First off: the cocktails are unmatched! I've traveled all over the world and lived in major cities and these are hands-down the best. And very, very affordable. The bartenders have become my husband and I's friends and we love being regulars in this cute, historical, friendly bar. The ambiance is amazing and the whole vibe is artsy and cool. This is a community safe-space and I love it for that. The beer garden out back is cute for summer days. The front patio is perfect for people-watching. The cider is delicious and this is more of as non-college bar, which this almost 40-something appreciates. This is truly the best bar I've ever been to! read more

We stopped here on our way to our weekend getaway with my mom and daughter. Both my daughter and I liked the ciders we chose. A pear cider and a cherry cider. My mom got a drink with rum and kinda tasted like a pina colada. We ended up buying a six pack of cider to enjoy at home. Worth stopping by. Oh and the spiced cashews were yummy. read more

Always looking for a place to grab a drink with friends and colleagues when I'm in town while also always trying to avoid the haunts of my youth (looking at you, J-Bar). On a recent visit, a friend suggested West End Ciderhouse as a more grown-up option and a bit off the beaten path. The bartenders were super friendly and helpful as I perused the menu. I had two different ciders over the course of the evening and enjoyed them both quite a bit. There's a wide variety of options, from fruited ciders to cider-based cocktails. I loved the lemon ginger cider and, frankly, haven't stopped thinking about it in a month. The crowd is definitely a little older than most establishments in Athens, which was the perfect vibe. It was cozy on a rainy night, quiet enough to carry on a conversation at the bar, and still lively enough to enjoy the evening out. I'm making this a staple of future visits (already have my next meet-up planned here) and look forward to visiting again! read more

Always enjoy visiting West End! Great ciders! Love the atmosphere! Can't wait for the next 4 years of visiting my Bobcat and enjoying West End! read more

We were in the area and this was our second stop of the day. As we walked in we were greeted by a bartender who introduced himself to us. His name is Lou, he was quite sincere, very nice. We sat down and he provided what was available as we sat down and reviewed the menu. We both went with a cider flight. I enjoyed them all but the bourbon and blackberry were my favorites. However Blackberry hands down was the best for me. It wasn't a sweet cider as one may expect. Lou came back to us and asked if we like hot and spicy and we both looked at each other and said yes. He brought over a sample of the raspberry salice(Thai & Chili peppers ) it was delicious with a hint of the spice towards the end of the drink. It didn't make me cough which is a rare. Most are too much and I begin to cough but this was perfect. I asked if he being the cider maker puts in towards the end of the secondary fermentation and he said yes. It was truly terrific. We liked this place because it's in an older building, walk in and you see liquor from locally being West End Distillery our next stop and everywhere else around. Older music playing. It had a really good vibe to the place. It wouldn't have that vibe without Lou's help. He's an amazing bartender, conversationalist which thrives with this place. This was our favorite stop in the Athens area. I highly recommend this place. read more

See all

Kelly (Kojo) the bartender is consistently and unnecessarily rude to customers. Not sure how she still works here with the way she talks to people who are just trying to spend money and have a good time. read more

Cider is a great alternative to beer. Maybe you can argue that it's healthier since it's made with fruit. West End Ciderhouse is a great spot. It has a lot of variety of ciders. There's also cocktails and food. West End has a much different atmosphere and drink menu than a typical bar in Athens. It doesn't get that many students in here. This is kind of out of the way for them. It's located on the west side of town obviously. The drink menu is also more adult oriented, which means you don't come here to do shots. Ciders cost more than a typical beer. It's still only about $5 for a pint. The one I like the most is the Zingiber. It gets a little spice from ginger. This is described by them as semi sweet. It also has some food items. Most small sides are $3 or so. Cider here is actually pretty cheap. Even though it costs more than a typical dive bar. They also have hard liquor if you must have that. read more

West End Ciderhouse - Zingiber And Cashews - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Ohio

This place is great! The outdoor seating is nice. The patio is shaded which is great to sit and have a drink. I love ciders so I had BY yard which was very good. I think each cider was about 6$. The Old Fashioned were made proper and tasty. They have great service and it wasn't too packed when I went last night around 8-9. read more

