How to Experience Cincinnati Like a Local

• Smale Riverwalk: Did you know that Cincinnati is home to one of the best riverwalks in the entire country? In 2024 USA Today voted Smale Riverfront Park the best in the USA. I frequently spend afternoons walking or cycling down along the river. It offers beautiful views of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, Ohio River and Cincinnati Skyline.

• Visit for Oktoberfest: While Munich, Germany is home to the largest Oktoberfest in the world, Cincinnati clocks in at second. The city’s strong German roots are on full display during September every year with this epic celebration. There’s a ton of live music, German food and great local beers available to enjoy during the festival. Not only that but you can participate in the world’s largest chicken dance, watch the running of the wiener dogs and more!

• Visit Fountain Square: There are a ton of events hosted at Fountain Square throughout year that vary with the season. You can enjoy live concerts here during the warmer months, ice skating during the winter or try one of the food trucks that frequent the area.

• Enjoy a sporting event: Cincinnati is home to a number of professional sports teams. Between the Bengals, Reds and FCC you can take your pick of football, baseball or soccer depending on the time of year. Check out the Cyclones for minor league hockey or the University of Cincinnati for collegiate sporting events as well!

• Cincinnati Art Museum: Our art museum is always free and plays host to a number of great exhibits and events. My personal favorite is called Art After Dark which is a monthly event held on Friday nights where you can enjoy live music and a drink in between browsing exhibits.

• Meet Fiona at the Cincinnati Zoo: The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is regarded as one of the best zoos in the country. It’s home to all of the most popular animals you would hope to find at a zoo like giraffes, elephants, lions and more! It’s also home to Fiona, one of the most Instafamous zoo animals in the world. Try your hand feeding a giraffe, enjoying the beautiful gardens or walking through millions of lights during the winter Festival of Lights celebration.

• Cincinnati Museum Center (Cincinnati museum center): Also known as Union Terminal, the Cincinnati Museum Center takes up residence in a beautiful historic train station that has been completely converted into a modern day museum. Not only can you explore permanent exhibits highlighting the city’s history, but there’s a massive Omnimax movie theater and the museum routinely hosts world class traveling exhibitions.

• Loveland Bike Trail: Interested in spending an afternoon getting some fresh air and exercise? Located in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati be sure to check out the Loveland Bike Trail. This area offers endless miles of scenic bike and walking trails that track along the Little Miami River. You’ll have no problem finding a shop to rent a bike if you didn’t bring your own.

• King’s Island: Looking for an amusement park to entertain the family? Located 20 minutes from the city center, Kings Island is a massive 360+ acre amusement park that’s filled with themed rides, games and more. It’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon especially if you’re visiting with children.

• Explore Findlay Market: Be sure to check out Ohio’s longest continuously operated market which is located in the heart of Over-The-Rhine. I love popping up here throughout the week to shop the wide variety of vendors and even get some grocery shopping done at the farmers market. There’s a ton of great vendors to explore and plenty of food options so be sure to come hungry.

Day Trips:

• Red River Gorge: This is my favorite day trip spot when I’m looking to get away from the city and do some hiking. A couples hours south into Kentucky you’ll find great hiking trails, rock climbing walls, underwater caves that you can canoe through and so much more. Be sure to check out the Natural Bridge and my favorite hike out to Auxier Ridge.

• Keeneland: One of Kentucky’s best horse racing venues resides in Cincinnati’s backyard. Be sure to check out the track and bet on some ponies if you’re in town during a race.

• Explore the Bourbon Trail: The majority of big-name bourbon distilleries resides just outside of Cincinnati. Don’t miss out on some of my favorite bourbon at the Buffalo Trace Distillery or the amazing hospitality at the Maker’s Mark facilities.

• Yellowsprings: If you’re looking for a quick escape to farmer’s markets, open air markets and some beautiful hiking opportunities, look no further than Yellowsprings. A short drive north from the city, this is a great place to hit during the summer on the weekends where the town comes alive with markets and visitors from the surrounding communities.

• Clifty Falls: Clifty Falls State Park is a short drive from Cincinnati and resides in neighboring Indiana. The park is home to waterfalls, park space, hiking trails and beautiful views. This is one of my favorite places to go leaf peeping during the fall when the trees are on fire with autumn colors.

• Mammoth Cave National Park: The closest National Park to Cincinnati is a short drive south into Kentucky. Mammoth Cave boasts the world’s longest known cave system with over 400 miles of cavernous adventure awaiting visitors.

Top ten places to drink:

• Ghost Baby: Looking for something a little bit off the beaten path? Ghost Baby is a cocktail bar and live performance venue housed in a centuries old underground brewery. Whether you want to kick back with a craft cocktail or soak up some live entertainment, this place has amazing ambience and offers a truly unique evening experience.

• Rhinegeist: Cincinnati has a rich German heritage. So it’s no surprise that the city is full of great brewery options. Rhinegeist is located in the historic Over-The-Rhine area of Downtown and offers some of the city’s most popular beers on tap. The taproom is huge and routinely hosts community events. If you’re visiting outside of the winter months, be sure to check out their rooftop beer garden for some of the best views in town while enjoying a cold Truth IPA, my favorite!

