Century Bar
10 S Jefferson St, Dayton, OH, 45402
Century Bar Menu
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Address :
10 S Jefferson St
Dayton, OH, 45402 - Phone (937) 223-3382
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :2:00 pm - 2:3
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Wed, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Has TV : No
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J S.
Great place. Friendly informative bartender who's a wealth of knowledge about Bourbon.
(5)Mike B.
They have oven100 bourbons and some mixed drinks. Beers are only Ohio beers. The decor is beautiful. 4 carved maiden heads over the bar. Every one of the bartenders can school you on the various bourbons. The thing I love about this place is there are not TVs with a looping sports report (and all the bourbons). This is a do not miss kind of place. They consistently rank high on national reviews for bourbon bars and they are right here in little ole Dayton. You will not find anything to compare, anywhere.
(5)Beth H.
I have no idea why this place is listed as a dive bar. There's a drink that's $95. There's no dollar beer night here. Gorgeous place. Super classy. The woodwork is beautiful. Like something from the prohibition era. The bartenders all had great beards. The bar in the main room was super crowded and seems frighteningly close to the wall. Walking between it and the line of people on the other side made me feel like people would start giving me high fives or something. The room at the end of the building has a large table in it and a couple barrels for people to sit at as tables. Boxes and empty bottles of ridiculously expensive bottles of alcohol line the walls. It's beautiful. I drank bits and pieces of various drinks. The best was some champagne concoction with sugar and lemon juice and gin, I think. It comes in a fancy glass, but, men, don't let this deter you. Plenty of men in our party were drinking them, too. It's just a fabulous drink. Music plays. Retro, cute stuff. My boyfriend asked if I would be embarrassed if he swung me around a bit and then did so before I responded. He doesn't even drink. It's just the kind of place that makes you want to swing someone around.
(5)David S.
What a great little hide in downtown Dayton. Whiskey bars and Speakeasy themes are favorites of mine on the west coast. This gem is part high class, part secret hole in the wall. A huge turn of the century masterpiece of a carved wood bar plays backdrop to an old timey vibe. Good selection, knowledgeable staff, and a bit of music too antique to be called oldies round it out.
(4)Beau H.
Century Bar is one of the better offerings in Dayton for drinks, and should be a staple destination if you are a fan of bourbons and find yourself in the Midwest. The selection is bar none, and the bartenders are extremely knowledgeable about what they are serving. A safe bet would be the Old Fashioned, but check out the menu because there are a ton of options. The lighting is set low and the music is merely background to the conversations around you. It is a great place to meet a few locals with interesting stories or grab a drink with co-workers after a long day. It's not a huge space, so expect a crowd if you come on the weekends, and be prepared to wait a few minutes for the drinks as there are only two or three guys behind the bar on any given night. All in all, you aren't going to find a more interesting bar in the city and I would highly recommend you check this out if you can find the time.
(5)T L.
The care, detail and love of the craft crates an atmosphere which is in itself intoxicating. The flavors are so well balanced and refreshing. This is a true gem of a place to spend time with friends or meeting new people. I simply love this place.
(5)Jordan T.
This place is a gem. Over the years this spot has been a place where culture and conversation thrive. Once a popular lunch spot, this beautiful bar is full of history. It's one of the best bourbon bars in the country for a reason. Join the Century Bar Club and drink your way to bourbon success. Knowledge is power.
(5)Arthur S.
This bar has an amazing interior, made even better by the staff's bourbon knowledge and willingness to share it. Great crowd and overall vibe, one of those places where if you squint your eyes "...you can see back 85 years..." Try the Bulleit 10 Year, or if you are feeling Rockefeller-ish (or Kettering-ish I guess in Dayton) ask for the George T. Stagg Uncut/Unfiltered. Or better yet don't listen to me and ask the guys behind the bar because they've forgotten more about all whiskey than 99% of the population ever knew in the first place... A unique and enjoyable historic bar experience.
(5)FreshTake '.
Great bartenders. Cozy Chill atmosphere. Great drinks which is s huge plus, I hate going anywhere where u pay so much for an iced-up-cheap-liquor-full drink. The lighting and architecture and music are so unique, this is just a fun different kind of pace to go out with friends or a date :)
(5)Bianca D.
Okay Century, you've ruined me and I love it! This bar was the first bar I've ever tried bourbon. After I tried their old fashioned I was hooked. An old fashioned is what I order now at every bar from columbus to cincinnati. However I have yet to find one as good as Century's! Keep it up boys! Their seasonal cocktails are to die for, as well as their regular cocktails. Seriously, order anything, you can't go wrong. Your service, ambiance, and product is UNBEATABLE.
(5)Alex S.
Get over here as soon as possible and order an Old-Fashioned with Four Roses Yellow Label bourbon ($8). (You can stop reading here if you want. I'd understand.) The bartenders are awesome. They know their bourbon like nobody's business, make amazing drinks, and rock seriously sweet beards and/or haircuts. The inside of this place is gorgeous; brilliant, original stained-glass and a truly stunning carved wooden bar and wall features. It's kind of glorious and makes you feel as if you're in a classy place from days of yore (rather than, say, across the street from the bus depot in Dayton, OH). Century Bar, you had me at BOURBON.
