CityBeat | Annual Manual 2019-20

A n n u a l M a n u a l 2 0 19 -2 0 The definitive city guide to Greater Cincinnati

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C o nte nt s

PUBLISHER TONY FRANK EDITOR IN CHIEF MAIJA ZUMMO M A N A G I N G E D I TO R / M U S I C E D I TO R MIKE BREEN A R T S & C U LT U R E E D I T O R MACKENZIE MANLEY NEWS EDITOR N IC K SWARTS ELL DESIGNER TAY L O R S P E E D D I G I TA L E D I T O R / P H O T O G R A P H E R HAILEY BOLLINGER

We l c o m e , p. 09

COPY ED ITOR MORGAN ZUMBIEL

Fu n Fa c t s A b o u t C i n cy , p. 10 NEIGHBORHOODS C i t y C e n te r , p.12 N o r t h e r n Ke n t u c k y , p.14 C e n t ra l C o re , p. 16 We s t S i d e , p. 18

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS T H E AT E R : R I C K P E N D E R D I N I N G C R ITI C: P A M A M I T C H E L L CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ANNE ARENSTEIN, BRIAN B A K E R , J E S S I C A B A LT Z E R S E N , BRIAN CROSS, DANNY CROSS, H AY L E Y D AY, J A N E D U R R E L L , BILL FURBEE, JASON GARGANO, GREGORY GASTON, AUSTIN G AY L E , M C K E N Z I E G R A H A M W I L L I T S , N I C K G R E V E R , K AT I E G R I F F I T H , K AT I E H O L O C H E R , D E I R D R E K AY E , J A C K E R N , H A R PE R LE E , L AU R A LE AV IT T, MADGE MARIL, TOMMY MCDONALD, ANNE MITCHELL, LAUREN MORETTO, JACKIE M U L AY, J U D E N O E L , S E A N M .

PETERS, GARIN PIRNIA, STEVEN R O S E N , K AT H Y S C H WA R T Z , MARIA SEDA-REEDER, LEYLA S H O KO O H E , SA M I STE WA RT, M A R L E N A T O E B B E N , P. F. WILSON EDITORIAL INTERNS CAMERON BYERS, ELIZABETH DAV I S , E R I N G A R D N E R , E M M A STI E FE L , N I C K S U LLI VA N

E a s t S i d e , p. 20 T h e S u b u r b s , p. 22

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS K E LLI E C O LE M A N , PA I G E DEGLOW, SCOTT DITTGEN , PHIL H E I D E N R E I C H , H O L D E N M AT H I S , B R I T TA N Y T H O R N T O N , S A M I STE WA RT, E M E R S O N SWO G E R PHOTOGRAPHY INTERNS A DA M D O T Y, M I T C H E L L PA R T O N

L I ST I N G S

M U LT I M E D I A A C C O U N T EXECUTIVES DAN LINK, DARREN WEIGL

D i n i n g , p. 25

O F F I C E A D M I N I S T R AT O R SAMANTHA JOHNSTON

Wa l k- U p Wi n d ows , p. 42

EVENT DIRECTOR SAMI NOWLIN C I R C U L AT I O N M A N A G E R STEVE FERGUSON

N i g h t l i fe , p. 65 Ro of to p B a rs , p. 76 At t ra c t i o n s , p. 93

811 R AC E STR E E T, 5TH FLO O R C I N C I N N AT I O H , 4 5 2 0 2

T h e B rew i n g H e r i t a g e Tra i l a n d Th e B - L i n e , p. 100

W W W. C I T Y B E AT. C O M

S h o p p i n g , p. 107

GENERAL INFO/QUESTIONS R E Q U E S T@ C I T Y B E AT. C O M

EUCLID MEDIA GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ANDREW ZELMAN

F i n d l ay M a r ke t Yo u r Way , p. 116 A r t s , p. 127

C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R S C H R I S K E AT I N G , M I C H A E L WAG N ER V P O F D I G I TA L S E R V I C E S S TA CY V O L H E I N C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R TOM CARLSON D I G I TA L O P E R AT I O N S C O O R D I N AT O R JAIME MONZON W W W . E U C L I D M E D I A G R O U P. C O M

O N T H E C OVE R WODKA BAR | HAILEY BOLLINGER 4

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Listings for the Annual Manual are compiled from CityBeat features and reviews and edited for space.

This is not a comprehensive list of all things to eat, drink, see, do or buy in Cincinnati. Please see citybeat.com for weekly events, concerts and restaurant and bar news.

CINCINNATI TASTING ADVENTURES featuring

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R

We l c o m e Hello, and welcome to the Annual Manual

Wa s h i n g to n Pa rk

Wh et h e r yo u ’ re a l i fe l o n g re s i d e nt , a re c e nt t ra n s fe r to o n e of C i n c i n n at i ’s m u l t i p l e Fo r tu n e 5 0 0 c o m p a n i e s a n d myr i a d s t a r tu p s o r j u s t h ave a re a l l y l o n g l ayove r at CVG , w h at yo u ’ re h o l d i n g i n yo u r h a n d s i s a ( m o s t l y) d ef i n i t i ve g u i d e to n av i gat i n g l i fe i n t h e Q u e e n C i t y — a l o c a l ’s g u i d e to l i v i n g a n d a v i s i to r ’s g u i d e to v i s i t i n g .

P ro d u c e d by C i t y B e at (C i n c i n n at i ’s a l te r n at i ve n ews a n d c u l tu re p u b l i c at i o n ) , t h e A n n u a l M a n u a l b l e n d s t h e u s a b i l i t y of i nte r n at i o n a l t rave l g u i d e s wi t h l o c a l ex p e r t i n s i g ht s , c u rat i n g re c o m m e n d at i o n s fo r t h i n g s to e at , d r i n k , s e e a n d d o i n e a c h p a r t of town . N e e d to f i n d a c raf t b e e r o n t h e We s t S i d e? B o re d i n t h e s u b u r b s?

P l a n n i n g a we e ke n d s t ayc at i o n? Wi t h ove r v i ews of G re ate r C i n c i n n at i ’s d oze n s of u n i q u e n e i g h b o r h o o d s s p re a d ove r o u r fa i r M i dwe s te r n m et ro p o l i s — p l u s c o m p re h e n s i ve l i s t i n g s of re s t a u ra nt s , b a rs , n i g ht l i fe, a r t s a n d at t ra c t i o n s — t h i s g u i d e i s l i ke a n o n - d i g i t a l a p p, a refe re n c e a n d re s o u rc e t h at c a n a l ways a n swe r t h e q u e s t i o n , “ Wh at a m I d o i n g t h i s we e ke n d? ”

G i a & Th e B l o o m s

S o c i a l OT R

Wh et h e r yo u ’ re h e re fo r t h e l o n g h a u l o r a re j u s t l o o k i n g to p a s s s o m e t i m e, t h i s h a n d y m a n u a l s h o u l d m a ke yo u fe e l r i g ht at h o m e ( o r at l e a s t h e l p yo u f i n d s o m et h i n g to d o… ) .

P H OTO S BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

H o m e M a ke rs B a r 9

D i d Yo u Kn ow. . .

Fu n f a c t s a b o u t t h e C i n c i n n a t i s k y l i n e

T h e Kro g e r B u i l d i n g

S m a l e R i ve r f ro n t Pa r k

Kro ge r wa s fo u n d e d i n C i n c i n n at i i n 1 8 8 3 by B e r n a rd Kro ge r. I t ’s o n e of 7 Fo r tu n e 5 0 0 c o m p a n i e s h e a d q u a r te re d h e re.

D u ke E n e rg y C o nve n t i o n C e n te r

C a rew Towe r

Th e Fre n c h A r t D e c o b u i l d i n g i s a N at i o n a l H i sto r i c La n d m a r k a n d fe atu re s a n o b s e r vat i o n d e c k o n i t s 4 9 t h f l o o r.

7 8 L E D p a n e l s m a ke u p t h e “ C i n c i n n at i ” s i g n . I t c a n b e p ro g ra m m e d to c re ate 16 . 7 m i l l i o n c o l o r c o m b i n at i o n s .

Cincinnati City Hall

D e s i g n e d by a rc h i te c t S a m u e l H a n n afo rd , t h e Ro m a n e s q u e building houses stained-glass wi n d ows t h at d e p i c t t h e c i t y ’s h i s to r y, p l u s a c e i l i n g f re s c o by p a i nte r Fra n k D u ve n e c k .

D evo u Pa r k

Th e re a re a b o u t 5 0 c l a s s i f i e d s c e n i c ove r l o o ks t h ro u g h o u t t h e Tr i - S t ate a n d D evo u Pa r k i n C ov i n g to n m i g ht h ave o n e of t h e b e s t . Wi t h ove r 7 0 0 a c re s ( p l u s a go l f c o u rs e, t ra i l s , b a n d s t a n d a n d m u s e u m ) , t h e A DA-a c c e s s i b l e s p ot i s o p e n d awn to d u s k a n d of fe rs a p a n o ra m a of t h e c i t y s ky l i n e.

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Th e p a r k fe atu re s a wa l k i n g l a byr i nt h , g i a nt fo ot p i a n o, a g l a ss- e n c l o s e d c a ro u s e l a n d swi n g s wi t h a r i ve r v i ew.

Pa u l B row n S t a d i u m N i c k n a m e d “ Th e J u n g l e,” t h e B e n ga l s st a d i u m s e at s 6 5 , 51 5 .

Cincinnati was founded in 1788 and named “Losantiville” for “the city opposite the mouth of the river” in a mixture of French, Greek and Latin. Renamed “Cincinnati” in 1790 after a Roman agrarian general — and as a nod to our seven hills — this little rivertown’s skyline has undergone plenty of changes in its journey from Porkopolis to the Queen City and into its identity as a modern-day Midwestern hub. Let’s take a closer look.

H o l y C ro ss I m m a c u l a t a Pa r i s h

S k y S t a r Wh e e l

Th e o n c e -te m p o ra r y o b s e r vat i o n w h e e l wi l l b e c o m e a p e r m a n e nt 2 0 0 -fo ot-t a l l r i ve r f ro nt f i x tu re.

Eve r y G o o d Fr i d ay, t h e fa i t h f u l c l i m b 9 4 ste p s f ro m t h e s t re et to t h e c h u rc h p ray i n g t h e ro s a r y.

G re a t A m e r i c a n Towe r

A rc h i te c t Gyo O b at a d e s i g n e d t h e b u i l d i n g ’s c rown af te r D i a n a , P r i n c e s s of Wa l e s ’ t i a ra — a roya l n o d to t h e Q u e e n C i t y.

G re a t A m e r i c a n B a l l Pa r k Th e C i n c i n n at i Re d s b e c a m e t h e f i rst p rofe ss i o n a l b a s e b a l l te a m i n 1 86 9 a n d a re t h e o n l y m a j o r l e a g u e te a m to h o st O p e n i n g Day at h o m e eve r y ye a r.

R a d i ss o n H ote l C i n c i n n a t i R i ve r f ro n t L i g ht s o n t h e ex te r i o r of t h e b u i l d i n g c a n c h a n ge c o l o r a n d a revo lv i n g re st a u ra nt i s h o u s e d o n t h e to p f l o o r.

Ro e b l i n g Suspension Bridge

F i n i s h e d i n 1 86 7 by J o h n A .

Ro e b l i n g , t h i s i s t h e p rotot yp e fo r t h e B ro o k l yn B r i d ge.

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

1 1

Downtown Mount Adams

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

01 Over-the-Rhine Pendleton

City

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P H O T O B Y PA I G E D E G L O W

1 . 3 Po i n t s U r b a n B rewe r y

O n c e ove r l o o ke d i n favo r of t h e c o n c e pt b a rs a n d h i p e ate r i e s of O ve r-t h e - R h i n e, a d j a c e nt n e i g h b o r h o o d Pe n d l eto n h a s b l o s s o m e d i n re c e nt ye a rs , t h a n ks i n p a r t to t h e a d d i t i o n of 3 Po i nt s U r b a n B rewe r y. Th e c raf t b rewe r y o p e n e d i n 2 0 1 8 wi t h t h e d i st i n c t v i s i o n of b l e n d i n g b e e r, a r t a n d ex p e r i e n c e. Pa r t b a r, p a r t ga l l e r y a n d p a r t l o u n ge, 3 Po i nt s ’ m o d e r n - i n d u s t r i a l s p a c e i s c o l o re d by t h e wo r k of l o c a l a r t i s t s — eve r yt h i n g f ro m t h e b a r m u ra l s to t h e b ra n d i n g fo r t h e b e e rs t h e m s e lve s a re c o m m i s s i o n s c re ate d e s p e c i a l l y fo r t h e t a p ro o m . 3 Po i nt s i s o p e n a l l d ay, s o a nyo n e c a n t a ke a d va nt a ge of U r b a n a C afé d r i p c of fe e a n d f re e Wi F i w h i l e t h e s u n ’s o u t b efo re wo r k i n g t h e i r way t h ro u g h a d oze n o r s o c re at i ve l y n a m e d t a p s af te r t h e s t re et l i g ht s tu r n o n . 3 3 1 E . 1 3 t h S t . , Pe n d l eto n , 3 p o i n t s b e e r.c o m .

2 . C h e a p s i d e C afe

A c h e e r y c of fe e h o u s e specializing in quick, quality m e a l s wi t h p h oto -wo r t hy p l at i n g , C h e a p s i d e C afe s e r ve s N ew A m e r i c a n e at s a n d a l l - d ay b re a k fa st f ro m a S c a n d i n av i a n - s t y l e - h o u n d ’s d re a m s p a c e. Th e h i p d own town s p ot fe atu re s a n a r ray of h e a l t hy- i s h o pt i o n s l i ke ka l e s a l a d s a n d c u r r i e d c h i c ke n s a l a d s a m m i e s , b u t t h e b re a kfa s t s a n dwi c h i s C h e a p s i d e’s t ru e d a r l i n g . A c o m b i n at i o n of f r i e d e g g , c r i s py b a c o n a n d p i m e nto c h e e s e o n m u l t i g ra i n b re a d f ro m l o c a l S i x te e n B r i c ks b a ke r y, t h e m o r n i n g e s s e nt i a l wa s n a m e d t h e b e s t s a n dwi c h i n a l l of O h i o

by Pe o p l e m a ga z i n e a n d T h e I n f at u at i o n . G ra b a b i te a n d a c af fe i n e f i x b efo re s n a g g i n g a wi n d ow s e at o r h e a d i n g o u t s i d e fo r a s p ot at a p i c n i c t a b l e. I f yo u ’ re a l ate r i s e r, b e p re p a re d fo r c o m p a ny at b ru n c h — C h e a p s i d e’s c h a r m i s n o s e c ret . 3 2 6 E . E i g h t h S t . ,

D ow n tow n , c h e a p s i d e c a f e .c o m .

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

03

05

Center 3 . S k y S t a r Wh e e l

Once known mostly for Fortune 500 companies and business lunches, Cincinnati’s thriving urban core is a mecca for foodies, families and Midwestern libertines looking for a city-centric lifestyle. The Central Business District boasts riverfront entertainment, sports stadiums, historic skyscrapers and a flurry of arts activity; Over-theRhine (and nearby Pendleton) offers the hippest cuisine and cocktails in one of the nation’s largest collections of Italianate architecture; and Mount Adams is a prime area for YPs and longtime urban-dwellers with major cultural destinations residing between cobblestone streets, steep hills and stunning city overlooks.

Th e t rave l i n g S ky S t a r Wh e e l wa s n ’ t s u p p o s e d to s t ay i n C i n c i n n at i , b u t a s fate wo u l d h ave i t , t h e Q u e e n C i t y fo u n d a p e r m a n e nt , l u m i n e s c e nt a d d i t i o n to i t s s ky l i n e. Af te r ro l l i n g i nto town i n Au g u s t 2 0 1 8 , t h e 1 5 - s to r y Fe r r i s w h e e l o n t h e b a n ks of t h e O h i o R i ve r ex te n d e d i t s o r i g i n a l fo u r- m o nt h v i s i t i nto n e a r l y a ye a r b efo re ex te n d i n g i t s s t ay a ga i n , t h i s t i m e fo reve r. ( Th e te m p o ra r y w h e e l wi l l b e re p l a c e d by a n ew o n e wi t h b o n u s fe atu re s a n d a c o n c e ss i o n s t a n d .) N ow, a r i d e i n o n e of t h e c l i m ate - c o nt ro l l e d go n d o l a s i s a m u s t- d o fo r l o c a l s a n d v i s i to rs a l i ke. Pe e r i nto a Re d s ga m e b e l ow, watc h b o at s f l o at u n d e r t h e Ro e b l i n g B r i d ge o r t a ke i n t h e s p a r k i n g c i t y l i g ht s at n i g ht .

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5 5 E . Fre e d o m Way, D ow n tow n , s k y st a r w h e e l .c o m .

4. Holocaust & H u m a n i t y C e n te r

Fo u n d e d i n 2 0 0 0 by H o l o c a u s t s u r v i vo rs a n d t h e i r fa m i l i e s , t h e H o l o c a u s t & H u m a n i t y C e nte r fo u n d a n ew h o m e i n 2 0 1 9 i n t h e C i n c i n n at i M u s e u m C e nte r at h i s to r i c U n i o n Te r m i n a l , a o n c e b u st l i n g t ra i n s t at i o n t h ro u g h w h i c h h u n d re d s of s u r v i vo rs a r r i ve d i n C i n c i n -

n at i . Th e m u s e u m d o c u m e nt s t h e at ro c i t i e s of t h e N a z i s v i a ex h i b i t s , a r t i fa c t s a n d v i s u a l a r t . Th ro u g h o u t t wo ga l l e r i e s a n d t wo t h e ate rs , t h e m u s e u m a l s o fe atu re s l o c a l c o n n e c t i o n s a n d of fe rs v i s i to rs a h o p ef u l v i s i o n of h u m a n i t y t h ro u g h s to r i e s of t h o s e w h o re s i s te d i n j u s t i c e a n d a c te d to p rote c t t h e v u l n e ra b l e.

1 3 0 1 We ste r n Ave . , Q u e e n s g ate , h o l o c a u st a n d h u m a n i t y.o rg.

5 . Wo d ka B a r

Vo d k a s h i n e s at t h i s h o m a ge to t h e p refe r re d v i c e of E a s te r n Eu ro p e. B o a s t i n g ove r 6 0 t y p e s of t h e s p i r i t , Wo d k a B a r s e r ve s u p t h o u g ht f u l i n f u s i o n s wi t h eve r y t h i n g f ro m g i n ge r a n d tu r m e r i c to h i b i s c u s , ro s e a n d re d c u r ra nt , p l u s o n -t h e m e c o c k t a i l s l i ke t h e Ru s s i a n C o l l u s i o n a n d f l i g ht s t h at h i g h l i g ht a l l t h e i nt r i c a c i e s of t h e n o b l e l i b at i o n . Th e m e n u i s c o m p l ete wi t h z a ku s ka — s m a l l b i te s m e a nt to fo l l ow s i p s of a l c o h o l — l i ke c av i a r, s m o ke d m e at s , p i c k l e d ve get a b l e s , f re s h r ye b re a d a n d p i e ro g i e s . D e c o rate d wi t h l u xe fa b r i c s a n d a nt i q u e to u c h e s , t h i s i nt i m ate s p ot i s p e r fe c t l y s u i te d fo r a s o p h i s t i c ate d eve n i n g o u t tu r n e d i nto a n i g ht of s h ot s o n s h ot s . 1 2 0 0 M a i n S t . , Ove rt h e - R h i n e , wo d ka b a rot r.c o m .

1 3

01

Northern 1 . Th e B a ke r ’s Ta b l e

Fo o d a n d c u l tu re we b s i te Eate r n a m e d Th e B a ke r ’s Ta b l e o n e of 2 0 1 9 ’s b e s t n ew re s t a u ra nt s i n A m e r i c a . A n d t h i s c oz y b ru n c h s p ot d o e s n ’ t d i s a p p o i nt wi t h i t s s l ew of h o m e m a d e b re a d s by c o - own e r a n d c h ef Dav i d Wi l l o c ks a n d h i s to r i c d é c o r ove rs e e n by h i s wi fe, d e s i g n e r We n d y B ra u n . Th e s e a s o n a l , fa r m -fo c u s e d m e n u re a d s l i ke a l ove l et te r to b i s c u i t s a n d b r i o c h e a n d s o u rd o u g h s a n dwi c h e s .

O pt i o n s ru n t h e ga m u t f ro m m u s t- h ave r i c ot t a d o n u t s to b i s c u i t s a n d g rav y wi t h l o c a l s a u s a ge a n d a f r i e d c h i c ke n s a n dwi c h . E n j oy a n A m a ro S p r i t z o r a c u p of c of fe e wi t h f r i e n d s at t h e n a m e s a ke ru st i c 2 5 -ye a r- o l d b a ke r ’s t a b l e i n t h e b a c k of t h e re s t a u ra nt .

1 0 0 4 M o n m o u t h S t . , N ew p o r t , b a ke r st a b l e n ew p o r t .c o m .

2 . H ote l C ov i n g to n

Devel opers transform e d C ovi ng ton’s ol d Ci t y Hal l (and former C oppi n’s de par t m e nt store) i nto a l uxur y bout i que hotel wi th a focus o n m o de rnme ets-vi ntage st yl e. You coul d stay here — or you coul d dri nk , di ne and han g i nstead.

C oppi n’s restaurant creates mag i c wi th i ts mix of soul ful S outhern- and Creo l e -i nspi re d fare, and the cour t yard is a

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

mul t i -use pat i o t hat of fers eve r y t h i ng from l awn ga m es, l ive musi c and fi l m scre en i n gs to an ar t isan cof fe e ba r a n d craf t cocktai l s. Th e all ey-si d e Wal k Up wi ndow of fe rs l ate ni g ht bi tes — p e r fe ct if you ’ ve just c aug ht som e l ive musi c at nearby ve nues t h e S outh gate House Revival (sout h gate h ouse.com) or Madiso n Th e ate r (madisont h eate r.co m).

6 3 8 Madison Ave . , C ovin g to n , hotelc ovin g ton.c om.

Just a quick trip across the Ohio River on any of the city’s many bridges will take you into Northern Kentucky, unique for simultaneously being part of Greater Cincinnati and the farthest north you can be while still being part of the South.

Head to Covington’s MainStrasse Village for al fresco eateries, award-winning bourbon bars and Bavarian flair; to cozy and eclectic Bellevue for brunch; and to the mixeduse-development-friendly Newport to visit Newport on the Levee and the Newport Aquarium.

3 . L i b by ’s S o u t h e r n C o m fo r t

Wi t h a fa m i l y l i n e a ge t h at ex te n d s to l o n g- s t a n d i n g Ke ntu c ky c o m fo r t fo o d m a i n s t ays Th e G rey h o u n d Tave r n a n d To u s ey H o u s e Tave r n , L i b by ’s ( n a m e d af te r t h e own e r ’s d a u g hte r) ke e p s t h e t ra d i t i o n a l i ve wi t h a m e n u of S o u t h e r n c l a ss i c s a n d a d a s h of C h a rl e s to n . D i s h e s i n c l u d e go et t a h u s h p u p p i e s , oys te rs on the half shell and dang go o d f r i e d c h i c ke n . I n a d d i t i o n to fo o d , L i b by ’s s e r ve s a wi d e - ra n g i n g d r i n k m e n u t h at fe atu re s v i nt a ge b o u rb o n s , l o c a l B ra x to n b e e r a n d C h e e r wi n e b o u rb o n s l u s h e s — a q u i nte s s e nt i a l S o u t h e r n c h e r r y s of t d r i n k p l u s b o oze, i c e a n d a B a d a B i n g c h e r r y.

3 5 W. E i g h t h S t . , C ov i n g to n , l i b by s s o u t h e r n c o m fo r t .c o m .

02

04 03

Bellevue Coving ton

Newport +Nearby

Ke ntu c k y 4 . P ro h i b i t i o n Bourbon Bar

N a m e d o n e of t h e b e s t b o u r b o n b a rs i n t h e c o u nt r y

by T h e B o u r b o n Rev i ew , Pro h i b i t i o n B o u r b o n B a r st a r te d a s N ew b e r r y B ro s . c of fe e a n d p a s t r y s h o p b efo re m o r p h i n g i nto a s p e a ke a sy wi t h o n e of t h e l a rge s t c o l l e c t i o n s of b o u r b o n a n d w h i s ky i n t h e wo r l d — t h ey h ave m o re t h a n 2 , 0 0 0 b ot t l e s , i n c l u d i n g S c otc h , I r i s h , Te n n e s s e e a n d Ja p a n e s e b ra n d s . A n d l i ke a ny go o d s p e a ke a sy, a c c e ss i s l i m i te d : Th e own e rs o n l y o p e n t h e i r wate r i n g h o l e Fr i d ay a n d S atu rd ay n i g ht s ( a n d fo r m u c h - c ovete d h o m e m a d e p a s t r i e s o n t h i rd S u n d ays) . Th e b a r i s a l s o o n Th e B - L i n e, a c o l l e c t i o n of bourbon-minded Northern Ke ntu c ky e s t a b l i s h m e nt s t h at h a s i t s own p a s s p o r t .

5 3 0 Wa s h i n g to n Ave . , N ew p o r t , n ew b e r r y b ro sc of f e e .c o m .

P H OTO S BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

5 . Ve n t H ave n Museum

Th e wo rl d h a s j u s t o n e m u s e u m d e d i c ate d to t h e a r t a n d h i s to r y of ve nt r i l o q u i s m , a n d i t ’s r i g ht h e re i n N o r t h e r n Ke ntu c ky. Th e Ve nt H ave n M u s e u m i s h o m e to 9 0 0 ( a n d c o u nt i n g ) u n i q u e “d u m m i e s ,” s o m e d at i n g b a c k to t h e 1 9 t h c e ntu r y. Th ey ’ re j o i n e d by a n ex h a u s t i ve c o l l e c t i o n of e p h e m e ra a n d a rc h i ve s d o c u m e nt i n g t h e a r t fo r m , a l l s p re a d a c ro s s a h a n d f u l of re s i d e nt i a l b u i l d i n g s o n t h e g ro u n d s of fo u n d e r Wi l l i a m S h a ke s p e a re B e rge r ’s fo r m e r h o m e. O p e n by a p p o i nt m e nt M ay t h ro u g h S e pte m b e r. 3 3 W. M a p l e Ave . , Fo r t M i tc h e l l , ve n t h ave n .o rg.

05 1 11 5 7

Av o n d a l e Clifton Corryville

College Hill N. College Hill Northside

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

01

E . Wa l n u t H i l l s Wa l n u t H i l l s

C a m p Wa s h i n g t o n

Central

26 02 16

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

1. American Sign Museum

A fo r m e r i n d u s t r i a l wa re h o u s e h a s b e e n t ra n s fo r m e d i nto t h e l a rge s t p u b l i c s i g n m u s e u m i n A m e r i c a . Wi n d i n g p at hways of c o l o r f u l n e o n g i ve way to a m o c ke d - u p M a i n S t re et wi t h fa u x s to ref ro nt s , c o b b l e s to n e wa l kways a n d g i a nt g l owi n g l o go s f ro m H owa rd J o h n s o n , M c D o n a l d ’s a n d M a rs h a l l F i e l d ’s . Fro m ro a d s i d e n o stalgia and pharmacy signs to ga s s t at i o n m a r ke rs a n d a g i a nt B i g B oy, t h e f l a s h i n g l i g ht s , b u z z i n g e l e c t r i c i t y a n d rot at i n g wo n d e rs i l l u m i n ate t h e p a s t wi t h a c o l l e c t i o n t h at e n c o m p a s s e s t h e l ate 1 8 0 0 s to t h e 1 9 7 0 s . Th e re a re g u i d e d to u rs to l e a r n a b o u t t h e h i s to r y a n d m a n u fa c tu ri n g p ro c e ss b e h i n d d i f fe re nt s i g n s . O r yo u c a n wa n d e r t h e s p a c e o n yo u r own . 1 3 3 0 M o n -

m o u t h Ave . , C a m p Wa s h i n g to n , a m e r i c a n s i g n m u se u m .o rg.

2 . B ra n c h

A fo r m e r A r t D e c o b a n k h a s b e e n s k i l l f u l l y t ra n s fo r m e d i nto B ra n c h , a we l l - d e s i g n e d a n d g l o b a l l y m i n d e d re st a u ra nt wi t h a n a pt l y n a m e d s u bte r ra n e a n s p e a ke a sy c a l l e d N i g ht D ro p. Fro m t h e te a m b e h i n d Th e L i t t l ef i e l d i n N o r t h s i d e, c h ef S h o s h a n n a h A n d e rs o n h a s c raf te d a n a m b i t i o u s m e n u of “sto c ks ,” “s h a re s ” a n d swe et s p l ay i n g wi t h f l avo rs f ro m A m e r i c a , t h e M e d i te r ra n e a n a n d As i a .

C l eve r c o c k t a i l s t a ke t h e i r s o b r i q u et s f ro m f i n a n c i a l te r m s a n d a re m a d e wi t h i nte re st i n g h o u s e - i n f u s e d l i q u o rs . M a ke s u re to s n a p a s e l f i e i n t h e ow l -wa l l p a p e re d b at h ro o m .

1 5 3 5 M a d i s o n Ro a d , Ea st Wa l n u t H i l l s , e at at b r a n c h .c o m .

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

03

05

Core 3 . B r i n k B rew i n g C o.

A collection of diverse and eclectic neighborhoods where longtime residents mingle with young families looking for city life with a yard. Architectural homes, independent businesses and cultural destinations add to the charm of these historically significant areas. Clifton and Corryville cater to the University of Cincinnati’s student body with international eats and coffee shops; all of the “hills” are undergoing a hip restaurant and retail renaissance; Camp Washington is shifting into an arts hub; and Northside is a green-leaning enclave with lots of live music.

Voted one of the top 10 best new breweries in the U.S. by USA Today and the 2018 Very Small Brewing Company of the Year by the Brewers Association, Brink Brewing Co. is a neighborhood gathering space loaded with interactive features including a 20-seater community table, reclaimedwood bar and a gigantic Scrabble board that’s very popular with patrons af ter a few pints from the brewery ’s wide -reaching tap list. Head to the bathroom to see more than three decades’ worth of collected beer labels from Uncle Jack — it was his fridge, chock full of artisan beers, and his neighborly values that inspired the owners to open Brink in 2017. 5 9 0 5 H a m i l to n Ave . ,

82 04

P H O T O B Y LY N N S M A R T

C o l l e g e H i l l , b r i n k b rew i n g.c o m .

4 . C i n c i n n a t i Zo o & B ot a n i c a l G a rd e n

Th e c o n s e r vat i o n -fo c u s e d C i n c i n n at i Zo o t a ke s g u e s t s f ro m t h e A rc t i c to Af r i c a a n d eve r yw h e re i n b et we e n ; m i n g l e wi t h m e e r k at s , get fa c e to fa c e wi t h F i o n a t h e fa m o u s h i p p o, h a n d -fe e d a g i raf fe a n d “aww ” ove r Zo o B a b i e s e a c h M ay. Vi s i t Th e G rove fo o d t ru c k p a r k fo r

tacos or poutine and the H o p s b e e r ga rd e n fo r a v i ew of t h e Ro o Va l l ey k a n ga ro o wa l k a b o u t ( o p e n i n g s p r i n g 2 02 0 ) . Th e zo o a l s o b o a st s s eve ra l s u p e r l at i ve s : i t ’s t h e b e s t zo o i n A m e r i c a a c c o rd i n g to U S A To d ay , t h e s e c o n d - o l d e s t zo o i n t h e c o u nt r y a n d h o m e to t h e g re e n e s t re s t a u ra nt i n t h e n at i o n . 3 4 0 0 Vi n e S t . , Avo n d a l e , c i n c i n n at i zo o .o rg.

5 . C o m fo r t S t a t i o n

Lo c ate d i n a fo r m e r 1 0 5 -ye a ro l d re s t a re a ( b a s i c a l l y a p u b l i c re s t ro o m ) , C o m fo r t S t at i o n h a s t ra n s fo r m e d a d i l a p i d ate d s p a c e i nto a n a i r y n i g ht l i fe d e s t i n at i o n f u l l of h i p c o c k t a i l s . G u e s t s e nte r v i a t h e o r i g i n a l wo m e n ’s ro o m d o o r — n ow p a i nte d a b e a u t i f u l b r i g ht b l u e — i nto a c h i c , i n d u s t r i a l - b o h o s p a c e, re p l ete wi t h o r i g i n a l s ky l i g ht s , p l u s h b l u e -ve lvet b a n q u et te s a n d l i v i n g p l a nt wa l l s . Th e b a c k p at i o h a s m u l t i p l e s e at i n g n o o ks , i n c l u d i n g a n e l evate d p e rc h wi t h c u s h i o n s , p e r fe c t fo r i m b i b i n g s o m e m a s te r f u l m i xo l o g y a n d c o l o r f u l l ow A BV d r i n ks . E nte r t h ro u g h t h e m e n ’s ro o m d o o r fo r a “s i n f u l ” u n d e rg ro u n d ex p e r i e n c e @ a m o n g _ t h e _ lost. 793 E. McMillan St., Wa l n u t H i l l s , f a c e b o o k .c o m / c o m fo r t st at i o n c i n c i n n at i .

1 7

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

01

We s t Eve r y b o d y ’s Tre e h o u s e i s n ’ t j u s t fo r k i d s . B u r i e d i n t h e t h i c k of t h e 1 , 4 5 9 -a c re M o u nt A i r y Fo re s t , t h i s w h i m s i c a l a r b o re a l a b o d e i s o n e of C i n c i n n at i Pa r ks ’ b i g ge s t s e c ret s .

Th e w h e e l c h a i r-a c c e s s i b l e s t ru c tu re — o n e of t h e o n l y t re e h o u s e s l i ke i t i n O h i o — wa s b u i l t i n 2 0 0 6 . I t wa s t h e v i s i o n of t h e n -WC P O re p o r te r M i c h a e l Fl a n n e r y, w h o wo rke d wi t h t h e Pa r ks Fo u n d at i o n , C i n c i n n at i Rot a r y a n d Fo reve r Yo u n g Tre e h o u s e s to b u i l d t h i s n atu re - r i n ge d n o o k fo r a l l . Th ro n ge d by t re e s a n d wi l d l i fe, i t i s t h e p e r fe c t s p ot to c u r l u p wi t h a b o o k , p l a n a p i c n i c , h a n g o u t wi t h f r i e n d s a n d /o r l a ze t h e d ay away.

5 0 8 3 C o l e ra i n Ave . , We st wo o d , c i n c i n n at i p a r ks .c o m .

2. Price Hill Chili

Fo u n d e d i n 1 9 6 2 by t h e B e l t s o s fa m i l y, t h i s We s t S i d e s t a p l e h a s ex p a n d e d f ro m a o n e - ro o m c h i l i p a rl o r to a m u l t i - b u i l d i n g b a r a n d re s t a u ra nt , b u t t h e fa m i l y va l u e s a n d wo o d - p a n e l e d a e s t h et i c s h ave n ’ t c h a n ge d .

Fo r m a ny l o c a l s , P r i c e H i l l C h i l i i s a s l i c e of t h e i r own

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

h i s to r y t h at s e r ve s u p c o n eys a n d 3 -ways f ro m t h e s te a m t a b l e, p l u s s a n dwi c h e s , s a l a d s , G re e k- i n s p i re d e at s a n d a l l - d ay b re a k fa st . O n Fr i d ay n i g ht , t r y to g ra b a s e r v i n g of s u p e r p o p u l a r, f ro m - s c ratc h m a c -a n d - c h e e s e b efo re i t ’s go n e. 4 9 2 0 G l e nway

Ave . , P r i c e H i l l , p r i c e h i l l c h i l i .c o m .

3 . Wa rs aw Fe d e ra l I n c l i n e Th e a te r

S eve ra l ye a rs a go, t h e m i n d s b e h i n d C i n c i n n at i La n d m a r k P ro d u c t i o n s i nve s te d i n t h e P r i c e H i l l I n c l i n e D i s t r i c t to t ra n s fo r m i t i nto a We s t S i d e a r t s d e st i n at i o n by b u i l d i n g t h e 22 9 - s e at st ate - of-t h e -a r t I n c l i n e Th e ate r. Th e re p e rto i re m i xe s a d u l t fa re wi t h fa m i l y-f r i e n d l y s h ows a n d m u s i c a l s , l i ke t h e 2 0 1 9 / 2 02 0 season, which includes Hand to G o d , T h e La st F i ve Ye a r s a n d s u m m e r s e r i e s p ro d u c t i o n A Fu n ny T h i n g H a p p e n e d o n t h e Way to t h e Fo r u m .

M a ke s u re to s to p by t h e n e i g h b o r i n g I n c l i n e Pu b l i c H o u s e fo r a b e e r, a b i te a n d a g re at c i t y v i ew b efo re o r af te r a s h ow. 8 01 Matson Plac e , East

Pric e Hil l, cincinnatilandma r kpro ductions .c om / incline .

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

1 . Eve r y b o d y ’s Tre e h o u s e

Cincinnati’s West Side represents one half of the city’s most enduring rivalry (vs. the East Side). Though it’s technically everything west of Vine Street, I-74 is a popular dividing line. Full of some of the city’s hidden gems, you can find down-to-earth communities that are equal parts mom-and-pop and big box. Cheviot, often considered the heart of the West Side, boasts “big city spirit with a smalltown charm”; the bedroom community of Green Township is one of Ohio’s largest; and Price Hill and Westwood are on the rise with new businesses, nightlife and arts programs.

Some also say cornhole was invented here and you can find it being played pretty much anywhere you go.

02

P H OTO BY M EG A N WA D D E L

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

03

04 Cheviot G r e e n Tw n s h p .

Price Hill

We s t w o o d + Nearby

Side N ot o n l y i s We s t S i d e B rewi n g a n exc e l l e nt n e i g h b o r h o o d wate r i n g h o l e, i t ’s a l s o a c o m m u n i t y h u b t h at h o s t s c h i l i c o o k- of fs , d o g-f r i e n d l y n i g ht s , p o p - u p wo r ko u t c l a s s e s , l i ve m u s i c , f u n d ra i s e rs a n d b i g- ga m e watc h p a r t i e s . O r i g i n a l l y p e g ge d a s a c raf t b rewe r y fo r t h e eve r ym a n , WS B i s i nv i t i n g e n o u g h fo r t h e c a s u a l b e e r d r i n ke r, s p a c i o u s e n o u g h fo r g ro u p s a n d fa m i l i e s a n d l e g i t e n o u g h to i m p re s s t h e m o st d i s c e r n i n g l o c a l b rewp u b f re q u e nt f l ye rs . I n a d d i t i o n to p o r te rs , p i l s n e rs a n d I PAs , t h ey a l s o h ave c i d e rs a n d wi n e, a few s t a n d by s n a c ks a n d a s o l i d l i n e u p of fo o d t ru c ks f re q u e nt l y p a r ke d o u t s i d e. 3 0 4 4 H a r r i s o n Ave . ,

We st wo o d , we st s i d e b rew i n g.c o m .

5. Zip Dip

Z i p D i p l i te ra l l y s h i n e s l i ke a b e a c o n of l i g ht t h ro u g h t h e d a rk — t h e i c o n i c n e o n l i g ht n i n g b o l t a d o r n i n g t h e ro of i s u n m i s t a k a b l e. I t wa s a d d e d to t h e b u i l d i n g i n 1 9 51 a n d h a s b e e n g u i d i n g c u s to m e rs t h ro u g h s u m m e r h e at wave s to i c e c re a m s a lvat i o n eve r s i n c e. Th e to p s e l l e r h e re i s a b a s i c s m a l l c o n e wi t h a t wi st , b u t s c ra p t h e w h o l e c h o c o l ate a n d va n i l l a i d e a . Z i p D i p s e r ve s a n o ra n ge a n d va n i l l a t wi s t t h at wi l l m a ke yo u fo rget yo u eve r wa nte d a ny t h i n g e l s e. I f yo u ’ re l o o k i n g fo r m o re, Z i p D i p h a s eve r y t h i n g f ro m c h i pwi c h e s to s u ga rf re e yo g u r t a n d b a n a n a b o at p a r fa i t s , p l u s b u rge rs , fo ot l o n g s a n d b a rb e c u e.

N ote : I f yo u wa nt s p r i n k l e s , t h ey ’ re c a l l e d “ j i m m i e s ” o n t h i s s i d e of town . 4 0 5 0 D rew

Ave . , B r i d g etow n , z i p - d i p .c o m .

P H OTO BY S A M I S T E WA R T

4 . We s t S i d e B rew i n g

05 1 9

East End Hyde Park Mt. Lookout

Norwood Oakley O’Bryonville

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

01 Pleasant Ridge + Nearby

East

26 02 20

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

P H O T O B Y B R I T TA N Y T H O R N T O N

1 . A g l a m e s i s B ro s .

E s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 9 1 3 by b rot h e rs Th o m a s a n d Nicholas Aglamesis, this s h o p s t i l l re m a i n s v i r tu a l l y u n c h a n ge d f ro m t h e d ay i t o p e n e d i n Oa k l ey, wi t h c h i c Ti f fa ny l a m p s a n d a m a r b l e s o d a fo u nt a i n . Th o m a s ’ s o n , J a m e s , to o k ove r t h e fa m i l y business in the 1950s and ke pt t h e re c i p e s a n d m et h o d s of t h e o l d e r ge n e rat i o n c o n s i s te nt , c h u r n i n g o u t r i c h i c e c re a m , f re s h f ru i t s o r b et s (t r y t h e p i n k c h a m p a g n e f l avo r) a n d a s s o r te d c o p p e rket t l e - c raf te d c h o c o l ate c a n d i e s . Th e s to re’s q u a l i t y h a s e a r n e d i t n at i o n a l a c c l a i m f ro m p u b l i c at i o n s i n c l u d i n g T h e N ew Yo r k T i m e s a n d B o n A p p ét i t . 3 0 4 6 M a d i s o n Ro a d , O a k l ey, a g l a m e s i s .c o m .

2. The Cincinnati O b s e r va to r y

S u re , yo u c a n a l way s j u s t l o o k u p a t t h e s k y a ny n i g ht a n d s e e a l l k i n d s o f things, but the Cincinnati O b s e r va to r y ( a k a “ t h e birthplace of American a s t ro n o my ” ) i s t h e b e s t p l a c e i n t h e c i t y to g e t a n ex t ra c l o s e v i ew o f t h e h e ave n s .

N e s t l e d h i g h a to p M o u nt Lo o ko u t , t h i s 1 9 t h - c e nt u r y h i s to r i c l a n d m a r k g i ve s a s t ro n o m e r s — a m a te u r a n d p ro f e s s i o n a l — t h e c h a n c e to s e e w h a t t h ey c a n s e e t h ro u g h t h e c o u nt r y ’s o l d e s t p u b l i c te l e s c o p e : a M e r z u n d M a h l e r 11 - i n c h re f ra c to r b u i l t i n 1 8 4 5 . T h i s i s g re a t fo r a s e re n e a n d ro m a nt i c t h e m e d L a te N i g ht D a te N i g ht ; g u i d e d s t a rg a ze s m o s t T h u r s d ay a n d Fr i d ay n i g ht s ; a n d /o r a n exc i t i n g educational trip that’ll open yo u r eye s to t h e wo n d e r s o f t h e c e l e s t i a l wo r l d . 3 4 8 9 O b s e r v a to r y P l a c e , M o u n t Lo o ko u t , c i n c i n n a t i o b s e r v a to r y.

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Side 3 . C i n cy S h i r t s

C i n c y S h i r t s i s a “ v i nt a ge” T- s h i r t b ra n d h e l m e d by a local stand-up comedian t h at m i n e s b ot h t h e p a s t a n d p re s e nt to c re ate a p p a re l s h owc a s i n g C i n c i n n at i ’s u n i q u e i n s t i tu t i o n s a n d i d i o syn c rat i c c u l tu re. Eve r wi s h e d yo u c o u l d we a r yo u r l ove fo r b ot h t h e C i n c i n n at i Re d s a n d C i n c i n n at i - s t y l e c h i l i o n yo u r c h e s t? O r a n 8 - b i t re n d e r i n g of a l o c a l l a n d m a rk? We l l , C i n c y S h i r t s k n ows exa c t l y h ow yo u fe e l , a n d t h ey ’ ve m a n u fa c tu re d t h e p e r fe c t c o m f y a n d c o m i c a l s c re e n - p r i nte d te e fo r yo u to p ro u d l y s h ow yo u r l o c a l p r i d e.

E s p e c i a l l y i f yo u re m e m b e r T h e U n c l e A l S h ow . 2 7 0 9

With charming shops, leafy promenades, eclectic restaurants and a gentle, steady stream of souped-up strollers, Cincinnati’s East Side blends walkability with family-friendly fun and nightlife destinations. Head here for historic attractions, excellent brunch options and an unparalleled view of the night sky, plus up-and-coming blue-collar neighborhoods that are transforming their own town squares.

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O b se r vato r y Ave . , H yd e Pa r k , c i n cy s h i r t s .c o m .

4 . Lo n e l y P i n e S te a k h o u s e

H a n ke r i n g fo r o n e of t h e c i t y ’s b e s t d r y-a ge d s te a ks?

Lo n e l y P i n e S te a k h o u s e h a s m a d e a n a m e fo r i t s e l f wi t h i t s “ C ow b oy ” 16 - o u n c e, b o n e - i n r i b eye, d r y a ge d fo r 3 0 d ays a n d s e a re d to p e r fe c t i o n .

Th e m e n u s p a n s a m u l t i tu d e of p r i c e ra n ge s , s o yo u wo n ’ t get k i c ke d by t h e b i l l , e i t h e r.

S h a re a b l e s i d e d i s h e s a n d s a l a d s a re ava i l a b l e a s we l l a s a n ex p e r t l y c u rate d d r i n k m e n u c ove r i n g wi n e, b e e r a n d c o c k t a i l s . I f yo u ’ re a f i l m b u f f, yo u a l s o m i g ht n ot i c e s o m e s u bt l e n o d s to B a c k to t h e Fu t u re i n t h e ret ro Ro u te 6 6 - s t y l e re s t a u ra nt d é c o r. 6 0 8 5 M o n t g o m e r y

Ro a d , P l e a s a n t R i d g e , l o n e l y p i n e ste a k h o u se .c o m .

5 . M a d Tre e B rew i n g C o.

Fo u n d e d i n 2 0 1 3 , t h i s l o c a l b rewe r y h a s b e c o m e o n e of t h e c i t y ’s to p t i p p l i n g d e s t i n at i o n s , re q u i r i n g a m u l t i - m i l l i o n d o l l a r m ove a n d m a ke ove r. N ow h o u s e d i n a b rewe r y c o m p l ex i n Oa k l ey, t h e h u ge l y exp a n d e d o p e rat i o n i n c l u d e s a g i a nt-a s s t a p ro o m , i n - h o u s e wo o d -f i re d p i z z a c afé a n d a 1 0 , 0 0 0 - s q u a re -fo ot b e e r ga rd e n . Wi t h 32 M a dTre e exc l u s i ve t a p s o u t s i d e, a m b i e nt l i g ht i n g a n d a n i n d u s t r i a l b r i c k fa ç a d e l ef tove r f ro m t h e b u i l d i n g ’s fa c to r y d ays , t h e re’s m o re t h a n e n o u g h s p a c e to a c c o m m o d ate a l l t h e b e e r- d r i n k i n g , c o r n h o l e p l ay i n g , d o g- l ov i n g h u m a n s t h at h a n g h e re o n t h e re g u l a r.

3 3 0 1 M a d i s o n Ro a d , O a k l ey, m a d t re e b rew i n g.c o m .

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The A m a n d ato r y d e s t i n at i o n fo r n ot o n l y c raf t b e e r c o n n o i ss e u rs , b u t a l s o fo o d i e s a n d f i t n e s s e nt h u s i a s t s , F i f t y We s t h a s tu r n e d a s t retc h of Wo o s te r P i ke i nto a n o u td o o r re c re at i o n c o r r i d o r.

Ac ro s s t h e s t re et f ro m t h e f l a g s h i p b rewp u b s i t s F i f t y We s t C a n o e & Kaya k , F i f t y We s t C yc l i n g a n d F i f t y We st P ro d u c t i o n Wo r ks ( h o m e to s i x s a n d vo l l ey b a l l c o u r t s) .

A n d i f yo u ’ re t h i rs t y fo r b e e r, yo u c o u l d n ’ t b e i n a b et te r p l a c e. Tr y t h e i r D o o m Pe d a l wi t b i e r, a B e l g i a n - st y l e w h i te a l e b rewe d wi t h c o r i a n d e r, o ra n ge p e e l a n d c i t ru sy g ra i n s of p a ra d i s e. Th e k i tc h e n i s re g u l a r l y a p p l a u d e d fo r i t s h i g h - e n d , c rowd - p l e a s i n g d i s h e s t h at i n c o r p o rate h o u s e b rews . G et a f l i g ht of b e e rs to s a m p l e a few d i f fe re nt st y l e s .

7 6 6 8 Wo o ste r P i ke , C o l u m b i a Tow n s h i p , f i f t y we st b rew.c o m .

2 . J u n g l e J i m ’s I n te r n a t i o n a l M a r ke t

J u n g l e J i m ’s i s a n a m u s e m e nt p a r k fo r fo o d i e s , a n d n ot j u s t b e c a u s e of i t s k i t s c hy s t atu e s a n d a n i m at ro n i c s .

Th i s h u ge s to re ( m o re t h a n s i x a c re s) c o nt a i n s e q u a l p a r t s we e k l y s h o p p e rs — s c a n n i n g t h e a i s l e s fo r s u p e r

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f re s h s e afo o d , exot i c p ro d u c e a n d o n e of m o re t h a n 1 , 5 0 0 h ot s a u c e s — a n d v i s i to rs , wa n d e r i n g , m o u t h s a ga p e at t h e wa c ky d é c o r, l i ke l y wi t h a b e e r i n h a n d f ro m t h e i n - h o u s e b a r. Th e E lv i s ro b ot m o n key i s a favo r i te p e c u l i a r i t y; s a m e go e s fo r t h e e l a b o rate re st ro o m h i d d e n b e h i n d a p o r t-a - p ot t y fa c a d e. I t ’s l i ke t h e H o g wa r t s of g ro c e r y sto re s wi t h a k i l l e r s e l e c t i o n of i nte r n at i o n a l e at s f ro m m o re t h a n 7 0 d i f fe re nt c o u nt r i e s . 5 4 4 0 D i x i e H i g hway,

The ‘burbs are home to plenty of excellent destinations well worth a trek from the city — it isn’t all superstores, chain restaurants and cul-de-sacs (although there are plenty of those… and an IKEA). Family-friendly Mason lives up to its nickname of “Ohio’s Largest Playground,” while Blue Ash has become a hot spot for new restaurants and large-scale events, largely thanks to Summit Park. Milford, Madeira, Mariemont and Loveland all have quaint downtowns with nearby outdoorsy activities, while Kenwood is home to one of the city’s poshest shopping malls.

Fa i r f i e l d , j u n g l e j i m s .c o m .

3. Kings Island

Th e M i dwe st ’s l a rge st a m u s e m e nt p a rk i s h o m e to Th e B e a st — t h e wo rl d ’s l o n ge s t wo o d e n ro l l e rc o a s te r a n d t h e b e st c o a ste r i n O h i o ( a c c o rd i n g to Po p u l a r M e c h a n i c s ) — wi t h a r i d e s o fe ro c i o u s i t i n s p i re d a n ove l by G o o s e b u m p s a u t h o r R . L . S t i n e. Th e p a rk i s d e b u t i n g a n ew g i ga c o a ste r i n 2 02 0 — o n e of o n l y s eve n i n t h e wo rl d — b u t a l s o of fe rs p l e nt y of fa m i l y-f u e l e d n o s t a l g i a v i a c a r n i va l ga m e s , a n a nt i q u e c a r r i d e a n d b r i g ht b l u e c re a my w h i p. Th e go u rm et M i a m i R i ve r B rew h o u s e i nt ro d u c e d h i g h - e n d e at s , l o c a l b e e r a n d I m p o ss i b l e B u rge rs to t h e p a rk m e n u i n 2 0 1 9 . 6 3 0 0 K i n g s I s l a n d D r ive ,

M a s o n , v i s i t k i n g s i s l a n d .c o m .

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1 . F i f t y We s t B rew i n g C o m p a ny

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P H O T O B Y PA I G E D E G L O W

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Blue Ash Ke nwo o d Loveland

Madeira Mariemont Milford

Montgomery We s t C h e s t e r +Nearby

4. Phoenician Tave r n a

5 . P l a i d Ro o m Re c o rd s

7 9 4 4 S . M a s o n M o n t go m e r y Ro a d , M a s o n , f a c e b o o k .c o m / p h o e n i c i a n t ave r n a .

1 2 2 W. Love l a n d Ave . , Love l a n d , p l a i d ro o m re c o rd s .c o m .

Th i s M e d i te r ra n e a n re st a u ra nt s e r ve s s u p e rb Le b a n e s e fo o d i n a s t r i p mall. It has established a g l i t te r i n g re p u t at i o n i n i t s h a l f- d oze n ye a rs of o p e rat i o n , tu r n i n g u p o n to p 1 0 l i s t s wi t h b u z z ywo r t hy O ve r-t h e R h i n e e s t a b l i s h m e nt s h e l m e d by fa m e d l o c a l c h efs . Wi t h s u bt l e s p i c i n g a n d ge n i u s f l avo r c o m b i n at i o n s , t h e re a re o pt i o n s fo r b ot h ve get a r i a n s a n d m e at- e ate rs . Tr y t h e h o u s e s p e c i a l t y, m ’ h a m m a ra — a c re a my wa l n u t d i p — a n d a h a n d f u l of t h e re s t of t h e h ot a n d c o l d m ez ze. Wi t h a g l a s s of Fre n c h ro s é f ro m t h e wi d e - ra n g i n g wi n e l i s t , eve n s to p p i n g at a p p s wo u l d m a ke fo r a n et h e re a l m e a l .

Love l a n d i s p ro b a b l y b e s t k n own to m o st re s i d e nt s of G re ate r C i n c i n n at i fo r i t s l e n g t hy, c yc l i s t-f r i e n d l y b i ke t ra i l s , b u t i t i s a l s o t h e u n l i ke l y h o m e of p o p u l a r v i ny l s h o p P l a i d Ro o m Re c o rd s a n d i t s a s s o c i ate d a n d n at i o n a l l y l a u d e d S o u l / Fu n k l a b e l C o l e m i n e Re c o rd s . M o s t of the music Colemine puts out i s m a d e by c o nte m p o ra r y a r t i s t s — l i ke D u ra n d J o n e s & t h e I n d i c at i o n s — b u t t h e music itself is based on a c l a ss i c , a n a l o g s o u n d . F i n d t h e l a b e l ’s ret ro - st y l e d a l b u m s l i n i n g t h e s h e lve s at t h e c l e a n , b r i g ht s h o p, a l o n g wi t h rows a n d rows of n ew a n d u s e d v i ny l f ro m eve r y c o n c e i va b l e ge n re a n d e ra .

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Dining

W A L K- U P WINDOWS p. 42

BEST R E S TA U R A N T S p. 41

Brunch, burgers, barbecue and everything in between.

Lo n e l y P i n e S te a k h o u s e

This retro-inspired steakhouse in Pleasant Ridge transports diners to the midcentury American Southwest.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

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BAR & GR ILLS/ BR EWPUBS ARNOLD’S BAR & GRILL

Open since 1861, Arnold’s is the oldest continuously running tavern in town, complete with dark wood walls, vintage memorabilia and a big ol’ bathtub, rumored to have been used to make gin during Prohibition. A Cincinnati classic, it serves up a nice range of lunch and dinner options — pasta, sandwiches and burgers, plus vegan and glutenfree options — at bargain prices.

Enjoy a local draft in the outdoor beer garden and almost daily live music. Named as one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine. 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, arnoldsbarandgrill.com.

ARTHUR’S

Arthur’s is a relaxed gathering place on Hyde Park Square. The menu includes salads, soups, sandwiches and — their specialty — burgers with deals on toppings during “burger madness” days.

3516 Edwards Road, Hyde Park; 8221 Beechmont Ave., Anderson, arthurscincinnati.com.

CITY VIEW TAVERN

A hillside dive and home of one of the best spicy bloody marys and best views in town. The burgers are damn tasty, too. Meet Big Ted: six ounces of griddle-cooked, handmade beef patty with American cheese, brown mustard, lettuce, pickles, mayo, onion, ketchup and home-grown tomatoes (when in season), served in a plastic basket with a bag of chips. 403 Oregon St.,

Mount Adams, cityviewtavern.com.

DESHA’S

Classic American food that is served in a setting that is “polished but never stuffy.” Tavern fare includes fish and chips, a Kentucky Hot Brown, burgers, sandwiches and classics like filet mignon with asparagus and mashed potatoes.

11320 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, deshas.com.

GASLIGHT BAR & GRILL

Located in the space formerly occupied by the Clifton Branch of the public library, the menu at the Gaslight Bar & Grill still makes for some good reading. Try the Greek spaghetti with tomato, onion, spinach, tapenade (an umami paste made from olives, capers and anchovies) and feta, with the choice to include bacon. There are plenty of domestic and local craft brews, a solid wine list and a literary-inspired cocktail menu featuring nods to Hemingway, Bradbury, Poe and more. 351 Ludlow Ave.,

Clifton, gaslightbarandgrillclifton.com.

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Lu c i u s Q

HOLY GRAIL TAVERN & GRILLE

With more than 30 high-definition TVs, a plethora of beers on tap and great pub grub, this is a prime sports spot at The Banks.

Munch on classic fare like ballpark pretzels, angus burgers, wings, wraps and nachos, with outdoor seating directly across from Great American Ball Park. 161 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, facebook.com/ holygrailbanks.

INCLINE PUBLIC HOUSE

With a 1,400-square-foot deck for soaking in vistas and cocktails, IPH’s name is derived from the actual Cincinnati Incline that existed there from the late 1800s to the 1940s. Their upscale twist on pub food features sandwiches, salads, epicurean appetizers and a slew of craft cocktails and draft beers.

