Hap's Irish Pub. Cincinnati, OH.

3510 Erie Avenue #1

Price for a Guinness: $6.50 | Overall Rating: 8.15

Today's Dedicated Pint: Rielly, Brandon, Seth, Duane

If you're in the mood to have a laugh 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 along the bar is typically very welcoming, they bring their own darts, and you'll catch a few brogues as well. Irish Rugby, Celtic Football, Premier League, Tennis, and Darts are what you're probably going to see on the TVs if it's not an NFL Sunday.

My bartender gave me a nice pour of Guinness after greeting me with a handshake; a dying trend in the Pub world these days. All of the bartenders here will crack jokes, pour a fantastic pint, and will never stand for silence; there's always a fantastic conversation or two going on along these barstools.

It's a small place but the room in the back allows plenty of standing room along with three Steel Tip dart boards, leaving you with four dart boards all day. The Winmau in the room where the bar is has a really nice "championship" style setting to it. The curb appeal is inviting and the wall decor on the inside is authentic. It's not a gripe for me, but if anyone is going to say something negative about Hap's then it might be the toiletries as (especially the men's) they offer a handful of fruit flies with a side order of stank.

The Craic here is definitely coming from both sides of the bar. It isn't the most drop-dead gorgeous Pub, but it does offer a lot of nostalgia to the long time locals. It's very hard to run into someone who's been living in Cincinnati for more than 10 years who hasn't stepped foot in here at least once. If anything, everyone seems to at least know someone that either used to frequent here or currently does. The place certainly has its charm; whether it's the little Irish Gift shop in the back (whenever it's open), the constant pleasant vibes at the bar, or the way they decorate the place for Christmas. 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 if you're only in town for a day, 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. If you live in Cincinnati then I can assure you that if you come once; you'll probably come again. The Craic here sucks you right in and it'll keep you having "just one more" all afternoon. I highly recommend grabbing a barstool at Hap's, especially if you're looking for a place to throw darts.

Thanks for the countless amounts of memories, Hap's. Slainte!