(5)S G.
This place is super! They have a ton of great whiskey choices and the bartenders really seem to know what they are doing when they make delicious cocktails. It is classy enough for the well heeled and yet not overly fancy. Just a nice place for a drink or two.
(5)Julian S.
Check out the collaboration they've done with Warped Wing on a Russian Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels selected by your favorite people at Century...
(5)Not Your Average ..
Nice bar, friendly staff. I'm not a liquor drinker so I can't really visit too much. Used to come in for the strawberry moonshine but it's been off lately. Nice place, good place to have a conversation.
(4)Michael B.
Great place. Small bar with a huge selection of Bourbon. The bartenders are knowledgable and very helpful. If you are not a bourbon fan, then don't come. If you're obnoxious, then they will probably ignore you. This is a laid back bourbon bar. Some of the reviews seem to ding this place because of those two factors. If you want a loud, meat market then go someplace else.
(5)Dave M.
Bartender really knows his stuff. Busy but takes the time to help with selection. Great serious drinking atms in a Classic Dayton Previous Century Drinkinv bar. Flights are the best way to explore the amazing selection and all are reasonably priced. Take a friend(s) and swap flavors to explore more than your taste buds will ever need. Great experience. Like Disney for the sophisticated whiskey drinkers. Didn't want to leave.
(5)Thomas N.
This is one of the country's greatest Bourbon bars for a REASON! The bartenders are SO great, and so knowledgable. Just a great, comfortable place. Classic decor. Join the Bourbon Club and get an education about the greatest liquor ever conceived.
(5)Margaret C.
Dear Yelp: This is not a dive bar. This is an UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME bourbon bar. Which, from the outside, I grant you, does bear more than a passing resemblance to a dive bar. Okay and it has a jukebox. But it also has a bar mostly imported from a 19th century hotel, whiskeys as far as the eye can see, and enough bearded, vested, educated hipster-bartenders to make Brooklyn crazy jealous. This is not a Scotch bar. They have, like, seven single malts. This is not an everything bar. When you ask for a rum and coke, the bartender will make it, but he will pity you. He will also pull the rum out from beneath a counter where you can't see it. I am not kidding. Not that I ordered a rum and coke. I was there to drink bourbon. I was introduced to a new favorite (Old Forester's Signature), and fell in love with bartender/educator Joe's Manhattans (I am a sucker for Luxardo, but it was also just sooo well crafted; I usually don't like bourbon Manhattans, either, but with the Signature--which is 100 proof--it had enough bite to balance out the sweet). The joy of this place is getting to talk to the bartenders, who know their shit and love their whisky, so go on the earlier side if you can. It started to get pretty busy on a Friday night around 10, but was perfect before that. I don't live in Dayton. Not that I have anything against the city, but I don't generally wish I did live there. I DO wish I had this bar in my city. Normally I would take off a star due to the tvs in the corners of the bar--WHY???--but I can't bring myself to do it. And, P.S., four of us there for a couple of hours did $50 worth of damage. I still can't even compute this.
(5)Ellie S.
Love this place. The bar is in an old, turn-of-the-century style building with classical music always playing in the background. The ambience is great. If you like bourbon, stop by. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and the ambience is wonderful.
(5)Ana V.
I only deduct one star because of the major hassle it was to get my tab. Awesome, awesome customer service and some of the best cocktails I've had. Can't wait to take my big city fiancé here when he visits. My first and only time at Century bar was during Urban Nights, so that coulda been why it took half an hour to cash out. Fun atmosphere and smells of leather, wood and bourbon upon arrival
(4)Mike N.
The Century brings back what great bars used to be like. Classy interior, friendly and knowledgable staff yet the place doesn't fell like an old bar whose time has passed. If you like bourbon then you can't beat the variety and their knowledge. If you don't then they have some other really great drinks many with home made ingredients for a taste you will not get elsewhere.
(5)Jason F.
I know what you are thinking...how can a city that has lost 54% of its population since 1960 have an incredible little place like this?? Well I am here to say...cut Dayton some freaking slack! It's been a rough go the last several decades with the loss of manufacturing. I am not saying the city hasn't made some tactical errors, but act like a guest, not a hater. If you truly take the time to look around, Dayton has a ton of potential. There are several old buidlings that are just gorgeous (a few that are not...Kettering Tower as an example...is, how should I put this...not so pretty) and they have a pretty hard-core art scene that rivals Cincinnati and Columbus. ::Cut scene, enter review:: This little spot on Jefferson Street downtown that has one of the best looking bars around. Bourbon and Banter named the Century Bar one of the Top 55 Bourbon Bars in the country ( centurybourbon.com/about… ). And though I haven't been to 55 for comparison, I can say, it is a truly great Bourbon Bar. We went around 5:00 midweek and it was buzzing, but not too crowded. The ambiance is dark, casual and welcoming with tons of bourbon gear everywhere. The guy behind the counter, albeit new to the bar, was very friendly and welcoming. The bar was built in 1862 and brought up to Dayton from an old hotel in Cincinnati...needless to say, it reaks of awesome. The woodwork is very ornate and if you listen close, the ghosts trapped behind the mirrors and wood reach out to you with a whispery plea: "Carpeee...carrrpeee...Carpe diee-emmmm..." If you check out the site, you will see that the place is about hospitality. And honestly, if you are going to serve the signature spirit of Mother Kentucky, then have some GD manners! I hate pretentious bourbon bars that violate the principles of southern hospitality. With any good review, there should be some recommendations:1) Lose the freaking TVs. It really takes away from the beauty of the bar. If folks want to watch sports center, then go to Buffalo Wild Wings. 2) Keep the music classy and rustic 3) Add more to your top shelf offerings (being that Ohio is a STUPID FREAKING CONTROL state...I understand that may be tough). You owe it to yourself to check this place out. Just check any pretentiousness at the door. Cheers!
