After my previous bad experience at Thirsty Fox (reviewed separately), I was looking for a vibe shift. Ona provided it! A foosball table, a backgammon set, deep wood colors and an art deco vibe. This dark, moody little bar had a friendly bartender and unusual drinks. I had the "I Go Where I'm Led," made with kimchi infused vodka, gin, dolin dry, and celery salt. It did indeed taste like kimchi and was certainly weird. I also had the "Need 3," made with prosciutto basil infused gin sotol, amaro obscuro, bitters, and soda. Also a savory, bizarre drink that I'm glad I tried, but wouldn't get again. They have more conventional cocktails as well, like the Paper Plane, Naked and Famous, Corpse Reviver #2. They have IPAs and plain Miller Lites. They have basic red, white, and sparkling wine. Prices range from 8-13 dollars. read more

See all

Stopped by in hopes of a relaxing drink. Service was terrible. It was not busy and it took 20 minutes to get served 1 beer and a cocktail. They served others who entered the bar after us, doing shots with them. The bartenders were very rude, online it says they close at 2, one of the bartenders yelled, "It's time to get the fuck out" at 1:10, right after they had finally served us. All the workers were clearly intoxicated/on drugs, and were dancing to static playing on the speakers. I was hoping for a better experience, instead I felt uncomfortable and unwelcome. read more

You might miss the door if it's your first time; I've seen many newcomers nearly miss it. But if you're lucky enough to find your way in, you'll instantly feel like you've stepped into another time & another place. Bar Ona is a mix of art deco & new world, complete with a backgammon set for the adventurous & learned. Bar Ona has all of the ambiance, *all* of the liquors (and then some), but none of the pretentiousness you find in some cocktail bars. They only ever play good music. The cocktail menu is fresh & daring. The drink-makers are kind & attentive, but not too chatty. I never have a bad experience at Bar Ona. And neither will you. read more

Ona - The Juicy J - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Ona is a really great spot for a cocktail: reasonable prices, great seating, chill ambiance, and the cocktails are delicious! The service was friendly and efficient-we had a couple friends who didn't want an alcoholic beverage and on the spot they made a citrus mocktail that was refreshing and delicious! They also have daily specials in which they have a discounted cocktail (different ones for each day of the week) and they are $5! We got the Friday special which was a Dark N Stormy (a rum based Moscow mule sort of cocktail!) and it was great! read more

Ona - Dark N Stormy (both!) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Quick service, friendly staff, reasonable prices. Honestly a steal deal if you're a beer drinker, inflation has not heard of this bar apparently! read more

Always a cool place to get out to. Drinks are great and the bartenders are amazing. They get everyone taken care of pretty quick too. The crowd is great and there is so much to take in around you. read more

This is a superb spot to grab cocktail drinks with a friend or for a date. I love how it is so cozy inside, and all the plants make it even more inviting to grab drinks here. I love coming here for pre-game with my friends. I love ordering their cocktail drinks, and they're so delicious. One of my favorite drinks is called Press Play. read more

Super unassuming place. Excellent cocktails, interesting yet approachable. We went on a weekend and the line for drinks moved so much faster than we thought. The crowd tends to be normal, mostly early 30s and later 20s artsy crowd. Good music, too. Probably the best cocktail bar in Lex. read more

Ona continues to be one of my favorite bars in Lexington! The bartenders are incredibly and make amazing cocktails. The ambiance is wonderful and I'm rarely there when there isn't a really interesting crowd. Definitely one of the standout bars in Lexington! read more

If you are a fan of dive bars with craft cocktails, this is the place for you. We went here on a Friday night around 7. The place was not so busy yet. We were able to grab a couple seats at the bar and chat with the bartender about what drink to order. We decided on the coin and oil. It was tasty and strong. As it seems with all craft cocktails, the prices can be a bit high. Think around $10 for each drink. After a couple, we thanked our bartender and assured him we would be back. read more

See all

My friend and I stopped by Ona for drinks after dinner last night. And we had a great time! $5 palomas all night?! And they were good! The service was also great. The bar wasn't so full as to be crowded but people were there having a good time as long as we were there! Definitely a cool spot for drinks! I'd go back! read more