Great bartender who had wonderful suggestions Lives the atmosphere and quiet so that we could actually relax and bartenders conversation read more

There are so many great things to say about Ciderhouse. Although perhaps not the most important thing to mention, I will say that their pickles are delicious, and I look forward to getting more soon. The bartenders are friendly and helpful when asked for recommendations or questions about the menu, and their cocktails show just how talented they are. Ciderhouse is also a great reprieve from the rest of the Athens nightlife, offering a relaxed and quiet environment with plenty of comfortable places to sit. Can't wait to go back! read more

We stopped in the manufacturing facility and were greeted by a wonderful young lady who was well informed and enthusiastic. We each decided on a flight of 6 samples but before she poured them she asked a few questions to see where our tastes lay. You chose appropriately. They were all delightfully pleasant and refreshing but I have to say, the lemon ginger cider was my favorite. I'll be back, I suggest you go too. read more

Fantastic cozy bar off the main drag in Athens, Ohio. Expertly crafted cocktails including a delicious house margarita with a cider top - we opted for the tart cherry cider top. West End Ciderhouse offers a wide array of cocktails, ciders (of course) and local beers as well as a few snacks. read more

West End Ciderhouse - Cider Margarita! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Ohio

There have a nice selection of hard ciders, special drinks and craft distilled spirits. This is their Walnut Old Fashion. Also they have a cooler of Grab and Go drinks. Beautiful old building and a huge bar. If you are looking for great drinks check them out. read more

West End Ciderhouse - Walnut Old Fashion. Great drinks and hard ciders! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Ohio

We were in town for the weekend, checking out Athens before potentially moving to the area. Wanted a spot to grab some drinks and ended up at their retail shop, which just has ciders on tap, none of the cocktails of the main bar. But boy, those ciders were great! We tried several between us, but I think my favorite was the Ciderhouse 75. Had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Kelly, who provided a wealth of knowledge about the area in addition to great beverages. We ended up spending almost two hours chatting with him and drinking, and by the time we left I think we were sold on Athens! Looking forward to spending much more time here once we're in the area! read more

"This is, like, a special place." That's what the college kid next to me told his drinking buddy as they bellied up to the bar. I don't always agree with college kids, but when I do, it's because they have excellent taste in craft beers and ciders. There's a ton of places to let loose and get cheap beer around Athens, but if you'd like a little slower pace and higher quality, you should come check out West End Ciderhouse. I'm glad I did! I was in town for a wedding and checking out local options. I came alone and it seems many people go out together in this town, but West End was a place where I felt totally fine being by myself. I started out in a booth in the corner, charging my phone while I read a book and sipped my drink slowly. As more and more people came in, I gave up the large table and moved to a tall chair at the bar. I ordered a couple of their signature ciders and loved every one of them. I tried the Kelly's Blueberry Sweet Cider and their standard Semi-Sweet Cider. They also have guest ciders and beers on tap along with wine and cocktails, so there's a little something for everyone. At the wedding they ended up serving the Semi-Sweet Cider and I indulged in that throughout the evening. My friend later informed me that a keg about half the size of a regular one cost almost twice as much as the other alcohol she was serving, but we agreed it was well worth it! read more

See all

I rarely take the time to rate anything in Athens, but W O W. If only there could be more places like the Ciderhouse. Not only is the service and alcohol superb, but the upscale and sophisticated feeling of this place feels like Manhattan, not Appalachia. Even if you aren't a huge cider fan, you will find yourself loving this place for the ambiance. Honestly it's my haven, and keeps me sane in a town that sometimes makes me go crazy with its restaurants and bars that cater to a $2-beer-college-special mentality. read more

I saw the outside window & I automatically felt to come inside! Very happy with the staff, the brews, the ciders & home made ginger soda!!!! Worth trying all the beers!! Back side patio is charming :) read more

West End Ciderhouse - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Ohio

See all

So a Cider house in Athens eh? Spot on! I have been to a few, this once was on key with others I'd been to as well. It is tiny but the owners and bartenders were very very friendly, I had probably more than I should have in samplers. The patio really got me, I enjoyed the old world feel from what is probably a 100+ year old patio area. They also had a nice selection of a few local beers and local meeds. I was here at Ohio Brew Week so perhaps this is not always a staple. Side not the bathrooms were really nice.. this is kinda big when you are out drinking and find your self needed to use one on a day long shuffle. read more