(4)Francis C.
Great bar in downtown Dayton. Great place to go after dinner or for just cocktails. It is a BAR. Old School with very knowledgeable bartenders who will take the time to explain the drinks and the give recommendations. I had dinner at the Pine Club in Dayton (Great Steaks) and then stopped off at the Century Bar for cocktails afterwards and was not disappointed. Joe made me my first "old fashion" bourbon cocktail and it was amazing. He gave me a 5 minute educational talk on bourbon and then let let me taste various drinks he made. Great place to relax and unwind. This bar is a must see in Dayton Ohio. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming and a bit rustic. A great place to have a cocktail and unwind. Extensive bourbon collection. A must visit when in Dayton. Go there now!
(5)Sean H.
Ladies and gentleman, I give you the most beautiful bar in the world. Now, this isn't some BS modern American standard of beauty; nasogastric tubes dripping miniscule amounts of calories into soulless blushing (hemorrhaging?) brides to be......No, this is straight old school. I'm talking Marylin Monroe, Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield; ladies, this is your James Dean or pre-obesity Marlon Brando. This place has the looks and the brass. This is a bourbon bar with a 100+ year old back bar that has hand carved wooden maidens holding up fish scaled stained glass windows that hover over you while you stare headlong into every bourbon available in Ohio. You know what I love? I love that all the BS rail mixers are tucked out of sight under the bar. There's no room for Stoli or Baccardi on the back bar, nope, it goes with the cleaning supplies. They pay as much attention to their bourbon glasses as a fancy wine bar does to their stemwear. If you have a question, like what the hell is bourbon? They'll tell you and they'll do it without any lip. They also have bourbon tastings that are a lot of fun, I'd highly recommend them. Positives: -Great jukebox, good bartenders, great atmosphere. -Awesome bourbon tastings. -They really like what they do and it shows. -Chances are slim you'll sit in a bar this pretty anywhere else in Ohio. A note: Sorry for drawing a penis on my receipt and telling the bar tender to grow hair. I was pretty hammered.
(5)Nikki K.
I never have enough things to say about this amazing Dayton secret spot (well maybe not so much anymore!) For those of you wanting to test the "bourbon" waters, the staff is extremely knowledgable in all things bourbon. They truly LOVE what they do. Every time I have been here has been a fantastic experience. There is no dumb question and no "best" bourbon. Ask and you shall receive! More likely thank not you will leave knowing more than you wanted to know! Plus the ambiance and refurbished bar are the exact opposite from what you would expect from their lonely, glowing sign out front.
(5)Brian C.
Had heard lots of good things about the Century so we decided to check it out with some friends. It's really small inside but we did manage to find some seats and proceeded to look at the drink menu. Now I like bourbon just fine but am by no means an expert or even know what I'm talking about, and there were a lot of choices and I'm sure all of these choices meant something to most of the other people in there, felt a little out of my element! One note about the bar, the architecture was really nice, old wood all over the place gave it a nice nostalgic feel. Now back to the overall experience. My wife is not a fan of bourbon / whiskey so she asked the bartender for something else, he sort of laughed and said "this is a bourbon bar!", talk about feeling stupid. Well, ok then! He made her some drink out of strawberry moonshine which she pretty much didn't drink. The rest of us had one drink, cashed out and left. No food here by the way, or none that I could see. I'm sure for the hard core whiskey / bourbon fans, this place is heaven, we probably won't be returning, it was just ok.
(3)Kiarash Z.
Century is my girlfriend's favorite Dayton bar, and I can see why: the beers are good (Stella, Newcastle and hefeweizen on tap), the bartender was friendly, the crowd was chill and the bar is gorgeously maintained. I asked a fellow patron what type of crowd Century normally draws, as it was an oddly quiet Saturday night. He said "tattoos and lots of black clothing." That -- coupled with darts, a pool table and sports on TV -- sounded like a perfectly well-rounded bar. Also, there's some blueberry-fruity-cocktail that's lights-out yummy.
(4)J P.
Amazing drinks and axing atmosphere. Brought my friends from out of town for a nice bourbon experience and we were not let down. Their bourbon cocktails were phenomenal and my vodka cocktail was great. We will be back every time we can. Hopefully one day they'll have food or a kitchen going , the manager said that is in the works ! Love this place
(5)Don G.