Ona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Ona has quickly become my favorite bar in town. I am now something of a regular, and make a point to bring friends here when I want to impress them. The atmosphere is hip and unique, with huge potted plants all over and separate rooms in the back. It has a very different vibe than any other bar I've been to in Lexington. In fact, when I'm here, it feels as though I'm in a different city entirely. The bartenders are friendly and accommodating - last time I went, one of them let me use their phone charger behind the bar. The drink specials here are great, with a different $5 cocktail offering each day of the week no matter what time it is. The frozen Boat Drink is tropical and refreshing, and the $5 Soju shot + Miller Lite combo is perfect if you're trying to get the most bang for your buck. They don't offer Diet Coke for mixed drinks, but that's a minor complaint. It's a hipster bar, why would you expect any response to that request other than "oh, we only have Mexican Coke"? The first time I came here, I left a negative review and I feel like a total asshole about it. I must have been riding the high of having just turned 21 and created a Yelp account. I got an Underberg and hated it, and yeah, maybe the bartender could have explained that it's a bottle of bitters with a straw in it, but ultimately it was on me for ordering blindly. Sorry, Ona. You rock. This review is my penance. read more

It was a fun atmosphere. The drinks were fabulous. Very artsy. And I was in good company. Highly recommend read more

See all

If I'm here it's usually a weeknight meeting with a friend for a chat and a drink or two. The outdoor seating is very cute but not the most comfortable. Very tiny wooden chairs on a wooden slat "porch" situation that the chairs sometimes fall into. But the plants outside and inside are gorgeous. It's a vibe-y joint. The interior has plenty of hidey holes and good places to tuck into for intimate or group affairs. The menu is more extensive than you'd think it'd be. As far as service, it really just depends on who's tending bar. Sometimes it's awesome and quick and super easy. Other times it takes much longer than it should because the bartender is holding a chat with a friend or just ignoring that you're there. I've had both experiences in the same week, even when it's slow, so *shrug*. Just a heads up to anyone who might flit a temper over that sort of thing. They're pretty doggone casual there. read more

Love this place. Get the Boat Drinks: it's fruity and frozen and comes with an umbrella. There's plenty of seating at the bar and around the room, with a cute little nook in the back. Folks are always friendly and the vibe is always laid back but vibrant. Definitely one of my favorite newer spots in Lexington. read more

On a Friday night at around 7pm, this cozy hole in the wall on Church Street was not too packed. We easily found three seats at the bar, and could have sat around the wall if we had needed to. It's nice to find a place with a reasonable bourbon selection and craft cocktails that wasn't standing room only. I started with a Stagg Jr., neat, and it was a generous pour. My companions tried a variety of craft cocktails, and were pleased. For my second drink, I asked the bartender for a recommendation for a bourbon to drink neat. He suggested Elmer T. Lee at first, which is a spot-on recommendation, but since I have a couple of bottles at home, I redirected him. His next suggestion was James Pepper 1776, which I had not tried before. I enjoyed it, and appreciated the recommendation. The two bartenders on duty were more than happy to answer silly cocktail questions, and were quite friendly. I'll probably try this place again. read more

Ona - Old maps above the bar. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

This is an odd space, but cool vibe. One of the bartenders made GREAT craft cocktails. They other one followed the recipe but didn't quite come up with the same great drinks. I guess it's the luck of the draw? Either way, worth a try I think! read more

Ona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Was wondering around downtown lex waiting for our table to be ready at a restaurant around the corner. Great atosphere! Great little cocktail menu with interesting flavors and good conversation with the bartender! Loved all the beautiful plants in the windo! Will definitely be back! read more

Ona is by far my favorite bar in Lexington. The atmosphere is moody and comfortable, the bartenders are super fun, and a rotating drink menu full of amazing and creative cocktails. read more

Ona - a map of the world on a wall behind a bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

For someone who is not from Lexington and lives in a city somewhat larger I was impressed. The bartender, Coleman was attentive, attractive and aware of the audience. Check it out! read more

Love the atmosphere of the place and all of the beautiful plants just add to the chill vibe. Super hip. The service was amazing and handled my mom, who is more novice with cocktails, perfectly and helped her step out of the box. I had the boat drink, which was a frozen run drink, and it was so good. A HUGE perk is they have a $5 cocktail special every night. Y'all that's unheard of for a good cocktail. The only reason I gave it 4 Stars was because when we asked for a menu we were told they were "all destroyed" and they would come out with a new one in two days. read more

Ona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Great music, great drinks, great people. Would be neat if it was also a casino and each nook had a different game in it. read more

Do you like good drinks? Go to Ona. Do you appreciate a lush yet unpretentious environment? Go to Ona. Do you want prime rib? Go to a restaurant. For real, the bartenders are talented and creative and the atmosphere is beautiful. Try the nightly drink special. A+ all the way. read more

