The Lounge at Liberty Exhibition Hall

The Lounge sits on the first floor of Liberty Exhibition Hall, a Northside arts space at 3938 Spring Grove Ave that also connects to the Clifton Performance Theatre organization. Conceived as a 1970s-styled cocktail lounge and music venue, it soft-opened in December 2021 and quickly built a reputation as a throwback hangout — the venue's own site notes it was voted Best Throwback Bar by CityBeat. As CityBeat music writer Anne Arenstein described it, "The Lounge crew created comfortable vignettes with varied seating options, tables and subdued lighting that evokes a past era of basement venues," and house-band member Josh Strange put it more plainly: "It feels like you're in someone's living room."

The bar pours a full slate of cocktails, wine and beer, but it also carries a genuine dedicated zero-proof section. CityBeat's January 2022 roundup of Greater Cincinnati mocktails singled out The Lounge for its house-made "teatails": one built on pu'erh tea with cherry bark, honey and citric acid, and a second layering lemongrass-and-chamomile tea with lavender syrup, lemon oleo and soda. Because these are steeped and built in-house rather than poured from canned NA brands, the buzz-free options read as deliberate craft drinks rather than an afterthought — a good fit for a designated driver or anyone spending a long night listening to music without alcohol.

The Lounge is first and foremost a live-music room, and its signature draw is the Monday-night jazz jam: the house band plus an open session that pulls in many of the area's top players and rising young talent, running roughly 8–11 p.m. with no cover charge or drink minimum. "We have a great wine and cocktail menu," bar manager Emma Roberts told CityBeat, noting patrons settle in with drinks once the session starts. Hours outside of Monday nights vary by ticketed show, so it is worth checking their Instagram (@thelounge_northside) or Facebook before heading over. Reach the venue at (513) 813-7469.