Cincinnati, Ohio was dubbed The Queen City in the 19th century as westward expansion in the U.S. saw this golden midwest hub as a beacon of architecture, culture, and economic boom. The Cincinnati of today still proudly bears the marks of that great period of growth, and the city's theatre companies include Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, The Know Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, amongst many others. Each of these companies as well as some great collegiate theatre training programs contribute to a vibrant scene with enough incredible food and drink to keep any actor happy.
At Sotto restaurant downtown, it is all about the pasta. This subterranean Italian lair of candles and beautiful dark corners is a sexy hideaway where the ambiance might seem to overwhelm the food, but the food is there to match it. Come here with friends and enjoy a beautiful meal of simple, fresh Italian dishes alongside a gorgeous wine menu. Reservations can be tricky to come by, but lunch can also be a helpful way to avoid the wait and the pricetag while still getting that seasonal hand-made pasta your heart needs.
118 E 6th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 HOURS: Mon- Thurs 11AM- 2PM; 5PM- 10PM Fri 11AM- 2PM; 5PM- 11PM Sat 5- 11PM Sun 4PM- 9PM sottocincinnati.com
Skyline Chili
Every city has their thing. Philadelphia = The Cheesesteak. Chicago= Deep Dish Pizza. Minneapolis= The Juicy Lucy. And Cincinnati has Skyline Chili. This strange concoction of spaghetti topped with chili topped with shredded cheese and served alongside oyster crackers, is a delicious combination of disparate pieces that will make you quickly understand why its beloved, city-wide.
ALL OVER. CRAZY DIFFERENT HOURS skylinechili.com
Bouquet Restaurant
Bouquet defines itself as a "farm-to-table-bistro" in downtown Convington, Kentucky. The bar area of this intimate, homey restaurant is a perfect spot to grab a bite and sample from this beautiful menu without spending an arm and a leg. Pair alongside your food a delicious bourbon cocktail, and you will be treating yourself to an ideal Kentucky experience just minutes away from downtown Cincinnati.
519 Main St, Covington, KY 41011 HOURS: Mon- Sat 4:30PM- 10PM Sun CLOSED bouquetrestaurant.com
Abigail Street
Chef Dan Wright has a few popular eateries in Cincinnati, but Abigail Street is his Over-the-Rhine homage to Mediterranean flavors. It is a tapas menu here, so come with friends and sample away. Their Lebanese Spiced Lamb with whipped tahini, za'atar roasted tomatoes, baby kale, and onion as well as their Chorizo Dates with medjool dates, bacon, roasted tomato, and toasted almonds are all just mouth watering perfection.
At The Eagle its all about the Fried Chicken. This late-night eatery boasts a delicious collection of local craft beers on tap to have alongside the Southern fare offered here. Alongside your fried chicken enjoy Collard Greens stewed with ham hocks and bacon, or Spoonbread (cornbread) in an iron skillet with maple butter, or White Cheddar Grits with housemade pickles. All in all, come ready to feast and enjoy yourself.
Get ready. I'm about to rave. Listermann's Brewery is a friendly, neighborhood craft brewery that is churning out absolutely delicious beer. We're talking the solid classics alongside highly experimental brews. With Renegade Grille located inside, you can pair your beer with a delicious burger and fries, but I highly recommend a flight to start. Their Chickow! is an award winner and a classic, a double-brown ale with hazelnut, as well as their Team Fiona, a NE IPA, and from there try something totally unique and seasonal. The staff here will be happy to assist. The cozy front bar area is ideal for something more intimate or their expansive back room is strewn with long communal tables ideal for larger groups.
1621 Dana Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45207 TAP ROOM HOURS: Mon- Tues 10AM- 9PM GRILL HOURS: Sun- Tues 11AM- 8PM Wed- Thurs 10AM- 10pM Wed- Thurs 11AM- 9PM Fri- Sat 10AM- 12AM Fri- Sat 11AM- 10PM Sun 11AM- 9pM listermannbrewing.com
Rhinegeist
Housed in an enormous old packaging facility, Rhinegeist brewery was a born out of love for the Queen City itself, and this very very special brewery will win your heart in more ways than one. First thing to love is the brewery's support for its hometown, next is its spacious, hip, and terribly fun beer hall in Over-the-Rhine, but the real sucker punch will be the beers themselves. These concoctions are goddamn delicious. With a bent towards West Coast flavor profiles, these beers are all exceptionally well made, but the Truth IPA is the one that will haunt your dreams so make especially sure to try that one first. Grab yourself a flight and a hacky sack game and enjoy the heck out of yourself in this cement wonderland.