Build your own pizza with toppings ranging from pepperoni and prosciutto to fried egg and ovenroasted tomato. 2601 W. Eighth St.,

Price Hill, inclinepublichouse.com.

KEYSTONE BAR & GRILL

This chain of neighborhood joints offers a variety of tasty comfort food like huge plates of pasta, a rockin’ quesadilla menu, buildyour-own-burgers (including turkey or veggie options) and weekend brunch. Where Keystone really shines, though, is its macaroni and cheese menu: specialty selections of ooey, gooey carbs smothered in rich dairy, named after famous bands like their “Fleetwood Mac” with mozzarella, pesto and tomato.

Multiple locations including 313 Greenup St., Covington, Ky.; 249 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights; 3384 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, keystonebar.com.

MOERLEIN LAGER HOUSE

Moerlein Lager House celebrates Cincinnati’s brewing tradition in a giant restaurant and brewery with sweeping views of downtown and the riverfront. Offers a large something-for-everyone menu of burgers and pastas, plus fancier dishes like filet mignon and squash wellington. With 24 beers on tap — house brews and other crafts — plus more than 60 in bottles and cans, there’s a drink for every taste. Tours of the in-house brewery available. 115 Joe Nuxhall Way,

Downtown, moerleinlagerhouse.com.

MOTR PUB

MOTR Pub does two things really well: rocks your face off with a great variety of local and touring bands and serves up one hell of a burger. But fret not veg-heads — you can get a veggie burger

or vegan TLT, made with marinated tofu, lettuce, tomato and vegan mayo on toasty. Their fries and tots are an excellent addition to any dish. Be sure to check out MOTR for brunch. 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

NORTHSIDE YACHT CLUB

The fare might be best described as bar food with a creative twist. All meats are smoked in house and fan favorites include short-rib grilled cheese, smoked chicken wings with housemade sauce and awardwinning poutine with duck fat gravy. For vegetarians, there’s also cauliflower wings, vegan lentil chili fries and a tofu banh mi.

Features full service brunch on weekends, with Tikithemed drinks and one of the meatiest bloody marys in town, garnished with celery, a house-smoked Boston butt pulled pork slider, hickory bacon and a house-smoked jumbo wing.

4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com.

TAFT’S ALE HOUSE

Housed in a renovated multi-story 1850s-era church, Taft’s is named after William Howard Taft, the 27th president of the United States and native Cincinnatian. The working brewery and restaurant features meat platters, salads and sandwiches that focus on tri-tip beef — similar to prime rib — and a special kids’ menu. The creative beer selection boasts brews made with local goods, everything from locally roasted coffee to artisan chocolate. 1429

Race St., Over-the-Rhine, taftsalehouse.com.

TELA BAR + KITCHEN

Serving both lunch and dinner, Tela does steady business and really rocks on weekends. Rock & Roll cognoscenti will appreciate the numerous music references, starting with the restaurant’s name, taken from a song title by the owners’ favorite band, Phish.

The pub-grub slant is apparent at the top of the dinner menu, with items such as pretzel stixx, chicken wings and poutine. What brings this fare to a higher level might be such twists as preparing the wings as confit or adding

housemade beer mustard to the poutine. 1212 Springfield Pike, Wyoming, telabarandkitchen.com.

BAR BECUE ALABAMA QUE

Dwan Ward, a former firefighter and football player, began catering through word of mouth; today, his barbecue joint is a popular haunt for professional athletes and celebrities like A.J. Green, Snoop Dogg and Wale. Home of turkey rib tips, all side items are non-pork based; greens and green beans are made with smoked turkey, baked beans are entirely vegetarian and meat is cooked on separate grills and cut with different knives. 2733

Vine St., Corryville, alabama-q.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

CITY BBQ

This regional chain was named one of the best in America by Men’s Journal. They put out some dang tasty barbecue, including mouthwatering beef brisket and a good and sloppy pulled-pork sandwich.

Mix and match your sauce and meat. Multiple locations including

10375 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 7706 Voice of America Centre Drive, West Chester; 2760 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights, Ky., citybbq.com.

ELI’S BBQ

Eli’s specialty, the pulled-pork sandwich, is a good intro to his amazing barbecue sauce, and you can move on from there to hickorysmoked ribs, smoked turkey or an all-beef hot dog topped with pulled-pork crispins and coleslaw.

Try the mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, baked beans or the jalapeño corn bread. 3313 Riverside

Drive, East End; Findlay Market, 133 W. Elder St., Over-the Rhine, elisbarbeque.com.

JUST Q’IN

Owner Matt Cuff launched his pursuit of cooked meats by entering (and winning) barbecue competitions in South Carolina. Come for the pork, brisket, chicken or ribs, stay for the wings, rib tips or even a platter of sides since each one is only a few bucks. With a base in faith, the “sammiches” have names like David, Goliath, Adam and Judas (chicken). 975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, justqin.com.

LUCIUS Q

While the name of this barbecue joint may look like “luscious” — which isn’t a bad association — the restaurant is actually called Lucius Q (loo-shus q), a moniker taken from a Roman general with special ties to Cincinnati. The restaurant logo is a Centurion riding a pig, but the Italian influence stops there.

The menu is all about meat. The restaurant draws influence from regional barbecue specialties and the business partners’ own backgrounds: there’s Texas brisket, Carolina pulled pork, St. Louisstyle ribs and Avril-Bleh sausage from Cincinnati. Everything is smoked out back. 1131 Broadway St.,

Pendleton, luciusq.com.

MONTGOMERY INN

World-famous for its ribs, Montgomery Inn has been a staple in Cincinnati for more than 60 years.

Along with ribs, the Inn offers barbecued spring chicken, pulledpork sandwiches, burgers, salads and more, including everyone’s favorite: Saratoga chips served with their famous barbecue sauce.

9440 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; 925 Riverside Drive, Downtown, montgomeryinn.com.

PONTIAC

With pimento dip served with Ritz crackers, Cheerwine and Red Neck Frito Pie, barbecue palace Pontiac takes low-class grub to a self-aware, higher level. Along with the pulled pork, their Texas-style brisket, turkey, smoked kielbasa 2 7

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and barbecue veg are beautiful things. St. Louis ribs are available by the half and full slab. 1403 Vine

St., Over-the-Rhine, pontiacbbq.com.

SMOQ

The “Q” is for barbecue, the specialty at SmoQ. It’s all done slow and low in a big ’ol smoker.

You’re likely to find your favorite Southern specialty here as well, be it Memphis-style baby back ribs, blackened catfish or Uncle Jerry’s Shrimp & Grits. 275 Pictoria Drive, Springdale, smoqbbq.com.

STATION FAMILY & BBQ

This new barbecue joint opened its doors to a hungry line of customers who, after their first bite of Station’s Cincinnati sausage and smoked chicken wings, were sure to be loyal repeat customers.

There’s a separate dining area with table service and an indoor walkup window that’s a bit more casual, so the kids can run around while you eat. Get a few entrées per diner since their protein options like pork butt and brisket are a bit conservatively portioned, but damn tasty. 400 Wyoming Ave, Wyoming, cincystation.com.

SWEETS & MEATS

Kristen Bailey’s ascendancy in the often male-dominated world of

barbecue is no surprise: Sweets & Meats hits all the barbecue fundamentals with ribs, brisket, pulled pork and the fan-favorite pulled chicken sandwich. The store and food truck also sometimes offer more unique fare, including smoked meatloaf and a strawberry crunch cake that makes the trip to Cincinnati’s eastern-most neighborhood worth it all by itself. 2249

BACALLS CAFÉ

CAFES/BISTROS/ WINE BARS

6118 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, bacallscafe.com.

Beechmont Ave., Mt. Washington, sweetsandmeatsbbq.com.

1215 WINE BAR & COFFEE LAB

Start your morning with a cup of coffee and a pastry at the “coffee lab,” where 1215’s baristas brew some of the best coffee in OTR (try their lavender latte or a cortado).

After work, get a flight of wine from their excellently curated wine menu, or pop a bottle off their retail shelf (no corkage fee on Mondays). Join their Wine of the Month Club and receive a selection of the house sommelier’s favorite wines.

Charcuterie and other light bites are perfect appetizers if you’re waiting for a table at one of the many restaurants nearby. 1215 Vine

St., Over-the-Rhine, 1215vine.com.

An Art Deco dreamland complete with a custom piece of frosted glass depicting Union Terminal and a phone booth tucked in the corner. Classy, but Bacalls still has TVs on which you can watch the game. The menu has something for everyone including soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and other entrées. Serving meals and booze to locals and visitors in College Hill for 35-plus years, they must be doing something right.

THE BAKER’S TABLE

Chef David Willocks calls the bread he bakes the canvas upon which his food appears. This hip brunch destination often has a line out the door for patrons waiting to try seasonal main courses or everpopular options like biscuits and gravy with Eckerlin pork sausage, ricotta donuts with strawberrylemon curd and eggs-in-a-hole.

Everything is sourced locally with sustainability in mind. 1004

Monmouth Street, Newport, Ky., bakerstablenewport.com.

BELLEVUE BISTRO

Bellevue Bistro is one of those places that you wish there were more of: a small neighborhood

Fa i r f i e l d M a rket

café where the food is made from scratch, the coffee is worth having three cups and the service is efficient and friendly. The super-cozy eatery specializes in breakfast bakes, burritos, sweets, savories and six different types of benedicts — choices like Kentucky Hot Brown, spicy mett and veggie Benny (sweet potatoes, squash, avocado, cheddar jack) served over biscuits, with fried eggs and homemade sauce. 313 Fairfield Ave.,

Bellevue, Ky., bellevuebistro.com.

BOW TIE CAFÉ

A coffeehouse, wine bar and café that brews Chicago’s Intelligentsia coffee and espresso. Their full wine menu offers pours by the glass and bottle service. The expansive food menu features breakfast, weekend brunch, burritos, wraps, subs and salads. Open for late night service, during which you can catch live Jazz and some light bites like olives, deviled eggs and flatbread.

1101 Saint Gregory St., Mount Adams, bowtiecafe.com.

BRONTË BISTRO

Brontë, located inside Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Rookwood, is a cozy, relaxed location to enjoy a book and a great meal. It has a lot to offer, including coffee, a full bar, starters, salads, sandwiches, home-cooked entrées and dessert. There’s a fun collection of author-themed cocktails, like Kurt Vonnegut’s Scotch and water or F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Gin Rickey. 2692 Madison Road,

Norwood, josephbeth.com/bronte.

CAFÉ DE PARIS

Feast on lunch and breakfast selections like salade niçoise, croque madame or a satisfying café bagel, topped with scrambled egg, fresh butter and a slice of tomato. Follow lunch with a Parisian espresso in the colorful and quaint downtown escape in the heart of Garfield Park. 17 Garfield Place, Downtown,

searchable on Facebook.

CHEAPSIDE CAFÉ

With a menu featuring kale salads, breakfast sandwiches with pimento cheese and modern espresso drinks (like the bubbly chinotto made with housemade tonic, espresso and soda), along with an interior decked out with a white floor, rustic wood seating and live plants, the ambiance feels decidedly West Coast — especially when you glance at the patio. The focal point of Cheapside’s al fresco seating is a large wooden tepee, constructed out of slatted cedar, in which you can sit at a bright red table while enjoying your smoked turkey on salted rye and local Hen of the Woods potato chips. 326 E. Eighth St., Downtown, PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 28

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

cheapsidecafe.com.

COLONEL’S KITCHEN

FAUSTO

Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky., colonelde.com.

faustoatthecac.com.

With creative takes on breakfast fare such as pancakes, French toast and egg dishes to sandwiches, salads, soups and biscuit concoctions, the place delivers “fast-casual from scratch.” Colonel’s Kitchen offers breakfast and lunch six days a week, with brunch specials on Sunday. While it’s not any kind of fancy, both the layout and décor make it feel homey and welcoming. Chalkboards tell you what’s to eat and the cooking is done behind a long counter. 22 N.

DILLY BISTRO, BAR & BOTTLE SHOP

Located in the heart of historic Mariemont, Dilly Bistro, Bar and Bottle Shop serves lunch and dinner daily. Paying tribute to their origins as a deli, you’ll also find satisfying sandwiches, housemade soups and their famous beer cheese dip. While you eat, sip a glass of beer or wine on their giant two-level English-courtyard-style patio. Guests can choose a bottle of wine from their in-house bottle shop to enjoy with their meal for retail price plus a small corkage fee. 6818 Wooster Pike, Mariemont,

dillybistro.com.

ESSENCHA TEA HOUSE & HEALTHY CAFÉ

With an extensive menu of green, black, white, oolong, herbal and rooibos teas, plus a line of infusions from local Lola’s Botanicals, the tea selection (which you can sample for free) is about as vast as the café menu, which features edibles like kimchi crepes, a cold smoked-salmon sandwich and a matcha goddess salad. For bubble tea lovers — or those looking to try the Asian treat for the first time — Essencha offers a customizable selection. Choose your freshly brewed tea base and fruit syrup, shaken and poured over sweet tapioca pearls. 3212 Madison Road, Oakley, essenchatea.com.

FAIRFIELD MARKET

Appealing to residents on either side of the Ohio River, Fairfield Market brings coffee, cocktails, locally sourced snacks on pretty plates and a sun-dappled workspace to Bellevue’s main drag. The décor blends Midcentury Modern with a Palm Desert vibe, mixing original terrazzo with contemporary furniture and plenty of outlets for charging electronics. 700 Fairfield Ave.,

Bellevue, Ky., thefairfieldbellevue.com.

The Ferrari Brothers present a heightened brunch, lunch or dinner experience in the lobby of the Contemporary Arts Center — not many places are serving trout roe on potatoes — but one that safely resists pretension. The menu is contemporary and upbeat and described as “California cuisine” with splashes of citrus and extra-virgin olive oil, not full of fat or butter. There is also Deeper Roots coffee, wine and several cocktails. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown,

Sit.

GABBY’S CAFÉ

A family-owned restaurant serving American cuisine with Italian flair. Signature pizzas include The Capone with capicola, salami, pepperoni, sausage, olives, banana peppers, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan. Entrée options include eggplant parmesan, Gabby’s famous fish dinner and gluten-free zucchini linguine. 515 Wyoming Ave.,

Stay.

Wyoming, gabbyswyoming.com.

HALF DAY CAFÉ

Seasonal menu items with fresh, locally sourced ingredients make this popular Wyoming mainstay a breakfast and lunch standout. Try the thick-sliced mango-butter rum French toast, and for lunch, grab an avocado club wrap or grilled cheese with cheddar and provolone. 1 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming,

AD

halfdaycafe.org.

IRIS BOOKCAFÉ

A combination of an art gallery, bookshop, coffee shop and wireless café, Iris BookCafé has both meat and veggie (and vegan) options on the menu. Soup selections run the gamut from chicken gumbo to vegan lentil kale, while sandwiches are simple with fillings like egg salad, salmon or turkey.

They also serve scoops of local Aglamesis Bros. ice cream. 1331

Savor.

Main St., Over-the-Rhine, irisbookcafeotr.com.

MAPLEWOOD KITCHEN AND BAR

Maplewood serves up dishes and ingredients that would be right at home on the West Coast: cold-pressed juices, superfood salads, egg-white omelets and somewhat nutritious cocktails, like the roasted tomatillo bloody mary.

Made with Tito’s vodka, house tomatillo bloody mary mix and cold-pressed Super Green juice (kale, celery, spinach, romaine and pineapple), it’s topped off by a purple cabbage accouterment. If bloody marys aren’t your thing, ask

4335 Glendale-Milford Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242 (513) 794-1610 browndogcafe.com

2 9

4 3/4 in

G o rd o’s Pu b & Grill

for a cup of Brainstorm Coffee, the café’s take on Bulletproof Coffee (coffee blended with grass-fed butter). 525 Race St., Downtown; 5065 Deerfield Blvd., Mason, maplewoodkitchenandbar.com.

4 7/8 in

MOKKA

Whether it’s their corn-cerealbattered French toast topped with bananas and crème brûlée or their eggy arsenal of inventive frittatas, Mokka makes a mean breakfast.

Vegetarians will love the California and veggie frittatas, while carnivores can tear into the three-meat and Green Goat (spinach, chicken and goat cheese) varieties. Lunch and dinner options include burgers and hearty grinder sandwiches.

500 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., mokkasunset.com.

MOM ‘N ‘EM

AD

Located in a former 1890s home, Mom ‘n ‘em acts as a third place, with a diverse offering of wines and coffee, tinned fish varieties, cheeses, cured meats, pastries from North South Baking, the “Dirty Nati” Egg Samich and more.

They have a full liquor license with cocktails like a classic negroni and Manhattan, and a smart selection of beer in their cooler. Friday night wine flights are $5, and family-style Bistro Night dinners are on the horizon as well. 3128 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, momnemcoffee.com.

LOUVINO

This Louisville-based wine bar offers Southern-inspired small plates, as well as bourbon, cocktails, beer and 17 preselected wine flights. Brunchers: Louvino serves cheap mimosas on Saturdays and Sundays plus foodie items like pancake tacos, stuffed French toast and chicken biscuit sliders. A portion of the menu changes once per quarter, so guests can expect something new. 1142 Main St., Overthe-Rhine, louvino.com.

LYDIA’S ON LUDLOW

A neighborhood cafe serving homemade soups & right out of the garden salads & sandwiches - local & organic

This neighborhood coffee shop is a great bohemian-style hangout for someone looking to get work done on their laptop, read a book of poetry or just catch up with an old friend. They have coffee, espresso, tea and a selection of boozy drinks to loosen everything up. Try something from their kitchen like an eggy breakfast wrap, or get soup and a sandwich for lunch. 329 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, lydiascafes.com.

MARTY’S HOPS & VINES

This College Hill wine and beer emporium offers weekly wine tastings with six healthy pours accompanied by cubed cheese and crackers. Half the shop is retail, selling bottle craft beers and local and international wines, and the other half is a bar and restaurant. The expanded menu consists of panini, small plates, individual build-yourown pizzas and seasonal flavors of cheesecake. 6110 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, martys-hopsandvines.com.

O PIE O

While originally famous for their sweet pies, O Pie O’s restaurant also does savory — pot pies, quiche, empanadas, etc. And they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a selection of both types. The pie crust anchors the menu with a flakiness that truly melts in your mouth and tastes just as lovely and buttery whether filled with braised beef or bourbon pecan. 1527

Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, opieo.com.

PICCOLO WINE ROOM

Conceived as a wine bar, Piccolo offers wines by the six-ounce glass or two-ounce taste, or you can select a bottle from the shop next door and pay corkage. The menu rarely repeats from one week to the next but usually will include a soup and a salad, a hearty burger or meat dish and perhaps another sandwich and two or three entrées. The setting, the bonhomie and food and drink make for a splendid experience. 23 Village

Square, Glendale, piccolowineroom.com.

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

DINING

FLIPDADDY’S BURGERS & BEERS

A classic joint offering craft beer and a whole lot of choices for their signature burgers. Add a kick to your dish with the Chuck Norris, a locally sourced beef patty topped with fire-roasted green chile and jalapeño compote, lettuce and pepper jack cheese. Or go German with The Oktoberfest burger, topped with cheddar, a Guinness reduction sauce, grilled onion, sauerkraut, pickles and bacon Dijon mayo on a pretzel bun. Multiple

locations including 165 Pavilion Parkway, Newport, Ky.; 7453 Wooster Pike, Mariemont; 12071 Mason Montgomery Road, Symmes; 8863 US Route 42, Union, Ky., flipdaddys.com.

GAS LIGHT CAFE

for one of their frozen milkshakes.

For a few extra bucks, you can add booze. 545 Race St., Downtown,

Celtic green paint and a hammered tin ceiling create a cozy atmosphere in which to enjoy a well-seasoned, straightforward cheeseburger and a local beer on draft. The Gas Light Burger features a quarter pound patty topped with a slice of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and mayo. It’s basic and comforting — the Platonic ideal of a Burger. 6104

americanoburgerbar.com.

Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, gaslightcincy.com .

BARD’S BURGERS AND CHILI

GORDO’S PUB & GRILL

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

QUARTER BISTRO

A romantic bistro offering seasonal cuisine and sophisticated ambiance. The 18-hour short ribs are to die for and the interesting taco selections — blackened shrimp, Korean wagyu steak and vegan chorizo and portobello — are divine. There’s a lovely wine list at Quarter Bistro, and outdoor dining in the historic Mariemont town square is wonderfully charming.

6904 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, qbcincy.com.

RUTH’S PARKSIDE CAFÉ

Located in a factory bay at the American Can Building, Ruth’s offers diners a mix of comforting, well-known classics from the owners’ former restaurant Mullane’s, such as the spinach sauté and red beans and rice, as well as new dishes. Everything is from scratch, and there is plenty for vegetarians and carnivores alike. 1550 Blue

Rock St., Northside, ruthscafe.com.

SLEEPY BEE CAFÉ

A family-friendly breakfast and lunch spot. Much of Sleepy Bee’s food is sourced locally from farms with bee-friendly practices, including Holistic Acres eggs; Marksbury Farms’ humane, pasture-raised meats; and potatoes, sprouts and microgreens from nearby growers.

Expect a healthy wait on weekends for healthy and hearty brunch fare.

3098 Madison Road, Oakley; 9514 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown, sleepybeecafe.com.

SOMM WINE BAR

Somm Wine Bar makes it perilously easy to have a fun weeknight out.

For one, they serve half glasses of wine (half full, that is), perfect if you’re indecisive, sampling or pretending not to drink very much.

For another, the inviting back patio conjures up words like “sophisticated” and “adulting.” And finally, Somm’s snacks range from caramelized Brussels sprouts and bacon to a full list of entrées like roasted acorn squash or shrimp scampi. 3105 Price Ave., Price Hill,

sommwinebarcincinnati.com.

YORK STREET CAFÉ

Built in the 1880s, the building holds a beautifully decorated eclectic café, a lounge with live music and an art gallery, along with a terribly romantic garden patio.

Order a Conversation Board, with samplings of different appetizers, and let the words flow. A great place for a first date. 738 York St., Newport, Ky., yorkstonline.com.

BURGERS/DO GS AMERICANO BURGER BAR

Americano has taken the American staples we all love and elevated them with international flavors. They have burgers like The Porkopolis, with crispy bacon and double sharp cheddar with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, or The Carolina BBQ with Carolina style whiskeyBBQ sauce, crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese, fried onion straws, tomato, and mayo. You’ll be full after the burgers, but save room

Located in a former chili parlor in Latonia, Bard’s specializes in both burgers and Cincinnati-style chili (hence the name). Burgers are made with fresh, never-frozen ground chuck, infused with spices, seared on a flattop and served on a toasted bun. If you want to go big, Bard’s offers the Bardzilla Challenge. For this food feat, diners must eat an 11-patty Bardzilla burger (each topped with cheese and weighing in at one-third of a pound), plus two pounds of fries in 60 minutes or less.

3620 Decoursey Ave., Latonia, Ky., bardsburgersandchili.com.

DELWOOD

Nestled at the intersection of Delta and Linwood avenues in Mount Lookout Square, Delwood’s kitchen is small, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in flavor. The petite food menu offers six different sharable items like tostones and shishito peppers and eight meal options like their popular Delwood Burger with salsa criolla, avocado and huancaina or the kale Caesar salad. The bar menu offers a variety of cocktails including a paloma, Caipirinha and the Rum & Rye Old Fashioned in addition to beer, wine and boilermakers.

What’s not to love about a pub with more than 100 microbrews and incredible gourmet burgers?

Their two standbys are the Jean-Robert, with grape compote and goat and blue cheeses, and the Gordo’s burger, topped with Boursin cheese, poblano peppers, onions and smoked bacon. A Xavier hangout. 4328 Montgomery Road,

Norwood, gordospub.com.

HERB & THELMA’S TAVERN Open in 1939 as Heine’s Café, the small drop-ceilinged dining room is what some may call a “hole in the wall,” but the simple and delectable burgers are made to order and served by an incredibly friendly staff. The burgers are basic — a juicy meat patty topped with cheese, onions and pickles — and a short list of sides includes chili, soup or Husman’s chips. The joint recently added craft beer to its program of PBR, Bavarian’s and Budweiser. One note: Herb & Thelma’s is cash only, but burgers ring in at less than $5 (as does the fried bologna sandwich with cheese). 718 W. Pike St., Covington,

Ky., herbandthelmas.com.

3204 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout, delwoodcincy.com.

3 1

DINING

MAD MIKE’S BURGERS AND FRIES

Choose from their creative signature offerings like the Rockefeller with blue cheese, cranberry chutney, beer battered onions, cilantro mayo and lettuce, or the Goliath, which features two grilled cheese sandwiches for buns because, why not? 194 N. Brookwood Ave., Hamil-

ton, madmikesburger.com.

MR. GENE’S DOG HOUSE

Mr. Gene’s menu features hot dogs, wings and Italian sausages with traditional sides of fries and onion rings. A portion of Mr. Gene’s profits are donated to charities, so pig out! 3703 Beekman St., South

Cumminsville, mrgenesdoghouse.com.

NATION KITCHEN AND BAR Nation Kitchen and Bar might not agree with the anti-booze ideology of its namesake, the axe-wielding teetotaler Carrie Nation, but it has embraced her love of hatchets.

The restaurant offers a new burger every month called “The Bit,” named after the part of the axe that makes the most impact. For every Bit Burger sold, $1 goes to a local charity. 1200 Broadway St., Pendleton, nationkitchenandbar.com.

QUATMAN CAFÉ

A no-frills burger joint with two locations — an original in Norwood and a second in Mason — that frequently wins best burger accolades from local publications (including this one). Founded in 1966 by Albert Imm and Ken Talmage, this icon is known for cheeseburgers, chili, soup and cold beer. Daily specials rotate between cheeseburgers and fries and other sandwiches, like barbecue pork and hot ham and cheese. Another famous dish?

Their mock turtle soup. 2434 Quat-

man Ave., Norwood; 224 W. Main St., Mason, quatmancafe.com.

RONEY’S

Opened in 1969 in Union Township as part of the Roy Rogers chain of fast food eateries, Roney’s (as the restaurant came to be called after Roy’s dissolved) shuttered its original location in 2012 only to reopen in Milford in 2015 with the same food and same neon marquee. Well known for its fried chicken and roast beef, Roney’s also serves cult favorite burgers including the Lucky R Burger: a quarter pound of beef topped with American cheese and a slice of ham on a sesame seed bun. 314 Chamber Drive, Milford, facebook. com/roneysrestaurant .

THE ROOT BEER STAND

This seasonal restaurant makes secret-recipe root beer (available by the jug) using water from the property’s 280-foot-deep well and family-recipe chili for their famous foot-long chili cheese dogs.

11566 Reading Road, Sharonville, therootbeerstand.com.

SENATE

Pushers of beer, wine and gourmet street food. Senate’s mission is to present upscale street food, and they do a terrific job of it, grabbing national attention from the likes of the New York Post, Forbes and more. The menu plays heavily on hot dogs, from gourmet Chicago dogs to more interesting dog-ofthe-days and menu staples like the Trailer Park, with applewood bacon, American cheese and crushed Grippo’s. The lobster BLT is a must have, as is the “$30 wood-grilled, dry-aged ribeye,” which costs just $27 and is served with marrow butter and truffle fries. 1212 Vine St.,

Over-the-Rhine; 1100 Summit Place Drive, Blue Ash, senatepub.com.

SILVER LADLE

Silver Ladle is a “fast-casual” restaurant that serves a variety of hearty sandwiches, a dozen soups, fresh salads, gluten-free options and its own twist on Cincinnati-

B o o mtown B i s c u i t s & Wh i s key

style chili and coneys. Burger fans will be happy to see a stout lineup of heavily topped meaty patties, and the handful of salad offerings are far from skimpy. 580 Walnut St.,

Downtown; 7917 Beechmont Ave., Anderson, silverladle.com.

TICKLE PICKLE

Earth-conscious, locally sourced Rock & Roll burgers are exactly the kind of thing one would expect to find in Northside. And Tickle Pickle happens to serve just that. Patrons order their Rock-themed burgers — like the Meatallica with a beef patty, goetta, bacon and egg, or the Nom Petty, a Swiss mushroom melt — from the counter and then take a seat. Veg options on the menu include the Buns N Roses, Coney Bennett and When Buns Cry sandwiches. Dairy sensitive? You can also opt for non-dairy versions of thick and creamy milkshakes.

4176 Hamilton Ave., Northside, ticklepicklenorthside.com.

ZIP’S CAFÉ

Zip’s has been doing burgers right since 1926, and generations of East Side Cincinnatians call Zipburgers their favorite. If you’re feeling like a light meal, order a classic Zip burger, with fresh, flame-broiled meat from local butcher Avril-Bleh & Sons, nestled in a toasted honey-egg bun from Klosterman Baking Company, and a side of super crispy onion rings.

Or go big with the Girth Burger, a Zip burger topped with a split Avril-Bleh mettwurst. Or even bigger with the Train Wreck, a Zip burger topped with shaved ham, the aforementioned split grilled mettwurst and three types of cheese. 1036 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, zipscafe.com.

CHICKEN/ COMFORT FOOD BOOMTOWN BISCUITS & WHISKEY

At Boomtown, the true delight comes plated. The signature biscuit isn’t a run-of-the-mill thousand-layer flaked baked good. It’s a buttery, soft disc with a close crumb and a browned, lightly bubbled top that no breakfast chain can compete with. Choose from sandwiches, plates, bowls, sides and dessert.

1201 Broadway St., Pendleton, boomtownbiscuitsandwhiskey.com.

CHX

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 32

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Their signature menu item is Bantys — which are lump-sized chicken pieces named after a wild and soulful breed of Indonesian chickens

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

called Bantam — in two different brined and golden-fried finishing options: original or hot. In addition to Bantys, the chicken joint also offers salads, sandwiches and sharable sides like CHX nachos, fried cheese curds, wavy fries and more.

Get it at CHX or from inside 3 Points Urban Brewery. 1211 Broadway St., Pendleton, chxcincy.com.

THE HITCHING POST

“World’s Best Fried Chicken” is this diner’s claim to fame, but you should try their outstanding breakfasts — especially Uncle Bubba’s Ultimate Omelet. Burgers and Tall Stacks (overstuffed double-decker sandwiches) compete with traditional classics like meatloaf and liver and onions. 2715 Madison Road,

BU RG E R J O I N T S As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Zip’s Café

Hyde Park, hydeparkhitchingpost.com.

CITYBIRD

The deep-fried offspring of The Eagle in OTR, CityBird is one of the latest additions to the Thunderdome Restaurant Group, dishing out cage-free, all-natural chicken paired with housemade craft sauces. CityBird’s “house-brined, fresh fried” chicken leans more toward tenderness than crispiness, but still packs a considerable punch. 1344 Vine St., Over-the-

Rhine, citybirdotr.com.

THE EAGLE OTR

The Eagle is nested inside a retired post office and has a relatively small menu, comprised of fried chicken, sandwiches, snacks and several side dishes. Booze-wise, they serve 100 kinds of beer and have about 15 different brews on tap. The fried chicken is freerange, all natural and sourced from Ohio farms. Opt for a whole, half chicken (white and dark meat) or a quarter of a chicken (select white or dark). The spicy honey served with chicken is a must, try it on everything. 1342 Vine St., Over-theRhine, eaglerestaurant.com.

FIERY HEN

From the team behind Court Street Lobster Bar comes this Southernstyle hot chicken eatery featuring Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, catfish, burgers, fried green tomatoes, brisket and more, including a moonshine menu and taps with local beer. Guests can choose a level of heat, with sauces ranging from mild to the cleverly coined “Bless Your Heart” sauce. 26 W. Court St.,

Downtown, fieryhencincy.com.

GREYHOUND TAVERN

Famous for its double-deckers, the Greyhound Tavern has been a Fort Mitchell institution since the 1930s. You won’t want to miss the divine fried chicken, the ginormous onion rings, the Hot Brown or the bread pudding. It’s family-style fried chicken night on Mondays and Tuesdays, with generous portions of bird — rolled in secret-recipe herbed flour and fried — mashed potatoes, green beans, coleslaw and biscuits. 2500

Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell, Ky., greyhoundtavern.com.

LIBBY’S SOUTHERN COMFORT

Arthur’s

Brad Wainscott, whose father owns long-standing Kentucky mainstays the Greyhound Tavern and Tousey House Tavern, opened this Covington eatery that pays tribute to Southern classics like fried chicken and half-shell oysters served alongside a variety of bourbon drinks and other local favorites — including brunch.

Krueger’s Tavern

Nation Kitchen and Bar

35 W. Eighth St., Covington, Ky., libbyssoutherncomfort.com.

Tickle Pickle

MONEY CHICKEN

Money Chicken has taken the classic fried chicken sandwich and refined the spice blend to make one of the city’s more unique spicy sandwiches. While the basic ingredients are not unusual — fried buttermilk-brined chicken breast with spicy honey, pickles and mayo on a potato bun — it’s their Money Chicken Spice Blend that elevates everything thanks to the inclusion of Sichuan peppercorn.

Spicy and slightly numbing, it’s a unique sensation more Westerners should embrace at the table.

They also offer a tasty tempeh version for vegetarians or the chicken-averse. 300 E. Seventh St.,

Flipdaddy’s Burgers & Beers

Roney’s

Bard’s Burgers & Chili

Quatman Café

Downtown, moneychicken.co.

Gas Light Café

OLLIE’S TROLLEY

Ollie’s — located in a literal trolley — uses special seasoning to spice up everything from grits and eggs at breakfast to a hearty lunch of barbecued turkey tips. Start with the Ollie burger and fries and continue with ribs with homemade macaroni and cheese, then lemon pound cake for dessert. This cooking feeds your soul. 1607 Central

Ave., West End, facebook.com/ olliestrolleycincinnati.

PURPLE POULET

Dayton, Ky.’s Purple Poulet brands itself as a Southern bourbon bistro, emphasis on the bourbon — and the hospitality and service. They boast an extensive bourbon collection, one of the largest in the area, and the spirit is woven into many of their dishes, like the KY Coq au Vin. The bourbon-brined chicken breast is juicy and stark white, and the red-wine bacon gravy is full of

flavor. The Swanky Shrimp & Grits come with bourbon-cream pan gravy, andouille, bacon and redeye ganache. 603 Sixth Ave., Dayton,

menu with beer, wine and boozy punch. 1106 Race St., Over-the-Rhine;

6063 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, revolutionrotisserie.com.

Ky., purplepoulet.com.

REVOLUTION ROTISSERIE

Revolution specializes in hormonefree, preservative-free roasted Amish chicken on a number of pita sandwiches named after revolutionaries — Einstein, Mandela, Joan of Arc, etc. — as well as in chicken-centric house specialties, indulgent appetizers, fresh salads and traditional sides made with a twist. There is also a full drink

RON’S ROOST

A West Side institution since 1960, Ron’s Roost is known for its famous fried chicken, authentic sauerbraten and the giant fiberglass rooster that stands sentry on the roof. But diners also flock to Ron’s for the restaurant’s chicken livers dinner, with gravy and two sides (like German potato salad and hot bacon coleslaw). If you’d prefer calves’ liver, Ron’s has that on the 3 3

DINING

dinner menu, too — pan fried and slathered in sautéed onions, of course. 3853 Race Road, Bridgetown,

ronsroost.net.

SCHOOLHOUSE RESTAURANT

With the menu written on an ancient blackboard, you might expect (and maybe want?) a metal lunchbox to come to your table bursting with bologna sandwiches and Twinkies. What you’ll get, and be thrilled by, is delicious classic American fare served family-style.

Among your choices: fried chicken, baked cod, meatloaf and roast beef. Bonus: All sides, from mashed potatoes with gravy to cornbread, are refillable when dining in. 8031

Glendale-Milford Road, Camp Dennison, theschoolhousecincinnati.com.

SILVER SPRING HOUSE

Dubbing itself “The Chicken Joint,” Silver Spring House definitely serves up some delicious chicken.

Marinated in citrus juices and spices, it’s grilled and succulent.

There’s an entire menu section devoted to “The Breast of Times,” with chicken breast prepared a variety of ways — Buffalo style, cordon bleu and Baja, with salsa and monterey jack cheese. If you’re not in the mood for chicken, you can choose pork ribs, salmon, burgers and a variety of sandwiches. 8322 E. Kemper Road, Montgomery, thesilverspringhouse.com.

COFFEEHOUSES BLACK COFFEE

This coffee shop strives to be the intersection of coffee and culture, a place where people of all communities can congregate to celebrate black culture while enjoying great coffee. BlaCk Coffee’s coffee is supplied by La Terza and their house “Wakanda” blend is a mix of Ethiopian, Rwandan and Brazilian beans. All of the food served at BlaCk Coffee come from black-female-owned businesses in Cincinnati. 824 Elm St., Downtown,

facebook.com/blackcoffeecincy.

BLOC COFFEE

The coffee shop primarily serves locally roasted Deeper Roots coffee. They also offer an all-day breakfast menu and pastries either baked in-house or brought in from local bakeries. The majority of the coffee shop’s proceeds go to BLOC Ministries, an organization that helps with job placement for formerly incarcerated people and supports safe houses for female sex workers, drug recovery programs and after-school programs

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for children in the neighborhood.

801 Mount Hope Ave., East Price Hill, bloccoffeecompany.com.

COFFEE EMPORIUM

A Queen City staple with multiple locations, Coffee Emporium has been serving up artisanal roasted beans for decades (they’re the city’s oldest coffeehouse) and offers up some of the best breakfast pastries in Cincinnati. Lunch options are simple and hearty, with daily homemade soups. A hip, laid-back atmosphere makes it feel like you’re at a book club meeting with 20 of your friends. Multiple locations including 110 E. Central Parkway, Downtown; 3316 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, coffee-emporium.com.

COLLECTIVE ESPRESSO

Inspired by some of the best espresso bars and coffee shops in the country, this big-city-style coffee bar offers cool blends like cortados and espresso lemonade.

There’s no pretense; just really, really good coffee — and really good pastries from Mainwood Pastry. 207 Woodward St., Over-

the-Rhine; 4037 Hamilton Ave., Northside, collectiveespresso.com.

COLLEGE HILL COFFEE COMPANY

A full espresso and coffee bar with a hearty café menu and gift shop. Free music and WiFi. 6128 Hamilton Ave.,

College Hill, collegehillcoffeeco.com.

DEEPER ROOTS

Deeper Roots started as a roaster in 2012 with a primary focus on selling wholesale coffee beans.

But as their single-sourced beans grew in popularity, selling to local favorites like Rohs Street Café, BLOC and 1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab, owner Les Stoneham says the coffee bar concept became the next logical step in his business model. 3056 Madison Road, Oakley; 1814 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, deeperrootscoffee.com.

LEFT BANK COFFEEHOUSE

On the left bank of both the Ohio and Licking rivers, this shop serves Deeper Roots coffee as well as snacks and pastries from local purveyors including Savor Catering, Grateful Grahams and more. 701 Greenup St., Covington, Ky., leftbankcoffeehouse.com.

LOOKOUT JOE

Small but mighty, Lookout Joe roast with the best of them. Serves fair-trade beans from around the world as well as a great selection of pastries, bagels and smoothies. It’s located in the heart of Mount Lookout Square, hence the name. 3181 Linwood Ave.,

Mount Lookout, lookoutjoe.com.

POINT PERK

A coffeehouse that trains and employs individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from The Point. Serves craft coffee drinks and the delicious local Lil’s Bagels. 43 W. Pike

St., Covington, Ky., facebook. com/pointperkcoffee.

REALITY TUESDAY CAFÉ

Longstanding Northern Kentucky coffeehouse and bakery. 1518 Dixie Highway,

Park Hills, Ky., facebook.com/ realitytuesdaycafe.

ROHS STREET CAFÉ

This not-for-profit coffeehouse close to the University of Cincinnati fully embraces ethical sourcing by offering only fair-trade coffees and teas. Choose from a selection of locally roasted coffees to sip with a fresh pastry.

245 W. McMillan St., Clifton, rohsstreetcafe.com.

THE KIDD COFFEE CO.

A Cincinnati craft coffee chain that also serves Smooth Nitro Coffee — a selection of cold-brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas, kegged and poured from a tap. Multiple

locations including 525 Vine St., Downtown, kiddcoffee.com.

KITTY’S COFFEE

Hot or iced coffee, tea and sandwiches. Multiple locations including

120 E. Fourth St., Suite 5, Downtown, kittyscoffee.com.

SIDEWINDER COFFEE & TEA

The café offers locally roasted fair-trade and organic coffees, espresso drinks, spirits and blended and loose-leaf teas. Tasty sweet and savory treats abound, including vegan coffee cake and muffins. 4181 Hamilton Ave., North-

side, sidewindercoffee.com.

TRAILHEAD COFFEE

Trailhead Coffee is a craft purveyor serving various local coffee brands and assorted pastries from the

likes of Allez Bakery and Marty’s Waffles. The coffee shop is located inside of Reser Bicycle Outfitters, a specialty bike shop in Newport that carries everything from road and mountain bikes to electric varieties and even BMX. Sip a pour-over while scouting for bike gear or after dropping off your ride for a tuneup; Reser also does repairs, including major overhauls. It’s a Northern Kentucky gem worth checking out — for both their coffee and their bikes. 648 Monmouth St., Newport,

Ky., facebook.com/trailheadcoffee.

URBANA CAFÉ

Urbana Café’s storefront in Pendleton offers about 20 items on the coffee menu, including more experimental options like the caffé frizzante — espresso is poured into

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

a highball glass and then topped with San Pellegrino carbonated mineral water. The coffee shop offers baked goods made in-house as well as options from local bakeries like keto treats from Beyond The Grain and French pastries from Baudry. 1206 Broadway St., Pendleton; 2714 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills; Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Downtown, urbana-cafe.com.

DELIS/ SANDWICHES/ TAKEAWAY 13TH STREET ALLEY

Co-owned by a former Great Steak & Potato Co. franchisee, the menu offers seven types of Philly sandwiches, plus wraps, bowls, baked

potatoes and fresh-cut fries. And while the classic OTR Philly comes topped with provolone, the shop does keep Cheese Whiz in the fridge for all the cheesesteak purists out there. If you don’t show up in time to claim one of the three tables outside, you’ll have to eat on the curb in true streetfood fashion. Bonus: The window is open until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday for any late-night steak cravings. 126 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine,

513-813-8000, searchable on Facebook.

ALLÉZ BAKERY

This bakery has a small but mighty team, preparing and baking heaps of sourdough, ciabatta and rye on a three-deck Polin oven — an Italian import that dominates the

front of house. The menu features lunch sandwiches — like chicken salad with fennel and arugula and pastrami reuben with Gruyère and sauerkraut— served with a La Croix seltzer water and a bag of local Hen of the Woods chips. 1208 Main St.,

Over-the-Rhine, allezbakery.com.

THE BAGELRY

This former pop-up has a brickand-mortar storefront serving New York-style bagels in OTR with flavor options ranging from the classics — everything, asiago and plain — to options like chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin and blueberry. They also make their own spreads in house. 1401 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, otrbagelry.com.

DUTCH’S

Dutch’s established itself as a wine and bottling shop and open-air pony keg in 1947 and expanded into a deli/grocery. Pair one of 200 different available wines or craft ontap beers with farmstead cheeses, natural meats or snacks like truffle popcorn. They embrace both oldworld techniques and the new wave of domestic artisans. Thursday is Burger Night, with a special onenight-only gourmet topped burger available from 6 p.m. until they sell out. 3378 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, dutchs.squarespace.com.

FRED & GARI’S

For more than 25 years, Fred & Gari’s has been a bustling favorite of the downtown lunch crowd,

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with its ’80s-throwback neon sign, house-roasted meats and homemade dessert. The deli also specializes in a damn-good soupand-sandwich combo. The meats are smoked in-house, and their egg salad is a nostalgic throwback, full of mayonnaise-y goodness and topped with lettuce, tomato and onion. While you wait for your sandwich to arrive in its Styrofoam container, enjoy the lighthearted banter between Fred, Gari and the slew of regulars. 629 Vine St., Downtown, facebook.com/fredgaris.

FOND LUNCH AND DELI

An organically inspired lunch stop that does locally sourced deli and ready-made meals. 10764 Montgom-

ery Road, Montgomery; 3923 Isabella Ave., Oakley, fondcincinnati.com.

FRENCHIE FRESH

Frenchie Fresh is a fast-casual French-American sandwich/street food shop located in an outdoor mall. 5595 Deerfield Blvd., Mason,

frenchiefresh.com.

GRAMMA DEBBIE’S KITCHEN

Old-fashioned comfort food, cooked and ready for you to take home. 1801 Race St., Findlay Market,

Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ grammadebbiesatfindlaymarket.

THE GOURMAND GROUP AT FINDLAY MARKET

Meredith Trombly, Louis Snowden and their staff do all the hard parts — finding the best locally sourced ingredients and cooking 40-50 delicious and beautifully presented dishes every day. Baby-back ribs and grilled wild-caught salmon highlight the main courses at this constantly evolving eatery. Try the eggless egg salad. 1801 Race

St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/gourmandgroup.

THE GRUFF

The Gruff is a gourmet market/ deli, bar and pizzeria/restaurant all working in tandem. The restaurant does brick-oven pizzas, salads and hot and cold sandwiches, with Graeter’s ice cream and Covington’s Piebird pies for dessert. The set of nine deviled eggs is truly enough to satisfy any paprika-sprinkled craving. You can even order food and beer through the drive-thru. 129 E. Second St.,

Covington, Ky., atthegruff.com.

ator and the Izzy’s Mex showcase their delicious corned beef. Mul-

tiple locations including 800 Elm St., Downtown; 610 Main St., Downtown, izzys.com.

LIL’S BAGELS

Made with chutzpah, Lil’s Bagels is a tasty and twee experience nestled beside Roebling Point Books in Covington. A sign sits out front of a stone pathway, lit by twinkly lights, which leads to the best lil’ bagels in Greater Cincinnati.

Order through a walk-up window (windough) like a champ and pair your bagel and schmear with a local Smooth Nitro Coffee. The menu includes sweet and savory spreads — options like plain cream cheese, Dolly’s Caviar pimento cheese and Judy Garden, with beet, roasted veggies and goat cheese — and a whole buncha bagels. Lil’s are hand-rolled, boiled and then baked and come in flavors ranging from sesame and salt to Old Bay and cranberry cardamom. 308 Greenup

St., Covington, Ky., lilsbagels.com.

PANINO

Nino Loreto expanded his Italianstyle charcuterie and meat-sandwich food truck Panino, which he established in 2013, into a full restaurant on Vine Street. Having more space to cure his meats is ideal for an operation that literally uses the entire animal — from snout to tail — and stores the meat in the basement at a controlled 55 degrees.

By day, Panino is more of a lunch spot in which hungry customers can order sandwiches to go, but at night the place lights up with a table service, a full menu, cocktails and beer. The front-of-house includes a cold case filled with local cheeses and meats, giving off a classic deli vibe. 1313-1315 Vine St., Over-theRhine, findpanino.com.

IZZY’S

A Cincinnati tradition, Izzy’s serves a Reuben we can all be proud of.

Sandwiches such as the Reuben-

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PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

THE RHINED

Findlay Market-adjacent cheesemonger The Rhined aims to

give new meaning to the phrase “American cheese” by offering a changing selection of domestic artisan and regional cheeses in its cute little shop. Take a cheese 101 class, order a cheese flight (with accompanying wine selections) with charcuterie, grab an adult “lunchable” from the cold case or come for a weekday grilled cheese.

Keep an eye out for special themed evenings, like wintertime raclette nights. 1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine,

therhined.com.

SHARE: CHEESEBAR

Pleasant Ridge cheesebar Share offers grab-and-go options to build your own cheeseboard and chacuterie at home, or stay and select from several menu listings with cheese combos, cheese and meat combos, burrata boards, chevre plates and more, including themed nights once a week offering everything from sandwiches to fondue. Happy hour runs Friday evenings with discounted craft beer and wine. 6105 Ridge Road,

Pleasant Ridge, sharecheesebar.com.

THE TAKEAWAY

The Takeaway’s premise is simple: grab a really good sandwich…and go. Business is split between the deli — with sandwiches and cut-toorder meats and cheeses — and a tidy retail grocery. The deli offers an assortment of sandwiches, sides, daily soups, salads and a kids menu — a rarity in to-go shops.

1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/takeawayonmain.

TOM+CHEE

A gourmet grilled cheese and tomato soup shop with a famous grilled-cheese donut. Featured on Shark Tank. Multiple locations

including 125 E. Court St., Downtown; Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky., tomandchee.com.

TOTAL JUICE PLUS

Total Juice Plus has been serving natural fruit smoothies, lunch and fresh-squeezed juices to the weekday downtown population for more than two decades. They also make excellent wraps with a Mediterranean lean. 631 Vine St., Downtown, totaljuicecincy.com.

URBAN STEAD CHEESE

Co-owners and husband and wife duo Andrea and Scott Robbins both came from dairy farming families that date back generations, so opening Urban Stead Cheese felt like a natural extension of their backgrounds. They make the cheese in-house and as naturally as possible, including cheddar, cheese curds and quark topped with local honey or bits of ginger. They also offer a selection of craft beer and wines. 3036 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, urbansteadcheese.com.

THE WHEEL

The Wheel is an Italian takeaway restaurant housed on a well-hidden residential block in Oakley. The food provides evidence that cooking is an act of love and creativity for Chrissy Antenucci, who named The Wheel after a Grateful Dead song.

3805 Brotherton Road, Oakley, thewheeloakley.com.

DINERS/CHILI PAR LORS ANCHOR GRILL

Taking its blazing neon “We May Doze, But Never Close” sign to heart, the Anchor Grill stays open 24/7, offering round-the-clock breakfast fare along with lunch and dinner comfort-food classics. 438

Pike St., Covington, Ky., 859-4319498, searchable on Facebook.

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DINING

BLUE ASH CHILI

This family-owned chili parlor, established in 1969, not only offers traditional Cincinnati-style chili with coneys and 3-, 4- and 5-ways, but also a menu loaded with sandwiches, burgers, salads and sides.

Featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. 9565 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 4200 Aero Drive, Mason; 11711 Princeton Pike, Tri-County, blueashchili.com.

BLUE JAY RESTAURANT

Since its opening in 1967, the Blue Jay Restaurant has, for the most part, remained the same, boasting a nostalgic image and homestyle eats. As with any good local diner, there’s Cincinnati-style chili in bowls, on coneys and 3-ways, plus classics like all-day breakfast, double decker sandwiches and homemade pie. 4154 Hamilton Ave.,

Northside, 513-541-0847, searchable on Facebook.

CAMP WASHINGTON CHILI

A great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Camp Washington Chili features greasy-spoon breakfast offerings, double-decker sandwiches, Cincinnati-style chili, coneys and even a few salads. A James Beard Award winner, Camp Washington Chili opened its doors in 1940, and current owner Johnny

Johnson has been working at the parlor since 1951. Open 24/6 — they’re closed on Sundays. 3005

Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, campwashingtonchili.com.

DIXIE CHILI

Founded in 1929 by “Papa Nick,” Dixie Chili has classic, secretingredient Cincinnati-style chili with cheese and onions on spaghetti. Multiple locations including 733 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky.; 2421 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky., dixiechili.com.

THE ECHO

Opened as a sandwich shop in 1945 by Louise Schwartz, customer favorites include the “hangover helper” Hot Mess, with layers of home fries, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, gravy and cheese; homemade pie; and the Flying Pig sandwich, featuring French toast stuffed with ham, bacon and Swiss topped with powdered sugar and syrup. The Echo offers seasonal features and has boozy brunch beverages. 3510 Edwards Road, Hyde

Park, echo-hydepark.com.

FRISCH’S

Frisch’s Mainliner was Cincinnati’s first year-round drive-in and today the chain serves Big Boy burgers, chili, breakfast and Coca cola with

iconic chipped ice. Multiple locations including 5760 Wooster Pike, Fairfax, frischs.com.

HANG OVER EASY

chili, cheese coneys and all-day breakfast at a great price. Tucked into a strip mall, this is a no-frills neighborhood staple with lots of regulars and quick service. 6159 Gl-

A legit breakfast and brunch spot to cure your hangover. Try the chicken and chorizo skillet with peppers, onions, tomatoes, home fries, melted queso and egg, all scrambled up and cooked in a skillet, served with toast. Or the Walk of Shame, fried egg, cheese, sausage and bacon served on a grilled Holtman’s donut. There’s a full bar with Jameson on tap, in case you have a different plan on how to handle that hangover of yours. 13 W. Charlton St., Corryville,

enway Ave., Westwood, 513-661-2260.

hangovereasycincinnati.com.

703 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., 859-431-7455.

HATHAWAY’S

PLEASANT RIDGE CHILI

The old-fashioned flavors of the soda fountain are found here, including the best darn chocolate shake in town. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped through a time portal to the 1950s (the diner opened in 1956). Get a plate lunch or a burger, but if you’re there for breakfast, don’t miss the goetta.

441 Vine St., Carew Tower, Downtown, facebook.com/hathawaysdiner.

J&J RESTAURANT

This old-school diner serves huge double-decker sandwiches, good

C a m p Wa s h i n g to n C h i l i

PEPPER POD

Open 24 hours a day so you can get your fried-pickle fix whenever the craving hits — and once you have the Pepper Pod’s fried pickles, the hankering will hit you often.

The meatloaf goes very quickly in the evening, so get there early.

Greasy spoon dining at its best, the Pepper Pod is a Newport legend.

A local multi-generational chili joint that recently celebrated 50 years. Offers chili to go and latenight eats (until 4:30 a.m.), like french fries topped with everything from chili to cheese to gravy. 6032

Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, pleasantridgechili.com.

PRICE HILL CHILI

Generations of West Side patrons have grown up on this iconic, family-owned restaurant’s diverse, fairly priced menu. Having expanded several times over the years, there are now multiple dining areas and a full-service attached cocktail lounge called Golden Fleece. What sets them apart from other chili joints is their liquor license and full menu, which features an excellent Greek salad (with secret-recipe dressing), specialty sandwiches, steaks, all-day breakfast and amazing homemade macaroni and cheese on Fridays. 4920 Glenway Ave., Price Hill, pricehillchili.com.

SACRED BEAST

“Simple food. Taken seriously” is the motto of this modern diner.

The menu runs the gamut from a French-style omelet — fluffy and full of goat cheese and piquillo peppers — to a “Diner Breakfast” with scrambled eggs, maple-glazed pork belly and ricotta pancakes to burger with Dijonnaise, pickles and American cheese. 1437 Vine St., Over-theRhine, sacredbeastdiner.com.

SKYLINE CHILI

A locally based chain of chili parlors founded by Greek immigrants in 1949. Their Cincinnati-style chili is poured over spaghetti or hot dogs along with chili burritos, fries and baked potatoes. Their vegetarian version is almost as tasty with black beans and rice. Multiple PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 38

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

locations including 290 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, skylinechili.com.

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600 Washington Ave. Newport, KY 41071

DINING

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

R ESTAU R A N T S As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Sotto

Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct

The Eagle OTR

Taste of Belgium

and locally sourced ingredients to craft a New American menu with French and Southern accents, like in the shrimp and grits, or steak frites. 101 Main St., Milford, 20brix.com.

BOUQUET RESTAURANT & WINE BAR

Working closely with local sources, Bouquet’s farm-to-table approach means a fresh, frequently rotating menu packed with seasonal ingredients. Elegant small plates, entrées and thoughtful wine pairings set the stage for an intimate dining experience. The Motherboard charcuterie board is ever popular, featuring four cured meats, five cheeses and a multitude of accoutrements.

519 Main St., Covington, Ky., bouquetrestaurant.com.

BRANCH/NIGHT DROP

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse

Boca

Incline Public House

Taft’s Ale House

Branch is a modern American eatery housed in an Art Deco former bank building. The kitchen has Asian and Mediterranean influences, serving up dishes like black garlic ribs with sesame and fennel-apple slaw, chili-smoked wings with chimichurri and a peanut lemongrass smoked tofu on sesame noodles with a baby bok choy salad. Connected is Night Drop, a cocktail bar where you can enjoy a drink before and after your meal. 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, eatatbranch.com.

BROWN DOG CAFÉ

Mazunte

Dewey’s Pizza

Located in Summit Park, this sustainable and seasonal New American eatery features an everchanging menu of fish, steaks, wild game, unique appetizers, vegetarian dishes, homemade pastas and desserts. 1000 Summit Place, Blue Ash, browndogcafe.com.

COMMONWEALTH BISTRO

SUGAR N’ SPICE

Huge, fluffy omelets and “wispy-thin” pancakes have made Sugar n’ Spice a bona fide breakfast institution for 75 years.

One of the city’s most popular places for people of all ages and socioeconomic groups to dine and socialize. 4381 Reading Road,

breakfast menu complete with a variety of omelets, pancakes and egg dishes. Try the Big Tucker, a double-decker burger with cheese and special sauce. Other standbys include biscuits and gravy and the fried cod sandwich. 1637 Vine

St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ tuckersrestaurantotr.

Paddock Hills, eatsugarnspice.com.

TUCKER’S

Truly an Over-the-Rhine institution (same family since 1946!) and an “everyman” restaurant. Solid, Midwestern staples for hungry, working people. Features a full

HIP/NEW AMER ICAN 20 BRIX

Cutting-edge cuisine with more than 200 wines from around the world. The menu uses seasonally

Commonwealth Bistro is seriously good. For dinner, entrées toe the line between contemporary and comfort food, with dishes like Kentucky-fried rabbit with creamed collard greens, lamb ragu and roasted heirloom carrots — they even serve Ale-8-One soda, with or without booze. 621 Main St., Coving-

ton, Ky., commonwealthbistro.com.

COPPIN’S AT HOTEL COVINGTON

There’s a strong local identity to the location and the menu, with nods to history and the new South, the bourbon and the banter that starts at the Roebling Bridge. Chef Mitch Arens has also placed a specific and intentional focus on reducing waste. By building relationships with local farms and pro-

ducers to source everything from lamb, beef and chicken to produce, cheese and ice cream, the goal — specifically with the proteins and plants — is to use the entirety of the items that pass through his kitchen, nose to tail and root to stem. The menu is full of upscale but still Southern-inspired dishes.

