I have no idea what its like. The usual local craft taps are well represented. They also have rotating drink specials that they come up with on their own. read more

yo J.S. down there. I drink free water every time i step foot in the place. I've never seen a single bartender charge for water. I'd put money on you being an asshole on your high horse being DD thinking you deserve to be treated like royalty. I respect that you were dd but there is no way they charged you for water unless you completely disrespected them read more

Amazing venue, especially for music. I didn't drink here when I came for a show the other night, so I can't really speak to the drink quality or service, but I'm sure they're fine (and I'll update my review accordingly if it turns out otherwise!). I'm looking forward to coming back again and again! NST + The Harlequins = a perfect Cincinnati night. read more

a little something for everyone. karaoke, pool tables, couches, live music, big outdoor patio. the older hipsterish crowd is refreshing if you are sick of the frat boy crowds in clifton. two dollar pbr bottles and they have my favorite... double espresso vodka. give it a try, i hate shots and vodka but try a shot of this... trust me. ive never had a disappointing night here :) read more

One of my favorite bars in Cincinnati. There's always something going on at Northside Tavern. They don't subscribe to one genre of music, they have a huge variety come in and play concerts, best of all it's always free to get in! Service at Northside is great I've never had to wait more then 1-2 minutes to get a drink. Prices are reasonable with beer available for $1.50 and up, and mixed drinks starting at $4. There's 4 rooms to Northside. A front room with a bar and tables. There's a small hall type room with a Jukebox and some chairs. There's a pool room with 2 pool tables. And in the back there's another bar decent sized dance floor and stage. There's also a nice patio out to the side with tables. In winter they always have a campfire going outside in the patio area. The only time the patio area ever gets crowded is when it's raining and all the smokers (myself included) are huddled under a porch area. I also like that they don't play music so loud you can't have a conversation and that they don't have a single TV in the entire bar. Overall one of my favorite bars in Cincinnati, and I prefer it over the bars in Clifton. read more

I've had many good memories at the Tavern, I just had to give it it's proper respect. If you have never been and you go on the weekend you may find yourself in a mosh pit of people, sweaty despite the outside temperature. Don't be discouraged, try outside. If its cold there will be a fire, if it's hot there will be a million other people out there to talk to. Get two pints of Stella so you can happily surf through the crowd without worrying about being stuck in a line. However, with the addition of the back room the crowding problem had gone way down and now you can comfortably meet friends even if there is a band playing on that night. The opening of the back area is also bringing some great national bands in, I recently saw Passion Pit there and it was amazing! Also don't forget to stop in the first Saturday of the month for Dance_MF, the best dance party/movie showing/beer spilling/flailing of body parts you could ask for. If you have mom and dad in town take them for a pint of Guinness before dinner, around five or six and you'll be able to sit and chat. One of the hardest parts of moving out of Northside was no longer being within walking distance of my favorite bar. OH, also, Melt and Potluck will be more than happy to have you take your food (and sometimes they'll even bring it to you) inside or to the patio outside. However, Potluck sometimes wants you to sit on the porch for them to serve you. read more

It's cool on certain nights if you're into hipsters. It's a great environment, great space, good music but for me is missing a little something. It's very Northside though so if that's your type of scene you will love this place. It really is a nice bar. read more

stiff drinks, great live music that's always free, wonderful bar staff, karaoke 2x a week [one live band, one standard, both super fun]... this place is so dear to me i had my wedding reception here and it was a blast. as an old schooler, i remember the days when it was just neighborhoodies, so i kinda miss that [tourism is realllllly high on weekends, for you locals], but you will most likely see me there anyway. the patio is great for escape if you're not fully diggin' on the band inside, but that's typically not an issue, as the staff does a great job booking local and out of town indie and up-and-coming folks, as well as some solid jazz nights... i even witnessed a salsa night last weekend! don't worry if you get hungry after a few either - chances are the fine folks at Northslice Pizza have brought down a few pies to sell by the slice, and they certainly do pair quite nicely with the revolving beers on tap. i truly do love this place. read more