We enjoyed our meal here. The tab salad and fried green tomato BLT were both very good! Thank you!!

This was our first time as we are new to Cincinnati. We made a reservation for two, fish fry Friday evening. When we arrived we were seated at a table the size of a postage stamp in between two other two-tops. I'm not exaggerating when I say if I stretched out my arms I could have put them around the people sitting to my right and my left. We asked to sit at an empty three-top (there were three empty tables) near the musicians area. The waitress and another employee were very polite but they refused to reseat us. They said it was because we were a party of two, and those tables were reserved for parties of three. Rather than enduring a miserable experience, paying for food that we would have choked down, in an uncomfortable space wedged between two other tables, we elected to leave. We found another restaurant that actually valued our experience more than their profit margins. read more

This bar which BTW is often referred to a the old bar in the city is a solid dive bar in the great traditions of dive bars. The crowd is a little older than the usual and not so hipster and congenial. Prices good but often limited seating. read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is Cincinnati's oldest bar in the city! The vibe of this place is awesome and everywhere you walk will take you back to a place in time. It definitely has a saloon feel, that you can't get anywhere else here! I've been here multiple times and have enjoyed my experience each time. The service has always been pleasant, the drinks are good and the food is tasty. I love how they aren't afraid to throw interesting events such as the Garlic fest! They went all out from creating garlic themed soup to dessert and what's crazy is everything they served was great (if you are a garlic fan). Aside from Garlic fest, I've tried their burgers (Arnold's and Yo Mama), Irish Stew and corned beef. Everything was well seasoned and satisfying as well as decently priced! If you want to eat and drink in a historical Cincinnati place, be sure to stop here! It's definitely unique and a worthwhile place to go. We hope to visit again in the future! read more

So old and so good. Cincinnati's first bar Your great grandmother likely had her first drink here. read more

Had two great Germans beers during happy hour. They offer a nice special. Recommend stopping here before a reds game for some brews to anyone visiting Cincinnati. Its a slice of history and speaks to what the city offers read more

Cool historic business with lots of character and options. A bucketlist item for anyone visiting. Walking in, you get a sense of the age the place, from the radiant heater, to the all wood bar.. everything, to the actual water closest for the restrooms. The menu is perfectly sized with options for everyone. The cocktails are unique and tasty, and the beer menu is constantly changing. So no visit will be exactly the same. With all the positives, the food did not justify the price tag, was not on par with the atmosphere, and was all around disappointing. Our table shared several appetizers including the deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, and hummus. For dinner, I ordered a burger. The only item of these that I would recommend is the fried green tomatoes. On a positive though, all the cocktails were awesome. If you are really wanting to try this place, I'd recommend it for cocktails. read more

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Stopped in Arnold's after leaving the Duke Energy Center. It is very quaint, and old bar. The staff was not super friendly, but not rude by any means. I had to get the attention of the server because they kept standing around talking amoungst the other staff. The music playing was one of the staff's playlist and was actually very broad range, and included some of my favorites. I ordered the Arnold burger, and it might be one of the top 10 burgers i have ever had. read more

We caught an early movie on Saturday and were out looking for a good place to eat and maybe listen to a little live music. We hit on a real winner! We had been to Arnold's in the past and the food is always great! Their specialty burgers are awesome!!! A duo was playing in the covered, heated courtyard. It was crowded out there, so were seated in a booth and a a great meal. By the way,our server was excellent!!! After we had eaten, true to her word, she let us know a seat in the courtyard was opening up, so she helped us to be seated to listen to the band. Honestly, I was not sure what to expect from the duo, "The Laid Back Country Picker", but we love live music, so we ordered a drink and gave them a listen. They were totally AWESOME!!!! What a show!!! They filled the place with great guitar picking and percussion, playing great country, alt country and good old rock and roll!!! The ground ranged from from people in there 20's to 60's (maybe even older, but that's all I'll admit to!!!) DON'T MISS SEEING THE LAiID BACK COUNTRY PICKER!!! Look them up on Bands In Town or your favorite social media. Thanks Arnold's for the awesome food and awesome music!!!! read more

