It takes a lot to keep a restaurant running, especially for 75-plus years, but these Cincinnati establishments can proudly claim they’ve been doing just that. In fact, there are many restaurants on this list that most lifelong Cincinnatians can’t remember or weren’t alive for a time before they existed. Even as tastes, menus and decor have changed over the decades, Cincinnati’s oldest restaurants have changed with the times — or leaned into the era they opened, serving guests a side of nostalgia with their meal.
From old taverns opened in the age of Western expansion to greasy spoon diners with a host of regulars who have been patronizing them for years, plus the Queen City’s OG chili parlor that inspired the rest, here are some Cincinnati restaurants that have kept their kitchens frying, baking and grilling for over seven decades.
Walt’s Hitching Post
3300 Madison Pike, Ft. Wright
Named partly for the restaurant’s original owner, Walt Ballanger, and partly for the metal posts outside where restaurant goers once hitched up their horses, Walt’s has been serving up its legendary ribs smothered in their secret sauce since 1942. The restaurant maintains its building’s rich history as an early 20th-century hunting lodge, with the exposed log wall in the main dining area that’s original to the building. In addition to its ribs, Walt’s also prides itself on its mouth-watering steaks and extensive list of bourbon, scotch, beer and craft cocktails.
Arnold’s Bar and Grill
210 E. Eighth St., Downtown
Open since 1861, Arnold’s is the oldest continuously running tavern in Cincinnati, 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 gluten-free options — at bargain prices. Enjoy a local draft in the outdoor beer garden and almost daily live music. It was also once named as one of the best bars in America by Esquire magazine.
Zip’s Cafe
1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
Zip’s Cafe was founded in 1926 and is nearing its 100th birthday. With meat delivered daily from Avril-Bleh and “simple but fresh” toppings, Zip’s classic burgers are grilled on a flat top, which cooks them in their own delicious fat. If you’re looking to expand your palate beyond the classic Zip Burger — once named the best burger in Ohio by Food & Wine magazine — the cafe offers specialties such as the Flying Pig, topped with shaved ham and bacon, or the popular Girthburger (named by former Cincinnati Bengals punter Pat McInally), topped with a butterflied grilled mettwurst.
Golden Lamb
27 S. Broadway St., Lebanon
The oldest restaurant and bar in the Greater Cincinnati area by far, Golden Lamb was opened in 1803 by Jonas Seaman, originally from New Jersey like many early Ohio settlers. In a time when many couldn’t read, businesses were often marked by symbols that represented their names — in this case, a golden lamb. Present-day, the historic hotel and restaurant in the heart of Lebanon has served 12 presidents and an array of other famous figures. The menu offers a range of American fare, ranging from fried chicken and roast turkey to burgers and grilled cheese. The attached Black Horse Tavern is a more casual dining spot on the backside of the hotel that serves specialty cocktails and the same delicious menu as the main dining area.
Empress Chili
7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria
Cincinnati’s OG chili parlor, Empress Chili began in 1922 when brothers Tom and John Kiradjief, who immigrated to the Queen City from what’s now Greece, started selling their seasoned meat sauce out of a small shop next to Empress Theatre (formerly at 814 Vine St. in downtown) to theatergoers. It was a hit and Cincinnati-style chili was born. Empress is still a family-owned establishment more than 100 years later, and they also still serve the original recipe chili.
Pompilios
600 Washington Ave., Newport
This restaurant, where the toothpick scene in Rain Man was filmed, has been offering classic family Italian food since 1933. You can’t go wrong with any pasta dish or the homemade lasagna. Founder Colonel Pompilio was also the first to secure a liquor license in Kentucky after Prohibition ended, so it also has an extensive bourbon list at its attached bar, Colonel Pomp’s Tavern.
The Echo
3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park
Founded in 1945 in Hyde Park by Louise Schwartz, The Echo has become something of a neighborhood attraction for Cincinnatians everywhere. Despite being founded nearly 80 years ago, The Echo has adapted to the modern consumer, offering trendy dishes such as breakfast burritos, artisan wraps and more. But don’t fret: all the classics — from Eggs Benedict to breakfast combos featuring eggs, bacon, home fries, you name it — remain on the menu.
Camp Washington Chili
3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Named one of the “10 Best Restaurants in Cincinnati” by USA Today, there’s no question as to why Camp Washington Chili has been operating since 1940. The diner is the quintessential chili parlor of days gone by with its classic mid-century sign out front, dining counter inside and photos and newspaper clippings along the wall. In addition to the amazing chili, which won an “American Regional Classic” James Beard Foundation Award in 2000, the menu also includes burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, fries, coleslaw and salad — something for everyone, plus it’s the only restaurant open 24 hours a day (except Saturday and Sunday).
Greyhound Tavern
2500 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell
The Greyhound Tavern has offered down-home comfort food to Northern Kentuckians since the 1920s. The atmosphere is pleasantly country-fied, with wood paneling, vinyl tablecloths and multiple fireplaces, and the menu reflects that, too. The tavern is known for its herbed secret-recipe fried chicken and Kentucky classics like the Hot Brown. In 2021, Microsoft News also named it as Kentucky’s most legendary restaurant.
