You’re reading part of our 2026 Best of Cincinnati edition. Explore the full guide, including winners for Food & Drink, Things to Do, Shopping, Services and People & Places.
To know me is to know I love to shop, whether it’s clothes, books, food, records or wine (definitely wine), I love to spend money, much to my bank account’s dismay. Another thing I love is my city; I love supporting local and seeing small businesses thrive.
So, if you’re like me and you love to leave somewhere with your wallet noticeably lighter, keep reading for my picks for some of the best places to shop around the region.
To know me is to know I love to shop, whether it’s clothes, books, food, records or wine (definitely wine), I love to spend money, much to my bank account’s dismay. Another thing I love is my city; I love supporting local and seeing small businesses thrive.
So, if you’re like me and you love to leave somewhere with your wallet noticeably lighter, keep reading for my picks for some of the best places to shop around the region.
The best wine selection (for even the snobbiest wine snob you know): Hart and Cru
With a chill atmosphere, vibe-y record collection and curated selection of wine, Hart and Cru is the Cincinnati spot to impress any wine lover (even the ones who think they really know wine). Founder Kevin Hart (not that Kevin Hart), an experienced sommelier, left the restaurant world to grow wineCRAFT, a local importing and distributing company, launching Hart and Cru in 2015 and eventually opening the brick-and-mortar location in 2021. While you’re there, enjoy the vibe of a European-style wine bar, grab some light bites from their rotating food menu and probably spend a little too much money, leaving with some bottles to take home.
The best place to get the niche ingredients for that recipe you saved on Instagram: Findlay Market
We’ve all been there: You save a delicious-looking recipe on Instagram. Then, after signing up for a Substack, you get the full recipe, and there are about 15 ingredients you don’t have in your pantry and can’t find at your local Kroger. But, being a good home chef, you want to be true to the original recipe, so what do you do? Head over to Findlay Market, of course. With over 100 vendors ranging from butchers to specialty spice shops, fish mongers, an outdoor farmers market and more, you’re definitely going to be able to find what you need at this iconic Cincinnati market.
1801 Race St., OTR; findlaymarket.org
The best place to get smut on the go: Wanderlust Book Bazaar
Are you ever somewhere and think, “Wow, I really need a smutty book right now”? Well, you’re in luck! Wanderlust Book Bazaar is a mobile bookstore, known to some as the “Smut Truck,” based out of Union, Kentucky. The truck stocks its shelves with novels of the romance persuasion. From fantasy to romantasy, romance, merch and more, Wanderlust offers up everything for anyone who finds themselves on “booktok.” Owner Luci Slawnyk brings the mobile bookstore to all kids of markets and pops up everywhere from breweries to pizza places. Follow the Book Bazaar on social media to stay up to date with where they’ll be so you can catch them and grab a title that’ll be sure to tickle your fancy.
wanderlustbookbazaar.com
The best place to get a deep cut record to show off to your friends: Everybody’s Records
Are you in desperate need to impress your friends who may or may not know more about a niche sub-genre of music than you? Look no further than Everybody’s Records in Pleasant Ridge. Having been open since 1978, the popular record shop started out buying and selling used records and cassette tapes. Now, nearly 50 years later, they have new records plus CDs, collectibles and more. Still independently owned, Everybody’s is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon, pursuing their selection and enjoying the shop’s chill vibes. Their selection ranges from rap to punk to jazz, bluegrass, gospel music and more; there’s room for everybody at Everybody’s.
6106 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge; everybodysrecords.com
1206 Broadway St., Pendleton; hartandcru.com
The best place to find something where you can say ‘oh, it’s vintage’: Casablanca Vintage
We’ve all seen that really cool girl with that awesome outfit, and you ask her, “Where did you get that jacket?” and she responds, “Oh, it’s vintage.” Yeah, you know the one, the girl you deep down want to be, but you don’t know where to even start looking for a cool vintage jacket. If you’re in Cincinnati, you’ve got to start at Casablanca Vintage in Northside. Originally established as a pre-1970s menswear shop in 1985, this local staple has transformed over the years, now offering clothes and accessories for all ages and genders, mostly ranging from the 1920s to the 1990s with a few antiques here and there.
3944 Spring Grove Ave., Northside; casablancavintage.com
This article appears in Best of Cincinnati 2026.
