05/21/2026
We were paraphrasing the incredible David Wondrich aka here but we agree... Thank God Arnold's is in Cincinnati!
“If Arnold’s were in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, or Boston — somewhere, in short, that people actually visit — it would be world famous. It’s one of the flat-out oldest bars in America, dating back to 1861, and it’s beautiful, with unique woodwork and lots of historical stuff on the walls. But it’s in Cincinnati, which means that despite its history and tradition of intelligent, respectful ownership, Arnold’s is still primarily a no-bullsh*t local bar. It’s got regulars, traditions, and customs, but at the same time the bartenders are friendly and the regulars are — well, they’re not hostile. In other words, thank God it’s in Cincinnati.”
Source: David Wondrich, Esquire, Best Bars in America of 2013.