Weekend Trip & Foodie Guide
to Cincinnati, Ohio
I have been to quite a few cities, but there is just something about Cincinnati that pulls me in every single time I visit. It may have to do with all of my childhood memories taking field trips to the Cincinnati Zoo, the Children’s Museum, or the Aronoff Center. Or it may be that Phil and I are huge soccer fans and our team might just possibly be FC Cincinnati (Cincy Til I Die!).
But, overall, I just think it is a really cool city with a rich history, plenty of character, and steep hills with gorgeous views of the skyline and riverfront at every turn.
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First things first…COFFEE
Can you actually start any trip without a boost of caffeine? If coffee isn’t your thing, I will pretend that I get it and you can just order something non-caffeinated at one of these fabulous locations!
Haven Cafe - Temporarily Closed During Relocation - Technically, Haven is not in Cincinnati, but if Covington doesn’t make it into your weekend trip, then I’m questioning everything. Haven has some of the best flavored coffee drinks in the Greater Cincinnati area. Well-balanced & knocked out of the park every single time. What to Order: The Pandan Latte, though you can’t go wrong at Haven. If you’re not familiar, Pandan is a leaf from a tropical plant used in Southeast Asian cuisine. Its flavor is super unique, but is usually compared to a subtle combination of vanilla and lime.
Collective Espresso - Honestly, this is my favorite downtown coffee shop. Collective makes a mean cappuccino. No frills, just really good coffee with beautiful latte art pours. It does not hurt that it is just around the corner from the incredible Brown Bear Bakery. Want a slow, quiet morning with a perfect cappuccino? This is your place. What to Order: Keep it simple. Cappuccino.
Coffee Emporium - If you like mochas, this is your place. Coffee Emporium roasts their coffee and also makes their own chocolate. The downtown location is walkable from several areas and has plenty of seating to go around. The Hyde Park location is in a cute, two-story home, but is often quite busy. What to Order: Aztec-spiced mocha. It’s not spicy, just filled with delicious spiced flavor & heavy on cinnamon…just how I like it.
Deeper Roots - If you like experimental coffee drinks, this is the place for you. Deeper Roots roasts their own coffee which is delicious in its own rite, but they also have unique seasonal drinks. There’s a downtown location right across from Findlay Market and another location in Oakley. Both are worth it! What to Order: A seasonal special. They’re known for creating fun seasonal concoctions!
Mom n Em Coffee - If well-made cappuccinos with perfect latte art and funky food offerings are your thing, then Mom n Em is your place. Both locations are on the outskirts of town nearer to other sites in the Cincinnati area. What to Order: A latte. Be amazed by the expert latte art!
BREAKFAST
Brown Bear Bakery - Is there a single soul who has had Brown Bear and does not LOVE Brown Bear? I’m not sure it’s even possible. Every pastry is crafted with immense care and talent. Plus, the staff may just be the friendliest people on the planet. What to Order: The Everything Bagel croissant is my all-time favorite breakfast pastry, but the Brown Butter Blondie and Chocolate Chip Cookie are our quintessential road trip necessities if we are passing through.
Boomtown Biscuits and Whiskey - I mean honestly…a biscuit flight…need we say more? This quirky Gold-Rush-themed-biscuit-restaurant (did you see that coming??) used to have a location in the Pendleton neighborhood of Cincinnati, but its only location is now on the KY side of the river. The biscuits are still worth it. What to Order: The biscuits and gravy flight.
Cedar - This brunch spot is also across the river in Covington, but it makes up for it in delicious elevated brunch staples in a non-stuffy environment. And, really, it’s still on a super cute street in Covington, so it doesn’t have anything to make up for anyway! What to Order: Biscuit Bowl (biscuit topped with a lamb chorizo gravy and a fried egg) or the Chicken and Waffles. Both are excellent.
Sleepy Bee Cafe - If you’re in Cincinnati, you’re probably decently close to a Sleepy Bee location. This cute brunch spot is sure to please everyone in the party. Plus, if you haven’t tried goetta, this is your perfect chance to try this Cincinnati staple! Goetta is a sausage & grain mixture that was popularized by German immigrants to the Cincy area to make the meat stretch farther. It may have originally been intended to conserve money, but it’s still a popular menu item today! If you’re visiting in late July or early August, you can even catch Glier’s Goettafest lining the KY side of the river. What to Order: The Queen City Bee Sandwich complete with goetta, apple, arugula, an egg, and their house “nectar” sauce.
LUNCH
Findlay Market - This bustling open market is right in the heart of Cincy’s beloved Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. It offers fresh meat & cheese counters, produce stands, & several restaurants located both inside and just outside of the market. What to Eat: You can’t go wrong! Our favorite restaurants in the Findlay Market block are The Arepa Place, Eli’s BBQ, & Babushka Pierogi. Stop by Maverick Coffee Co. for a chocolate bar or a hot chocolate!
Olla Taqueria - Here’s another Covington spot, but trust me when I say it is WORTH it. Everything on the menu at this taqueria is absolutely delicious from their quesadillas to their birria tacos. We love to order the Guti Nachos which are absolutely delicious and HUGE. Definitely enough to split! What to Order: The Guti Nachos are AMAZING.
Skyline Chili - YES it is a chain, but also a trip to Cincinnati is not complete without Cincinnati chili. Skyline is my family’s personal favorite of the chili branches. If you’ve never had Cincinnati chili, it is absolutely heaven in a bite and I promise you that I am only extremely biased. This cinnamon-spiced chili was the lovechild of Greek immigrants to the Greater Cincinnati area who crafted a delicious chili filled with traditional Greek spices. A 3-way with spaghetti, Cincinnati chili, and finely shredded Cheddar cheese is, in fact, a love letter to this midwestern city. What to Order: Literally anything. But I get a 4-way with onions.
