Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives — Season 42 · Episode 04
FROM TWO BARMEN.
The Northside Yacht Club is the nautical-inspired spawn of two of Cincinnati's rock 'n roll and cocktail aficionados, Jon Weiner and Stuart MacKenzie. While Jon has since moved on, the ship now runs on its crew — a team that brings a shared passion for delicious, rustic food, handcrafted drinks, and local libations to life every single day.
NSYC combines three things at its core: great food, unique cocktails, and a welcoming vibe for all.
A NOD TO
1937.
WHY YACHT CLUB?
The name of this one-of-a-kind gastro-pub was inspired by old photos the duo came across — capturing the spirit of Northside residents floating down the streets in rowboats during the great flood of 1937. It was this imagery that sparked the concept and tied everything together.
Reflecting the crew's lighthearted attitude, the bar's atmosphere pays tribute to the history of both the building and the neighborhood. Built with the help of childhood friends, family, and bandmates, NSYC has undergone a complete transformation — and the whole team keeps the spirit of the place alive with a focus on community and good times.
"It's a little nod to the Northside resilience and attitude."— Stuart MacKenzie, Co-owner
SLOW & LOW.
NO SHORTCUTS.
We curate a menu of house-smoked meats and fresh produce, with no artificial or processed foods. With a state of the art "Cadillac of Smokers," we use a precise slow-and-low method of smoking wings and other foods.
All the fries are hand-cut daily, and we boast that the kitchen has neither a microwave nor a freezer. Everything is cooked to order and served fresh. With vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free selections available, we aim to please all folks, including those with dietary restrictions.
CLASSICS.
RIFFED & DELICIOUS.
Our cocktail menu is rooted in the classics — with modern riffs and even a pickle section. Whatever we think is delicious right now, as long as it's good.
The suds lean local, working closely with neighborhood Cincinnati breweries. PBR is still in the cooler, bourbon's still on the shelf, and the cocktails are still made by people who care.
HOURS & SCHEDULE.
★ The Bar ★
★ The Kitchen ★
★ Patio is dog friendly · Happy Hour M–F 3pm to 6pm ★
A NOD TO MIRÓ.
The big, blue, wonderfully weird mural in our venue tips its cap to a piece of Cincinnati history. In 1947, Joan Miró made his first trip to the United States to paint his first-ever mural — a 30-foot sweep of sky blue commissioned for the Gourmet Room, the rooftop restaurant of the Terrace Plaza Hotel downtown.
Miró came over and installed it himself. The Gourmet Room is long gone, but the original hangs in the Cincinnati Art Museum today — reunited with the hotel's Calder mobile and Steinberg mural. Ours lives above the tchotchke wall. Go see both.
The 75-foot mixed-media tribute — along with the cabinet-of-curiosities shelves beneath it and the sea-monster wallpaper in the dining room — is the work of Cincinnati artist Alex Frank.