Drinks Downtown Cincinnati
Arnold's Bar and Grill
A place for a drink in Downtown Cincinnati, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 1.5 hours. Best time to go: Dinner Dec 30.
Why go
Cincinnati's oldest bar, open since 1861 in brick buildings on Eighth Street, with a courtyard and pub food.
It is one of 8 curated places we feature in Downtown Cincinnati, alongside 2 places to eat, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot. 3 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Fountain Square and Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza.
- Type
- Drinks · Nightlife
- Neighborhood
- Downtown
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 1.5 hr
- Best time
- Dinner Dec 30
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond Downtown Cincinnati. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Fountain Square
Downtown's central square around the 1871 Tyler Davidson Fountain, which held a ticketed 21+ party in 2025.
Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line - 2Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
1931 Art Deco hotel inside Carew Tower, with a rosewood-and-mural Palm Court lobby bar.
Stay · 0.3 mi straight-line - 3Elm Street Plaza
New plaza beside the convention center, home of the free 2025 party with an ice rink and two fireworks shows.
Activity · 0.4 mi straight-line - 4John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge
1866 suspension bridge over the Ohio by the designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, with a sidewalk on each side.
Sight · Covington · 0.7 mi straight-line - 5Purple People Bridge
Old railroad bridge painted purple and turned into a walking bridge between downtown and Newport.
Activity · Covington · 0.7 mi straight-line - 6Smale Riverfront Park
Riverfront park below downtown with lawns, steps down to the Ohio and a close view of the Roebling bridge.
Outdoors · 0.7 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Arnold's Bar and Grill is a stop on our Cincinnati New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Downtown Cincinnati
Arnold's Bar and Grill is our only drinks pick in Downtown Cincinnati; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown Cincinnati guide.
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Camp Washington Chili
Diner open since 1940 serving Cincinnati chili over spaghetti with a pile of shredded cheddar.
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Mecklenburg Gardens
German restaurant and beer garden open since 1865 near the university, serving schnitzel, sausages and local beer.
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Findlay Market
Ohio's oldest public market, from 1855, with butchers, bakers and goetta stands in Over-the-Rhine.
When to go
Average daily highs in Downtown Cincinnati run from 39°F in January to 88°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For Arnold's Bar and Grill itself, we suggest: Dinner Dec 30.
Modelled monthly averages for Downtown Cincinnati from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Downtown Cincinnati weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Arnold's Bar and Grill, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 39.10514, -84.51011
- Destination
- Downtown Cincinnati, Ohio
Arnold's Bar and Grill: quick answers
How much time do you need at Arnold's Bar and Grill?
Plan on about 1.5 hours at Arnold's Bar and Grill. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Arnold's Bar and Grill?
Our pick: Dinner Dec 30. Insider tip: Ask for a table in the covered courtyard out back.
Which TripsCircle routes include Arnold's Bar and Grill?
Arnold's Bar and Grill appears on Cincinnati New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Arnold's Bar and Grill to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown Cincinnati.
Plan Downtown Cincinnati
- Downtown Cincinnati travel guide 8 places
- Best time to visit Downtown Cincinnati weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in Downtown Cincinnati
- Camp Washington Chili Food
- Findlay Market Shopping
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.