Great whiskey bar--bourbon, scotch, and rye. Caught a mid-Fri afternoon happy hour. Great crowd--nice mix of people and backgrounds. Reasonable prices and access to hard to find brands and expertise to help novices find their way and "pros" learn additional tidbits in between sips. Lots of fun.
(5)Katelin M.
The bar is beautiful and selection of bourbon is the best around. Unfortunately the bartenders don't care about customer service. You can stand at the bar waiting to be helped for easily over 20 minutes and they don't care to help you. The last time I was there, the group of people I was with decided just to leave because it was so annoying to be ignored.
(3)John M.
for whiskey lovers, this is as good as it gets especially for dayton. good selection, suggestions, and mixed drinks. really a bourbon bar without much scotch (they do have macallan, my favorite), but scotch drinkers can learn drink american sometimes. great place to talk to other bourbon enthusiasts!
(5)David B.
We stopped in after seeing Anthony Bourdain Guts and Glory. Lets have one drink and head home we all agreed. We ended the night hours later after imbibing some great bourbon, scotch and beer. And two late night pizzas delivered by Cousin Vinnys. Fantastic bar; everyone mentions the bar/back bar and it is a real beauty, our bartender( forgot his name but had a great beard) was courteous, friendly and ridiculously knowledgeable about his products. The jukebox had great selections and overall we highly recommend this place for a nightcap.
(4)Libby V.
How did I forget my Dad use to take me to lunch here? Back when going downtown was "cool". This place has been here FOREVER. As we are getting ready to disperse my parents ashes, my son brought me and what a fitting tribute. And OMG...this place is a gem. The most beautiful carved walnut bar EVER (and I thought it didn't get any better than the LePavillon in NOLA) with a carved bar from Paris. This bar goes back to 1916 (WAY before I was born). And as if the carved ship heads aren't enough, the stained glass perfectly sets it off. They specialize in bourbon, with more than 70 varieties. Just a few words of warning..it smelled of smoke. No one was smoking when we were there (my party went outside to smoke). It could just be years of smoking has left a mark (since we all know its illegal to smoke in a bar in Ohio). Also, restrooms are old. If you've used restrooms in the French Quarter in Nola, these are 5 star. If your used to the Greene Town Center, these are -5 stars. Just sayin. All in all, this should be in the top 5 places in Dayton not to miss. I love this place. And my standards are high. Stop in for a drink...you'll be glad you did.
(5)Shånnøn W.
This is the first bar I came to before I moved here and it has remained my favorite local bar ever since. Since that time they have expanded their payment options to include credit cards. Joe and Tim are absolutely the best bartenders in this city. The atmosphere is relaxed and nowhere in this city will make you feel more like you're a castmember from Cheers once you're a repeat patron. They have pool tables, darts, and a fantastic jukebox selection and there is street parking as well ast the row of spaces up against the building to it's right. Just never EVER park in the rest of that lot without paying the attendant. You will definitely get towed. All in all, C-Bar makes Dayton better with it's presence and if you want to get to know the real Dayton, stop in for a drink.
(5)Annie M.
This used to be an awesome place. It still looks great. I just can't deal with the smoke. Despite Ohio's "no smoking" laws, several people were smoking, and it was very unpleasant.
(1)M L.
Small but Fast & friendly service even when it's busy. Good jukebox and amazing old woodwork & stain-glass on the ceiling. Younger crowd late nights. Regulars favorite.
(4)Noah G.
Had read about this bar & seen the pics in the "Girl About Town" Dayton blog, and was not disappointed. The bartenders were awesome and really know their stuff. Despite being a long-time scotch whisky fan, I was convinced by the bartender to try a flight which included a bourbon, and that turned out to be my favorite one! The bar itself is amazing and contributes to the stately but friendly ambience. Prices fair and atmosphere completely unexpected for somewhere in Dayton (no offense, Dayton, just didn't expect to find places like this tucked away here! We left at about 10 on a Friday night, and it was starting to get a bit busy, so I can see service being a bit slower when busy. Use common sense & if you want more personalized attention/service, go early! Will be going back with friends ASAP.
(5)Terry W.
I've always liked this bar, now I love it! Since upbranding as "The Century Bar, a Bourbon House" by adding over 50 bourbons and cool bourbon furniture it's become a real Dayton treasure. I'm very happy with the changes. The bar tenders are all bourbon experts and the monthly bourbon tasting parties are a blast! I really appreciate the attention to the story of great bourbon as the essence of Midwestern sensibility. The 1863 back bar is also stunningly beautiful making this a truly a historic place. The pool table is out and a cool community table featuring local artists plus a good juke box makes me feel right at home. This is a real bar, a vest pocket utopia!
(5)Adele D.
Century is my favorite local bar. The interior is beautiful and clean (you really have to go to understand how pretty). The crowd is a true mix of people from all ages and interests. There is a pool table if your into that kinda thing and also a juke box in case you feel like playing pump up the Jam on a loop or taking advantage of the fact that your able to play Joy division there:)
(5)Dave H.
Bartenders were knowledgable (compared to me any way). I like that they have a card system to track what you've had. I take notes on mine about what I liked or didn't. The other comments on the decor were true. Interesting stuff. I don't think there's a kitchen here anymore though...
