Ohio’s Queen City serves up plenty of reasons for you to pay it a visit, including a thriving arts and culture scene that embraces both the historic and contemporary.
Check out where to stay, eat and play on your next weekend in Cincinnati.
Stay
- Architecture buffs won’t want to miss the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, a downtown hotel that remains a breathtaking testament to 20th-century Art Deco. The building was designed by the same architects who went on to design the Empire State Building.
- Check out one of the city’s most unique stays at the 21c Museum Hotel. This boutique property isn’t just housed in one of downtown’s most historic buildings — it’s also a contemporary art museum with free art exhibits open 24 hours a day.
Eat
- Everyone loves doughnuts, and everyone loves bacon, so why wouldn’t you join the two to make the ultimate breakfast tribute? Start your day off right with a maple bacon doughnut from Holtman’s Donuts, a local institution, or take your pick of the dozens of sweet varieties you can watch being made through the shop’s windows.
- Enjoy the best views of the city by reserving a dinner table at Incline Public House, which overlooks downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River. The sandwiches, salads and wood-fired pizzas are all made from scratch and pair well with the bar’s extensive craft beer selection.
Play
- Whether you’re relaxing with friends or taking the family around town, you’ll enjoy a visit to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Families will find plenty to keep the kids in awe at the zoo, while grownups will enjoy the tranquility of the gardens.
- The Cincinnati Art Museum boasts more than 60,000 pieces of art, pottery, portraits and sculptures, all housed in a neoclassical building in Eden Park. Budget-conscious travelers will appreciate the free admission, too.
(Main image: Robert S. Donovan)