Cincinnati Essential Guide

Cincinnati is the city I consider to be underrated in the Midwest.

On the banks of Ohio River in Queen City, you will find the largest Oktoberfest festival in the United States. On the banks of the Ohio River, Queen City hosts one of the largest Oktoberfests in America and ranks No. Travel + LeisureThe list of Best Places to Live in the Midwest. The unique combination of German heritage, folk charm, metro energy, and Bourbon culture makes it easy to understand.

Cincinnati is also home to one of the Midwest’s most exciting culinary scenes. Cincinnati has been famous for its Cincinnati Chili, which is served with pasta and spiced with Mediterranean herbs. However, the dining scene in Cincinnati offers much more. The city has many James Beard nominated restaurants, including Wildweed and The Aperture. It also boasts international hotspots such as Nepali restaurant Bridges and Japanese Restaurant. Izakaya Kiki—pretty impressive for a city of just over 300,000 residents.

Cincinnati’s arts and culture have been recognized internationally thanks to Blink, America’s largest light and art festival. Over-the-Rhine, a historic neighborhood in Cincinnati, is home of one of America’s largest collections 19th-century Italianate-style architecture as well as to dozens craft breweries. You can find a peaceful moment in the city by visiting one of its many parks. Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area Zones and pocket parks are great places to relax while visiting neighborhoods such as The Banks. The history of sports is also rich in Cincinnati, which was home to the Cincinnati Red Stockings – the first openly professional baseball team, founded in 1869.

Visit the world’s best museums and historic landmarks John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge Queen City is a replica of Brooklyn Bridge. It has managed to blend big-city culture with Midwestern charm.

You should consider the following before you plan a trip to Cincinnati.

Best Hotels & Resorts 

The Lytle Park Hotel

This historic building from 1909 was voted among the best hotels in the world by T+L readers in 2025. The Anna Louise Inn was a former property that housed rural women who moved to Cincinnati in search of work. It reopened as a hotel in 2020 after undergoing a modern renovation. The Lytle Park Hotel. The space is a mix of classic architectural elements that are seamlessly combined with modern touches and a botanical theme. The rooftop bar boasts panoramic views of the downtown area, while being close to the Taft Museum of Art Art connoisseurs will find it very convenient.

Hotel Covington

Covington is located across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio. this 114-room boutique property The building, which was Kentucky’s first skyscraper of modern times, is now occupied by the company that owns it. John Coppin built the building after he won a bet on a horse called Knowledge during a race. The Roebling Suspension Bridge and the downtown Covington Hotel are both within easy walking distance. B-Line The bourbon route and the riverfront of Cincinnati.

21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati

If you are looking for a place to stay that has character, then the 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati. The quirky hotel has 156 guest rooms, a rotating gallery of art and exhibitions that are available to guests 24 hours a day. The hotel has a lot of unique touches, like the rotating art gallery. Rookwood Pottery Tiles throughout the interior refer to Cincinnati’s pottery heritage and the hotel restaurant. MetropoleIt is worth a trip on its own. 

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Square

An Art Deco masterpieceThe National Historic Landmark, which opened in 1931, features exquisite details such as Brazilian rosewood panels and the Hall of Mirrors. Carew Tower was one of America’s first mixed-use structures, with everything you could need under one roof.

The Best Things to do

Findlay Market

This is Ohio’s oldest continuously operating public market, established in 1852. Findlay Market This market hosts 50 merchants who sell everything from flowers and fresh sausage to a variety of other products. Explore the space using Cincinnati Food Tours Enjoy a behind-the scenes look at the vendor’s life. Samples include hummus freshly made, Colombian arepas and goetta sandwiches.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

This hotel is located just a few steps from the Ohio River that once divided the slave state of Kentucky and the free state Ohio. powerful museumThe Underground Railroad Freedom Centre has both permanent and rotating exhibits. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has a collection of permanent exhibits, as well as a selection of rotating exhibits—some current displays include an installation dedicated to the Negro Motorist Green Book. You’ll find a free exhibit on the top-floor. FamilySearch CenterThe site offers a wealth of resources and databases to help visitors research and trace their family tree.

