Whether you’re looking for a music venue where you can see professional big-name artists, an upscale concert hall where you can enjoy a professional orchestra or choir, or a laid back bar where you can sip on a drink while listening to some local artists, Cincinnati has it all.
In this post, we share the 15 best places around the city where you can experience each of these types of live music.
Map of Places
The map below shows the locations of every place mentioned in this post:
Music Venues
Here are the best music venues in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Music Hall
If you’re looking to enjoy either orchestra music or a live opera, then there’s no better place to go than the Cincinnati Music Hall, a classical music performance hall located in Over-The-Rhine that has been around since 1878 and hosts a variety of public and private performances throughout the year. Check their website to see what performances they have coming up.
Location: 1241 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Cincinnati Music Hall
Riverbend Music Center
If you’re interested in catching a concert by a big-name artist or nationally-known band, then Riverbend Music Center is the place to go. Located on the east side of the city along the Ohio River, Riverbend hosts a wide variety of artists year-round and has a capacity of around 20,000.
Location: 6295 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230
Website: Riverbend Music Center
Bogart’s
Another smaller venue to catch a live concert by some big-name artists is Bogart’s, a venue located near the UC campus where a variety of different bands and artists perform throughout the year. The capacity at this venue is about 1,500.
Location: 2621 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Website: Bogart’s
Schwartz’s Point
If you’re looking for a place to enjoy some live jazz, there’s perhaps no better place in the city to do so than Schwartz’s Point in Over-The-Rhine. This quaint little venue is known for attracting the best jazz talent both around Cincinnati as well as outside of the city. Be sure to check out their site to see which artists and bands are performing in the near future.
Location: 1901 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Schwart’z Point
The Greenwich
Another popular place to enjoy some live jazz music is The Greenwich, a venue located in the heart of Walnut Hills. This is a particularly hot spot to enjoy music on the weekends and the venue is known for attracting incredible talent from around the area.
Location: 2442 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Website: The Greenwich
The Southgate House Revival
Located across the Ohio River in Newport, The Southgate House Revival is an excellent music venue that features both international and regional artists year-round in a lively, vibrant setting. With a full service bar and plenty of seating, this is a spot where you can spend an entire night enjoying live music.
Location: 111 E 6th St, Newport, KY 41071
Website: The Southgate House Revival
The Redmoor
Located in the heart of Mt. Lookout, The Redmoor is another small venue known for hosting both public and private live music events. Be sure to check out their site to see what artists and bands they’re featuring in the future.
Location: 3187 Linwood Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208
Website: The Redmoor
Restaurants & Bars with Live Music
Here are the best restaurants and bars around Cincinnati that frequently have live music.
MOTR Pub
One of the best bars where you can enjoy live music on a regular basis is MOTR. Located in the heart of Over-The-Rhine, MOTR is known for hosting live bands and artists on most nights of the week. During weekends, this is one of the most popular spots in the whole city for enjoying some live music. With plenty of seating, a full-service bar, and a decent-size dance floor, this is a must-visit spot for live music.
Location: 1345 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: MOTR Pub
The Blind Lemon
One of the music unique spots to enjoy live music at in the Queen City is The Blind Lemon, a bar located in Mt. Adams that has been around since 1963 and gives off the vibe of an old English pub. Known for their live music, excellent selection of cocktails, outdoor patio, and inviting atmosphere, this is one of the most enjoyable places to enjoy some music by local artists.
Location: 936 Hatch St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: The Blind Lemon
Tin Roof
The most popular spot to enjoy some music at The Banks is Tin Roof, a spacious bar that hosts live bands and artists during most weeknights and always on the weekends. With a lively atmosphere and plenty of seating, this is the perfect spot to hang out at after a Bengals, Reds, or Cyclones game or on any odd weekend.
Location: 160 E Freedom Way #150, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Tin Roof
Arnold’s Bar & Grill
Located Downtown, Arnold’s Bar & Grill is a great place to check out if you’re looking to enjoy some live music in a laid back atmosphere while enjoying some beers and traditional bar food. With an art-filled interior and a classic bar vibe, this is a spot that’s easy to feel at home in and it’s not hard to see why it’s particularly popular among locals.
Location: 210 E 8th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: Arnold’s
Ludlow Garage
Located in the heart of the Clifton Gaslight District, Ludlow Garage is a unique music venue that offers casual dining upstairs and a space for live concerts downstairs. Be sure to check out their calendar online to see which bands and artists they’ll be featuring in the near future.
Location: 342 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Website: Ludlow Garage
Northside Tavern
As the name implies, Northside Tavern is a bar located in Northside that offers live music by local artists on most nights, which can be enjoyed with a variety local craft beers on tap. This spot also has an outdoor patio, which makes it a particularly popular spot to check out on weekends during the warmer seasons.
Location: 4163 Hamilton Ave A, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Website: Northside Tavern
The Comet
Another bar in Northside that offers live music during most nights of the week is The Comet. With both indoor and outdoor seating, an excellent menu filled with traditional bar food, and a variety of local beers on tap, this is a perfect spot where you can enjoy some live music in a laid back atmosphere.
Location: 4579 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Website: The Comet
The Mad Frog
Located just off the University of Cincinnati campus, The Mad Frog is a music venue known for hosting a wide variety of local artists and bands year-round. Because of its proximity to the college campus, it’s particularly popular among young people and most shows tend to be high-energy and lively.
Location: 1 E McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Website: The Mad Frog
