s in the Alley (the Queen City's second-oldest bar), is located on the edge of Downtown Cincinnati at 24 W 3rd St., 45202. [Image: Austin Coop]" />
s in the Alley (the Queen City's second-oldest bar), is located on the edge of Downtown Cincinnati at 24 W 3rd St., 45202. [Image: Austin Coop]" />
s in the Alley (the Queen City's second-oldest bar), is located on the edge of Downtown Cincinnati at 24 W 3rd St., 45202. [Image: Austin Coop]" />
If you're a fan of hole-in-the-wall bars, chances are you've already been to O'Malley's in the Alley. As Cincinnati's second oldest bar, O'Malley's has an old-school charm that keeps attracting generation after generation of thirsty patrons.
But what few may know, however, is that O'Malley's now has its very own speakeasy (of sorts). . Let's take a step inside The Blind Pig.
We found out about The Blind Pig the same way most people do: we watched from O'Malley's as people trickled in and out of the hallway in back. Curiosity finally won out and we followed some folks through a door. And suddenly, there we were, in an entirely different bar. the Blind Pig, an oasis of beer, Jameson, and gigantic televisions.
The brainchild of O'Malley's original owner, Vinny, the speakeasy has been carried into existence by the bar's new owner, Juan Imeroni. Unlike most speakeasies, the Blind Pig hides in plain sight with its massive patio visible from 3rd Street. True to speakeasy form, though, there's no big sign pointing the way to the door, just a set of stairs leading nonchalantly from the street.
During the warmer months, the Blind Pig's patio, which overlooks The Banks and Paul Brown Stadium, steals the show with its open-air atmosphere, incredible views, and (when there's a concert at Paul Brown) amazing soundtrack.
Inside, the Blind Pig has a touch of that charming "Roaring 20s" flair mixed with a classic sports-bar vibe. Several gigantic televisions, 20 taps, prohibition-era photos, and tons and tons of Jameson bottles pull together a mood that serves the Pig's three crowds: lunchtime diners, happy hour drinkers, and sports fanatics.
The edible offerings are currently the same as O'Malley's -- burgers, sandwiches, and other all-American faves -- but they're planning an eventual expansion of the kitchen to offer even more options.
In proper speakeasy style, there's no marketing budget for the Blind Pig, just word of mouth. Judging by the crowds that show up for lunch and Bengals games, though, the word is definitely getting out. And oddly enough, the Blind Pig is drawing its own crowd, which then discovers O'Malley's in the Alley for the first time, making the age-old Cincinnati staple a speakeasy in its own right.