638 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky., hotelcovington.com.

CROWN REPUBLIC GASTROPUB

This casual from-scratch kitchen offers up a range of inventive entrées and shareables for lunch, dinner and dessert. The menu draws on a Mediterranean influence, with clean and light flavors in dishes like duck fat hummus, Yemeni mussels and farro salad. Try the chicken gobbets. The name is weird, but the meat isn’t. Gobbets are basically adult chicken nuggets that are soaked in the malt brine the crew makes their pickles in, then fried and served with honey hot sauce on the side. 720 Syca-

more St., Downtown, crgcincy.com.

CWC THE RESTAURANT

CWC, from Cooking with Caitlin chef Caitlin Steininger’s longtime catering business, opened on Springfield Pike in a building that used to be a carwash. The menu isn’t extensive, with a handful of items listed as “shareables” or “starters” — just about everyone orders homemade baby biscuits with tomato jam and corn butter — and seven “Mains,” like the Char Cheddar Burger covered in a housemade cheese sauce.

Dessert is a strong suit here. The restaurant has very limited hours, only open for dinner on Friday and Saturday and brunch on Sunday.

1517 Springfield Pike, Wyoming, cwctherestaurant.com.

E+O KITCHEN

E+O stands for “Earth + Ocean,” and the menu, which encompasses lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, is based on wholesome and organic ingredients. You’ll find Asian influences in dishes like the ahi tuna poke — cold and tender raw tuna mixed with crispy cucumber, carrots and cabbage — and Hokkaido scallops. For brunch, the fusion expands to eggs, like breakfast tacos, Loco Moco (Spamfried rice) and egg sandwiches, including the Not Yo Eggwich (eggs, cheese, pork sausage and spicy honey). 3520 Edwards Road,

Hyde Park, eokitchen.com.

4 1

1 0 Wa l k- U p W i n d ows

F i n d fo o d w i t h o u t u s i n g a d o o r

Like drive-thrus for pedestrians, you order your food through a literal hole in the wall at these eateries.

Walk-up, wait for a person to peek out of the window and get whatever your heart desires at these Cincinnati foodie destinations.

01 1 . 1 3 t h S t re e t A l l ey

1 3 t h S t re et A l l ey b r i n g s a t a s te of P h i l l y to t h e Q u e e n C i t y. Yo u c a n get a n o -f r i l l s , t r i e d -a n d -t ru e c h e e s e s te a k at t h i s wa l k- u p a n d watc h a s t h ey s c ra p e a p i l e of h ot , 1 0 0 - p e rc e nt s i rl o i n s te a k a n d m e l t y c h e e s e of f t h e f l at to p a n d i nto a b u n wi t h p e p p e rs a n d o n i o n s fo r u n d e r s eve n b u c ks .

Th e m e n u of fe rs s eve n t y p e s of P h i l l y s a n dwi c h e s , p l u s wra p s , b ow l s , b a ke d p ot ato e s a n d f re s h cut fries. And while the classic OT R P h i l l y c o m e s to p p e d wi t h p rovo l o n e, t h e s h o p d o e s ke e p C h e e s e Wh i z i n t h e f r i d ge fo r a l l t h e c h e e s e ste a k p u r i s t s o u t t h e re. 1 2 6 E . 1 3 t h S t . , Ove r-t h e -

Rhine, 513-813-8000, se a rc h a b l e o n Fa c e b o o k .

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2 . Wo d ka B a r

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

3 . B o o m B ox B u n s

A ro u n d t h e c o r n e r f ro m t h e b r i c ka n d - m o r t a r Wo d k a B a r, yo u ’ l l f i n d a fo o d wi n d ow s e r v i n g u p E a s te r n Eu ro p e a n b a r b i te s a n d c u l t-favo r i te B a b u s h k a P i e ro g i e s .

Th i s l u n c h a n d l ate - n i g ht wa l k- u p of fe rs m u l t i p l e t y p e s of p i e ro g i e s , f ro m t ra d i t i o n a l c h e d d a r a n d p ot ato p i e ro g i e s (wi t h o r wi t h o u t b a c o n ) to 4 -way p i e ro g i e s wi t h C i n c i n n at i - s t y l e l e nt i l c h i l i to d e e p -f r i e d p i z z a ro g i e s . A n d i f yo u a re n ’ t u p fo r t h e d e l e c t a b l e d u m p l i n g s , t h e re’s a l s o a Po l i s h s a u s a ge s a n dwi c h wi t h s a u e r k ra u t . 1 2 0 0 M a i n S t . , Ove r-

t h e - R h i n e , wo d ka b a rot r.c o m .

B o o m B ox s e r ve s wa r m , d o u g hy, s te a m e d C h i n e s e b u n s . Th e h a n d c raf te d a n d p e r fe c t l y p u f f y b a oz i c o m e f i l l e d wi t h rot at i n g c o m b o s l i ke p o r k wi t h h o i s o n , p e a n u t s a n d ra d i s h ; b e ef wi t h m ayo, s h i s h o a n d c r i s py s h a l l ot ; a n d ve g g i e wi t h swe et p ot ato a n d S r i ra c h a . A f l u o re s c e nt c o l o r s c h e m e b e c ko n s l i n e s of fa n s fo r Fr i d ay a n d S atu rd ay s e l l - o u t s e r v i c e s s o ke e p a n eye o n B o o m B ox ’s s o c i a l m e d i a fo r u p d ate d b u n c o u nt s — o r t a ke yo u r c h a n c e s wi t h t h e m a ss e s i n t h e l ate - n i g ht q u e u e. 1 3 2 4 M a i n

S t . , Ove r-t h e - R h i n e , f a c e b o o k .c o m / b o o m b ox b u n s .

4 . B u b ’s P i z z a B a r

Th i s fa m i l y- own e d a n d o p e rate d n e i g h b o r h o o d p i z z a p a rl o r t raf f i c s i n s to n e -f i re d p i e s , h o a g i e s , wi n g s a n d l o a d e d tot s .

O p e n u nt i l at l e a s t 2 a . m . eve r y n i g ht , t h e wa l k- u p wi n d ow i s t h e p l a c e to go fo r a l ate - n i g ht s l i c e.

3 2 0 0 L i nwo o d Ave . , M o u n t Lo o ko u t , b u b s p i z za b a r.c o m .

7 . K i tc h e n Fa c to r y

9 . Q u e e n C i t y Wh i p

1 6 0 9 C h a se Ave . , N o r t h s i d e , k i tc h e n f a cto r y n o r t h s i d e .c o m .

R h i n e , q u e e n c i t y w h i p .c o m .

8 . L i l ’s B a g e l s

1 0 . T h e Wh o l e B ow l

Th i s s m a l l re s t a u ra nt wi t h a t a ke - o u t wi n d ow p r i d e s i t s e l f o n of fe r i n g p i z z a m a d e wi t h s i m p l e a n d n atu ra l i n g re d i e nt s , i n c l u d i n g s p e c i a l i t y p i e s l i ke t h e C h i c ke n S a a g , D i g t h e F i g a n d Kev i n B a c o n (to p p e d wi t h p o r k a n d ro m a i n e l et tu c e, n ot t h e a c to r) .

Th e i r l ate - n i g ht m e n u fe atu re s ve g g i e b u rge rs , s l i c e s , w h o l e p i e s a n d b re a k fa s t b u r r i to s .

H e l m e d by Da n Wr i g ht a n d h i s wi fe La n a ( of S e n ate, A b i ga i l S t re et a n d Po nt i a c) , H o l i d ay S p i r i t s i s m e a nt to evo ke t h e v i b e of a d i ve b a r a n d i t s i n - h o u s e e ate r y Fo r t y Th i eve s of fe rs a m e n u of M i d d l e E a s te r n s t re et fo o d — fa l afe l , b e ef s h awa r m a a n d g r i l l e d c h i c ke n i n a p i t a o r o n h u m m u s , p l u s ro a s te d b e et s , f re n c h f r i e s a n d s o u p. I t ’s l i ke a b a r-fo o d ve rs i o n of t h e i r h i g h e r- e n d A b i ga i l S t re et t a p a s . Pat ro n s c a n o rd e r f ro m a c o u nte r i n s i d e o r v i s i t t h e wa l k- u p wi n d ow o n t h e p at i o.

1 5 3 8 R a c e S t . , Ove r-t h e - R h i n e , f a c e b o o k .c o m /fo r t y t h i eve s ga n g.

Th i s i s t h e p e r fe c t s p ot fo r p e o p l e w h o d o n ’ t l i ke to m a ke d e c i s i o n s , s i n c e Wh o l e B ow l of fe rs o n l y o n e m e n u i te m .

Wh i l e t h e re i s a n e a sy ve ga n a l te r n at i ve, Wh o l e B ow l ’s t i tu l a r d i s h i s c o m p r i s e d of b rown r i c e, b e a n s , b l a c k o l i ve s , c h e d d a r, avo c a d o s l i c e s , s a l s a , s o u r c re a m a n d a l e m o n - ga r l i c s a u c e. Th e o n l y re a l c h o i c e a d i n e r n e e d s to m a ke i s w h et h e r to o rd e r a s m a l l o r a l a rge p o r t i o n . 3 6 4 Lu d l ow Ave . ,

C l i f to n , t h ew h o l e b ow l .c o m .

S t . , C ov i n g to n , Ky. , l i l s b a g e l s .c o m .

6 . G o m ez S a l s a

O n we e ke n d s , G o m ez i n OT R is open till 2:30 a.m., making i t t h e p e r fe c t d ru n k S atu rd ay p i t s to p b efo re p i l i n g i nto yo u r U b e r. B u t t h i s M ex i c a n e ate r y — w h i c h s e r ve s u p t a c o s , b u r r i to s a n d tu r t l e s ( a hy b r i d b u r r i to wi t h c ru n c hy c h e e s e to s e a l t h e d e a l ) — i s a l s o a p r i m e s p ot to p i c k u p g ru b b efo re l o u n g i n g i n Wa s h i n g to n Pa rk , d u r i n g yo u r l u n c h b re a k o r l i te ra l l y w h e n eve r yo u fe e l o n -t h e - go. 1 0 7 E . 1 2 t h S t . , Ove r-

t h e - R h i n e , go m e z s a l s a .c o m .

P H O T O B Y L I N D S AY M C C A R T Y

5 . Fo r t y Th i eve s

P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

02

Th e a l l eyway b e s i d e Ro e b l i n g Po i nt B o o ks & C of fe e i s l a c e d n ot o n l y wi t h p l a nt s a n d b r i c k p ave rs , b u t a l s o t h e waf t i n g s c e nt of wa r m , d o u g hy b a ge l s — m a d e wi t h c h u t z p a h . L i l ’s s e r ve s b ot h swe et a n d s avo r y t a ke s .

Wa nt a c l a s s i c c re a m c h e e s e b a ge l? Th ey got yo u . O r, t r y o n e s a n dwi c h s t y l e, wi t h va r i at i o n s l i ke Th e G awd Fat h e r ( p i m e nto c h e e s e, b a c o n , l et tu c e a n d p i c kl e d g re e n to m ato ) a n d Th e R B E ( L i l ’s fa m o u s e g g s a l a d wi t h p i c kl e d b e et s , l et tu c e a n d Po ny U p h o rs e ra d i s h s p re a d ) . 3 0 8 G re e n u p

Q u e e n C i t y Wh i p’s p u r p l e fo o d t ru c k c a n b e fo u n d s e r v i n g u p m a d e -to - o rd e r e at s i n t h e c o u r t ya rd of OT R b a r Q u e e n C i t y R a d i o. Wa l k u p to t h e wi n d ow a n d o rd e r d i n e r c l a s s i c s l i ke c h i l i d o g s , b u rge rs , f r i e s a n d m i l ks h a ke s . Th ey a l s o h ave a n a m a z i n g fa l afe l s a n dwi c h to p p e d wi t h t h e i r h o u s e m a d e t zat z i k i s a u c e. 2 2 2 W. 1 2 t h S t . , Ove r-t h e -

06 4 3

DINING

GOOSE & ELDER

Located across from historic Findlay Market, Goose & Elder is local chef and restaurateur Jose Salazar’s comfort food eatery. He describes the restaurant as “midcentury grandma,” sourcing colors and patterns that evoke a sense of the 1970s and ’80s. The restaurant offers a menu of American comfort food ranging from traditional dishes to new takes on classics.

Both approachable and affordable, no menu item exceeds $20. Dishes include a grain bowl, chicken schnitzel, roasted bone marrow, fried bologna sandwich and baked mac and cheese. 1800 Race St.,

Over-the-Rhine, gooseandelder.com.

KARRIKIN SPIRITS CO.

This distillery/brewery/restaurant operates out of a renovated warehouse, which makes for a roomy and exciting destination.

The kitchen puts out wood-fired steaks, pasta, seafood and more, while the drinks made in-house include spirits like rum, vodka and gin, with cocktails and NA mocktails crafted with their housemade sodas. 3717 Jonlen Drive, Fairfax, karrikinspirits.com.

KITCHEN 1883

Kitchen 1883 lives up to its “New American comfort food” concept by taking the guesswork out of any dish for the consumer, and leaving them with a nice, pleasantly full feeling. The restaurant is sandwiched between a Kroger supermarket and a Kroger liquor store. This might seem strange unless you know that Kitchen 1883 is the grocery chain’s first foray into sit-down casual dining. In fact, it’s one of the first grocerychain-affiliated restaurants in the country. 9003 US Highway 42, Union, Ky., kitchen1883.com.

KRUEGER’S TAVERN

The menu is broken up into snacks, sandwiches, sausages, burgers, “greens” and sides. The Lincolnshire sausage is bursting with herby flavor, served over colcannon — a tart, creamy take on mashed potatoes, with wilted kale and Guinness-braised onions.

The rest of the menu is equally appealing; it features a tomato pesto jar appetizer and an awesome crunchy housemade veggie burger.

Try their beer cocktails — beer plus booze! 1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine,

Goose & Elder

flavor and gracious service in OTR. The menu is wide, but the chef excels in seafood and mushrooms in combination. 1324 Vine St., Over-

the-Rhine, themercerotr.com.

METROPOLE

With a menu focused on dishes cooked in a custom-built woodburning fireplace, the restaurant is a showcase for the area’s sustainable farmers and producers, and the menu features an ever-changing list of hearth-roasted meat and fish, along with vegetables, grains and housemade charcuterie. Offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar bites, including a seven-hour egg (boiled in coffee, tea and onion) and hot olives. Inventive craft cocktails feature housemade shrubs and tonic. 609 Walnut St., Downtown, metropoleonwalnut.com.

OTTO’S

Otto’s does lunch and dinner, but it’s definitely a happening brunch spot. For brunch, Benedict Otto’s substitutes fried grit cake for the English muffin of a traditional eggs Benedict. It’s delicious, a bit rich and a true indulgence. There are a half-dozen mimosa options, from Violette Royale to citrus vanilla spice, and bloody marys made with house-infused cucumber or jalapeño-garlic vodka. 521 Main St.,

The Mercer OTR fills the niche for those diners looking for easy parking, a sense of space, delicious 44

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine, pleasecincinnati.com.

THE PRESIDENTS ROOM

The Presidents Room restaurant inside The Phoenix has a traditional feel, but with some whimsical touches that welcome a younger crowd. The menu is modern American with Italian and German influences and changes seasonally.

812 Race St., Downtown, thepresidentsrm.com.

Covington, Ky., ottosonmain.com.

OVERLOOK KITCHEN + BAR Foodies, take note: a lot of excellent food is coming out of the kitchen division of the new Overlook Kitchen + Bar at Madisonville’s The Summit hotel. The fourth-floor dining facilities of The Summit, which include a separate space open only for breakfast and lunch, features a large patio. Entrée options change seasonally. The

Summit, 5345 Medpace Way, Madisonville, thesummithotel.com/dining.

PLEASANTRY

Their motto — “Sip slow. Drink easy. Eat right.” — feels so doable in this calm, inviting space. Pleasantry serves what they describe as “approachable Midwestern food:” avocado toast or a daily quiche for brunch, with dinner options featuring proteins like ocean trout, pork and seasonal veggie mains. The restaurant’s wine list features organically produced and minimally processed vino. 118 W. 15th St.,

Over-the-Rhine, pleasantryotr.com.

kruegerstavern.com.

THE MERCER OTR

as a gypsy pop-up from 2011 to 2016 and the design of the cozy brick and mortar is note-perfect down to the very instagrammable bathroom (search #pleasepotty for guest selfies with the abstract hand-painted wall tile). It feels like a first-class affair because it is one — each four-course dinner is served with fanfare and attention. Diners can choose from a vegetarian, pescetarian or omnivore menu, although gluten-free options are always available.

Please also offers an à la carte and bar menu with options like cured pork collar and apple aebleskivers.

PLEASE

Tucked away on Clay Street in Over-the-Rhine, Please serves modern and artful small plates.

Chef Ryan Santos helmed Please

RED FEATHER KITCHEN

Red Feather serves up from-scratch housemade dishes using the best possible ingredients. Described as New American, the chef-driven menu reflects a diversity of global influences and the seasons. The “Shells & Bones” features oysters and mussels plus pork chops, a rack of lamb and lobster tail with truffled macaroni and cheese. The restaurant is an unpretentious, approachable neighborhood spot that serves fun food that people enjoy. 3200 Madison Road, Oakley,

redfeatherkitchen.com.

SALAZAR

The eponymous restaurant from chef Jose Salazar mixes old and new to create an approachable yet refined farm-inspired menu.

There are creative, comfortable choices like burgers, fish and a vegetarian option. Seasonal, farm-fresh specials frequently pop up on the changing menu, as do staple favorites like the little fried oyster sandwich with kimchi, local radish sprouts and garlic mayo.

The wide-ranging drink menu features thoughtful craft beers,

cocktails and wines. Offers lunch, brunch and limited reservations.

1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine, salazarcincinnati.com.

SOCIAL OTR

A nonprofit venture owned by the Corporation for Findlay Market, Social OTR not only nails its ambitious New American menu but also aims to fill a multitude of societal and business needs in our community. Social OTR “teaches people looking for employment the necessary skills to get restaurant jobs” in partnership with CityLink, a faith-based nonprofit organization that works on multiple fronts to combat poverty. The restaurant actually is a two-in-one, with a front eatery and back bar featuring different décor and service styles

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

but the same menu: about eight “Snacks,” 10 to 11 “Small Plates” and just two “Large Plates.” And libations shine brightly. Whether you prefer tequila, rye, gin or any other spirit, the house cocktail list has you covered. 1819 Elm St., Overthe-Rhine, socialotr.com.

THE SUMMIT

Class is in session. Yes, this restaurant is inside a school. Culinary and hospitality students at the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State are handpicked to staff the kitchen and dining room in this teaching restaurant. Top-notch food at reasonable prices paired with an extensive wine list make this a restaurant for the city to be proud of. 3520 Central Parkway, Clif-

ton, facebook.com/thesummit.mci.

THE VIEW AT SHIRES’ GARDEN

Located on the 10th floor of downtown’s City Club Apartments.

The 6,000 square-foot rooftop spot features an indoor dining room, an outdoor patio, two full bars, outdoor small and group dining and cocktail tables with impeccable views. The food menu features Saturday and Sunday brunch and dinner options like mussels, whipped bone marrow over beef tenderloin tartare and entrée greens. 309 Vine St., 10th Floor, Downtown, theviewatshiresgarden.com.

WILDFLOWER CAFÉ

With local farm-raised, grass-fed beef and an extensive wine list that

features products from Cincinnatiarea vineyards, Wildflower is dedicated to producing the freshest and best-quality food at an honest price. Foods are local, sustainable and seasonable to offer peak freshness. 207 E. Main St., Mason,

wildflowermason.com.

ZULA

You could dine every night for a week and sample a new pot of mussels from a different locale around the world. Preparations include classic French, Mediterranean, Thai and New Orleans. But don’t get stuck on the mussels: You’ll miss out on a half-dozen flatbreads and appetizers like eggplant fries dusted with confectioner’s sugar. 1400 Race St., Overthe-Rhine, zulabistro.com.

AFR ICAN DAROU SALAM

Darou Salam offers Senegalese cuisine ranging from lamb dibi, which is grilled lamb paired with an onion-mustard sauce, to firir, a fried whole tilapia (yes, with the head — but don’t be scared, it’s tasty), and bissap sorrel, a hibiscus juice and Senegalese favorite.

4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-681-3663.

ELEPHANT WALK INJERA & CURRY HOUSE

One genius way to set yourself apart in Cincinnati’s sea of Indian restaurants is by also serving Ethiopian food. Elephant Walk Injera & Curry House boasts a large, double-sided

4 5

DINING

Ka ze

menu — Northern Indian on one side, traditional Ethiopian on the other. But what’s really awesome is the daily lunch buffet. It has both Ethiopian and Indian dishes, so you can sample all you can eat of both country’s cuisines and carbo load on both naan and injera. 170

W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, elephantwalkcincy.com.

HABESHA

A great hidden-gem restaurant offering authentic Ethiopian dishes and an Ethiopian-style coffee ceremony. While it looks like kind of a hole-in-the-wall from the outside, the cuisine is on par with Ethiopian eateries in Washington., D.C. — which is saying a lot. 5070 Crookshank Road, Westwood, 513-429-4890.

TERANGA

An African/American fusion restaurant with a diverse and affordable menu. Find $6 meals, like the Senegalese Senburger, or full diners like grilled tilapia and Jamaican-inspired oxtail with rice and peas. It’s a great place to try West African dishes such as michoui gigot (stuffed lamb leg with onion sauce). Sides range from couscous and French fries to fufu and attiéké. 8438 Vine St., Hartwell,

terangacinci.com.

ASIAN 3501 SEOUL

As with all Korean restaurants, rice and noodles figure largely on 3501 Seoul’s menu, like in the bibimbap, literally mixed rice and a signature Korean dish. The fresh bibimbap is a mixture of raw salmon, red snapper, tuna, flying fish roe, octopus and maguro-tataki. 3501 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, 3501seoul.com.

ANDO JAPANESE RESTAURANT & SUSHI BAR

Chef Ken Ando and his wife Keiko have been welcoming guests to Ando Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Blue Ash since 1998, where Ando prepares traditional Japanese cuisine accompanied by the couple’s daughter, Chiaki.

The dining room includes a 10-seat sushi bar, which is the perfect place to watch Ando work his magic on the freshest of fish, sourced directly from Japan and Taiwan. 5889 Pfeiffer Road, Blue Ash, andojapaneserestaurant.com.

BUDDHA BARN THAI

Using family recipes and those gained from experience in New York City Thai restaurants, owner Niruti Puakkawe makes classics 46

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

and new Thai dishes. Find Pad Thai, curries, soups and Thai ice tea.

BYOB. 6625 Gracely Drive, Sayler

Park, buddhabarnthai.com.

CHINA GOURMET

China Gourmet has been serving fine Chinese cuisine since 1977.

The menu at China Gourmet is divided into classics, what’s new and traditional favorites, with highlights including wok-seared sea scallops, moo shu pork and Yang Chow-style fried rice. 3340 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, thechinagourmet.com.

CILANTRO

“Eat well. Eat fresh. Eat often.” These three sentences serve both as a tagline and as a personal philosophy for local restaurateur Darren Phan, owner of Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro, Clifton’s brothy, herby, vermicelli-filled landmark.

A collection of family recipes and flavors brought over from the motherland serve as the heart from which joy and laughter still pump. Mama Phan’s secret-recipe sweet and spicy chicken Sate soup can’t be found anywhere else.

235 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, eatatcilantro.com.

CLOUD 9 SUSHI

An unpretentious sushi joint serving half-price sushi all day, every day, with a selection of more than 50 different rolls. Open super late on the weekends. 1018 Delta

Ave., Mount Lookout, facebook.com/ cloud9sushi.

FORTUNE NOODLE HOUSE

You know your noodles are made with love when a restaurant dedicates an entire employee just to their production, but here’s the thing: Everything else at Fortune is delicious, too. Inspired by classic Chinese noodle houses, owners Steven Sun and his wife Rachel serve a La Mian-style of handmade noodles, a practice that dates back to the 1500s. The noodles are hand-pulled and stretched out into strands, then paired with everything from vegetables to squid and shredded pork to tripe.

349 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, fortunenoodles.com.

FUSIAN

Fusian’s fast-casual approach, in which you choose your own custom sushi roll, prompted many to coin the restaurant the “Chipotle of sushi.” They offer a diverse selection of non-traditional proteins, including steak, chicken and roasted tofu, but the classic tuna and salmon rolls remain among the most popular. Multiple locations including 600 Vine St., Downtown; 3780 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park, fusian.com.

GREEN PAPAYA

If you’re a Thai food fan, this mainstay — locally owned by a Bangkokborn husband and wife — focuses on unique sushi rolls, curries and noodle dishes. 2942 Wasson Road,

Hyde Park; 4002 Plainville Road, Mariemont, greenpapayacincinnati.com.

HARU

Tablecloths might not be synonymous with Korean dining, but Haru still offers the same authentic tactics of other eateries, serving banchan (small bowls of appetizers like kimchi and potato salad) before the meal and a wide variety of entrées such as kimchi fried rice, sweet potato noodles (jap chae) and vegetarian-friendly tofu dishes. To drink, you can try plum tea, soju and Korean beers. 628

Vine St., Downtown, harucincy.com.

HOUSE OF SUN

A great find for Saturday and Sunday mornings, you’ll love the traditional Chinese dim sum, with long, sweet fried bread sticks, small sausage-filled steamed dumplings, a scallion pancake with egg and the most delicious sesame Shao Bing with beef — all bargainpriced. The rest of the menu is divided between Americanized and traditional Chinese, with jellyfish with soy sauce, sliced pork belly with ginger sauce and tomato egg soup. 11959 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, houseofsunsharonville.com.

ICHIBAN

Sushi, sashimi and robotayaki abound in the cozy dining room.

Tapas-style small plates, dishes to tempt carnivores and a dizzying variety of noodle dishes round out the menu. Belly up to the sushi bar or bring a group and dive into the half-price sushi menu while enjoying a warm sake or Asian-inspired cocktail. 1020 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout, ichibancinci.com.

you could never go wrong with the gyoza, either pork or mushroom, or the curry pan, a sort of fried bread or dumpling the chef has described as a “curry donut,”stuffed with potato, onion and carrot.

5932 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, kikicincinnati.com.

209 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, 513-721-6999.

KUNGFOOD CHU’S AMERASIA

ORIENTAL WOK

Quaint and comfortable with a huge beer list, AmerAsia offers all the usual Chinese dishes and chef specialties, but the food is anything but the usual. Chef Chu makes it all from scratch. His motto: “Do not take short cuts and do everything with passion and love.” Enjoy it all while taking in the eclectic décor of Kung Fu movie posters and paper lanterns. Favorite dishes include the inferno-hot Dragon Breath wontons and General Chu’s orange and sesame street chicken. 521 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky., facebook.com/ kungfoodchu.

IZEN’S DRUNKEN BENTO

Nestled in the student area of Clifton Heights, Izen’s casual décor (there’s a wall of exposed textured 2-by-4 beams you can graffiti) complements its selection of fresh sushi, affordable ramen and more than a dozen Korean entrées at less than $15, including dolsot bibimbap — a big hot bowl of rice, carrots, soybean sprouts, shiitake mushroom, zucchini, spinach and protein.

212 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, 513-381-5905, searchable on Facebook.

KAZE

Cincinnati-based Thunderdome Restaurant Group has purchased Kaze and rolled out newly redesigned dining areas, a rewritten menu and a separate bar that pays homage to Staten Island Hip Hop royalty the Wu-Tang Clan. Sushi, ramen, fried rice, katsu and sashimi are on the menu, along with fluffy buns and yakitori, a Japanese-style shish kebab. Look for new largeformat, shareable cocktails. 1400 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, kazeotr.com.

KIKI

Kiki offers two ramen choices: shio ramen, a chicken broth with pork belly, negi, a tea-marinated egg and rayu; and kimchi ramen, featuring housemade kimchi and tofu. To warm up your pre-ramen palate, try the shishito peppers crowned with fluffy shreds of parmesan cheese, or the edamame, tossed in sea salt or tare. If you’re looking for punchier flavors, go with the karaage — fried chicken with dipping sauce. But

edition features traditional ramen with pork belly, spinach, bamboo, sweet corn and a soft-boiled egg in tonkotsu, miso or shoyu broth (the friendly young chef will also make vegetarian ramen upon request).

LE’S PHO AND SANDWICHES

The menu is simple yet extensive, offering both traditional Vietnamese dishes as well as those that cater to less adventurous palates.

The banh mi comes complete with your choice of chicken, beef, pork, teriyaki or dac biet (a hearty combination of pork and pâté), topped with pickled carrot, onion, cilantro, jalapeño and just the right amount of mayonnaise. But the dish you will most often find in front of Le’s customers is the pho, with a heaping serving of Vietnamese broth, rice noodles, meat, vegetables and herbs. 3 E. Court St., Downtown, 513721-9700, searchable on Facebook.

LULU’S RICE & NOODLES

It’s not a Chinese restaurant — it’s a noodle shop that serves up inexpensive steaming bowls of various Asian rice and noodle dishes garnished with vegetables and seafood or meat. Their soups are great, too.

Try the spicy and intense Tom Yum soup with shrimp. The restaurant can prepare any dish to suit your spice-loving needs. 135 W. Kemper

Transcending the typical Chinese American menu since 1977, Oriental Wok and the Wong family offer upscale, innovative, fresh and delicious chef-prepared cuisine that’s never boring — from five-spice tofu over stir-fried spinach to sea bass with black bean and garlic sauce or a steak with peppercorn sauce.

Serves excellent beer and wine selections, and their annual Chinese New Year party is a blast. 317 Buttermilk Pike, Fort Mitchell, Ky.; 2444 Madison Road, Hyde Park, orientalwok.com.

PHO LANG THANG

While the original location was efficiently laid out to maximize dining, the new Pho Lang Thang — just a little north of the market — seems to have tripled the seating capacity. Diners can enjoy their pho, banh mi and shrimp salad rolls at the bar or at one of the many tables.

TVs at the bar mean this soup and sandwich shop can quickly turn into a lively sports bar when a big game is on. 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, pholangthang.com.

POKE HUT FISH & TEA BAR

Serving variations of proteins, sauces and toppings in both bowls and “Pokirritos,” Poke Hut lets customers tap into their creative side when crafting an ideal poke dish. There’s a smattering of raw fish favorites (spicy tuna, scallops, salmon) in addition to cooked chicken, pork, beef and shrimp, with tofu and veggies for vegetarians. Start with a base for your bowl or burrito, like sushi rice or zucchini noodles, then add a protein, pick a sauce (sweet miso, spicy yuzu, shoyu sesame, etc.) and top it with items ranging from radish and pineapple to hot Cheetos and masago. 1509 Race St., Over-the-Rhine,

pokehutusa.com.

Road, Springdale, 513-671-4949.

QUAN HAPA MAKI EXPRESS RAMEN HOUSE

This itty, bitty izakaya has been a mainstay in Clifton Heights for more than a decade. Brightly colored Pop art murals with swirling geishas, tigers and dragons cover the walls, and the left side of the dining room has been converted into traditional seating. Where the old menu offered a range of sushi and noodle dishes, the new, streamlined

“Hapa” is the word for a mixedrace Asian or Pacific Islander — the perfect nomenclature considering the street food-focused menu is an iteration of the best dishes from the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and China. It is delineated into sections of small plates, okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), noodles, ramen and bowls. Dishes are very shareable, especially the DIY salad rolls and Hapa Wings. 1331 Vine St.,

RIVERSIDE KOREAN RESTAURANT

For authentic Korean dishes, Riverside Korean Restaurant is an excellent choice. They offer traditional rice-based, steaming hot dolsot bibimbap with mixed vegetables, a sunny-side up egg and your choice of beef, chicken or tofu. All entrées are served with a delightful selection of traditional side dishes called ban chan. Floor tables available.

512 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky., riversidekoreanrestaurant.com.

SAIGON SUBS & ROLLS

The refreshingly minimal Saigon Subs & Rolls is an underrated and often overlooked hidden-gem destination that serves some of the best tofu in town. Their banh mi sandwiches are a true work of art; between slices of baguette smeared in creamy homemade butter sit pickled carrots and daikon and your choice of seasoned grilled beef, chicken, pork or seasoned fresh tofu.

151 W. Fourth St., Downtown, facebook. com/saigonsubsandrolls.

SHANGHAI MAMA’S

Shanghai Mama’s menu gives you the option of mixing and matching proteins with starches. The noodles are homemade, thick and rustic and very delicious. And Mama’s is very vegetarian-friendly. There are several seitan dishes, including veggie cashew chicken and the Happy Buddha. Open late on weekends to accommodate the post-hours, afterbar crowd. 216 E. Sixth St., Downtown,

shanghaimamas.com.

SINGHA

In addition to being the name of the most widely known Thai beer, Singha translates as “guardian lion,” a national symbol common throughout Southeast Asia and China. What sets Singha apart from other Thai restaurants is a section of noodle soups, sushi rolls made with black rice and several dishes in a menu section called Singha’s Special Roll. 2912 Wasson Road, Hyde Park, singhacontemporarythai.com.

SONG LONG

We’re lucky to have Song Long’s authentic Vietnamese food in town.

Try the bahn xeo crepe stuffed with bean sprouts and shrimp, or the goi cuon with its clear, cool rice paper and blend of fresh cilantro sprigs and vermicelli doused with peanut sauce. Not fancy, just fantastic.

Also offers a selection of Chinese specialties. 1737 Section Road,

Roselawn, songlong.net.

Over-the-Rhine, quanhapa.com.

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DINING

STONE BOWL

Stone Bowl’s somewhat slapdash appearance belies its tasty food.

The mostly Korean menu — sometimes there’s sushi — offers up delicious noodles and rice dishes; it’s the perfect family-friendly fare if you can keep small fingers off of the piping-hot stone bowls. 3355

Madison Road, Oakley, stonebowloakley.com.

UNCLE YIP’S

Nestled in the Evendale Plaza, Uncle Yip’s serves authentic southern Chinese cuisine with full dim sum service during weekend brunch.

Dim sum consists of small portions of food delivered in steamer baskets. Dumpling dishes like shrimp dumplings, barbecue pork buns and chicken sui mai are popular — and only $3.95 each. 10736 Reading Road, Evendale, uncleyips.com.

SUKHOTHAI THAI CUISINE

Features exotic dishes like mango prawns stir-fried in a tamarind sauce or tamarind crispy duck.

There are also familiar options like stir-fry and noodle dishes like pad Thai with your choice of meat and house fried rice. All of the dishes can be made vegetarian-friendly with vegetables or tofu. 8102 Market Place Lane, Montgomery, sukhothaicincy.com.

THAI EXPRESS

A favorite stop for inexpensive, good Thai food and friendly service. The tiny, no-frills kitchen puts out some very tasty Thai food.

Everything is cooked in one of the two giant iron woks, and nothing on the menu is outside a nearby University of Cincinnati student’s budget. Most dishes come with your choice of tofu, chicken, pork or shrimp. All-time favorites are pad Thai, the red curry with chicken, spring rolls and the beef salad. 213 W. McMillan St., Clifton,

facebook.com/thaiexpresscincinnati.

WILD GINGER

Many Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes complement the creative sushi menu. A recent expansion added a hibachi grill to the mix. Try the Hee Ma Roll, with shrimp tempura, asparagus and avocado, topped with yellowfin tuna and sprinkled with crabmeat and tempura flakes. 3655 Edwards

Road, Hyde Park, wildgingercincy.com.

YUM YUM CHINESE

This classic eatery is owned and operated by an older couple who haven’t changed its decor and menu since they opened it in 1975.

Yum Yum Mein, Sichuan Pepper Steak and Ding Dong Chicken are still crowd favorites, and the prix fixe dinners haven’t gone out of style just yet. Dessert is, as expected, a fortune cookie for each guest, and after-dinner coffee

will run you 40 cents, if you can spare it. Cash only. 909 Race St.,

Downtown, 513-721-7705.

ZUNDO RAMEN & DONBURI Ramen, a traditional Japanese dish consisting of a meat- or fish-based broth, noodles and a range of vegetables and protein, has grown in popularity in recent years. Donburi, a Japanese stew that consists of various meats and vegetables served over steamed rice, comes topped with options like chicken teriyaki or eel. Zundo also offers sake, Japanese beer, soju and late-night dining on weekends. 220 W. 12th St., Over-

the-Rhine, zundootr.com.

CAR IBBEAN ISLAND FRYDAYS

Island Frydays is the definitive restaurant to break out of culinary monotony, featuring authentic Caribbean cuisine made by former University of Cincinnati football captain and Jamaican native Leo Morgan. You really owe it to yourself to stop by and taste its curry and jerk dishes or go all the way Jamaican with escovitch snapper (a sort of island ceviche), an oxtail dinner or curried goat with a side of plantains. 2826 Vine St., Cor-

CAJUN/CR EOLE ALLYN’S CAFÉ

The sheer number of menu items you’ll find at Allyn’s will surprise you. There are Cajun specialties like fried gator, jambalaya, plenty of blackened proteins — featuring “the finest seasoning this side of New Orleans” — and red beans and rice; standard pub grub like hot wings, fries and sandwiches; and even vegan options. Their booze list has several of NOLA’s Abita brews, a hurricane and a French Quarter martini. 3538 Columbia

Parkway, Columbia Tusculum, allynscafe.com.

BREWRIVER CREOLE KITCHEN

Chef Michael Shields, who earned his chops under Emeril Lagasse, opened BrewRiver Creole Kitchen with craft beer and thoughtfully paired New Orleans-leaning cuisine in mind. Try the Decatur Street muffaletta, gumbo or shrimp po’ boy with a rotating list of locally brewed drafts, bottles and cans — some of which are even featured in recipes themselves. An expanded and updated location offers more of a focus on NOLA eats. 4632 Eastern Ave., East End,

brewrivercreolekitchen.com.

ryville, islandfrydays.com.

Yu m Yu m C h i n e s e

THAI NAMTIP

Located in a strip mall, Thai Namtip has a rather unassuming location, but diners who know good Thai food make regular pilgrimages to this spot. Their specialty is the orange chicken, with breaded chicken breast drenched in a tangy orange sauce with vegetables and cashews. 5461 N. Bend Road,

Monfort Heights, thainamtip.com.

THAI TASTE

Thai Taste offers traditional recipes with a family-run vibe. Yes, they do cater to a wide audience: there are some Amer-Asian options like General Tso’s chicken to satisfy picky eaters and take-out orders that need to feed full families. But the actual Thai-inspired food is as fresh and flavorful as a trip to Phuket. The Basil Drunken Noodles are a favorite, as are any of the assorted curries and pineapple fried rice. Grab a Thai iced tea, and it’s a vacation in a carry-out container. 5120 Crookshank Road, Western Hills; 6892 Tylersville Road, West Chester, thaitasteoh.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 4 9

DINING

DEE FELICE CAFÉ

If you’re looking for more of an experience than just dinner, swing into Dee Felice Café. Along with spicy New Orleans-style dishes, you’ll enjoy great live Jazz performed on a raised stage behind the bar. The star dish here is the crawfish étouffée, a generous pile of crawfish tails with vegetables and spicy sauce over rice. 529 Main

St., Covington, Ky., deefelicecafe.com.

KNOTTY PINE ON THE BAYOU

Louisiana cooking featuring alligator, lobster bisque, oysters, fried catfish and frog legs with a mess of sides. Be sure to ask about the nightly special. 6302 Licking Pike, Cold Spring, Ky., theknottypineonthebayou.com.

SWAMPWATER GRILL

Southerners will feel right at home.

An ample lineup of classic Louisiana favorites like jambalaya, gumbo, po’ boys and red beans and rice are paired with a selection of slowsmoked ribs, barbecue chicken and pulled pork. 3742 Kellogg Ave., East End, swampwatergrill.com.

BR ITISH/CELTIC COCK & BULL PUBLIC HOUSE

Cock & Bull serves award-winning fish and chips and better-thanaverage pub grub, including excellent crab cakes and gourmet burgers. The atmosphere is convivial, and the beer selection is fantastic. 601 Main St., Covington,

Ky.; 275 E. Sharon Road, Glendale, candbpublichouse.com.

MOLLY MALONE’S

Celebrating a decade in business, Northern Kentucky’s own Irish Pub has a great mix of Irish and American fare for lunch, brunch and supper and serves pizza and appetizers until the wee hours. With draft beers, trivia, karaoke and live music, Molly’s will fill your dance card. 112 E. Fourth St., Covington, Ky.,

covington.mollymalonesirishpub.com.

NICHOLSON’S

For some gastropub food with Scottish influence and a cocktail or two, Nicholson’s is a hot spot to hit. They’re known for their fish and chips, but their menu also offers duck-fat fries, a Scotch egg and shepherd’s pie. If you’re not hungry, check out one of their 90 single-malt scotches, craft cocktails or draft beer. 625 Walnut St.,

Downtown, nicholsonspub.com.

THE PUB

The Pub was recognized as having the best fish and chips in America by representatives of Greene King, the U.K.’s largest pub retailer and brewery, and Old Speckled Hen brewery — aka people from England who know their fish and chips. 2853 Dixie Highway,

Crestview, Ky.; 2692 Madison Road, Norwood, experiencethepub.com.

FR ENCH/BELGIAN FRENCH CRUST CAFÉ

French Crust Café is as jaunty and friendly as its owner, chef JeanRobert de Cavel. The food matches the surroundings and delivers note-perfect versions of dishes you’d expect for breakfast, brunch or lunch — a variety of quiches, sandwiches on croissant or baguette, omelets and, of course, a croque monsieur. At dinner, more bistro classics tempt diners, from appetizers of snails and beef tartare to mains ranging from duck leg confit to steak frites. 1801 Elm

St., Over-the-Rhine, frenchcrust.com.

LE BAR A BOEUF

The restaurant specializes in ground meat served with potatoes and veggies, with a selection of sauces, cheese and garnishes to dress. The bison topped with goat

cheese and ‘forestiere’ mushroombased sauce is perfect in every way.

2200 Victory Parkway, East Walnut Hills, barboeuf.com.

JEAN-ROBERT’S TABLE

The casual, upscale menu of French-American cuisine includes foie gras, duck breast and the French Chateau Burger with blue cheese, caramelized onions, tomato and bacon on a fluffy brioche bun. A Duo of Snail & Frog Leg appetizer is also available. For lunch, the best-bang-for-yourbuck, four-course $16.50 French Lunch Tray (soup, salad, savory and sweet) changes every week and is available only at the bar. 713 Vine St., Downtown, jeanroberttable.com.

TASTE OF BELGIUM

Hot, fresh Belgian waffles are made from a thick dough and coarse Belgian beet sugar, which caramelizes on the cast iron press.

Find the heavenly breakfast food topped with strawberries and cream or ricotta, or as the bread in a McWaffle sandwich (egg, gruyère and maple syrup). The crepe station prepares sweet and savory crepes, like the Nati Crepe with goetta, made fresh to order. At dinner, the sophistication goes up a notch with mussels, steak frites and Belgian specialties. Offers an exclusive selection of Belgian beers. Multiple locations including 16

West Freedom Way, The Banks; 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 2845 Vine St., Corryville; 3825 Edward Road, Rookwood, Norwood, authenticwaffle.com.

Fre n c h C ru st C afé

SARTRE OTR

The French-ish restaurant may be named for the gloomy French philosopher, but there’s nothing gloomy about its interiors. Warmly lit and cozy, with a beyondgorgeous bar, the well-designed space is plenty inviting, creating an ambiance that is at once majestic and intimate. While people have been raving about the décor itself, the food ain’t too shabby either. 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine,

sartreotr.com.

GER MAN/ EASTER N EUROPEAN HOFBRÄUHAUS

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 50

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

The first authentic German Hofbräuhaus in America, modeled after the legendary Munich location. Traditionally decorated rooms, beer brewed on-site (in line with the German Purity Law “Reinheitsgebot,” using only hops, malt and water), a huge biergarten and German dishes make this a

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5 1

DINING

fun dining option. Servers bring you your schnitzel and wurst in traditional German garb and there’s live music almost every night. 200 E. Third St., Newport, Ky.,

hofbrauhausnewport.com.

IRON SKILLET

Did you even know that there are 10 kinds of schnitzel? The Iron Skillet celebrates traditional Eastern European cuisine with a schnitzel for every day of the week — and then some. 1020 Ohio Pike, With-

amsville, laszlosironskillet.com.

MECKLENBURG GARDENS

For a taste of Zinzinnati’s German heritage, Mecklenburg Gardens showcases some of the best German cuisine the city has to offer.

Their specialty is wienerschnitzel, a tender, pan-fried veal cutlet topped with lemon; it’s served with mashed potatoes and cabbage.

They have about a dozen beers on tap, most of which are German, along with some local microbrews.

Nationally ranked as one of the best biergartens in the country, and one of the oldest restaurants in Cincinnati (open since 1865).

302 E. University Ave., Corryville, mecklenburgs.com.

WODKA BAR

Wodka Bar carries an ambitious selection of vodkas, stocking upward of 60 types including many Russian, Polish and Ukrainian brands that are lesser known in the United States, as well as several dozen house-infused vodkas. Bar snacks are mandatory, of course, but forget about french fries and beer cheese. Instead, you can chase your shots with bites of caviar, pickled fish and vegetables, smoked meats, cheese and butter on dense, dark rye bread. Pierogies are mandatory (the owner is the mind behind cult-favorite Babushka Pierogies) and the menu has standard options like potato, bacon and cheddar plus deepfried pizzarogies and a 4-way pierogi stuffed with vegetarian lentil chili. Get it in the bar or from the lunch and late-night walk-up window around the side of the building. 1200 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine, wodkabarotr.com.

WUNDERBAR!

Wunderbar! is one of those restaurants that’s considered a “hidden gem.” The authentic German-inspired menu features housemade wursts with locally sourced meats, like the restaurant’s super popular currywurst — a peculiar invention of post-World War II Germany. It’s a spiced sausage served with a ketchup-Worcestershire-curry 52

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

A Tavo l a

sauce. The rotating sausage menu is written on a blackboard behind the bar, but a must-try is the Riesen Brezel, a gigantic, plate-sized pretzel that easily complements any of the bar’s more than 35 beers. 1132 Lee St., Covington, Ky.,

facebook.com/wunderbar.covington.3.

INDIAN ADEEP INDIA

Adeep India’s simple, cheaper take on takeout is welcome in the Clifton brotherhood of Indian restaurants. Head to the counter to order and then wait for your giant Styrofoam container of saag to come out. You can either eat in at one of their fast-food-style tables or take your goliath order home and make a few meals out of it.

211 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, deepindiacincinnati.com.

AKASH INDIA

Authentic Northern Indian with an awesome lunch buffet and Indian beer. 24 E. Sixth St., Downtown, akashindia.net.

AMBAR INDIA

Perhaps the classiest of the Indian restaurants along Ludlow Avenue in Clifton, Ambar touts a neat and simple dining room with consistently good service. 350 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, 513-281-7000.

AMMA’S KITCHEN

Amma’s serves only vegan and vegetarian Indian food, but you won’t miss the meat when the flavors are this complex. In fact, the lunch buffet is completely vegan on Wednesdays. Homemade breads include the puffy pillows of cooked dough called batura. They also carry Indo-Chinese dishes.

7633 Reading Road, Roselawn, ammaskitchen.com.

BABA INDIA

Baba is known for its gentle blending of herbs and spices, featuring authentic cuisine from Northern India. Try the savory tandoori oven dishes, exotic curries, excellent naan and various mango juice beverages. 3120 Madison Road, Oakley,

babarestaurant.com.

BOMBAY BRAZIER

Chef Rip brings style and class to a cuisine popularized by buffets, Americanized dishes and rushed, overcrowded dining rooms.

What’s their philosophy? Northern Indian recipes done the only way they know: authentically. 12140 Royal Point Drive, Sharonville, bombaybraziercincy.com.

BRIJ MOHAN INDIAN SWEETS & RESTAURANT

Brij Mohan features authentic Northern Indian cuisine specializing in desserts and street-food-style dishes. Try the malai Kofta, a creamy onion and tomato sauce with mixed vegetable balls, or homemade cheese dishes like spicy chili paneer or saag paneer with spinach. all dishes are vegetarian and made from scratch, including their pastries. 11259 Reading Road, Sharonville, brijmohancincinnati.com.

BRIDGES

Bridges is the first full Nepalese restaurant in the area. On a menu behind the counter, diners will find options to build their own bowls or combos, with additional soups, sides and samosas — all for under $15. diners can choose from meat options like grilled chicken tikka masala or haku chuala (smoked chicken) or vegan dishes including cauliflower and potatoes or aloo wala. 4165 Hamilton Ave.,

Northside, bridgesnorthside. weebly.com; 133 E. Court St., Downtown, facebook.com/ bridgesdowntown.

DUSMESH

Sitting at the bottom of Ludlow Avenue right across from Cincinnati State, Dusmesh is a foodie favorite, offering Northern Indian food made fresh with organic produce. Vegans can substitute coconut milk in any of their dishes. If you want to sample a little bit of everything, check out the lunch buffet. BYOB with no cork fee. 944 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, dusmesh.com.

KRISHNA

With only a few seats in house and every dish served in a Styrofoam container, it’s no wonder why the emphasis is on the food. Krishna offers budget-friendly Indian fare without compromising the quality. go in for the lamb biryani or the saag paneer, and add some vegetable samosas to your order. Their food is friendly whether you’re a carnivore or herbivore. 313 Calhoun St., Clifton

Indian specializing in saag dishes, like the chicken saag and the saag paneer. Don’t miss the spicy lamb vindaloo or the ginger lamb. 3880 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park,

shaanindiancuisineohio.com.

SWAD

The former owners of Dusmesh opened this spot that’s friendly to all: gluten-free eaters, vegans, bring-your-own-beer types and those who just love excellent garlic naan. 1810 W. Galbraith Road, North

College Hill, swadtasty.com.

Heights, krishnacarryoutcincy.com.

ITALIAN/PIZ ZA

SHAAN INDIAN CUISINE

ADRIATICO’S

Located in Hyde Park, Shaan Indian Cuisine provides Northern

Adriatico’s has a huge draft beer selection and 64-ounce growlers

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

to go, plus spicy, garlicky sauce, oversized pepperoni and the super-thick crust that their pizzas are known for. Good luck finding calzones like theirs, too. It’s “madness” every Monday and Tuesday with specials that the college kids can’t turn down. The Bearcat pizza will feed your entire party. 113 W. McMillan St., Clifton, adriaticosuc.com.

A TAVOLA

Armed with a pizza oven from Naples, Italy, A Tavola strikes a resounding chord of authenticity while redefining the perfect pie.

Their playful selection of signature pizzas — such as the Fig + Prosciutto or Sausage + Sage — are a blend of the familiar coupled with the exotic. Whet your appetite with their arancini fried risotto balls or

share a plate of tagliatelle al ragu.

1220 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 7022 Miami Ave., Madeira, atavolapizza.com.

BETTA’S ITALIAN OVEN

Plenty o’ choices here to give any local Italian chain a serious run for its money. Familiar favorites include antipasto, soups, salads and Italian and sandwiches, but pizza is the real word. The wood-fired oven produces tasty, thin-crust pies like the Quattro Stagioni with kalamata olives, prosciutto, tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, and breadsticks including the spicy pepperoni sticks. 3764 Montgomery Road, Nor-

wood, facebook.com/bettasitalianoven.

BUONA VITA PIZZERIA

Truly a family affair, Joseph Frommeyer runs the front of the house

while his brother/chef Matthew runs the kitchen using recipes handed down from their Nonna.

Mamma helps out in the dining room, serving her homemade cookies and other Italian treats to guests; plus cousin Ralph drops off his Dolce Vita Gelato. 2513 Ritchie

Ave., Crescent Springs, Ky., buonavitapizzeria.com.

CAMPOROSSO

This wood-fired pizza destination in Northern Kentucky is a neighborhood hang in a converted auto shop. Enjoy Italian-American classics and Neapolitan-style pizzas topped with options ranging from sopressata and local hot honey to four cheeses. The American-style pies are more traditional. 2475

CATCH-A-FIRE PIZZA

Located in the MadTree Brewing Co. taproom, this wood-fired pizza purveyor offers a menu of salads, starters, pies and even brunch featuring special breakfast pizzas.

MadTree, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley, catchafirepizza.com .

DEWEY’S PIZZA

A hip neighborhood pizza chain with craft beers, seasonal salads, specialty toppings and a window where kids (and adults) can watch the pizzas being hand-tossed.

Multiple locations including 3014 Madison Road, Oakley; 7767 Kenwood Road, Kenwood; Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky., deweyspizza.com.

Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell, Ky., camporosso.com.

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DINING

M i key ’s Late N i g ht S l i c e

FIRESIDE PIZZA

Since opening a brick-and-mortar version of their popular wood-fired pizza cart, Fireside Pizza has been able to attract a crowd. With the family-friendly vibe, old school Ms. Pac-Man game and the fact that it’s located inside an actual historic firehouse, Fireside’s appeal transcends its nicely singed wood-fired pizzas. 773 E. McMillan St., Walnut

Hills, firesidepizzawalnuthills.com.

FORNO OSTERIA + BAR

One of the city’s First Families of Food — the Pietosos of Nicola’s and Via Vite — have brought upscale-casual Italian cooking to the East Side with Forno, serving what they describe as “Italian comfort food.” The restaurant is one large dining room with an open kitchen showcasing the brick ovens and a large bar. In addition to a selection of red- and white-sauced pizzas, the menu lists pasta plates and meat- and fish-based entrées. 3514 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, fornoosteriabar. com; 9415 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, fornomontgomery.com.

GOODFELLAS PIZZERIA

The place to be when you stumble out of the bar at 2 a.m. (or for lunch), Goodfellas makes their dough fresh every morning and their sauce in-house. The slices are New York-style and as big as your face. They also offer subs, calzones and a multitude of delectable dipping sauces. A bourbon bar is upstairs. 1211 Main St., Over-theRhine; 603 Main St., Covington, Ky., goodfellaspizzeria.com.

HARVEST PIZZERIA

Harvest Pizzeria pizzas have a magically crunchy-yet-chewy and light-but-substantial crust with gourmet toppings like fennel sausage, almond pesto and vegan chorizo; the menu is rounded out by yummy small plates, salads and burgers — the whipped cheese, cherry tomato and candied prosciutto bruschetta is almost good enough to fight over. Also try the buttermilk-fried pickles with zesty remoulade. They’re addictive. 1739 Elm St., Over-the-

Rhine, harvestpizzeria.com.

JOE’S PIZZA NAPOLI

Joe’s Pizza Napoli recently won multiple honors in CityBeat’s Best Of Cincinnati reader’s poll, including Best Under the Radar Restaurant and Best East Side Pizza Joint.

When you walk into the eatery your eyes are immediately drawn to the massive tiled pizza oven, which owner Joe Nunner chose to have built in the semblance of Mount

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

Vesuvius. It uses ash and oak for fuel, both dense hardwoods that burn hot and steady. The characteristics of Neapolitan pizza include hand-crushed San Marzano tomatoes; mozzarella cheese; a dough comprised of water, fresh yeast, flour and salt. Along with his masterful pizzas (both red and white varieties), there are green salads, calzones, meatballs and cannelloni. 507 Chamber Drive,

MIKEY’S LATE NIGHT SLICE

LAROSA’S FAMILY PIZZERIA

Over-the-Rhine, latenightslice.com.

Milford, joespizzanapoli.com.

A chain of local pizzerias that’s been dishing up pies for 60 years, as well as pasta, salads, sandwiches and more. The sauce and crust are both a tiny bit sweet. Multiple

locations including 2684 Madison Road, Hyde Park; 7691 Montgomery Road, Kenwood; 2411 Boudinot Ave., Western Hills, larosas.com.

MAC’S PIZZA PUB

It’s kind of a collegiate Chuck E. Cheese. There are games, live music, sports and food — good food with vegan options. They make their own dough and pizza sauce in-house, hand-shred the cheese and use fresh and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.

Mac’s pizza has won numerous awards, and the rest of its menu — which consists of plenty of pub grub — ain’t too shabby, either.

205 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights; 6309 Wooster Pike, Mariemont; 2920 W. US-22, Maineville; 604 Main St., Covington, Ky., macspizzapub.com.

Mikey’s is known for its giant, foldable pizza slices and drunk-friendly menu items like the Pizza Dog — a hot dog stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, which is then wrapped in a slice of pizza — and the Cheezus Crust and Baby Cheezus, which is American cheese melted on top of two slices of pizza and pressed together into a sandwich. This pizza joint also shares a space with Oddfellows Liquor Bar. 2014 Elm St.,

NEWPORT PIZZA COMPANY

The pizzas are excellent, of course, and the vegetarian options are much better than average since Newport Pizza roasts most of their veggies themselves. Best thing on the menu, though, is the Antipasti Basket with salami, pepperoni, capicola ham, asiago and fresh mozzarella, manzanella olives, banana peppers, Roma tomato, fresh basil and a big fat head of roasted garlic. 601 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., newportpizzacompany.com.

POMPILIOS

This restaurant, where the toothpick scene in Rain Man was filmed, has been offering classic family Italian since 1933. Can’t go wrong with any pasta dish. Play a game of bocce ball on the back court or grab a beer-and-burger special in the attached Colonel Pomp’s Tavern. 600 Washington Ave., Newport, Ky., pompilios.com.

RAMUNDO’S PIZZERIA

Try the pizza challenge — two people, 10 minutes, one 26-inch pizza. Winners get their photo on the wall. 3166 Linwood Ave., Mount

Lookout, ramundospizzeria.com.

RED ROSE

Avocados are usually associated with Mexican food, but if you crave the green stuff on unconventional dishes, Red Rose Pizza offers it in the form of a fresh guacamole appetizer, avocado cheese loaf, the Goats & Guacamole salad and May’s Funky Chicken grinder. Add avocado to any grinder for an extra couple bucks. 5915 Hamilton Ave.,

College Hill, redrosecollegehill.com.