Izzy’s
A Cincinnati tradition, Izzy’s has been serving a reuben we can all be proud of for over 120 years. In the late 1800s, founder Izzy Kadetz immigrated from Russia and settled in Cincinnati where he got a job cooking at the Sinton St. Nicolas Hotel. In 1901, he opened his own Jewish-style deli and the corned beef has been wowing diners ever since. Nowadays, Izzy’s offers a variety of its “World Famous Reubens,” from the classic corned beef to a turkey, goetta and even veggie reuben. If you’re not much of a reuben fan, you can always opt for another specialty sandwich, like The Codfather (a cod filet battered with Izzy’s special blend of 17 seasonings and spices, topped with lettuce and tartar sauce and served on a brioche bun) or the Thanksgiving (on a Roll), oven-roasted turkey breast topped with a cranberry-orange relish, cream cheese and lettuce and served on a toasted telera roll.
Arlin’s Bar & Garden
307 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
Arlin’s may have changed names and hands quite a few times since its inception, but it’s been Clifton Gaslight District’s premier neighborhood pub since the 1890s. Here you can enjoy a beer on the big back patio and beer garden and listen to live music. The no-frills atmosphere includes a pool room, plus 20 taps, sports on TV and a jukebox. And while it’s best known as a bar, Arlin’s also has a food menu with a variety of burgers, sandwiches and even some Tex-Mex fare.
Anchor Grill
438 W. Pike St., Covington
While this once-late-night diner boasted, “We may doze, but we never close,” the pandemic unfortunately changed that. Still, Anchor Grill, opened in Covington in 1946, can still claim some of the best home-cooked, Southern-style eats around. In 2020, New Yorker food correspondent Helen Rosner even named Anchor Grill’s double-decker goetta, lettuce and tomato sandwich one of the best things she’d eaten that decade. The diner also still maintains its retro vibe with wood-paneled walls and cozy booths complemented by a 1940s coin-operated “Band Box,” which contains a miniature toy big band that mimes performances to jukebox tunes.
Scotti’s Italian Restaurant
919 Vine St., Downtown
Family-owned since 1912, Scotti’s has become a Queen City staple and a go-to for an Italian meal. Its expansive menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes for dinner. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, making you feel like you’re in an old-world Italian bistro. Scotti’s is named after early 20th-century opera star Antonio Scotti, so the sound pumping through the speakers isn’t Muzak, it’s Rossini, Puccini and Pavarotti — just another aspect that sets this landmark apart from the pack.
Dixie Chili
733 Monmouth St., Newport; 3716 Dixie Highway, Erlanger; 2421 Madison Ave., Covington
Founded in 1929 by “Papa Nick,” Dixie Chili has classic, secret-ingredient Cincinnati-style chili with cheese and onions on spaghetti. Traditionally, Dixie’s offerings are dominated by Wisconsin cheddar, and the garlic is a great counterbalance to the dairy, making it one of the area’s favorite chili joints to this day.
Herb & Thelma’s
718 W. Pike St., Covington
Opened in 1939 as Heine’s Café, the small drop-ceilinged dining room is what some may call a “hole in the wall.” Their incredibly friendly staff serves up simple but delectable made-to-order burgers, its specialty being a juicy meat patty topped with cheese, onions and pickles. A short list of sides includes chili, soup or Grippos chips.
Sugar n’ Spice
4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills; 1203 Sycamore St., Pendleton; 10275 Summit Parkway, Blue Ash
Huge, fluffy omelets and “wispy-thin” pancakes have made Sugar n’ Spice a bona fide breakfast institution since 1941. One of the city’s most popular places for people of all ages and backgrounds to dine and socialize, the original Paddock Hills location got a sister spot in Pendleton when the owners renovated an old diner with their signature colorful and vintage flair. The breakfast diner also opened its first suburban location in Blue Ash at the Approach at Summit Park in 2023. They are famous for giving patrons little rubber ducks as a souvenir — a charming tradition that keeps people coming back.
Mt. Adams Bar & Grill
938 Hatch St., Mt. Adams
Opened during Prohibition and believed to have ties to infamous bootlegger George Remus, Mt. Adams Bar & Grill looks like you’re stepping back into a charming bar of the past with its vintage wooden bar, stained-glass windows, antique lamps and coffered pressed-tin-style ceiling. While the interior takes you back to another era, the menu is all modern bar and grill, with varied options like hearty burgers, soups and appetizers like the must-try fried jalapeño ravioli.
Maury’s Tiny Cove
3908 Harrison Ave., Cheviot
Maury’s has been packed full of flavor and a West Side tradition since 1949. The dimly lit supper-club 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, and a perfect martini. Ask for the Carol booth — the restaurant appears in the locally filmed, Oscar-nominated movie starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara — or take a photo with the Maury’s sign, featuring a kitschy cartoon steer holding a cocktail.
Dunlap Cafe
1926 Dunlap St., Over-the-Rhine
Opened in 1936, Dunlap Cafe is Over-the-Rhine’s longest-operating restaurant, known for its burgers, home-cooked food and strong drinks. On the menu, you’ll find a list of specialty burgers, but the restaurant and bar also offers a special Burger of the Week. Stop by early for a breakfast sandwich like the French Toast Sammie (egg, bacon, sausage and cheese layered on French toast, which you can also order as a double-decker) or just a classic goetta, egg and cheese sandwich. You can also build your breakfast using a list of breakfast staples like pancakes and eggs, and some items you can even have “topped” with things like brown sugar and berries.
Skyline Chili
Skyline has been one of the pioneers of Cincinnati chili since opening in 1949. First founded by Greek immigrants, the chili parlor pours the Queen City staple over spaghetti or hot dogs and tops it with a mound of cheese, oyster crackers, and — depending on your taste preference — onions and beans. Also available are chili burritos, fries, baked potatoes and vegetarian chili, which is made with black beans and rice, and the new chicken chili, which, by all accounts, tastes just like the beef chili.