Came to Mainstay on a Friday to check out my friend's band play along with a couple others. I had heard a lot of good things about the place, but this was my first visit. It's in a very good spot if you ask me; downtown yet not in the heart of madness where a parking spot is IMPOSSIBLE. You'll just have to do some looking around (I'm somehow usually in good favor with the parking gods).
Inside is fairly open and spacious, with an upstairs and downstairs, but we stayed downstairs. I'm pretty sure upstairs is a bit more of a lounge. The stage is elevated and the sound is pretty decent. The bar has a nice selection and the staff is nice. I met a few cool people there and had a good old time watching my friends on stage while having a few drinks.
All around a cool layout in a good location, I'll be back to see some more music soon!
Great menu with huge portions (well above par for beer food). Â Awesome spot to watch Bengals games. Â Always drink or cheap shot specials. Â Great spot for local and traveling bands. Â There's usually something going on every night and a great group of friendly people working the bar.
Review Source:Mainstay is where you go for Bengals games.
I've been here on a few occasions outside of games, but just for drinks upstairs in the loungey Betty bar, or when its crazy packed after a convention center shindig. But game times is the best.
On away games, you'll always find the game on here. They have fre wings, yes you heard me, FREE WINGS. There's also a Bloody Mary bar if thats your thing. But the best of all? The Mug Club. $5 gets you a 24 oz mug filled with either Miller Lite or Yuengling. Refills after that are only $2. Or if you come back for another game, and bring your mug back with you (yes you get to keep the mug!) then you start right off with $2 beers!
Want a place to watch the Home games as well? Mug club has $3 refills. Where else can you get basically a $1.50 non Nati Light-esque beer? Theres also a DJ that will play over the commercials, and throws in a few surprises much to the bartenders chagrin.
The food here isn't too bad either. I hear they have the spicest wings in town. No ones been able to beat their challenge yet. Seriously, check it out.
This is the place to watch away Bengals games. Â I have been here to drink and eat and the food is good and its not a bad bar but for Away games it can't be beat. Â Free wings and beer mug club. Â 24 oz beers for $2 bucks. Â The first one is $5 with the mug you get to keep and then refills are just $2. Â The best part is you just bring the mug back next time. Â The bar tenders are great and are there just having a great time. Â This is were you will find me on game days.
Review Source:Cheap beer, considering. Â Perhaps I'm jaded by Los Angeles prices and thought this was a tremendous deal, getting a Newcastle for $4 or a big-ass bottle of Coors light for $6. Â The bartender turned on the US-Canada soccer match for us (which, in hindsight, was a pretty shitty match) and even turned off the music so we could hear the commentary. Â We appreciated that.
Prices for food look dirt-cheap. Â I had already eaten, but based on cheap beer, cheap food (that sounded pretty tasty, especially the spicy mac n' cheese), and a cool staff says this place is all right.
Mainstay Rock Bar, wasn't too rockin' on Wednesday night.
The place was just a bit quiet. Â I was there for a couple hours before they really cranked the music. Â The bartenders seemed to be very nice and I was able to have an extended conversation with them as I was here solo to watch some baseball.
I can't say much about the drinks since I wasn't drinking that night, but they did have tall PBR cans and Guinness on draft. Â I saw a man suck down a Guinness in a blink of an eye, literally. Â This was like a parlor trick. Â I looked at him, he tipped up his glass, I took a sneak peak at the draft selection, and when I looked back he was setting the glass down, empty but for the suds.
I did consume a panini during my visit, the John Lennon. Â It left a little to be desired. Â It was just barely grilled and the pesto had seeped through the bread, so it was pretty soggy. Â Side of kettle chips was pretty solid, though they did come in a bag. Â Of note, Paul McCartney and Ringo Star were also panini options, but George Harrison was unavailable as he was traversing another plane of existence with the Maharishi Yogi.
I was informed that it was open mic night on Wednesday, but apparently that didn't start until pretty late. Â There is a large stage for bands that hides behind some heavy red curtains when being unused.
I thought the bar, which was mostly empty, was a little uncomfortable due to the shape. Â I had a seat on the bumped out portion and kind of felt like I was on display for all the world to see, which is not what you want when you are solo at a bar.
There was a fun party upstairs that I crashed around nine or ten. Â Apparently this is a space you can rent out and have catered parties with a cash bar and some kegs.