Queen City Underground Tour

Discover the historical lagering underground tunnels that are vital to Cincinnati’s German brewing tradition with American Legacy Tours. Tours start in Over-the-Rhine with stops at a hidden underground crypt, as well historic tunnels used to brew lager before Prohibition.

Revival Vintage Spirits

This museum-meets bar is located in Covington but is worth a visit for history and bourbon enthusiasts. Vintage bottles from the early 20th Century are available for $3 tasting pours. Revival Vintage Spirits The first of its kind to be built in the United States is worth a visit. 

Cincinnati Music Hall

Music Hall, built in 1877 on top of a graveyard for people who could not afford to pay a funeral and containing an estimated 10,000 graves (as a burial ground for those who were unable to pay for one), has been recognized as being among America’s haunted building. The National Historic Landmark holds special events after-hours ghost tours Visitors can visit both the public and private spaces while listening to stories about paranormal activity. Music Hall’s Victorian Gothic architecture is enough to make it worth a visit, but its ghost stories bring a new dimension to this historic venue. 

Nightlife

Ghost Baby

The underground tunnels are 150 years old and located four stories below Vine Street. Ghost Baby It has quickly become one of Cincinnati’s most popular speakeasy experiences. Rattle Room seating is on a first come, first served basis, but you’ll get the best experience in the Den. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy intimate performances in an area that seems designed for live music. It is recommended that you make reservations as this place is very popular.

Longfellow

This unpretentious Over-the-Rhine bar It’s a local favorite thanks to its craft cocktails, like the Arizona Dry with notes of Earl Grey tea and dry gin. Don’t miss Longfellows Other RoomRum lovers will be able to enjoy the largest selection of rums in Ohio.  

Homemakers Bar

This woman-owned, nationally recognized bar, brings retro-inspired aesthetics and a unique twist to Over-the-Rhine, such as its beautiful bartop adorned with broken plates. HomemakersThe drinks are unique and contain ingredients such as fermented beans, broad bean, purple corn and pessimmons. They also have light bites—the pickle dip is a customer favorite. 

King Pigeon

This Walnut Hills coffee shop is a cocktail bar during the day and a coffee shop at night. It offers dozens of cocktails using techniques such as lacto-fermentation. cryo-concentration. and milk-washed clarity. King Pigeon’s A flavor map is included in the quirky cocktail menu so that guests can compare how bitter, sweet, umami and sour each cocktail is to others. 

Somerset

Somerset’s With a moody, classic lounge, an outdoor garden and courtyard, as well as a bar, there is a space for every mood. Over-the-Rhine has a variety of seasonal cocktails, as well fun creations like the classic Ube Margarita. 

Best Restaurants 

Wildweed

Over-the-Rhine is located in Cincinnati. this James Beard Award-nominated eatery The focus is on locally sourced and foraged products. Chef David Jackman’s menu changes seasonally, incorporating Midwestern ingredients as well as handmade pastas. One example is their Kentucky Rye Gramigna pasta served with sorghum-molasses vinegar, sheep’s milk cheese, and rye flour. 

The Aperture

Since its opening in 2025, the Walnut Hills restaurant of Chef Jordan Anthony Brown has gained a lot of fame. The James Beard Award Semi-Finalist offers shareable dishes, such as lamb ribs paired with pistachio. picada Catalan sauce is a type. gnocchetti With braised rabbit. 

Bridges Nepali Cuisine

This fast-casual Nepali food restaurant began as a Findlay Market vendor, and now operates four Cincinnati locations. Bridges specializes exclusively in traditional Nepali Momos A steamed dumpling stuffed with chicken, pork or vegetables. Also, other Asian favorites such as spring rolls and Samosas. 

Kiki

Kiki, a James Beard nominated gastropub led by Hideki and Yuko (who met in Osaka at the culinary school), is located in Clifton. Food Network’s Diners, Drive Ins and DivesKiki’s menu focuses on house-made ramen and sushi. karaage Japanese fried chicken (and nikuman (pork buns).

