Things To Do 🌆
Downtown Cincinnati
Just outside the doors of the Hilton lies a bustling downtown full of dining, art, and culture. Within walking distance, you’ll find Fountain Square, the Arnoff Center for the Arts, the Contemporary Arts Center, Taft’s Museum of Art and several other smaller art galleries. You are also very close to some of our favorite areas of Cincy. Each will be described in more detail on this page. But first, here are some of our favorite downtown spots: Reservations strongly advised! - Best Mexican: La Cantina (the Avocado Jalapeño Margarita is to die for, we promise it’s not too 🌶️) - Best Rooftop With A View: Vista at Lytle Park - Best Brunch: Crowne Republic Gastropub (the breakfast burrito is 👌🏻, pro tip: ask for a kid’s cornbread pancake on the side to share) - Best Italian: Sotto (feels like you are dining in an Italian wine cellar 🍷) - Best Steakhouse: Jeff Ruby’s Downtown *Looking for more casual dining, fear not, there are some amazing options under Over-the-Rhine and Vine Street!
Over-The-Rhine
Get ready for one of our favorite neighborhoods! Over-the-Rhine or “OTR” as the locals say is a bustling area filled with bars, restaurants, and local shops. Some highlights for us are Washington Park, Music Hall, and Findlay Market. Here’s some bar suggestions we think you’ll love: - Best Margarita: La Condesa at Bar Saeso - Bar that Passes the Vibe Check: Sommerset - Most Unique Patio: Mecca (order a Clunker) - Swankiest Cocktail Bar: Sundry and Vice - Best Whiskey Bar- Wiseguy Lounge OTR upstairs of Goodfellas Pizzeria (with a whiskey wall so massive they need a ladder) - Best Speakeasy: Ghost Baby *reservations required* - Best Downtown Local Brewery: Taft’s Ale House *Dining recommendations under Vine St. Click on the link for some awesome Walking and Segway tours.
Vine Street
The center of OTR is definitely Vine Street, where you have an abundance of dining options spanning from E Central Parkway to E Liberty Street. Some great spots include Abigail Street, The Alcove, Bakersfield, Krueger’s Tavern and The Eagle. But there are tons more options if you click on the link. For the best experience, we recommend exploring this street by foot, make sure to stop in one of our favorite bars, The Lackman!
The Banks
The Banks is a collective area along Cincinnati’s riverfront packed with all things food, drinks and sports. On opposite ends, you’ll find The Great American Ballpark (home of the Reds) and Paycor Stadium (home of the Bengals). Nestled in between is the newest addition to the area, DORA: Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area. Grab a drink and take a stroll from stadium to stadium. This spot will be vibrant on Sunday during football season, and worth checking out if you like a good tailgate. Feeling more like a relaxing stroll along the riverfront, there are tons of great spots, we recommend from west to east: Smale Riverfront Park, Yeatman’s Cove, Sawyer Point Park, the Purple People Bridge (where you can walk across to Newport Kentucky), and T.M Berry International Friendship Park. Lastly if history is your thing, we recommend the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, an interactive museum considered by many to be “the preeminent cultural learning center for inclusive freedom”.
Eden Park
Eden Park is a wonderful spot less than 10 min drive from downtown where you can enjoy some easy walking trails complete with gardens, gazebos, lakes and beautiful overlooks. Keep in mind, the best view of downtown is right outside the Cincinnati Art Museum, which we highly recommend. It’s just up the hill from Eden Park. Hours are 11 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. Admission is free for the art collections, special exhibits have varied pricing, stay tuned for an update as we get closer to our event! If art is not your thing, there is also Krohn’s Conservatory, a beautiful indoor botanical garden with butterfly shows, open everyday 10 am to 8 pm, admission is $10 for adults. Feeling hungry after exploring, be sure to check out the Mount Adam’s neighborhood, which is located nearby and has several lunch spots. For libations, a personal favorite of ours is the Blind Lemon, if the weather is nice try and snag a seat in their courtyard garden!
Kentucky
If you dare to venture across the river, depending on the bridge you might find yourself in one of these two Northern Kentucky cities: Newport or Covington. In Newport, amazing views of the city skyline at night and entertainment await, at Newport on the Levee, right next to the Newport Aquarium and the Newport Pavillion. Heading towards the riverfront to the west, you’ll find BB Riverboats for a fun river cruise and to the east you’ll find USS Nightmare, if you are needing a good Halloween scare. In Covington, make sure to check out Mainstrasse Village, with its unique architecture, delicious food spots and fun local shops, its the true gem of Covington. Some of our favorite spots are Frieda’s for tacos, Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar for Old Fashioned’s and Otto’s for brunch. From there, we would recommend heading to Devou Park for some nice walking trails and a great overlook of the city and the river.