I see myself returning to this bar soon, as I had an enjoyable experience and am no longer confusing it with a seedier and clubbier place in the northeast corner of downtown.
Ah, Mainstay. Through the years this location has been everything from an swanky dance club (anyone remember Spy Club?) to its current iteration of a cool bar that hosts everything from a fashion show to a crazy loud Rock n Roll show. I clearly recall seeing some crazy white and green Little Kings in a can here and knew I was in the right place. The bartenders are nice and I really like the ability to go upstairs and lounge on a couch if I want. Parking is usually available on side streets. This place is a also good afterparty spot for post convention center partying. Sometimes there is a cover so plan ahead if you are a "I-live-in-Cincinnati-and-I-don't-pay-covers" kinda person. (which, admittedly I am sometimes. It's ok.)
Review Source:I like Mainstay!
Okay, I guess I can put a little more thought into it. First, I'll admit that I have never been to a show here - but as far as being a great bar, I can vouch for that. I may be a little biased since it is so close to my place, but whenever I walk my dog past I have to resist the urge to take her home and run back over for a beer. Â
Overall the food is pretty good, but when it comes to Mainstay - I'm a sucker for the  pretzels. Looking at them they don't seem all that special, but I am addicted. Happy hour deals are decent and run until 9 every day, which is always nice. Happy Hour consists of half-price appetizers and some decent drink specials.
The beer list is plentiful and always has something that I am in the mood for or haven't tried yet.
My one complaint about Mainstay would be the DJ they have during Bengals games. It gets a little too loud and obnoxious. I get playing something during breaks or a particularly exciting play - but towards the end of the season, it was pretty much some random loud noise flying out between every play. If they restrain that a bit, I would definitely not complain.
Another Mainstay bonus is that you fit in some interesting people watching depending on the event going on across the street at the convention center.
Now I just need to check out the upstairs Betty's Bar sometime.
We went to the Betty Bar upstairs for an event. Â As I walked in I just loved all the large windows. Â Outside you see the tall Cincy buildings and lights. B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l! Â It was a little rainy and lightly foggy which gives a movie scene kind of feel or a New York party experience. Â The murals on the walls were awesome. Â The lights that hung down over the tables set the cozy mood of the room. Â The room was very spacious and had great furniture. Â
This place is perfect for photographers. Â You can rent the room by the hour. Â I can visualize future Christmas cards and engagement portraits already. Â
Whoever designed this bar did an excellent job! Â And again, talking with friends in the room with that view behind them, looking out of the windows, Wow!
I hadn't been in Mainstay since it was the Poison Room, and I enjoy the changes. I haven't eaten there yet (unless you count the popcorn from the popcorn machine), but there are plenty of comfortable places (couches and couches and couches) to sit and hang out. I love the Rock & Roll decor, and really enjoyed the pin-up girl theme on the second floor. My only wish was that it wasn't so loud when the live music is playing: I do like to be able to have a conversation without yelling. Otherwise, I like it so far, yes, I do.
Review Source:Great place to come on Sundays for Bengals games!
I went here on Sunday and I've been here at night a few other times but I was surprised that when I came here for the game how many people were here!
They had all their T.V.s on with the game playing and during the commercials they had a DJ playing music until the game came back on...brilliant idea! On Sunday they also had a few good drink specials going on.
Mainstay is designed perfectly for crowds. They have nice comfortable seating areas, a dance floor, bar seating and they have an amazing upstairs to the place as well. The upstairs is huge and has a nice big bar to go with it. Great for going out with a lot of people.
This bar has a lot going for it!
The Stairway to Heaven
Alright, so maybe that's taking it a bit far (and my apologies to the last Zepplin diehards out there for the sacrilege). Â But the upstairs area of Mainstay is a fantastic place for meetings and Happy Hours.
I've been to several events there and the service (bartenders) have been fabulous every time. Â There is plenty of space to host most any sized event (note: I said "most" any sized event; you want to throw a 3k person wedding, this is not the place for you--I'd suggest a fine outdoor venue, like a concert space, for that kind of crowd).
There selection of beer/drinks there is quite nice, especially for this craft beer aficionado. Â I have yet to try the Happy Hour specials, but I hear it's fantastic. Â And the vibe there is always relaxed and friendly. Â Did I mention that the service is great? Â Well, it's worth mentioning twice...it's that nice!
As noted in several other reviews, it's only a couple of blocks from Paul Brown Stadium. Â So if you don't want to tailgate with the crazies, Mainstay is a great option to get your drink on before and/or after the game in a far less hectic environment.