SCOTTI’S

Family-owned for more than a century, Scotti’s must be doing something right. Their large menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes. Finish off your meal with a bottle of wine and you’ll be full for days. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, providing a little light to the otherwise dimly lit dining room. 919 Vine St.,

Downtown, 513-721-9484.

STRONG’S BRICK OVEN PIZZERIA

The eatery’s signature Pizza Alla Vodka is a must-order every time you go. The dough is thin with beautiful, crisp air pockets that bulge out of the golden, charred

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

PI ZZA PAR LORS

booze wall, go home and stuff your face. They make all of their meats in-house and import the ricotta and mozzarella from Italy. They also deliver (food and alcohol!).

As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

3531 Columbia Parkway, Columbia Tusculum; 56 E. 12th St., Over-theRhine, eattaglio.com.

Adriatico’s

TROTTA’S

A beverage drive-thru with aboveaverage pizza, including the Lotta Trotta big-ass pie, available in a variety of interesting topping combinations: the Salami Roll-Up (salami, cream cheese, cheddar cheese and provolone), Chili Pizza (chili and cheddar cheese) and Hot Wing (hot wing sauce, bits of blue cheese, chicken and provolone).

Chester’s Pizza

Joe’s Pizza Napoli

3501 Werk Road, Westwood, trottaspizza.net.

A Tavola

TWO CITIES PIZZA CO.

and chewy crust. The toppings are tossed deliberately but asymmetrically, rustic in every sense.

This goldmine of flavors combines creamy sauce with mushrooms, spinach and the salty-sweet prosciutto di Parma. There is no such thing as leftovers with this pizza.

336 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., strongsbrickovenpizza.com.

TAFT’S BREWPOURIUM

An extension of Over-the-Rhine’s Taft’s Ale House, the Brewpourium is fitted with all of Taft’s top beers, New Haven-style “apizza” and enough televisions to satisfy all of Cincinnati’s sports fans.

Apizza is a crispy, coal-fired version of Neapolitan pizza that originated in Connecticut, which the Brewpourium opted to serve over other styles (e.g. New York, Chicago) because William Howard Taft — former president, Cincinnati native and brewery namesake — went to Yale in New Haven. The dough is made with filtered water and flour imported from Italy, and toppings range from classic white clam to a BBQ Pork Pie. 4831 Spring

Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, taftsalehouse.com/brewpourium.

TAGLIO

In Italian, “pizza al taglio” means “pizza by the slice” and this restaurant focuses on large slices of gas-fired New York-style pizza (hand-tossed, thin crust, real cheese). The concept is simple: walk up to the counter, order a slice or a whole pizza, grab a six-pack or a bottle (or two) of wine from their

New York City and Chicago are well-known for several things.

But most importantly, each city is known for a particular style of pizza. Now, you don’t have to travel further than Mason to get a taste of both. Two Cities Pizza Company, a dining destination housed in Mason’s former city hall — with a bit of an Art Deco nightclub rebrand — closes the chasm between the dueling pizza metropolises.

In addition to pizza, they offer tempting best-of-both-worlds street food from each city, like a Chicago dog with all the fixings (no ketchup; add celery salt) or a New York dog with brown mustard and sauerkraut. 202 W. Main St., Mason,

Trotta’s

Taft’s Brewpourium

Two Cities Pizza Co.

Strong’s Brick Oven Pizzeria (TIE) Taglio (TIE)

twocitiespizza.com.

Catch-a-Fire Pizza

VIA VITE

Via Vite showcases chef Cristian Pietoso’s casual take on Northern Italian cuisine. Crispy, stone-fired pizzas and hearty pastas hearken to the motherland, while entrées like 12-hour braised lamb shank with white polenta and rosemary, lead the diner on an Italian journey.

Classic Italian cocktails like a Negroni and Aperol Spritz are a clever accompaniment to a collection of Italian (and California) wines. 520 Vine St., Fountain Square, Downtown, viaviterestaurant.com.

MEDITER RANEAN ALADDIN’S EATERY

Healthy Lebanese-American eats from a friendly franchise. The OTR lounge also offers a cocktail menu.

3664 Edwards Road, Hyde Park; 9344 Union Centre Blvd., West Chester; 1203 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, aladdins.com.

ABIGAIL STREET

The Mediterranean-inspired menu of seasonal small plates revels in

Fireside Pizza

Italian, Spanish, Turkish and Greek influences, with unique twists only chef Daniel Wright could pull off — chorizo-stuffed dates, grilled octopus, Batata and more. Wines are available on tap, by the bottle or the glass. 1214 Vine St., Over-the-

Rhine, abigailstreet.com.

ALI BABA

Ali Baba Mediterranean Grill is a tiny hole in the wall serving up gargantuan falafel and gyro platters that won’t break the bank. Stock your plate with a variety of fresh toppings doled out by a friendly server, then sit down to watch

Persian singer Mansour and others belt out hits in music videos hearkening back to MTV’s glory days.

4793 Red Bank Road, Madisonville, 513-271-0706.

ANDY’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILLE

Expect maximum Mediterranean flavor at Andy’s, from the signature shish tawook, a marinated chicken kabob, to authentic stuffed grape leaves and many varieties of baklava and Turkish coffee. Belly dancers perform every Friday and Saturday night, with hookahs available to rent. 906 Nassau St., Walnut Hills, andyskabob.com.

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DINING

BALADI RESTAURANT & BAKERY

Baladi means “my country” in Arabic, which describes how the Barazi family wants their guests to feel — welcomed and at home.

The Syrian-focused and authentic menu has French and Turkish influences and features dishes like cheese fatayir, kafta kebabs, foul, musaka and more, including delicious and unique baked goods. 3307 Clifton Ave., Clifton,

baladicincy.com.

FORTY THIEVES

Helmed by Dan Wright and his wife Lana (of Senate, Abigail Street and Pontiac), the space at the corner of Liberty and Race streets is meant to evoke the vibe of a dive bar and offers a menu of Middle Eastern street food — falafel, beef shawarma and grilled chicken in a pita or on hummus, with other items like roasted beets and soup.

Patrons can order food from a counter inside or visit the walk-up window on the patio. 1538 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ holidayspiritsbar.

MARRAKECH MOROCCAN CAFÉ & GRILL

The chefs, who hail from Marrakech, serve up Mediterranean staples, plus a variety of tajines, flavorful stews slow-cooked in a conical earthenware pot, and bastilla, a sweet-and-savory chicken pie layered with scrambled eggs, shredded chicken, caramelized onions, ground almonds, confectioner’s sugar and cinnamon. Don’t miss out on the Moroccan mint tea.

SEBASTIAN’S

Serving as a West Side staple for almost 40 years, Sebastian’s family-owned restaurant is a Greek treasure. With mouth-watering baklava, flaky spanakopita and the hands-down best gyro in town, it’s no wonder why customers keep coming back for more. 5209 Glenway Ave., West Price Hill, sebastiansgyros.com.

MEXICAN/ TEX-MEX/LATIN/ SOUTH AMER ICAN ALFIO’S BUON CIBO

Italian for “good food,” the restaurant aims to wed Italian and Argentinian cuisine. The menu is dotted with Italian (ravioli, risotto) and Argentinian (empanadas, grilled lamb with chimichurri) dishes, but steers more toward the former. And, as both countries are located on coasts, there’s always fresh seafood. 2724 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, alfios-cincy.com.

AGAVE & RYE

Agave & Rye is a taqueria and tequila and bourbon hall that serves self-proclaimed “epic tacos.”

Geared toward a hip audience, tacos have names like the Swipe Right and fillings like kangaroo

meat, duck confit, butter-poached lobster and veggie options like fried green tomatoes. Sides range from mac and cheese and bourbon-bacon refried beans to “guac fries” and elote. 635 Madison Ave.,

Covington, agaveandrye.com.

THE AREPA PLACE

Owner and chef Isis Arrieta-Dennis and her husband make everything from scratch using an arepa recipe passed down from Isis’ mother, who owns her own restaurant in Colombia. The grill has a handful of different arepas, stuffed with cheese, beans and plantains, and then your choice of beef, chicken or both, sourced from Findlay’s Mackie Quality Meats. 131 W. Elder

St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine, arepaplace.com.

B&A STREET KITCHEN

B&A Street Kitchen’s menu consists of Mexican-influenced urban comfort food, everything from tacos and biscuits and gravy with pork chorizo to tortas and a threecheese quesadilla. 1500 Race St.,

Over-the-Rhine, bastreetkitchen.com.

BAKERSFIELD

Part bar, part taco joint, all classy. Bakersfield specializes in gourmet tacos (pollo rojo,

pastor, huitlacoche, etc.), quality tequilas and whiskeys and handcrafted margaritas made the old-fashioned way, not from a premade mix. 1213 Vine St., Over-the-

Rhine, bakersfieldtacos.com.

CANCUN

This Mexican restaurant attached to Western Bowl bowling alley is an area favorite. Multiple locations

including 6385 Glenway Ave., Western Hills, cancunmexicanrestaurantes.com.

CASA FIGUEROA

Well before you sip or bite anything, you’ll be wowed by the artwork and décor — from displays of Mexican folk art to wall-sized murals. The menu skews mostly Mexican (heavy on really good tacos). The chips are warm, full of corn flavor and not at all greasy; the guacamole has a chunky consistency and few if any ingredients other than avocado. The best tacos are Baja fish, smoked duck confit and chicken and chorizo. 6112 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, casafig.com.

CHÉ

Located just a hair off the beaten path in Over-the-Rhine, the South American Ché is snugly nestled on Walnut Street. The menu spans

Fo r t y Th i eve s

341 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, facebook. com/cliftonmoroccancafe.

MIRAGE MEDITERRANEAN

Owned by two Armenian-American brothers, Mirage features authentic family recipes that have been passed from generation to generation. Most dishes hail from around the Black Sea, including kebabs, Russian borscht, Khinkali dumplings and Mikado cake. 11381 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, miragecincinnati.com.

PHOENICIAN TAVERNA

A hidden gem in a Mason stripmall, Phoenician Taverna specializes in Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine, all made in-house — from the pita bread to the sausage stuffed in natural casings. for entrées, find shawarma, mouzat (braised lamb shank in tomato sauce), mashawi and ouzi (braised meat over rice). plenty of hot and cold vegetarian mezze abound. 7944 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason, facebook.com/ phoeniciantaverna.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 5 7

DINING

from Soup de Locro (traditional Argentine stew with steak, squash, corn and sausage) to Choripan (flame-grilled sausage) and melted Provoleta provolone cheese dip to a slew of empanadas: jamon y queso, shrimp scampi, short rib, de carne, mushroom artichoke and more. 1342 Walnut St., Over-theRhine, checincinnati.com.

THE COMET

A neighborhood bar with tons of bottled beer options and a limited Mexican-inspired menu available from 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Choose chicken, beef or jerked tofu for your burrito or have the same in a quesadilla, nachos or tacos. 4579 Hamilton

Ave., Northside, cometbar.com.

CONDADO TACOS

Condado commits to the buildyour-own tacos concept down to the type of tortillas. For protein, customers have several options (even ones for vegetarians!) — like housemade chorizo, Thai chili tofu, BBQ pulled jackfruit, ghost pepper marinated steak and more. They’ve got the toppings, too; cilantro and onions, jicama and cabbage slaws, queso fresco and more.

195 E Freedom Way, Downtown, condadotacos.com.

EL RANCHO GRANDE

One of the largest local Mexican chains. Multiple locations including 6475 E. Galbraith Road, Kenwood, elranchogrande.info.

FRIDA 602

brown it. It’s a fat little crunchy burrito envelope, a walking taco.

And the Turtle tastes even better if you stumble over after imbibing at the adjacent HalfCut, a craft beer café of sorts. Now open for lunch and brunch, with a second cantina location in Walnut Hills. 107 E. 12th

The restaurant, named after the legendary painter Frida Kahlo, has Kahlo’s portrait and famous unibrow emblazoned all over the place. The cocktail list is divided into margaritas and house cocktails made with either tequila or mezcal, and they offer both alcohols in a flight, served in copitas (small clay cups). The menu is categorized into antojitos of chips and salsas, salads, nachos and several kinds of tacos. The vegetarian chickpea and Brussels sprout tacos are the best. Also a must: the queso dip. 602 Main St., Covington,

St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, gomezsalsa.com.

Ky., fridaonmain.com.

Clifton, habanerolatin.com.

GOMEZ SALSA

LA MEXICANA

Gomez’s walk-up taco window in OTR has it all: mahi-mahi tacos with slaw and Baja sauce, chips with pineapple salsa, taco salad bowls and owner Andrew Gomez’s greatest invention, the Turtle Shell. Take a tortilla, stuff it with rice, beans, sour cream, lettuce, salsa, meat, veggies and cheese, layer in a tostado for crunch, put some cheese on the top and then

HABAÑERO

Cincinnati’s original foil-wrapped Latin fare. Habañero opened in 1999, before most of us had even heard of that national burrito chain. Known for their more creative burrito options like the Calypso Chicken (with adoboglazed chicken breast and pineapple salsa) and Venus de Veggie, along with various quesadillas and signature salsas. 358 Ludlow Ave.,

Home of some of the city’s best tacos: tacos al pastor with delicious marinated pork shoulder, barbacoa, carne asada, lengua (tongue) and sesos (brains; they wash down perfectly with a cerveza). For vegetarians, wide-ranging fillings include seasoned pumpkin flower, corn truffle, hongos, beans and queso fresco. This inexpensive and authentic menu has been known to

incite cravings after as little as one visit. 642 Monmouth St., Newport,

Ky., 859-261-6112.

LALO

Lalo refers to itself as “Chino Latino” cuisine because Asia has a lot of Spanish and Latin influence. The menu is divided into tacos, burritos, tortas, rice bowls, specialty plates, soups and salads, with dishes like ceviche, a black bean quesadilla with kale and bibimbap.

709 Main St., Downtown, lalocincinnati.com.

MAIZE

Maize specializes in a unique fusion menu that honors traditional recipes from across Latin America, with an emphasis on Venezuelan cuisine. The restaurant takes its name from maize, a corn flour dating back some 10,000 years and first utilized by indigenous Mexicans. The flour serves as the basis for the arepas, cachapas and empanadas served at Maize and acts as an access point for the rich world of Latin American cuisine.

The ceviche is perfect: plump and plentiful mahi, snapper and shrimp with diced mango, serrano pepper and lime. The bright blue accents of the restaurant lend to the tropical vibe, as do the multitude of rum options on the drink menu — there are more than 30 in house. 1438

Race St., Over-the-Rhine, maizeotr.com.

Fr i d a 6 02

MAZUNTE

Taco fillings range from shredded pork to crispy braised chicken, and specialties include memelitas (open-faced tortillas), corn husk tamales and corn empanadas with queso Oaxaca. It’s a refreshing and authentic culinary surprise, considering the restaurant’s location in a Madisonville strip mall.

5207 Madison Road, Madisonville, mazuntetacos.com.

MAZTUNE CENTRO

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Inspired by the vibrancy of Mexico City, Centro still serves the classics — tacos and tostadas, tequila and Topo Chico. But a handful of dishes exclusive to this location were added to the menu, namely tortas and tlayudas (imagine a love child between a Mexican pizza and a giant loaded nacho). Outthe-door-tacos for those on their lunch break and lingering evenings sipping tequila are both served with the same warm hospitality.

Although folks in Mexico indulge in a leisurely meal and siesta midday and grab street tacos at night, Americans are more accustomed to working through lunch and partying after dark. Mazunte serves

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

Mexico City food on a Cincinnati schedule. 611 Main St., Downtown,

centro.mazuntetacos.com.

MITA’S

Chef Jose Salazar is a continent away from his mamita and the hand-cranked mill she still uses to grind corn for arepas and empanadas, but his restaurant, Mita’s, is a tribute to her spirit and to Spanish and Latin American food. Some of the more intriguing dishes at Mita’s use familiar ingredients in new ways. The fresh emerald-green sauce for the short-rib empanadas is unexpectedly minty, and the beef is tucked into cornmeal crusts so light and crisp that it lifts the dish to the sublime. 501 Race St., Downtown, mitas.co.

MONTOYA’S

Friendly service and fresh, affordable food have kept Montoya’s a neighborhood staple for more than 20 years. Patrons rave about their authentic Mexican dishes like chilaquiles, their signature spicy Pirata Plate and anything with mole. Great margaritas are the cherry on top. 2507 Chelsea Drive,

Fort Mitchell, Ky., 859-341-0707.

NADA

Modern Mexican. Outstanding guacamole tops beer-batter-fried hake on crisp, Baja-style tacos and fried avocado tacos are stuffed with chipotle bean purée, pickled cabbage and red onion and maple.

The braised chicken enchiladas zing with citrus-marinated bird, sweet corn, Chihuahua cheese and diablo salsa. Churros, classic fried dough with cinnamon and sugar, are a sweet way to wrap it up.

Great location next to the Aronoff Center downtown, and the patio is a big attraction when nice weather beckons. 600 Walnut St., Downtown,

eatdrinknada.com.

RIO GRANDE

Serves up good strip-mall Mexican, with the giant portions and plentiful margaritas you’d expect.

34 Carothers Road, Newport, Ky., riograndenewport.com.

TAQUERIA MERCADO

Fajitas come with your choice of grilled steak, chicken or shrimp.

Go in Sunday morning for a not-sotypical American brunch; get their spicy chilaquiles with chorizo and pair it with their Michelada — it’s like a bloody mary, but with your choice of light or dark beer mixed with tomato juice, lime juice and hot sauce. 100 E. Eighth St., Downtown; 6507 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, taqueriamercado.com.

TAQUERIA YOLANDITA

Taqueria Yolandita is a tiny taco trailer. The menu is brief, but you’ve still got a tough choice — you’ll want to try everything.

Overstuffed tacos, priced at three for $6; burritos, quesadillas and tortas, all $7 each. An order of three is a sit-down, eat-with-a-fork feast, heaped high with braised meat, fresh avocado, chopped onions and cilantro, quartered lemons — not limes — and slices of crisp radish. 1881 Westwood Ave., Price Hill, 513-551-0828.

NEW R ESTAUR ANTS As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey

Sacred Beast

TORTILLERIA GARCIA

Omar Garcia grew up on a family farm in Michoacan, Mexico and learned how to make corn tortillas the old-fashioned way from his mother and grandmother. Garcia has committed to honoring his family’s culinary history and his restaurants uncompromisingly follow the family recipe for fresh tortillas — never using flour or preservatives. Garcia’s menu consists of straightforward Mexican classics like tamales, burritos, housemade salsas and rotisserie chicken, in addition to tacos, plus his classic tortilla shells are available in twopound packs so you can make your own inspired creations at home.

5917 Hamilton Ave., College Hill; 11774 Springfield Pike, Springdale, tortilleriagarcia.us.

FINE DINING BOCA

A trip to chef David Falk’s Italian/ French gemstone is an experience to be savored as much as the food itself. Take your time, invest a few hours and allow him and his attentive, knowledgeable staff to unfold an epic tale of two or three courses, plus dessert. The Pommes Soufflees “1942” — puffy french fries — are a call back to the restaurant’s former iteration as the Maisonette, and most entrées are available in full or tasting portions. 114 E. Sixth

Agave & Rye

Joe’s Pizza Napoli

Lucius Q

LouVino Restaurant & Wine Bar

Maize (TIE) Revolution Rotisserie & Bar (TIE)

Condado Tacos

Zundo Ramen & Donburi

Crown Republic Gastropub

St., Downtown, bocacincinnati.com.

MERITAGE

Meritage offers upscale classic American cuisine, ranging from pan-seared scallops with lemon butter to New York strip topped with demi-glaze. Reserve a table for Seafood Night, and you’ll get a three-course meal with an optional three-course wine pairing.

Meritage boasts an extensive wine cellar and signature cocktails. 40 Village Square, Glendale, meritagecincy.com.

NICOLA’S RESTAURANT

A celeb-spotting treasure, Nicola’s renown is undeniable. One of Cin-

cinnati’s top, Zagat-rated restaurants, its housemade pastas and secondi piatti are among some of the thoughtfully conceived dishes transporting patrons to the heart of Italy. Indulge in wine-paired tasting menus, or cap off your meal with a dessert. 1420 Sycamore St.,

duce and combines those ingredients with top-quality seafood and meat from a variety of sources. The AAA five-diamond menu features creative, fresh cuisine paired with an award-winning wine list and delicious desserts. 35 W. Fifth St.,

Over-the-Rhine, nicolasotr.com.

Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel, Downtown, orchidsatpalmcourt.com.

ORCHIDS AT PALM COURT

THE PRECINCT

Nestled inside Carew Tower’s historic Art Deco Hilton hotel, Orchids hosts a breathtaking feast for the eyes — a perfect backdrop the seasonally-attuned menu that takes advantage of seasonal pro-

You can always rely on a Jeff Ruby restaurant for a big, rare steak and platters of seafood. The Precinct, housed in a historical Romanesque-style former police precinct, was the first in a long line of Ruby

5 9

DINING

steakhouses. You can’t go wrong with a sirloin or porterhouse, named after current and past Cincinnati sports greats. But there are other options, like blackened diver scallops or something from the tableside service menu like seafood fettuccine alfredo for two.

311 Delta Ave., Columbia Tusculum, jeffruby.com.

PRIMAVISTA

With a breathtaking city view, Primavista wins frequent reader’s choice and magazine awards such as “most romantic,” “best date spot” and “best dining with a view.” They offer fine Italian dishes from all regions, specializing in veal and fish, with sauces made in-house. The gnocchi sautéed in sage butter with pancetta melts in your mouth, and the bread pudding is excellent. Includes special menus for vegans, vegetarians and those with a gluten intolerance.

810 Matson Place, Price Hill, pvista.com.

RESTAURANT L

Restaurant L has its own uppercrust vibe. L is more intimate than Orchids, more contemporary than Jeff Ruby’s and, whenever you can swing it, a unique way to spend a pampered evening. The $85-perperson three-course dinner menu — or $125 Menu Gourmand — features a sophisticated seasonal selection blending French soul with contemporary flair (and optional wine pairings). Don’t forget: There’s an à la carte bar menu if you’re not up for the prix fixe dining room extravagance. 301 E.

Fourth St., Downtown, lcincinnati.com.

SOTTO

Located under Boca restaurant, the Tuscan-inspired Sotto offers a more approachable atmosphere and price point than its upstairs neighbor. With multiple dining rooms, the kitchen is open to view, including the custom-made woodfire grill in front and a fresh-pasta room in the back hallway. Menu items include handmade pasta, house-cured salami and big-ticket items like Bistecca Fiorentina, a grilled creekstone porterhouse steak with daily sides. Sotto sources their bread from Blue Oven and also grows their own herbs and vegetables. Now serving lunch during the week. 118 E. Sixth St.,

Downtown, sottocincinnati.com.

STEAKHOUSES/ SEAFOOD ALABAMA FISH BAR

Get in line at the Alabama Fish Bar and you’ll be rewarded with some 60

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

S ot to

of the best fried fish in the city: a choice of whiting, perch or cod served atop a pile of fries resting on a bed of white bread. A side of sautéed peppers, onions and hot sauce make it a spicy, lip-smacking experience. 1601 Race St., Over-the-

Rhine, facebook.com/alabamafishbar.

COURT STREET LOBSTER BAR

At Court Street Lobster Bar, there is nary a bright-red shell in sight.

Instead, there are several ways to enjoy tender, buttery lobster meat — in a creamy bisque or as an ingredient in poutine; as part of the decadent lobster mac and cheese; or in one of two styles of lobster rolls. The Maine roll is a chilled lobster salad with lemon mayonnaise while the Connecticut roll has warm lobster meat drizzled with hot butter. 28 W. Court St., Downtown, courtstreetlobsterbar.com.

EIGHTH & ENGLISH

This seafood-centric, Italianflavored eatery — which goes by the nickname 8 & E — is a godsend for those looking for innovative, thoughtfully crafted fare somewhere in the city outside of Over-the-Rhine, downtown or parts of Covington. As suggested by the sea-themed art on the walls, there are a lot of seafood offerings in just about every menu category, and yet plenty for landlubbers, too.

2038 Madison Road, O’Bryonville, 8thandenglish.com.

EMBERS

There is a seemingly endless variety of Thai/sushi/Asian restaurants in our city. How about a steakhouse/sushi joint? That’s what you’ll find in Embers. Steaks are aged 28 days and are served with housemade compound butter or a variety of “extras” like truffle sauce. 8170 Montgomery Road, Kenwood, embersrestaurant.com.

GRAND FINALE

Operating at the same historic building since 1975, Grand Finale serves up everything from steak and lobster to crepes and outrageous desserts. Try the bacon, lobster and sundried tomato deviled eggs or the herbed filet mignon brochette. No worries for your vegetarian tablemates: Grand Finale has plenty of veggie fare. 3 E. Sharon

Road, Glendale, grandfinale.info.

JAG’S STEAK & SEAFOOD

This upscale steakhouse and piano bar does everything from innovative meals to craft cocktails and extensive wine choices to live

music. For dinner, opt for sushi or the raw bar to start, followed by a West Chester Chop salad (with bacon, egg, cheddar, tomato, cucumber and onion) or signature entrées, like the black truffle filet, chateaubriand for two or vegetarian portobellos with goat cheese and tomato. 5980

West Chester Road, West Chester, jags.com.

JEFF RUBY’S STEAKHOUSE

Modeled after a 1940s New York Art Deco steakhouse.

If you love steak you have about a zero-percent chance of being let down with one of Ruby’s — they dry-age their own. There are several non-steak options on the menu, including good seafood dishes, but the cow is king at Ruby’s.

700 Walnut St., Downtown, jeffruby.com.

LISSE STEAKHUIS

A Dutch-inspired steakhuis.

Start with smoked whitefish pâté or bitterballen, a mixture of ground meat, rolled in panko breadcrumbs and then deep fried. For dinner, move to the coast with Faroe Island salmon, or the farm, with a Dutch filet — a barrel-cut filet grilled à la plancha, seasoned with salt and pepper and served over hutspot cake. 530

Main St., Covington, Ky., lisse. restaurant.

LONELY PINE STEAKHOUSE

The casual dining destination takes a simple concept — quality food at an affordable price — and elevates it with Southwestern flair and retro decor. From Gorilla Cinema Presents, Lonely Pine is the first foray into food service for the company and is less focused on blatantly paying homage to a film, though there are clues for those on the hunt for Easter eggs.

There are nods to Back to the Future hidden throughout. Steaks are dry-aged with shareable sides like au gratin potatoes. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s chess pie with chocolate, blueberries and whipped cream; a citrus crème brûlée; and locally made ice cream with seasonal flavors. 6085 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, lonelypinesteakhouse.com.

MAURY’S TINY COVE

Maury’s has been packed full of flavor and West Side tradition since 1949. The dimly lit supperclub vibe will have you feeling like a regular on your first visit. The extensive menu consists of all the classic steakhouse options: tender, juicy steaks, seafood and chicken cooked just right, plus pasta, Atomic Age sides (shredded lettuce salads; a complimentary ramekin of pickles on every table) and a perfect martini. Ask for the Carol booth — the restaurant appears in the locally filmed, Oscarnominated movie starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara — or take a photo with the Maury’s sign,

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

featuring a kitschy cartoon steer holding a cocktail. 3908 Harrison

Ave., Cheviot, maurys-steakhouse.com.

PELICAN’S REEF

For 20 years, the laid-back island oasis Pelican’s Reef has been serving up super-fresh seafood in Anderson. While much of the menu features breaded and fried items with plenty of tartar sauce — choices like fried oyster po’boys or broiled grouper stuffed with crab meat and cornbread stuffing — none of the restaurant’s diehard fans are complaining.

7261 Beechmont Ave., Anderson, thepelicansreef.com.

TONY’S OF CINCINNATI

A luxury steakhouse operated

by Tony Ricci, former GM of Jeff Ruby’s The Precinct, serving USDA prime meats with all the toppings you could want — Oscar, au poivre, sauce béarnaise. Also features a raw bar, indulgent pastas, non-steak entrées and classic steakhouse sides. 12110 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, tonysofcincinnati.com.

TRIO BISTRO

Trio offers something-for-everyone American-style menu items with an upscale twist. Choose from many great salads — including an award-winning chopped Cobb

— sandwiches, gourmet pizzas and seafood and pair your meal with a nice glass of wine from the extensive wine list. The filet mignon, Trio Meatloaf and Scottish salmon are customer favorites. As is the classic vodka martini with blue cheese olives. 7565 Kenwood

Road, Kenwood, triobistro.com.

WALT’S HITCHING POST

Walt’s Hitching Post is a kick-back, casual place where everybody knows your name. Open in some iteration since the 1950s, classic menu items include Walt’s Legendary Fried Chicken, Steak Diane and fried green tomatoes with chicken livers. All steaks are

dusted with a unique seasoning blend and charred to perfection.

On Fridays, Kosher-salt encrusted prime rib is on special — while it lasts. 3300 Madison Pike, Fort

Wright, Ky., waltshitchingpost.com.

WASHINGTON PLATFORM

Established in 1875 (and reestablished in 1986), the saloon is home to an annual Oyster Festival, Lobstapalooza and Crab Carnival. 1000 Elm St., Downtown, washingtonplatform.com.

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B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 3

C HILI JOINTS As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Camp Washington Chili

Blue Ash Chili

Pleasant Ridge Chili

VEGETAR IAN/ VEGAN THE ELUSIVE COW

The owner of The Elusive Cow wanted to create a space where eaters of every kind can sit down and enjoy something off the menu.

Focused on sustainable and organic farms, the food supports the omnivore in us all, including dishes with bison, tofu, fish and, of course, hamburgers. 519 Fairfield Ave., Bel-

levue, Ky., theelusivecow.com.

HAPPY CHICKS BAKERY

The café and bakery offers cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pies and more, all with fresh, seasonal flavors, and light lunch options, including sandwiches, salads and soups that are all freshly prepared from nonprocessed foods and are free from preservatives and animal products.

4035 Hamilton Ave., Northside, happychicksbakery.com.

LOVING HUT

The mission behind Loving Hut is to offer affordable, healthy, vegan cuisine. The restaurant’s environment was created using many found, reclaimed and reused materials. For disposable goods like containers, cups and utensils, they choose biodegradable and/or recyclable products. Tons of paninis, wraps, sandwiches and burgers to choose from. 6227 Montgomery

ads tempt every palate. Sandwiches include items like the veggie cheesesteak made with seitan and The Rachel, a smoked turkey sandwich with red cabbage, apple sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. 4100 Hamilton

Ave., Northside, meltrevival.com.

OFF THE VINE JUICE BAR

We’re not talking smoothies — we’re talking nutrient-dense, cold-pressed juice funneled into a pint-sized glass container. Juice heads can stop by and purchase an 8-ounce juice or 16-ounce juice in a reusable glass bottle that can be returned and recycled. Customers can also purchase a set of juices and homemade nut milks for a one, three or five-day juice cleanse. 1218

Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, otvcincinnati.com.

ROOTED JUICERY + KITCHEN

From coolers housing a rainbow display of juices to vegan meal bowls to a mini bakery, Rooted is out to prove that plant-based eating offers a vast variety of flavors and quality options. The Mexican grain bowl (quinoa, black beans, guacamole, walnut crumble, cashew cheese) is a favorite in the bowl category. Everything is as locally sourced as possible. The downtown location features a full coffee and matcha bar. 3010 Madi-

Road, Pleasant Ridge, lovinghut.us.

son Road, Oakley; 6844 Wooster Pike, Mariemont; 17 E. Sixth St., Downtown, rootedjuicery.com.

MELT ECLECTIC CAFÉ

SITWELL’S ACT II

Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diners aren’t an afterthought at Melt. But no worries — the carnivorous can feast, too. A plethora of sandwiches, wraps, soups and sal16520

. COOMM CCI TI TYYBBEEAATT. C

Clifton coffee shop mainstay Sitwell’s reopened under new ownership, but owners who are determined to preserve what made Sitwell’s an iconic Cincinnati

hangout while adding their own philosophy and personality. The food menu is fully vegetarian and vegan includes options like a Greek gyro made with seitan, a glass noodle summer roll and vegan chili. The bohemian bonhomie is still there, as is the eclectic seating and opportunities for local artists and musicians. 324 Ludlow Ave.,

Clifton, facebook.com/ sitwells.coffeehouse.

UNWIND WINE BAR

The expansive indoor and outdoor space around the corner from Hyde Park Square has fused an upscale-casual ambiance with a wide selection of New World and Old World wines and small plates that complement the drinks. All of the food is either vegetarian or vegan (the owners are vegan).

With choices such as crostini, flatbread, warm olives, cheeses and a hummus sampler, along with a few desserts, there’s enough for a light meal — or at least some satisfying bites to accompany your wine. 3435 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park,

unwindhydepark.com.

THE WEEKLY JUICERY

The juicery boasts an almost entirely gluten-free and vegan menu, and the staff is sensitive to just about every allergy imaginable.

Their weekly juicing programs offer three, four and five-day juicing regimens in the $27 to $54 price range. 2727 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, theweekly-juicery.com.

THE WHOLE BOWL

It’s a walk-up window serving a single recipe: a bowl of brown rice, beans, black olives, cheese, avocado slices and lemon-garlic Tali Sauce. The secret to the bowl’s popularity rests with the Tali Sauce.

A Google search finds blogger and YouTube video attempts to recreate it. Ask for a little extra spoonful when you order. 364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, thewholebowl.com/cincinnati.

BAKER IES/ DESSERTS ABBY GIRL SWEETS

A from-scratch cupcakery with two locations and special, seasonal flavors. 4773 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash; 41 W. Fifth St., Downtown, abbygirlsweets.com.

AGLAMESIS BROTHERS

A classic 1900s ice cream parlor at its best, wooing foodie visitors from all around the country with its unblemished reputation for quality. The Raspberry Hot Fudge and

the Banana Classique shakes are chart-toppers. 3046 Madison Road,

Oakley; 9899 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, aglamesis.com.

THE BONBONERIE

Have your cake and eat it too as the BonBonerie crew shows off their savory skills. Scones, tea and quiche adorn the café menu, but the real treat is for those with a sweet tooth. The bakery menu features tortes, cakes, pastries and old-fashioned cookies to please everyone. 2030 Madison Road, O’Bryonville, bonbonerie.com.

BROWN BEAR BAKERY

Cincinnati pastry artist Blair Fornshell uses all-natural ingredients to create so-beautifulyou-almost-feel-bad-about-eatingthem desserts, such as vanilla bean scones, hand pies, tarts and salty chocolate chip cookies — a perfect ratio of chocolate, salt and cookie dough paired with the perfect exterior crunch protecting a soft, delectable interior. The OTR bakery and café space is the perfect blend of old and new and has a very Lower Manhattan vibe. 116 E. 13th St., Overthe-Rhine, brownbearbakes.com.

BUSKEN BAKERY

Busken Bakery opened in 1928 and quickly became a Cincinnati staple with bakery counters in grocery stores, 24-hour drive-in bakeries and delicious donuts, bread and apple pies. Their awardwinning baked goods can be found in Remke Markets, Kroger, UDF and multiple bakeries around the city. Multiple locations including 2675 Madison Road, Hyde Park, busken.com.

BUZZED BULL CREAMERY

The chemistry behind Buzzed Bull’s frozen, alcohol-infused desserts seems like magic. Liquid nitrogen is an odorless, colorless, safe-to-eat element that freezes the ingredients it comes into contact with, including alcohol. They serve alcoholic flavors like honey bourbon, margarita and whiskey sour, but there are plenty of non-alcoholic options, too. 1408 Main St., Overthe-Rhine, buzzedbullcreamery.com.

CHERBOURG CYPRUS

Well known for its selection of gluten-free, nut-free goodies, the OTR shop features not only pastries — donuts, Cherbourg’s famous double lemon bars, muffins, cookies and cake — but also eggy deliciousness, like inventive stratas, quiches and individual skillet servings of shakshuka. 1804 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, cherbourgcyprus.com.

DINING

DOJO GELATO

Authentic Italian-style gelato. Dojo Gelato loves to create unexpected flavor profiles — rose petal, olive oil, bellini, honey lavender, Vietnamese coffee, etc. And they use fresh, seasonal ingredients in their creations. Dojo’s Northside shop serves more than just scoops.

The shop always has 10 flavors of gelato on offer, but with bonus milkshakes, a sundae bar and a funky soft-serve menu along with killer draft rootbeer on tap. 137 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, Over-theRhine; 1735 Blue Rock St., Northside, (seasonal), dojogelato.com.

GRAETER’S ICE CREAM

Since its founding in 1870, Graeter’s French Pot Ice Cream, handmade chocolate confections and fresh-baked goods have become traditions in the Queen City. Today, the Graeter family still faithfully uses century-old recipes and methods of production. Multiple locations including 511 Walnut St., Fountain Square, Downtown, graeters.com.

HOLTMAN’S DONUTS

A Tavola’s Madeira location. Besides gelato — and fruity sorbettos — coffee is the other menu staple, with espresso, lattes, affogato, drip coffee, Chai, iced tea, lemonade and a few other beverages. 7014

Miami Ave., Madeira, lagrassa.com.

MACARON BAR

In the past, the closest thing Cincinnati had to Paris was the Eiffel Tower replica at Kings Island. Now we have Macaron Bar, the only local bakery and coffee shop specializing in the brightly colored French pastry, which offers traditional and seasonal macarons, with flavors like salted caramel, Earl Grey tea and pistachio. Multiple locations including 1206 Main St., Over-theRhine, macaron-bar.com.

MAVERICK CHOCOLATE A bean-to-bar chocolatier in Findlay Market, made with ethically sourced cocoa beans.

MAINWOOD PASTRY

This Findlay Market-based pastry shop turns out baked goodies like cookies, fruit danishes, chocolate croissants and more — all from the minds behind cult favorite Collective Espresso coffee shop. Check their social media for info about secret pizza parties featuring homemade dough and seasonal toppings. 113 W. Elder St., Over-the-

SERVATII PASTRY SHOP & DELI

Fourth-generation family bakery, started by great-grandfather George in Muenster, Germany.

Known for their pastries, desserts and especially for their soft pretzels, which you can get in sizes ranging from six ounces to three pounds. Multiple locations including

Rhine, mainwoodpastry.com.

511 Walnut St., Fountain Square, Downtown, servatii.com.

OTR CANDY BAR

STREETPOPS

The shop feels a bit like the candy store from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, chock full of sticky sweets, and an entire table devoted to out-of-the-box candies.

Then there’s an actual bar upon which a sharply dressed candy barista will make you a float using the vintage soda of your choice, dressed with a piece of oldfashioned stick candy. 1735 Elm St.,

Grown-up ice pops made from unique combinations of fresh ingredients and unexpected flavors, like peach tea, Thai basil lime, Vietnamese coffee, lemon lavender and more. Find them in your grocer’s freezer or local pop-up markets and events. 4720 Vine St.,

Over-the-Rhine, streetpops.com.

Over-the-Rhine, otrcandybar.com.

129 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine; 2651 Edmondson Road, Rookwood, Norwood, maverickchocolate.com.

B rown B e a r B a ke r y

In September 2013, the Loveland-based Holtman’s Donuts finally opened an OTR location, complete with a window you can peer through and watch them make donuts, like the sensational maple bacon. Homer Simpson would be so proud... and hungry.

Multiple locations including 1332 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 1399 State Route 28, Loveland; 214 W. Main St., Williamsburg, holtmansdonutshop.com.

LA GRASSA GELATO

Proprietor John Berman trained in the art of gelato at Gelato University, near Bologna, Italy, but the concept began in the basement of pizzeria/restaurant A Tavola, where the first batches of this creamy dairy treat were concocted for the restaurant’s dessert menu. The shop, located in a converted historic home, opened just down the street from PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 1 6 53 1

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RO O F TO P BARS p. 7 6

N i g ht l i fe

BEST BARS p. 7 5

Hot spots, taprooms and places to throw an axe.

T h e O t h e r Ro o m

With a 1950s Desi Arnaz-meetsDavid Lynch vibe, this bar has 107 fluctuating rums — argued to be the largest collection in Ohio.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

p. 6 8

6 5

NIGHTLIFE

HOT SPOTS ASTER

This social sippery is a casual cocktail space above the downtown location of the Sleepy Bee Café. The drink menu brings the farm to the cocktail world with a range of drinks that spans all ABVs (alcohol by volume).

There’s also a smattering of non-alcoholic options that go beyond virgin mixed drinks. These “Adaptogens” blend fruit, herbs, teas, housemade kombucha and sodas to create interesting flavor profiles. Boozy Socials — aka carafes of drinks for sharing with friends old and new — are perfect when imbibed on the roof patio. 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown,

asteronfourth.com.

BRANCH/NIGHT DROP

Folks from Northside’s Littlefield Restaurant Group rehabbed the historic 1920s-era Central Trust Bank building in East Walnut Hills, opening the aptly named restaurant Branch and its adjacent downstairs speakeasy Night Drop.

Cocktails take their sobriquets from financial terms and include ingredients like habañero-infused Green Chartreuse, Dr. Pepper syrup and spiced gin. Make sure to snap a selfie in the owl-wallpapered bathroom. 1535 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, eatatbranch.com.

COMFORT STATION

Located in a former 105-yearold rest area (basically a public bathroom), Comfort Station has transformed a dilapidated space into an airy nightlife destination full of hip cocktails and outdoor lounge areas. Head through the bright blue ladies room entrance to access the main bar, replete with original skylights, plush velvet seating and bathrooms with two-way mirrors to watch the goings-on behind the bar (you can see out; they can’t see in). From there, you can enter the back patio, which has multiple seating nooks, including an elevated perch with cushions. A downstairs bar is open select days and accessed through the men’s room door. 793 E. McMil-

lan St., Walnut Hills, facebook.com/ comfortstationcincinnati.

THE DRINKERY

There’s local beer and local music at this OTR joint, famous for its rowdy Wednesday karaoke night. A place for dance parties and DJs on the weekends (and weeknights).

1150 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, drinkotr.com.

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

H o m e M a ke rs B a r

FAUSTO

This cafe inside the Contemporary Arts Center from brothers Tony and Austin Ferrari plays off of the artful surroundings to craft a menu of thoughtfully designed and seasonal cuisine. In addition to a craft coffee menu based off of a specialty Deeper Roots Coffee blend, the cocktail list features modern mixes like the Refreshing as Yoko (pamplemouse, Aperol, grapefruit bitters, sparkling wine and rosemary) and wines that run the gamut from red to white to sparkling with a special Ferrari Bros. rose. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown,

Bar has a unique focus on design (with groovy pink, blue and yellow paint colors) and nontraditional spirits with a drink program featuring lesser-known liqueurs including Italian tinctures, herbal wines and low-proof cocktails, along with modern and classic drinks. The food menu offers delightfully nostalgic bites like finger sandwiches and late-night grilled cheese in pastry pockets.

39 E. 13th St., Over-theRhine, homemakersbar.com.

faustoatthecac.com.

GOOSE & ELDER

Goose & Elder is local chef and restaurateur Jose Salazar’s most recent venture. The eatery/bar is located across from historic Findlay Market in Over-theRhine. Salazar describes the establishment as “Midcentury grandma,” sourcing colors and patterns that evoke a sense of the 1970s and ’80s. The bar focuses on kitschy, old-school cocktails like a Long Island Iced Tea, Tequila Sunrise or White Russian. “Happy goose hour” includes deals on buckets of beer, house wine and drafts. 1800 Race St., Over-the-

Rhine, facebook.com/gooseandelder.

HI-MARK

Named for Ohio River flooding, the Hi-Mark — from the groups that brought you cult favorites Eli’s BBQ and Pho Lang Thang — is a laid-back neighborhood hang with a rotating tap list of local, regional and “essential” (read: Budweiser, Guinness, etc.) beers, and interesting hi-balls, like the Horse’s Neck, made with bourbon, bitters and ginger ale. 3229 Riverside Drive, East End, thehimark.com.

HOLIDAY SPIRITS

Helmed by Dan Wright and his wife Lana (Senate, Abigail Street and Pontiac), this space at the corner of Liberty and Race streets is meant to evoke the vibe of a dive bar and offers a menu of Middle Eastern street food. The bar features 15 beers on tap and about 10 different cocktails ranging from a tequila old fashioned and a Hurricane to a Cinnaboninspired drink and their take on a Harvey Wallbanger. 1536 Race

St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ holidayspiritsbar.

HOMEMAKERS BAR

Inspired by a retro vibe and the domestic cocktails of the 1950s through the 1970s, HomeMakers

JAPP’S SINCE 1879

Craft cocktails inspired by classic recipes from the 1700s to 1950s. Drinks are made with fresh ingredients — homemade syrups, real fruit, liquor from craft distillers — in a historic environment. Named one of Esquire’s 18 best bars in America; the mag recommends “A Cool Jules, a gin-and-port stunner.

(Unless it’s Tiki night).” 1136 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/japps1879.

THE LACKMAN

Located in a turn-of-thecentury building built by brewer Herman Lackman, it serves 14 beers on tap and more than 30 bottles and cans (microbrews, imports and domestics) in a cozy environment. Try the barrel-aged Negroni, with Plymouth gin, Carpano Antica and Campari. 1237 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, lackmanbar.com.

LONGFELLOW

The OTR version of a dive bar, the menu showcases the life of the owner, Mike Stankovich. Stankovich has a Southern and Italian background — he grew up eating cornbread and rolling out homemade ravioli. Combine that with his experience traveling through Europe and Japan and his stint in New York bartending, and you have Longfellow’s menu. The cool cocktails include selections like the Spruce Goose, with barrelaged gin, honey, lime, bitters and tonic. A fun pay-it-forward menu allows you to buy drinks for friends, strangers and crushes. 1233 Clay St, Over-the-Rhine, longfellowbar.com.

LOST & FOUND

A funky, community-driven gathering space with an inventive drink

menu and small bites inside of a creative, art-filled environment.

The bar was formerly a four-to-five car garage and almost everything you see throughout the bar was made by local artists, ranging from massive murals to obscure ceramics and upholstery. Expect an unconventional cocktail menu featuring fresh-from-the-garden ingredients and a menu of light bites. 22 E. 14th St., Over-the-Rhine, lostandfoundotr.com.

LOW SPARK

4EG’s Low Spark offers a chill atmosphere at its square-shaped, theater-in-the-round bar, featuring an aquarium in the center and a slew of comfy button-tufted orange leather bowling-alley-ish

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

chairs. They have everything from $3 Bud to local beers on draft and a fine cocktail list. 15 W. 14th St.,

Over-the-Rhine, lowsparkbar.com.

MECCA OTR

This hip hideaway is a welcoming hangout for those interested in L.A. vibes, vinyl tunes and free popcorn.

Find the main courtyard entrance tucked away down 15th Street, and cross the big-ass gravel patio, past colorful street-art murals, a panoply of rainbow lighting and a plethora of communal seating to enter a world of hanging plants and the most creatively decorated — dare we say selfie-ready — bar bathrooms in the city. Dogs are welcome. 1429 Walnut St., Over-the-

Rhine, facebook.com/meccaotr.

MIXWELLS NORTHSIDE

Warning: Townies and tourists alike have been known to bust a move and seriously enjoy themselves at this establishment. Nestled in Northside’s eclectic assortment of dive bars and record stores sits Mixwells. It’s a neon-lit discotheque with rotating DJs and a let-loose, college-basement-party vibe where people be getting wasted, taking selfies in a makeshift photo booth and sweating it out to ’80s tunes. Check the schedule for themed dance nights, which range from Studio 54 to Darkotica Goth. 3935 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/mixwellsBar.

NATION KITCHEN AND BAR The name is a nod to Carrie Nation, the Temperance warrior

who destroyed many a saloon window with a hatchet. She was so overwhelmed by the sheer number of Cincinnati bars in the early 1900s, she turned around and left, destroying not a one. Nation pays tribute to the city’s rich social and alcoholic heritage with a burger menu, bottomless brunch and signature cocktails. 1200 Broadway St.,

Pendleton, nationkitchenandbar.com.

OVERLOOK LODGE

A bar inspired by Stephen King’s The Shining, Overlook Lodge brings a bit of movie magic to life with its giant Overlook Hotel-inspired fireplace and eerie backlit bar.

Combine the themed atmosphere and cocktails with live music on the weekends (and housemade trail mix), and this Pleasant Ridge

locale guarantees some muchneeded play after a hard day’s work. 6083 Montgomery Road,

Pleasant Ridge, thatshiningbar.com.

ODDFELLOWS LIQUOR BAR Columbus-based watering hole Oddfellows Liquor Bar is an eccentrically-themed place to hang out and drink. Attached to its sister operation, Mikey’s Late Night Slice on Elm Street, it’s almost too convenient that the bar is located next door to everyone’s favorite drunken food craving — only a fool would pass on the opportunity to follow liquor with pizza. Oddfellows features 16 beers on tap and a seasonal cocktail menu. 2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine,

oddfellowsliquorbar.com.

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NIGHTLIFE

OTHER ROOM

While bourbon is king — especially around these parts — and has undoubtedly reigned over the past decade, rum is the next rumored rising spirit. Rum distillers are making a resurgence and bartenders are finding innovative ways to revive the spirit. Overthe-Rhine’s Longfellow has even opened an attached Other Room, a separate back bar that has 107 fluctuating rums — argued to be the largest rum collection in Ohio. With the vibe of a 1950s basement bar “where Desi Arnaz would perform but was managed

by David Lynch,” the rum curators and bartenders are more than happy to help you find a favorite new spirit from their global collection. For something sweet and savory, try the Dr. Jones, a mix of Appleton Estate rum, pineapple juice, almond syrup and soy sauce.

109 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, longfellowbar.com/other-room.

RICH’S PROPER FOOD & DRINK

Rich’s Proper Food & Drink operates out of the more than 100-year-old building formerly occupied by Rich’s Gruen Watches, a high-end jewelry store. Owner/ operator of the eatery, Bill Whitlow, spent considerable time and effort

restoring the building, helping to expose its history. The bar’s menu includes wine, beer and cocktails (the Proper Mule is jumbo-sized and hypothetically shareable), with a special emphasis on bourbon.

The kitchen provides Southern fare with Creole and Kentucky influences, including raw oysters.

QUEEN CITY RADIO

SOCIAL OTR

St., Over-the-Rhine, qcrbar.com.

701 Madison Ave., Covington, richsproper.com.

Social OTR features an ambitious New American menu and two spaces: a front dining room and a cozy back bar with an entrance from the alley. The menu includes about eight “Snacks,” 10 to 11 “Small Plates” and just two “Large Plates,” with a drink list that’s almost longer than the food offerings. Whether you prefer tequila, rye, gin or any other spirit, the house cocktails have you covered. The nonprofit restaurant also aims to fill a multitude of societal and business needs in the community through its workforce development program. 1819 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, socialotr.com.

TREEHOUSE PATIO BAR

Live entertainment, local brews, and custom-made wooden swings can be found at this patio bar.

1133 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/treehousepatio.

This former auto body shop turned multi-level OTR hang features rotating taps of local, regional and national beer, canned and bottled brews, a small cocktail program and adult-themed treats including boozy slushies. Garage doors create indoor/outdoor space and the patio boasts not only a ton of seating, but also the on-site Queen City Whip food truck. 222 W. 12th

ROSEDALE OTR

When Neons closed in 2016, people were devastated to lose “OTR’s backyard.” Then, 4EG — the entertainment group behind Lackman, Mount Adams Pavilion, Igby’s and more — announced they’d be taking over the space.

After some upscale renovations, they reopened as Rosedale in January 2018. It’s a little more classed up than comfy-old Neons but has retained the former’s focus on craft cocktails and the giant, dog-friendly patio. Sip discount drinks from the monthly $3 menu then grab some grub and support your community at the MORTAR Mess Hall, where food entrepreneurs hone their skills in a professional setting. 208 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, rosedaleotr.com.

THE PORCH AT WASHINGTON PARK

The Porch at Washington Park just got an upgrade: a brandnew permanent roof, bartop and additional seating. Add public party games to the selection of local beer from breweries like Taft’s Ale House, Rhinegeist, Fifty West and Christian Moerlein and you’ve got a space for happy-hourgoers, families and competitive gamers alike. The Washington Park dog park is within spitting distance of the porch. Owners can bring their drinks inside the doggie play paradise, and dog-less humans can watch pups from the porch — or get right in the mix and pet stranger’s dogs while sipping rosé. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.

SUNDRY AND VICE

Sundry and Vice creates curative cocktails in apothecary-inspired environs: amber glass medicine bottles, vintage pharmacy signs and wallpaper made of old prescriptions (even some for cocaine) set the mood as beaproned bartenders meticulously craft libations full of texture, color and flavor. And though they may not be backed by “science,” the elixirs are the perfect remedy for a sour mood. Or just sling back an Old Fashioned on draft (quicker than those drinks shaken and strained by hand). 18 W. 13th St.,

Over-the-Rhine, sundryandvice.com.

Th e Vi d e o A rc h i ve

TOKYO KITTY

The neon-lit and uber kawaii Japanese karaoke bar plays off of Lost in Translation by offering seven themed private karaoke rental rooms — with high-tech in-room robot drink delivery via Bbot — a karaoke mainstage, a dance floor and Tiki-style cocktails.

Private karaoke rooms go for between $20 and $50 an hour and singers can choose from around 500 popular party hits.

It’s a futuristic fantasy land full of “happy fun song time” and shelves of pink wigs. 575 Race St.,

Downtown, thattokyobar.com.

THE VESTRY AT THE TRANSEPT

The Transept was built in 1867 and was once the home of St. John Unitarian Church, the first German-American congregation in Cincinnati. Today, it’s a multiroom event center. The in-house bar, called Vestry, manages to feel intimate inside the capacious setting. The bar offers 11 beers on tap, mostly local and regional, wine and five signature cocktails. 1205 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, vestryotr.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 68

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

THE VIEW AT SHIRES’ GARDEN

The View at Shires’ Garden is located on the 10th floor of the City Club Apartments. The 6,000-square-foot rooftop spot features an indoor dining room, an outdoor patio, two full bars, outdoor small and group dining and cocktail tables with impeccable views. The décor mixes modern furnishings with the style of the original Shires’ Garden — a historic Queen City amusement resort of sorts in this same spot at Vine and Third streets. 309 Vine St., Downtown, theviewatshiresgarden.com.

THE VIDEO ARCHIVE

Named in honor of the video rental store where director Quentin Tarantino once worked, The Video Archive is a video store that doubles as a speakeasy, like a Blockbuster with a back-alley bar.

Upon entering, you’d think you’ve arrived at an indie flick shop, until you discover the secret door — opened by selecting a specific VHS movie from the shelves — that leads you to the booze room full of rotating Tarantino-themed drinks with hip ingredients like mezcal, Aperol, green tea syrup, Yellow Chartreuse and sparkling sake. 965

E. McMillan, Walnut Hills, facebook. com/videoarchivecincinnati.

WODKA BAR

Sarah Dworak of Babushka Pierogies opened Wodka Bar on Main Street, attached to her popular pierogi lunch and late-night walk-up window.

Dedicated to the patron spirit of Eastern Europe, the bar carries an ambitious selection of vodkas, stocking upward of 60 types including many Russian, Polish and Ukrainian brands that are lesser known in the United States, plus house-infused options with Russian Caravan black tea, caraway seeds, pine needles, rosemary, berries and citrus zest.

European wines and a single draft beer — O.K. Beer, a Premium Lager from Brzesko, Poland’s Okocim Brewery — round out the drinks.

You can chase your shots with bites of caviar, pickled fish and vegetables, smoked meats, cheese and butter on dense, dark rye bread. 1200 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine, wodkabarotr.com.

YONDER

Inspired by owners Chris and Tess Burns’ love of Kentucky State Parks, this bar concept by the folks behind Covington’s Commonwealth Bistro features a chic treehouse-esque rooftop bar with a small rotating menu

and craft cocktails. The bar menu features a variety of both alcoholic and spirit-free cocktails. The breezy, plant-filled bar holds approximately 30 guests and features cozy, communal bench seating, hanging rattan chairs and five seats along the bar. 621 Main

St., Second Floor, Covington, Ky., commonwealthbistro.com/yonder.

ARCADE/GAME BARS 16-BIT BAR+ARCADE

The nostalgia is strong and the drinks are plenty at 16-Bit. Guzzle ’80s-themed and candy-adorned drinks with names like the Carrie Fisher (coconut rum, blueberry vodka, blue curacao, fruit juice and rock candy) while playing more than 50 different classic arcade games and pinball. The bar also offers a variety of mocktails alongside their other fun and boozy beverages; find them on the menu under “No Booze? No Problem!”

If you buy a drink (whatever the ABV), you play for free. Things go all-ages for a portion of Sunday.

1331 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, 16-bitbar.com/cincy.

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ARCADE LEGACY: BAR EDITION

Retro arcade games plus alcohol and hot dogs (even vegetarian ones). Monday Night Fights are for serious players, and there’s a high-score board for some local fame. Some arcade bars are for drinking and gaming; Arcade Legacy is for gaming and drinking.

3929 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, arcadelegacyohio.com/bar-edition.

QUEEN CITY EXCHANGE

Queen City Exchange is Cincinnati’s first and only stock exchangethemed bar, featuring 40-something beers on tap with prices that rise and fall depending on demand. Costs fluctuate between $3.50 to $9 — check the board for up-to-date numbers. When the market crashes, it’s time to buy, buy, buy and chug, chug, chug. For more gaming, visit during Boozy Bingo or Trivia Tuesday. 32 W. Court

St., Downtown, queencityexchange.com.

PINS MECHANICAL COMPANY

This multi-level bar has almost two dozen pinball machines and 10 duckpin bowling lanes, plus other “old school” entertainment options like foosball, ping pong, bocce ball and shuffle board. The rooftop patio has fire pits, its own bar and giant yard games. 1124

Rhinegeist.com

1910 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Main St., Over-the-Rhine, pinsbar.com/cincy.

