What do I like about the Loon: Wine Bar and Shop? Let me tell ya... the cozy atmosphere, they make a mean Old Fashioned, they have Scarpetta brand Prosecco, their cute lil signs on the bathroom doors, lots of wine to go, a quaint stage for original music makers, and how they play movies on a VCR! Retro, fun, lively, what more could you want in a place to sit a spell and have a drinky poo? Treat yourself to the Loon, today! read more

The Loon Wine Bar & Shop - Perfect glasses clinking under the words "the Loon" - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The review is based solely on wine. Wanted to go to a wine bar after a day of work. Searched for wine on yelp. OK. Traveled. Sampled the Montepulciano. It was not bad but wanted to sample the temperanillo. Sample from a box. Uh.... no. Took a sniff and little tadte of temperanillo. Yeah. Sweet box wine taste, not temperanillo or at least the taste I was familiar. I went with the Montepulciano. I got the bottom of the bottle with a fresh screw cap bottle. This glass did not taste like the sample. Like the pbr of wine. Just saying. I updated the review now based on manager response. My critique was originally based solely on wine taste so yeah I probably should have gave it a 2 star but now see the management clearly leaves something to be desired although I do appreciate the spell checker. You really got me on that one! Also, something being organic does not automatically make it better for you. Lead is also organic. While we are on the whole eco thing, glass bottles can also be recycled without all the ink on boxes as well as the plastics involved, as an aside. I will strive to not be ignorant and improve my palate by drinking more box wines. I thank the management for their response as it provided a negative image I was not previously aware. read more

I'm not cool enough to go to the Listing Loon, but I'm a rebel so I did it anyway. After taking the train to hipster town, I got off at the corner of "Fair Trade" and "Locally Sourced" and walked into the listing loon. Don't let the cool hipster vibes fool you. The staff is super friendly and were fast to put a drink in our hands. On this particular occasion, we were visiting during Northside 4th of July festival. I accidentally even bumped into another patron and dropped/shattered the glass in my hand. I felt awful, but the staff didn't bat an eye and politely cleaned up the glass and insisted it was no big deal (I promise I wasn't drunk!). The drinks were reasonably priced and the service was superb. I've always poked fun at the bar being on the hipster side, but truly, it's a neighborhood bar with friendly people. Don't come in expecting something fancy, just come in to grab a drink any enjoy good company. read more

The Loon Wine Bar & Shop - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

Visited the Listing Loon as a music venue first and bar second. This was my first stop during the inaugural North by Northside music festival. Walking into the bar and the band was already rockin'. The odd thing though is that the stage is setup just inches from the front door and most of the seating was taken. Let me set your expectation that if it's hot outside; it's going to be hot inside. Business ploy to get you to by more drink, IDK? A mix variety of high tables along the wall, bar top and standing room. A good variety of beers. Expect craft beer but not all of your typical selections found on draft. Lots of canned beers. Your best bet; be inside before the scheduled musician starts. read more

The Loon Wine Bar & Shop - During North by Northside 2019 - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

The jazz band was awesome. The bartender not so. I put my drink on the bar and went to the restroom and came back and it was gone and she said it was empty. Bullshit it was at LEAST half full still. Her attitude was waaay beyond her pay grade. At first, when I arrived I used my light on my phone to move into the cooler to see beers and she said, "we have a beer menu, you can stand back there." I was two feet beyond the bar which looked like a welcoming site to look at the beers. Not so. Because of poor bartender attitude I have to give this place a 1 ourtof 5. When you insult your customers you don't deserve to be behind the bar. And your bar doesn't deserve attention. read more

This place is great. Coolest bartenders in town. Impeccable selection. Righteous music. Have fun, it'll be a great time.