ACTIVITIES
Cincinnati Zoo - One word: Fiona. Cincinnati’s beloved hippo is the most famous resident of the Cincinnati Zoo, though the entire property is filled with things to see and experience for all ages. If you’re visiting during December, stop in during the evenings for the Festival of Lights & enjoy the animals, the lights, and your inevitable hot cocoa.
Cincinnati Art Museum & Eden Park - Take the winding road up the hill on the edge of downtown Cincinnati to the Cincinnati Art Museum where admission is free and the views are spectacular! Adjacent Eden Park offers beautiful views of the Ohio River (& the Kentucky Riverfront), as well as the Krohn Conservatory.
Contemporary Arts Center - With rotating displays focusing on developments in a variety of art genres, this museum also offers free admission. It’s a fun activity located right in the heart of downtown Cincy, making it accessible to most visitors.
Smale Riverfront Park - On the Ohio side of the Cincinnati river rests Smale Riverfront Park, which offers walking trails, beautiful flowers, the Barr labyrinth, and a host of festivals and events throughout the year. On game days, you can pop up to The Banks, the restaurant & bar pedestrian area nestled directly between the Cincinnati Bengals’ Paycor Stadium & the Cincinnati Reds’ Great American Ball Park.
American Sign Museum - If you’re looking for an offbeat and unique activity during your trip to Cincy, this is your spot. The American Sign Museum preserves more than 100 years of iconic sign designs, showcasing incredible craftsmanship in the art of neon sign making.
Covington & Newport - These are technically across the river into Kentucky, but they both offer lots of fun options for visitors. Covington is a beautiful, German-inspired historic city filled with bustling restaurants on its walkable Main Street. Newport on the Levee offers several restaurants (including one of few Hofbrauhaus locations in the US just across the street!), bars, and gaming halls. Both Covington & Newport offer beautiful views of the Ohio River and the Cincinnati skyline.
DINNER
Sotto - It’s often difficult to find a reservation at this highly coveted Italian restaurant located in a gorgeous wine cellar. If you’re like me and you never know what your plans are weeks in advance (often required), you can sometimes snag a last-minute reservation to Sotto. Every dish I have ever had here has been delicious, making it one of the foodie population in Cincy’s favorite spots! What to Order: Everything is phenomenal, but I would recommend starting with their grilled bread with goat cheese & hazelnut honey.
Mita’s - If you love tapas, this is the spot for you. Jose Salazar is a beloved Cincinnati chef and Mita’s does not disappoint. Its rotating menu features a variety of Spanish cuisine. What to Order: Mita’s menu changes regularly & every dish we have had has been exquisite. You can’t go wrong!
Fillo - This cute Greek-inspired bistro serves elevated food in a chic atmosphere just steps away from beautiful Washington Park. What to Order: The Fried Feta. OMG. No words.
Taste of Belgium - This restaurant is a laidback (read: less fancy than the above restaurants) breakfast/lunch/dinner/dessert chain throughout the Cincy area. As you may have guessed, Taste of Belgium is known for their Belgian waffles, which are divine. Their menu is robust and features many non-waffle options, making this a perfect place if you have a group of people with varied tastebuds and an unwillingness to compromise. Nonetheless, a bag of the Belgian waffles for the road is always a win if you eat here or happen to be walking by! What to Order: The waffles, of course! We take a bag home, freeze it, and pop it in the oven for a breakfast treat on occasion.
The Gruff - AKA the place to go if you have kids. The Gruff has great pizza and beer, but it also has a place for kids to play with toys and games while everyone relaxes from the day’s activities. The atmosphere is very casual, though it does get a bit busy on game days. What to Order: The shaved Brussels sprout and lemon pizza. I’m not even kidding. Several people recommended it and now I cannot not order it if I go to The Gruff. It’s delicious.
DRINKS
Somerset Bar - This may be the most aesthetic spot in all of Cincinnati. With a lush, hidden patio and a moody, dreamy lounge, you will feel like you have been transported to some far away tropical paradise. What to Order: Ube Margarita. I’ve had many delicious drinks at Somerset and somehow that Ube Margarita keeps bringing me back every single time.
Rhinegeist Brewery - Cincinnati’s most famous brewery and for good reason. Their huge selection of beloved brews speak for themselves and their downtown location in Over-the-Rhine is the perfect hangout spot. The space is large with ample seating and a beautiful rooftop right in the middle of the city. What to Order: Rhinegeist has a beer for every beer and cider drinker. Order your preference & you won’t be disappointed!
Ghost Baby - This speakeasy is located far in the depths of the city in a 150-yr-old lagering tunnel used by local breweries before refrigeration. Yeah, I think that speaks for itself. The atmosphere is very unique, they offer live music 7 days a week, and the drinks are great. What to Order: If you want a unique experience, you can order the #4, a sour-inspired drink topped with “buzz button”, a flower that numbs your mouth. The drink is good; the experience is funky!
Lost & Found - Lost & Found is an artsy, dimly lit lounge with phenomenal drink specials, making it a perfect spot to meet up with someone for a nice cocktail. What to Order: Though their menu changes, we had a clarified milk punch special at Lost & Found that was crystal clear & absolutely bursting with flavor. My mouth is watering just thinking about that drink.
Had your fill of Cincinnati? Head down I-75 straight to Lexington or check out our other top things to do in the state of Kentucky (just across the river).
