20 Places in Greater Cincinnati to Take Yourself on a Solo Date
Whether you're single and loving it, thriving in a committed relationship or anything in between, you can still "date yourself." Just like it's important to cultivate a relationship with a romantic partner, it's also important to cultivate a relationship with yourself to figure out what you want, get to know yourself better or even just to have fun.
Going on a solo date can seem intimidating at first, but Greater Cincinnati offers a lot in the realm of activities you can do by yourself. Whether it's browsing museum galleries, trying a new hobby or just settling in for a dinner date, party of one, there's plenty to do where you can be alone, but never lonely.
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Photo: Aidan Mahoney
If you like being single but miss having someone who could drive you around to all the best food spots in the city, this tour can help. Riverside Food Tours’ Cincinnati Streetcar Food Tour + Findlay Market takes you to six places across four different neighborhoods to taste some of the best flavors Cincinnati has to offer. You’ll then ride the streetcar all the way up to Findlay Market where you can eat cheese, chocolate and more to your heart’s desire. You’ll also get to hear stories and learn more about the history of each neighborhood.
155 E. Second St., Downtown.
Photo: Kevin J. Watkins
This small-but-mighty art museum is home to a permanent collection of artistic gems from throughout history, spanning from the Middle Ages to the 1800s. Each room represents a period, and in the hallways feature the vibrant, picturesque Duncanson murals museum is famous for. The Taft Museum of Art also hosts traveling exhibitions throughout the year. And after you’re done perusing the art, two top-notch rooftop bars – Top of the Park in The Phelps and Vista at Lytle Park – are within walking distance so you can sip on a cocktail while you look out over Downtown Cincinnati and contemplate Frank Duveneck’s bravura brushwork.
Taft Museum of Art: 316 Pike St., Downtown; Top of the Park: 506 E. Fourth St., Downtown; Vista at Lytle Park: 311 Pike St., Downtown.
Photo: Emerson Swoger
Grab some popcorn (no sharing required) and your favorite candy for a matinee of the newest blockbuster or a screening of a retro or independent movie at this historic movie theater. After the movie, walk across the street to Arlin's for a drink while you craft your Rotten Tomatoes review.
320 Ludlow Ave., Clifton.
Photo: cincinnatianimalcare.org
Just because you’re dating yourself doesn’t mean you have to be completely alone. Cincinnati Animal CARE is always looking for fosters, even if it’s just for a day. You can borrow one of CARE’s pups and take them on an outing. This helps them get out of the shelter, even just for a little bit, and into the real world where they can just be a dog. Take your foster dog for a hike, to a dog-friendly bar or coffee shop or even just to your home for some snuggles and playtime. And if you fall in love with their doe-eyes and tail-wags, you could always make them a permanent part of your life.
3949 Colerain Ave., Northside.
Photo: facebook.com/Great Parks
If you love being active and outdoors, Miami Whitewater Forest offers endless opportunities for the solo adventurer. Hit the boathouse to rent a kayak, stand-up paddle board or other watercraft to take out onto the lake. You can also rent a bike there to conquer the nearly 8-mile-long Shaker Trace Outer Loop trail, which takes you through scenic prairies and wetlands and offers great opportunities for wildlife viewing. Or, lace up your boots and meander through forests and across streams on the Badlands, Oakleaf, Tallgrass Prairie or Timberlakes trails.
9001 Mt. Hope Road, Crosby Township.
Photos: (L) facebook.com/Tablespoon Cooking Company/(R) facebook.com/Afromeals
Whether you’re a wiz in the kitchen or just figured out how to boil water, learning how to make a high-quality meal from the pros can build your confidence and is something loving you can replicate for yourself in the future. Tablespoon Cooking Company has a team of professional chefs and educators ready to demystify the kitchen through entertaining cooking classes and events. Classes include elevating a grilled-cheese-and-tomato-soup or whipping up a pan of indulgent homemade cinnamon rolls. And if you want to explore making African or Caribbean dishes, Afromeals offers classes focused on meals from those regions.
Tablespoon Cooking Company: 1731 Elm St.; Over-the-Rhine; Afromeals: 1719 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.
Photo: facebook.com/iFLY (Cincinnati)
For the adventurous who want the feeling of flying without actually having to jump out of a plane, iFLY offers fun, safe indoor skydiving using their state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnels. First-time flyers have to take a training session where you’ll get pre-flight practice to perfect your flying position. For the brave, however, you can do actual skydiving – planes, plummeting to the earth (safely, of course) and all – at Skydive Cincinnati. If you’re not an experienced skydiver, you’ll tandem jump with a pro who will do all the work. You’ll just hang out and enjoy soaring through the sky and the views of Greater Cincinnati from up high.
iFLY: 7689 Warehouse Row, Liberty Township; Skydive Cincinnati: 4925 US 42, Waynesville.
Photo: facebook.com/Grace + Grit
Relax and recharge with a soothe-your-soul relaxation massage at Grace + Grit. Treat yourself to a one-to-two-hour-long massage, foot massage or facial. Grace + Grit also offers Body-Soul Craniosacral Therapy – a combination of biodynamic craniosacral therapy and Reiki energy healing meant to relax and invigorate you so you can begin anew.
6712 Montgomery Road, Silverton.
Photo: facebook.com/Caffè Vivace
You can both start and end your solo date at Caffè Vivace. During the day, it serves coffee, lattes, espresso, tea and steamed milk along with hot breakfast sandwiches, a vegan African peanut stew, flatbreads and pastries. But at night, the coffee house transforms into a jazz lounge complete with live music, café drinks, specialty cocktails, beer and wine.
975 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
This one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to the art and history of commercial signs and sign making is not only educational, it’s also literally lit. Let the neon glow wash over you as you wander through the American Sign Museum’s collection and learn more about a not-often-told story of the United States’ history.
1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington.
