21 Cincinnati Restaurants with Gorgeous Scenic Views
By CityBeat Staff
It’s easy to forget just how beautiful Cincinnati is. From floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the skyline to eateries nestled right on along river, these hot spots offer a guaranteed #nofilter picture.
2601 W. Eighth St., Price Hill With a 1,400-square-foot deck for soaking in vistas and cocktails, this eatery boasts some spectacular views of the Queen City. The Incline Public House’s name is derived from the actual Cincinnati Incline that existed there from the late 1800s to the 1940s. Their upscale twist on pub food features sandwiches, salads, epicurean appetizers and a slew of craft cocktails and draft beers. Build your own pizza with toppings ranging from pepperoni and prosciutto to fried egg and oven-roasted tomato.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
309 Vine St., Downtown The View at Shires’ Garden is on the 10th floor of the City Club Apartments and offers views of the riverfront and the surrounding cityscape. This new rooftop spot features an indoor dining room, an outdoor patio and a private event lounge with a bar, cigar patio, baby grand piano and fire-lit tables. The décor mixes modern furnishings with the style of the original Shires’ Gardens from the 19th century — a historic Queen City amusement resort of sorts in this same spot at Vine and Third streets.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
1211 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine The restaurant’s upstairs patio offers a birds’-eye view of the action on Vine Street, plus Krueger’s full menu. Try their veggie burger — it’s the best in the city. But if you’re looking to drink your dinner, opt for a shareable pitcher like the Gin and Juice, with house-infused bathtub gin, fresh-squeezed orange juice and West Sixth Brewing Lemongrass wheat beer.
Photo: Kellie Coleman
135 Joe Nuxhall Way, Downtown On top of the AC Hotel at the Banks, the Upper Deck boasts excellent views of the riverfront and Great American Ball Park. Lounge under string lights while gorging on Grand Slam Nachos and sipping a local craft beer.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
621 Main St., Covington Commonwealth’s beautiful rooftop patio is perched right above Covington’s MainStrasse, making it a relaxing destination for a tasty, Southern-inspired meal while you watch the hustle and bustle below.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
668 W. Fifth St., Covington As Cincinnati’s only revolving steakhouse, you can enjoy a rotating 360-degree view of both sides of the river’s unique city skylines from the hotel’s 18th floor. The restaurant interior moves just fast enough to register with your eyes if you stare, but too slowly to notice at a glance — it takes an hour to make a full rotation and it’s not the entire top of the building that moves, just the restaurant floor.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
506 E. Fourth St., Downtown On the roof of the downtown Marriott hotel, catch 360-degree views of the city and the river from its vantage point at the base of Lytle Park. Amenities include tabletop fire features, TVs and live music, plus a tapas menu with snack options like sliders, charcuterie and chocolate churros.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
860 Elm St., Ludlow With a giant shark figurine impaled on the sign, this bar and marina has a definite laid-back island humor — and cheap drinks. People might go for the irony, the river views and glowing palm trees, but they stay for the grill-your-own-steaks, live music and tiki drinks served in Styrofoam cups.
Photo: Phil Heidenreich
405 Riverboat Row, Newport This riverside upscale chain restaurant serves steak and seafood with New England, Caribbean and Southern influences. Start with a steaming bowl of creamy clam chowder, a succulent shrimp cocktail or beautifully seared ahi tuna. Massive windows offering a panoramic view of the bridges straddling the Ohio give this dining room an upscale feel. Even better is the view from the patio.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
5345 Medpace Way, Madisonville Foodies, take note: a lot of excellent food is coming out of the kitchen division of the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at Madisonville’s The Summit hotel. The fourth-floor dining facilities, which include a separate space open only for breakfast and lunch, also features a large patio.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger
