25 Reasons We're Thankful for Cincinnati

Cincinnati Chili

Nothing beats Cincinnati-style chili on a cold day, and, let’s face it, outside our professional sports teams, its the thing we’re best known for (and maybe the thing we’re most made fun of). From Skyline to Gold Star to the many neighborhood chili parlors dotted around the city, there are plenty of places to grab a coney or a whatever-number-you-want-way piled high with our signature chili and fresh cheese.

The Breweries

Brewing is such a big part of Cincinnati’s heritage, that it just makes sense we have so many great and award-winning craft breweries in the Queen City. Whether you prefer a hoppy IPA or fruity sour, you can find a locally made drink you enjoy while you catch up with family and friends.

Goetta

Goetta is a delicious Cincinnati staple made up of meat, oats, broth, spices and sometimes onion, brought to us by early German immigrants to the city. You fry it up (and in the process get to play the fun game of Dodge the Hot, Flying Oats) and can eat it ground up or as a patty.

The Ice Cream

Graeter’s, Agalamesis Bro’s and UDF form the perfect trifecta of ice cream, and they’re all locally owned and offer something different, depending on what you’re looking for. Graeter’s (which is a favorite of Oprah’s and was served at Naomi Biden’s wedding) is rich and creamy, filled to the brim of your cone with chocolate chunks; nobody makes Italian ice like Agalamesis and UDF has a mix of classic and fun flavors. And with the holidays coming up, all these places have delicious peppermint ice cream…yes, please!

The Restaurant and Bar Scene

Chili is king here, but we also have a lot more to offer in the food and drink scene. From fine dining to cheap, but delicious street food, we’re a growing foodie city with a lot of flavor and a selection of bars with vibes ranging from chill to raging.

The Parks

Cincinnati is blessed with numerous amazing parks. You can walk along the riverfront and enjoy the view before a night on the town at Smale Riverfront Park. Eden Park is home to a theater and world-class art museum, not to mention Mirror Lake. Cincinnati Parks are also home to plenty of walking and hiking trails, play areas for kids and other gathering spaces. We’re also surrounded by Hamilton County’s Great Parks, some of which have fantastic bike trails, lakes for kayaking and boating and programming where you can learn new hobbies and skills, like archery.

The Museums

We’re crazy lucky to have the Cincinnati Art Museum and its FREE admission. There’s also always a new exhibit to check out there, the Taft Museum of Art or Cincinnati Museum Center, which also houses the OMNIMAX Theater and the children’s museum. And we can’t forget about the American Sign Museum which is just so glowy and neon and cool AF.

The Arts Scene

We have so much love for Cincinnati’s arts scene, which is one that consistently punches above its weight. Whether it’s a musical at the Aronoff, a modern take on a Shakespeare play at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, a show at the Cincinnati Ballet or a symphony at Music Hall, there is always a show or performance to see. We also are home to some pretty other incredible theaters, like Playhouse in the Park, the Know Theatre, Warsaw Federal Incline Theater and the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati.

West Side vs. East Side “Rivalry”

There’s been a longstanding, all-in-good-fun “feud” when it comes to Cincinnatians and their side of town. West Side, best side, amirite? But the East Side has Zip’s Cafe, so we’re torn. By the way, which high school did you go to?

The Cool Neighborhoods

It feels like each neighborhood in the Greater Cincinnati area has its own, distinct personality and each are worth exploring: Historic and hip OTR, creative Northside, community-minded College Hill and fun-loving Clifton and Corryville all offer something different – and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of every community here. So much of the city is also walkable, making it easier to get around and experience new things.

The Public Libraries

Our local libraries hold so much information and entertainment, not to mention their phenomenal resources. The Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library is one of the most utilized library systems in the country, and who would have thought you could go there to use a 3D printer? They and the other library systems in the region can also help you search for jobs and prepare for interviews, research your family tree or just get your hands on a new book.

The Music Scene

Cincinnati has a strong local music scene, and lots of famous tours stop here (Taylor Swift, anyone?). Not to mention you can see quality live music any night of the week in a variety of genres.

The Murals

The murals add so much life and color to the city. You can spend a whole day downtown and in Over-the-Rhine and Pendleton just walking around appreciating these quality pieces of art.

Festivals

Taste of Cincinnati. Riverfest and the WEBN Fireworks. Oktoberfest (the biggest outside Germany, thank you very much!). BLINK. Cincinnati knows how to throw an incredible party and bring in people from all parts of town, and even from across the country and world.

Fountain Square

ICON. LEGEND. This fountain puts the QUEEN in Queen City. But not only does Fountain Square have the beautiful Tyler Davidson Fountain, it's also a valuable community gathering place.

Findlay Market

This historic gem in Over-the-Rhine is Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market and a hub of activity. Pretty much anything you need to find related to groceries, you can find here. The ingredients sold here are fresh and often locally sourced, and there are also other shops and boutique to browse, as well as places to grab a bite to eat.

The Roebling Bridge

The Crown Jewel of Cincinnati. We never get tired of looking at pictures of this beauty from either side of the river.

The Bengals

WHO DEY?! Not the Steelers after that game Nov. 20, that’s for sure. We bleed orange and black in the Queen City, and while the Bengals came up short in the Super Bowl this year, we know they’ll be back. Honorable mentions go to Joe Burrow and his 300-yard games and WR Trenton Irwin for the most genuine, giddy excitement over his touchdown against the Steelers.

The Reds

We know you didn’t have your best season, guys. It’s OK. We still love you.

FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati games always come with lots of excitement and enthusiasm. They also made it to their first MLS Cup playoff game in 2022 and even won the first round against the New York Red Bulls. While sadly they lost in the second round, we’re excited to see where they go from here.