Finally, as with any great bar in the 'Nati, there is live music on a consistent basis downstairs.
The two downsides you need to be prepared for though: Â 1. Though this bar is downtown, the views are, well....non-existent; unless you think the facade of Duke Energy Center is the most beautiful thing in the world (and if you do, you haven't had enough to drink yet!); and 2) It is located downtown, so parking is difficult.
This is a pretty damn cool bar. I would come here more often if it was ... you know ... not so far away.
Granted, it's downtown and near the stadium, so it's really not that far away. I'm just lazy. I live on 8th and it's a walk and there are just closer bars. That being said, it's semi-tucked-awayness keeps it full of really cool interesting people.
I've been to Mainstay twice now and neither times have I heard music there nor have I gotten food, so I can't talk about either of those things. What I can say is this is a rock bar through and through.
The atmosphere is awesome - paintings on the wall, leather seats tucked into the corner, comfortable tables with lots of chairs for big groups, mood-lit but not to the point of being annoying. This, my friends, is a cool bar.
And it's true, you don't get a bad crowd here. The last time I went, I was there for a birthday party on a Friday night during happy hour and it was awesome. Our friends filled up most of the place but the other people who were there were very friendly - everyone's just hanging out to drink and have a good time. Love it.
There is a great beer selection, although it's kind of hard to figure out what they hell they have. Mainstay has it's bottles up on a wall with price points next to each one (so there's a row of $3, of $4, up to $7.) But I couldn't get close enough to see the bottles I didn't know (and I didn't want to be that jerk who was like, "Hey, while you've got other people to serve, can you tell me every drink you have? K, thanks!") Still, I snagged a drink I already knew I liked and that was fine with me. Â
I've had a little trouble getting a drink sometimes. The bar staff like chatting with the patrons, which is nice, but only when they're not busy. And I've sat there waiting for them to finish a conversation so I can get a drink. That's not cool.
Still, a minor inconvenience. Someday I would like to come back for food and music ... you know, if I could just stop being so damn lazy.
Check this place out for happy hour! The staff is helpful and fun. The crowd is relaxed and quiet. The food is tasty. The drinks are cold, large, and cheap! What more could you want?
However, any time I visit after 10pm I'm not a fan of this place. So come early!
*Ladies - This bar tends to have a higher men to women ratio than normal. Hint hint!
this is my favorite bar in cincinnati, without a doubt. it is definitely a rock bar and needs to be described as such. it can get rowdy (in a good way) downstairs dependent upon the band. bartenders are always friendly, the crowd is decent, they have a great beer selection at very reasonable prices and there's always some sort of live music that easily justifies the cover charge.
i haven't had the food yet but people seem to enjoy it and i've overheard veggie options and accommodating bartenders taking orders.
i also haven't made it upstairs yet but i'm going to try and do that soon.
Mainstay is one of my favorite bars downtown. You don't usually find the hoity-toity crowd or the club scene here; rather, a nice mix of 20-somethings just out having a great time. Mainstay often has live music, so it tends to get loud sometimes, but the large cans of beer at extremely reasonable prices make it so worth it.
The upstairs, however, isn't quite as cool.
Mainstay has opened the upstairs, complete with pin-up themed decor and drinks - dubbed "Betty Bar." It feels like a whole other bar, offering a great alternative to the mayhem that can be the downstairs on a weekend.
Walk up the stairs in back you are greeted by a friendly, knowledgeable bartender to step you through their signature cocktails. Try one or seven. (Had I written this sooner and/or not sampled so many I could have listed some for you.) Having decided on a favorite (or seven) retire to one of the booths with windows facing 5th/Plum and enjoy.
Rock lounge? Mayday meets Mixx? Explore this unique gem and decide for yourself. I think the best way to sum it up is as Mainstay's classier, sexier, dangerous-er big sister. She's way hotter, and she can still kick your ass.
Mainstay. I had never been before but our friend's band was playing there last weekend. Kind of a weird location, I wish it were closer to the actual "downtown" bars... but if it was, it probably wouldn't be a "cool". I liked the atmosphere and the prices. I REALLY liked that I ordered a Miller Lite and got a Tall Boy. Nice! Granted, you have to really like headbanging music to stay there for more than a few hours.
