Let me preface I am not a huge fan of Mt. Adams, i fact I usually try to avoid it until I found out about this place.
Like the others are saying this is probably the least pretentious bar in Mt. Adams. I have to hand it to the staff on this one. Although it might feel like the others, the service is well above.
Every time I have been here no matter what day or time it has been the same two guys behind the bar. One night when it was slow my friends and I asked a little about the history of this place and he gladly filled us in on this great little establishment. They were both young souls. They were cracking us up because they said "even though we are old we can still rap every word of this snoop dogg song!"
Leading into my next point, they have a GREAT jukebox with just about everything you could ever want to hear. I didn't have any cash and he opened up his drawer and gave me 5 bucks and said, "Go Wild." My friends and I played the craziest off the beaten path songs we could find and sure enough they knew every word!
How funny! I have a lot of great memories from this place and I hope it's around for a long long time.
My brother was in town and we had some time to kill one afternoon in Mt Adams. Â No lie...a church lady pointed us to Crowley's. Â She told me that Catholics know how to drink and that after Holy week services people will head to Crowley's. Â They had a good selection of Irish beers (including Guiness, Harp and even Smithwicks). Â The drinks were reasonably priced, for Mt Adams anyway. Â Upon first walking in, I had the sensation that this actually was an Irish pub. Â Was it the green walls, the beer, or the music? Â It was the vibe. Â People were friendly and relaxed. Â People said hello as I walked in. Â Even the bartender seemed especially attentive. Â I went to Ireland about 8 years ago, and what I remember the most was how friendly people were. Â Pubs are a meeting place and a hub, not just a place to get sloppy (like so many bars in Mt Adams are). Â Other Irish pubs in Cincinnati just seem like regular bars to me. Â That isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't have the charm and nostalgia of Crowley's.
Review Source:Least pretentious bar in Mt. Adams?
I was delighted to find this Irish pub hanging out in the far corner of Mt. Adams. Â This is my kind of place, and I learned that this is the oldest continuously owned Irish bar in the city!
Smithwick's, Guinness, and Killian's on tap, exactly as you'd expect. Â This place was sleepy on a Tuesday night.
Prices were Mt. Adams typical ($4.50 for a brewski) and as always parking is an issue, which is a big part of the reason why I'm only up this way once in a leap year.
However, if I'm back in Mt. Adams soon, Crowley's is definitely on the list.
A great chill bar. Â Definitely a place I would go with a group of friends for good conversation and a couple of drinks.
We came to the bar at about 7pm on a Friday night. Â Most patrons were middle aged or older along with both bartenders. Â TVs were tuned to a UC football game, which most people were watching. Â This is a bar where you can cheer to a game, but still hear yourself think.
This is not a bar where you would go to order a fancy drink- it a beer and rum and coke kind of place. Â Drink prices are on the low end for Mt. Adams. Â There is no menu, but there is a display of chips you can buy if you have the munchies. Â Bartenders were very nice and reminded me of my grandpa- loveable, gruff teddy bears.
The bar definitely has an antique feel about it. Â Comfy- like your grandpa's house. Â They even allowed a group of UC fans to take over a coupe tables for beer pong. Â
Parking is definitely an issue- as it is with all Mt. Adams bars. Â Get up the hill early and walk a couple blocks to get there.
Probably wouldn't get here past 11pm, when all the hip 20-somethings decide they want to slum it before heading over to the Pavilion, but definitely would stop in for a drink or two if I was in the area.
A dive bar in Mt Adams!??? Yes... This great place serves up some great drinks and snacks (didn't see the jambalaya, but it was getting towards the end of Tom's shift).
It was my first time inside and within a few minutes, I felt like a regular. The people there were chill, talkative, and full of joking banter that makes this a bar on my short list next time I am in the area. There was only a handful of people inside, but Tom was quick to point out that in a few hours, it would be full.
The only knock I have is that the bathroom is a little scary. Not scary in a cleanliness way, just kinda old school "Man's bathroom" way. Know what I mean? There was soap and stuff, so it's all good.
If I'm in the neighborhood, I'll have to squeeze in during St. Patrick's Day, ha ha. I am sure this place gets packed.
WARNING!!!!!
Stepping into this establishment will be so enjoyable that you will lose track of all time.  Despite the numerous TVs and  an accurate clock, you could easily spend several hours, possibly days, inside without even batting an eye.
A buddy and I stopped in for the daily happy hour (12-7) and enjoyed some pitchers of Crowley's Ale, the house ale which is a quality Irish Red. Â According to Karina's review the prices haven't changed since 2008, heck who knows when the last time they were changed! Â Just another reason that you could pull a Rip Van Winkle in this place.
But aside from the delicious home brew and cheap prices, the best part of Crowley's is the welcoming environment and the friendly patrons who frequent it. Â Tom is the main bartender, he usually wears the rainbow suspenders, and he will take care of you as if you had been coming in for 20 years. Â Every Saturday he makes a pot of jambalaya, not because he has to, but because its cold outside and he thinks its a cool thing to do. Â The price? Â Absolutely free! Â Heck there is even some bread and hot sauce to boot.
There is one fail safe to the Crowley's Rip Van Winkle syndrome, they don't serve food, however, there are all the saltiest pretzels that your stomach and heart can handle. Â Throughout the day many people will come in hoping that they do serve food, but Tom will gladly direct them to somewhere else on the hill that does, and even invites you back to have a drink.
The place does get kind of wild at night, like most of Mt Adams, but the times I have been there in the evening it was fairly tame. Â This by far is the best, true local pub in the city. Â Stop by before 7pm any day of the week, pull up a chair, and say hi to Tom, just make sure you have an exit strategy. Â Trust me, you won't regret it.
Crowley's is a local dive (if such places exist in Mt. Adams) that is (fortunately) devoid of the pretense exalted by most of its neighbors. With decent Happy Hour prices and a comfortable atmosphere, this place welcomes its regulars like family. And even if you're a newbie, there's still a place for you at the bar.
If you're a fan of Budweiser beers, Crowley's runs a Happy Hour special until 7 pm on Bud and Bud Light. Sixteen ounce beers are just $2, pitchers are $6, and bottles are $1.50. Well drinks are only $2.50, which sounds tempting, but the well options are pretty bottom of the barrel.
Crowley's calls itself a caf, is seen as a bar, but really is an establishment. Â It's one of the few Irish bars that aren't just decor and appearance - it really is a local pub. Â The vice mayor hangs out here and during the week it's dominated by Mt Adamsians who enjoy the Cincinnati memorabilia along the walls and local beers (Moerlein, Barrelhouse, Great Lakes Brewing - most notably the Christmas Ale during winter) on tap. Â One of the few bars in Mt Adams that doesn't try to staff with sultry bartenders, Crowley's is just your neighborhood bar and grill.
Perhaps that's why it appeals to a large swath of people; it gets very crowded on weekends. Â Despite its cramped quarters, it's not actually too loud for conversation, though you will have to work at it. Â Also, make sure you're standing next to someone pretty or funny, because you probably won't be able to move away from them for awhile. Â If you can arrange yourself well, you'll be in position for a fun night.