Bar & bottle shop in Northside, most seats are around the bar with a few high top tables and a coffee table with few lower lounge chairs around it, here to see local band play on Thursday night. The band was good, but due to our early summer this year, their A/C doesn't work that well and everyone was hot. I had quick service at the bar and beer was ice cold. Also had a glass of ice water, which the bartender put a fresh lemon rind on the glass, was a nice touch. A few people stopped in during the show to pick up a six pack and were on their way, which was a bit awkward as the bass player playing away was at the front of the door. Fine location to stop by for a drink with a friend, maybe not the best for a show due to the small space. read more

I just love the vibe of this place. When I'm sitting in at the bar, the seating, the art, the stained glass window, the eccentric decor, all allows me to suspend disbelief that I'm in Cincinnati and not NOLA. The selection of specialty cocktails just brings this home for me- I'm a fan of the Corpse Reviver. I've been here a few times and it's not been at all crowded any of those times. Lots of people who seem to know each other and the bartenders pretty well, and that's about it. I've not tried the wine list, but have yet to be terribly impressed by the beer selection on tap - haven't check out the carryout, but imagine it's not any different. Will have to check out the bourbon selection next time, though. Because I will be back here for sure- I really do like the atmosphere and the lack of crowds is a plus in my mind. read more

Have rediscovered this gem of a bar in Northside, now under new ownership. It is now friendly, serves amazing and often original cocktails, and has improved its bourbon selection. When I was there, service was prompt, cheerful, and accurate. You can tell they love serving you. There is still frequent live music. Was also there for a special event on a Sunday afternoon so knowing they are receptive to private events may be another reason to keep them in mind. read more

The Loon Wine Bar & Shop - Cava - Wine Bars Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Wonderful place with wonderful drinks ran by a wonderful owner! Can't ask for a better experience when in northside :) read more

I like the Listing Loon as a staple in the Northside community. It brings in an eclectic bunch of people and I don't feel out of place like I do at other, more hipster, institutions. It may be quite hipster, but I don't feel the pressure of not fitting in. The staff were very friendly and patient. I have bought wine here to bring home and to enjoy while seeing some live local music there. I appreciate that they support local artists. I am now keeping an eye on shows that are going on at the Listing Loon and I'm excited to return. read more

Excellent atmosphere and staff! Immaculate bathrooms, the true test. Is this dang review long enough to post yet read more

Atmosphere was appealing for a local watering hole. My first visit was favorable. Had nice music with a great female soloist. Was hoping for another another great experience. My second visit went the other way. Grunge band. Not hating the music as much as it was turned up to maximum volume. Childish. So loud, I had to scream directly into my gf's ear to communicate and was still challenging. Actually, was quite ridiculous. Resorted to texting while sitting next to each other. Did not make things any better by getting charged $5 to open one bottle of beer. They sell it as carry out. I can understand an uncorking fee but $5 (plus the cost of the beer) for one bottle??? Seriously??? Going back is going to take some serious effort. read more

I stopped into the Listing Loon yesterday and it felt like people were still trying to figure out what this place is so let me explain... The Listing Loon is a bar and bottle shop. Think Dutch's but scaled way way down. They have a very unique collection of craft beer and wine. Shout out to the other reviewer, they do have their liquor license now and are currently serving beer and wine. What they serve however is a bit limited since it tends to be a very crafty selection. You can sit at the bar, or cozy up on one of the couches. The atmosphere also reminded me of Sitwell's. Just a no rush type of place where everyone is welcome. A huge plus for them - they are open until midnight most nights! That means that not only can you get a nice drink until then, but with not many other shops around you can stop and pick up a bottle. Just what the neighborhood needs. A cozy little place to have a nice brew, or glass of wine with a date, or your girlfriends this place is great. read more

Fantastic establishment, conscientious of every visitor that enters, wonderful owner and most of all the handmade cocktails. The way they make their drinks can't be beat. Enjoy fantastic drinks in a transcendental atmosphere. Much love to the listing loon staff. read more