The bathrooms were pretty nice, which says a lot about a bar. Most bathrooms downtown are comparable to a truck stop on the side of the highway that hasn't been cleaned in 4 years. But this one wasn't too horrid.
I liked the couches and other random places to sit, and I also enjoyed that there wasn't a cover.
You can park on the street OR there's a $5 lot across the street which is really nice if you don't feel like walking 4 blocks in heels. (which I never do)
All in all, I'd go back again if another friend's band was playing!
I've only been to Mainstay a couple times, and they were for private parties. The upstairs is pretty cool. Huge windows, open floor plan. The staff is a little less than friendly. Honestly, they seemed very snobby and it made the experience less than stellar. I hear they have good live music downstairs and I wouldn't be opposed to giving the place one more try. I'm not really in a hurry to go back, though.
Review Source:Oh Mainstay, you're so delightfully trashy and fun.
This place has so much going for it; I wish it was closer to the other Central Business District bars or the Main Street district.
The beer selection and prices are great. The bartenders are a lot of fun, and the music acts are usually hilarious.
Mainstay's is the home of the big beer, and they rock those 40 ouncers like none other.
It's also great for groups whether you're in full-on party mode or if you just want to hang out.
Honestly, I have no complaints.
Size matters. Well, at least the size of the oversized beers matters. Looking for a place for a beer I discovered their oversized bottles. It worked. I thought I was in for "just one" and by having the bigger bottle I stayed a bit longer, found myself enjoying the atmosphere and the people, and that lead to more of the beers.
The stage had the curtain drawn - and that will cause me to go back and see the live shows. Bring it on!
This is definitely one of my favorite bars downtown by a longshot. Â They put on all kinds of cool events whether it's a rocking concert or something to benefit a charity. Â I have to admit I haven't yet been back since they started serving food but I have heard great reviews of it and will have to get down there soon so I can update my post after trying some grub. Â As with all my reviews, the beer list is a big issue for me. Â Mainstay does a good job bringing in awesome craft beer in bottles and also rotates some of their draft lines through with the good stuff as well. Â Worth checking out, especially if you are looking for someplace that isn't the usual club-like atmosphere.
Review Source:I really like Mainstay for the live music and their oversized drinks! They have 24oz beers for four dollars HELLO!! This venue is one of the best inc Cinci for live music productions. Great light show, sound system, and acoustics. If a band your interested in is in town, and playing here, YOU HAVE TO COME SEE THEM. They sometimes have a cover to support the band playing, but if you become a regular, they usually look the other way at the door if you know what I mean. The crowd isn't stuffy. I really encourage you to check out the venue if you haven't yet. Its a super fun time guaranteed.
Review Source:As much as I like the finer things in life, I pretty much eschew pretension and conspicuous consumption.
What I DO love is a genuine, inclusive crowd, spectacular cocktails and some live music.
Mainstay hits the target in all three categories.
These people don't put on airs. Instead, they are very much come-as-you-are - whether that is hipster, hot or humble. The bar only serves massives beers and tremendous cocktails - especially when Molly Wellmann is behind the bar.
The music is loud and the band is usually always entertaining. If you'd prefer taking a seat over the headbanging in the crowd, there are several comfy outposts lined with couches and such.
Where do I even begin? Everyone has that one bar in particular that they just love. A place that, whenever anyone asks where they should go to have a good time, is always at the top of the list. For me, that bar is Mainstay. Every person that has come to visit me from out of town has been dragged to this place by me. And every single one of them has had a great time.
First let's start with the atmosphere. The place is adorned with leather couches and chairs in the corners, perfect for kickin' back and gettin' your drank on; plenty of tables for sitting down and enjoying a little bit of late night drunk food; and tons of cool little pictures of rock stars both great ('sup Johnny Cash's middle finger?) and not-so-great (get out of the boy's bathroom Puddle of Mudd picture!).
Adding to the atmosphere is the staff, which is top notch all around. Every person I've met that's worked behind the bar has been someone that I could see myself sitting around and sharing a beer with. And almost every one of them is fairly generous when pouring a glass of your favorite whiskey or bourbon.
Which leads me to my next point: alcohol! I'm a big fan of whiskey and bourbon, and they got me covered like no other on that front. They almost always have Woodford Reserve, Booker's, and Bulleit bourbon behind the bar. Monday nights, at least as of right now, feature $1 shots of Jameson (yes, you heard that right). And, best of all, they have Kentucky Bourbon Ale on tap. Many a night has been made memorable (meaning I don't remember a thing) by that most delicious of brews. And I haven't even gotten into the various craft brews that they have, ranging from the more common (Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA) to the more obscure (Merry Monks Weyerbacher).