(4)Mike B.
They have oven100 bourbons and some mixed drinks. Beers are only Ohio beers. The decor is beautiful. 4 carved maiden heads over the bar. Every one of the bartenders can school you on the various bourbons. The thing I love about this place is there are not TVs with a looping sports report (and all the bourbons). This is a do not miss kind of place. They consistently rank high on national reviews for bourbon bars and they are right here in little ole Dayton. You will not find anything to compare, anywhere.
(5)Beth H.
I have no idea why this place is listed as a dive bar. There's a drink that's $95. There's no dollar beer night here. Gorgeous place. Super classy. The woodwork is beautiful. Like something from the prohibition era. The bartenders all had great beards. The bar in the main room was super crowded and seems frighteningly close to the wall. Walking between it and the line of people on the other side made me feel like people would start giving me high fives or something. The room at the end of the building has a large table in it and a couple barrels for people to sit at as tables. Boxes and empty bottles of ridiculously expensive bottles of alcohol line the walls. It's beautiful. I drank bits and pieces of various drinks. The best was some champagne concoction with sugar and lemon juice and gin, I think. It comes in a fancy glass, but, men, don't let this deter you. Plenty of men in our party were drinking them, too. It's just a fabulous drink. Music plays. Retro, cute stuff. My boyfriend asked if I would be embarrassed if he swung me around a bit and then did so before I responded. He doesn't even drink. It's just the kind of place that makes you want to swing someone around.
(5)Beau H.
Century Bar is one of the better offerings in Dayton for drinks, and should be a staple destination if you are a fan of bourbons and find yourself in the Midwest. The selection is bar none, and the bartenders are extremely knowledgeable about what they are serving. A safe bet would be the Old Fashioned, but check out the menu because there are a ton of options. The lighting is set low and the music is merely background to the conversations around you. It is a great place to meet a few locals with interesting stories or grab a drink with co-workers after a long day. It's not a huge space, so expect a crowd if you come on the weekends, and be prepared to wait a few minutes for the drinks as there are only two or three guys behind the bar on any given night. All in all, you aren't going to find a more interesting bar in the city and I would highly recommend you check this out if you can find the time.
(5)T L.
The care, detail and love of the craft crates an atmosphere which is in itself intoxicating. The flavors are so well balanced and refreshing. This is a true gem of a place to spend time with friends or meeting new people. I simply love this place.
(5)Jordan T.
This place is a gem. Over the years this spot has been a place where culture and conversation thrive. Once a popular lunch spot, this beautiful bar is full of history. It's one of the best bourbon bars in the country for a reason. Join the Century Bar Club and drink your way to bourbon success. Knowledge is power.
(5)Arthur S.
This bar has an amazing interior, made even better by the staff's bourbon knowledge and willingness to share it. Great crowd and overall vibe, one of those places where if you squint your eyes "...you can see back 85 years..." Try the Bulleit 10 Year, or if you are feeling Rockefeller-ish (or Kettering-ish I guess in Dayton) ask for the George T. Stagg Uncut/Unfiltered. Or better yet don't listen to me and ask the guys behind the bar because they've forgotten more about all whiskey than 99% of the population ever knew in the first place... A unique and enjoyable historic bar experience.
(5)FreshTake '.
Great bartenders. Cozy Chill atmosphere. Great drinks which is s huge plus, I hate going anywhere where u pay so much for an iced-up-cheap-liquor-full drink. The lighting and architecture and music are so unique, this is just a fun different kind of pace to go out with friends or a date :)
(5)Bianca D.
Okay Century, you've ruined me and I love it! This bar was the first bar I've ever tried bourbon. After I tried their old fashioned I was hooked. An old fashioned is what I order now at every bar from columbus to cincinnati. However I have yet to find one as good as Century's! Keep it up boys! Their seasonal cocktails are to die for, as well as their regular cocktails. Seriously, order anything, you can't go wrong. Your service, ambiance, and product is UNBEATABLE.
(5)David S.
What a great little hide in downtown Dayton. Whiskey bars and Speakeasy themes are favorites of mine on the west coast. This gem is part high class, part secret hole in the wall. A huge turn of the century masterpiece of a carved wood bar plays backdrop to an old timey vibe. Good selection, knowledgeable staff, and a bit of music too antique to be called oldies round it out.
(4)Alex S.
Get over here as soon as possible and order an Old-Fashioned with Four Roses Yellow Label bourbon ($8). (You can stop reading here if you want. I'd understand.) The bartenders are awesome. They know their bourbon like nobody's business, make amazing drinks, and rock seriously sweet beards and/or haircuts. The inside of this place is gorgeous; brilliant, original stained-glass and a truly stunning carved wooden bar and wall features. It's kind of glorious and makes you feel as if you're in a classy place from days of yore (rather than, say, across the street from the bus depot in Dayton, OH). Century Bar, you had me at BOURBON.
(5)S G.
This place is super! They have a ton of great whiskey choices and the bartenders really seem to know what they are doing when they make delicious cocktails. It is classy enough for the well heeled and yet not overly fancy. Just a nice place for a drink or two.