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3525 N. Ohio 48, Lebanon, OH 45036 adult Education: 513-932-8145 high school: 513-932-5677 MyWCCC.org

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BEACH BARS CABANA ON THE RIVER

This seasonal tropical watering hole has a famous Long Island iced tea (with sour pink lemonade) and plenty of seafood, plus sand volleyball courts. 7445 Forbes Road,

Delhi, cabanaontheriver.com.

PIRATE’S COVE TROPICAL BAR & GRILL

Located in the Four Seasons Marina, this bar and grill offers seafood, island entertainment and tropical drink specials, rain or shine. 4609 Kellogg Ave., California,

piratescovecincy.com.

RIVERSIDE MARINA

A floating bar and grill with a full bar, food and live music on the weekends. Enjoy sunshine, a river view and a daiquiri on their tropical patio. 145 Mary Ingles Highway,

Dayton, Ky., riversidemarinaky.com.

THE SANDBAR

It’s a day at the beach with seven volleyball courts, a cabana bar, grassy cornhole playing area and a view of the river. 4855 Kellogg Ave.,

California, thesandbarcincinnati.com.

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FINDLAY MARKET BIERGARTEN

Summertime means extended hours at this seasonal Overthe-Rhine drinking destination.

Grab a bite, sit on the iconic red Findlay Market chairs and sip on something cold while the sun goes One Color Logo - Amber down. On Tuesdays, it’s Mug Club PMS 7413C night: get $1 off all drafts (with an additional $1 off during happy hour from 4-6 p.m.). 1801 Race St., Overthe-Rhine, findlaymarket.org.

HOFBRÄUHAUS

Opened in 2003, the Newport Hofbräuhaus was the first Hofbräuhaus to open in the United States. Beers are brewed on-site in the original Munich tradition (under the license and supervision of Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in Munchen), with a keg tapping of seasonal brews the final Wednesday of each month. Buy a liter of beer and keep the stein for $12. 200 E. Third St., Newport, Ky.,

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Route 128, Cleves, bierhauswest.net.

MECKLENBURG GARDENS

It’s Oktoberfest all year long here. Wash down your triplegoettawurst and spaetzle with a 1-liter glass boot of doppelbock or hefeweizen in the grape vine-laden outdoor biergarten. Wednesday night, the garden offers quarter flip specials: The bartender flips a coin and you call heads or tails while it’s in the air. If you guess right, you pay 25 cents for a half-liter beer.

302 E. University Ave., Corryville, mecklenburgs.com.

WUNDERBAR

Rhineland ambiance with wooden picnic tables and German signage and a beer garden out back. Food options include giant pretzels, sauerkraut, sausage and doner kabobs, one of Germany’s favorite street-food dishes. The beer menu features staples such as Franziskaner and Warsteiner. 1132

Lee St., Covington, Ky., facebook.com/ wunderbar.covington.3.

hofbrauhausnewport.com.

BOUR BON BARS

KREIMER’S BIER HAUS

BOURBON HAUS 1841

Located in the backyard of Kreimer’s Bier Haus, this Bavarian biergarten on the Great Miami River has three decks, fire pits and a ton of Black Forest-inspired wood features, from picnic seating to a whimsical cuckoo-clock72

looking German grill house, which serves snacks like sauerkraut balls, pretzel bread, bier cheese and plenty of meaty metts. 6052 State

With an impressive selection of over 150 bottles, you’ll be overwhelmed by your options in the very best way. Whether you’re partial to an Old Fashioned or keen to try new things, the Haus has a list of bourbon-backed libations

NIGHTLIFE

by offering daytime coworking hours, similar to how people treat coffee shops as their remote work site. As early as 9 a.m. during the week, you can shuffle in, get a pint of their Easy Ale cream ale, or an Urbana Cafe drip coffee if the only buzz you need is a caffeine one, and do your work in the chillest of settings. The taproom is spacious and very open (with free WiFi), so you can stretch your legs before the happy hour hustle is in full swing. 331 E. 13th St., Pendleton,

3pointsbeer.com.

BAD TOM SMITH BREWING Craft brewers with a focus on quality, taste and originality. The renovated taproom features a new bar and barstools, a big TV and the same old record player for spinning vinyl. #badassinaglass.

4720 Eastern Ave., East End, badtomsmithbrewing.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

for you to sip on while you decide which crafted flight is going to take you on a trip into Kentucky’s liquid history. 522 Main St., Covington, Ky., bourbonhaus1841.com.

THE GLOBE

Northern Kentucky’s “strip club” scene’s loss was the area’s classy cocktail lounge scene’s gain with the opening of Covington’s The Globe. The former Club Venus sign is still outside, but little else remains from the structure’s days as a non-nude strip joint. The slick modern bar serves high-end cocktails inspired by Prohibitionera classics, as well as regional craft beers and spirits. The bar is also on The B-Line, a collection of bourbon-minded Northern Kentucky establishments that has its own passport. 12 E. Fifth St.,

Covington, Ky., theglobecov.com.

HORSE & BARREL

If taking the edge off with a glass of bourbon sounds nice, then this bar is for you. They have a wide variety of whiskey and bourbon to choose from — more than 106 types — and a tasteful but low-key atmosphere.

The Tavern Restaurant Group, who owns the establishment, hand-selects barrels from distilleries including Buffalo Trace and Maker’s Mark to share with patrons. 625 Walnut St., Downtown, horseandbarrel.com.

IGBY’S

Multi-leveled with a large atrium, crackling fireplace and two out-

door patios, their craft cocktail menu was developed by mixologist Brian Van Flandern, with a whiskey and scotch selection divided into Kentucky bourbons; ryes; Irish, Canadian and American whiskey; Scotch; and cognac. 122 E. Sixth St.,

Downtown, igbysbar.com.

THE LITTLEFIELD

A neighborhood bar and bistro specializing in bourbon and regional craft beer. Clever cocktails mix sweet and savory flavors and the kitchen puts out excellent seasonal plates and heavenly desserts.

3934 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, littlefieldns.com.

OLD KENTUCKY BOURBON BAR

This shotgun-style wood-lined watering hole houses a mind-boggling bourbon selection — more than 300 bottles on floor-to-ceiling shelves — served in snifters by a well-educated, passionate staff.

Try a curated flight or an expertly crafted classic whiskey cocktail, like a Kentucky mule, boulevardier or horse’s neck. 629 Main St., Covington, Ky., oldkybourbonbar.com.

PROHIBITION BOURBON BAR

Named one of the best bourbon bars in the country by The Bourbon Review, Prohibition Bourbon Bar started as Newberry Bros. coffee and pastry shop before morphing into a speakeasy with one of the largest collections of bourbon and whisky in the world — the bar has

more than 2,000 bottles, including Scotch, Irish, Tennessee and Japanese brands, plus more than 50 wines by the glass. Like any good speakeasy, access is limited: Owners Peter and Kim Newberry only open their watering hole Friday and Saturday nights. 530

Washington Ave., Newport, Ky., newberrybroscoffee.com.

WISEGUY LOUNGE

This speakeasy above Goodfellas Pizzeria offers more than 250 different bourbons — including hand-picked single barrels — craft cocktails and rotating craft beers on draft, with a bourbon connoisseurs club for serious imbibers.

603 Main St., Covington, Ky.; 1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, goodfellaspizzeria.com.

BR EWER IES/ TAPROOMS 13 BELOW

Named in honor of its location — 13 nautical miles from downtown Cincinnati — this craft brewery welcomes adults, kids and pets.

Beers include options like the Submerged Witbier, Fernbank Czech Lager (named after a nearby park) and the 1516 Dunkel. 7391 Forbes Road, Addison, 13belowbrewery.com.

3 POINTS URBAN BREWERY

It’s typically not too difficult to relax once you sit down with a pint in any brewery, but 3 Points Urban Brewery really upped the game

BRAXTON BREWING CO.

Arguably one of the best reasons for Cincinnati beer drinkers to cross the Roebling Bridge into Covington, Braxton has made quite an impression on the local brewing scene. Braxton celebrated its fourth anniversary by opening a 5,000-square-foot rooftop patio.

The “taproom of the future,” this is a space for innovation, with tech charging stations, projectors and white-board walls to accommodate the local creative and startup community. The taproom opens early Tuesday through Friday as a workspace, serving local coffee and cold brew. 27 W. Seventh St., Covington, Ky., braxtonbrewing.com.

BRAXTON BARREL HOUSE

The Braxton Barrel House in Fort Mitchell has taken over the former Remke Market building on Dixie Highway and features a 20-tap taproom and a 2,000-squarefoot patio on the former loading dock, plus 20,000 square feet of storage for housing bourbon barrels and other assorted barrels to age beers. The Braxton Private Barrel program allows companies or groups of friends to create and follow their own barrel-aged beer from creation to packaging, resulting in a barrel of one-of-akind brew. 5 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell, Ky., braxtonbrewing.com .

BRAXTON LABS

Braxton Labs features 40 taps dedicated to the brewery’s most innovative offerings, as well as brews from across the U.S. and around the world. It’s a destination for curious craft beer drinkers and offers something for everyone, including an outdoor beer garden with giant Connect Four. 95 Riviera Drive, Bellevue, Ky., braxtonbrewing.com.

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NIGHTLIFE

BRINK BREWING COMPANY

College Hill’s Brink Brewing is a neighborhood gathering space loaded with interactive features including a 20-seater community table, reclaimed-wood bar and a gigantic Scrabble board that’s very popular with patrons after a few pints from the brewery’s wide-reaching tap list. Head to the bathroom to see more than three decades’ worth of collected beer labels. 5905 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, brinkbrewing.com.

CELLAR DWELLER

Craft beers produced in a vineyard.

The tasting room is open daily, offering pints of pale ales, stouts and wheats, as well as pizza and cheese plates. 2276 E. U.S. 22 and OH-3,

Morrow, valleyvineyards.com.

CHRISTIAN MOERLEIN MALT HOUSE TAPROOM

Enjoy a rich piece of Cincinnati’s brewing heritage at the Christian Moerlein craft brewery, taproom and tour center. Take a free tour of the production brewery and go inside the historic underground malt house from before Prohibition. Grab a beer from a prostmeister and a brat from Wienerwurst Mike’s Frankfurtary, serving up

sausages, Bavarian pretzels and stuffed sandwiches. 1621 Moore St.,

Over-the-Rhine, christianmoerlein.com.

CINCY BREWING CO.

Filling a spot formerly long held

by Rivertown Brewing Company (since relocated to Monroe), Cincy Brewing Co. is a place where locals can congregate, enjoy a casual atmosphere and drink a pint or three.

Beers feature locally inspired names, like the St. Clair Saison and the Lincoln Heights IPA, and the taproom has cornhole, giant Jenga, board games and even a board on the wall for magnetic poetry. 607 Shepherd Drive, Lockland,

cincybrewingco.com.

DARKNESS BREWING

The microbrewery focuses on the dark and unusual — stouts, porters and browns with ingredients like coco nibs, lactose, coffee and roasted peppers. 224 Fairfield Ave.,

Bellevue, Ky., darknessbrewing.beer.

DEAD LOW BREWING

Within walking distance of Coney Island and Riverbend Music Center, this brewery features a taproom, beer garden and kitchen.

Dead Low serves beer, cider and seltzer brewed on-site, as well as a from-scratch food menu. Many

dishes utilize Dead Low brews, like the beer-battered haddock sandwich and the beer cheesecake.

5959 Kellogg Ave., California, deadlowbrewing.com.

DOGBERRY BREWING

An ever-expanding nanobrewery helmed by two former scientists and passionate homebrewers. The taproom and brewhouse serves up craft beer and plays host to local food trucks, complete with picnic tables, couches and skee-ball.

9964 Crescent Park Drive, West Chester, dogberrybrewing.com.

FIBONACCI BREWING

A nanobrewery with a focus on science, math and nature and brewing non-traditional and hybrid beer styles. Their Foundational Series is offered year-round with numerous seasonal and rotating brews, available to sample in the taproom or in growlers to go. Fibonacci also makes wine, with varieties on tap and in bottles. 1445 Compton Road,

Mount Healthy, fibbrew.com.

orange VW bus, Penny, parked out front. Across the street, the expanded Fifty West Pro Works is home to additional fermenters to produce thousands more barrels of Fifty West beer each year, and an event space that can be rented out for larger parties. Pro Works also includes sand volleyball courts and is a hub for Fifty West’s canoe and kayak rentals. (Fifty West also has its own cyclery and bike rental just down the street off the Little Miami Scenic Trail.) 7668 Wooster Pike and

7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, fiftywestbrew.com.

FIGLEAF BREWING CO.

Thousands of years ago, the Buddha achieved Nirvana under the Bodhi Tree, a large and sacred fig.

But FigLeaf Brewing Co. seeks a different kind of enlightenment: one in the world of craft beer. To the brewery’s founders, the fig leaf is a symbol of learning and improvement. The brewery was recently acquired by March First and will undergo some taproom expansions. 3387 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Middletown, figleafbrewing.com.

FIFTY WEST BREWING COMPANY

Located in a historic home, this craft brewery and taproom doubles as a restaurant with a focus on beer pairings. Find their signature

Da rk n e ss B rewi n g

FRETBOARD BREWING CO.

Bradley Plank, Jim Klosterman and Joe Sierra, the trio behind Blue Ash-based Fretboard Brewing Company, seek the perfect marriage of their two passions — music and beer — by providing creation spaces for local musicians to rattle off riffs while grabbing brews at the taproom. What could have simply been a traditional German-bier-inspired brewery was electrified into an incredibly active live music venue with a pro grade sound system. Fretboard’s main stage hosts live performances nearly every night, putting an emphasis on the sort of rootsy Blues tunes and Americana that are nearly synonymous with microbrewed beverages. 5800 Creek Road, Blue

Ash, fretboardbrewing.com.

THE GROWLER HOUSE

It’s not exactly a brewery, but it’s pretty darn close. The bar features 30 taps of local, regional and national beers — from favorites to hard-to-find rarities — for you to imbibe on-site while watching sports on several of their TVs or take home in one of the bar’s 32or 64-ounce growlers. Taps rotate daily. Sample new brews via a pint or 5-ounce “Benchers,” or create your own flight. 1526 Madison Road,

East Walnut Hills, thegrowlerhouse.com.

HIGHGRAIN BREWING CO. PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 74

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Located in the former Silverton Memorial Municipal Building, HighGrain Brewing features “old-

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

world styles with a modern twist,” like their Switch oatmeal stout with chocolate, coffee and nuts, and the Monarch IPA, with Citra and Idaho Gem hops. The food menu from their in-house chef includes options for vegetarians, meateaters and kids. With a focus on sustainability, the brewery is also 100-percent powered by wind, and at least one beer is carbon neutral.

6860 Plainfield Road, Silverton, highgrainbrewing.com.

HUMBLE MONK BREWING CO.

Specializing in Belgian-style beers, the Northside taproom — connected to the Bertke Electrical Services & Testing building — pours a mix of traditional Old World recipes with a healthy dose of experimentation.

1641 Blue Rock St., Northside, humblemonkbrewing.com.

LISTERMANN BREWING COMPANY

Handcrafted ales, a growler station and contagious enthusiasm for home brewing characterize this owner-operated brewing company. Also offers frequent brewing classes, home-brewing supplies and wine-making ingredients and equipment. The in-house Renegade Grille makes awesome wings. 1621 Dana Ave., Norwood, listermannbrewing.com.

LITTLE MIAMI BREWING COMPANY

Milford’s Little Miami Brewing Company sits on the banks of its namesake river, pouring 11 beers alongside a selection of brick-oven pizzas. The small-batch brewery offers a range of taps, from classics to experimentals and seasonals made with real fruit, like their Blackbird Fly American. 208 Mill St., Milford, littlemiamibrewing.com.

LOCOBA BY PLATFORM

The Cleveland-based Platform Beer Co.’s bar and coffee concept on Main Street serves brews, beans and bites. As the first Platform location not styled as a brewery, Locoba (which stands for “local coffee barrels”) serves Brown Bear pastries and café-style foods, Platform brews on tap and in cans and cocktails. It also features a fullservice coffee and espresso bar with Ohio-roasted beans.

1201 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/locobaplatform.

MADTREE BREWING CO.

MadTree’s big taproom features a giant indoor and outdoor space. The main attraction is the big-ass beer garden, with 32 MadTree-exclusive

taps, ambient lighting and an industrial brick façade leftover from the building’s factory days, where there’s more than enough space to accommodate all the beer-drinking, cornhole-playing, dog-loving humans that hang at brewery on the regular. 3301 Madison Road, Oakley,

B A RS As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

madtreebrewing.com.

MARCH FIRST BREWING

With a taproom that opens directly to the brewery, guests get a frontrow seat to the brewery’s daily operations. Brewers are always ready to interact and answer questions.

Though March First thrives on classic brews, like the popular craft lager or Denali IPA, it still finds room for experimentation in its taps. The Dry Limed Cider offers something different. 7885 E. Kemper Road, Blue Ash, marchfirstbrewing.com.

Below Zero Lounge

Sundry and Vice

Queen City Exchange

16-Bit Bar+Arcade

MASH CULT

Jon Wells and Tony Harrell are the brewmasters behind experimental nanobrewery Mash Cult. The duo brews small-batch weird beers like Ramathorn, a smoked maple syrup coffee stout; an unfiltered and raw mango gose; and a Mic Drop double IPA. Located inside Party

The Birdcage

Higher Gravity

Town. 6823 Burlington Pike, Florence, Ky., facebook.com/mashcultbrewing.

Northside Yacht Club MT. CARMEL BREWING COMPANY

Founders Mike and Kathleen Dewey started brewing out of the 1920s farmhouse storm cellar in 2005. The oldest craft microbrewery in the area, they now produce 900 gallons of exceptional craft beer a year. 4362 Mount Carmel-

Arnold’s Bar & Grill

Queen City Radio

Tobasco Road, Mount Carmel, mtcarmelbrewingcompany.com.

MOTR Pub

MUNICIPAL BREW WORKS

You’ll enter Municipal Brew Works through the garage door of a municipal building in Hamilton.

Bring your friends, your dog or your whole family; this brewery has a place for everyone. It also has a brew for everyone. Play some cornhole or hang on the patio with your favorite food trucks. 20 High St.,

Hamilton, municipalbrewworks.com.

NARROW PATH BREWING CO.

Located in downtown Loveland, Narrow Path is beer garden meets bike trail. Bike or skate down the Loveland Bike Trail to have a seat at picnic tables in the yard. It’s a location that fosters a sense of community. The brewery also takes pride in supporting nonprofits — it wants to make the world a better place; a portion of sales are shared with charities. 106 Karl Brown Way, Loveland, narrowpathbrewing.com.

NINE GIANT BREWING

A brewery and snackery in the heart of Pleasant Ridge, Nine Giant is the stuff of legends. There are no flagship beers at Nine Giant — its 10 taps are subject to endless experimentation. You’ll find that general styles remain, but each batch offers an opportunity to swap out flavors and ingredients.

6095 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, ninegiant.com.

NORTHERN ROW BREWERY & DISTILLERY

Housed in a former 1895 Christian Moerlein icehouse and storage

space, Northern Row pays homage to its historic roots by preserving as much of the original building as possible and decorating with other repurposed Cincinnati pieces that may have otherwise been forgotten or lost to time, including lights from Cincinnati Gardens and steel table legs from an old light-gauge rail system. As a distillery and brewery, Northern Row features beer and a variety of wine and spirits. From grain to glass, they mash, ferment and distill special variations of rums, gins and bourbons using traditional pre-Prohibition mash builds and recipes. 111 W.

McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine, northernrow.com.

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11 Ro of to p Ba rs Fo r d r i n k s w i t h a v i e w

3. The Blind Pig

Th i s f r i e n d l y d owntown p u b h a s a s h a d e d ro of to p p at i o — o n to p of Lo l a ’s c of fe e s h o p — t h at s e r ve s a f u l l m e n u of b a r fo o d a n d d a i l y d r i n k s p e c i a l s . I t ’s a p e r fe c t s to p fo r a Re d s p re ga m e p a r t y wi t h v i ews of t h e st a d i u m .

Tr y w h ateve r i s o n s p e c i a l t h at d ay. O n Tu e s d ays , i t s $ 3 F i re b a l l a n d Tu l l a m o re D ew s h ot s . . . a n d k a ra o ke. 2 4 W. T h i rd S t . , D ow n tow n , b l i n d p i g c i n cy.c o m .

4 . B ra x to n B rew i n g C o.

04 1 . C o c k t a i l Te r ra c e a t t h e 21 c M u s e u m H ote l

Ta ke a h i d d e n a l l ey- s i d e s e r v i c e e l evato r u p to t h e 11 t h f l o o r of t h e 21 c M u s e u m H ote l to d i s c ove r t h e C o c k t a i l Te r ra c e, a h i p 7 5 - s e at o a s i s wi t h c u s hy p at i o f u r n i tu re a n d g l a ss p a r t i t i o n s fo r f u l l v i ews of d owntown ’s g l owi n g n i g ht t i m e c i t ys c a p e. A l o n g wi t h c l eve r c o c k t a i l s , t h e te r ra c e i s k n own fo r i t s b o ozy s l u s h i e s a n d p o p -t a i l s , a k a c o c k t a i l s wi t h a s u b m e rge d f l avo re d i c e p o p. 6 0 9 Wa l n u t S t . , D ow ntow n ,

2 . AC U p p e r D e c k

O n to p of t h e AC H ote l at Th e B a n ks , t h e U p p e r D e c k b o a s t s exc e l l e nt v i ews of t h e r i ve r f ro nt a n d G re at A m e r i c a n B a l l Pa r k .

Lo u n ge u n d e r s t r i n g l i g ht s w h i l e d r i n k i n g a l o c a l b e e r a n d go rg i n g o n b a s e b a l l -t h e m e d e at s l i ke G ra n d S l a m N a c h o s o r H o m e Ru n H u m m u s . 1 3 5 J o e N u x h a l l Way,

D ow n tow n , a c u p p e rd e c k .c o m .

A rg u a b l y o n e of t h e b e st re a s o n s fo r C i n c i n n at i b e e r d r i n ke rs to c ro s s t h e Ro e b l i n g B r i d ge, B ra x to n h a s m a d e q u i te a n i m p re s s i o n o n t h e l o c a l b rewi n g s c e n e. B ra x to n c e l e b rate d i t s fo u r t h a n n i ve rs a r y i n 2 0 1 9 by o p e n i n g a 5 , 0 0 0 - s q u a re -fo ot ro of to p p at i o wi t h i t s own b a r, l i v i n g p l a nt wa l l s a n d p l e nt y of s h a d e d s e at i n g . Ro ote d i n t h e et h o s a n d i n n ovat i o n fo rge d i n a M i dwe s te r n ga ra ge, fo u n d e r Eva n Ro u s e s t a r te d h o m e b rewi n g w h e n h e wa s j u s t 16 — b efo re h e c o u l d eve n t a s te h i s c re at i o n s .

2 7 W. S eve n t h S t . , C ov i n g to n , Ky. , b r a x to n b rew i n g.c o m .

5. Gaslight Bar & Grill

Th e G a s l i g ht B a r & G r i l l i s l o c ate d i n t h e o l d C l i f to n b ra n c h of t h e p u b l i c l i b ra r y. I t s e r ve s l u n c h a n d d i n n e r s i x d ays a we e k a n d i n c l u d e s a n ex p a n s i ve b a r wi t h a d oze n s e at s . To get a b i rd s- eye v i ew of t h e b o h e m i a n n e i g h b o r h o o d ’s b u s t l i n g Lu d l ow Ave n u e a c t i o n , h e a d u p s t a i rs to C l i f to n ’s f i rst ro of to p p at i o. 3 5 1 Lu d l ow Ave . , C l i f to n , g a s l i g h t b a r a n d g r i l l c l i f to n .c o m .

2 1 c m u se u m h ote l s .c o m /c i n c i n n at i .

P H OTO S BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R 76

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

8. Rhinegeist

S o m e o u t- of-town e rs m i g ht n ot eve n k n ow t h e re i s a C i n c i n n at i o u t s i d e of R h i n e ge i s t . Th i s b rewe r y h a s t a ke n ove r t h e l o c a l b e e r s c e n e i n re c e nt ye a rs t h a n ks to t h e i r p h e n o m e n a l b ra n d i n g a n d c o n s i s te nt l y s o l i d b e e rs . Th e 2 5 , 0 0 0 - s q u a re -fo ot wa re h o u s e tu c ke d away o n t h e n o r t h e n d of E l m S t re et i s a n a d u l t p l ayg ro u n d , h o m e to b o oz y a l c h e my a n d b i g h o u s e p a r t i e s . H e a d u p s t a i rs to t h e we at h e r- d e p e n d e nt g i a nt p at i o. Th i s ve r y c h i l l ro of to p d e c k fe atu re s a m p l e s e at i n g a n d a b a r wi t h d raf t b e e rs a n d c i d e rs , p l u s a s e l e c t i o n of wi n e a n d d raf t c o c k t a i l s . I f yo u get h u n g r y, t r y a b u rge r f ro m d own s t a i rs S a r t re, d e l i ve re d v i a p n e u m at i c tu b e. 1 9 1 0 E l m S t . , Ove r-t h e - R h i n e ,

r h i n e g e i st .c o m .

9 . To p of t h e Pa r k at The Phelps

07

6 . L i ss e

At t h i s D u tc h - i n s p i re d s te a k h u i s , yo u c a n st a r t wi t h s m o ke d w h i tef i s h p âté o r b i t te r b a l l e n , a m i x tu re of g ro u n d r i b eye, ro l l e d i n p a n ko b re a d c ru m b s a n d t h e n d e e p f r i e d . Fo r d i n n e r, m ove to t h e c o a s t wi t h Fa ro e I s l a n d s a l m o n , o r t h e fa r m , wi t h a D u tc h f i l et . Fo r d e s s e r t , h e a d to t h e t h i rd -f l o o r Ro of to p Lo u n ge fo r exc e l l e nt v i ews of C i n c i n n at i f ro m a c ro s s t h e r i ve r a n d f re q u e nt l i ve m u s i c . 5 3 0 M a i n S t . , C ov i n g to n , Ky. , l i s s e . re st a u ra n t .

O n t h e ro of of t h i s d owntown Re s i d e n c e I n n , yo u c a n c atc h 3 6 0 - d e g re e v i ews of t h e c i t y a n d t h e r i ve r f ro m i t s va nt a ge p o i nt at t h e b a s e of Ly t l e Pa r k . A m e n i t i e s i n c l u d e t a b l eto p f i re fe atu re s , T Vs a n d l i ve m u s i c , p l u s a t a p a s m e n u . 5 0 6 E . Fo u r t h S t . , D ow n tow n ,

to p of t h e p a r kc i n c i n n at i .c o m .

1 0 . T h e Vi ew a t S h i re s ’ G a rd e n

Th e Vi ew at S h i re s ’ G a rd e n i s l o c ate d o n t h e 1 0 t h f l o o r of t h e C i t y C l u b A p a r t m e nt s . Th e 6 , 0 0 0 - s q u a re -fo ot ro of to p s p ot fe atu re s a n i n d o o r d i n i n g ro o m , a n o u td o o r p at i o, t wo f u l l b a rs , o u td o o r s m a l l a n d g ro u p d i n i n g a n d c o c k t a i l t a b l e s wi t h i m p e c c a b l e v i ews . Th e d é c o r m i xe s m o d e r n f u r n i s h i n g s wi t h t h e 1 9 t h - c e ntu r y s t y l e of t h e o r i g i n a l S h i re s ’ G a rd e n — a h i s to r i c Q u e e n C i t y a m u s e m e nt re s o r t of s o r t s o n c e l o c ate d i n t h i s s a m e s p ot at Vi n e a n d Th i rd s t re et s . 3 0 9 Vi n e S t . , D ow n tow n , t h ev i ewat s h i re s g a rd e n .c o m .

11 . Yo n d e r

I n s p i re d by own e rs C h r i s a n d Te s s B u r n s ’ l ove of Ke ntu c ky S t ate Pa rks , t h i s c o n c e pt by t h e fo l ks b e h i n d C ov i n g to n ’s C o m m o nwe a l t h B i s t ro fe atu re s a c h i c t re e h o u s e - e s q u e ro of to p b a r wi t h a s m a l l rot at i n g m e n u a n d c raf t c o c k t a i l s . Th e b a r m e n u fe atu re s a va r i et y of b ot h a l c o h o l i c a n d s p i r i t-f re e c o c k t a i l s . Te s s i s a n o n - d r i n ke r a n d wa nte d a m o c k t a i l l i st “ t h at wa s j u s t a s l o n g a s t h e c o c k t a i l l i s t .” Th e b re ez y, p l a nt-f i l l e d s p a c e fe atu re s c oz y, c o m m u n a l s e at i n g a n d ru s t i c d et a i l s .

6 2 1 M a i n S t . , C ov i n g to n , Ky. , c o m m o nwe a l t h b i st ro .c o m .

7 . P i n s M e c h a n i c a l C o.

P i n s M e c h a n i c a l C o m p a ny fe atu re s m u l t i p l e l eve l s of ga m i n g wi t h d u c k p i n b ow l i n g , v i nt a ge pinball machines, ping pong, fo o s b a l l a n d a ro of to p p at i o wi t h b o c c e b a l l a n d f i re p i t s . Th e b ow l i n g l a n e s a re f i rst c o m e, f i rs t s e r ve d , s o i t i s re c o m m e n d e d t h at g u e s t s c o m e e a rl y to get t h e i r n a m e i n t h e q u e u e, g ra b a d r i n k a n d e n j oy o n e of t h e ot h e r ga m e s w h i l e t h ey wa i t . P i n s b o a s t s t h re e b a rs (t wo i n s i d e a n d o n e o n t h e p at i o ) wi t h c raf t b e e rs o n t a p, p l u s s i g n atu re a n d s e a s o n a l l y rot at i n g c o c k t a i l s .

1 1 2 4 M a i n S t . , Ove r-t h e - R h i n e , p i n s b a r.c o m /c i n cy.

11 7 7

NIGHTLIFE

OLD FIREHOUSE

A microbrewery inside a former firehouse focusing on handcrafted, session-driven beers. The dogfriendly taproom and brewery is filled with firefighting memorabilia — owner Adam Cowan is a former firefighter — and serves cleverly named brews, like Code 4 copper ale and Flash Point IPA. 237 W. Main St., Wililamsburg, oldfirehousebrewery.com.

RHINEGEIST

A large brewery and event space in historic Over-the-Rhine (housed in an old Moerlein bottling plant) producing hoppy and sessionable ales. The seasonal deck is an excellent addition to the city’s rooftop bar scene. Climb on up for views of the historic Jackson Brewery building, downtown, Mount Adams and the Elm Street streetcar line. 1910 Elm St., Over-

S a m u e l Ad a m s C i n c i n n at i Ta p ro o m

of unique beers brewed both onsite and at the Cincinnati brewery.

These include fan favorites like the Cincinnati-inspired lager 513, Boston Lager and Summer Ale, and options made specifically for the taproom. 1727 Logan St.,

Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ samadamscincy.

STREETSIDE BREWERY

From their taproom/brewery along Eastern Avenue in Columbia Tusculum, Streetside Brewery blends craft and community. With beers like their milkshake blonde Cereal Milk and a red velvet donut stout collaboration with Holtman’s Donuts, this brewery has developed a niche for having your cake and drinking it, too. The taproom frequently hosts food trucks and programmed events. Well-behaved dogs are allowed inside and on the patio. 4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia

the-Rhine, rhinegeist.com.

Tusculum, streetsidebrewery.com.

RIVERTOWN BREWERY AND BARREL HOUSE

TAFT’S ALE HOUSE

Part brewery, part lab experiment.

Rivertown produces high-quality beers with a focus on spontaneous fermentation, wild yeast and funky flavors. The Monroe Barrel House offers 30 taps at the bar, 24 taps on the patio, guest brews, cocktails, wine and Barrel House BBQ, beer-infused slow-smoked hickory barbecue, plus tours and free all-day-play on vintage arcade consoles. 6550 Hamilton Lebanon

Road, Monroe, rivertownbrewery.com.

ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANT & BREWERY A restaurant and brew pub that brews its own beer in the heart of downtown, right on Fountain Square. More than 10 homebrewed styles and a lengthy food menu. 10 Fountain Square, Down-

town, rockbottom.com.

ROLLING MILL BREWING COMPANY

Located in downtown Middletown, this brewery serves nothing but gluten-free items from the snacks to the beer taps making it safe from cross-contamination for those with celiac disease.

916 First Ave., Middletown, rollingmillbc.com.

SAMUEL ADAMS CINCINNATI TAPROOM

Located across from the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery at the Urban Sites’ Film Center Project adjacent to Findlay Market, the taproom, which features indoor and outdoor space, offers an array 78

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Located inside a former church, the building is an ode to Cincinnatian and former president William Howard Taft. The multi-floor brewpub maintains some of the sanctuary’s charm (like the bell tower) and serves a menu focused on tri-tip beef, complemented by creative brews. 1429 Race St., Over-

the-Rhine, taftsalehouse.com.

TAFT’S BREWPOURIUM

The Brewpourium is an extension of Over-the-Rhine’s Taft’s Ale House, fitted with all of Taft’s top beers, New Haven-style “apizza” and enough televisions to satisfy all of Cincinnati’s sports fans.

and local shows airing on WVXY’s HD2. 1660 Blue Rock

St., Northside, artifactbeer.com.

WEST SIDE BREWING

Overseen by a handful of passionate homebrewers, the taproom offers over 20 West Side beer taps, including West Side’s amber ale, common ale, pale ale and more, plus a handful of other local brews, cider, wine and soda. The bar also offers a ton of TVs and games. 3044

Harrison Ave., Westwood, westsidebrewing.com.

WOODBURN BREWERY

This East Walnut Hills brewery offers a plethora of creative beers, from fruity ales brewed with produce grown at Krohn Conservatory to the Han Solo coffee-infused blonde ale. Armed with this lineup of clever brews, they frequently host fundraisers and other events to benefit local pet rescues and animal welfare organizations.

Dogs are always welcome to chill inside the taproom or outside on the patio at Woodburn, where they will receive many pets. 2800 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, woodburnbrewery.com.

WOODEN CASK BREWING CO.

Housed inside Listermann Brewing Company, their Chickow! hazelnut double brown ale and its variants have a dedicated cult following. 1621 Dana Ave., Norwood,

Wooden Cask Brewing is located in the heart of Newport’s historic section.

Formerly the Flamingo and Jockey Club, the building’s history is relived through its brewery and taproom: The bar is hand crafted from the building’s own reclaimed wood. Wooden Cask’s menu includes 10 craft beers always on tap, along with featured small-batch brews and a guest cider. 629 York

URBAN ARTIFACT

COLLEGE BARS

4831 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village, taftsalehouse.com.

TRIPLE DIGIT BREWING COMPANY

tripledigitbrewing.com.

This brewery, taproom and music venue, located in a historic church, crafts beers with locally caught wild yeast and bacteria, resulting in a lineup of sour, tart brews.

The brewery hosts events and live music basically nightly, including film screenings, D&D meet-ups, open mic nights, stand-up sets and both local and traveling bands in genres ranging from Hip Hop to Experimental music. Its in-house indie radio station, Radio Artifact, features local music, local podcasts

St., Newport, Ky., woodencask.com.

CLIFTON HEIGHTS TAVERN A college-adjacent down-to-earth sports bar with local brews, bar games and TVs. 239 W. McMillan

St., Clifton Heights, facebook.com/ cliftonheightstavern.

DANA GARDENS

Since 1938, Dana’s has been the home of all things Xavier; it’s like walking into a sports-centric XU grad’s basement. Watch the Muskie basketball team hoop it up

and enjoy pub fare. Loosely Irish-

themed. 1832 Dana Ave., Evanston, danagardens.com.

THE DIME

Located on historic Short Vine (right by head shop The Cupboard and music venue Bogart’s), this cozy location feels like a house party. It features 16-plus beers on tap, easy-drinking cocktails and a daily happy hour. 2611 Vine St.,

Corryville, thedimecincy.com.

DIVE BAR

Self-described as “not your average dive bar,” this establishment offers 70 different beers and 80 different liquors — about one semester’s worth. It also has free WiFi, games and TVs for watching sports. 2608 Vine St., Corryville, facebook.com/divebarcincinnati.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

FRIES CAFÉ

A laid-back dive-bar legend near the University of Cincinnati.

Appeals to everyone from UC students taking a break from exams to Cliftonites and downtown professionals. The first floor features a draft bar with a focus on craft beer and a popular old-fashioned shuffleboard table. The lower level features two billiards tables and the top floor has darts and billiards with access to the seasonal patio and deck. 3247 Jefferson Ave., Clifton, friescafeclifton.com.

LADDER 19

A bar and gastropub located in the historic Corryville firehouse. Offers 15 beers and Fireball Whiskey on tap, plus cocktails like the 64 oz.

The Hydrant moonshine punch,

and S.J. Parker, with citrus vodka, lemonade and tea. Includes easy bar eats (and a bottomless mimosa and bloody mary brunch on weekends), a darts room, pool table and patio. 2701 Vine St., Corryville,

ladder19.com.

THE MAD FROG

Live music almost every night ranging from Gothic/Industrial to Cincy EDM Showcases. Tons of dancing and drinking and fog machines. 1 E. McMillan St., Corryville,

themadfrog.net.

MURPHY’S PUB

Established in 1969, this dive bar offers everyday deals on pitchers, bar games and team sports, frequent free pizza, soup and hot

dogs. Murphy’s represents its Irish roots on Saint Patrick’s Day.

2329 W. Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, murphys-pub.com.

THE ST. CLAIR

A nightclub/bar in the University of Cincinnati area from 4EG. Offers weekly drink specials and signature shots like the Bearcat Bomb.

245 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights, thestclair.com.

UNCLE WOODY’S PUB

A college student’s rec room dream — long wooden bar, sports on TV and an outdoor patio are tough to turn down during the walk home from class. Try their famous Cajun burger. 339 Calhoun

St., Clifton Heights, facebook.com/ unclewoodys.

CELTIC BARS COCK & BULL PUBLIC HOUSE

Try a local beer flight (there are more than 50 brews on tap) to spice up a menu dotted with authentic English pub staples like fish and chips. Hosts frequent daily specials including Pint Night on Thursdays. With a different craft ale featured every week, they pour the pint, you keep the glass.

601 Main St., Covington, Ky.; 275 E. Sharon Road, Glendale; 2801 Vine St., Corryville, cockandbullcincinnati.com.

CROWLEY’S

Cincinnati’s oldest Irish pub.

Smithwick’s, Guinness and Killian’s on draft in an unpretentious atmosphere. 958 Pavilion St., Mount

Adams, 513-721-7709 and searchable on Facebook.

7 9

NIGHTLIFE

Ka r r i k i n S p i r i t s C o.

THE CROW’S NEST

One of Cincinnati’s oldest Irish pubs. Established in 1895 by Irish immigrants, this cozy neighborhood dive bar features live music — lots of Bluegrass and Americana — cheap drinks, a famous fish sandwich and a patio out back for cornhole and casual conversation. 4544 W. Eighth St., Covedale, cincycrowsnest.com.

HAP’S IRISH PUB

Hap’s considers itself the most authentic Irish pub outside of the Emerald Isle; it’s been pouring a perfect pint of Guinness for more than three decades. 3510 Erie

Ave., East Hyde Park, 513-871-6477, searchable on Facebook.

MALONEY’S PUB WEST

A West Side classic that specializes in brews and burgers. 408

Greenwell Ave., Delhi, 513-922-3156, searchable on Facebook.

MOLLY MALONE’S IRISH PUB & RESTAURANT

Like a good Irish pub, this place can get rowdy; and like a good community gathering space, it hosts trivia nights, live Irish music and karaoke. For all you soccer fans — futbol, if you’re a traditionalist — enjoy the best Guinness in town while you watch live English Premier League games. 112 E.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

before Reds, Cyclones or Bengals games. 25 W. Ogden Place, Down-

town, omalleyscincy.com.

THE PUBLIC HOUSE

Bartenders are certified “perfect pint pourers” from the Guinness brewery in Dublin. 3807 North Bend Road, Cheviot, thepublichousecheviot.com.

R.P. MCMURPHY’S PUB

patience and forging their own way: They released their first batch of highly-anticipated bourbon and rye whiskey in fall 2018, made using well water discovered on site. Free tours of the distillery take visitors behind the scenes to see production from grain to barrel, and end in a tasting which includes samples of their bourbon, Kentucky Wild Gin and unaged white dog. Newport Distillery and

All-seasons patio with a fire pit, televisions galore and Irish bar-food staples. Live music on the weekends. Mug Club every Wednesday. 2910 Wasson Road,

Event Center, 24 Distillery Way, Bellevue, Ky.; New Riff West Newport Warehouse Campus, 1104 Lowell St., Newport, Ky., newriffdistilling.com.

Fourth St., Covington, Ky., covington. mollymalonesirishpub.com.

DISTILLER IES

NICHOLSON’S

BOONE COUNTY DISTILLING

This award-winning local distiller started several years ago in a nearly 100-year-old abandoned horse barn in Northside. Now, Northside Distilling Company’s bar on Race Street pays homage to its roots. Reclaimed barn wood decorates the walls of the space, giving it a rustic vibe. Take a seat in the cozy bar and enjoy a selection of cocktails crafted in-house from their spirits: Northside Shine, corn whiskey, bourbon and award-winning vodka. 922 Race St., Dowtown,

Nicholson’s offers one of the best Scotch selections in the city (view their extensive single-malt Scotch and whiskey menus online), plus pub food — shepherd’s pie, bangers and mash, fish and chips — and servers in kilts. 625 Walnut St., Downtown, nicholsonspub.com.

O’BRYON’S BAR & GRILL

Neighborhood bar and grill with two floors and an outdoor patio.

Enjoy peanuts — in the shell — while watching one of 14 TVs and explore the regularly rotating draft beer selection. Famous for their Shark Tank novelty cocktail: vodka, Sprite, sour mix and a rubber shark filled with grenadine you pour in yourself; you get to take the shark home. 1998 Madison Road,

O’Bryonville; 736 Washington Ave., Newport, Ky., obryonsirishpub.com.

O’MALLEY’S IN THE ALLEY

Cincinnati’s second-oldest bar, this Irish pub calls itself “Downtown Cincinnati’s Traditional Irish Hole in the Wall.” It offers a full menu, happy hour and a great stop

80

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Hyde Park, rpmcmurphyspub.com.

A craft bourbon distillery in the northern hills of Kentucky that creates spirits including Eighteen 33 straight bourbon whiskey, a bourbon cream, a 12-year single barrel, Tanner’s Curse bourbon mash whiskey and Tanner’s Curse Rye. Find tour and tasting times online. 10601 Toebben Drive, Boone County, Ky., boonedistilling.com.

KARRIKIN SPIRITS CO.

A distillery and restaurant located in an industrial park in Fairfax, near the Frisch’s Mainliner.

On-premises, they distill several spirits, including vodka, gin and apricot brandy. But they also bring an eclectic, hand-crafted energy to their mocktail menu. Besides their mocktails, you can also sample one of their housemade craft sodas with flavors like key lime and cola.

3717 Jonlen Drive, Fairfax, karrikinspirits.com.

NEW RIFF DISTILLING

This craft distillery, which opened adjacent to the Party Source in 2014, is all about embracing

NORTHSIDE DISTILLING COMPANY

northsidedistilling.com.

ROBERT JAMES DISTILLERY

Formerly Shumrick & Leys, the rebranded Robert James Distillery still features Terry Shumrick, cofounder of Shumrick & Leys and veteran wine and spirits producer, as the master distiller. Spirits include bourbon whiskey, bourvin (bourbon whiskey finished in wine barrels), dark and light rum and flavored vodka (including horseradish vodka). 2810 Highland Ave., Norwood, robertjamesdistillery.com.

SECOND SIGHT SPIRITS

An artisan distillery that produces innovative premium unbarreled white rum, spiced rum, bourbon-

barreled rum and Villa Hillbillies Moonshine. The expanded tasting room offers samples and tours under the watchful eye of Second Sight’s steam-punk-esque copper still that looks like it came straight from the mind of Jules Verne, plus a new, larger bar and lounge. 301 Elm St., Ludlow, Ky.,

secondsightspirits.com.

WOODSTONE CREEK

A true artisan winery and boutique distillery, Woodstone Creek produces 100-200 cases of wine, mead and distilled spirits yearly.

The offerings include dry to sweet wine from Ohio grape varietals, a wide range of mead, five-grain bourbon, single malt whisky (peated and unpeated), rum, gin, bierschnaaps, vodka and more.

Sample anything and everything they have available during Saturday tastings. 4712 Vine St., Saint

Bernard, woodstonecreek.com.

ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS AXIS ALLEY

Boutique bowling with lane-side food and beverage service. 1 Levee

Way, Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky., axisalleylevee.com.

BOBBY MACKEY’S MUSIC WORLD

A classic Honky Tonk with Country music, cowboys and a mechanical bull. If you’re a thrill-seeker looking for a little scare, the place is haunted and offers spooky tours.

44 Licking Pike, Wilder, Ky., bobbymackey.com.

BOOGIE NIGHTS

Break loose before or after hitting the slots. Jam with the best DJs in the area and shake what your mama gave ya. Hollywood Casino, 777 Hollywood Blvd., Lawrenceburg, Ind., boogienightsusa.com.

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NIGHTLIFE

FLYING AXES CINCINNATI

Located in Covington’s former historic firehouse and Tickets Sports Café, this fun venue invites the public to throw an axe at a non-human target. You can book sessions based on time and number of throwers competing to score points to win the best out of three matches. There’s a bar, with beer, but if any employees think you’re drunk, they will “sit your axe down.” 100 W. Sixth St., Covington, Ky., flyingaxes.com/covington.

FOWLING WAREHOUSE

This unique entertainment franchise capitalizes on the up-andcoming tailgating game, which combines bowling and football.

Located in the Highland Park industrial complex of Pleasant Ridge, the warehouse stretches 46,000 square feet and offers 30 total lanes of fowling, two full-service bars, a stage and a large biergarten. Great for individuals, groups, parties and corporate outings, the general objective of fowling is to knock over the opponent’s bowling pins with a football before they knock yours down. Guests can either reserve a lane or enjoy open play. 2940 Highland Ave. #230, Pleasant Ridge, fowlingwarehouse.com.

FUNNY BONE

Features national headlining comedians as well as up-and-comers.

7518 Bales St., Liberty Township, funnybone.com.

GO BANANAS COMEDY CLUB

One of Cincinnati’s premier comedy clubs. See the up-and-comers on Wednesday Pro-Am Nights or come and see your favorite touring comedians. 8410 Market Place Lane,

Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.

HOPPIN VINES

Located in the former TGI Fridays in Kenwood, Hoppin’ Vines combines duckpin bowling, pizza and alcohol. The bar offers 40 rotating beer taps with a focus on craft brews — local, regional and national — plus more than 30 wine flights. The bar is also home to an outpost of Delicio Coal Fired Pizza.

8150 Montgomery Road, Madeira, hoppinvines.com.

MADISON BOWL

Voted the best bowling alley in the city by CityBeat readers. The in-house Madison Diner is a quaint Atomic Era throwback. 4671 Madi-

son Road, Madisonville, madibowl.com.

STONE LANES

A classic family-owned bowling alley near Xavier University. Open until 11 p.m. or later Monday through Saturday. Join the Can Club and get a Stone Lanes growler can for $6, which you can refill with Miller Lite at the alley for $2.95 anytime.

3746 Montgomery Road, Norwood, stonelanes.com.

TOPGOLF

Hit a microchipped golf ball into colorful targets to score points.

This chain of driving ranges brings golf out of the country club and into the public as a space to practice your swing, grab a bite to eat or even watch the sun go down over West Chester on a rooftop patio. 9568 Waterfront Drive, West

Chester, topgolf.com.

URBAN AXES

At Urban Axes, you throw an actual 1.5-pound hatchet at a wooden target. You can either schedule a 2.5-hour group event with safety instructions, throwing practice and a round-robin tournament, or you can wing it and hope it isn’t busy and opt for walk-in session.

During the hour-long walk-in, different “axeperts” will help you hone your skills. The Cincinnati location of Urban Axes differs from other axe places in the area

because it has a bar. Yes, axes and booze! 2010 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine,

urbanaxes.com/cincinnati.

WESTERN BOWL STRIKE & SPARE

A family fun center with 68 lanes of bowling, a state-of-the-art scoring system and glow bowling on Friday nights. 6383 Glenway Ave., Western

Hills, westernbowl.strikeandspare.com.

HOTEL BARS THE BAR AT PALM COURT

This lobby-level bar with French Art Deco décor in the historic Hilton Netherland Plaza is like stepping into an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Sidle up to the bar — if you’re lucky enough to find a stool — and peruse the drink menu, which offers classic cocktails like the Chef’s Old Fashioned and the NP, a best-of-both-worlds cocktail that pairs bourbon with something bubbly. Named after the Netherland Plaza, the cocktail features Four Roses yellow label bourbon, lemon, ginger, bitters and sparkling wine. It’s light, refreshing and still packs a boozy punch. Look for live Jazz on the weekends. 35 W. Fifth St., Downtown, orchidsatpalmcourt.com.

COPPIN’S AT HOTEL COVINGTON

Located in the center of Hotel Covington’s dining atrium, with floor-to-ceiling windows and al fresco courtyard, Coppin’s restaurant offers a seasonal menu of comfortable Kentucky cuisine plus local beer, wine, cider and craft cocktails. 638 Madison Ave.,

We ste r n B ow l S t r i ke & S p a re

Covington, Ky., hotelcovington.com.

METROPOLE/21C COCKTAIL TERRACE

Housed in the 21c Museum Hotel, the Metropole is a restaurant and lounge with craft beers on tap, clever cocktails and a smart selection of old- and new-world wines. Or take a secret elevator up 11 floors to the roof for the hotel’s cocktail terrace, open seasonally and weather permitting.

609 Walnut St., Downtown, metropoleonwalnut.com.

THE PHELPS/ TOP OF THE PARK

Both located in the Residence Inn Marriott. The Phelps is a hidden oasis in the city — a tapas bar featuring small bites, wine and hand-crafted cocktails. On the roof, the Top of the Park features unparalleled views of Lytle Park, downtown Cincinnati, the Ohio River and Mount Adams.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 82

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

506 E. Fourth St., Downtown, topoftheparkcincinnati.com.

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NIGHTLIFE

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

TA P RO O M S As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Urban Artifact

THE UPPER DECK AT AC HOTEL

On top of the AC Hotel at The Banks, the Upper Deck boasts excellent views of the riverfront and Great American Ball Park. Lounge under string lights grabbing a drink and a snack. 135 Joe Nuxhall Way,

Downtown, acupperdeck.com.

INCLUSIVE BARS MadTree Brewing

Fifty West Brewing Company

BAR 901 AT THE BRITTANY Super low-key, this neighborhood corner bar is gay-owned and welcomes anyone and everyone in for a cocktail and conversation.

901 Race St., Downtown, facebook.com/ newbar901.

BELOW ZERO LOUNGE

Rhinegeist

Brink Brewing Co.

Taft’s Ale House

Braxton Brewing Company

Fretboard Brewing

Below Zero Lounge is an LGBTQ+ destination that puts an emphasis on the plus. On any given night you’ll see people wearing tuxes and gowns sipping on cocktails beside people in T-shirts and flipflops. Nestled snuggly between the nightlife action in OTR and plenty of trendy theater destinations, these two facts become specifically important during Thursday night karaoke, when it’s not uncommon for local talent or actors from traveling Broadway shows to hop onstage to belt their own takes on karaoke classics. Every Friday and Saturday night, the upstairs Cabaret turns out the city’s most intimate and entertaining drag shows. 1120 Walnut St., Over-the-

Rhine, belowzerolounge.com.

West Side Brewing

3 Points Urban Brewery

THE BIRDCAGE

The Birdcage, “an upscale LGBTQ nightclub and lounge,” features cocktails that are named for tropical birds, featuring “fresh juices and unique spirits.” You’ll get more than a simple lemon twist with that, too — drinks are garnished with candied fruit and lollipops made by local candy makers Minges. 927 Race St., Downtown, thebirdcagecincinnati.com.

SOUTHERBY’S AT MARIEMONT INN

If you feel like escaping to the suburbs, the historic Mariemont Inn’s Southerby’s bar is a lobby-level drinking destination worth exploring. With the same hunting-lodgemeets-English-manor ambiance as the hotel, this small pub features a food menu of shareable snacks and chef-crafted cuisine from the in-house National Exemplar restaurant, plus craft beer, seasonal cocktails and wines by the glass or bottle. 6880 Wooster Pike,

Mariemont, nationalexemplar.com.

THE SYMPHONY HOTEL

This hotel is a quiet spot for a cocktail or glass of wine near Music Hall, Memorial Hall and Washington Park. The historic bed-and-breakfast — housed in a restored 1871 mansion — offers nine rooms named after famous composers, a five-course pre-concert dinner in the on-site restaurant and a tasting room bar with a nice selection of bourbon.

Only open to the public on select days, this hidden gem also features live Jazz. 210 W. 14th St., Over-theRhine, symphonyhotel.com.

CRAZY FOX SALOON

Drink specials, smoke-free interior, pinball, darts, trivia, pool, TVs, off-street parking and an assortment of absinthe. Dog-friendly.

901 Washington Ave., Newport, Ky., 859-261-2143 and searchable on Facebook.

MAIN EVENT

A dive bar with Thursday night drag shows. 835 Main St., Downtown,

facebook.com/maineventcincinnati.

ROSIE’S TAVERN

A mixed crowd of beer drinkers and regulars at this bar. Pool, shuffleboard, pitcher specials, live music and more. 643 Bakewell St., Covington, Ky., rosiestavernky.com.

TILLIE’S LOUNGE

Named after a famous circus elephant who paraded the streets of Northside in John Robinson’s Circus in the early 20th century, Tillie’s is a plush champagne bar with lounge décor. 4042 Hamilton Ave., Northside, tillieslounge.com.

LIVE MUSIC BARS THE BLIND LEMON

Mount Adams’ favorite backyard bar since 1963. Walk down a set of stairs to find a secret, little hideaway. Inside, the cozy walls are lined with eclectic paraphernalia. Outside, the relaxed patio is incredibly popular in the warmer months. Live music almost every night. 936 Hatch St., Mount Adams,

theblindlemon.com.

BOGART’S

Corryville/Live Nation’s premier live music venue featuring local, national and international acts, plus six bars. 2621 Vine St.,

Corryville, bogarts.com.

BROMWELLS HÄRTH LOUNGE

Opened in 1819, Bromwell’s is the oldest business in Cincinnati. The next-door Bromwell’s-helmed bar is a lovely and comfortable piano bar and Jazz lounge.

125 W. Fourth St., Downtown, bromwellsharthlounge.com.

CAFFE VIVACE

This coffee house and Jazz lounge in Walnut Hills blends artisan coffee, alcohol and the area’s finest Jazz musicians. Coffee is sourced from Carabello Coffee and live Jazz takes place six nights a week with full cocktail service and craft beer and wine. (There’s a $10 drink minimum for any show.)

975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, caffevivace.com.

THE COMET

Eclectic neighborhood bar and big-ass burrito joint with more than 150 beers, homemade ginger ale, live music, art exhibits and one of the best jukeboxes in town. The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars play every Sunday. Kitchen menu served until 1 a.m. daily. 4579 Hamilton

Ave., Northside, cometbar.com.

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NIGHTLIFE

DEE FELICE CAFÉ

Jazz, Swing and the food of the French Quarter. A credit to the notion that Cincinnati is as far as one can be North while still being South. 529 Main St., Covington, Ky.,

deefelicecafe.com.

THE GREENWICH

Walnut Hills’ answer to Greenwich Village. Features a combination of Jazz, Spoken Word and Hip Hop. 2442 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, the-greenwich.com.

LUDLOW GARAGE

In its 100-year history, the Ludlow Garage has been everything from an auto repair shop and parking garage to a shopping mall and pizzeria, but it’s most well-known for its legacy as a music venue from 1969 to 1971. New owners have revamped the venue and reclaimed its music history; it’s once again a concert hall welcoming national touring acts for intimate concerts.

342 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, ludlowgaragecincinnati.com.

MANSION HILL TAVERN

Come for the excellent Blues and troll dolls, stay for the casual bar fare, extensive beer selection and live music. 502 Washington Ave., Newport, Ky., mansionhilltavern.tripod.com.

MOTR PUB

Helmed by veteran Cincinnati music promoters, MOTR Pub is unique. It hosts some of the best live shows in the city, seven nights a week, highlighting local and touring Indie, Rock and Folk acts (sometimes even poetry nights) — all without a cover. And it ain’t just about the music; it’s also about the “pub.” The well-crafted brunch, lunch and dinner menu incorporates local ingredients to create a streamlined selection of hearty vegan, vegetarian and meaty options — burgers, salads and classic bar bites — available until latenight. Drinks are strong, not fussy, and so is the staff. 1345 Main St.,

Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.

NORTHSIDE TAVERN

A laid-back neighborhood drinking destination, with a front bar, back bar and huge patio. Free live music almost every night of the week, including live band karaoke.

Not uncommon for happy hour here to last far into the night.

4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, northsidetav.com.

NORTHSIDE YACHT CLUB

An homage to the neighborhood’s flood of 1937, this loosely nautically themed Rock club and gastro86

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

A r n o l d ’s B a r & G r i l l

pub specializes in smoked wings (chicken and/or cauliflower), live music and fresh cocktails of the tiki persuasion. The well-stocked bar — replete with gigantic Hula-girl punch bowls awaiting the bartender’s mixology magic and a lighter to set them on fire — features fresh juice mixtures, stacks of fragrant pineapple and bowls of herbal garnishes. 4231 Spring Grove Ave.,

Northside, northsideyachtclub.com.