• Somerset: There’s no better cocktail bar vibe in Cincinnati than what they offer at Somerset. The main bar resides in a historic greenhouse style building. Connected to the main bar you’ll find a library lounge that has speakeasy vibes and a large open air courtyard. The decor here is expertly curated which goes great with their upscale cocktail menu.

• Sundry & Vice: A dark an intimate apothecary style cocktail experience awaits you at Sundry & Vice. Known for some of the best cocktails in town a drink here pairs well with a stroll through nearby Washington Park or dinner in Over-The-Rhine.

• Harth Room: For travelers looking to enjoy live jazz music paired with a coffee or upscale cocktail, be sure to check out the Harth Room. You’ll typically find live performances here during the weekend evenings, just be sure to show up early to guarantee yourself a table since they usually fill up by show time!

• MadTree: Another one of Cincinnati’s staple local breweries, MadTree offers guest a sprawling indoor / outdoor bar space and great craft beer. Enjoy a game of corn hole (an Ohio past time) outside on the patio or a pizza dinner at their onsite restaurant.

• Top of the Park: On the surface this is just a hotel bar, but it has the most incredible panoramic rooftop views in the entire city. The operating hours for this hidden gem are somewhat limited, so be sure to check in advance. You won’t be disappointed with the views.

• Longfellow’s: My favorite neighborhood bar to grab a cocktail, Longfellow’s is located in the heart of OTR. They have a great craft cocktail menu along with a beer menu that contains plenty of off the run finds. Be sure to ask the bartender about ‘the other room’ which is their spin on a connected speakeasy rum bar with limited operating hours.

• Arnold’s: Cincinnati’s oldest tavern has over 150 years of history. Come here for a drink or enjoy some of their great food options and stick around for live music in the open-air courtyard.

• Blind Pig: If the weather is nice and you’re looking to enjoy a cold beer before a sporting event, look no further than the Bling Pig. A self proclaimed modern day speak-easy, this open air bar is located a short walk from the major sporting venues and sits perched above Third Street. You can grab traditional pub fare at its connected sister pub, O’Malley’s in the alley.

Top 10 places to eat:

• The Precinct: Local restauranteur Jeff Ruby holds the title of best steak in Cincinnati. While the Downtown mainliner restaurant is more popular, this location located just outside of the city takes up residence inside in old prison. You’ll find a similar menu, but a unique ambiance that in my opinion makes this the best spot in town to enjoy a high-end steak dinner.

• Sotto: This is my favorite Italian restaurant in town. Located underneath its sister restaurant Boca, this spot has excellent vibes and a more reasonably priced menu. You’ll find no shortage of excellent pasta dishes and be sure to treat yourself to the donut holes after your meal. It’s my favorite dessert in Cincinnati!

• Sleepy Bee: Looking for a great spot to enjoy brunch in town? Look no further than Sleepy Bee. This restaurant has a cult following amongst locals and you’ll find a convenient location in the heart of Downtown offering a wide variety of traditional brunch dishes.

• Coffee Emporium: Downtown Cincinnati has no shortage of great coffee shops, but this is where I go when I want to enjoy my favorite cup of coffee. Coffee Emporium boasts a large location and a great selection of food and pastry options to pair with your drink.

• Incline Public House: The food here is great, but it’s mostly pizza and traditional pub fare. What really sets this place apart is its stunning views of Downtown Cincinnati. It’s my favorite viewpoint in town and during the warmer months you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy scenic views while you eat.

• Mita’s: Mita’s is a James Beard nominated restaurant created by Cincinnati Chef phenom Jose Salazar. While he has other worthy restaurants in town, Mita’s boasts a farm inspired menu that centers around tapas style dishes from Spain and Latin America. This is a great place to go for an intimate shared dinner with friends over a glass or two of Sangria.

• Eli’s BBQ: Eli’s holds the crown for best BBQ in town. They have a location in the historic Findlay Market as well as a picnic style location on the outskirts of Downtown. Whichever vibe you’re after, head to Eli’s for a delicious pulled pork BBQ sandwich paired with their homemade baked beans and a scoop of mac & cheese!

• Knockback Nat’s: If you consider yourself a chicken wing connoisseur then look no further than Knockback Nat’s for the best grilled wings in town. This restaurant has a dive bar feel and great prices on drinks. It’s a great late-night spot to hang out and catch a Reds game on TV while you enjoy your food!

• Skyline Chili: If you don’t try a three-way and cheese coney at Skyline Chili then I’m not sure you can really say you visited Cincinnati. Cincinnati style chili isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but everyone who grew up here loves the stuff! It’s a local chain and you can find them scattered all over town.

• Graeter’s: The Queen City’s crown for favorite ice cream spot goes to Graeter’s. If you’re looking for a sweet treat to satisfy you sweet tooth look no further than this Cincy favorite. While they have locations across town, you’ll find one of their most popular locations posted up along Fountain Square in the heart of Downtown.