CINCINNATI – Now that the holidays are over, it's time to find something to get us through the cold days of winter.
Luckily, there are plenty of new bars and breweries in the works to keep everyone entertained until warmer weather arrives. Here are a few places opening soon that we're looking forward to, followed by a peek at what's coming later in the year.
Tokyo Kitty
Jacob Trevino and his creative staff at Gorilla Cinema generated a lot of buzz when they announced plans to open Tokyo Kitty, a Japanese-style karaoke bar, inside Downtown's 84.51 Building.
Trevino opened "The Shining"-themed Overlook Lodge in Pleasant Ridge in 2015, followed by the Quentin Tarantino-inspired Video Archive in Walnut Hills in 2016.
Tokyo Kitty will include private karaoke rooms for rent and a 100-person-capacity dance floor with a DJ who will curate group singalongs. The bar also will use a robotic drink delivery system to bring cocktails to customers.
Trevino said Tokyo Kitty should open in late January or early February.
Tokyo Kitty, 575 Race St., Downtown. gorillacinemapresents.com
Rosedale OTR
Yes, this Over-the-Rhine bar technically had its grand opening Dec. 23. Regular bar hours did not begin until Jan. 2, though. And we're still looking forward to those warmer months ahead when we'll be able to sit and sip on Rosedale's outdoor patio after work.
Owner Four Entertainment Group, also known as 4EG, spent months renovating the space formerly occupied by the Famous Neon's Unplugged, which closed in December 2016. 4EG also opened Hightail in Mount Adams and the Roosevelt Room last year, both of which made our list of places we fell in lovewith in2017.
Rosedale, 208 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine. rosedaleotr.com
The Brass Tap
Northern Kentucky craft beer lovers, rejoice. Craft beer bar franchise the Brass Tap will open a new location in Florence on Jan. 8. The bar will have 60 beers on draft and stock about 150 others in cans and bottles from around the world. The Brass Tap also will regularly have live music and special events. And there will be plenty of televisions to watch sporting events, too.
The Brass Tap, 8720 Bankers St., Florence. www.brasstapbeerbar.com
Swine City Brewing
Pigs really do fly. Well, the one on the logo for Swine City Brewing Co. does, at least. Though owner Daniel Ebben has not announced a grand opening date yet, it should be coming soon. Once open, this Fairfield brewery will showcase a large indoor tasting room and a 2,600-square-foot outdoor patio. Both spaces will make nice areas to sip a wide variety of delicious craft beers brewed by Ebben.
Swine City Brewing, 4614 Industry Drive, Fairfield. www.swinecitybrewing.com
Agave & Rye
Who doesn't like tacos, bourbon and tequila?
OK, maybe there are a few people who don't. For the rest of us, there is Agave & Rye, which will open in Covington on Feb. 1.
The restaurant, located in the former Rima D's space, promises "epic tacos" and "an endless selection of bourbon, tequila and craft cocktails."
Taco Tuesdays never sounded better.
Agave & Rye, 635 Madison Ave., Covington. www.agaveandrye.com
Alexandria Brewing Co.
In October, the owner of Alexandria Brewing Co. announced he had found a home for his future craft brewery.
Since then, Andy Reynolds has been hard at work renovating the space; he hopes to open Alexandria Brewing Co. in March. Reynolds is a Siebel Institute-trained brewer who has worked closely with other breweries in Greater Cincinnati.
Alexandria Brewing Co., 7926 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria. www.alexandriabrewingcompany.com
Pins Mechanical Co.
Have you ever heard of duckpin bowling? Educate yourself before Columbus-based Pins Mechanical Co. opens its new bar and bowling alley in Over-the-Rhine this fall.
The idea behind duckpin bowling is actually pretty simple: Bowlers get a ball that is smaller than a regular bowling ball and three chances to knock down pins. Pins should include a few pinball machines as well.
Pins Mechanical Co., 1120-1128 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. www.pinsbar.com
The Casual Pint
The Casual Pint, a Knoxville-based craft beer market franchise, will open in Hamilton this July, according to the Journal-News. When the store opens on the first floor of the new Marcum Apartments development, it will have 30 beers on tap and hundreds more for carry-out. The Casual Pint also will sell wines and have a limited food menu. This will be Casual Pint's fourth location in Greater Cincinnati, joining stores in Loveland, Mason and Oakley.
The Casual Pint, 2 Riverfront Plaza, Hamilton. thecasualpint.com
Esoteric Brewing Co.
If everything goes as planned, Esoteric Brewing Co. could be serving beers in Walnut Hills by December.
Owners Brian Jackson and Marvin Abrinica will spend most of this year transforming about 10,000 square feet of the historic Paramount Building into a 300-person-capacity taproom and 10,000-barrel brewhouse.
The art deco-style building opened at the corner of Gilbert Avenue and McMillan Street in 1931 and has sat empty for nearly a decade. Jackson and Abrinica said Esoteric will offer an elevated brewery experience that reflects the era in which the Paramount was built.
"Our vibe is going to have a speakeasy feel," Jackson said.
900 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. www.esotericbrewing.com