And what sort of rock bar would this be if live music wasn't always in abundance? Wednesday nights feature a nice, relaxing open mic night. Just about every Friday and Saturday is capped off with live music from local rock artists. And on Sunday nights... karaoke!
Basically what I'm saying is go to this bar. And say hi to me while you're there. Â I'll be the guy sitting at the end of the bar.
Always a fun place to go and let loose here in Cincinnati. Atmosphere is awesome, music is kick ass, people are amazing, and dancing is allowed! haha
This place can seriously rock it out with the awesome live bands showcased here and the kick ass DJ on other nights. Cheapest drinks in Cincinnati for being Downtown.
Great place to hang out! Love it!!
On a recent visit to the Nasty Nati, a group of old friends decided to venture out into the big scary world that is downtown. I agreed to the bar choice expecting Monday night to turn up a cast of wrinkled suits who couldn't stand to be far from the office. Boy was I ever wrong!
Mainstay would be right at home in Chicago or New York, yet it's tucked away in southern Ohio. The location is very spacious yet intimate. Big comfy couches line the room, funky art & music framings deck the walls, and a stage with a formidable red curtain gave promise of live music. While there weren't any performances happening that night, the all-rock playlist kept my head bobbing and everyone in the bar was having a great time.
The biggest surprise about Mainstay was the beer selection -- holy wow! All the classics are on tap in ginormous mugs for $3-5. Yep, you heard me. Better yet? More craft beers than I've seen at an Ohio bar in a loooong time. God bless you Delirium Tremens, La Chouffe, and well, bless you Rick (our awesome bartender) for making it such a great night. I am definitely going to be asking to come back here on my next trip to the 513.
Absolutely!
Partied here last night and we were all blown away!
First the Live music was awesome! Â great stage, great musicians, great covers hitting the 90s hard and the classics that came before very hard and doing it well!
Second the crowd, was young and hot no matter what your into mainly 20's into 30s and really having fun!
Third the Venue is well done just classy, simple and awesome! Â They even have a couple flat screens with sports distractions if you must take your attention away from the band or the people...
Fourth and most importantly the Drinks -HELLO!- 25 0z draughts of Guinness for $5 and premium shots at around the same price or less... Â I was not buying any of the other beer but I can imagine much of it was even cheaper... Â Looked to have maybe 6 or more Beers on tap (my friends were drinking blue moon) Â I think my buddy mention the bud lights were under 3 bucks... Â I saw what looked like 22oz and maybe even 40s walking around in hands all the drinks were big! Â A couple of my girl-friends got sloppy many a camera was unleashed-Im not kidding... Â A couple of the crazy ladies I was traveling with decided to put on a strip bar worthy duo; all I will say when it was finally all said and done one of them said she felt like Rodney King (I think from her head getting thrusted into the floor from my other girl-friends pelvis). Â All in all it was a good time and I kinda wish this place was back in the Chicago because Cincy is just a bit far for me on any typical Saturday night...
Thats what I'm talking about!
Happiness is Mainstay Rock Bar!
I'm giving 3 stars right now because my review is incomplete. Mainstay is the renovated ex Poison Room on the corner of 5th and Plum, so it has some history as a rock and roll place, although this time it's much more polished. Gone are the dingy dark walls and beat up bar and furniture, in their place is a shiny new bar, dj booth, stage, new windows and plush furniture and golden tee arcade game. really edgy.
The place suffers a bit from an identity crisis, with a mix of raw stone (rock bar, get it?), fancy wood and leather, flat screen tvs and then a graffitti'd up DJ booth and framed screenprinted concert posters. everything is upscale. i guess thats what you can expect from the dudes who run BANG nightclub.
I've heard reports of weekend nights here being a bit...chatchy, but I guess that's to be expected.
The good about Mainstay is that when i was there the bartenders were absolutely nothing short of awesome. super friendly and relaxed. the beer isnt too bad either. 20oz stellas for $5 and 22 oz bottles of various beers for less than that.
They're supposed to be booking live bands, and hopefully it lasts. Whoever does the booking better reach out beyond their circle of friends' radio-rock/cover bands. There's only so many times a person can stand to see "Langus", otherwise it'll be DJ night faster than you can say "Nickelback".
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