These Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Hotels Earned 4 Diamonds from AAA

Add this to another list of reasons why Cincinnati is becoming a top travel destination: six Greater Cincinnati hotels and two restaurants were once again awarded 4-Diamond status on AAA's prestigious list.

AAA recently unveiled its 5- and 4-Diamond restaurants and hotels of 2023. The list from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky includes:

Hotels

• 21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati
• Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown
• The Cincinnatian Hotel
• The Lytle Park Hotel
• The Summit Hotel
• Hotel Covington

Restaurants

• Boca
• Nicola’s

"Diamond designations reflect AAA Inspectors’ commitment to quality and consistency in the hospitality industry. Diamond Inspectors are trained professionals who travel across North America to conduct unannounced, independent, in-person property inspections," the motor club said on its website.

According to AAA, 4-Diamond hotels offer "upscale amenities" while restaurants in the same tier offer "distinctive fine dining. Diamonds also operate under the "4Cs" of cleanliness, comfort, cuisine and consistency.

Of the hotels on the list, The Cincinnatian was the first to be awarded 4-Diamond status, first earning the honor in 1997. The Renaissance and 21c earned their diamonds in 2014, followed by Hotel Covington in 2017. The latest two hotels to hit 4-Diamond status, Lytle Park and The Summit, did so in 2020. Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, which had been first awarded 4 Diamonds in 2003, dropped off the list this year.

Boca and Nicola's, two of Cincinnati's most popular restaurants, continue to have their culinary prowess recognized as they maintain their spots on the list for another year.

Boca, operated by chef David Falk, blends cuisines from Italy and France in the space formerly occupied by the Maisonette and first became a 4-Diamond restaurant in 2007. And it's no stranger to awards. According to its website, Boca has been recognized by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the top French restaurants in the United States, and it's been named a "Top 100" restaurant by OpenTable.

And Nicola's has been a mainstay for high-end, authentic Italian cuisine for the past two decades. One of Cincinnati’s top, Zagat-rated restaurants, its menu features housemade pastas, gnocchi and creamy risotto, among other dishes that transport guests to the heart of Italy. It first earned its status as a 4-Diamond restaurant in 2008.

Only one other Ohio restaurant, The Refectory Restaurant & Wine Shop in Columbus, earned a 4-Diamond rating. In Kentucky, Vincenzo's Restaurant in Louisville also achieved a 4-Diamond rating again this year.

No hotel or restaurant in Ohio or Kentucky earned a 5-Diamond rating this year.