1910 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 HOURS: Mon- Thurs 3PM- 12AM Fri 3PM- 2AM Sat 12PM- 2PM Sun 12PM- 9PM rhinegeist.com
Urban Artifact
Urban Artifact is an extremely special place. This taproom, located in the lower level of a church in Cincinnati's Northside, is where the religion of sours is practiced. These sours will change your opinion of what sours are capable of. I, for one, was not a big fan before visiting Urban Artifact, but the full, round flavor of these sours is such a far cry from the saccharine sweet creations I had had in the past. Locally and sustainably sourced and seasonal, these sours are crafted from local berries and honey and vanilla and are just exquisite in flavor. Come here to indulge your senses and check out their website to see when a local band (or two) might be playing!
1660 Blue Rock St, Cincinnati, OH 45223 HOURS: Mon 4PM- 10PM Tues- Thurs 4PM- 12AM Fri- Sat 12PM- 1:30AM Sun 12PM- 10PM artifactbeer.com
Madtree
Madtree Brewery is another Cincinnati craft brewery that is turning heads nationwide. Their enormous taprooms will usually be mobbed with locals and tourists alike, but this has had no effect on the quality of the product here. These beers are absolutely spot on, and, when paired with a Catch-a-Fire woodfired pizza available in their taproom, you will be in for an absolutely delicious ride.
3301 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209 TAPROOM HOURS: Sun- Thurs 11AM- 11PM Fri- Sat 11AM- 1AM CATCH-A-FIRE PIZZA HOURS: Mon- Thurs 11AM- 10PM Fri 11AM- 12AM Sat 10AM- 12AM Sun 10AM- 10PM madtreebrewing.com
Woodburn Brewery
Woodburn Brewery is located in a quieter neighborhood of Cincinnati called Walnut Hills, and, on a sleepy block, this neighborhood craft brewery has been quietly building up quite a rep. These sleek, exposed brick and black steel interior will make you feel downright cool, so kick back and sample the solidly crafted brews Woodburn has to offer.
2724 Woodburn Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206 HOURS: Mon- Thurs 4PM- 11PM Fri- Sat 12PM- 12AM Sun 12PM- 11PM http://www.woodburnbrewery.com/
BARS:
Sundry and Vice
Sundry and Vice is a beautiful oxymoron of a bar. Open late in a trendy neighborhood with excellent cocktails, however, this spot is NOT break the bank expensive, the vibe is actually super chill with a hip playlist going and initials scratched into the wooden tables, and a friendly, down-to-earth staff eager to please. Swing by here when you need that cocktail to get the night going or as your final nightcap at 1:30am. They've got you covered.
18 W 13th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 HOURS: Mon CLOSED Tues- Fri 4PM- 2AM Sat- Sun 12PM- 2AM sundryandvice.com
Longfellow
Longfellow cocktail bar manages the strike the perfect balance between clean, crisp elegance and homely friendliness. This wood and exposed brick corner spot features a large horseshoe bar and scattered tables around, ideal for a smaller group or a date, and the thoughtful, expert cocktail menu here is fun, highly accessible, and utterly delicious. If you're looking for a somewhat sexier vibe, check out their OTHER ROOM bar in the back featured below....
1233 Clay St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 HOURS: Mon CLOSED Tues- Fri 4PM- 2AM Sat 2PM- 2AM Sun 2PM- 12AM longfellowbar.com
OTHER ROOM at Longfellow
Only open four nights a week, walk yourself through Longfellow to the back kitchen and hang a left, there you will enter a tiny wonderland of tikki drinks and dim candlelight. The OTHER ROOM Bar at Longfellow is for anyone who takes their rum seriously, and these bartenders have moved way beyond mojitos and painkillers into experimental explorations using only the freshest of local ingredients, and (did I mention?) really, really good rum.
