The History of Arnold's Bar & Grill

The two buildings that now house Arnold's Bar and Grill were built in 1848. 210 East 8th Street first housed a barbershop and the other building, 208, first housed a feed store. Simon Arnold opened his saloon in 1861 in the same room you enter today. The room is essentially the same as it was then and continues as the oldest bar in the city of Cincinnati.

The bartenders are different, women may enter through any door and the cost of a beer has changed slightly. During prohibition a kitchen was added and Arnold's was converted to a restaurant. The second floor living area became dining rooms and Elmer Arnold lived on the third floor.

Legend has it that he left the bathtub on the second floor to be used for bathtub gin. The bathtub became somewhat notorious and remains today (without the gin). Three generations of the Arnold family lived upstairs and operated Arnold's for ninety-eight years.

Since then Arnold's has had only four other owners. The current owner, Ronda Androski purchased the bar from long time employer Jim Tarbell. Over the years Arnold's has achieved and maintained a wonderful reputation for good food served in friendly surroundings at moderate prices. Throughout most of its history it served primarily as a daytime saloon and restaurant. In 1976 Mr. Tarbell added a dinner program; and opened the now treasured courtyard (downtown's first outdoor dining in several decades). All of this continues today and with it's wonderful sense of history and cultural diversity Arnold's has secured an important niche in this beautiful city.

Thanks for your visit and come back soon, Ronda Androski, Proprietor .