(5)Julian S.
Check out the collaboration they've done with Warped Wing on a Russian Imperial Stout aged in Bourbon barrels selected by your favorite people at Century...
(5)Not Your Average ..
Nice bar, friendly staff. I'm not a liquor drinker so I can't really visit too much. Used to come in for the strawberry moonshine but it's been off lately. Nice place, good place to have a conversation.
(4)Michael B.
Great place. Small bar with a huge selection of Bourbon. The bartenders are knowledgable and very helpful. If you are not a bourbon fan, then don't come. If you're obnoxious, then they will probably ignore you. This is a laid back bourbon bar. Some of the reviews seem to ding this place because of those two factors. If you want a loud, meat market then go someplace else.
(5)Dave M.
Bartender really knows his stuff. Busy but takes the time to help with selection. Great serious drinking atms in a Classic Dayton Previous Century Drinkinv bar. Flights are the best way to explore the amazing selection and all are reasonably priced. Take a friend(s) and swap flavors to explore more than your taste buds will ever need. Great experience. Like Disney for the sophisticated whiskey drinkers. Didn't want to leave.
(5)Thomas N.
This is one of the country's greatest Bourbon bars for a REASON! The bartenders are SO great, and so knowledgable. Just a great, comfortable place. Classic decor. Join the Bourbon Club and get an education about the greatest liquor ever conceived.
(5)Margaret C.
Dear Yelp: This is not a dive bar. This is an UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME bourbon bar. Which, from the outside, I grant you, does bear more than a passing resemblance to a dive bar. Okay and it has a jukebox. But it also has a bar mostly imported from a 19th century hotel, whiskeys as far as the eye can see, and enough bearded, vested, educated hipster-bartenders to make Brooklyn crazy jealous. This is not a Scotch bar. They have, like, seven single malts. This is not an everything bar. When you ask for a rum and coke, the bartender will make it, but he will pity you. He will also pull the rum out from beneath a counter where you can't see it. I am not kidding. Not that I ordered a rum and coke. I was there to drink bourbon. I was introduced to a new favorite (Old Forester's Signature), and fell in love with bartender/educator Joe's Manhattans (I am a sucker for Luxardo, but it was also just sooo well crafted; I usually don't like bourbon Manhattans, either, but with the Signature--which is 100 proof--it had enough bite to balance out the sweet). The joy of this place is getting to talk to the bartenders, who know their shit and love their whisky, so go on the earlier side if you can. It started to get pretty busy on a Friday night around 10, but was perfect before that. I don't live in Dayton. Not that I have anything against the city, but I don't generally wish I did live there. I DO wish I had this bar in my city. Normally I would take off a star due to the tvs in the corners of the bar--WHY???--but I can't bring myself to do it. And, P.S., four of us there for a couple of hours did $50 worth of damage. I still can't even compute this.
(5)Ellie S.
Love this place. The bar is in an old, turn-of-the-century style building with classical music always playing in the background. The ambience is great. If you like bourbon, stop by. The bartenders are very knowledgeable and the ambience is wonderful.
(5)Ana V.
I only deduct one star because of the major hassle it was to get my tab. Awesome, awesome customer service and some of the best cocktails I've had. Can't wait to take my big city fiancé here when he visits. My first and only time at Century bar was during Urban Nights, so that coulda been why it took half an hour to cash out. Fun atmosphere and smells of leather, wood and bourbon upon arrival
(4)Jason F.
I know what you are thinking...how can a city that has lost 54% of its population since 1960 have an incredible little place like this?? Well I am here to say...cut Dayton some freaking slack! It's been a rough go the last several decades with the loss of manufacturing. I am not saying the city hasn't made some tactical errors, but act like a guest, not a hater. If you truly take the time to look around, Dayton has a ton of potential. There are several old buidlings that are just gorgeous (a few that are not...Kettering Tower as an example...is, how should I put this...not so pretty) and they have a pretty hard-core art scene that rivals Cincinnati and Columbus. ::Cut scene, enter review:: This little spot on Jefferson Street downtown that has one of the best looking bars around. Bourbon and Banter named the Century Bar one of the Top 55 Bourbon Bars in the country ( centurybourbon.com/about… ). And though I haven't been to 55 for comparison, I can say, it is a truly great Bourbon Bar. We went around 5:00 midweek and it was buzzing, but not too crowded. The ambiance is dark, casual and welcoming with tons of bourbon gear everywhere. The guy behind the counter, albeit new to the bar, was very friendly and welcoming. The bar was built in 1862 and brought up to Dayton from an old hotel in Cincinnati...needless to say, it reaks of awesome. The woodwork is very ornate and if you listen close, the ghosts trapped behind the mirrors and wood reach out to you with a whispery plea: "Carpeee...carrrpeee...Carpe diee-emmmm..." If you check out the site, you will see that the place is about hospitality. And honestly, if you are going to serve the signature spirit of Mother Kentucky, then have some GD manners! I hate pretentious bourbon bars that violate the principles of southern hospitality. With any good review, there should be some recommendations:1) Lose the freaking TVs. It really takes away from the beauty of the bar. If folks want to watch sports center, then go to Buffalo Wild Wings. 2) Keep the music classy and rustic 3) Add more to your top shelf offerings (being that Ohio is a STUPID FREAKING CONTROL state...I understand that may be tough). You owe it to yourself to check this place out. Just check any pretentiousness at the door. Cheers!