SCHWARTZ’S POINT

Pianist Ed Moss is a Cincinnati Jazz legend for his musical achievements, but he was also beloved for his low-key venue, which was written about as one of the area’s “Best Kept Secrets” so often, it wasn’t really a secret anymore, particularly among the city’s Jazz players. When Moss passed away in 2016, his daughter, Zarleen Watts, decided to honor her father by keeping his passion project going. The club reopened in 2017, retaining the eccentric character and regular Jazz performances (by a who’s who of the Cincinnati scene) that were a part of Moss’ vision, but modernizing it a bit and adding a new drink menu. 1901 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, thepoint.club.

THE SOUTHGATE HOUSE REVIVAL

New location for an old favorite.

Live music from a variety of genres several nights a week. 111 E. Sixth

St., Newport, Ky., southgatehouse.com.

STANLEY’S PUB

A favorite spot for live, eclectic tunes along the river. Local and out-of-town bands with cheap drinks make Stanley’s an area favorite. A big place for Jamgrass.

323 Stanley Ave., Columbia Tusculum, facebook.com/stanleys.pub.

THE TIN ROOF

A live music joint chain from Nashville. 160 E. Freedom Way,

Downtown, tinroofcincinnati.com.

THE VENUE

Live music with ballroom and swing dancing. 9980 Kings Automall

NEIGHBORHOOD BARS & PUBS ANIMATIONS LOUNGE A pool bar with drink specials. 3059 Madison Road,

Oakley, facebook.com/ animations.oakley.

ARLIN’S

The is Clifton’s Gaslight District neighborhood pub for the thinking man or woman. Have a beer on the big back patio and beer garden or enjoy live music and bar food. The no-frills atmosphere includes a pool room, plus 20 taps, sports on TV and a jukebox. 307

Ludlow Ave., Clifton, facebook. com/arlinsbar.

ARNOLD’S BAR & GRILL

A friendly, diverse and historic gin joint, Arnold’s is the city’s oldest bar — since the 1860s. Arnold’s draws folks for its food, live music (lots of Americana and Bluegrass), local brews and casual atmosphere.

Named as one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine. Friendly service, cheap drinks, awesome courtyard (used to be a stable and carriage house) and a bathtub that was once reputedly used for making bathtub gin. 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown, arnoldsbarandgrill.com.

ARTHUR’S CAFE

Arthur’s, located in both Hyde Park and Anderson, is a favorite neighborhood tavern. If you’re looking for more than just a beer and the average pub fare, this is the right place. Let burger madness ensue — less than $10 for any burger with your choice of toppings on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Drive, Mason, thevenuecincinnati.com.

3516 Edwards Road, Hyde Park; 8221 Beechmont Ave., Anderson, arthurscincinnati.com.

WOODWARD THEATER

ARTS OTA

The owners of popular Over-theRhine music club MOTR Pub took over the 100-year-old building across the street from the club and turned it into the beautiful Woodward Theater. Hosts local and national touring acts. 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com.

Located in the space that formerly held Rake’s End, a DIY dive bar for the local independent arts and music scene, Arts’ on the Ave is located in the West End’s creative Brighton-Mohawk District. The interior features rotating exhibits; provides paper, pens, paint and paintbrushes so artistic patrons can get creative; and recurring events like Drafts and Crafts let you

create while drinking discounted beverages. During the weekends, different DJs help kick off latenight dance parties. 2141 Central

Ave., Brighton, artsota.com.

THE B LIST

According to their Facebook page, they’re a “quintessential neighborhood ‘hole in the wall.’” The bar includes a 100+ bourbon selection, over 100 cans and bottles of craft beer and cider, a $3 craft beer special every day and 10 craft and domestic beers and cider on draft.

343 Division St., Bellevue, Ky., facebook.com/theblistbvue.

BACK PORCH SALOON

Open since 1972, this casual spot serves up lunch and dinner with

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

a focus on fun; their motto is, “It’s more fun to eat in a saloon than drink in a restaurant.” Find burgers, ribs, tons of TVs, cornhole, a Tiki bar and seasonal sand volleyball leagues. 9626 PrincetonGlendale Road, West Chester, back-porch-saloon.net.

BAY HORSE CAFÉ

The historic Bay Horse Café, with roots dating back to 1817, reopened in 2017. The $4, 25-ounce Hudepohl schooners, $6 cocktails and draft beer mark it as an affordable, laid-back hangout. 625 Main St., Downtown, facebook.com/ bayhorsecafe.

BREW HOUSE

A Walnut Hills institution since 1978 with funky décor, friendly people, good burgers and cheap drinks. 1047 E. McMillan St., Walnut

Hills, brewhouse.com.

CHAMELEON

A neighborhood nightclub with themed nights, an event space, a large venue hall for live music, drink specials and more. Now offers an in-house pizza parlor.

4114 Hamilton Ave., Northside, chameleon-northside.com.

CHAPTER MOUNT ADAMS Chapter features live music, outdoor seating and a menu that includes brunch. 940 Pavilion St.,

Mount Adams, mtadamschapter.com.

CITY VIEW TAVERN

DEAN’S HOPS & VINES

facebook.com/cityviewtavern.

Harrison Ave., Cheviot, facebook. com/deanshv.

A fine neighborhood bar offering panoramic vistas of our fair metropolis, along with burgers, soups, sandwiches and a spicy bloody mary. 403 Oregon St., Mount Adams,

COBBLESTONE OTR

Cobblestone is a no-frills establishment that feels like hanging out in a friend’s living room — if that living room had 15 different bourbons (Weller and Bulleit among them); two cocktails on draft, including a mightily potent Old Fashioned and Fernet-Branca; and a rotating draft beer list (Bud Light is constant).

A built-in long leather seat at the back, nestled next to the restrooms, allows for shoe-shines on certain nights. 1132 Race St., Over-the-

Sports bars and “Lite” beer populate the West Side, but Dean’s Hops & Vines serves craft beer, great bourbons, wines and small bites in the heart of Cheviot. 3722

DUTCH’S

A former pony keg turned artisan bottle shop and larder. They have the largest selection of refrigerated beer in the region, more than 200 wines for carryout or to enjoy at the bar, freshly butchered meats and farmstead cheeses, with a backyard patio, bocce court and relaxed atmosphere. 3378 Erie Ave.,

Hyde Park, dutchs.squarespace.com.

Rhine, facebook.com/cobblestoneotr.

8 7

NIGHTLIFE

EDGE INN TAVERN

If you’re a dive bar fan and looking to ditch the chains around the Rookwood area, this is your place.

Super-cheap drinks. 3935 Edwards

Road, Norwood, facebook.com/ edgeinntavern.

THE ESTABLISHMENT

Known colloquially as “The E” for its unassuming local flavor. 2900 Wasson Road, Hyde Park, facebook. com/establishmentoakley.

GYPSY’S

With a welcoming, dog-friendly atmosphere, Gypsy’s is perhaps most well known for their fully stocked bar and large craft beer selection on draft or in bottles and cans. Watch your favorite game on one of several TVs or enjoy their back patio equipped with fire pits and giant Jenga. 641 Main

St., Covington, Ky., facebook.com/ gypsyscovington.

HALFCUT

Fill a growler with local beers and hard-to-find crafts in this OTR store or at the walk-up window to go. Or even enjoy your beer inside, sitting at one of HalfCut’s tables.

1126 Walnut St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/halfcutotr.

HIGHER GRAVITY

These guys really want to help you love beer — so much so that they’ve installed iPads around the store to help you browse their inventory and find your perfect brew. Let their friendly “beeristas” pour you a flight: this neighborhood bar and bottle shop has more than 500-plus rotating beer selections and 100 wines. Higher Gravity is kid- and dog-friendly, as well as B.Y.O.F. (bring your own food, or order in something tasty from one of their Northside neighbors), plus they have a cool garage door that turns the bar indoor-outdoor.

4106 Hamilton Ave., Northside, highergravitycrafthaus.com.

HIGHTAIL MOUNT ADAMS

This hillside watering hole, inspired by mid-19th-century whaling clubs in New England, gives a warm welcome to everyone who walks in the door. With an enormous selection of bourbons and beer, this is the perfect place to wet your whistle. But maybe the best thing about Hightail is that they encourage all tails, especially during their Sunday Yappy Hour, where you’ll receive special deals and your pup will receive some yummy treats. It’s a neighborly place where they not only know

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your name, but also your dog’s

name, too. 941 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, hightailmtadams.com.

THE HUB OTR

Celebrating Cincinnati’s urban bike culture and cycling activism, The Hub OTR services bikes and also slings beer and cocktails.

Catch live music, open and drag shows, along with other events.

Dog-friendly. 1209 Main St., Over-

the-Rhine, facebook.com/thehubotr.

INCLINE PUBLIC HOUSE

Sitting high atop the now-defunct Price Hill incline, the Incline Public House offers brick-oven dishes, craft beers with a focus on local craft breweries and a panoramic view of the Ohio River and downtown. 2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill, inclinepublichouse.com.

JERRY’S JUG HOUSE

Jerry’s Jug House started as a garage with ties to bootlegging during Prohibition but went legal the 1930s as a “jug house.”

Patrons could buy beer, liquor and wine to go at the jug house, which was adjacent to a neighborhood grocery store. New owners have purchased the building and plan to continue this 80-year-old legacy, “while also providing a welcoming gathering place for the residents of Newport’s East Row neighborhood.” Historic and

preservation-minded renovations were completed and a new cocktail list was added. 414 E. Seventh

St., Newport, Ky., facebook.com/ jerrysjughouse.

KNOTTY PINE

A West Side Rock club and Tiki bar.

There’s live music on weekends, open mic on Mondays and leagues for sand volleyball in the summer and pool and darts the rest of the year. 6947 Cheviot Road, Cheviot, knottypinerocks.com.

MADONNA’S BAR AND GRILL

Cozy dive bar with a pool table and jukebox, friendly bartenders and a great BLT. 11 E. Seventh St.,

weekly event schedule featuring

deals, tastings and live music. 6110 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, martyshopsandvines.com.

MILLER’S FILL-INN

Enjoy live cover bands or a Blues jam over affordable suds and a basket of popcorn, then head to the side room, past the pool tables, and bowl to your heart’s content at the electro-mechanical coin-op bowling game (just a quarter per game). Six players at a time can play on the bar’s vintage Champagne machine, which was made by the Chicago Coin company, a noted pinball machine manufacturer, back in 1969. 52

Donnermeyer Drive, Bellevue, Ky., facebook.com/millersfillinn.

Downtown, madonnasbarandgrill.com.

MAINSTRASSE VILLAGE PUB

The microbrew mecca of MainStrasse Village — 200 different, constantly changing bottled brews. No beers on draft, but there’s happy hour all day Sunday. 619 Main St., Covington, Ky.,

mainstrassevillagepub.com.

MARTY’S HOPS & VINES

A bottle shop and bar in a restored 1920s building in College Hill.

Marty’s Hops & Vines offers fine wine, craft beer and small plates and pizza, along with a rotating

MILTON’S PROSPECT HILL TAVERN

Prospect Hill’s neighborhood joint is chatty, diverse and full of character. A great place to have beer, relax and chat it up with the regulars. 301 Milton

St., Liberty Hill, facebook.com/ miltonstheprospecthilltavern.

MOUNT ADAMS BAR & GRILL

Once a speakeasy, today it is one of the city’s most picturesque taverns with lots of wood grain, class and photos of famous patrons.

938 Hatch St., Mount Adams, mtadamsbarandgrill.com.

I n c l i n e Pu b l i c House

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

SILVERTON CAFÉ

Massive double deckers, an enthusiastic sports scene, spirits and fun.

Either catch a live band or show everyone your own skills on the karaoke machine. 7201 Montgomery

HAPPY HOURS As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Road, Silverton, silvertoncafe.com.

THE STRASSE HAUS

Queen City Exchange

Serving up bar food and German fare with an outdoor patio and live music for more than 20 years. 630 Main St., Covington, Ky., searchable on Facebook.

Higher Gravity

S.W. CLYBORNE CO.

An urban-minded New American eatery in the suburbs from chefs Mark Bodenstein and Will Wadsworth. The drink menu is almost larger than the food menu, with cocktails, wines by the bottle and glass, bourbon and beer. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday and includes food. 5948 Snider Road, Mason, clybornes.com .

The Righteous Room

Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar

S.W. Clyborne Co.

VILLAGE TAVERN

A historic neighborhood watering hole in the heart of Montgomery.

There is something to do at VT every night: trivia, karaoke, bands and DJs. 9390 Montgomery Road, Mont-

OAKLEY PUB & GRILL

Trivia Night Tuesdays are wildly popular, and regulars swear by the fish tacos (only $8.95 Fridays).

Food specials nightly. 3924 Isabella Ave., Oakley, oakleypubandgrill.com.

THE OAK TAVERN

Catch your sports obsessions at this beloved local drinkery on multiple TVs. Live bands, patio and food. 3089 Madison Road, Oakley, oaktavernoakley.com.

PEARL’S

Located in a historic building in the heart of Columbia Tusculum (Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhood), Pearl’s offers a rooftop bar and large outdoor patio for the warmer months and serves classic cocktails, draft beer and small bites. 3520

Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum, pearls-cincy.com.

Bar Louie

gomery, thevillage-tavern.com.

Rhinehaus

WHITE OAK MARATHON

This gas station offers one of the area’s widest craft beer and fine wine selections as well as Wine Wednesdays and Thursday Pint Nights hosted on their spacious back patio. Need to make a quick stop? Swing through their drive-thru. Fill up your tank, grab a drank and enjoy great company at this local one-stop shop. 6050

Northside Yacht Club

16 Bit Bar+Arcade

Cheviot Road, White Oak, twitter.com/ cheviotmarathon.

Gypsy’s

ZIP’S CAFÉ

Since 1926, Zip’s has served up some of Cincinnati’s best hamburgers, including the Girth Burger — a Zip burger with a split grilled mettwurst on top. The bar is housed in an old Prohibitionera “Code Room.” 1036 Delta Ave.,

food deals daily. 3210 Linwood Ave., Mount Lookout, millions-cafe.com.

Mount Lookout, zipscafe.com.

THE PONY OTR

With its honeycomb tile floors, low-hanging green bar lamps and a glowing neon sign luring you in for an Old Fashioned, it’s Main Street’s neighborhood bar where you’ll run into a nice cross section of OTR visitors and residents here for a drink, to escape from the nightlife chaos of Vine Street or to watch assorted sports on TV. 1346 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine, searchable on Facebook.

NIGHTCLUBS/ LOUNGES ENERGY NIGHTCLUB

Laser lights, DJs and a dress code.

700 W. Pete Rose Way, Downtown, energycincy.com.

MILLIONS CAFÉ

Mount Lookout’s sister bar to Mount Lookout Tavern. Live music and frequent parties plus sports on TV and

MONKS COVE

An island-themed oasis offering Jell-O shots from a giant, plastic syringe. During college and NFL football, find beer bucket specials.

1104 St. Gregory St., Mount Adams, monkscove.com.

MOUNT ADAMS PAVILION

A multi-level nightclub and lounge with four decks, city views and VIP table service. DJs and live music.

MOUNT LOOKOUT TAVERN

A nightlife staple and sports bar.

Goes by MLTs. Food menu features tacos, apps, wings, wraps and burgers. 3209 Linwood Ave., Mount

Lookout, mtlookouttavern.com.

THE RIGHTEOUS ROOM

A bar and lounge that caters to the YP crowd as well as arts patrons (it’s directly across from the Aronoff) and after-dinner drinkers. 641 Walnut St., Downtown, therighteousroom.com.

949 Pavilion St., Mount Adams, mountadamspavilion.com.

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SCENE ULTRA LOUNGE

An ultra-sleek lounge with a long bar and plenty of space to see and be seen. 637 Walnut St., Downtown,

scenecinci.com.

SPORTS BARS BEER SELLAR

The Beer Sellar barge offers 64 taps and live music with a scenic view of downtown — literally on the Ohio River. And you can’t beat the round-trip water taxi for all home Bengals and Reds games.

301 Riverboat Row, Newport, Ky., facebook.com/ thebeersellar.

THE BLIND PIG

Located between the heart of downtown and The Banks, with a huge patio featuring a view of the riverfront, stadiums and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. The tap features over a dozen ever-changing brews, a simple food menu and many HD TVs. 24 W. Third St., Downtown,

blindpigcincy.com.

BROTHERS

HOLY GRAIL TAVERN & GRILLE

Within 100 yards of Great American Ball Park you can chug a beer and get to the game almost as fast as “Neon” Deion could steal second, third and home. Features 31 TVs so you won’t miss a dunk, goal, run or touchdown. 161 Joe Nuxhall

Way, Downtown, holygrailcincy.com.

HOUSE OF ORANGE SPORTS BAR & GRILL

A family-friendly sports bar and pub devoted to the Cincinnati Dutch Lions. The club’s logo and shield are proudly displayed on the building exterior, while inside almost 50 TVs offer all the sports you can handle. Pub grub includes a handful of Dutch-inspired appetizers, wings and burgers.

433 Johnson St., Covington, Ky., houseoforangesportsbarandgrill.com.

JEFFERSON SOCIAL

Craft beers, a ton of tequila and nachos done up with any variety of meat. Wings go from spicy to dry-rubbed and there are plenty of tacos on the menu. Find weekly trivia, a large patio and draft deals.

Drink specials daily with fried bar bites, like Gator Balls — chicken breast wedges wrapped in bacon, stuffed with cheese and peppers and served with ranch. Tons of TVs playing sports and UFC to watch while imbibing pitchers of Long Islands in five different flavors: red, blue, orange, green and purple. 1

101 E. Freedom Way, The Banks, Downtown, jeffersonsocial.com.

DICKMANN’S SPORTS CAFÉ

Downtown, 513-621-1000, searchable on Facebook.

Levee Way, Newport, Ky., brothersbar.com.

“Great grub, cold beer and a place to cheer.” A sports bar on steroids.

Not only are the sports on TV, Dickmann’s also has volleyball and trivia. 479 Orphanage Road, Fort Wright, Ky., dickmannscafe.com.

FLIPDADDY’S

An old-school burger joint meets up with a modern sports bar, and Flipdaddy’s is born. Hear some live music, watch the game or just enjoy some delicious burgers and beer. Multiple locations including

12071 Mason Montgomery Road, Symmes Township; 7453 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, flipdaddys.com.

GAME TIME SPORTS BAR & GRILL

Offers sand volleyball leagues, premium craft beers, gourmet burgers, steel-tip darts, cornhole, pool, shuffleboard and more in multiple locations. 3613 Harrison

Ave., Cheviot; 136 E. Third St., Newport, Ky., gametime2012.com.

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KNOCKBACK NAT’S

Part neighborhood hangout, part sports bar, part destination for hungry individuals looking for delicious smoked wings (featured on the Travel Channel), Knockback Nat’s has a little something for everyone. And there are always sports on TV. 10 W. Seventh St.,

MARTINO’S ON VINE

An Italian-American restaurant on Short Vine that doubles as a Steelers bar and serves many different types of cheesesteak sandwiches.

ery with live music and a VIP room.

3670 Werk Road, Suite 6, Bridgetown, piratesdencincy.com.

RHINEHAUS

Houses many large 4k TVs, more than a dozen occasionally rotating taps and channels/packages like NBC Sports Gold, Fox Soccer Match Pass and ESPN 3. Shots are named after rhinos, like the Fresh Rhino, with cucumber vodka, watermelon schnapps and Sprite. It’s also a Packers bar. 119 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, rhinehausbar.com.

SECOND PLACE

Catch the game and enjoy a selection of booze on tap, bottled, canned and a few (kind of) fancy cocktails. This bar boasts a pool table, courtyard, board games darts, a carry-in menu from The Littlefield and early morning soccer. What else? Free popcorn.

3936 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, facebook.com/secondplacebar.

THE STRETCH

Just a stone’s throw away from Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium, this 3,000-square-foot bar features a cozy patio and chill interior. Catch up on the game and sip from one of their beers, cocktails or wines on tap. The first seven minutes of every seventh inning stretch when the Reds are at home, enjoy $1 beers. 191 East Freedom Way, Downtown, thestretchcincy.com.

TINA’S

A third-generation family-owned and -operated bar in the heart of downtown. Just one block north of Paul Brown Stadium, it’s also basically a Bengals bar. Stop in before games or watch them on one of their 13 TVs. 350 W. Fourth

St., Downtown, tinasbar.com.

2618 Vine St., Corryville, martinosonvine.com.

WINE BARS/ WINER IES

MVP SPORTS BAR & GRILL

1215 WINE BAR & COFFEE LAB

Full menu, live music, free WiFi, DirecTV with NFL Sunday Ticket.

6923 Plainfield Road, Silverton, mvpbarandgrille.com.

PACHINKO BAR

Drink specials, ladies night, giant margaritas, beer buckets and Bengals Mania. Also has a pool table and outdoor patio. 424 W. Sixth

St., Covington, Ky., facebook.com/ pachinko.bar.9.

THE PIRATE’S DEN BAR AND GRILL

Sports bar, nightclub, pub and eat-

This OTR spot is an eclectic coffee shop by day and wine bar by night. Try the wine flights, which double as both alcohol and a game. Three different wines are served in numbered glasses; use the tasting notes from the menu and blindly identify which is which.

See if you’re correct on a provided card. 1215 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, 1215vine.com.

CRAFTS & VINES

Crafts & Vines was the first bar in Northern Kentucky to offer wine

on tap, but it also offers several by the glass or bottle. Owners try to focus on atypical wines by the glass and Kentucky beers. Food items include bar bites like black truffle burrata, olives and Truck Stop Charcuterie with housemade beef jerky, maple Sriracha bacon and pimento cheese. 642 Main St.,

Covington, Ky., craftsandvines.com.

ELK CREEK VINEYARDS

The largest winery in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Award-winning wines are produced and bottled on-site, where there is a deli, art gallery, cooking classes and nearby Elk Creek shooting range. 150 Highway 330, Owenton, Ky., elkcreekvineyards.com.

FAIRFIELD MARKET

This cafe and bar offers a streamlined selection of pastries, picnic salads, sandwiches and charcuterie complemented by morning coffee and evening libations — house cocktails and a rotating wine and beer selection.

700 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky., thefairfieldbellevue.com.

HENKE WINERY

Wine and dine the old-fashioned way, with both food and grapes processed in-house. This familyowned and -operated urban winery was considered one of the 10 best in the country by Food Republic.

3077 Harrison Ave., Westwood, henkewine.com.

LIBERTY’S BAR & BOTTLE

Liberty’s offers the best of both the bar and the bottle with 20 rotating craft beers on tap and 15 wines available by the glass — including half-pours — along with 100 bottles of wine and 40 craft beers via retail. Dogs are welcome and you’ll frequently find one or two snoozing under their owners’ stools at the bar. 1427 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, searchable on Facebook.

LISTING LOON

A craft beer and wine shop in Northside that offers a casual drinking environment as well as great carry-out options and live music. 4124 Hamilton Ave.,

Northside, searchable on Facebook.

LOUVINO

Take your taste buds on a journey from the marigold-lined pathways of Chateau Guiraud in France to the Alps-framed Castelfeder winery in northern Italy — all while dining at LouVino in Over-theRhine. The concept restaurant on

NIGHTLIFE

Main Street offers 60 wines by the glass as well as small plates inspired by Southern cuisine. 1142 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, louvino.com/otr.

LUDLOW WINES

Since 1963, this has been a familyowned and -operated wine and craft beer merchant in Clifton’s Gaslight District. Tastings Friday and Saturday nights. 343 Ludlow

Ave., Clifton, ludlowwines.com.

MARKET WINES

A wine and beer shop at Findlay Market that offers six taps of craft beer, wine by the glass after 4 p.m. on weekdays (and after noon on Friday and weekends) and popular weekend wine tastings. Findlay

Market, 128 W. Elder St., Over-theRhine, market-wines.com.

MEIER’S WINE CELLARS

Ohio’s oldest and largest winery producing wine and juices from Native American grape varieties. 6955 Plainfield Road,

meat and veggie charcuterie. 111 E.

12th St., Over-the-Rhine, revelotr.com.

RIPPLE WINE BAR

Ripple Wine Bar is one of those sweet little spots that hits all the right notes: good wine, lots of it, paired with good food. The bar offers 40 varietals by the glass or half glass, bottle or half bottle and also does a half-bottle happy hour for gun-shy consumers or folks dining solo. The menu’s overall vibe is laid-back — a true “California kitchen,” with winefriendly food that is seasonally inspired. 4 W. Pike St., Covington, Ky., ripplewinebar.com.

THE SKELETON ROOT

A working winery and event space in OTR that pays homage to Cincinnati’s wine history by producing heritage and French and European style wines, crushed and aged on site. Wines are produced in-house with minimal

intervention, showcasing the terroir of the fruit in bottles of red, white and even rosé wine. 38

W. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine, skeletonroot.com.

SOMM WINE BAR

Somm Wine Bar offers a large patio with tables and lounge chairs, live music on Fridays and weekday specials. You’ll find a lot of food choices — from the light fare you expect at a wine bar to several more substantial entrées.

3105 Price Ave., East Price Hill, sommwinebarcincinnati.com.

STONEBROOK WINERY

Small family winery featuring a farmhouse tasting room. Part of the Back Roads Wine Trail. 6570

Vineyard Lane, Camp Springs, Ky., stonebrookwinery.com.

UNWIND WINE BAR

California-style wine bar in the heart of Hyde Park with a full

vegetarian and vegan-friendly snack menu. 3435 Michigan Ave.,

Hyde Park, unwindhydepark.com.

VALLEY VINEYARDS

Award-winning, estate-grown table and dessert wines since 1970. Also home to Cellar Dweller brewery. 2276 E. U.S. 22, Morrow, valleyvineyards.com.

VERONA VINEYARDS

A storefront tasting room for Verona Vineyards wines in historic Rabbit Hash. 13815 Walton Verona Road, Verona, Ky.; 10021 Lower River Road, Rabbit Hash, Ky., veronavineyards.com.

VINOKLET WINERY

Thirty acres of picturesque rolling hills and ponds in the only working winery with a vineyard in Hamilton County. Also home of Vinoklet Restaurant. 11069 Colerain Ave.,

Bevis, vinokletwines.com.

Silverton, drinkmeiers.com.

Oa k l ey Wi n e s

MOM ‘N ‘EM

Mom ‘n ‘em coffee shop and wine bar sparkles with Italian vibrancy and straightforwardness. There’s a diverse, playing offering of wines selected by a certified sommelier. Food includes tinned fish, cheeses, cured meats, pastries from North South Baking and sandwiches. 3128 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, momnemcoffee.com.

OAKLEY WINES

Oakley Wines started as a boutique bottle shop just off the main drag. And then it became more than a neighborhood hang when upward of 100 people started stopping in for Friday-night wine tastings.

Recently taken over by the owners of The Rhined cheese shop, the bar has been featuring new food overseen by chef Lydia Jackman. 4011

Allston St., Oakley, facebook. com/oakleywines.

REVEL OTR

This unpretentious boutique winery and event space specializes in promoting local, regional and familyowned wineries. Revel makes its own small-batch house wine and serves it in juice glasses. They also carry fun wine cocktails and plenty of

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 9 1

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BEER? OR BOURBON? p. 1 0 0

At t ra c t i o n s

BEST P L AC ES TO TA K E A V I S I TO R p. 1 03

Historic sites, museums and pretty parks.

Cincinnati Museum C e n te r a t U n i o n Te r m i n a l

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

This iconic Art Deco structure just underwent a $213 million restoration and welcomed a new tenant: the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. p. 9 7 9 3

AT T R AC T I O N S

AMUSEMENT PAR KS ARK ENCOUNTER

A 500-foot-long replica of the biblical Noah’s massive wooden boat built far, far away from any significant body of water. Helmed

by Answers in Genesis, the same people who run the Creation Museum, it’s as much a theme park as it is an attempt by young Earth creationists to prove that one man really could build a giant boat and fill it with every type of animal out there. Bonus: There’s also a zipline, buffet dining and the Ararat Ridge Zoo, with camels and kangaroos.

1 Ark Encounter Drive, Williamstown, Ky., arkencounter.com.

THE BEACH WATERPARK

Thirty-five acres of real sand, real waves and real cocktails. A tropical getaway with a chill lazy river, cabana rentals, wild waterslides — like the five-story free-fall The Cliff — and sand volleyball.

2590 Waterpark Drive, Mason, thebeachwaterpark.com.

CONEY ISLAND

In operation since the 1880s, this historic amusement park is home to an old-fashioned arcade, live shows, family-friendly fests and Sunlite Water Adventure. Take a canoe or paddle boat out on Lake Como or dance under the starts at Moonlite Gardens. Hosts special events throughout the year including the Appalachian Festival, the Fourth of July Balloon Glow, Fire Up the Night and more. 6201 Kellogg Ave., California, coneyislandpark.com.

KINGS ISLAND

The largest amusement park and waterpark in the Midwest. There are thrill rides (like the new Orion giga coaster, the Invertigo faceto-face inverted coaster and The Beast, the world’s longest wooden roller coaster); family rides (like a one-third scale replica of the Eiffel Tower); daily live shows; Soak City Waterpark; and lots of traditional carnival games. The popular WinterFest features holiday displays, ice skating and boozy hot chocolate. 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, visitkingsisland.com.

STRICKER’S GROVE

A family-owned and operated private amusement park. Features nostalgic rides, mini golf, an arcade and a pair of hand-built wooden roller coasters — The Tornado and The Teddy Bear — both constructed by late owner Ralph Stricker. The park is only open to 94

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C at h e d ra l B a s i l i c a of t h e Ass u m pt i o n

the public a handful of days per year, including Fourth of July and Labor Day. 11490 Hamilton Cleves

Road, Hamilton, strickersgrove.com.

CASINOS/GAMING ARCADE LEGACY

A classic arcade with two locations: one in Forest Park and one in Newport. The Forest Park location is in an almost abandoned mall and features 7,600 square feet of arcade games and pinball cabinets and a console area with stations to play everything from NES and PS4 to Atari. The Newport location features 5,200 square feet with more than 50 arcade and pinball cabinets, plus a console area with 20 stations. Cincinnati Mall, 662 Cincinnati Mills Drive, Forest Park; 1765 Monmouth St., Newport, arcadelegacyohio.com.

BELTERRA CASINO RESORT

This eastern Indiana casino and resort offers a spa, golf course and live entertainment in addition to slot machines, table games and daily poker tournaments.

777 Belterra Drive, Florence, Ind., belterracasino.com.

BELTERRA PARK GAMING

Originally opened in 1925, the racetrack features live thoroughbred racing (April-September) plus simulcasting, 24/7 gaming, live entertainment and multiple dining options. 6301 Kellogg Road, California, belterrapark.com.

HOLLYWOOD CASINO LAWRENCEBURG

This casino and hotel gambling complex includes Boogie Nights dance club, live music acts and a large poker room in addition to many slot machines and table games. 777 Hollywood Blvd., Lawrenceburg, Ind., hollywoodindiana.com.

JACK CINCINNATI CASINO A casino located in the heart of downtown that features highstakes poker, nearly 2,000 slot machines, live entertainment and a classic casino buffet. It was purchased by Hard Rock International in September 2019.

1000 Broadway St., Pendleton, jackentertainment.com.

MIAMI VALLEY GAMING

More than 1,900 gaming machines, live horse-and-harness racing, simulcasting, live entertainment and multiple buffets and restaurants. 6000 State Route 63, Lebanon, miamivalleygaming.com.

PLAY LIBRARY

Straight out of the Tom Hanks movie Big, the all-ages lending and activity space is designed for kids — and adults. There are thousands of toys and games for anyone to borrow or play on site, and it hosts 21-and-over game nights and family fun times. 1306

Main St., Over-the-Rhine, playlibrary.org.

RISING STAR CASINO AND RESORT A casino with concerts, a golf course, hotel and several restaurants. 777 Rising Star Drive, Rising Sun, Ind., risingstarcasino.com.

SCENE 75

A 90,000-square-foot indoor entertainment center with an arcade, bowling alley, laser tag, black-light mini golf, go-karts, food, drink and other interactive attractions. 876 State Route 28, Milford, scene75.com.

TURFWAY PARK

One of the busiest horse tracks in the country, Turfway Park is home to a prestigious prep race for the Kentucky Derby. 7500

Turfway Road, Florence, Ky., turfway.com.

HISTOR IC SITES BETTS HOUSE RESEARCH CENTER

Built in 1804, it’s the oldest brick house in Ohio. Offers programs and exhibits about historic preservation, architecture and regular walking tours of the Betts Longworth Historic District — 10 blocks of the historic West End that contain Federal, Italianate and Queen Anne architecture. 416 Clark

tion deck on top of the building features a wonderful panoramic view of downtown, the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky. 441 Vine St., Downtown, 513-579-9735.

St., West End, thebettshouse.org.

CAREW TOWER AND OBSERVATION DECK

Completed in 1930, Carew Tower is one of the world’s finest examples of French Art Deco architecture and includes Rookwood Pottery floral tiles, an Art Deco shopping center and the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza hotel (complete with a Great Gatsby-esque hotel bar and AAA Five-Diamond restaurant). One of downtown’s tallest skyscrapers, the viewing area and observa-

CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF THE ASSUMPTION

Modeled after Notre Dame in Paris, the Gothic architecture features 26 Italian-carved gargoyle water spouts, flying buttresses, vaulted arches, columns and one of the world’s largest church stainedglass windows. 1101 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky., covcathedral.com.

CINCINNATI CITY HALL

Designed by Samuel Hannaford and completed in 1893, the Romanesque building with massive

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

stonework and rounded arches boasts a nine-story clock tower, stained glass windows that depict Cincinnati’s early history and ceiling frescos. 801 Plum St., Downtown, cincinnati-oh.gov.

CLINTON COUNTY HISTORY CENTER

Home of the 19th-century Creeping Baby automaton/mechanical clockwork doll who became an internet sensation when she visited the DASA Museum in Dortmund, Germany. Also houses a history and genealogy research library and Rombach Place Museum in an 1835 Greek Revival mansion. 149 E.

Locust St., Wilmington, clintoncountyhistory.org.

COLUMBIA TUSCULUM HISTORIC DISTRICT

Cincinnati’s oldest riverside neighborhood boasts some of the city’s oldest homes and a collection of pastel “painted lady” Victorians, along with Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Folk Victorian and Stick style homes. Most houses in the historic district area were built between the mid-1800s to early 1900s. Tus-

culum Avenue, Columbia Tusculum, columbiatusculum.org.

DAYTON STREET HISTORIC DISTRICT

Historic Cincinnati “Millionaires’ Row,” with elegant architecture seen in narrow Italianate mansions. Dayton Street, West End, daytonstreethistoric.org.

DIXIE TERMINAL

Breathtaking French Art Deco.

Once home to a streetcar terminal, the 1920s building now houses offices, but you can still view the exterior Rookwood Pottery entry arch and ornate ceiling for free.

49 E. Fourth St., Downtown.

EAST ROW HISTORIC DISTRICT

Walk the district to view bungalows from the 1930s and 1940s, Colonial Revival-style houses from the 1910s and Queen Anne and Princess Anne styles. Linden, Maple, Monroe, Oak and Overton streets, Newport, Ky., eastrow.org.

FINDLAY MARKET

At more than 150 years old, Findlay

Market is Ohio’s oldest continually operated public market. Go for the farmers market, butcher shops, flower stalls, OTR Biergarten and eclectic eats. 1801 Race St., Over-

the-Rhine, findlaymarket.org.

FORT ANCIENT

A 100-acre park of Native American earthworks and remains of village sites built by ancient Hopewell Indians and other tribes since the ice age. The circular earthwork mounds were used as sundials.

6123 State Route 350, Oregonia, fortancient.org.

GERMAN HERITAGE MUSEUM

Located at refurbished West Fork Park, this reassembled 1800s 9 5

AT T R AC T I O N S

German-style log home aims to be the focal point of German culture in Cincinnati. 4764 West Fork Road,

of limestone and offers one of the best views of the Ohio Riverfront.

Monfort Heights, gacl.org/museum.

30 Guido St., Mount Adams, 2011. hciparish.org.

HARRIET BEECHER STOWE HOUSE

LICKING RIVERSIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT

The Cincinnati home of the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin and the center of Abolitionist debate leading up to the Civil War. The house offers tours, cultural programming and exhibits. 2950 Gilbert Ave., Wal-

nut Hills, stowehousecincy.org.

HERITAGE VILLAGE MUSEUM

A “living history” village that offers an interactive glimpse into what life was like in 19th-century Ohio. Period-authentic costumed guides lead tours through historic buildings and grounds. Also hosts Civil War reenactor weekends and vintage baseball tournaments. Sharon Woods Park, 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, heritagevillagecincinnati.org.

HOLY CROSSIMMACULATA PARISH

This Roman Catholic church sits high atop Mount Adams. Known for the annual Good Friday pilgrimage, when the faithful climb the 100ish steps to the church while praying.

Built in 1859, the building is made

A collection of historic homes bordering the Licking River, including one that belonged to the parents of Ulysses S. Grant. Walk the row for stunning city views, interesting bronze sculptures of historical figures (like a sketching John James Audubon), as well as examples of Bungalow/Craftsman architecture, Second Empire architecture and Italianate architecture. Many homes have connections to the Underground Railroad. 322 E. Third St., Covington, Ky., covingtonky.gov, hlrca.com.

MAINSTRASSE VILLAGE

This designated historic district surrounds Covington’s old German area with a collection of shops, restaurants, parks and Victorian and Classic Italianate homes of the mid- to late-1800s. It’s also home to the Carroll Chimes clock tower, a glockenspiel with animatronic characters that play out the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

406 W. Sixth St., Covington, Ky., mainstrasse.org.

MEMORIAL HALL

Built by famed architects Samuel Hannaford & Sons, Memorial Hall is considered one of the area’s finest Beaux Arts buildings. The exterior includes a symmetrical façade, stairs, Corinthian columns and statues of historical pioneers, soldiers and sailors as well as the Roman god Mars. In 1978, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 1225 Elm St., Overthe-Rhine, memorialhallotr.com.

THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY

A Harry Potter hideaway, this historic members-only library (more than 175 years old) houses a grand collection of books, artworks and the sketchbooks of Cincinnati artist Elizabeth Nourse. The library also presents discussions, national author lectures, workshops, cocktail hours and musical events.

There’s a membership fee to borrow books but it’s free to explore.

414 Walnut St., 11th Floor, Downtown, mercantilelibrary.com.

MILLER HOUSE MUSEUM

Built in 1922, this Sears Roebuck kit house operated by the Madeira Historical Society presents an accurate slice of life as it was from the 1920s-1950s. 7226 Miami Ave.,

Madeira, madeirahs.org.

MUSIC HALL

Completed in 1878, the Victorian Gothic Music Hall houses a concert theater — Springer Auditorium — which serves as home for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Opera and the May Festival Chorus, among other local performing arts organizations.

The National Historic Landmark is built over a pauper’s cemetery and is rumored to be one of the most haunted buildings in America.

The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall hosts “Beyond the Bricks” walking tours for a fee.

Also keep an eye out for haunted tours. 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine,

cincinnatiarts.org.

OLD ST. MARY CHURCH

A Roman Catholic church opened in 1841 by German immigrants. The Greek Revival-style building was designed by Franz Ignatz Erd and is the oldest standing German-Catholic parish in Cincinnati. 123 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, oldstmarys.org.

PROMONT HOUSE MUSEUM

Ohio Gov. John M. Pattison lived in this stately Victorian mansion from 1879-1906. The house is now operated by the Greater Milford Area Historical Society. Offers special exhibits. 906 Main St., Milford, milfordhistory.net.

Th e M e rc a nt i l e L i b ra r y

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF CINCINNATI & HAMILTON COUNTY, MAIN BRANCH

Built in 1955, the main library building was designed by noted Cincinnati architect Woodie Garber and is widely recognized for its contemporary design and use of open space. This library attracts more than 1 million users annually.

See it in the Emilio Estevez movie The Public. 800 Vine St., Downtown,

cincinnatilibrary.org.

RABBIT HASH, KENTUCKY

A historic rivertown in Kentucky that boasts a series of dog mayors.

The Rabbit Hash General Store, open since 1831 and regarded as one of the best-preserved country stores in Kentucky was destroyed by a fire, but the town rallied to reopen it. Go on weekends for live music and beer from the General Store. 10021 Lower River Road, Rab-

bit Hash, Ky., rabbithash.com.

OHIO HISTORIC MARKERS Find a listing of all the city’s informational historic markers at remarkableohio.org.

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SERPENT MOUND

The largest surviving example of a prehistoric effigy mound in the world, dating between 1,000 and 2,000 years old. Stretching more than 1,000 feet, the ancient earthwork depicts an immense serpent, the purpose of which remains a mystery. Burial ground? Ceremonial site? Aliens? 3850 State Route

73, Peebles, arcofappalachia.org/ visit/serpent-mound.

SPRING GROVE CEMETERY & ARBORETUM One of the largest cemeteries in the U.S. — 773 sprawling acres — featuring a bird sanctuary and park. This National Historic Landmark is the final resting place of many famous (and notso-famous) Cincinnatians, from Salmon P. Chase and Skip Prosser to William Procter and James Gamble. But for local ale fanatics, it’s worth making a pilgrimage to the cemetery just for one of their Beer Baron tours, where guides lead you on a walk to visit the graves and ornate mausoleums of the likes of Christian Moerlein, John Kauffman of the Kauffman Brewing Company and more.

Frequent other themed tours available. 4521 Spring Grove Ave.,

WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Come see the boyhood home of the nation’s 27th president and 10th chief justice. Features a kind of weird animatronic version of Taft’s son, Charles Phelps Taft II, and house tours. 2038 Auburn Ave.,

Mount Auburn, nps.gov/wiho.

MUSEUMS AMERICAN SIGN MUSEUM

Take a walk down memory lane and experience the only public sign museum in America. Take a guided tour of more than 200 signs, beginning with the fancy gold-leaf signs of the 1900s through the plastic era of the funky 1950s. 1330

Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington, americansignmuseum.org.

BEHRINGER-CRAWFORD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Set in Devou Park, the museum is the legacy of William Behringer, who collected artifacts from all over the world. You can find 450 million years of Northern Kentucky history in one spot. 1600 Montague Road, Devou Park, Covington, Ky., bcmuseum.org.

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Spring Grove Village, springgrove.org.

ST. PETER IN CHAINS CATHEDRAL

A Greek revival Roman Catholic church, formally dedicated in 1845. Stone angels, created by Odoardo Fantacchiotti, which once flanked the main altar, were the first European sculptures to come to the city and can now be viewed in the Cincinnati Art Museum.

325 W. Eighth St., Downtown, stpeterinchainscathedral.org.

ULYSSES S. GRANT’S HOMESTEAD

The boyhood home of Grant is a National Historic Landmark. On display are Grant’s family cradle, a nearby schoolhouse and an animatron of the former president at 15 years old. 219 E. Grant Ave., Georgetown, usgrantboyhoodhome.org.

WHITE WATER SHAKER VILLAGE

One of 24 communal Shaker villages founded between 1787 and 1824. More than 20 original Shaker buildings remain on site including a broom shop, meeting house and dwelling. Miami Whitewater Forest, 11813 Oxford Road, Harrison, whitewatervillage.org.

CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM

Encyclopedic permanent displays include collections of art, sculpture and artifacts from various periods and cultures from the past 6,000 years, including Contemporary and Folk art. Traveling and changing exhibitions are popular attractions and often require a separate entrance fee. The Rosenthal Education Center offers hands-on activities for children. 953 Eden

Pompilios

Park Drive, Eden Park, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

CINCINNATI FIRE MUSEUM

Cincinnati was the home of the first professional paid fire department in the country. The museum preserves and exhibits Greater Cincinnati’s firefighting artifacts from the last 200 years. A permanent installation honors Paula Duncan-Anderson, one of the city’s first female African-American firefighters. 315 W. Court St., Downtown, cincyfiremuseum.com.

CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER AT UNION TERMINAL

Rivertown Brewery & Barrel House

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Union Terminal is Cincinnati’s grand Art Deco home to multiple museums. A former train terminal, the space is an architectural wonder. It houses the Museum of Natural History & Science, which 9 7

Lu c ky C at Museum

features a recreated limestone cave; the Duke Energy Children’s Museum, consistently ranked in the top 10 children’s museums in the U.S.; the Cincinnati History Museum, which allows you go to back in time and climb aboard historical replicas of steamboats, buses and more; the Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX Theater, which features a five-story domed screen; and the Holocaust & Humanity Center. 1301 Western

Ave., Queensgate, cincymuseum.org.

CINCINNATI REDS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM

eONvESer r e neAv NY HORM ICS OR ANTIBIOT % 1 p o t e h t t jus AD

Spanning more than 130 years of history, the Reds Hall of Fame features 10 galleries including “The Front Office,” “Hall of Records,” “Play Ball!” and more. 100 Joe

Nuxhall Way, The Banks, Downtown, cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/hof.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER

The city’s major downtown art facility, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, features changing displays and exhibitions, a children’s UnMuseum and special events.

Also home to an avant-garde performance calendar, eclectic gift shop, bookstore and hip café and bar. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org.

CREATION MUSEUM

A Christian theme park that takes a romp all over science and evolution to explore “answers in Genesis.”

There’s also a planetarium, botanical garden, zip line and a petting zoo (with camel rides). 2800 Bul-

littsburg Church Road, Petersburg, Ky., creationmuseum.org.

GREATER CINCINNATI POLICE MUSEUM

161 E Freedom Way # 180 Cincinnati, OH 45202 (513) 832-2817 © 2017 BurgerFi International, LLC© 2017 BurgerFi International, LLC

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Take a step back in time to explore the lives of men and women who served. Features artifacts and ephemera from Greater Cincinnati-area police forces, including photos of those killed in the line of duty since the 1880s, historic uniforms and badges, weapons, vehicles and the stuffed remains of the city’s first police dog, Handsome, a 19th-century mutt who went on daily patrols. 308 Reading

spotlighted humanity at its worst, it also explains how it has had a long-lasting impact in Greater Cincinnati by including stories of survivors who either escaped the Nazis or survived their death camps and came to Cincinnati to start new lives — including those that arrived via Union Terminal (where the museum is located), then a bustling train station. It also spotlights the light in the dark by showcasing those who fought back against hatred, and by fostering engaged citizenship and human understanding. 1301 Western Ave.,

Queensgate, holocaustandhumanity.org.

LLOYD LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Once home to a popular 19thcentury pharmacy run by the local Lloyd brothers, the library still features their rare collection of books on pharmacy, botany, pharmacognosy, alternative medicine and horticulture. Features rotating art and science exhibits, as well as permanent displays of vintage pharmaceutical instruments and other mildly morbid-looking historical medical equipment. 917

Plum St., Downtown, lloydlibrary.org.

Road, Pendleton, police-museum.org.

HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY CENTER

The Holocaust & Humanity Center tells of the mass murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis through exhibits, artifacts and various media. While it shows how the Holocaust was a horrific event that

LUCKY CAT MUSEUM

Boasts a one-of-a-kind collection of Japanese maneki neko “lucky cat” figures. See over 2,000 of these waving felines, varying in design from antique porcelain to slot machines and popculture-themed cats. 2511 Essex

Place, Walnut Hills, facebook.com/ luckycatmuseum.

AT T R AC T I O N S

nation’s best, with more than 500 species represented, many endangered. Be sure to check out Fiona the famous hippo, the interactive giraffe area and the reptile house, the oldest zoo building in the country. 3400 Vine St., Avondale,

cincinnatizoo.org.

DEVOU PARK

Boasts fantastic scenic views of downtown Cincinnati and features a golf course, the BehringerCrawford Museum and a nature trail. 1201 Park Drive, Covington, Ky., covingtonky.gov.

EDEN PARK

PHOTOGRAPH BY KELLIE COLEMAN

NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER

This monument to freedom explores courage, cooperation and perseverance through films and artifacts from the Underground Railroad to contemporary times. A 19th-century slave pen has been rebuilt as a walk-through experiential exhibit. Traveling exhibits celebrate strength and diversity.

50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, freedomcenter.org.

THE NATIONAL VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING

Cincinnati is home to the earliest and strongest AM radio station (700 WLW) and this museum is dedicated to the preservation and display of historical artifacts of radio and wireless communication.

8070 Tylersville Road, West Chester, voamuseum.org.

TAFT MUSEUM OF ART

This historic house museum, one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the Palladian style in the country, was once home to Anna Sinton Taft and Charles Phelps Taft (half-brother of President William Howard Taft). The villa, bequeathed to the people of Cincinnati in 1927 — along with a collection of more than 690 works of art ranging from European and American masters to decorative arts and Chinese porcelain — includes a large garden, tearoom and historical displays related to

the permanent collection in addition to changing and traveling exhibitions. 316 Pike St., Downtown,

taftmuseum.org.

VENT HAVEN MUSEUM

The world’s only museum dedicated to the art of ventriloquism.

It houses more than 900 figures (and counting), photographs and playbills. Collector and founder William Shakespeare Burger also left a massive library devoted exclusively to “vent” volumes.

33 W. Maple Ave., Fort Mitchell, Ky., venthaven.org.

PAR KS & R ECR EATION BIG BONE LICK STATE PARK

Hundreds upon hundreds of acres of Kentucky parkland named after the Pleisotocene megafauna fossils found there, including mammoths, sloths and bison. The park is nicknamed the “birthplace of American paleontology” and is an official Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail Site. Along with giant fossils, American art and trails, the park is home to a small herd of bison.

3380 Beaver Road, Union, Ky., parks. ky.gov/parks/historicsites/ big-bone-lick.

CAESAR CREEK STATE PARK

An outdoor recreation and nature preserve with boating, camping, hiking, etc. 8570 E. State Route 73,

Waynesville, caesarcreekstatepark.com.

CINCINNATI AXE THROWING

Home to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and Krohn Conservatory, this park boasts tree groves, walking paths, Mirror Lake, several sculptures, a playground and fantastic views of the river and Kentucky. The Spring House Gazebo is rumored to be the haunting place of the ghost of Imogene Remus, wife of bootlegger George Remus, who he shot and killed nearby. 950 Eden Park Drive, East Walnut Hills/Mount Adams, cincinnatiparks.com.

Cincinnati Axe Throwing in West Chester invites anyone 15 years or older to throw an actual axe at a bullseye. Sessions are an hour-and-a-half long and you play three team-style games, ending with an individual competition.

FIFTY WEST CANOE & KAYAK

CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER

Township, fiftywestcanoe.com.

4814 Peter Place B, West Chester, cincinnatiaxe.com.

This privately-run park offers 1,020 acres of trails, plus wildlife and nature classes, bird watching and more. 4949 Tealtown Road, Milford, cincynature.org.

CINCINNATI PARKS

Cincinnati Parks includes more than 5,000 acres and 100 scenic parks around the city (almost 10 percent of the city’s total land area). cincinnatiparks.com.

CINCINNATI RECREATION COMMISSION

Provides recreational, cultural, leisure and educational activities to Cincinnatians of all ages and abilities. Includes pools, tennis courts, workout facilities, public golf courses and on and on. CRC centers are located throughout the city. cincinnati-oh.gov/recreation.

CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN

The second-oldest zoo in the United States, it’s also one of the

Fifty West Brewing Company has expanded their offerings. The Fifty West Canoe & Kayak rental offers canoes, kayaks and tubes for a floating trip down the Little Miami River. 7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia

FLEISCHMANN GARDENS

A four-acre park that was once the site of Charles Fleischmann’s (of Fleischmann Yeast Company) estate, which today is home to the state’s largest ginkgo tree and an evergreen maze. 524 Forest Ave.,

Avondale, cincinnatiparks.com.

FLYING AXES

A Louisville-based axe-throwing company. Two players compete at a time; each thrower gets five throws per round. Throwers get points based on where the axe sticks into the target. Leagues available. 100 W. Sixth St., Covington,

flyingaxes.com.

FOUNTAIN SQUARE

This square at the center of downtown is a gathering place for friends and family. Enjoy coffee or lunch from one of the neighboring restaurants on the outdoor plaza or attend one of the scheduled events ranging from concerts to dancing to open-air movie nights 9 9

B e e r? O r B o u r b o n?

Greater Cincinnati has tours and trails to experience — and drink — both

A s i g n o n t h e B rewi n g H e r i t a ge Tra i l

B rew i n g H e r i t a g e Tra i l Greater Cincinnati’s historical lore is tied to both the beer and bourbon industries. Once one of the largest brewing boomtowns in 19th-century America, the Queen City was home to major pre-Prohibition beer kingpins and, in recent years, has bolstered an ever-expanding craft brewing scene. For something stronger, hop over the Ohio River into Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. The craft trail features 20 artisan microdistilleries broken into four regions, including Northern Kentucky, where local New Riff Distilling and Second Sight Spirits sit as two stops. It’s an artsy alternative to the big Bourbon Trail and still has its own passport at kybourbontrail.com. Here are more ways to tour and taste both of the city’s favorite beverages.

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C i n c i n n at i ’s B rewi n g H e r i t a ge Tra i l ex p l o re s , p re s e r ve s a n d c e l e b rate s t h e c i t y ’s s to r i e d p a s t a s a b e e r- p ro d u c i n g c a p i t a l wi t h a s e r i e s of g u i d e d to u rs a n d a f re e wa l k i n g t ra i l . “ H o p o n ” t h e t ra i l , w h i c h s t retc h e s a b o u t t h re e -fo u r t h s of a m i l e b et we e n F i n d l ay M a r ke t ( 1 8 0 1 R a c e S t .) a n d G ra n t Pa r k ( 7 3 E . M c M i l l a n Ave.) i n O ve rt h e - R h i n e, at e i t h e r te r m i n u s a n d fo l l ow e m b e d d e d m e d a l l i o n s i n t h e s i d ewa l k to d i s c ove r h i s to r i c b u i l d i n g s , b rewi n g s i te s , p u b l i c a r t a n d m o re.

C u r re nt l y, a b o u t t wo d oze n s i g n s o r s o a re ava i l a b l e to

p e ru s e a ny t i m e — fo r f re e. Eve r y b u i l d i n g t h at wa s p a r t of a b rewe r y o n t h e t ra i l i s i d e nt i f i e d i n s o m e way, a n d ot h e r sto p s we re s e l e c te d to te l l a p a r t of C i n c i n n at i ’s b e e r- i n f u s e d h i s to r i c a l n a r rat i ve.

M u ra l s m i x wi t h m a rke rs to reve a l t a l e s of t h e i n f l u e n c e of G e r m a n i m m i g rat i o n o n l o c a l b rewi n g c u l tu re, a l o n g wi t h s to r i e s of 1 9 t h - c e ntu r y l a b o r p ra c t i c e s , C i n c i n n at i ’s i nvo lve m e nt i n t h e C i v i l Wa r a n d n ove l b rewi n g i n n ovat i o n s . “ We re a l l y wa nte d to s h ow t h e b re a d t h of h ow b e e r wa s a p a r t of a l m o s t eve r y s to r y i n t h e c i t y ’s h i s to r y,” s ays S teve n H a m pto n , exe c u t i ve d i re c to r of t h e B rewe r y D i s t r i c t C o m m u n i t y U rb a n Re d eve l o p m e nt C o r p o rat i o n , w h i c h ove rs e e s t h e t ra i l .

Th e t ra i l wi l l eve ntu a l l y st retc h t wo m i l e s a n d i n c l u d e a n a p p wi t h a u d i o to u rs a n d a u g m e nte d re a l i t y ex p e r i e n c e s t h at wi l l l et u s e rs l o o k i n s i d e u n d e rg ro u n d l a ge r i n g c e l l a rs a n d fo r m e r b rewi n g s p a c e s .

A n u m b e r of g u i d e d to u rs a re a l s o ava i l a b l e to c o m p l e m e nt t h e s e l f- g u i d e d t ra i l w h e re yo u c a n go i nto t h o s e s u bte r ra n e a n tu n n e l s of t h e n ow d ef u n c t b rewe r i e s , l e a r n a b o u t t h e Q u e e n C i t y ’s b e e r b a ro n s a n d j u st b a s k i n o u r p re - P ro h i b i t i o n b o ozy h i s to r y. M o s t to u rs a l s o i n c l u d e a p i nt o r t wo at a l o c a l t a p ro o m . b rew i n g h e r i t a g et r a i l .c o m .

Bourbon and Th e B - L i n e

Pa r t of t h e t h r i l l of v i s i t i n g a d i s t i l l e r y i s , ye s , s a m p l i n g t h e s p i r i t s . B u t d i s t i l l e r y to u rs h ave a l s o b e c o m e a b o o m i n g to u r i s m b u s i n e s s i n Ke ntu c ky.

A n d N o r t h e r n Ke ntu c ky i s n o exc e pt i o n . N ewp o r t ’s N ew R i f f D i s t i l l i n g re l e a s e d i t s f i rst b atc h of b o u rb o n i n 2 0 1 8 af te r fo u r ye a rs of p at i e nt l y a g i n g . Th e h i g h - r ye, f u l l - b o d i e d s p i r i t i s s avo r y, s p i c y, b ot t l e d i n b o n d , a n d t h e re a re a c o u p l e d i f fe re nt ways to get u p c l o s e a n d p e rs o n a l wi t h t h e m a g i c a l m a s h .

N ew R i f f ( 24 D i st i l l e r y Way, N ewp o r t , Ky.) of fe rs i t s own re g u l a r d i s t i l l e r y to u rs a n d t a s t i n g s . Th e re a re t h re e o pt i o n s to c h o o s e f ro m : t h e B o n d e d To u r, t h e B a r re l P ro of To u r a n d t h e I n s i d e t h e La b To u r. D u r i n g t h e B o n d e d To u r, g u e s t s c a n get a d et a i l e d l o o k at N ew R i f f ’s d i s t i l l i n g p ro c e ss “ f ro m g ra i n to b a r re l .” Th e B a r re l P ro of To u r t a ke s g u e st s to t h e We s t N ewp o r t C a m p u s t wi c e a m o nt h to v i s i t t h e a g i n g wa re h o u s e to ex p e r i e n c e t h e i ntox i c at i n g s c e nt of t h e eva p o rat i n g “a n ge l ’s s h a re,” s e e t h e b u i l d i n g ’s e a rl y 1 9 0 0 s a rc h i te c tu re ( i t u s e d to b e a s to ra ge fa c i l i t y fo r t h e G re e n l i n e t ro l l eys a n d b u s e s) a n d s a m p l e s p i r i t s d i re c t l y f ro m t h e b a r re l . A n d fo r a t ru l y i nt i m ate ex p e r i e n c e, t h e I n s i d e t h e La b To u r l et s yo u fo l l ow a d i s t i l l e r o n a wa l k t h ro u g h t h e p ro d u c t i o n f l o o r a n d get a n i n s i d e l o o k at t h e d i s t i l l e r y ’s “s e n s o r y l a b,” w h e re t h e te a m s a m p l e s a n d eva l u ate s t h e q u a l i t y of t h e i r wo r k . n ew r i f fd i st i l l i n g.c o m .