Listing Loon is a lovely little bar on Hamilton Avenue in Northside. It has a few couches, a couple of tables, and several bar stools. "Chill" is a pretty accurate description of this place. Last time I was here, I was on the fence about a wine. The bartender gave me a nice sample pour, which was much appreciated. Another time I was here, I got (boozy) ginger beer for the first time, which was tasty. There are several bottles and 6-packs for sale as well. Plus, Listing Loon has one of my favorite bar features of all time -- Purse hooks! read more

Stopped by on a Thursday evening at about 10pm when every other bar in Northside was full of hipsters enjoying adult beverages. We actually thought that this place was closed when we went in because the bartender was sitting reading a book and there was no one else there for the entirety of our time there. I really hope their wine and beer sales are keeping them afloat, because the bar scene certainly is not! On the other hand.... this place has a really really cool vibe. It feels like your favorite college coffee house, no frills, full of comfy furniture and nick-knacks. Put a couple more people in here and maybe a acoustic guitar and the corner and this would be a great hangout. Each of the three people in the group had a different glass of wine. It was apparent that the woman working the bar was not particularly knowledgeable about wine. She allowed us to taste a sip of it before ordering the glass, which I really appreciated! Glass prices were reasonable- $7-9. Would definitely go back again if I was in the area... just hope it lasts that long! read more

They have four roses as their well bourbon. And they had nerdy boys making satisfying noise on synthesizers that tickled my balls.

Great location, great bar, fantastic entertainment and great owner! Melanie makes sure her guests have a good time.

I have only been here a couple of times. As it happens, the same bartender was working both times despite the radically different times of day I came in. Their beer and wine selection available for having a drink at LL is somewhat limited, but decent. While his knowledge was somewhat limited compared to what I am use to, he was always pleasant. Their beer selection is better than the wine selection in both variety and quality, though still semi-limited due to their small size, but I would take LL over many other bars in a heart beat. You will get a better beer here than most bars, especially in Northside. I'd rather get a decent but overall unimpressive glass of wine than a domestic brew any day. (I should add that I have worked in the food and drink industry for 15 years and at some very nice places where you might pay $15 for a glass of wine but it is AMAZING). Their happy hour isn't impressive and I would patronize nearly anywhere else in the city for happy hour. Their to go wine and beer for such a tiny place makes The Listening Loon really stand out. It is a small selection, but everything they have is good. I do wish they would get Vanguard and Wine Craft selections in, as they have some of the best wine available, but I know I can go into LL and buy a good bottle of wine at a decent price and be happy with it, and I can walk there to boot. They also have live music at times. I'm not sure how often, but I know that when I went in on a Friday night they had an acoustic guitar musician in. It has a homey atmosphere. read more

Wasn't planning on stopping here but we were sort of on an impromptu 'pub crawl.' and it just worked out that way. Neat place. Very different. Very nice variety of beer and wine. The atmosphere is nice; love the decor. You have to stop in to check out the feather chandelier! read more

One of my favorite Cincinnati bars--the space feels warm and quaint, the staff is friendly, and they have a fabulous selection of beers, wines and liquor. The live music scene is really great, too--they get a regular series of bands and performers to play the space. Great place to meet for drinks or a happy hour! read more

Great addition to downtown Northside! They have a large selection of craft brews (many I have not seen anywhere else) and give great recommendations if you are not sure what to try. I hope they continue to grow and expand. Love the unique space, too. read more

Nice atmosphere, not very many seats, and not a ton of beer options. What they have is good both in space and beers, but I wouldn't want to hang out here when it is crowded. read more

One of my favorite spots in Northside. I stop in regularly for great wine, music, and a bar where I can have a conversation. The Loon's atmosphere is the perfect intimate setting for stripped down music performances, poetry readings, and private parties. It's like the dream living room meets nice craft bar. read more