Really good burgers & sangria. They'll sometimes have live music in the summer on their indoor/outdoor patio inside the restaurant which is nice read more

This is one of my favorite places in the known universe. I love the setting and vibe. The courtyard is the place to be at any time of the year. Great food and drinks and friendly staff. read more

Had a date night for St. Patrick's Day at Arnolds. Great old bar with great burgers, but tonight we decided to go with the specials created for the holiday. We started with an appetizer of Brussels sprouts which were cooked perfectly. They were delicious with the Harp beer on tap. Next I had the Irish stew with lamb and my wife went with the truffle Brie chicken. Both dishes we well prepared. The chicken lacked flavor, but the risotto and grilled asparagus served with it were both awesome. The stew was very tasty, but could have used more mashed potatoes. The service was awesome. The building is old - that's it charm. Overall a fun night. read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - Brussels Sprouts - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

An amazing place - Arnold's is the oldest bar in Cincinnati and completes the trifecta with amazing food, service, and ambiance. I will definitely be making another trip back next time I'm in town. read more

What a wonderful, dining experience. A small eclectic restaurant with a casual vibe, steeped in history. You cannot go wrong eating here. Small menu, but something for everybody including vegetarian and vegans. Our server was great. Super attentive but not hovering read more

We came to see a friend performing live. The courtyard in the back is medium size, seats a good number of people, and seems to be a consistent music scene given their bookings visible on their website. There is a roof that can be open or closed which is a great idea. The acoustics in the enclosed courtyard with the roof closed wasn't overwhelming and allowed some nice bluegrass to fill the room. I ordered the Sean Evans Hot Ones burger and it didn't have much in the way of vegetables but it was a tasty level of spicy with a steady burn like a Nashville hot chicken. Nothing that would make you ask for milk. The potato salad is apparently made in house and was very smooth and pleasantly more potato than mayo. The food wasn't spectacular but it wasn't bad and I would have to try more of the menu to many any serious conclusions about this place. All in all a great place to drop by and enjoy some good food and music, but it's a pretty busy place probably because it can attract so many regulars. read more

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My husband I happened to be driving past Arnold's looking for somewhere to stop for an appetizer and beer. We went in and were immediately greeted wonderfully by Tim and our bartender Josh. The owner, Arnold came over and talked to us as well. We had the frog legs and chicken skins. Both were wonderful! Lumberton, NC was our one night stop on our way from Florida to Virginia. We for sure will be back when we come back this way!!!! Thanks for making us feel so welcome!!! read more

This is classic Cincinnati, we did not eat here but everyone needs to visit here for a drink at least. It's been around a very long time and is a gateway to a fun evening out on the town, with Main street scene just steps away. Friendly, probably 35 yrs and up crowd , lots of beers and full bar. The outdoor patio reminds me of New Orleans , great performance space. read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - The Baaaa - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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What a cooooool spot! I can't believe I haven't been here sooner. Came to celebrate my brother in laws bday. Was able to make a reservation and they had table in the covered court yard to enjoy the live band for us! We enjoyed live the live music , great atmosphere, great service and great food. I loved learning all of the history and checking out all of the photos on the way of the oldest bar in cincinnati! Highly recommend! It was crowded- recommend getting a reservation. read more

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Ok folks, it's August of 2018, and I'm giving Arnolds a 5 star review for 3 reasons. 1) You're in Cincinnati from out of town and you want to visit somewhere uniquely Cincinnati - It's a "don't miss" 2) You live in Cincinnati and you've been here before and you think you know everything about Arnolds - The menu is new, there are rooms you've never been in, and the rotating taps deliver some options I've never seen on tap in town 3) You're in town, you've never been here, and the low star reviews are scaring you off. Here's the deal, people, I can't explain why other people think that a $17 entree that is big enough for at least two meals is a bad deal when you are sitting in a historic building, with amazing options, good music and a great bar. Just go here and decide for yourself. If you go and hate it, blow up my inbox and let me know why I'm wrong. I dare you. (Unless your complaint is that you can get cheaper pasta at Olive Garden or a cheaper burger at McDonalds. You are right. You win). read more

