25 West Ogden Place
Price of a Guinness: $6.50 | Overall Rating: 8.55
There isn't an Irish Pub on this planet that I have been to more than O'Malley's. It holds a special place in my heart, but don't get the wrong idea; I'm not being biased in this article as this Pub has gone a little downhill over the last 6 years.
About 5 or 8 years ago the owners of the place (and building) added the bar "The Blind Pig" to O'Malley's on the opposite side of the hallway. They knocked down the separating wall between the 2 bars and sort of morphed them into each other, sharing the kitchen for food orders. Before this happened you would be greeted by a bartender who would heavily promote the place and be proud of how authentically Irish the pub was. They would play Irish music for a majority of the time and they were very engaging with the Irish culture.
As of today, the place is on a bit of a different path. The Blind Pig introduced a more annoying demographic on a steadier basis, the music is normally the type you'll hear waiting in line at the bus stop, and the bartenders are the typical food industry workers who could care less if they are either working here or at the place down the street because "it's all the same bullshit" (if you're in the industry you know who I'm talking about).
Let's get back to what makes this place so great. The entryway of the Pub is incredibly welcoming and the fact that it's in an alley just makes it that much better. The inside of the place is beautifully crafted with just the right amount of wall decor, TVs, wooden panels, and lighting. They have some very unique signs that you won't find elsewhere, they're great for NFL Sundays, and the food is actually fantastic. When you catch this place on a good day it's almost impossible to close your tab because all you want to do is hang out and embellish in that warm and cozy Irishness.
They always have Guinness and Smithwick's on tap but their whiskey selection has always been a bit of a let down. The bartender gave me an average pour of Guinness, no complaints there.
O'Malley's has a perfect location as it's tucked away and hidden from everyone while simultaneously right in the middle of everything. It's a few blocks away from the Bengals, about 5 blocks from the Reds, and right around the corner from Fountain Square. If you asked me 8 years ago I would have easily given this place a 9.50 and if I walked in for the first time today I would have given it around an 8.0. The unbelievably beautiful architecture, wall decor, and scenery alone starts this place at a 6.5 before even ordering the first pint. Knowing what it was and how easy it would be to get it back to where it was not long ago, I'm giving it a worthy 8.55.
Slainte.
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