Ok, so I drive past the Listing Loon everyday on my way to and from work, and I have been dying to stop in since I'm a huge craft beer nerd. And before I begin my review I must state how highly I value good customer service. Ok, having said that, here we go. It was apparent from the time I walked in that something out of the ordinary realm of daily business was going on, there was a cake and some food trays set up and only a couple of patrons inside. I had a look around at the selection of carry out brews they had available, there were a few good selections. Then I went to the bar to get a draft, this is where everything went down hill for me. The man behind the bar was carrying on a personal conversation with the one other person sitting at the bar. He never looked at me once, I stood there for maybe 3 minutes without being acknowledged a single time. This is something I will not stand for. The least he could have down was let me know he would be with me in a minute or say hello or something. Instead he just continued on as if I wasn't even there. This is unacceptable to me, therefore next time I'll just hit Northside Tavern, or better yet The Comet. Like I stated earlier it was apparent they were preparing for some sort of party or something of the sort, so maybe that was the reason the service was so horrible. Thoroughly disappointed. read more

Ambiance. This place has it in spades. Due to the time of day, we were the only people here, but it didn't bother us in the slightest. They offered a nice array of craft beers, a select few wines and some hard liquor for mixed drinks. The bar tender was helpful in assisting my mom with her drink selection (she's not a beer drinker) while my best friend and I drooled over their bottle list. I settled on the a cranberry ale and we sat down in nice, comfy chairs. The music choice was more random than my iPod could ever be, but all songs were deemed "great drinking music" by my friend. We were all digging the North Side neighborhood in general, but this place definitely made it for us. I will be back. read more

I'm really happy they are here, but I really hope they do manage to get their wine license. There is actually a decent selection of craft beers at the Marathon and a few other places in Northside, but no place to get wine! I heard they are planning to expand into more of a bar-type thing, of which we have plenty. read more

I was so disappointed after reading all the good reviews. Ridiculously slow service at the bar when it wasn't that busy. Employees spend too much time talking to each other instead of waiting on customers. I met my Northside friends here who agreed service was bad and has gone downhill. read more

I've been to this establishment a couple of times before and the staff was kind and made great drinks and this is the reason I am giving it 4 stars. If tonight were my first night in however, I would give it negative 178 stars. My boyfriend and I stopped in because his brother generously bought him a $40 gift certificate for his birthday. The bartender (female with glasses) snaps at us multiple times in our first 20 minutes at the bar. We are both very kind professionals locals in our 30s not being rude or stirring trouble...and were very taken back by her attitude. Nevertheless, the atmosphere was cozy and the music was lovely (Daniel Wayne I believe was his name and he was great!). We finish up our bourbon and ginger ale drink and return to the bar for another. We wanted to stick to bourbon, but try something else to mix it up. My boyfriend ragain waits 5-10 minutes. Finally his turn he says "She wants something with.." But before he finishes is cut off by the bartender that angrily says "she can come back up when she knows what she wants!" And walks away. If you knew how much of a sweetheart my boyfriend was, you would have been angry too. My boyfriend walks away and I go up to the bar to close our tab as she is slamming things around repeating how much of a "&ucking asshole" he was. I was so shocked. What is she so mad about? That I came into a nice bar and wanted her up suggest a bourbon drink? She is a bartender, right? We decided to spend the rest of his gift certificate in to go beer so we wouldn't ever have to see her again. As we payed our tab I told her how incredibly disappointed we were and we just wanted to pay and leave. In fairness to her, she did apologize and say she didn't want her attitude to ruin that establishment for us. She kind of ruined our night to be honest. Needs to stop being so rude. Go to this bar. Drinks are good. Music is great. But if this lady is your bartender, spare yourself the frustration and leave. And yes, we still left a tip. read more

Listing Loon is amazing and a staple for northside locals. Would highly suggest it for grabbing a glass of wine and unwinding. Cannot believe that it has less than 5 stars, because this is my favorite place to go. read more

I love having a place in Northside to swing by and pick up a bottle (or two) of wine or beer - depending on my mood. The selection is always great, diverse, and changes. The only thing I would say is to keep some bottles of the retail white in the chiller for that last minute shopper who needs to grab a pre-chilled bottle. read more