This is a very cool place-old and historic, I think a must see if you are in the Cincinnati area. It has so much charm and the staff is super friendly--it probably gets a bit touristy since it is popular but it is definitely worth the visit. You do have to pay for parking on the street but there was plenty of availability. My friend and I did not try the food but it did look good and they had an interesting menu. I took a look at the outside atrium area which looked fantastic as well and would be a great place to hear some music and hang out. read more

Decided to try a "new to us" place for dinner. The requirements included an outdoor patio. Arnold's has a great outdoor patio! And live music (piano) too! Everyone was very friendly. The appetizer we chose was Mexican Street Cauli - delicious cauliflower fried and served elite style. I could have stopped there! It was delicious! For dinner, my husband ordered a burger with a side of potato salad. He thinks he's a potato salad connoisseur- and pronounced the dish as "just ok" his double patty burger was good. He also had a draft beer that was great. I had the white wine sangria which was great. I ordered the Vegetarian Lobster Roll - (sounded better than it tasted) and the OK potato salad. All in all- cute place, will go back and order different food. read more

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The decor and courtyard are great, very antique bar looking. Drinks / beer are great. Great service as well. Food is just okay, small portions. Food and appetizers are also overpriced for what you get. read more

I remember Arnold's as just about the last place I went before the pandemic started and it was a nice old school meal. I was expecting only burgers and beers but their menu was pretty broad - one coworker was able to get a gluten free bun and another had a pretty nice looking salad. I went for the burger which was great and exactly what I was looking for. The fries I got were just okay but maybe they were having an off day. Whenever I get the chance to go back I'm going to get the biggest burger possible that's it, maybe two. read more

During my visit they had a special holiday beer menu called the 12 beers of Christmas and I ordered the 50 West Christmas cookie ale. The food and drinks received were well prepared and good tasting. I did have a bit of a challenge in selecting an entree from the menu, and decided on a salmon topped salad as the other items that sounded appeasing were burgers. But didn't want a burger just after this seasons holiday feasting. After receiving the bill, I couldn't help but feel like I was paying steakhouse prices for not a steak house meal. This is a place I may visit again, but only for the bar. read more

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PB&J wings were definitely my jam. Having just finished up with the Thanksgiving holiday, they reminded me of tiny, savory turkey legs with their briney dry-rub and crispy browned skins. They aren't breaded, so they're gluten friendly. I wasn't a huge fan of the quinoa salad, but I think that's because my body was rejecting anything that wasn't greasy bar food. I'd never sat down here for a meal before, but Arnold's is actually surprisingly excellent for dinner. I would certainly return for a bite here again soon. read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - PB&J Wings (8) - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Food was great. Atmosphere is homey and the staff was simply great. I will be back the next time I am in town!!

Awesome food! Loved the fact that Chef Kayla Robison won Chopped! Many floors for parties and also a cool toilet/racing car outside the restaurant! read more

This is the oldest bar in Cinci. Service and was good but nothing spectacular. They were out of a couple of things due to no cauliflower in the house. Although we arrived early for dinner on a Saturday we still couldn't get a choice table. Next time l, we'll make reservations. I had a fried-green tomato blt with potato salad and it was good, but not great. I would go back though for a later dinner and try something else. read more

My husband and I came during burger week. I got the 5 dollar Arnold's burger and the hubby got the hot one's burger. The sauce they gave me with my burger was really good. I never asked what it was but I should have. It was typical bar food it was good food but not the best bar food I've had. The place has a great atmosphere and was pretty packed with people there and not just there for burger week because they were eating different things. We sat inside because it had just been raining but the little outside area looked pretty neat to sit it. I'm sure I'll be back. read more

