3510 Erie Avenue
Price for a Guinness: $6.50 | Overall Rating: 8.15
If you're in the mood to have a good time with a handful of locals at anytime of the day, Hap's is the place. I've never been the only one in Hap's and I normally go to Pubs during the middle of weekday afternoons. Everyone at along the bar is typically very welcoming, they bring their own darts, and you'll catch a few Irish brogues as well.
My bartender gave me a nice pour of Guinness after greeting me with a handshake; a dying trend in the Pub world these days.
It's a small place but the room in the back allows plenty of standing room along with extra Steel Tip dart boards. The curb appeal is inviting and the wall decor on the inside is authentic. The biggest gripe about the place would be the bathrooms as they are smelly, pretty dirty, and have a handful of fruit flies majority of time.
Most of the craic you'll find at Hap's will be in the conversations alongside the barguests and bartenders. It isn't the most drop-dead gorgeous Pub or the most nostalgic Pub, but it certainly has its charm. Make no mistake; this is an Irish Pub. A few Pubs in the Cincinnati area are sports bars at heart with more of an Irish disguise upfront, that's certainly not the case here at Hap's.
They have a sub-par Whiskey selection but favorable draft beer choices including Guinness, Smithwick's, and local crafts. It's a cash only Pub so don't forget to bring a few $20s. The parking can be a little sparse, however, if you're willing to walk a few blocks there is on-street parking down the road.
At the end of the day this place probably won't knock your socks off but it'll certainly give you what you're looking for in an Irish Pub. It's the furthest thing from gimmicky and it's got a great group of regulars that support the place. I highly recommend grabbing a barstool at Hap's, especially if you're looking for a place to throw darts. Hap's gets an honorable 8.15 from me.
Slainte.
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