I recently had a chance to go to Cincinnati for a work conference. While the days were filled with work related activities, I was going to get four evenings to explore what this city had to offer. My expectations weren’t the highest since you don’t usually hear the city’s name mentioned very often. However, after I came back from my trip, I was surprised with just how many great restaurants and neat places the Queen City has to offer. Here are my top picks if you only have three to four evenings or couple of days to spend.

Best Attractions

Walk from Bengals stadium to the Reds stadium – the walk from the Paul Brown Stadium (home of the Bengals) to the Great American Ball Park (home of the Reds) is only about 0.5 miles long. However, there are soo many little fun activities and places to sit and just take it all in along this path. There are fountains, mazes, kids play area and historic statues. You can just bring a picnic, sit on grass, and enjoy the riverboats passing by on the river. There are even porch-style swings overlooking the river that are fun and relaxing.

Roebling Suspension Bridge – at the time of this post, the Roebling suspension bridge was closed to car traffic. This made the bridge even more special as you can currently walk right in the center where cars usually would be zooming by you. This bridge was kind of a test model that Roebling used before making the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The architecture is impressive with massive steel cables supported by huge concrete towers. Plus, you can’t really beat the spectacular views of downtown Cincinnati and Kentucky from atop the bridge.

Great American Ball Park – if you are in Cincinnati during the summer and the Reds are playing, you must attend one of the baseball games. The cheapest nosebleed seats are only $16 but they give you great view of not only the game but the tall buildings of downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio river. The baseball park is also known to have some of the best ballpark food. I had a chance to try out the Cheetos popcorn that did not disappoint.  

Over the Rhine (OTR)  – Over-the-Rhine, or the OTR as the locals call it, is a historic area of Cincinnati that once used to host German immigrants. Nowadays, it’s where some of the trendiest restaurants, shops, and breweries exist. This roughly 300 acres area also has beautifully preserved buildings. You can easily spend almost half a day just dotting in and out of unique boutique shops while eating your way thru Japanese, Mexican, and American restaurants. 

 

Findlay Market – Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest surviving municipal markets. It contains a big selection of vendors selling fresh cut meats, produce, and baked goods. My favorite shop, however, is the Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & Spices shop. They must have one of the biggest collections of spices anywhere. Make sure to take a sniff of their Danish Viking Smoked Salt which is unlike any other salt you may have come accross. The water that this salt comes from is smoked over five different types of woods including Cherry, Oak, Beech, Juniper, and Elm wood. The result is an over-the-top pungently smoky smelling salt. While costing a whopping $19.52/ounce, you only need a very small pinch to flavor your fish and meats.

Best Restaurants

Mita’s – Mita’s is a modern Spanish tapas restaurant. I have tried my fair share of Spanish tapas in the past but what sets Mita’s apart is the mix of authentic and the experimental tapas dishes that they serve. I tried their short rib empanadas with cilantro-chili sauce, Pulpo with potato foam, Tacos Dorados, and Steak with carrot and almond sauce. Everything tasted and smelled exceptionally flavorful.

Taste of Belgium – having been to Belgium, I have been looking for a place with authentic Belgian waffles and beers and I think I found it! Taste of Belgium makes authentic Leige waffles that are thicker and denser compared to the American style waffles. Try their Waffle & Chicken that’s topped with Ohio maple syrup and hot sauce. They also have over 35 Belgian beers on tap! Nothing beats getting a taste of Belgium while sitting outside on a bright summer day.

Graeter’s Ice Cream – every Ohioan seems to know and raves about Graeter’s ice cream. They have a location overlooking the Netherland Plaza that I highly recommend for the ambiance aspect. What sets their ice cream apart is their use of real chunks of fruit. Try their Black Cherry Chocolate Chip that is made by pairing sweet dark cherries from the Pacific Northwest with their gourmet bittersweet chocolate chips. Every dinner should end with a trip to Graeter’s!

Best Breweries

Rhinegeist – This very young brewery has only been operating since 2013. It is located north of the OTR area on the sleepy Elm street. The entrance looks a little strange and you question if this really is the right place. Once you climb up the dimly lit stairs and arrive on the main floor, you are suddenly presented with a massive wide open space filled with fermentation tanks and people playing corn hole. The flagship beer that Rhinegeist sells is the Truth IPA and is truthfully the best IPA I have ever had. It’s not only not overly hoppy or bitter but packs in an amazing amount of flavor. Grab a pint of Truth and play a game of corn hole for a guaranteed good time. They also have a pretty sweet rooftop area that gives widespread views of the city.

Taft’s Ale House – An equally impressive brewery is the Taft’s Ale house. When you enter the main doors after taking a set of stairs, you’ll feel like this place looks like a church…and you would be right! This ale house used to be the St. Paul’s Evangelical Church. Dedicated to Cincinnati’s very own 27th US President, William Howard Taft, this Ale House is truly special. It has tall ceilings, beautiful chandeliers and a sleek vibe with pictures of William Taft hanging on the walls. What makes it even better is that they have great beers and great food. This is the type of place that’s meant for sitting down with a bunch of close friends and having deep thought-provoking conversations. 

Best Hotels

Hilton Netherland Plaza  – This national historic landmark hotel has been operating since 1931 and is one of the swankiest hotels in the city. This is where Bing Crosby used to come down from his room, take the main stair leading to the sidewalk, and sing to the crowds waiting outside as he sat down in his car. Numerous famous people have stayed here. The main lobby and the restaurant is a sight to behold in itself.

AC Hotel Cincinnati at The Banks – this is the ultra modern hotel run by Marriott. They have rooms overlooking the river, the ballpark, or the river front park. The coolest part of the hotel is the huge rooftop bar. You have 360 degree view of the surroundings and the views gets especially impressive at night when the Roebling bridge lights up. Some other interesting amenities include: tiny bags of lavender to put next to your bedside, European style breakfast with croissants made from French flour, and waterfall style faucets in the bathroom.

Unique Spots

Largest liquor store in the country – If you have some extra time leftover while you’re in Cincinnati, take a quick 10 minute ride to America’s largest liquor store located in Kentucky. Even if you’re not in the mood to buy anything, it’s mesmerizing to see the collection of bourbons (we’re in KY after all) that they have. You literally cannot see where the aisle of bourbons ends!