S te a m p u n k s p i r i t- m a ke r Second Sight (301 Elm St., Lu d l ow, Ky.) c o n j u re s t h e fe e l of a c i rc u s — t h e te a m b e h i n d t h e d i s t i l l e r y u s e d to wo rk o n p ro p s at C i rq u e d u S o l e i l i n La s Ve ga s — a n d t h e i r c re at i ve c o p p e r s t i l l l o o ks st ra i g ht f ro m t h e m i n d of J u l e s Ve r n e. Ta s te t h e i r s m a l l b atc h , o a k-a ge d b o u rb o n — o r o n e of t h e i r m a ny ru m s — af te r a to u r o r i n t h e i r c o c k t a i l l o u n ge. s e c o n d s i g h t s p i r i t s .c o m .

To s a m p l e m o re, t a ke T h e B - L i n e , a l o c a l i ze d ex te n s i o n of t h e Ke ntu c ky B o u r b o n Tra i l C raf t To u r, c e nte r i n g o n N ew R i f f, B o o n e C o u nt y D i s t i l l i n g C o. , O l d Po g u e D i s t i l l e r y a n d t h e N e e l y Fa m i l y D i s t i l l e r y wi t h a c o l l e c t i o n of b o n u s b o u r b o n c e nt r i c N KY b a rs a n d re s t a u ra nt s at w h i c h to s to p a n d s i p. B - L i n e l o c at i o n s i n c l u d e C o p p i n ’s at H ote l C ov i n g to n , O l d Ke ntu c ky B o u r b o n B a r, P ro h i b i t i o n B o u r b o n B a r a n d m o re. D own l o a d a n of f i c i a l B - L i n e g u i d e o n l i n e a n d c o l l e c t s t a m p s f ro m at l e a s t s i x s to p s to get s o m e swa g . f i n d yo u r s i p p i n g p o i n t .c o m .

N ew R i f f b o u r b o n

P H OTO S BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R 1 0 1

AT T R AC T I O N S

— or just enjoy the Genius of Water fountain. Fun fact: The water from the four auxiliary spigots is drinkable. 520 Vine St., Downtown,

myfountainsquare.com.

GRAILVILLE

A spiritual retreat and education center, Grailville offers opportunities to connect, work on an organic garden, meditate and explore connections between people, the divine and the planet.

It also has a meditation labyrinth.

932 O’Bannonville Road, Loveland, grailville-us.org.

GREAT PARKS OF HAMILTON COUNTY

Offers an array of green spaces all over the county, including 21 parks spanning more than 17,000 acres.

Boating, cycling, hiking, horseback riding lessons and more. Winton Woods, Sharon Woods and Miami Whitewater all have lakes to which you can bring your own watercraft or rent one. greatparks.org.

GREEN ACRES CANOE & KAYAK RENTAL

Rent canoes, kayaks, tubes and rafts to take on a meandering journey along the Whitewater River.

Also offers guided trips. 10465

Suspension Bridge Road, Harrison, greenacrescanoe.com.

GORMAN HERITAGE FARM

Gorman Heritage Farm is a 122acre working and educational farm located minutes from downtown.

Explore gardens and meet farm animals or hike wooded trails and challenge yourself to climb Calf Builder Hill for a great view of the Mill Creek Valley. 10052 Reading

Road, Evendale, gormanfarm.org.

HOCKING HILLS

This favorite nearby destination is perfect for unwinding and getting back to nature. Area parks feature caves, hollows and waterfalls.

19852 State Route 664, Logan, Ohio, hockinghills.com.

KROHN CONSERVATORY

This giant greenhouse features deserts, tropics, a butterfly garden, orchids and an interior waterfall, which guests can walk behind. Seasonally themed exhibitions feature unique plants, and the ever-popular annual butterfly show showcases butterflies from various parts of the world. 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiparks.com/krohn.

LOVELAND CASTLE

Step into one local man’s obsession and lifetime construction project, a hand-built Medieval castle based on European counter-

parts and built from stones from the Little Miami River. 12025 Shore

Drive, Loveland, lovelandcastle.com.

THE MIAMI TRAIL/ LOVELAND BIKE TRAIL

Also known as the Loveland Trail, it’s a 70-mile-long segment of the Little Miami State Park. The Loveland segment is closed to motorized traffic and is composed of flat, paved-over train tracks for easy biking. lovelandbiketrail.com.

MORGAN’S CANOE LIVERY Canoe, raft and kayak rentals for the Little Miami River and Whitewater River, plus riverside camping. 5701 State Route 350, Oregonia, morganscanoe.com.

MOUNT AIRY FOREST

Almost 1,500 acres of woods, trails and greenspace. Includes hiking and bridle trails (for horsies), a dog park, an arboretum, lodges and disc golf. Home to the magical Everybody’s Treehouse, Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible arboreal abode. 5083 Colerain Ave., Mount Airy, cincinnatiparks.com.

NEWPORT AQUARIUM

See and touch a variety of aquatic life at this massive, walk-through

aquarium, which boasts the world’s first Shark Bridge. View exhibits featuring penguins, jellyfish, the world’s largest collection of shark rays and more. 1 Aquarium

Way, Newport on the Levee, Newport, Ky., newportaquarium.com.

OHIO-TO-ERIE TRAIL

A statewide corridor of biking trails and on-road routes that connects the Ohio River to Lake Erie. The trail follows the Little Miami Scenic Trail from Newtown to Xenia and then along a historic rail corridor. ohiotoerietrail.org.

PERFECT NORTH SLOPES

Twenty-two ski and snowboard trails, two terrain parks and many snow tubing lanes. Offers a rental shop and lessons. 19074 Perfect

Place Lane, Lawrenceburg, Ind., perfectnorth.com.

PURPLE PEOPLE BRIDGE

Walk across the bridge from Cincinnati to Northern Kentucky (or vice versa) for a unique view of the river or attend one of the many events held on the bridge. Entrances on Pete Rose Way in Cincinnati and on Third Street in Newport, Ky., purplepeoplebridge.com.

PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK & MUSEUM Peruse over 60 pieces of monumental sculpture on over 300 acres of rolling hills in one of the few outdoor sculpture museums in the United States.

S m a l e R i ve r f ro nt Pa rk

1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton, pyramidhill.org.

RED RIVER GORGE

A popular scenic and natural refuge outside of Cincinnati that capitalizes on the canyon system along the Red River in East Central Kentucky. The national geological area in Daniel Boone National Forest features natural stone arches, unique rock formations, sandstone cliffs and the namesake river. 345 Robbie Ridge Road, Stanton, Ky., redrivergorge.com.

SAWYER POINT

A mile-long linear park right on the riverfront. Offers a performance pavilion, concessions, an outdoor skating rink, tennis and volleyball courts, playgrounds, water features (including the Armleder Memorial Sprayground) and more. See the river from a variety of heights and viewpoints and climb the curving Serpentine Wall. 705 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown, cincinnatiparks.com.

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B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

Top 10

SHARON WOODS

Hamilton County’s oldest park, Sharon Woods features multi-purpose trails for exercising and hiking and a popular boathouse, where you can rent row, pedal or pontoon boats to cruise around the 35-acre Sharon Lake. 11450 Lebanon Road, Sharonville, greatparks.org.

SKYSTAR WHEEL

Cincinnati’s own mini London Eye, the SkyStar Wheel is an observation wheel featuring climatecontrolled gondolas that offer stunning views of the Ohio River and the city skyline. Once slated to be a temporary attraction, the 150-foot-tall current SkyStar will be a replaced by a 200-foot-tall permanent structure in the same location with additional landscaping, concessions and art installations. 55 E. Freedom Way, Downtown, skystarwheel.com .

SMALE RIVERFRONT PARK Nestled between Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium in the center of The Banks by the Roebling Suspension Bridge, the park features fountains, walkways, gardens, an event lawn and stage, a meditative labyrinth, the Black Brigade Monument and a glassencased carousel with Cincinnatithemed critters. 166 W. Mehring Way, Downtown, cincinnatiparks. com/smale-riverfront-park.

goats, gardens, bees and a barnyard. 10245 Winton Road, Greenhills,

greatparks.org.

WOLF CREEK HABITAT & RESCUE

The Wolf Creek Habitat & Rescue can fulfill your desires of hanging out up close and personal with wolves. The sanctuary, which is only open on weekends, allows visitors to roam and pet all the wolves they want for a suggested donation. 14099 Wolf Creek Road,

PLACES TO TAKE A VISITOR As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

Brookville, Ind., wolfcreekhabitat.org.

Findlay Market

ZIEGLER PARK

This freshly renovated 4.5-acre urban greenspace features everything from an amazing seasonal community pool (with a diving board, zero-depth entry and splashy climbing wall) to an ADA-accessible playground, game grove (with bocce ball!) and six basketball hoops. 1322 Sycamore

Over-the-Rhine (TIE) Smale Riverfront Park (TIE)

St., Over-the-Rhine, zieglerpark.org.

Jungle Jim’s International Market

OBSERVATOR IES/ PLANETAR IUMS

Cincinnati Reds Game

CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY Founded in 1842, the Cincinnati Observatory houses the oldest fully operational telescope in the nation. Hosts public viewings, special date-night events and more. 3489

Cincinnati Museum Center

Observatory Place, Mount Lookout, cincinnatiobservatory.org.

Cincinnati Art Museum

WAKE NATION CINCINNATI Cable wake boarding involves a cable system that drags riders around a lake. 201 Joe Nuxhall Way,

Fairfield, wakenationcincinnati.com.

WASHINGTON PARK

A central civic space in the heart of Cincinnati, right across from Music Hall. A fenced dog park, playground, fountain, the American Classical Music Walk of Fame, a lawn and big deck with a full bar are just part of its charm. The Washington Park deck features comfortable lounge seating, plus a full bar: beer, wine, liquor and local drafts, including MadTree, Moerlein, Taft’s Ale House and Rhinegeist. It’s an excellent addition to OTR’s “backyard,” and a great space to grab a beer on weekends when the weather is warm. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, washingtonpark.org.

WINTON WOODS

The park features a boat-able harbor, 18-hole disc golf, 2.6 miles of paved trails, basketball courts, an equestrian trail and riding center and Parky’s Farm, an educational space that features

DRAKE PLANETARIUM

Located inside Norwood Senior High, this planetarium conducts educational programs as well as astronomical glimpses and laser light shows. 2020 Sherman Ave.,

Carew Tower Observation Deck

Norwood, drakeplanetarium.org.

The Banks

HAILE DIGITAL PLANETARIUM

Tucked away on the fourth floor of Northern Kentucky University’s Science Center, the planetarium isn’t only available to students — they work with the surrounding community to schedule visits and are open to the public several times a month. 409 Natural Science

Center, Highland Heights, Ky., nku.edu/planetarium.

WOLFF PLANETARIUM

The oldest planetarium west of the Allegheny Mountains. Twenty adults can sit and gaze at the constellations while an experienced naturalist leads you on a journey through the stars. Trailside Nature

Center, 3251 Brookline Ave., Burnet Woods, Clifton, cincinnatiparks.com.

FC Cincinnati Game

SPORTS

CINCINNATI REDS

CINCINNATI BENGALS

superstar Joey Votto. Great American Ball Park, 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown, reds.mlb.com.

Who dey! Cincinnati’s NFL team.

Paul Brown Stadium, 1 Paul Brown Way, Downtown, bengals.com.

CINCINNATI CYCLONES

The minor league hockey team offers cool theme nights and regular deals on food and (adult) beverages. U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway

Catch the Redlegs led by veteran

CINCINNATI DOCKERS

Australian-rules football with roots in early forms of rugby and Gaelic football. Point Pleasant Park, Resor Road at Windemere Lane, Fairfield, cincinnatidockers.com.

St., Downtown, cycloneshockey.com.

1 0 3

AT T R AC T I O N S

CINCINNATI ROLLERGIRLS

This bad-ass flat-track roller derby squad does its thing locally at the Schmidt Memorial Fieldhouse and at tracks throughout North America. Xavier University,

3900 Winding Way, Evanston, cincinnatirollergirls.com.

CINCINNATI WOLFHOUNDS High-quality rugby. Brimelow

Fields, 6441 Stockton Road, Fairfield, wolfhoundsrfc.com.

DAYTON DRAGONS

Just a quick trip up I-75 takes you to Fifth Third Field, home of the Reds’ Class A minor league baseball team, the Dayton Dragons.

Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd., Dayton, daytondragons.com.

FC C i n c i n n at i

XAVIER UNIVERSITY

The Musketeers are enjoying life in the Big East Conference. Cintas Center, Xavier University, Evanston, goxavier.com.

TOURS AMERICAN LEGACY TOURS

“Historically entertaining.” Guided tours through the history of the Queen City. Tours include the Newport Gangster Tour, which explores historic brothels, speakeasies and casinos; Queen City Underground, which explores the city’s brewing history and underground tunnels; 1919 Baseball; Newport Is Haunted; and Queen City Is Haunted. americanlegacytours.com.

ARTWORKS MURAL TOURS FC CINCINNATI

Local orange-and-blue Major League Soccer team. It’s the city’s hottest sports ticket. Nippert Stadium, University of Cincinnati campus, Clifton Heights, fccincinnati.com.

FLORENCE FREEDOM

Minor league baseball in the independent Frontier League.

University of Cincinnati Health Stadium, 7950 Freedom Way, Florence, Ky., florencefreedom.com.

KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

This speedway hosts big time races, including those in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series. 1 Speedway Drive, Sparta, Ky.,

kentuckyspeedway.com.

MOUNT ST. JOSEPH UNIVERSITY

Mount St. Joseph University, Delhi, msj.edu/athletics.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

The Norse compete in Division I athletics. BB&T Arena, Northern Ken-

Each summer, ArtWorks, a local arts nonprofit, connects professional artists with apprentice students to create public murals. Found throughout the city, the murals range from small and quirky to entire walls.

Guided walking tours of downtown and Over-the-Rhine murals available. artworkscincinnati.org.

BB RIVERBOATS

Historic riverboat cruises along the Ohio River. Pick from themed dinner cruises, sightseeing cruises, holiday cruises or charter your own private ship. 101 Riverboat Row, Newport, Ky., bbriverboats.com.

BREWING HERITAGE TRAIL TOURS

Offers guests a look inside the city’s breweries, cellars and lagering tunnels and a free walking trail featuring historical markers, informational signage with photos and an ever-evolving app. “Hop on” the trail at Findlay Market (1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine) or Grant Park (73 E. McMicken, Over-the-Rhine).

tucky University, Louie B. Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Ky., nkunorse.com.

Brewing Heritage Trail Tour Center, 1619 Moore St., Over-the-Rhine, brewingheritagetrail.org.

THOMAS MORE COLLEGE

CINCY BREW BUS

The Saints compete in Division III. Thomas More College, Bank of

Kentucky Field, Crestview Hills, Ky., mcsaints.com.

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

The Bearcats football and basketball teams are on the rise. UC’s athletic complex is a great place to catch other sports as well. Uni-

versity of Cincinnati, Clifton Heights, gobearcats.com.

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Don’t drink and drive. Cincy Brew Bus takes patrons to a variety of different local breweries, wineries and distilleries on themed bus tours. The craft tours vary in length and time, but all include information and alcohol. cincybrewbus.com.

CINCINNATI CYCLE BOAT

An alcoholic pedal-powered pub that takes between six and 16 people for a boozy float down the Ohio River. This private, for-hire charter lets you bring the bar — beer, wine and liquor are all allowed (no

kegs). However, you also have to bring the ice, cups (no glass) and music. There is an on-board motor, so the activity level is up to you; pedal as much or as little as you like. Rivertown Marina,

4601 Kellogg Ave., East End, cincycycleboat.com.

CINCINNATI FOOD TOURS

Hosts walkable culinary tours of Over-the-Rhine, Findlay Market, Walnut Hills, Pendleton, Mount Adams and more. Opt for themes like a “sweet stroll” or a tour that takes you on the streetcar. cincinnatifoodtours.com.

CINCINNATI GERMAN HERITAGE TOURS

Learn about Cincinnati’s 19th-century German immigrant boom. See historic German neighborhoods, iconic buildings and landmarks, and learn about local businesses built by German immigrants. Led by German-American historian Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann.

Tours are by appointment. germanheritagetours.com.

CRAFT CONNECTION BREWERY TOURS Visit three to four breweries in three to four hours.

Transportation, tastings and tours are included. Try several samples at each brewery, learn about their beer and brewing process and then hop back on the bus to do it again. The bus includes water, snacks, souvenir cups and a cooler to store any growlers. craftconnectiontours.com.

CYCLING BACKROADS TOUR

Promotes cycling in the area. Take guided tours of Spring Grove Cemetery or Over-the-Rhine. Tours last about two hours. cyclingbackroads.

com/backroads/cbtours.html.

DOWNTOWN SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS

Downtown Cincinnati offers a choice of pre-planned Queen City Walking tours. Also includes itinerary suggestions for all ages and interests. Download a brochure and map at downtowncincinnati.com.

THE GARAGE OTR

Offers three distinct Segway tours.

All three Segway tours include

15-20 minutes of training and a 90-minute guided ride. Also offers custom tours and electric bike rentals. 1150 Vine St., Over-the-

Rhine, thegarageotr.com.

GO VIBRANT WALKING TOURS

Go Vibrant tours lead walkers on one- to three-mile walking tours throughout Cincinnati neighborhoods, including Avondale, Covington, East Walnut Hills, Northside and more. govibrant.org.

HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES

A variety of carriage providers offer rides through downtown Cincinnati, Covington and Newport. Most

P H OTO G R A P H BY FC C I N C I N N AT I

carriages depart from Fountain Square (520 Vine St., Downtown). downtowncincinnati.com.

QUEEN CITY HISTORY TOURS

Tour includes stories of Over-theRhine’s immigrant origins, ethnic conflicts, industrial triumphs and notorious alcohol history. Also see historic architecture and travel into subterranean malt oven cellars two stories below Washington Platform. queencityhistory.com.

RIVERSIDE FOOD TOURS

Traverse historic neighborhoods in Northern Kentucky and downtown Cincinnati/Over-the-Rhine (on the streetcar!) to share stories, sites and bites. The walking tours in-

clude generous tastings and drinks from five unique locally owned restaurants. riversidefoodtours.com.

PEDAL WAGON

This is a 15-person, pedal-powered rolling party that allows alcohol on board for light drinking while pedaling. Offers themed cruises around different neighborhoods, sports games, etc. 1114 Bunker Alley, Over-the-Rhine, pedalwagon.com.

STRATUS HELICOPTER TOURS

Scenic aerial tours of Greater Cincinnati, taking off and landing right on the banks of the Ohio River.

TRAINS CINCINNATI DINNER TRAIN

Enjoy dinner on two restored 1950s dining cars and a drink or two as you travel along the scenic railways of Cincinnati to downtown, the riverfront and back.

Departs from 2172 Seymour Ave., Norwood, cincinnatidinnertrain.com.

ENTERTRAINMENT JUNCTION

A train-themed family entertainment center, including the world’s largest indoor interactive train display. 7379 Squire Court, West

LEBANON MASON MONROE RAILROAD

Offers an hour-long train ride through the beautiful rolling countryside of Southwest Ohio. 16 E.

South St., Lebanon, lebanonrr.com.

RAILWAY MUSEUM OF GREATER CINCINNATI

Visit Cincinnati’s four-acre outdoor museum filled with locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and railroad memorabilia. 315

W. Southern Ave., Latonia, Ky., cincirailmuseum.org.

Chester, entertrainmentjunction.com.

stratushelicopters.com.

1 0 5

Y L I A D N E P O M P 0 1 M A 8

6 ½ A c r e s O f Fo o d !

FOODS FROM OVER 70 COUNTRIES

1,400 INTERN ATIONAL CHEESES

17,000 WINES 4,500 BEERS WORLD CLAS S CIGAR HUMID OR

BREAD BAKED FROM SCRATCH DAILY A COOK’S PAR ADISE AT GOURMET GALERIA

TWO LOCATIONS, ONE JUNGLE 5440 Dixie Highway Fairfield, OH 45014 4450 Eastgate South Drive Cincinnati, OH 45245

junglejims.com

KOMBUCHA BAR 10 + FLAVORS ON TAP

F I N D L AY MARKET YO U R W AY p. 116

Shopping Boutiques, bookstores, vintage and vinyl.

T h e B u d d i n g Fl o r i s t

Th i s f l o ra l d e s i g n a n d p l a nt sto re fe atu re s to n s of g re e n go o d s , a b o u q u et b a r a n d s p a c e fo r wo r ks h o p s . p. 113

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

BEST BOUTIQUES p. 11 5

SHOPPING

ANTIQUES/FLEA MAR KETS ART ON VINE

An art show and market where more than 70 local fine artists and makers come together to sell handmade goods. Monthly at vari-

Th e C i t y Fl e a

antiques, collectibles and furniture. 8145 Mall Road, Florence, Ky., florenceantiquemall.com.

GRAND ANTIQUE MALL Peruse 27,000-square-feet of antiques. 9701 Reading Road,

Reading, grandantiquemall.com.

ous locations including Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine; Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown, artonvinecincy.com.

HANOVER HOUSE

BLOODLINE MERCHANTS

Hyde Park, hanoverhouseltd.com.

European industrial antiques, salvage items and local goods.

Also carries Farrow & Ball paint and wallpaper products. 131 E. McMicken Ave., Over-the-Rhine, bloodlinemerchants.com.

BURLINGTON ANTIQUE SHOW

For more than 35 years, Burlington has been the Midwest’s premier antiques and vintage-only show with more than 200 dealers. Find everything from Art Deco and Farmhouse Primitives to metal letters, knickknacks, furniture and more. Third Sundays April-

October. Boone County Fairgrounds, 5819 Idlewild Road, Burlington, Ky., burlingtonantiqueshow.com.

THE CITY FLEA

Cincinnati’s curated urban flea market with vendors from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and beyond.

Find vintage clothes and décor, upcycled goods, handmade arts and crafts, artisanal food, pet supplies and apothecary items.

Monthly May-October, December.

Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Overthe-Rhine, thecityflea.com.

CRAFTY SUPERMARKET

A juried indie craft show with annual spring and holiday markets featuring crafters from across the region and the U.S. Various locations, craftysupermarket.com .

ENGLISH TRADITIONS

Fine European antiques, European-made replicas, home furniture and accessories. 2041

Madison Road, O’Bryonville, englishtraditions.com.

FLAMINGO HAVEN ANTIQUE MALL

An urban antique mall with more than 15,000 square feet.

4530 W. Mitchell Ave., Spring Grove Village, facebook.com/ flamingohavenantiquemall.

FLORENCE ANTIQUE MALL 50,000-square-foot showroom with 300 showcases featuring

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

English and American antique furniture, home accessories, ceramics and fine art. 2701 Observatory Ave.,

LEFTCOAST MODERN

Retailer of all things modern from the 1950s through the 1970s. 1202 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook. com/leftcoastmodern.

LITTLE GRAY HOUSE

This titular little gray cottage in Pleasant Ridge offers shabby chic vintage and vintage-styled goods, plus novelties — candles, soap, decorative plates, pillows, plants, etc. 6030 Ridge Ave., Pleasant Ridge,

facebook.com/thelittlegrayhouse18.

OAKLEY FANCY FLEA MARKET/O.F.F. MARKET

A monthly neighborhood marketplace that brings together specialty food and beverage vendors, independent businesses, artists and farmers. Monthly MaySeptember. MadTree, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley, theoffmarket.org.

OHIO VALLEY ANTIQUE MALL

Cincinnati’s largest multi-dealer antique mall. 7285 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, ohiovalleyantiques.com.

RICHWOOD FLEA MARKET Family-friendly flea market.

10915 Dixie Highway, Walton, Ky., richwoodfleamarket.com.

RIVERSIDE CENTRE ANTIQUE MALL

More than 100 vendors selling everything from vintage and collectible furniture, clothing, estate jewelry, Rookwood pottery and primitives to books, photos, novelty items and more.

3742 Kellogg Ave., East End, riversidecentreantiques.com.

THAT SHOP IN MILFORD

Wide variety of antiques and collectibles along with one-of-a-kind finds. 217 Main St., Milford, facebook.

com/thatshopinmilford217.

TRADERS WORLD

Indoor/outdoor weekend flea

market with giant animal statues, neon palm trees, more than 16 buildings and 400 outdoor vendors.

601 Union Road, Monroe, tradersworldmarket.com.

TREASURE AISLES FLEA MARKET

A pirate-themed bargain-

hunter’s paradise. 320 N. Garver Road, Monroe, treasure-aisles.com.

TRI-STATE ANTIQUE MARKET

The largest regularly scheduled gathering of antiques and vintage-goods dealers in Indiana. All merchandise is required to be at least 30 years old and out of production. First Sundays

May-October. Lawrenceburg Indiana Fairgrounds, 351 E. Eads Parkway, Lawrenceburg, Ind., lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com.

WOODEN NICKEL ANTIQUES

Buys and sells vintage items. Specializes in architectural wares, stained glass, wooden bars, decorative arts and furniture. 1410 Central

Parkway, Over-the-Rhine, woodennickelantiques.net.

ARTS/ CRAFTS/ HOBBIES ABSOLUTELY NEEDLEPOINT

A needlepoint and sewing arts supply store that also offers classes.

7117 Miami Ave., Madeira, absolutelyneedlepointcincy.com.

A WORLD OF BEADS

A make-your-own jewelry store featuring beads, bead-making products and classes. 1429 Vine St.,

Over-the-Rhine, aworldofbeads.com.

BEAD SHOP

Sells beads and related items. Also offers classes. 7754 Camargo Road, Madeira, 513-271-5222.

BOARDWALK HOBBY SHOP Model kit and hobby shop featuring a wide variety of board and card games. 1032 Delta Ave.,

that houses more than 25 artist studios; a school of glass; a retail store for tools, supplies, glass products and gifts; and a gallery featuring regional and national art. 4426 Brazee St., Oakley, brazeestreetstudios.com.

THE CANDLE LAB OTR

A Columbus-based shop specializing in soy candles and custom fragrances. Pour your own custom-scented candles or create your own home fragrance products. 1325 Vine St., Over-the-

Rhine; 7454 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township, thecandlelab.com.

Mount Lookout, 513-871-2110.

BRAZEE STREET STUDIOS A solar-powered green building

CAPPEL’S

With a little bit of everything, Cappel’s is known as a costume

P H OTO G R A P H BY H O L D E N M AT H I S

destination but also offers party decorations, floral supplies and event ephemera. Multiple locations including 920 Elm St., Downtown, cappelsinc.com.

CORE CLAY

A shared studio with more than 40 artisans that also sells clay supplies, including their own line of in-house glazes and special tools.

Also offers classes from child and beginner to advanced. 2533 Gilbert

Ave., Walnut Hills, coreclay.com.

DODD CAMERA

Cameras, lenses, flashes and accessories, plus printing services, rentals, repairs, classes and more.

6475 E. Galbraith Road, Kenwood, doddcamera.com.

FABULOUS FRAMES & ART Custom framer with a wide selection of art, specializing in naturebased Midcentury Modern prints from Cincinnatian Charley Harper.

Multiple locations including 17 W. Fourth St., Downtown, fabframes.com.

FIBERLICIOUS

An artsy and eclectic yarn boutique. Also offers knitting lessons. 8157 Camargo Road,

Madeira, fiberlicious.com.

FRAMESHOP

Helmed by a rag-tag collection of good-looking craftsmen, frameshop specializes in modern framing applications for unique artwork and prints to display your favorite pieces. 1317 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine, frameshopusa.com.

HANK, A YARN BOUTIQUE Large selection of yarn (from cotton to cashmere), patterns for knitting, crafts and classes.

2651 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park, hankyarn.com.

INDIGENOUS CRAFT GALLERY

A handcrafted gallery with contemporary American fine crafts, including those by local artists.

and brushes to buttons, yarn and natural materials like feathers and stone. And prices are always set as low as possible. 1334 Main St., Over-

the-Rhine, indigohippo.org.

KNIT ON!

Knitting classes, supplies, yarn and accessories from around the world.

735 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., knit-on.com.

1609 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills, indigenouscraft.com.

MAD POTTER

INDIGO HIPPO

Multiple locations including 7754 Camargo Road, Madeira, madpottercincinnati.com.

Indigo Hippo’s stock is entirely donation-based, coming largely from area artists, students and makers. Inside, you’ll find everything from charcoal, paints

Paint-your-own pottery studio.

MANITOU CANDLE CO.

Hand-poured, small-batch candles made from 100-percent, 1 0 9

SHOPPING

American soy wax. Pour and scent your own in one of the frequently held candle-making workshops.

4015 Eastern Ave., East End, manitoucandleco.com.

locations 7875 Montgomery Road, Kenwood; 7135 Foundry Row, Liberty Township, rookwood.com.

SEW VALLEY

URBAN EDEN

Fine art and contemporary crafts including jewelry, handbags, accessories, garden art, soaps and more by local and regional artists.

BLUE MARBLE BOOKS

An independent bookstore offering toddler through teen books, games and activities. 1356

S. Fort Thomas Ave., Fort Thomas, Ky., bluemarblebooks.com.

1313 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-621-3336.

Clifton Heights; 8118 Montgomery Road, Kenwood, plazaart.com.

A community space for fashion designers and entrepreneurs.

Provides access to production services, education, workspace. and classes to the public. 1010 Hulbert

Ave., West End, sewvalley.org.

QUEEN CITY CLAY

SILK ROAD TEXTILES

2803 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, facebook.com/woodburngames.

St., Downtown, facebook.com/ booksellersonfountainsquare.

BOOKS/COMICS

THE BOOKSHELF

PLAZA ARTIST MATERIALS A smaller national chain of art supply stores. 230 W. McMillan St.,

Offers pottery classes, demonstrations and goods to nurture the human impulse to create. 3130 Wasson Road, Hyde Park, queencityclay.com.

ROBIN IMAGING

Digitally scans and prints fine art and photos. Also does custom framing, vinyl wrap graphics and lets you design your own wallpaper.

2106 Central Parkway, Over-theRhine, robinimaging.com .

THE ROOKWOOD POTTERY CO.

A world-renowned art-tile and pottery company known for impeccable design and craftsmanship.

The public can take guided tours of the production facility and showroom in Over-the-Rhine. Showroom

1920 Race St., Over-the-Rhine; retail

The area’s premier stop for ethically sourced fibers from fine fabrics to yarn. With an emphasis on eclectic, exotic and globally sourced textiles. 6106 Hamilton Ave., North College Hill, silkroadcincinnati.com.

ST. THERESA TEXTILE TROVE

Sewing notions, fabric and quilting supplies. 1310 Pendleton St.,

Pendleton Art Center, Pendleton, sttheresatextile.com.

SUDER’S ART STORE

Started in 1924, this beloved and eclectic OTR institution has served generations of Art Academy of Cincinnati students and the general public as an art supply store and framer. 1309 Vine St., Over-the-

WOODBURN GAMES

A shop offering tabletop, CCG, mini and board games, as well as an RPG academy every first Tuesday.

ARCADIAN COMICS & GAMES

The latest graphic novels, comic books and games, including options for young readers and Magic: The Gathering events.

627 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., arcadiancomics.com.

BLUE MANATEE LITERACY PROJECT

Blue Manatee Literacy Project is a children’s bookstore where for every book purchased, one is donated to a disadvantaged reader. 3094 Madison Road, Oakley,

bluemanatee.org.

THE BOOKSELLERS ON FOUNTAIN SQUARE

A locally owned and operated independent downtown bookstore with a coffee shop. 505 Vine

A small, neighborhood bookstore with an edited selection of books and individual service.

7754 Camargo Road, Madeira, cincybookshelf.indielite.org.

THE BOOK RACK

The largest chain of independently owned used bookstores offering a free-spirited experience for those who love to read. 8315 Beechmont Ave., Beechmont, thebookrack.com.

CINCY BOOK BUS

A mobile bookshop featuring hand-picked titles sold from the back of a converted Volkswagen pick-up truck. Find pop-up locations

at facebook.com/cincybookbus.

Rhine, sudersartstore.com.

COMIC BOOK WORLD

Comic book and gaming store.

S u d e r ’s A r t S to re

7130 Turfway Road, Florence, Ky., comicbookworld.com.

DUTTENHOFER’S BOOKS

Tons of quality used and old books specializing in antiquarian, art and architecture, decorative binding, ephemera, leather binding and literary classics. 214 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, duttenhofers.com.

CINCINNATI PUBLIC LIBRARY FRIENDS’ SHOP

Housed in the public library’s main branch, the shop has treasures for readers, writers and gift-givers including gently used books, greeting cards and literary-themed items. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine St., Downtown, cincylibraryfriends.org.

THE FRIENDS’ USED BOOK STORE AT THE WAREHOUSE

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM DOTY 110

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

With a stock made of private donations and library discards, the warehouse from the Friends of the Public Library features a variety of used books and media in a volunteer-staffed space. 8456 Vine St., Hartwell, cincylibraryfriends.org .

20thcenturycincinnati.com FRINGE BOOKSTORE

A colorful pop-up bookshop in Camp Washington that is helmed

by Andrew McKinley, founder of the renowned Adobe Books in San Francisco. Hours and selection vary. 2931 Jessamine St., Camp Washington .

HALF PRICE BOOKS

Independent bookstore chain buying and selling books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and more. Multiple locations including 8118 Montgomery Road, Kenwood, hpb.com.

IRIS BOOKCAFÉ

Coffee shop and bookstore with a large selection of vintage books on topics like art, architecture, literature and film. Also has children’s books in many languages and the largest collection of Polish books in Cincinnati. 1331 Main St., Over-theRhine, irisbookcafeotr.com.

JOSEPH-BETH BOOKSELLERS

Independent chain of bookstores offering a large selection of books for all ages, author signings, gifts and a bistro. 2692 Madison Road,

Norwood; 2785 Dixie Highway, Crestview Hills, Ky., josephbeth.com.

513.738.7256

SMITH & HANNON BOOKSTORE

Established in 2003 with the goal of bringing high-quality books to the area, with an emphasis on African-American and local authors. Formerly located in the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

26th annual

70 Dealers

1405 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, smithandhannonbookstore.com.

UP, UP AND AWAY! COMICS Wide selection of graphic novels, more than 57,000 back-issue comics on display and hundreds of new items every week.

4016 Harrison Ave., Bridgetown; 5885 Pfeiffer Road, Blue Ash, upupandawaycomics.com.

BR IDAL BOUTIQUES AMANDA’S HYDE PARK BRIDAL

Specialty bridal boutique offering exclusive and couture designers and one-on-one services. 3319 Erie

february 22-23, 2020 sharonville convention center exit #15 off I-75 show hours: sat & sun 11-5 $8 admission good both days

java preview sat.

9 am - 11 am $25 advance $35 at the door media partners:

Ave., Hyde Park, hydeparkbridal.com.

BELLE BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

AD

Plus-size bridal couture.

1028 Central Ave., Middletown, thebellebridalboutique.com.

OHIO BOOK STORE

In operation since 1940, the store offers five floors of books and magazines, as well as book repair and binding. 726 Main St., Downtown, ohiobookstore.net .

BRIDAL & FORMAL

QUEEN CITY COMIC & CARD CO.

CARRIE KARIBO BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

6101 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge; 6600 Dixie Highway, Fairfield, queencitycomics.com.

Reading, carriekaribobridal.com.

Provides a large and diverse selection of comic books, trading cards, movie posters and toys.

ROEBLING POINT BOOKS & COFFEE

A small, independent bookstore and fair-trade coffee shop at the foot of the Roebling Bridge.

Features titles ranging from best-sellers to pieces by local authors. Dog-friendly. 306 Greenup

St., Covington, Ky., facebook.com/ roeblingpointbooksandcoffee.

Carries the largest selection of wedding dresses in the area.

300 W. Benson St., Reading, bridalandformalinc.com.

Fun, stylish and unique wedding dresses in an intimate, boutique atmosphere. 334 W. Benson St.,

DONNA SALYERS’ FABULOUS-BRIDAL

Four floors of the runway’s latest bridal fashions in a historic building. 601 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky.,

new ar crafts ts and dailey

fabulousbridal.com.

LACE BRIDAL COUTURE Chic boutique for any budget.

Prices range from $1,000$10,000. 100 W. Benson St.,

Reading, lacebridalcouture.com.

ROCKIN’ ROOSTER COMICS & GAMES

Comics, games, trade paperbacks, graphic novels, T-shirts, statues and action figures. 5000 Glenway Ave., Western Hills, rockinroostercomics.com.

LOVELY BRIDE

A Cincinnati location of the indie N.Y.-based Lovely bridal chain featuring inspiring and emerging designers and a fun shopping experience. 2718 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, lovelybride.com.

1 1 1

Great Oaks is

Deerhaus Decor

LUXE REDUX BRIDAL

A high-end consignment boutique that offers gently used designer wedding gowns without the big price tags. Designers like Vera Wang, Pronovias, Badgley Mischka and more are all represented and affordable. 203 W. Benson St., Reading, luxereduxbridal.com

30 career majors for high school students

WENDY’S BRIDAL CINCINNATI

A large selection of bridal designers including Allure, Essence of Australia and more.

301 W. Benson St., Reading, wendysbridalcincinnati.com.

CHILDR EN’S APPAR EL/TOYS CASTLE HOUSE

Providing upscale designer clothing and shoes for boys, girls and infants for more than 55 years.

Professional and career training for adults

3435 Edwards Road, Hyde Park, castlehouse.com.

COOLEST TOYS ON EARTH Superior and extraordinary toys from around the world. 314 Main

St., Milford; 6840 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, coolesttoysonearth.com.

AD

GUMDROP TOTS

Short-term personal enrichment classes

A children’s shop “for tots and their grownups” selling gifts, books, games, toys and clothes from the owners of Handzy Shop + Studio. 15 W. Pike St., Covington, gumdroptots.com.

KING ARTHUR’S COURT TOYS

A purveyor of beloved classic toys for more than 25 years. Rediscover old favorites like LEGO, Playmobil, Calico Critters and Breyer horses and ride back home on a purple micro scooter. 3040 Madison Road,

Four campuses

Oakley, kingarthurstoys.com.

LITTLE LORDS AND LADIES BOUTIQUE

Children’s boutique with clothing, toys and accessories for girls and boys. 7816 Cooper Road, Montgomery, 513-891-1569.

SPOTTED GOOSE

Helps your kid unleash their inner Rock star by mixing and matching whimsically printed onesies with hipster hoodies and quirky graphic T-shirts. 3048 Madison Road, Oakley, thespottedgoose.com.

greatoaks.com 112

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

STONEY’S VILLAGE TOY SHOPPE

All things fairy princess and

magical with wings, gifts and more.

323 W. Sixth St., Covington, Ky., stoneystoys.com.

STYLED BY MAMA

Modern and whimsical yet designdriven products for baby and child.

Toys, décor and clothes. 16 E. 13th

St., Over-the-Rhine, styledbymama.com.

ECO & GR EEN GREENER STOCK

Sells green building materials and architectural components for homes and businesses. 3747 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum, greenerstock.com.

HEMPTATIONS

Quality hemp and eco-friendly goods. Celebrating two decades in business. Multiple locations

including 2034 Madison Road, O’Bryonville; 4181 Hamilton Ave., Northside, hemptations.com.

OHIO CBD GUY

Branded tinctures and lotions containing CBD. Also carries other brands of CBD-containing goods ranging from edibles to pet treats.

105 Park Place, Covington, Ky.; 2817 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, ohiocbdguy.com.

EYEWEAR BUTEN EYEWEAR

Unique and designer eyewear. 21 E.

Fifth St., Downtown, buteneyewear.com.

SHOPPING

GIA AND THE BLOOMS

Contemporary and clean seasonal floral arrangements at an affordable price point. Offers a curated selection of items like greeting cards, candles and locally made ceramics. Burlap-wrapped bouquets begin at $35. 114 E. 13th

St., Over-the-Rhine; Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, giablooms.com.

GOODS ON MAIN

A shop with rotating themes featuring items handpicked by staffers. 1300 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine, facebook.com/goodsonmain.

GRAINWELL

Owned and operated by three sisters. A wood and design shop offering unique handmade pieces.

33 W. Pike St., Covington, Ky., grainwell.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ADAM DOTY

EYE 1 UNIQUE EYEWEAR

THE BUDDING FLORIST

2648 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, eye-1.com.

1817 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, thebuddingfloristcincy.com.

High-end and unique eyewear, featuring brands like Ray-Ban, John Varvatos, Oliver Peoples and more.

YORK VISION INTERNATIONAL

Fresh, locally sourced flowers and tropical plants in a Findlay Market-adjacent storefront.

BUSY BEE BOUTIQUE

Motto is “The art of being unique.” Offers stylish eyewear.

Unique gifts for infants, kids, teens and adults. 110 S. Second St., Unit G,

WARBY PARKER

CAMARGO TRADING COMPANY

7599 Kenwood Road, Kenwood, yorkvisioninternational.com.

This hip, mail-order eyewear shop has a local showroom in OTR, complete with a cool mural and a statue of a blue-footed booby.

1419 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, warbyparker.com.

WING EYECARE

Third-generation Cincinnati optometrist and eyewear provider.

Multiple locations including 1351 E. Kemper Road, Glendale, wingeyecare.com.

GIFTS & NOVELTIES A VILLAGE GIFT SHOP AT THE CENTURY HOUSE

A gift shop in historic Glendale that has been around for more than 60 years. 3 Village Square, Glendale,

avillagegift.com.

BARB’S COZY COTTAGE

Loveland, busybeeboutique.biz.

Stylish destination for high-end home accessories and more. 7744

Laurel Ave., Madeira, camargotrading.com.

THE CHOCOLATE BEE

The collective home of Chocolats Latour and Bee Haven. Chocolats Latour concocts fair-trade, gourmet chocolates made with local ingredients, while Bee Haven is a honey-lovers’ dream, offering products like beeswax lanterns, candles and lip balms made with the help of the owners’ own beehives. 4037 Hamilton Ave., Northside, chocolatebeecincy.com.

CODA CO.

Hip and crafty shop that features maker-made products from upcycled and natural materials, like macrame wall hangings, coffee-bag pillows and bourbon barrel pub tables. 400 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky., shopcodaco.com.

Local handmade gifts and crafts.

307 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky., barbscozycottage.com.

DEERHAUS DECOR

Provides a brick-and-mortar

location for local craftsmen and artisans to display their work, which ranges from soaps and ceramics to jewelry and woodwork.

There are also unique maker-made and vintage items from across the United States. 135 W. Elder St., Over-

the-Rhine, deerhausdecor.com.

EDEN FLORAL BOUTIQUE

Step inside to purchase a curated line of houseplants, succulents, containers and grab-and-go bouquets or just peruse the fresh flower bar for inspiration.

1129 Walnut St., Downtown, edenfloralboutique.com.

FERN

Offers minimal, modern and nature-inspired items. Located in a converted gas station, find a carefully edited selection of unique hand-thrown pottery, art, weavings and more, along with a curated assortment of beautiful, thriving plants. 6040 Hamilton Ave., College

Hill, fern-shop.com.

THE FIG LEAF

Quality handcrafted jewelry, accessories and gifts. 3438

Edwards Road, Hyde Park, figleafhydepark.com.

GAME DAY FEELS

Their rawhide gender-inclusive wrist wraps are handmade from genuine tanned baseball glove lace leather and secured with a buckle. 529 Main St., Loveland, gamedayfeels.com.

HAIL DARK AESTHETICS

An oddities and record shop in MainStrasse. The storefront is stuffed with taxidermy, tarot cards, religious ephemera, Black Metalstyle jewelry, branded Ouija boards and a bunch of dead snakes. For good or bad, there aren’t too many other stores where you can buy a pig fetus and the Twin Peaks soundtrack on vinyl in the same transaction. 720 Main St., Covington, Ky., hailcincinnati.com.

HANDZY SHOP + STUDIO

The colorful shop — helmed by two BFFs — offers a wide assortment of cute-as-a-button clothing, whimsical papergoods, well-designed giftables and more. You can also peruse a very fun collection of pins, patches and local goods. The duo needed more space so they took over the storefront next door to their original shop to offer two floors of fun. 17 W. Pike St., Covington, Ky.,

hellohandzy.com.

I LOVE CINCINNATI SHOP Reds, Bengals and local college goods galore, plus collectibles, shirts, hats, glassware and photos. 441 Vine St., Downtown,

ilovecincinnatishop.com.

THE LITTLE MAHATMA

Exotic jewelry, folk art and artifacts from the world’s traditional cultures. 1205 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine,

facebook.com/thelittlemahatma.

LUCCA

Specializes in laser-cut wood, natural gifts, supplies and décor.

126 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, luccaworkshop.com.

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SHOPPING

METALLIC GIRAFFE

Showcases the work of artisans, local vendors and specialty retail lines. 2034 Anderson Ferry Road,

custom invitation design services, clever sundries and more. 3446

Michigan Ave., Hyde Park, poeme-online.com.

Delhi, metallicgiraffe.com.

M. HOPPLE & CO.

Creative paper goods and stationery plus design services.

POMEGRANATE & LIME

Creative gifts for every age, every occasion and every taste. Specializes in gift wrapping. 6804 Wooster

7920 Hosbrook Road, Kenwood, mhopple.com.

Pike, Mariemont, facebook.com/ pomegranateandlime.

MICA 12/V

QUEEN CITY ALCHEMY

Local and independently made crafts and homegoods. 1201 Vine

St., Over-the-Rhine, shopmica.com.

NEST GIFTS

Full spectrum of gifts from baby to home décor, including monograms. 3439 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park, facebook.com/ nestgiftscincinnati.

PAPER WINGS

From the owners of MiCA 12/v, Paper Wings offers journals, sketchbooks, notebooks and cards as well as wrapping paper and includes a rotating art gallery.

1207 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, shoppaperwings.com.

POEME

Personal stationery, unique gifts,

A high-end locally made holistic skincare line. There are no dyes, fillers, parabens or sulfates. Find 40-some-odd products in the community-focused storefront near Findlay Market, which also carries a curated collection of pieces from other local makers.

1808 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, queencityalchemy.com.

SKT CERAMICS

A Cincinnati ceramic studio offering durable porcelain pottery, dipped in colorful glaze and adorned with whimsical and original illustrations. 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, sktceramics.com.

SWEET SISTAH SPLASH

A multi-cultural boutique, vintage bookstore and program space for female-owned businesses.

Products and services align with the experience of modern, urban Cincinnati women. 1218 Sycamore

St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ sweetsistahsplash.

Iron Chef. And if you’re looking to enhance your skills, take a class in Artichoke’s demonstration kitchen — just make sure you don’t step on lazy shop greyhound Gus. 1824 Elm

St., Over-the-Rhine, artichokeotr.com.

TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES Fair-trade jewelry, gifts and more from across the globe. 2011

Madison Road, O’Bryonville; 11316 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; 610 Main St., Covington, tenthousandvillages.com.

TOKO BARU

Original jewelry, home décor, trinkets and more. 325 Ludlow Ave.,

Clifton, 513-751-3338, searchable on Facebook.

HOUSEWAR ES / DECOR ALGIN RETRO FURNITURE

Family-owned store selling Midcentury Modern reproductions. 800 Main St., Over the-Rhine, alginretro.com.

ARTICHOKE CURATED COOKWARE COLLECTION

From basics to unique pieces not available anywhere else, you’ll find the tools you need to throw down in the kitchen like you’re an

E l m & I ro n Lof t

BROMWELL’S

Luxury fireplace design and accessories since 1819. 117 W. Fourth St.,

Downtown, bromwells.com.

BUILDING VALUE

Remodelers donate used or leftover building materials to the nonprofit, which resells these materials to the public at a deeply discounted rate; prices are often a third the cost of new. The constantly changing merchandise selection includes antique doors and windows, funky Atomic Agecolored sinks and toilets, vintage ranges and even authentic clawfoot tubs. 4040 Spring Grove Ave.,

Northside, buildingvalue.org.

BURLAP & BIRCH

A home décor branch of the local Rose & Remington boho farmhouse chic chain. Think chalkboard signs with inspirational quotes, woven wall hangings, vintageindustrial antique recreations and succulent planters. Multiple loca-

tions including 7550 Bales St., Liberty Township; 9281 Governors Way, Fields Ertel, myburlapandbirch.com.

ELM & IRON

An eclectic collection of new and vintage industrial home décor and accessories. 1326 Vine St., Over-the-

Rhine, elmandiron.com.

ELM & IRON LOFT

This Elm & Iron second location features an expanded furniture selection. 1411 Vine St., Over-theRhine, elmandiron.com.

HIGHSTREET

London-inspired urban lifestyle store with an excellent and odd collection of design-minded products ranging from clothing and homegoods to vintage finds and art books. 1401 Reading Road, Down-

town, highstreetcincinnati.com.

JACK WOOD GALLERY

High-quality vintage posters and period graphics from the late-19th to mid-20th centuries. 1413 Vine

St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-321-7077.

LEGACIES CONSIGNMENT

Vintage and second-hand furniture, homegoods and jewelry. Proceeds benefit the Cancer Support Community. 3854 Paxton Ave., Hyde PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

114

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

Park, shoplegacies.com.

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

TOP 10

LENTZ & COMPANY

Vintage homegoods, furniture, local art and handmade gifts. 339 Ludlow Ave., Clifton,

lentzandcompany.com.

MAINLY ART

Twentieth-century collectibles and modern furniture. 3711 Madison

CORPORATE

Men’s clothing store and sneaker shop. 2643 Erie Ave., Hyde Park,

corporategotem.com.

As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

HOMAGE

Sporty vintage-inspired team T-shirts, sweatshirts and other athletic apparel. 1232 Vine St., Over-

Road, Norwood, mainlyart.com.

the-Rhine, homage.com.

QUINCE & QUINN

HUNT CLUB CLOTHIERS

An ever-changing array of curated home and garden goods — uncommon upholstery, lighting, tabletop items, gifts and one-of-a-kind finds. 3066 Madison Road, Oakley,

BO U T I Q U ES Cincy Shirts

Men’s suits and tailoring since

Elm & Iron

qandqhome.com.

MIKE & CAROL TROTTA

The Library Friends’ Shop

SWITCH LIGHTING & DESIGN

mikeandcaroltrotta.com.

Contemporary lighting and furniture. 312 W. Fourth St.,

Downtown, switchcollection.com.

VOLTAGE

Modern high-design furniture, lighting and accessories from Europe. 3209 Madison Road, Oakley,

1974. 441 Vine St., Downtown, huntclubclothiers.com.

Tailor offering bespoke men’s suits and made-to-measure clothing. 406 Walnut St., Downtown,

Rookwood Pottery Co.

PEPPE RAMUNDO

Established in 1967 by tailor Peppe Ramundo, this West Side store is one of the best spots in town to shop for fine menswear and tuxedo rentals. 5229 Glenway Ave., Western

Rose & Remington

Hills, pepperamundo.com.

BlaCk OWned

voltagefurniture.com.

MEN’S APPAR EL/ ACCESSOR IES 45/46 FINE MEN’S APPAREL

A ready-to-wear mens store with custom shirts and suits. 2719 Erie

Ave., Hyde Park, 4546finemens.com.

BATSAKES

Old-school hat shop with frequent celebrity clientele. 1 W. Sixth St., Downtown, 513-721-9345.

BLACK OWNED

A handmade outerwear and fashion line that represents every person of every culture, every generation and every style. 822 Elm St.,

PURSUIT X OTR

A custom suit shop that started in Columbus. 1433 Vine St., Over-the-

RIVERTOWN INKERY

Super-soft vintage-style local apparel and print shop with a Cincinnati theme. 3096 Madison Road,

Ready-to-wear, formalwear, tailoring and suiting. Bespoke offerings for men and women are available.

7121 Miami Ave., Madeira, romualdo.com.

A street pusher of rare goods.

T-shirts, hats, Nikes and more.

PETS

A “vintage” T-shirt brand helmed by local stand-up comic Josh Sneed that mines both the past and present to create apparel showcasing Cincinnati’s unique institutions and idiosyncratic culture. 1301 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine; 2709 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park; 295 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, cincyshirts.com.

Queen City Alchemy

UNHEARDOF

BONOBOS

CINCY SHIRTS

The Native One

ROMUALDO

15 W. Fourth St., Downtown, unheardofbrand.com.

1425 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, bonobos.com.

MiCA 12/v

Oakley, therivertowninkery.com.

Downtown, blackowned19xx.com.

An e-commerce menswear chain with a storefront outpost in OTR.

HOMAGE

Rhine, pursuityourself.com.

ARGOS

Stocks a wide variety of food for dogs and cats — dry, wet, treats and beyond — as well as health products like probiotics, calming chews and senior formulas.

7713 Camargo Ave., Madeira; 2801 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, argospet.com.

THE BIRD SHOPPE

Parrot supplies, services like grooming and boarding, a nursery and adoptable birds. 6160 Dixie

Highway, Fairfield, thebirdshoppe.com.

CONFETTI CATS

A shop for unique gifts for humans and the cats who own them. 6923

urban homesteader. 3840 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, growingtradestore.com.

Main St., Newtown, confetticats.com.

FUZZYBUTTS DRY GOODS A locally owned pet supply store featuring grooming, obedience classes, natural foods, toys and more for dogs and cats. 3022 Har-

rison Ave., Westwood, facebook.com/ fuzzybuttswestwood.

GROWING TRADE PET & PLANT

PETEY’S PET STOP

Pet food and treats, DIY bath stations, toys and boarding. 311 Howell

Ave., Clifton, peteyspetstop.com.

PET WANTS

Locavore pet food and supply store for urban pet owners. Multiple loca-

tions including 1813 Pleasant St., Findlay Market, Over-the-Rhine; 1409 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, petwants.com.

Services and products for the

1 1 5

F i n d l ay M a r ke t Yo u r Way

How to explore Cincinnati’s oldest m a r ke t fo r eve r y t yp e o f fo o d i e

F I N D L AY M A R K E T | P H O T O B Y H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

T h e H a p py H o u r H o u n d

Th e G l o b e t rot te r

Wh e n c u i s i n e s f ro m a c ro ss t h e g l o b e a l l c o n g re gate o n t h e s a m e c i t y b l o c k , yo u d o n ’ t h ave to b o o k a f l i g ht o u t of CVG to s at i s f y yo u r a p p et i te fo r i nte r n at i o n a l e at s .

S t a r t yo u r exc u rs i o n s o u t h of t h e b o rd e r at M a m a Lo H i zo (fa c e b o o k .c o m /m a m a l o h i zo ) . Ro u g h l y t ra n s l at i n g to “ M a m a m a d e i t ,” t h i s n o -f r i l l s t a q u e r i a h a s m a ste re d Tex- M ex h o m e c o o k i n g ke pt p i p i n g h ot i n t i n -fo i l a n d wa s h e d d own wi t h s u ga r y s i p s of Ja r r i to s s o d a . Fo r t ra d i t i o n a l l y m a d e C o l o m b i a n st re et fo o d , h e a d to Th e A re p a P l a c e ( a re p a p l a c e. c o m ) . Th e i r n a m e s a ke — a s of t , to r t i l l a - l i ke c o r n d o u g h , c u t o p e n a n d s tu f fe d wi t h eve r y t h i n g f ro m c h e e s e a n d s h re d d e d c h i c ke n to p ot ato e s a n d g ro u n d b e ef — i s s u re to p l e a s e. C h ef J e a n - Ro b e r t d e C ave l s e r ve s u p a l i t t l e s l i c e 116

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

of Pa r i s i n b i te s of fo i e g ra s , f ro g l e g s a n d c h o c o l ate e c l a i rs at Fre n c h C r u s t (f re n c h c ru s t .c o m ) .

A n d m a r ket v i s i to rs s h o u l d n ’ t m i s s D e a n ’s M e d i te r ra n e a n I m p o r t s ( m e d i te r ra n e a n - i m p o r t s . c o m ) , a go u r m et g ro c e r y a n d d e l i t h at ’s b e e n fa m i l y- own e d fo r ove r 3 0 ye a rs . S to p by fo r eve r y t h i n g f ro m t h e f i n e s t of o l i ve o i l s a n d h o u s e h u m m u s to f re s h - m a d e fa l afe l wra p s , ke b a b s a n d f l atb re a d s . Fo r t h e f l avo rs of S o u t h e a s t As i a , h i t u p P h o L a n g T h a n g ( p h o l a n g t h a n g .c o m ) . Kn own fo r b a n h m i , s p r i n g ro l l s a n d k i l l e r p h o, t h e Vi et n a m e s e m a i n s t ay re c e nt l y re l o c ate d j u s t n o r t h of t h e m a r ket to a s p a c e wi t h t h re e t i m e s t h e s e at i n g a n d a f u l l b a r (c o m i n g s o o n ) . A ny of F i n d l ay ’s wo r l d l y d e l i g ht s wi l l q u e l l yo u r h u n ge r w h e n t h e a l l -A m e r i c a n c l a s s i c s j u s t a re n ’ t c u t t i n g i t .

