Go Mad for College Basketball at 5 Great Cincinnati Sports Bars

Did you know the Cincinnati Bearcats are in the top 20 of college basketball programs with all-time wins? No wonder March Madness is so strong around here!

Follow the NCAA tournament with other devoted fans at these great sports bars near our Springs Cincinnati luxury apartment communities.

1. RJ's Sports Pub
7886 Cincinnati Dayton Rd, West Chester
513.777.5333
5.5 miles from Springs at West Chester

The owners of this cozy pub opened it to honor their love for "cold beer, good food and good sports and music," and RJ's doesn't disappoint. TVs on every wall make for easy viewing, and the half-pound Angus beef RJ's Burger was voted the second-best in the Cincinnati area. Come for basketball and stay for live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

2. Eli's Sports Bar & Grill
4895 Hamilton Princeton Rd, Liberty Township
513.868.3547
5.5 miles from Springs at Liberty Township

Looking for a family-friendly place to watch the tournament? Eli's is a fast-casual restaurant where you place your order at the counter and it's served at your table. Customers rave about the chicken wings, which come with your choice of 10 different sauces, and there is a separate kid’s menu as well. Watch the games on one of Eli's 23 TVs, several of them with crystal-clear projection screens.

3. Moerlein Lager House
115 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati
513.421.2337
24.3 miles from Springs at Liberty Township

The Moerlein brand originated in 1853, and this modern brewhouse pays homage to that heritage with a food and drink menu reminiscent of 19th-century beer gardens. The sleek two-story building has floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a light and open ambiance. Dine on sports bar classics like burgers and nachos as well as upscale dishes like braised pork shank, herb-crusted salmon and meat and cheese boards. A rotating beer menu is highlighted by several Christian Moerlein craft brews.

4. Kitty's Sports Grill
218 W 3rd St, Cincinnati
513.421.8900
23.8 miles from Springs at Liberty Township

Kitty's has made a name as one of the top sports bars in Cincinnati, rated #2 by Foursquare users. The name honors the owner's mother, who owned the downtown building and ran her own bar for a number of years. Try the customer-favorite prime rib sandwich or smoked chicken wings, prepared out front in a Big Green Egg. Bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas are available during Sunday brunch.

5. Tavern on the Hill
1111 Saint Gregory St, Cincinnati
513.421.3309
21 miles from Springs at West Chester

Tavern on the Hill in Mount Adams is as comfy and welcoming as it sounds. The menu includes all the traditional bar food favorites with an original twist, like buffalo chicken egg rolls, pimento cheese nachos and build-your-own mac and cheese. You'll have a hard time choosing your beverage from one of the more diverse beer lists in the city. Top it off with 15 HD TVs for optimum viewing and you'll never want to leave.

Do you have a favorite sports bar to add to this list? Share it in the comments!

Editors note: The post was originally published on March 7, 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.