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Better than I had expected. Fantastic history and atmosphere. Great drink menu. I had the Cincy Poutine and it was awesome. Service was nice and quick, but super chill. Art by Vhils, Fairey, and others graces the walls. Must visit in Cincy. read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - Fairey mural outside. - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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My first time experiencing this unique bar and venue! I came here with a group of friends to listen to a bluegrass band play. And I did not expect how the actual venue in the back was organized. They have these TALL ceilings and they make the acoustics in the place sound really nice, unfortunately, there is not much place to dance, but you can find a little space in the back! Either way, i'm excited to come here again and check out any other really cool bands that come through. The Bar can make any cocktail you want. Thanks for reading, go find that Perfect Harmony! ;) read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

You know what I love more than drinking? Drinking and soaking in a piece of Cincinnati history! Did you know that Arnolds is the oldest bar in Cincinnati? Since 1861, Arnold's has been slinging drinks in the Queen City. BONUS: WOMEN CAN NOW ENTER THROUGH THE SAME DOOR AS MEN - GAME ON! Arnold's Bar & Grill even survived the prohibition. Rumor has it that a bathtub on the second floor was used for bathtub gin. (You'll find their iconic bathtub out front and often motorized and driving through parades). Arnolds is an icon. The bar food is decent, though, not the best I've had. I like to come to Arnold's for the atmosphere. The music stage always seems to play host to unique acts (I came here for an improv show this week). and there's something about the atmosphere here that just can't be replicated elsewhere. It's charming, it's historic, it's unmistakably Cincinnati. read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Marked with a Shepard Fairey mural you cannot miss Cincinnati's oldest and most unique bar. Second generation owner operator Chris is keeping the legacy going. He has invigorated this classic neighborhood bar and grill with the best beer selection, exciting new menu options and timeless classics. The exposed brick outdoor patio features a back porch stage featuring live music just about every night. From R&B, Blues, to Bluegrass and Cajon you can enjoy a night out that feels like your in the French Quarter! The atmosphere is amazing featuring street art from famous artists like JR alongside vintage signage. You won't find anything like it in the Midwest. As for the food you can order the old school Greek Spaghetti on the menu since 1957. If you're feeling spicy try the Sean Evans Hot One's burger. If you're feeling stupid order it "Insane Style." If you have one night in Cincinnati do yourself a favor and eat at Arnolds, it's an instagram dream come true. read more

Very cool to visit a bar with so much history. We were not sure what to expect. It's smaller than I would have thought but that's part of the ambiance. I had the Greek spaghetti. It was excellent. Husband had the Arnold burger. Wonderful. The server was not so good. It was very difficult to get more drinks and she checked in with us twice. I think a different server would have made this a five star for me. read more

1861, America changed, something emerged that decided the nation's fate; Arnold's the oldest restaurant in Cincinnati, started serving the fine people of the queen city and the civil war. The food is classic burgers and hearty American fare, but get the burger your first time. The drinks are solid. The Vibe of the place is the cherry on top; hell they put it in the movies and on the tube. read more

My wife and I had a date night at Arnold's and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The service was outstanding, the food was unique and terrific and atmosphere was wonderful. read more

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Wow. Can't believe a bar wouldn't be open when it says it is, and especially when it has an artist coming in to perform (who was also there and equally surprised by the complete lack of notice). Same goes for all the people outside who'd made reservations for a big party. Major major turnoff. read more

Burgers are amazing. Full of flavor. We made it here just in time for Bock Fest and it was a phenomenal experience. read more

Arnolds Bar & Grill - Pubs Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Honestly this place was a pleasant surprise to me! We stumbled upon it on our way up to OTR and figured we would stop in for a drink, but we ended up getting a drink and some apps! I thought they had a good menu, there were a few things I was deciding between so I'm sure I will be back! read more

This is an interesting spot in Cincinnati. It's the oldest bar in the city and housed in an old 3 story building. It's decorated a bit sparsely in some areas and has funky decor in others. The food though! I had the Greek Pasta and it was delicious. Very simple dish of pasta, olive oil, onions, peppers, olives, bacon and cheese. Very flavorful and filling. My friend enjoyed the Yo Mama burger that was topped with an egg, goetta and cheese. She said it was delicious! She also enjoyed the sangria which was loaded with fresh fruit. Don't let the outside fool you....it's a great place for dinner. read more

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