Second Place
A neighborhood sports bar in Northside from the team behind The Littlefield that opens early for all the big soccer matches. Four TVs screening local and international soccer in an unassuming, welcoming space with a pool table, dart boards, and board games. Known for bourbon slushies, a deep draft list, and free popcorn. No manufactured sports bar atmosphere -- just genuine love for the game.
About
Second Place is the second establishment from the team behind The Littlefield, Northside's respected bourbon bar and restaurant. Partners Distel, Chad Scholten, Mike Berry, and John Ford opened Second Place at 3936 Spring Grove Avenue with a clear concept: a neighborhood sports bar that does not beat you over the head with the sports bar theme. The name itself is a wink — a second place to hang out in the neighborhood, and a gentle nod to the fact that sometimes second place is exactly where you want to be.
The Space
The interior occupies a long, narrow room with historical architectural elements that speak to the building's age — tin ceilings, exposed brick, and leaded glass windows that have been preserved through a thoughtful renovation. A large bar runs the length of the space, with tables, a pool table, dart boards, and a bookshelf full of board games and card games filling out the room. Four televisions are positioned around the bar for sports viewing, but the screens do not dominate — they complement a space that is designed for socializing first and spectating second.
Soccer Without the Spectacle
Second Place opens early for all the big soccer matches, screening local FC Cincinnati games and international fixtures including Premier League and Champions League. The bar's four TVs carry the matches, and the bartenders are happy to put audio on for the bigger games. The atmosphere during soccer is engaged but not intense — more like watching with friends in a particularly well-appointed living room than standing in a supporters' section. For fans who want to follow the game without the organized supporter culture of OTR's dedicated soccer bars, Second Place hits the right note.
Food and Drink
Food is walked over from The Littlefield's kitchen next door — a setup that gives Second Place access to a proper kitchen menu without the overhead of running one. Offerings include smoked meat sandwiches, meatloaf sandwiches, hot wings, pickled vegetables, and smoked cornbread with cheddar. The house specialty drink is the Bourbon Slush, a cocktail combining orange juice, lemon juice, ginger beer, black tea, and bourbon that has developed a cult following in the neighborhood. The draft beer list is deep and thoughtfully curated, with free popcorn always available at the bar.
The Northside Character
Northside is Cincinnati's most artistically independent neighborhood, and Second Place channels that energy. The bartenders curate the music — no generic sports bar playlists here — and the crowd is a mix of Northside regulars, young professionals, and families who appreciate a bar that welcomes everyone without trying too hard. There is no manufactured atmosphere at Second Place, just genuine neighborhood warmth, good drinks, and soccer on the screens for anyone who wants to watch. It is the kind of place where you come for a Premier League match and stay for the bourbon slushies and a few rounds of darts.
Sources
3 verifiedResearched from 3 independent sources. How we research →
Details
- Category
- Cincinnati
- Location
- Cincinnati , Ohio
- Last Researched
- February 22, 2026