West End Ciderhouse - Nice patio area - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Ohio

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place when we were visiting Athens for a few days. For a Monday night, the atmosphere was wonderful. Live music and a real 'Cheers' vibe - everybody there knew everybody else. Really welcoming. We tried a flight of six ciders (couldn't beat the special: a flight for $5!) and really enjoyed their vast selection, so much so that we came back and got another flight the very next day! The bar has a very cool setup. Their display of different liquids behind the bar is absolutely beautiful. We'll definitely be back when we go back to Athens. read more

West End Ciderhouse - Their special that night was a flight of 6 for $5. Six was the perfect number - three I wanted to try, three my bf wanted to try. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Ohio

Don't come here for Red's Apple Ale or Angry Orchard; that swill has no place here. This quaint little cider house has been on my list of places to visit for the last few months, and we finally made it down to Athens for OU's homecoming game, then went over to West End afterward. If this place was in Columbus, I would spend way too much time and money here, since we don't have any cider houses here. The service was pretty good, and the prices for flights are pretty reasonable. Patrons were mostly what looked to be college students, with some other older people there who were clearly regulars. There were also a number of board games and such you could play at your table if you wanted, and a TV with college football on. My main issue was the food was relatively nondescript, and the ciders didn't have enough variety. There were three dry or semi-dry ciders, which is fine, but I'm more partial to sweet and semi-sweet. There were two of those options, but the peach was just overwhelmingly sweet. It was almost as if someone squeezed an entire fresh peach into the glass. I would have liked to see more/different semi-sweet options. There were other options in bottles, but we were there to have just a couple drinks briefly after the game, and the flight was the best way to taste some options we can't get in Columbus, so all of the bottles they had were off the table with the flight. The Zingiber would be awesome to sip on a patio on a hot summer day, though. It was damn good, and I was pleasantly surprised. The Sauce was spicy, but unlike Blake's El Chavo, the semi-dry taste makes it harder to handle the chili peppers; whereas the sweet/semi-sweet makes the spiciness more palatable and even pleasant. read more

I stopped in with a friend for a quick drink after work. I have never been so insulted in my life. The bartender, loop, Ted, Sean, Jesus, it doesn't matter, they're all the same to me, threw a coaster at me after I made fun of his mother. A paper cut and a jab to my pride later, I had a great time.10/10 would visit again. I guess I understand that that guy (whatever his name is), might be an actual man ...I didn't turn him upside down to check, but people like Fuck (again, I don't care or remember his name), might have feelings and ambition. I'm not saying you should be nice to your server -- why should we? I'm saying refrain from stabbing them with your fork. read more

This is our favorite spot and we're so happy it's open for dine in (outside) again! The best bartenders in town and the best cider I've ever had. If you're lucky enough to be dining out right now, I hope you have a little patience for those serving you. read more

Love this small bar. They craft their own ciders in house. They also have a full liquor selection and beer. Small, quiet bar when we went on a Saturday afternoon. Small plates for nosh. More of an adult scene not a lot of college students. read more

Loved having the Cider House in my life for the past three years! Their ciders are delicious and inventive - I really liked the cranberry cider I had recently! Cocktails are also wonderful - there are not too many places to go for a good cocktail in Athens. I try not to get beer at the Cider House since I can get it anywhere, but I am always tempted by what they have on tap! I also love the atmosphere - exposed brick, a beautiful bar, and a nice little patio out back. One knock is that it can take a while to get a drink. I guess that is to be expected at a cocktail bar, but it can be annoying. Prices are also a little high, but that's how you keep the students out :) read more

Love this place....didn't get to try any of their food offerings but the drinks, atmosphere, and folks behind the bar were all fantastic. I had a few of the craft beers on tap and my wife had one of the specialty cocktails, which she really enjoyed. They had a good mix of clientele and everyone seemed to be having a swell time. read more

