27 Times National Publications Showed Some Love to the Queen City

Findlay Market

1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
"Since 1852, merchants in Findlay Market have been selling farm-fresh produce, meats (including a local haggis-like creation called goetta) and cheeses to Cincinnatians. In the summer, the indoor market expands outside and welcomes musicians, performers and special events to the mix." — Paula Froelich for Newsweek
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Libby’s Southern Comfort

35 W. Eighth St., Covington
"This Southern restaurant is just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati in Duveneck Square. Bright, modern, and homey, the interior of Libby’s Southern Comfort is as charming as the food coming out of the kitchen. The menu is a fusion of Kentucky and Charleston comfort staples such as fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and fried green tomatoes. Be sure to order Libby’s hush puppies with goetta and sample the selection of vintage bourbon and boozy slushies." — Grace Yek for Eater
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

3400 Vine St., Avondale
“The Cincinnati Zoo (one of the oldest zoos in the nation) brings visitors nose-to-nose with a range of exciting animals. Guests can view hippos underwater (including superstar Fiona), pop up in a bubble amid meerkats or watch cheetahs racing at top speeds. The multi-sensory Night Hunters exhibit hosts cats and other nocturnal predators, while Manatee Springs seeks the long-term conservation of the Florida manatee by encouraging guests to observe these gentle giants.” — USA Today
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Branch and Night Drop

1535 Madison Road, Walnut Hills
"The restoration took more than two years but the once-vacant Central Trust Bank branch in East Walnut Hills has found new life as a high-end restaurant. While the building’s art deco design and stately interior hint at its past, the emphasis these days is squarely on food and drink. Executive chef Shoshannah Anderson’s menu is refined and global but always grounded. The food ranges from Israeli chickpea salad to diver scallops with pork belly, roasted radish, and orange curd. Pair dinner with themed cocktails like the Cosigner or Trust Account, or head downstairs for a nightcap at the Night Drop bar in the venue’s cozy basement." — Grace Yek for Eater
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Over-the-Rhine

Over-the-Rhine
"With street after street of fine Italianate buildings, Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood is getting its due these days as one of the nation's premier historic districts. For decades in deep decline, OTR is now a grand tale of urban revival, booming as it is with some 150 new restaurants, bars, and shops and businesses that have opened in the last few years. Supported by a 19th-century cast- and wrought-iron frame, which deservedly earns it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, Findlay Market is an OTR landmark to which many visitors make a beeline. A good way to see and taste all the market delights is to put yourself in the hands of Cincinnati Food Tours whose guides have relationships with all the vendors, thus making your sampling as fun and informative as it should be." — John Oseid for Forbes
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Rooted Juicery & Kitchen

17 E. Sixth St., Downtown
"Juicing fans need to make Rooted a stop on their wellness foodie tour through Cincinnati. Ivy and cactus plants are sprinkled throughout the airy and intimate Rooted Juicery & Kitchen located in downtown Cincinnati. The venue offers that nutrient boost; perfect for a midday pick me up. Try some of the popular blends like the Rooted (carrot, aloe, apple, and ginger) and the Grounded (beet, apple, carrot, celery, lemon, parsley, and spinach). If you’re hungrier than just a juice, they offer healthy bites like a roasted veggie sandwich, teriyaki quinoa wrap, and yogurt and granola." — Adrienne Jordan for Forbes
Photo via Facebook.com/RootedJuicery

Hotel Covington

638 Madison Ave., Covington
“The Hotel Covington Cincinnati Riverfront, which opened its doors in September 2016, occupies the iconic 1910 Coppin's Department Store building. The Covington, Kentucky, property nods to its roots with the Coppin's Restaurant & Bar and preserved design touches featured throughout the hotel, such as the high ceilings and oversized display windows. Recent guests appreciated the chic interiors, especially in their rooms, which reviewers described as 'beautiful.' Accommodations are outfitted in rich jewel tones, with velvet tufted headboards and amenities like free Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs and minifridges stocked with local products. The emphasis on locally sourced ingredients is also on display in the restaurant menus and at the on-site Artisan Coffee Bar, which uses Carabello Coffee from nearby Newport, Kentucky. And when the weather allows, guests can enjoy the outdoors at The Patio at Coppin's, which offers lawn games, evening movie screenings and a fireplace. Other on-site amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, a late night grab-and-go eatery and business facilities. In addition to the eye-catching interiors and delicious restaurant menus, visitors were also pleased with the courteous and attentive staff. You’ll find this hotel across the Ohio River from downtown Cincinnati.” — U.S. News & World Report
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

The Baker’s Table

1004 Monmouth St., Newport
"What makes a restaurant a tourist magnet and what makes it a standby? Many travelers long to find a gem tucked away on a small-town main street — the kind of place you want to linger in and then brag about to your Instagram followers. Locals, however, may find that what they actually need is a restaurant with a well-priced menu that outshines a home kitchen and rewards return visits. When a new restaurant like the Baker’s Table hits both marks, it has the makings of an essential. Visitors to (and from) Cincinnati should head over the Taylor Southgate Bridge to dunk fluffy ricotta doughnuts — made by chef, baker, and co-owner David Willocks — in bright strawberry-lemon curd, to carve into a fried chicken sandwich served on a textbook buttermilk biscuit, and to nurse an Amaro spritz from the bar. The cozily eclectic room, designed by co-owner Wendy Braun, invites the midday lazing that defines a vacation’s lunch. But if I lived nearby, I’d wander in for the easy comforts of a full-bodied tomato soup served alongside a grilled cheese on Willocks’s glorious sourdough, a kale Caesar studded with brioche croutons, and a chewy, salted chocolate chip cookie. Even a regular might feel like they’re on holiday — as long as there are still a few bites left on the table." — Hillary Dixler Canavan for Eater
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Yonder

621 Main St., Covington
"Tess and Chris Burns, husband-and-wife owners of Commonwealth Bistro, are huge nature lovers. They share their love for the great outdoors via their new lush, woodsy rooftop space, Yonder, which features a full bar serving a fun list of cocktails and mocktails. To eat there are playful, seasonal takes on bar bites like wings and deviled eggs, all made with locally sourced ingredients." — Grace Yek for Eater
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

Maplewood Kitchen + Bar

525 Race St., Downtown
"Located on Race Street downtown, Maplewood Kitchen + Bar is a bustling weekend brunch spot. The concept involves standing in line; ordering from an expansive menu; and then finding a seat inside the airy, floor-to-ceiling windowed venue. The menu contains omelets; lemon ricotta pancakes; blueberry pancakes; as well as healthier fare like super green salads and a handful of cold pressed juices." — Adrienne Jordan for Forbes
Photo: Hailey Bollinger