(4)Francis C.
Great bar in downtown Dayton. Great place to go after dinner or for just cocktails. It is a BAR. Old School with very knowledgeable bartenders who will take the time to explain the drinks and the give recommendations. I had dinner at the Pine Club in Dayton (Great Steaks) and then stopped off at the Century Bar for cocktails afterwards and was not disappointed. Joe made me my first "old fashion" bourbon cocktail and it was amazing. He gave me a 5 minute educational talk on bourbon and then let let me taste various drinks he made. Great place to relax and unwind. This bar is a must see in Dayton Ohio. The atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming and a bit rustic. A great place to have a cocktail and unwind. Extensive bourbon collection. A must visit when in Dayton. Go there now!
(5)J S.
Great place. Friendly informative bartender who's a wealth of knowledge about Bourbon.
(5)J P.
Amazing drinks and axing atmosphere. Brought my friends from out of town for a nice bourbon experience and we were not let down. Their bourbon cocktails were phenomenal and my vodka cocktail was great. We will be back every time we can. Hopefully one day they'll have food or a kitchen going , the manager said that is in the works ! Love this place
(5)Mike N.
The Century brings back what great bars used to be like. Classy interior, friendly and knowledgable staff yet the place doesn't fell like an old bar whose time has passed. If you like bourbon then you can't beat the variety and their knowledge. If you don't then they have some other really great drinks many with home made ingredients for a taste you will not get elsewhere.
(5)Don G.
Great whiskey bar--bourbon, scotch, and rye. Caught a mid-Fri afternoon happy hour. Great crowd--nice mix of people and backgrounds. Reasonable prices and access to hard to find brands and expertise to help novices find their way and "pros" learn additional tidbits in between sips. Lots of fun.
(5)Katelin M.
The bar is beautiful and selection of bourbon is the best around. Unfortunately the bartenders don't care about customer service. You can stand at the bar waiting to be helped for easily over 20 minutes and they don't care to help you. The last time I was there, the group of people I was with decided just to leave because it was so annoying to be ignored.
(3)John M.
for whiskey lovers, this is as good as it gets especially for dayton. good selection, suggestions, and mixed drinks. really a bourbon bar without much scotch (they do have macallan, my favorite), but scotch drinkers can learn drink american sometimes. great place to talk to other bourbon enthusiasts!
(5)David B.
We stopped in after seeing Anthony Bourdain Guts and Glory. Lets have one drink and head home we all agreed. We ended the night hours later after imbibing some great bourbon, scotch and beer. And two late night pizzas delivered by Cousin Vinnys. Fantastic bar; everyone mentions the bar/back bar and it is a real beauty, our bartender( forgot his name but had a great beard) was courteous, friendly and ridiculously knowledgeable about his products. The jukebox had great selections and overall we highly recommend this place for a nightcap.
(4)Libby V.
How did I forget my Dad use to take me to lunch here? Back when going downtown was "cool". This place has been here FOREVER. As we are getting ready to disperse my parents ashes, my son brought me and what a fitting tribute. And OMG...this place is a gem. The most beautiful carved walnut bar EVER (and I thought it didn't get any better than the LePavillon in NOLA) with a carved bar from Paris. This bar goes back to 1916 (WAY before I was born). And as if the carved ship heads aren't enough, the stained glass perfectly sets it off. They specialize in bourbon, with more than 70 varieties. Just a few words of warning..it smelled of smoke. No one was smoking when we were there (my party went outside to smoke). It could just be years of smoking has left a mark (since we all know its illegal to smoke in a bar in Ohio). Also, restrooms are old. If you've used restrooms in the French Quarter in Nola, these are 5 star. If your used to the Greene Town Center, these are -5 stars. Just sayin. All in all, this should be in the top 5 places in Dayton not to miss. I love this place. And my standards are high. Stop in for a drink...you'll be glad you did.
(5)Sean H.
Ladies and gentleman, I give you the most beautiful bar in the world. Now, this isn't some BS modern American standard of beauty; nasogastric tubes dripping miniscule amounts of calories into soulless blushing (hemorrhaging?) brides to be......No, this is straight old school. I'm talking Marylin Monroe, Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield; ladies, this is your James Dean or pre-obesity Marlon Brando. This place has the looks and the brass. This is a bourbon bar with a 100+ year old back bar that has hand carved wooden maidens holding up fish scaled stained glass windows that hover over you while you stare headlong into every bourbon available in Ohio. You know what I love? I love that all the BS rail mixers are tucked out of sight under the bar. There's no room for Stoli or Baccardi on the back bar, nope, it goes with the cleaning supplies. They pay as much attention to their bourbon glasses as a fancy wine bar does to their stemwear. If you have a question, like what the hell is bourbon? They'll tell you and they'll do it without any lip. They also have bourbon tastings that are a lot of fun, I'd highly recommend them. Positives: -Great jukebox, good bartenders, great atmosphere. -Awesome bourbon tastings. -They really like what they do and it shows. -Chances are slim you'll sit in a bar this pretty anywhere else in Ohio. A note: Sorry for drawing a penis on my receipt and telling the bar tender to grow hair. I was pretty hammered.