Owned by a woman and mostly operated by women (you only need to visit the spot a few times for evidence of that) bring your wine business to 1215 Wine Bar in over-the-Rhine where an expertly selected wine list doesn't push the price tag up too high, and their casual, friendly digs (complete with coffee bar) is as chill as anyone could hope for. Maybe you'll even luck out on a night where some local music swings by and breaks out a cello!? This is a sexy, fun, chill option for an evening out in over-the-Rhine.
Dunlap Cafe was an accidental find while killing time before a recommended brewery opened, but, man, am I glad I did, because this spot has been around FOREVER, long before over-the-Rhine became the trendy hot spot that it is today. Established in 1936, this is your go-to for a wildly affordable plate of skyline chile and a local craft brew for under $4. There's no excuse, come by here with your business and your empty stomach, and you will be embraced by friendly clientele and a spot so comfortable, you might feel in someone's living room.
1926 Dunlap St, Cincinnati, OH 45214 HOURS: Mon- Thurs 7AM- 5PM Fri 7AM- 8PM Sat 8AM- 3PM Sun CLOSED dunlapcafe.com
Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar
I don't know about you, but when I think Kentucky, I think bourbon, and Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar is your spot to sample a vast array of what this state is churning out. Come and sample away with expert bartenders who are happy to assembly a few small pours for you before you commit to a straight up glass of your absolute favorite.
629 Main St, Covington, KY 41011 HOURS: Mon- Thurs 4PM- 12AM Fri- Sun 12Pm- 1AM
DISTILLERIES:
New Riff Distillery
Established in 2014, New Riff Distillery is true to its name. This small-batch distillery is still new on a scene seeped in old bourbon making tradition, but it's experimentation and striving for excellence has already placed it on the map of great bourbons coming out of Kentucky. Open for tastings and tours in two of its facilities just across the river from Cincinnati, this is the spot to come and see how the process of great bourbon making happens. The staff here is friendly, easy going, and visibly thrilled to share in their life's work with you, and, if you are a gin drinker, they also put out a complex, delicious gin that's sip-able and refreshing as heck.
24 Distillery Way, Newport, KY 41073 HOURS: Mon CLOSED Tues- Sat 11AM- 7PM Sun 11AM- 4PM newriffdistilling.com
Northside Distillery
Northside Distillery began as a labor or love between two friends and has blossomed into a high-quality distillery right in the heart of downtown Cincinnati where you can tour and sample from their exquisite selection of whisky, vodka, bourbon, gin, agave, and rum. Every single piece of the process is done on site, and these guys are thrilled to show you around.
The most mind-blowing thing about every single offering at Cherbourg Cyprus is that this bakery is committed to being entirely gluten AND nut free, and not a single degree of flavor is lost in any of their sweet delights. Their large, bright space in over-the-Rhine features an open air kitchen behind the counter where you can watch these experts at work and then settle in with a snack and beverage for an absoluty delicious treat when your sweet tooth calls.
1804 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 HOURS: Mon CLOSED Tues- Sat 7:30AM- 4PM Sun 7:30AM- 3PM cherbourgcyprus.com
OTHER:
Downtown Murals
Cincinnati is a city of murals. Wandering the streets downtown is a veritable treasure trove of gorgeous works of art wherever you look, and I encourage whatever wandering you can do- do, to take in these colorful, creative, impactful creations.
Smale Riverfront Park
This stunning riverside park has been manicured and crafted to be ideal for folks looking to soak up some sunshine, some water, and the beautiful houses on the other shore.
Washington Park
Washington Park is the beautiful park adjacent to the hip Over-the-Rhine district downtown and right next to Cincinnati Shakespeare's gorgeous new space. This is a very wander-able, sit-on-a-bench-awhile park with the stunning and historic symphony building as its crown jewel to look on.
Covington, Kentucky
Pop across the Ohio River to visit Covington, KY if you have the time. There is a slower pace on the other side of the river, but there's a hip downtown strip of shops and restaurant well worth a visit and wander.