C i n c i n n at i h a s n o s h o r t a ge of c raf t b e e r e nt h u s i a s t s , c o c k t a i l c o n n o i s s e u rs a n d s o m m e l i e rsat- h e a r t . Lu c k i l y, l i b at i o n s of a l l s o r t s a b o u n d a c ro s s F i n d l ay M a r ket ’s ex p a n s e. At t h e c o m m u n i t y- m i n d e d , n o n p rof i t S o c i a l OT R (s o c i a l ot r.c o m ) , t a ke a dva nt a ge of t h e i r c l eve rl y d u b b e d “ 51 3 ” h a p py h o u r fe atu r i n g $ 5 h o u s e wi n e s , $ 1 oys te rs a n d $ 3 d raf t s at Th e A l l ey at S o c i a l ( of f C a m p b e l l A l l ey) . A s h o r t wa l k away i s the upscale-industrial Samuel Ad a m s C i n c i n n a t i Ta p ro o m (fa c e b o o k .c o m /s a m a d a m s c i n c y) , t h e b rewe r y ’s o n l y l o c at i o n o u t s i d e of B o s to n . S i p o n t r i e d -a n d -t ru e favo r i te s l i ke B o s to n La ge r a n d S u m m e r A l e o r b e a m o n g t h e f i rst to t r y t h e f re s h e s t n ew b rews — t h e C i n c i n n at i b rewe r y i t s e l f i s j u st a c ro s s t h e s t re et . C h a rc u te r i e f i e n d s c a n get t h e i r f i x at Th e R h i n e d (t h e r h i n e d .c o m ) , w h e re k n ow l e d ge a b l e c h e e s e m o n ge rs wi l l h e l p p a i r yo u r p l ate wi t h a n a r ray of f i n e i n e b r i a nt s . F i n d a l l t h i n g s v i n e - i n c l i n e d at M a r ke t Wi n e s ( m a r ket-wi n e s .c o m ) . Th e s h o p a n d wi n e b a r h o st s p o p u l a r we e ke n d t a s t i n g s a n d of fe rs a s e l e c t i o n of ove r 6 0 0 wi n e s t h at wi l l ro u n d o u t b ot h yo u r n ex t dinner party and couch-coma m ov i e m a rat h o n . O r e n j oy t h e f ru i t s of t h e Q u e e n C i t y ’s b rewi n g f re n z y at t h e F i n d l ay M a r ke t B i e rga r te n (f i n d l aym a rket .o rg / b i e rga r te n ) . O p e n A p r i l t h ro u g h O c to b e r, t h e i r C raf t B rewe r y S e r i e s h o s t s we e k l y g r i l l - o u t n i g ht s , l i ve m u s i c a n d b rews f ro m l o c a l s l i ke R h i n e ge i s t , F i f t y We st , M a dTre e a n d m o re, m a k i n g t h e m a r ket ’s f ro nt p o rc h t h e p e r fe c t p l a c e to watc h t h e s u n go d own wi t h a c o l d o n e i n h a n d .

Opened in 1855, Findlay Market (1801 Race St., Overthe-Rhine) is Ohio’s oldest continuously operated public market. Once merely a convenient locale for all of your everyday 19th-century needs, it’s now a vital player in Cincinnati’s foodie renaissance and was recently named one of the top 10 food markets in the world by Newsweek.

Whether you’re running a quick errand for tonight’s dinner ingredients, enjoying the many restaurant and retail offerings in the surrounding area or simply stopping in for a (literal) taste of Cincinnati history, there’s a path through the market for foodies of all persuasions. findlaymarket.org.

t h e i r D IY b o u q u et b a r. O r s h o p a l l - n atu ra l s k i n c a re ; b ot a n i c a l s e ru m s , b a l m s , c l e a n s e rs a n d c a n d l e s ; a n d h e r b a l m e d i c i n e at Q u e e n C i t y A l c h e my ( q u e e n c i t ya l c h e my.c o m ) . C h ef J o s e S a l a z a r p re p a re s h e a l t h f u l t wi s t s o n A m e r i c a n c o m fo r t fo o d s at G o o s e & E l d e r ( go o s e a n d e l d e r. c o m ) , w h e re t h e m e n u fe atu re s i n g re d i e nt s s o u rc e d f ro m F i n d l ay M a r ket ve n d o rs a n d s at i s f i e s a m o d e r n p a l ate wi t h eve r y t h i n g f ro m avo c a d o to a s t a n d b l i ste re d s h i s h i to p e p p e rs to b o n e m a r row a n d d u c k l e g c o n f i t . At C h e rb o u rg C yp r u s (c h e r b o u rgc yp ru s . c o m ) , t h e d o n u t s , c a ke s , p a st r i e s a n d b re a k fa s t go o d s a re l ov i n g l y m a d e wi t h t h e a l l e rg y- c o n s c i o u s i n m i n d — eve r y t h i n g b e h i n d t h e c o u nte r i s f re e of g l u te n , n u t s a n d d ye s .

T h e S we e t To ot h

M i s s Fl o ra — w h o wa s fe atu re d o n T h e M a r t h a S tewa r t S h ow a n d T h e O p r a h Wi n f rey S h ow fo r h e r re n own e d c o b b l e r, p i e s , c a ke s a n d c o m fo r t fo o d s — i s b a c k i n b u s i n e s s , m u c h to t h e d e l i g ht of h e r eve r- l oya l c u s to m e rs . I f c a n d y ’s m o re yo u r s t y l e, OT R C a n d y B a r ( ot rc a n d y b a r.c o m ) i s a c o l o r f u l wo n d e r l a n d fo r t h e c h i l d at h e a r t t h at s to c ks c a n d y by t h e p o u n d a n d a n i c e c re a m b a r c o m p l ete wi t h ret ro - st y l e s o d a f l o at s a n d c a n d y- i n s p i re d c o c k t a i l s . Th e fa m i l y- own e d M ave r i c k C h o c o l a te ( m ave r i c kc h o c o l ate.c o m ) h a s p e r fe c te d t h e a r t of p u re c h o c o l ate m a d e “ f ro m b e a n to b a r.” S a m p l e t h e i r f re s h c h o c o l ate m a d e d i re c t l y b e h i n d t h e c o u nte r b efo re go i n g h o m e wi t h s p e c i a l t y c h o c o l ate b a rs , t ru f f l e s a n d a c u p of s e a s o n a l h ot d r i n k i n g c h o c o l ate.

S O C I A L OT R | P H OTO BY H A I L E Y B O L L I N G E R

Fo r t h e c h a m p i o n s of a l l t h i n g s o rga n i c , s u s t a i n a b l e, h e a l t h m i n d e d a n d h a n d m a d e, F i n d l ay M a r ket i s p r i m e re a l e s t ate fo r q u a l i t y go o d s to f i l l yo u r s to m a c h a n d yo u r c a nva s tote. G et a h e a d s t a r t o n yo u r m o r n i n g wi t h a c of fe e f i x f ro m D e e p e r Ro ot s ( d e e p e r ro ot s c of fe e.c o m ) . Th e ro a s te r y s u p p l i e s a n u m b e r of c of fe e s h o p s t h ro u g h o u t t h e c i t y wi t h t h e i r s u s t a i n a b l y fa r m e d b e a n s f ro m G u ate m a l a , b u t h e re yo u c a n h ave yo u r c o r t a d o s e r ve d wi t h p e a c e of m i n d k n owi n g t h at i t s s i l ky- s m o ot h e s p re s s o c a n b e t ra c e d b a c k to t h e s o u rc e.

G et i n to u c h wi t h n atu re at T h e B u d d i n g Fl o r i s t (t h e b u d d i n g f l o r i s tc i n c y.c o m ) , w h e re t h e f l o ra l a n d p l a nt b o u t i q u e s to c ks l o c a l l y- g rown b l o o m s at

Pa s t r i e s , p i e s , c a n d i e s , i c e c re a m — w h ateve r t h e c a s e, yo u d o n ’ t d i s c r i m i n ate, a n d yo u a l ways h ave ro o m fo r d e s s e r t . S at i s f y yo u r s u ga r c rav i n g s t h e I t a l i a n way at D o j o G e l a to ( d o j o ge l ato. c o m ) wi t h s m a l l b atc h ge l at i i n i nve nt i ve f l avo rs l i ke h i b i s c u s a n d b l o o d o ra n ge a n d c a n d i e d j a l a p e ñ o. Wa r m u p wi t h f re s h b a ke d go o d s f ro m M a i nwo o d Pa s t r y ( m a i nwo o d p a s t r y.c o m ) o r Au n t Fl o ra ’s ( a u nt-f l o ra .c o m ) . B e h i n d M a i nwo o d ’s g l a s s c a s e s , yo u ’ l l f i n d go rge o u s t re at s l i ke m i n i b l u e b e r r y c h e e s e c a ke s , c of fe e c re a m e c l a i rs , s ’ m o re s w h o o p i e p i e s , c h e e s e Da n i s h e s , s t raw b e rr y c u p c a ke s a n d m o re. Au nt Fl o ra , a k a Kat r i n a M i n c y, re o p e n e d h e r fa m o u s c o b b l e r s h o p i n 2 0 1 9 af te r s o m e ye a rs away f ro m t h e m a r ket d u e to h e a l t h i s s u e s . N ow

A R T I C H O K E O T R | P H O T O B Y B R I T TA N Y T H O R N T O N

Th e H o m e C h ef

F i n d l ay h a s i t s fa i r s h a re of e s t a b l i s h e d e ate r i e s , b u t yo u ’d rat h e r p re p a re a re st a u ra nt q u a l i t y m e a l t h a n d i n e o u t a ny n i g ht .

B ru s h u p o n yo u r c o o k i n g s k i l l s wi t h t h e p rofe ss i o n a l s at F i n d l ay K i tc h e n (f i n d l ay k i tc h e n .o rg ) .

Th i s n o n p rof i t fo o d i n c u b ato r o p e n s i t s d o o rs eve r y we e k to te a c h c l a ss e s o n eve r y t h i n g f ro m k n i fe s k i l l s to m a k i n g p a st a f ro m s c ratc h . B efo re p u t t i n g yo u r n ew k n ow- h ow to t h e te s t , b rows e ove r 5 0 0 s p i c e b l e n d s f ro m t h e l ate, g re at C o l o n e l D e S tewa r t ’s Colonel De Gourmet Herbs & S p i c e s (c o l o n e l d e.c o m ) a n d v i s i t B e e H ave n ( b e e h ave n h o n ey.c o m ) fo r l o c a l l y m a d e h o n ey t h at wi l l swe ete n u p a ny re c i p e n atu ra l l y.

S to c k yo u r k i tc h e n c a b i n et s wi t h eve r y t h i n g f ro m ve g g i e s p i ra l i ze rs to p i z za sto n e s to s p e c i a l t y c h e e s e k n i ve s f ro m t h e c u rate d c o o kwa re c o l l e c t i o n at A r t i c h o ke OT R ( a r t i c h o ke ot r.c o m ) , a n d d o n a l o c a l l y- m a d e Vo l c a n o G o o d s wa xe d c a nva s a p ro n f ro m D e e rh a u s D é c o r ( d e e rh a u s d e c o r.c o m ) w h i l e yo u c raf t yo u r n ex t c u l i n a r y m a s te rp i e c e.

T h e N a t u ra l i s t

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Waxing Cincinnati for Over 25 Years

Heavenly Bodies Wax Spa

Cincinnati’s 5 Star Waxing Spa Home of the 15 minute Brazilian Bikini Wax

3608 Marburg Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45208 513-321-8252 | www.cincyspa.com

The World’s

LARGEST Selection of Hemp!

NOW CARRYING A LARGE SELECTION OF

CBD

O’BRYONVILLE 2034 Madison Rd. 513-871-HEMP

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SHARONVILLE 11353 Lebanon Rd. 513-524-HEMP

NORTHSIDE DAYTON 4179 Hamilton Ave. 548 Wilmington Ave. 513-569-0420 513-569-0420

THANK YOU, CINCINNATI, FOR VOTING US #1 RECORD/CD STORE! Slingin' up new and used records, CDʼs and more for everybodyʼs music tastes for over 40 years!

513-531-4500 | 6106 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati OH 45213

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SHOPPING

STRASSE DOG

Pet grooming, clothing and supplies. 605 Main St., Covington,

Ky., 859-431-7387.

R ECOR D STOR ES ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST

Unique used vinyl, comics, pulp fiction and DVD rentals. 1333 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ anotherpartoftheforest.

BLACK PLASTIC RECORDS

An independent record store with bins and bins of unique vinyl plus Cincinnati- and Ohio-centric clothing items. Kind of like stumbling into the best basement ever. 6470 Glenway Ave., Bridgetown; 1319 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ blackplasticrecords.

EVERYBODY’S RECORDS

Full-service record store specializing in a wide variety of new and used records, CDs and cassettes.

6106 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, everybodysrecords.com.

JET AGE RECORDS

A new and used record shop with bonus listening stations and craft coffee. 817 Monmouth St., Newport,

Ky., facebook.com/jetagerecords.

HERZOG MUSIC

A music collective and emporium designed to bring together the region’s music community and welcome visiting musicians to participate in the city’s rich and diverse music scene. Located in the historic Herzog building, where Hank Williams Sr. cut classics like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Sells vinyl, guitars and other instruments and hosts lessons via the Queen City Music Academy. 811

Race St., Downtown, herzogmusic.com.

METAMODERN MUSIC

More than 10,000 new and used vinyl and culture items. 4011 Allston

St., Oakley, metamodernmusic.com.

MOLE’S RECORD EXCHANGE

Open since 1974, Mole’s is a record exchange store by the University of Cincinnati. 111 Calhoun St., Clifton

Heights, searchable on Facebook.

MORROW AUDIO RECORDS Covington-born Mike Morrow has a lifelong love for both electronics and music. Come here to buy a custom record player and vinyl, too. 6608 Dixie Highway, Florence, Ky., morrowaudio.com.

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To r n L i g ht Re c o rd s

PHIL’S RECORDS

A no-frills musical paradise selling records, CDs (someone please remind us what those are again), artwork and more. 3914 Winston Ave., Latonia, Ky., philsrecords.com.

PLAID ROOM RECORDS

New and used LPs plus accessories. Home to the Colemine Records label, an analog studio and live music venue. 122 W. Loveland Way,

Loveland, plaidroomrecords.com.

SHAKE IT RECORDS

Named one of the 30 best record stores in America

by Rolling Stone, Shake It has two floors of CDs and vinyl. They also have a great selection of used CDs and LPs, books, fanzines and Japanese-style trinkets.

4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside, shakeitrecords.com.

TORN LIGHT RECORDS The shelves are stocked with obscure cassette tapes and shoeboxes of ’90s Emo records to pique any music nerd’s curiosity. Make sure to check out the shop’s zine library and a smattering of risqué B movies on VHS. 35 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, tornlightrecords.com.

SPORTS/ OUTDOORS BENCHMARK OUTFITTERS

Founded in 1974, friendly Benchmark Outfitters stocks everything you need to tackle the wilderness, from footwear, clothing and hiking gear to tools, luggage and electronics. 9525 Kenwood

Road, Blue Ash, benchmarkoutfitter.com.

BISHOP’S BICYCLES

Located next to the Little Miami Bicycle Trail. 313 Main St., Milford, bishopsbicycles.net.

CAMPUS CYCLERY

One of the oldest full-service bike shops in the city, which sells and repairs bikes. 241 W. McMillan St., Clifton Heights, campuscyclery.com.

FIFTY WEST CANOE & KAYAK/CYCLING COMPANY

Local brewery Fifty West has expanded their beer empire to include the great outdoors. Across the street from the taproom, find a canoe and kayak rental for trips down the Little Miami River.

Located just off the Little Miami Scenic trail, Fifty West Cycling Company is a full-service bicycle shop that also offers fittings, rides, rentals and bikes for the whole family. 7605 Wooster Pike and

7669 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township, fiftywestcanoe.com, fiftywestcycling.com.

GALAXIE SKATESHOP

Local skateboard shop. 121 W. 10th

St., Newport, Ky., galaxieskateshop.com.

JACK RABBIT

Local specialty running store; named one of the best in the nation. Multiple locations including

1993 Madison Road, O’Bryonville; 317 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., jackrabbit.com.

KOCH SPORTING GOODS

Cincinnati’s oldest and largest sporting goods store offering an array of men’s and women’s licensed sports apparel and accessories. 131 W. Fourth St., Downtown, kochsports.com.

P H OTO G R A P H BY H O L D E N M AT H I S

MOBO BICYCLE COOP

A bicycle cooperative (the only one in the city) dedicated to making Cincinnati a cycling hub. 1415 Knowlton St., Northside, mobobicyclecoop.org.

MONTGOMERY CYCLERY

Provides people of all ages, skill levels and experience with quality bicycles and fitness equipment.

Multiple locations including 9449 Montgomery Road, Montgomery, montgomerycyclery.com.

NORTHSIDE SURPLUS

Military and tactical clothing, base layers, outerwear, packs, knives, tools and outdoor gear. 6041 Harri-

PISTON SOCIETY

Motorcyle and urban scooter rentals. 214 E. Liberty St., Over-the-

Rhine, pistonsociety.com.

RESER BICYCLE OUTFITTERS

Sales and repairs on bikes for beginners and pros. 648 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., reserbicycle.com.

ROADS, RIVERS AND TRAILS

Independently owned adventure outfitter offering seminars, presentations and classes. 118 Main

St., Milford, roadsriversandtrails.com.

SMITTY’S CYCLERY

Barnett Bicycle Institute-certified in advanced bicycle mechanics and United Bicycle Institute-certified in frames. 6000 Wooster Pike, Fairfax,

VINTAGE/ CONSIGNMENT CASABLANCA VINTAGE

SPUN BICYCLES

Classic apparel and accessories from the 1800s to the 1990s.

Also offers theater costuming, shoe repair and leather repair.

4122 Hamilton Ave., Northside, spunbicycles.com.

HI-BRED

smittyscyclery.com.

New bikes, parts, accessories and a full repair shop plus some awesome, occasional used bikes.

VELOCITY BIKE & BEAN

Bike and coffee shop. 7560 Burlington Pike, Florence, Ky., velocitybb.com.

3944 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, casablancavintage.com.

A curated boutique with vintage clothing, jewelry, vinyl, housewares and curiosities. 4041 Hamilton Ave.,

Northside, facebook.com/hibredlife.

son Ave., Dent, northsidesurplus.com.

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SHOPPING

C o nt i n u u m

JULIE’S INSPIRATION CONSIGNMENT SHOPPE Gifts, jewelry, art, collectibles, furniture and clothing, from vintage to designer.

608 Main St., Covington, Ky., juliesinspiration.com.

MANNEQUIN BOUTIQUE

Women’s vintage and upscaleconsignment boutique where proceeds go directly to seven local service agencies, including the Freestore Foodbank, Tender Mercies and Lighthouse Youth Services.

1311 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, instagram.com/mannequin_otr.

NVISION

Fun, affordable vintage clothing, rotating art shows and home furnishings alongside handcrafted, redesigned or repurposed items by local artists and designers. 4577 Hamilton Ave.,

items and more. Multiple locations including 3015 Glenhills Way, Western Hills, svdpcincinnati.org.

OHIO VALLEY GOODWILL

THE SNOOTY FOX

Northside, nvisionshop.com.

A nonprofit that provides job training, employment, placement services and other communitybased programs for those with disabilities via consignment shops and donations. Multiple locations

including 3080 Markbreit Ave., Oakley, cincinnatigoodwill.org.

PISTIL VINTAGE

A curated vintage shop that offers custom styling for photoshoots and events as well as in-store purchasing. 1212 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine, pistilvintage.com.

PIXEL 19

Vintage clothing and accessories handpicked from a Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Association-registered set designer and costumer. 2100 W. Eighth St., Price Hill, pixel19vintage.com.

PORTALUCA

A high-end thrift store that financially supports Dress for Success Cincinnati. 209 W. Fourth

St., Downtown, portaluca.org.

RAD OTR

A vintage streetwear shop for men and women with a ’90s and neon lean. Buy, sell and trade here. 1315

Main St., Over-the-Rhine, radotr.com.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Caring for those in need in Cincinnati and Hamilton County via thrift stores that provide furniture, clothing, household 122

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PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

A local chain of upscale furniture and clothing consignment shops.

Multiple locations including 3854 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park, shopsnooty.com.

TALK OF THE TOWN

Vintage clothing and costumes for men and women. 9111 Read-

ing Road, Reading, facebook.com/ talkofthetowncincy.

DOWNTOWN GIRL

KNICKERS OF HYDE PARK

Road, Montgomery, 513-984-8837, searchable on Facebook.

knickersofhydepark.com.

IDLEWILD WOMAN

LANE & KATE

Women’s apparel, handbags, jewelry and more. 7791 Cooper

Clothing and lifestyle destination that embraces the beauty and creativity of the modern woman.

Home to fashion line Grind and Glaze by local Project Runway contestant Tessa Clark, co-owner of the shop. 1230 Vine St., Over-theRhine, idlewildwoman.com.

TIM’S PICKS ON MAIN

HANSA GUILD

1136 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/timspicks.

Clifton, hansaguild.us.

An ever-changing selection of retro, midcentury and vintage clothing, collectibles and furniture.

Moccasins, sheepskin shoes, clogs, hats, rugs and all sorts of other interesting global clothing and accessory imports. 369 Ludlow Ave.,

WOMEN’S APPAR EL/ ACCESSOR IES

KHAKIS

ALLIGATOR PURSE

Hyde Park, khakiscincinnati.com.

Sophisticated and edgy contemporary women’s clothing, including designers Diane von Furstenberg, Helmut Lang, Vince and more. 2701 Erie Ave., Hyde Park,

shopalligatorpurse.com.

CONTINUUM

An eclectic women’s clothing store and bazaar that features a curated selection of items from independent artists, designers and makers. 1407 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ continuumbazaar.

Carries brands for men and women like Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Jack Rogers, Southern Tide and many others. 3445 Edwards Road,

KILIMANJARO AFRICAN HERITAGE

African heritage and import store.

Clothing, accessories, art. 310 Lud-

low Ave., Clifton, africanforus.com.

KISMET

The best of Tulle, Free People, Dansko and other eclectic purveyors of women’s fashion and accessories. 2037 Madison

Road, O’Bryonville; 1233 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/ kismetovertherhine.

Lingerie experts; also sells sleepwear, swimwear, accessories and gifts. 2726 Erie Ave., Hyde Park,

High-quality, independently made accessories and gifts, including jewelry and watches. An outpost for floral shop Two Little Buds.

1417 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, laneandkate.com.

LIBBY SHOP

A clothing store and jewelry studio.

1307 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, 513-409-4256.

LEELI + LOU

Chic and affordable boutique for the trendy college girl. 2732 Erie Ave., Hyde Park, facebook.com/ leeliandlou.

LOULOU’S

Women’s clothing, accessories, jewelry and bags. 6145 Bridgetown Road, West Side, shoploulous.com.

MONKEE’S OF MADEIRA

Trendy women’s shoes, clothing and accessories. 6928 Miami Ave., Madeira, monkeesofmadeira.com.

THE NATIVE ONE

A women’s fashion, accessories, apothecary and home décor shop featuring trendy items. 1421 Vine St.,

Over-the-Rhine, thenativeone.com.

OSSIE

Created for shoppers who crave “sophistication, luxury and quality.”

thank you CITYBEAT READERS for once again voting us

BEST DELICATESSEN!

AD

ANDERSON

MADISONVILLE 4766 Red Bank Expy (513) 376-6008

7625 Beechmont Ave (513) 231-5550

DOWNTOWN

WEST CHESTER 8179 Princeton Glendale Rd (513) 942-7800

800 Elm St - (513) 721-4241 610 Main St - (513) 241-6246

FLORENCE

7905 Mall Road (859) 525-2333

FOREST PARK 1198 Smiley Ave (513) 825-3888

Across from Beckett Ridge Kroger

izzys.com

Home of the “Worlds Greatest Reubens”

WESTERN HILLS 5098 Glen Crossing Way (513) 347-9699

SHOPPING

Emerging and established designers and brands include Rachel Comey, Les Coyotes de Paris, ATM, Mother and Brother Vellies. 3433 Edwards Road, Hyde

Park, ossieboutique.com.

OWN LANE SHOETIQUE

A shoe e-boutique with a storefront in OTR. 1323 Vine St., Overthe-Rhine, weareownlane.com.

PAOLO A MODERN JEWELER

A modern jeweler featuring everything from bridal to ready-to-wear and custom designs. 278 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, paolousa.com.

PANGAEA TRADING CO.

Eclectic women’s jewelry, apparel, shoes and more. 326 Ludlow Ave.,

Clifton, 513-751-3330, searchable on Facebook.

PITAYA

A Bloomington, Indiana-based chain of college-friendly and

affordable casual clothing, like Urban Outfitters meets Forever 21. 1423 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine,

pitaya.com.

PRETTY PONY BOUTIQUE Fairly priced women’s clothing boutique featuring a selection of hand-picked apparel, shoes, gifts and accessories. 2837 Town

Center Blvd., Crestview Hills, Ky., prettyponyboutique.com.

THE PINK BOX

Women’s clothing, jewelry, accessories and unique in-house, monogrammed items. 6929 Miami Ave., Madeira, facebook.com/thepinkbox.

ROSE & REMINGTON

Eclectic boutique with affordable chic and contemporary clothing and jewelry. Multiple locations in-

cluding 7562 Bales St., Liberty Township, roseandremington.com.

SARA BENJAMIN’S

Fashion-forward, fresh clothing and accessories. 6810 Wooster Pike, Mariemont, sarabenjamins.com.

SLOANE BOUTIQUE

Mix of American and European clothing and accessories catering to the edgy, urban woman.

1216 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, sloaneboutique.com.

SOHO BOUTIQUE

Well-edited selection of high-end dresses, separates and shoes. 2757 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park, 513-321-6930.

TMBTITWI

Helmed by a world-traveling art specialist, the clothing, home products and accessoriesare aspirational. Features items like hand-loomed textiles, baskets from Africa, handmade ceramics and a highly curated collection of modern and breezy women’s wear. 6 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/TMBTITWI.

THREE FRENCH HENS

Eclectic trend-based clothing, accessories, home décor and gifts.

3444 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park, 513-321-1161.

T M BT I T W I

TREND BOUTIQUE

Unique fashion at a moderate price. 3218 Madison Road, Oakley,

trendcincinnati.com.

URBAN CHICK BOUTIQUE

Large selection of women’s dress and casual attire. 634 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., urbanchickboutique.net.

THE WARDROBE

Chic, casual and sophisticated women’s clothing. 6816

Wooster Pike, Mariemont, thewardrobecincinnati.com.

MALLS/OUTLETS CINCINNATI PREMIUM OUTLETS

Calvin Klein, Coach, Levi’s Outlet Store, Michael Kors, Reebok, True Religion and more. 400 Premium Outlets Drive, Monroe, premiumoutlets.com.

DEERFIELD TOWNE CENTER

Lane Bryant, LOFT, Ulta Beauty, White House/Black Market, Whole Foods and more. 5503 Deerfield Blvd.,

Mason, deerfieldtownecenter.com.

FLORENCE MALL

Abercrombie & Fitch, Bath & Body Works, Buckle, H&M, Hot Topic, Victoria’s Secret and more.

2028 Florence Mall, Florence, Ky., florencemall.com.

KENWOOD TOWNE CENTRE

Apple, Anthropologie, lululemon, Madewell, Nordstrom, Sephora and more. 7875 Montgomery Road,

Kenwood, kenwoodtownecentre.com.

LIBERTY CENTER

A mixed-use center that blends shopping with recreation, socialization and residential housing. 7100 Foundry Row, Liberty

Township, liberty-center.com.

ROOKWOOD COMMONS/ PAVILION

An outdoor shopping mall with DSW, HomeGoods, Nordstrom Rack, T.J. Maxx, REI, Whole Foods and more. Corner of Edmonson,

Edwards and Madison roads, Norwood, shoprookwood.com.

TRI-COUNTY MALL

Charlotte Russe, Ethan Allen, Hollister, Hot Topic, Journeys and more. 11700 Princeton Pike,

Glendale, tricountymall.com.

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SAT URDAY, JUNE 22, 2 019

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THE PHOENI X

JANUARY 25

MARCH 25

THE PHOENIX A WWW.BESTOFCINCINNATI.COM

D

APRIL 20-26

WWW.GCRWEEK.COM

MAY 2020

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Arts

BEST T H E AT E R S p. 133

BEST A RT MUSEUMS p. 1 3 4

G a l l e r i e s , a r t m u s e u m s a n d l i ve t h e a t e r.

Cincinnati Art Museum A n i m a ge f ro m 2 0 1 9 ’s N o S p e ct ato r s : T h e A r t of B u r n i n g M a n , a n i nte ra c t i ve a n d s o m ew h at p syc h e d e l i c ex h i b i t .

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

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ARTS

Taf t M u s e u m of A r t

ART MUSEUMS 21C MUSEUM HOTEL

Cincinnati’s only museum hotel. Features rotating exhibits of Contemporary art and a permanent collection that includes site-specific commissioned works. 609 Walnut St., Downtown,

21cmuseumhotels.com.

CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM

Located in scenic Eden Park, the museum’s collection spans 6,000 years and includes galleries devoted to photography, folk art, antiquities, European paintings and more, including works by Andy Warhol, Marc Chagall, van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. The Rosenthal Education Center is a hands-on art experience for kids.

953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams, cincinnatiartmuseum.org.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER

The city’s major downtown art facility, designed by late architect Zaha Hadid, features changing displays and exhibitions as well as special events, a hip café, a gift shop and the avant-garde Black Box Performance Series.

Launched the This Time Tomorrow performing arts festival in 2019. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown, contemporaryartscenter.org.

LLOYD LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

The library archive features books, holdings and ephemera centered around medical botany, pharmacy, eclectic medicine and horticulture. Also includes changing art exhibits. 917 Plum St., Downtown, lloydlibrary.org.

TAFT MUSEUM OF ART

This fine art museum, the former historic home of relatives of President William Howard Taft, features a large garden, tearoom and historical displays related to the permanent collection in addition to changing and traveling exhibitions. 316 Pike St., Downtown,

taftmuseum.org.

ART GALLER IES & SPACES 1305 GALLERY

Features works by local and up-and-coming artists. Open for Final Fridays, Second Sundays and by appointment. 1305 Main

St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook. com/1305gallery.

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C I T Y B E AT. C O M

ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI

The Art Academy offers several spaces for viewing works by students, faculty and others, with openings and events coinciding with Final Friday Gallery Walks.

The school recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. Chidlaw, Pearlman and Convergys galleries, 1212 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, artacademy.edu.

ART BEYOND BOUNDARIES

This space, sponsored by The Center for Independent Living Options, features work by local artists with disabilities. 1410 Main St., Over-the-

Rhine, artbeyondboundaries.com.

ART DESIGN CONSULTANTS

An art consultation company and gallery — and event space. 310 Cul-

vert St., Downtown, adcfineart.com.

ARTSWAVE

A community campaign that funds and supports arts projects and organizations through “impactbased grants.” Offers an ArtsWave pass for deals on art experiences.

Their digital platform includes art news and events. 20 E. Central

CAMPSITE SCULPTURE PARK

A relatively self-explanatory outdoor experience. Traipse through CampSITE and you’ll spot the shell of a vintage car hanging off the wall of an adjacent building; a massive tree trunk ring with the center burned out, fashioned to resemble a guitar; a few leftover glitter rocks from a community project; a fire pit; and a refurbished Airstream that houses the Archive of Creative Culture, described as “a living collection of books sourced from the personal libraries today’s arts leaders.”

2866 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, Instagram/ campsitesculpturepark.

CARL SOLWAY GALLERY

The only member of the Art Dealers Association of America in the Tri-State, it features nationally known modern and contemporary artists in a variety of media.

424 Findlay St., West End, solwaygallery.com.

Parkway, Downtown, artswave.org.

THE CARNEGIE ARTWORKS

ArtWorks, a local arts nonprofit, connects professional artists with apprentice students to create public murals and other works.

Found throughout the city, the murals range from small and quirky to entire walls. Guided walking tours of downtown and Over-the-Rhine murals available for a fee. 20 E. Central Parkway, Downtown, artworkscincinnati.org.

BLDG

A creative refuge, design studio, community-mural painter and gallery for innovative and avant-garde contemporary art. 30 W. Pike St.,

A key spot in Covington’s visual and performing arts community. Hosts the yearly Art of Food culinary event and exhibit, along with regional surveys and exhibits in painting, sculpture, video and more. 1028

Scott Blvd., Covington, Ky., thecarnegie.com.

CINCINNATI ART CLUB

Established in 1890.

Offers peer review for area artists as well as educational opportunities and an outreach program. 1021 Parkside Place, Mount

Covington, Ky., bldgrefuge.com.

Adams, cincinnatiartclub.com.

BUNK SPOT GALLERY

CINCINNATI ART GALLERIES

A contemporary art space and art collective with regularly monthly openings and DJs. 544 E. 12th St.,

Pendleton, facebook.com/bunk.spot.5.

Offers pricing, exhibition and sale of American and European paintings. 225 E. Sixth St., Second Floor, Downtown, cincyart.com.

C-LINK GALLERY

Inside Brazee Street Studios.

Exhibits solo, group and collaborative work from Cincinnati artists, craftsmen and designers to encourage the purchase of local goods. 4426 Brazee St., Oakley,

brazeestreetstudios.com.

CLAY STREET PRESS, INC.

A fine art press that specializes in small-edition hand-pulled prints in lithography, etching, woodcut and silkscreen. 1312 Clay St., Over-the-

Rhine, patsfallgraphics.com.

COLLEGE OF DESIGN, ARCHITECTURE, ART AND PLANNING GALLERIES, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

Student work from one of the nation’s best-regarded art programs.

Also hosts work from faculty. Doro-

thy W. and C. Lawson Reed, Jr. Gallery, DAAP Complex, Fifth Floor; Philip M. Meyers, Jr. Memorial Gallery, Steger Student Life Center, University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave., Clifton Heights, daap.uc.edu/galleries.

ESSEX STUDIOS

Features more than 100 local artists’ studios, showcased at quarterly art walks. 2511 Essex Place,

Walnut Hills, essexstudios.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER

FELSENHAUS

Housed in the former Felsenbrau brewery space in the West End, this large warehouse offers multiple open spaces for events, art shows, dance parties and more.

242 W. McMicken Ave., West End, felsenhaus242.com.

FITTON CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS

Renowned arts center for the Hamilton area that hosts changing exhibitions and offers many education programs.

101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton, fittoncenter.org.

HUDSONJONES

A contemporary art gallery helmed by Angela Jones with high

ceilings and a roll-up garage door.

1110 Alfred St., Camp Washington, hudsonjonesgallery.com.

KENNEDY HEIGHTS ARTS CENTER

Hosts a variety of exhibitions and art classes. Recent expansion into a new annex allows for additional programming and classes, performing arts, concerts and special exhibitions. 6546

Montgomery Road, Kennedy Heights, kennedyarts.org.

MANIFEST

Features changing and frequently juried group exhibitions, including the popular annual Magnitude SEVEN small works exhibition. Also offers internships, study opportu-

ing from Contemporary Realism to Abstract to Traditional. 2715 Erie

nities and a drawing center. 2727 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, manifestgallery.org.

Ave., Hyde Park, millergallery.com.

MARTA HEWETT GALLERY

THE MOCKBEE

Offers exhibitions of rarely seen works in contemporary studio glass. The Annex at Pendleton

Art Center, 1310 Pendleton St., Pendleton, martahewett.com.

MARY RAN GALLERY

A fine-art gallery dedicated to local and global 19th- and 20th-century American and European art. 3668

Erie Ave., Hyde Park, maryrangallery.com.

MILLER GALLERY

Exhibits national and international artists in all media in genres rang-

An industrial multi-use venue in a historic brewery space with a DIY ethos. Hosts changing exhibits, live music, workshops, dance parties, open mics and more. 2260 Central

Parkway, Over-the-Rhine, facebook. com/themockbee.

THE MOHAWK GALLERY

An intimate gallery space located inside of Robin Imaging. The goal of the gallery is to exhibit the work of artists and photographers from the Cincinnati region. 2106 Central

Parkway, Over-the-Rhine, facebook. com/themohawkgallery .

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ARTS

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FINE ARTS CENTER

Showcases work by NKU students and faculty. Northern Kentucky Uni-

versity, 312 Nunn Drive, Third Floor, Highland Heights, Ky., nku.edu.

OFF LUDLOW GALLERY

Located on Ormond Avenue in the former Clifton post office, this popup gallery includes works by local artists, with most pieces available for purchase. The goal is to turn the pop-up into a permanent space.

3408 Ormond St., Clifton, 513-2017153, searchable on Facebook.

PAR-PROJECTS

A gallery and workshop space housed in an old lumber-drying facility and shipping container.

The owners have touted a vision of an outdoor movie theater, exhibit space and arts education center. 1662 Hoffner St., Northside,

facebook.com/parprojects.

PENDLETON ART CENTER Boasts eight floors of artists’ studios, which are open to the public each month via the Final Friday Gallery Walks and holiday open houses. 1310 Pendleton St.,

Pendleton, pendletonartcenter.com.

PIQUE GALLERY

An open-ended art experiment where guests can view and even temporarily lodge with artwork, operated out of a two-unit storefront space. 210 W. Pike St.,

Museum displaying historic Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Etruscan works. 1763 Hamilton-Cleves Road,

Hamilton, pyramidhill.org.

Covington, Ky., piquewebsite.com.

RED TREE GALLERY

POPP=D ART

son Road, Oakley, redtreegallery.net.

A mobile pop-up gallery housed in a converted 1963 Rainbow Caravan camper with the goal of increasing community interaction using the power of art. Find

upcoming exhibits and locations at poppedart.gallery.

POWERHOUSE FACTORIES Rock-poster shop and design studio. 33 E. Ninth St., Newport, Ky., powerhousefactories.com.

PUBLIC LIBRARY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY

Permanent and temporary art, book and historical exhibits at the Main Library. 800 Vine St., Down-

town, cincinnatilibrary.org.

PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK & MUSEUM An outdoor sculpture museum focusing on monumental pieces.

Also features an Ancient Sculpture

Coffee shop and art gallery featuring many group shows. 3210 Madi-

STUDIO SAN GIUSEPPE

Displays the works of regional professionals as well as Mount St. Joseph students and faculty. Dorothy Meyer Ziv Art Building, Mount St. Joseph University, 5701 Delhi Road, Delhi, msj.edu.

SWING HOUSE

The Swing House is a wholebuilding art project — a freestanding 1880s three-story brick home where owner and artist Mark de Jong has removed the walls and upper floors and built a swing right in the middle of the opened-up interior. Made from pine he salvaged from third floor joists, the swing is attached by 30 feet of natural-fiber rope to a metal beam on the ceiling. Open intermittently for tours, the home is available as an Airbnb rental.

1373 Avon Place, Camp Washington, swing-house.com.

THUNDER-SKY, INC.

Founded in order to preserve the legacy of outsider artist Raymond Thunder-Sky and to provide an exhibition space for other unconventional artists.

4573 Hamilton Ave., Northside, raymondthundersky.org.

UPSTAIRS AT THE GREENWICH

Changing exhibitions in a local nightclub/Jazz club. 2442 Gilbert

Ave., Walnut Hills, the-greenwich.com.

VISIONARIES + VOICES

Started with the vision of creating a space for artists with disabilities, Visionaries + Voices now helps hundreds of artists find their voices within Cincinnati. 3841 Spring Grove

Ave., Northside; 225 Northland Blvd., Tri-County, visionariesandvoices.com.

WASH PARK ART

A creative art gallery located across from Washington Park. 1215 Elm St.,

Over-the-Rhine, washparkart.com.

WAVE POOL

Art gallery, studio and residency program for emerging and established artists. Contributes to the local community through experimental art, interpretation and interactive programming. 2940

Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, wavepoolgallery.org.

Wave Po o l

THE WELCOME PROJECT

The Welcome Project is a social enterprise started in 2017 by Wave Pool and the immigrant and refugee resource group Heartfelt Tidbits. Currently, individuals from countries including Iraq, Syria, Tanzania, Bhutan, Mexico and Nepal gather at the Welcome Project for everything from public ceramics classes and art openings to Spanish lessons and entrepreneurial workshops. 2936 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, welcomecincinnati.org.

WESTON ART GALLERY

Changing exhibitions of local and regional artists. 650 Walnut

St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org/ weston-art-gallery.

WOMAN’S ART CLUB CULTURAL CENTER

Fondly known as “The Barn,” the center hosts children’s art classes, social events, lectures, art exhibits and more. 6980 Cambridge Ave.,

Mariemont, artatthebarn.org.

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 132

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

Top 3

XAVIER UNIVERSITY ART GALLERIES

Features works by XU students and faculty. A.B. Cohen Center, Xavier

University, 1658 Musketeer Drive, Evanston, xavier.edu.

GALLERY WALKS ESSEX STUDIOS ART WALK Recurring art walks inside a collective gallery with works from resident artists. Held first Fridays and Saturdays. 2511 Essex Place,

Walnut Hills, essexstudios.com.

FINAL FRIDAY GALLERY WALK

A monthly gallery hop held final Fridays in historic Pendleton and on north Main Street in OTR. Meet artists, view and purchase artwork and, if you’re lucky, get some free wine and cheese. Main

Street, Over-the-Rhine, facebook. com/finalfridayotr; The Pendleton Art Center, 1310 Pendleton St., Pendleton, pendletonartcenter.com.

SECOND SATURDAY ART WALK

Head to Camp Washington the second Saturday of the month to take a little walking tour of the neighborhood’s vibrant up-and-coming arts and culture scene. Earlier in the day, the American Sign Museum and Swing House are open. Facebook.com/ madeincampwashington.

WALK ON WOODBURN (WOW)

East Walnut Hills’ version of a gallery walk occurs on irregular Fridays corresponding with gallery openings in the neighborhood.

2700-2800 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills, facebook.com/ walkonwoodburn.

ONSTAGE ARONOFF CENTER FOR THE ARTS

The Cincinnati Arts Association presents a mix of entertainment and performances, including celebrity appearances, dance, music, theater and the Cincinnati Ballet.

Full calendar online. 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnatiarts.org.

BROADWAY IN CINCINNATI Broadway Across America brings touring shows — mostly musicals — to Cincinnati. The 2019/2020 season includes Hello, Dolly!, Disney’s The Lion King and The Book of Mormon. Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, cincinnati.broadway.com.

T h e ate r s

THE CARNEGIE

A key spot in Covington’s visual and performing arts community.

Offers an annual theater series featuring everything from musicals to modern dramas. 1028 Scott Blvd.,

As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

Covington, Ky., thecarnegie.com.

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK

One of America’s best regional theaters and winner of two Tony Awards. The Playhouse produces comedies, dramas, musicals, classics and new works. 962

Mount Adams Circle, Mount Adams, cincyplay.com.

CINCINNATI SHAKESPEARE COMPANY

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Know Theatre of Cincinnati

Resident company of experienced professional actors that presents works by Shakespeare, as well as other classics, and one of the only companies to perform all 38 plays in the canon. The Otto M. Budig

Theater, 1195 Elm St., Over-theRhine, cincyshakes.com.

FALCON THEATRE

Semi-professional theater. Mon-

CINCINNATI YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE

High school talent in an annual summer production. Covedale

Center for the Performing Arts, 4990 Glenway Ave., Covedale, cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com.

CLIFTON PERFORMANCE THEATRE Contemporary works featuring professional actors. 404 Ludlow

Ave., Clifton; Liberty Exhibition Hall, 3938 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, cliftonperformancetheatre.com.

COLLEGE-CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

Professional-grade musical theater and drama productions. Corbett

Auditorium, Patricia Corbett Theater or Cohen Family Studio Theater, University of Cincinnati, 290 CCM Blvd., Clifton Heights, ccm.uc.edu.

COVEDALE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Renovated movie theater presenting semi-professional works, including musical theater.

4990 Glenway Ave., Covedale, cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/ccpa.

ENSEMBLE THEATRE CINCINNATI

Excellent productions of local, regional and world premieres.

1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, ensemblecincinnati.org.

mouth Theatre, 636 Monmouth St., Newport, Ky., falcontheater.net.

FOOTLIGHTERS, INC.

The venue is nestled inside a historic church, with actors as passionate as if they were on Broadway. Stained Glass

Theater, 802 York St., Newport, Ky., footlighters.org.

FRINGE FESTIVAL

With the overarching banner of “Kinda Weird. Like You,” the Cincinnati Fringe Festival features two weeks of experimental theater, dance, comedy, music, stand-up, monologues and lots of stuff that defies categorization at venues across Over-the-Rhine. It is produced annually at the end of May/ beginning of June by the Know Theatre. cincyfringe.com .

KNOW THEATRE OF CINCINNATI

This adventurous company presents plays with an emphasis on contemporary issues. Also manages the annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival at venues throughout Over-the-Rhine.

1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, knowtheatre.com.

NEW EDGECLIFF THEATRE Founded in 1998, New Edgecliff Theatre’s mission has always been to create a powerful artistic experience utilizing local professionals. Presents contemporary dramas, comedies

and musicals. Hoffner Lodge, 4120 Hamilton Ave., Northside, newedgecliff.com.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Musical theater and drama pro-

ductions. Fine Arts Center, Northern Kentucky University, 1 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Ky., nku.edu.

SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS High school talent and productions/concerts in drama, dance, vocal arts and music. The

Erich Kunzel Center for Arts and Education, 108 W. Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine, scpa.cps-k12.org.

TAFT THEATRE

Hosts frequent national and international musicians, along with comedians, theatrical productions and evenings with celebrities. Full calendar online. 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, tafttheatre.org.

THOMAS MORE COLLEGE VILLA PLAYERS A liberal arts theater program.

Thomas More College, 333 Thomas More Parkway, Crestview Hills, Ky., thomasmore.edu.

WARSAW FEDERAL INCLINE THEATER

A performing-arts venue in East Price Hill’s Incline District staging modern musicals and dramas. 801

Matson Place, East Price Hill, cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/incline.

1 3 3

ROBERT COLESCOTT Art and Race Matters: The Career of Robert Colescott

B E S T O F C I N C I N N AT I P I C K S

Top 3

A r t M u se u m s As voted by CityBeat readers in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue.

On view until January 12, 2020 Cincinnati Art Museum

Contemporary Arts Center

Taft Museum of Art

XAVIER UNIVERSITY

COMEDY

Gallagher Student Center Theatre, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Evanston, xavier.edu.

COMEDYSPORTZ CINCINNATI

Classics, musicals and new theater.

AD

CHILDR EN’S THEATER CALICO CHILDREN’S THEATRE

Children’s community theater. UC Clermont College, 4200 Clermont College Drive, Batavia, ucclermont.edu.

CHILDREN’S THEATRE OF CINCINNATI

One of America’s oldest professional theater companies for young audiences. 4015 Red

venues, madcappuppets.com.

WUMP MUCKET PUPPETS A traveling local puppet theater. Various venues,

wumpmucketpuppets.com.

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

7518 Bales St., Liberty Township, liberty.funnybone.com.

Market Place Lane, Montgomery, gobananascomedy.com.

Features giant puppets and normal-sized actors. Various

134

Features national headlining comedians as well as up-and-comers.

FRISCH MARIONETTE COMPANY

MADCAP PUPPETS

cincycac

FUNNY BONE

GO BANANAS COMEDY CLUB

frischmarionettes.com.

FEEL SOMETHING.

St., Over-the-Rhine, otrimprov.com/ comedysportz.

Bank Road, Madisonville; Taft Theatre, 317 E. Fifth St., Downtown, thechildrenstheatre.com.

Traveling marionette and puppet theater, focused on young audiences. Various venues,

6th & Walnut 513.345.8400 cincycac.org

ComedySportz — a type of friendly scrimmage for improvised comedy — began in Milwaukee in 1984 and boasts such alumni as Saturday Night Live’s Jason Sudeikis and The Daily Show’s Jessica Williams.

Cincinnati is the 23rd city to be awarded a ComedySportz license. Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm

Established comedy club featuring national and local acts. 8410

HIGHLY IMPROVABLE

A home-grown improv comedy troupe. Various venues, facebook.

com/highlyimprovable.

IMPROV CINCINNATI

Offers free intro to improv classes, as well as more complex fundamentals courses, plus weekly shows. Clifton Performance Theatre,

404 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, improvcincinnati.com.

ARTS

OTRIMPROV

Improvisational group inside the Know Theatre offering performances and open-mic jams. Presents the annual IF Cincy Improv Festival. Performances and classes take place at various venues. Know

Theatre, 1120 Jackson St., Over-theRhine, otrimprov.com.

DANCE BI-OKOTO

This African cultural ensemble performs throughout the year at various venues, with classes and weekly drum circles. 5601

Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge, bi-okoto.com.

CINCINNATI BALLET

One of the top ballet companies in the country. Also performs smaller works at its rehearsal studio and offers classes through Otto M. Budig Academy. Cincinnati Ballet Center & Mickey Jarson Kaplan Performance Studio, 1555 Central Parkway, Downtown; Aronoff Center, 650 Walnut St., Downtown; Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cballet.org.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE THEATER

Nationally known acts perform a variety of dance styles from ballet to jazz to modern. Guest Artist Series performed at Jarson-Kaplan Theater at Aronoff Center for the Arts. 1805 Larch Ave., College Hill,

Baroque opera that’s performed on antique instruments. Various

beloved composers to innovative and well-loved programs. Music

venues, catacoustic.com.

Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, cincinnatisymphony.org.

CHAMBER MUSIC CINCINNATI

CONCERT:NOVA

Presents well-known Chamber ensembles as well as newbies in concerts throughout the year. Me-

morial Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-theRhine, cincychamber.org.

CINCINNATI CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Small orchestra performs a Classical repertoire. Various venues,

ccocincinnati.org.

CINCINNATI POPS ORCHESTRA

Celebrities galore regularly pop into town to perform everything from Broadway show tunes to modern earworms. Music Hall,

1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine (and in summer at Riverbend Music Center), cincinnatisymphony.org/pops.

CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Maestro Louis Langrée directs the fifth oldest symphony orchestra in the United States. The symphony performs around 125 concerts a year, from enduring works by

Exploratory chamber ensemble comprised of Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra musicians that performs traditional and contemporary Classical music.

Various venues, concertnova.com.

COLLEGE-CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI Presents hundreds of concerts, performances, recitals, master classes and more — often daily, often free. CCM Village, University

of Cincinnati, 290 CCM Blvd., Clifton, ccm.uc.edu.

CSO CHAMBER PLAYERS This small group of Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra members performs several times each season. Various venues, cincinnatisymphony.org.

KENTUCKY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Orchestra that caters to the common man with concerts built around approachable themes. Various

LINTON CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES

The finest chamber music series in the Tri-State, featuring world-class soloists. Also presents Peanut Butter & Jam sessions for kids. Various

venues, lintonmusic.org.

MYCINCINNATI YOUTH ORCHESTRA

MYCincinnati is a free youth orchestra program with frequent performances. Inspired by El Sistema, a revolutionary youth orchestra from Venezuela, and founded on the idea that personal transformation can be achieved by striving toward musical excellence.

3120 Warsaw Ave., East Price Hill, mycincinnatiorchestra.org.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Various college performing arts.

Greaves Concert Hall, 1 Nunn Drive, Highland Heights, Ky., nku.edu.

XAVIER UNIVERSITY

Various college performing arts, including guitar and piano series with artists from around the world.

Gallagher Student Center Theatre, 3800 Victory Parkway, Evanston, xavier.edu.

venues, kyso.org.

C i n c i n n at i B a l l et d a n c e rs

cdt-dance.org.

DE LA DANCE COMPANY

High-quality professional dance performances ranging from contemporary to full-length classical works. Performs the annual popular The Nutcracker Jazzed Up! de la Dance Company, 5141 Kennedy Ave., Oakley; Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown, deladancecenter.com.

EXHALE SCHOOL OF DANCE

A contemporary dance troupe made up of Cincinnati-based performing artists and dance educators. Various venues, exhaledancetribe.com.

MAMLUFT&CO. DANCE

This modern dance company performs original works. Various venues, mamluftcodance.org.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CATACOUSTIC CONSORT

Vocal and instrumental works from Renaissance chamber music to

PHOTOGRAPH BY HAILEY BOLLINGER 1 3 5

ARTS

VOCAL GROUPS ATHENAEUM CHORALE

Mount St. Mary’s seminary choir specializes in religious Classical music. 6616 Beechmont Ave.,

Mount Washington, athenaeum.edu/ discover/chorale.aspx.

CINCINNATI BOYCHOIR

Comprised of young men from more than 75 schools around the Tri-State. Various venues, cincinnatiboychoir.org.

CINCINNATI CAMERATA

The area’s cutting-edge chorus performs a broad spectrum of works “from the Renaissance to the avant-garde.” Various venues, cincinnaticamerata.com.

CINCINNATI CHAMBER OPERA

Professional operatic productions in intimate, chamber settings and featuring emerging artists. Various

venues, cincinnatichamberopera.org.

CINCINNATI YOUTH CHOIR An educationally based choral ensemble program where participants learn vocal technique, sight reading, music history and music theory. Perform at various venues

but are an ensemble in residence at CCM. University of Cincinnati Col-

lege-Conservatory of Music, 290 CCM Blvd., Clifton, cincinnatichoir.org.

CINCINNATI MEN’S CHORUS

Various music styles are featured and performed by GBTQ men and allies. Various venues, cincinnatimenschorus.org.

CINCINNATI OPERA

The nation’s second-oldest opera company stages productions every summer with national and international opera stars. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., cincinnatiopera.org.

CINCINNATI SONG INITIATIVE

Devoted to performance of the “art song,” the newer Cincinnati Song Initiative has big plans. An art song is poetry set to music. Various ven-

ues, cincinnatisonginitiative.org.

DIVERSE CITY YOUTH CHORUS

Performing arts organization for LGBTQ and straight youth ages 13-22, supported by MUSE. Various venues, diversecityyc.com.

MUSE: CINCINNATI WOMEN’S CHOIR

A feminist-centered, social justiceoriented chorus of women of diverse backgrounds, celebrating queer and straight identities. Various venues, musechoir.org.

QUEEN CITY CHAMBER OPERA

A professional opera company that presents emerging artists in fully staged productions of repertory composers. Various venues, queenc-

itychamberopera.org.

VOCAL ARTS ENSEMBLE

CINDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL

A multi-day, all genre independent film festival held in Over-the-Rhine that features film screenings, screenplay readings, master classes and a film competition. cindependentfilmfest.org .

ESQUIRE THEATRE

Offers movies from mainstream to foreign, including special themed events and midnight screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton,

esquiretheatre.com.

This professional choir performs a variety of historic and religious Western music. Various venues,

HOLIDAY AUTO THEATRE

FILM

KENWOOD THEATRE

vaecinci.org.

CINCY WORLD CINEMA

Their mission is to provide the community with outstanding motion pictures that explore the human condition and celebrate cultural diversity. Programming frequently includes Oscarnominated shorts, foreign films and other indie fare. Garfield Theatre, 719 Race St., Downtown, cincyworldcinema.org.

A drive-in open for more than 60 years. 1816 Old Oxford Road,

Hamilton, holidayautotheatre.com.

Locally owned state-of-the-art theater screening everything from commercial to indie to foreign films. 7815 Kenwood Road, Kenwood, kenwoodtheatre.com.

MARIEMONT THEATRE

Indie theater in a neighborhood with eclectic restaurants and shops nearby. 6906 Wooster Pike,

Mariemont, mariemonttheatre.com.

THE MINI MICROCINEMA

After over three years at its current Main Street location, The Mini Microcinema — a champion of independent and local film that has provided a space for filmmakers working outside of the mainstream to show their work — announced it will be closing at the end of December 2019.

Despite the loss of a permanent home, The Mini will still exist as an organization. 1329 Main St., Over-

E s q u i re Th e at re

the-Rhine, mini-cinema.org.

OVER-THE-RHINE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Formerly known as the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival, the OTR International Film Festival strives to screen films that reflect our shared humanity through a multiday and multi-venue festival. The fest also includes workshops and happy hours. otrfilmfest.org.

STARLITE DRIVE-IN

Celebrating more than 65 years of flicks, food and fun.

2255 State Route 125, Amelia, starlitedriveinohio.com.

PHOTOGRAPH BY EMERSON SWOGER 136

C I T Y B E AT. C O M

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2019 – 2020 SEASON SEASON

SEX AND EDUCATION

by Lissa Levin

OCT 15– 26

THE FROG PRINCESS

by Joseph McDonough & David Kisor

DEC 4– JAN 4

FORTUNE

by Deborah Zoe Laufer

JAN 18 – FEB 15

PIPELINE

by Dominique Morisseau

MARCH 7 – APRIL 4

PHOTOGRAPH 51

by Anna Ziegler

APRIL 18 – MAY 16

20TH CENTURY BLUES

by Susan Miller

MAY 30– JUNE 27

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

www.ensemblecincinnati.org | 513.421.3555 Brooke Steele & Nathan Robert Pecchia in Fly By Night. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR

SEASON FUNDER

OPERATING SUPPORT

513.421.3555 ENSEMBLECINCINNATI.ORG

Discover an oasis in downtown Cincinnati!

• Encounter history • Grab a bite to eat in our Café • Explore art from around the world

FREE SUNDAYS Find out more at taftmuseum.org.

Follow us on social media! @taftmuseum #taftmuseum

LEFT: Rembrandt van Rijn, Portrait of a Man Rising from His Chair (detail), 1633, oil on canvas. Taft Museum of Art | Photo of Patrick Dougherty’s sculpture Far Flung, by Robert A. Flischel Photography

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DON’T MISS THIS BLOCKBUSTER BROADWAY LINEUP

November 5 - 17, 2019 On Sale Now

December 3 - 15, 2019 On Sale October 11

January 8 - February 2, 2020 On Sale Now

JIMMY BUFFETT’S

Set Your Mind on Island Time.

THE MUSICAL PHENOMENON

February 11 - 23, 2020 On Sale November 22

April 14 - 19, 2020 On Sale November 22

June 9 - 21, 2020 On Sale November 22

May 12 - 24, 2020 On Sale November 22

August 4 - 9, 2020 On Sale TBD

Aronoff Center · CincinnatiArts.org

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT THE J!

SET UP A TOUR TODAY!

513.761.7500 • MAYERSONJCC.ORG

MetropoleOnWalnut

609 Walnut Street, Cincinnati | MetropoleOnWalnut.com

Located at

CINCINNATI