Sotto

Sotto Chef David Falk’s basement trattoria is located in downtown Cincinnati. The room has exposed bricks and wood. It is known to be a romantic, quiet place with tightly packed table. The menu is Italian-style, with a strong focus on pasta made in-house and dishes cooked over a fire. The two most popular dishes are the ricotta donuts and the cappellacci stuffed with short-ribs, shallots and thyme.

The Best Time to Visit

Cincinnati’s best seasons are spring and fall, when temperatures are pleasant and there are many outdoor festivals. Spring is the perfect time to visit Cincy, with its riverfront parks for outdoor dining and exploring Over-the-Rhine. Flying Pig Marathon Weekend. The fall brings perfect conditions for Northern Kentucky bourbon tour. The autumn season is ideal for bourbon tours. Blink Every other October, Festival, the nation’s biggest public art and light festival, returns. Every other October, the festival returns. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, The largest Oktoberfest celebration in the country is held with more than 700,000 participants. The Great American Ball Park hosts Cincinnati Reds baseball games from April through September. NFL fans can attend Bengals football games at Paycor Stadium in the winter and fall. 

How to Get There

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is the main gateway. It’s located about 13 miles away from downtown Cincinnati. The airport is less than 30 minutes away from downtown, and taxis are available as well as ride-hailing services. Cincinnati can be reached by car easily from other Midwest cities using I-75 I-71 I-74. Most major Midwest cities are within driving distance, including Chicago (3 hours north), Louisville (2 hours south) and Indianapolis (under 2 hours northwest). 60 percent of Americans can be reached within a single day by car. Union Terminal, an Amtrak stop, is also located in Cincinnati. The Cardinal line services this station three times a day.

Cities & Neighborhood to Visit 

Over-the-Rhine

OTR, which is located north of Downtown, is a National Register of Historic Places. The area is known to have one of the largest collections of Italianate-style architecture in the country. Washington Park, which hosts events and markets, as well as breweries such RhinegeistThere are miles of underground lagering cellars. OTR is surrounded by a mural scene that includes more than 300 pieces.

The Banks

The riverfront district is home to a variety of dining options between the football and baseball stadiums. Smale Riverfront ParkThe aforementioned is a DORA It also hosts the free drink program. Free onsite parking is available. Cincinnati Black Music Walk of FameA interactive experience that honors artists such as Bootsy Collins, The Isley brothers, and is located next to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Mount Adams

Mount Adams, located on a hilltop to the east of downtown, offers stunning views of the city and historical architecture. The area contains the Cincinnati Art MuseumThe museum offers free admission to its art collection, which spans more than 6,000 years of human evolution. The Krohn Conservatory Botanical garden and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park Mount Adams also has a number of other attractions. 

Covington

You’ll arrive in Covington, Kentucky after crossing the Roebling Suspension Bridge. Covington has a 19th-century National Register Historic District with German-influenced architectural features and bourbon-themed bars on the B-Line bourbon trails, including Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar You can also find out more about the following: Wenzel DistilleryYou can create your own whiskey by blending it yourself. 

Northside

Cincinnati’s alternative hub features vegan eateries, coffee shops, record shops, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses. Here, Bridges Nepali Food is the anchor of the local food scene. Spring Grove Cemetery, one of the most beautiful cemeteries with monuments honoring famous Cincinnatians is nearby. 

Walnut Hills

Walnut Hills, one of Cincinnati’s oldest hilltop communities, played a vital role in the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad is a part of our history. Harriet Beecher Stowe House anchors the local history scene and once appeared in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a Jim Crow–era travel guide for Black motorists. Historic housing is also present in the area, as well as an arts scene that’s growing.

How to Get Around

The electric-powered trams in downtown Cincinnati are a great way to get around. Connector streetcar The bus is free. The 18 stops link OTR, The Banks, and the Central Business District. The Southbank Shuttle A 15-minute trip between downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, and Bellevue and Newport, Kentucky is also an option. The historic Roebling Suspension Bridge is a convenient way to walk between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The span of 1,057 feet takes around 15 minutes.

The city is home to a variety of attractions that are best accessed by car. However, ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft can be found throughout the area.