Athens was in need of a place like this -- a grown-up cocktail bar. The local ciders are just the beginning of the delightful regional treats here. They have a lot of Ohio-made liquor and they craft a mean cocktail. If all that drinking gets to you, they have Athens Own meat treats, locally baked pretzels and Integration Acres cheeses and pickled veggies to nosh on. The setting is clean and sophisticated. Prices are higher than just about any bar in Athens, but totally reasonable. You get what you pay for. read more

West End Ciderhouse - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Ohio

Need a fancy well made drink? Want to get away from the normal Athens bars while being able to walk to it still? Come to the west-side. Gem hidden away on Shafer. Wish it was here back when I was here. Great date place after a Zoe dinner. read more

Terrific concept in warm, out of the way locale. Microbrews, of course, but this offers any number of regionally brewed hard ciders, mead, wine and good old fashioned cocktails. A civilized refuge from Athens usual joints serving 24 ounce Buds in plastic cups. read more

Bang for your buck: 7/10 Quality: 6/10 Service: 8/10 Ambiance/Location: 10/10 Overall: 7.5/10 Adorable location and service, but too limited offerings to really make it worth it. read more

I go here once a week or so. Every time I have been there the atmosphere has been mellow. Even when it's been really busy. It's beautiful on the inside with vintage wood work. My dad used to bring me here when I was a little girl and it's got a lot of he same features, which I like. There is no well liquor which is fine for me. A Titos mule is $6 which is great! It's awesome that the Wingery is across the street and it makes having an evening out easy and fun. Love the tacos and wings there. Easy to park nearby. read more

Very rude owners. I don't want to support the business of ugly people. They threatened to shred my out-of-state driver's license because they thought it was fake. I'm 23. They proceeded to quiz me on my license information including: my birthday, where I was from, and why I was in Athens. I answered all three questions truthfully and they still denied me service after insinuating that all my information was false and that if it were correct I would have fought back harder. I assume this was an attempt to make sure students at Ohio University won't visit their bar -- and it worked; I warn people not to go to the Cider House. It sounds like they have a nice collection of ciders, the interior looks nice, but I'm never going again. I made a Yelp account to post this review because of how nasty they were to me. read more

The vibe was good but they should have serve fries with the damn cider cuz it tastes like vinegar.

Love love love this place! Came back to OU for a college reunion and discovered this place through some local friends. It's is off the beaten path and what I would consider "a grown up bar". You can have a conversation with music in the background and the drinks are thoughtfully crafted. read more

I went to the Cider House tonight. This is a great place, as Jessica I. note a grown-pu cocktail bar. They brew their own cider (great stuff) and have locally made munchies. I can't say enough good things about this place. A very mellow, non-college bar with good drinks and good snacks, you can't really do much better in a college town. read more

After being spoiled by Athens cocktail prices I was a bit salty when i first started coming here. But the ambiance and lack of students makes the extra cost worth it! The bartenders are all fab and the drinks are a bit more interesting than your regular Athens fare. I, personally, am obsessed with the Moscow Mule. Also, you can bring in outside food, and there is a taco place across the street. The main downside is that the low ceiling means that the bar can get quiet loud when it is crowded. read more

Love this place! Great spot to grab a drink and good conversation with a friend. The ciders are out of this world and the bartenders are friendly and prompt. read more

Great little find away from campus. They have a patio out back and a few seats in the sidewalk. The inside reminds me of an old fashion speakeasy with a great selection of Ohio liquor, beer and of course homemade cider. My wife had two of the ciders which were excellent. I had the Old Fashion which was perfect. read more

They only had two bartenders working on a Saturday night. The were very disorganized. So disorganized that my girlfriend wanted to close out the tab, they took forever and she eventually went back to our table. A few minutes later a bartender rudely yelled my name to the entire bar to come close out which was super embarrassing. I don't think that was necessary considering they had my card, therefor could charge it if they thought I left. We will definitely not be back. read more

A real escape from what you expect in an "Athens bar"... Amazing cider, drinks served in real glasses, amazing atmosphere, board games to interact, and amazing local snacks... Seriously, a classy establishment... read more

this is the only bar I ever want to go to. I am not exaggerating. the cocktails are supreme. all their ciders are on point. the staff is remarkable and the owner is one hell of a nice guy. even his dog is nice. read more