Step Inside Tender Mercy – Dayton’s Underground Bar

If you’re looking for a night out that makes you feel like you’re miles away from reality, make the trek down to Tender Mercy, an underground cocktail bar in downtown Dayton.

The Place

Located below Sueño, down a set of subway stairs off the sidewalk in the Webster Station area of downtown Dayton, Tender Mercy is a dark, moody space filled with unusual objects and fascinating decor everywhere your eyes land.

The ceiling is a little lower, the walls are brick, and the floor is concrete – but this is far from a typical basement dive bar. The furniture is sleek but comfortable, the lighting is low, and candles glow on every table.

There are four spaces: The first area is a lounge featuring a wall-sized mural and a futuristic wall feature (main image above).

The bar has plenty of seating and it’s a great vantage point to watch the bartenders work their magic.

The third space has a set of banquette seating facing each other with stools surrounding each cocktail table.

The back room of Tender Mercy (formerly reserved for sushi bar, Dōzo, but now open to all guests) has higher ceilings and table seating, perfect for groups.

The Drinks

Cocktails are Tender Mercy’s speciality. They hire brilliant bartenders and let them shine by curating a menu of their creations. I like to take a look at the menu beforehand to have an idea of what I want to try. These cocktails are unique, complex, and strong.

The cocktails on the menu are made ahead and kept on draft behind the bar. I recommend trying one of theirs versus ordering something you could get anywhere else.

If you’re not in the mood for a cocktail, they also serve amazing wine and beer. They offer mocktails with as much complexity as their buzzy counterparts, too.

The Details

Tender Mercy hosts tons of events – subscribe to their emails and keep an eye on their social media for all the updates.

Parking is easy: There’s plenty of street parking all around Webster Station. Plus, Tender Mercy offers complimentary valet parking – just pull up to the curb by Sueño to arrange with the attendant at the valet podium.

Notice a family resemblance? Sueño and Three Birds are sister businesses with Tender Mercy.

Tender Mercy
607 E 3rd Street, Dayton, Ohio
(937) 453-0007