The County Club guys have brought you Ona, a bar with two cozy nooks, the best thing about it. An odd little menu with the ubiquitous craft cocktails that have become de rigueur in Lexington. I had an Aviation, perfectly chilled as it should be, but served incorrectly in an on the rocks glass. It was neither the best, nor the worst I've had. I'm not a fan of the place. I think you either like its vibe or you don't. Head to Church and see what you think. read more

Very cool spot blending the atmospheres of corner bar and hipster bar together nicely. Not a huge selection of beer or wine, but it's clear that cocktails are their specialty. I had one from the specials board - the Sake Slushie - which was delicious, albeit incredibly sour (good thing I love sour things). All cocktails are expensive, so that's to be expected. Decor is very urban feeling, and the space is huge. It was pretty empty and I visited during Thursday Night Live because I was curious and they had A/C. I'm giving it 4 stars because as I write this, I'm not incredibly compelled to return, even though there's nothing wrong with the place. Might be a good place to go if you can't decide where to go. read more

See all

This place is a true gem. Truly hand-crafted cocktails down to the bitters. I have not experienced a bar in town with staff that can create drinks so expertly and consistently with a laid back-ness that makes you feel like you're at a friend's house and not a bar. The drinks are so good here I would expect the crew to have an ego that only craft bartenders tend to have (you know, that pretentious smugness I'm talking about); but these guys don't at all. IMO, it's the BEST place to hide out for an expertly made drink or even cheap canned beer, whatever mood suits you. read more

Cool, dark, intimate spaces galore. Delicious, creative, intriguing cocktails galore. Top notch squishy stools.

I had high hopes for Ona after seeing an Esquire review listing it as one of the best cocktail bars in America. We went there early on a Friday night when it was almost empty. Even so the bartender didn't seem particularly interested in talking to us. Too cool for school. The cocktails were OK - good but not amazing. However, what spoiled it for us was the misogynistic music playing loudly, surprising in a town full of BLM signs and rainbow crosswalks. Definitely not cool. read more

A unique location for Lexington. It feels like a bar in Chicago or New York. Great place to go with friends or a date.

Arguably the best craft cocktail bar I've been to in Lexington. Great atmosphere and the bartenders rock!

This place was super chill, the bartender made us really delicious drinks and he was really nice. The atmosphere is cool but not stuffy.

Great place to grab a drink after work with a relaxing atmosphere. The Friday special, Dark and Stormy, is a must try.

9.8/10 - I deeply miss the days when I lived in the same city as Ona. My friends and I would go on any night of the week, but our favorite was on Friday nights when they had the drink special, Dark and Stormy...couldn't beat it. It's mid century modern vibe was too good to not just sit back and admire at times. read more

First time visit. Out of way, and fun vibe in Lexington. Bartender was masterful and informative. Bourbon drinks of course were excellent. I unknowingly dropped a $20 on the floor when paying and bartender found us at Dudley's! what a guy! read more

Ok love love love this bar. So laid back. Love the mid century modern lay out. They have drink specials every night. This has become our new go to place. read more

The refined elegance of a beefy Côtes du Rhône artfully meshed with the nonchalance of a loose Pinot noir. The idea of brass, leather, musk and the tropicalia record that you found in your uncle's basement pervade the senses during your (hopefully) extended stay. It's easy to get lost in the Bacchanalian labyrinth of iniquity (not complaining); do not fret though, you will be back. Take a trip through space and time all while forgetting that either exists. However, take heed: they do not cater to the incompetent. Also, literally every time I go there the same two guys are singing Que Sera in perfect harmony. C'est la vie! read more

Ona - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

I don't understand the "dive bar" moniker. The decor is fabulous. The vibe is upscale cool, and the cocktails are very tasty and priced reasonably. Plus the service was very friendly and welcoming. This bar is very much up my alley and I'm a fan. read more

Fresh mint and Lillet Blanc available for cocktails. Not to be found in the average bar. Highly recommended.

Awesome spot. Great contribution to the bar scene in Lex- cool ambiance + good drinks + reasonable prices. Forms a great triumvirate with Green Lantern and Best Friend Bar. Love the on the rocks glasses. read more

I'm a little confused as to why this is listed as a dive, and that the reviews refer to it as a dive...Ona is a cool, sexy little cocktail bar with the comfiest seating and a cool vibe. Far from my definition of a dive bar. The Urban Cowboy is a must have bourbon cocktail. read more