(5)Nikki K.
I never have enough things to say about this amazing Dayton secret spot (well maybe not so much anymore!) For those of you wanting to test the "bourbon" waters, the staff is extremely knowledgable in all things bourbon. They truly LOVE what they do. Every time I have been here has been a fantastic experience. There is no dumb question and no "best" bourbon. Ask and you shall receive! More likely thank not you will leave knowing more than you wanted to know! Plus the ambiance and refurbished bar are the exact opposite from what you would expect from their lonely, glowing sign out front.
(5)Brian C.
Had heard lots of good things about the Century so we decided to check it out with some friends. It's really small inside but we did manage to find some seats and proceeded to look at the drink menu. Now I like bourbon just fine but am by no means an expert or even know what I'm talking about, and there were a lot of choices and I'm sure all of these choices meant something to most of the other people in there, felt a little out of my element! One note about the bar, the architecture was really nice, old wood all over the place gave it a nice nostalgic feel. Now back to the overall experience. My wife is not a fan of bourbon / whiskey so she asked the bartender for something else, he sort of laughed and said "this is a bourbon bar!", talk about feeling stupid. Well, ok then! He made her some drink out of strawberry moonshine which she pretty much didn't drink. The rest of us had one drink, cashed out and left. No food here by the way, or none that I could see. I'm sure for the hard core whiskey / bourbon fans, this place is heaven, we probably won't be returning, it was just ok.
(3)Kiarash Z.
Century is my girlfriend's favorite Dayton bar, and I can see why: the beers are good (Stella, Newcastle and hefeweizen on tap), the bartender was friendly, the crowd was chill and the bar is gorgeously maintained. I asked a fellow patron what type of crowd Century normally draws, as it was an oddly quiet Saturday night. He said "tattoos and lots of black clothing." That -- coupled with darts, a pool table and sports on TV -- sounded like a perfectly well-rounded bar. Also, there's some blueberry-fruity-cocktail that's lights-out yummy.
(4)Noah G.
Had read about this bar & seen the pics in the "Girl About Town" Dayton blog, and was not disappointed. The bartenders were awesome and really know their stuff. Despite being a long-time scotch whisky fan, I was convinced by the bartender to try a flight which included a bourbon, and that turned out to be my favorite one! The bar itself is amazing and contributes to the stately but friendly ambience. Prices fair and atmosphere completely unexpected for somewhere in Dayton (no offense, Dayton, just didn't expect to find places like this tucked away here! We left at about 10 on a Friday night, and it was starting to get a bit busy, so I can see service being a bit slower when busy. Use common sense & if you want more personalized attention/service, go early! Will be going back with friends ASAP.
(5)Terry W.
I've always liked this bar, now I love it! Since upbranding as "The Century Bar, a Bourbon House" by adding over 50 bourbons and cool bourbon furniture it's become a real Dayton treasure. I'm very happy with the changes. The bar tenders are all bourbon experts and the monthly bourbon tasting parties are a blast! I really appreciate the attention to the story of great bourbon as the essence of Midwestern sensibility. The 1863 back bar is also stunningly beautiful making this a truly a historic place. The pool table is out and a cool community table featuring local artists plus a good juke box makes me feel right at home. This is a real bar, a vest pocket utopia!
(5)Adele D.
Century is my favorite local bar. The interior is beautiful and clean (you really have to go to understand how pretty). The crowd is a true mix of people from all ages and interests. There is a pool table if your into that kinda thing and also a juke box in case you feel like playing pump up the Jam on a loop or taking advantage of the fact that your able to play Joy division there:)
(5)Dave H.
Bartenders were knowledgable (compared to me any way). I like that they have a card system to track what you've had. I take notes on mine about what I liked or didn't. The other comments on the decor were true. Interesting stuff. I don't think there's a kitchen here anymore though...
(4)Shånnøn W.
This is the first bar I came to before I moved here and it has remained my favorite local bar ever since. Since that time they have expanded their payment options to include credit cards. Joe and Tim are absolutely the best bartenders in this city. The atmosphere is relaxed and nowhere in this city will make you feel more like you're a castmember from Cheers once you're a repeat patron. They have pool tables, darts, and a fantastic jukebox selection and there is street parking as well ast the row of spaces up against the building to it's right. Just never EVER park in the rest of that lot without paying the attendant. You will definitely get towed. All in all, C-Bar makes Dayton better with it's presence and if you want to get to know the real Dayton, stop in for a drink.
(5)Annie M.
This used to be an awesome place. It still looks great. I just can't deal with the smoke. Despite Ohio's "no smoking" laws, several people were smoking, and it was very unpleasant.
(1)M L.
Small but Fast & friendly service even when it's busy. Good jukebox and amazing old woodwork & stain-glass on the ceiling. Younger crowd late nights. Regulars favorite.
(4)