Let’s all raise a glass to parents. It’s not an easy job — but someone’s gotta do it. And sometimes that job, like every job, can put you in the mood for a stiff drink. We hope this list inspires some parents to relax and have some fun while spending time with their kids.
MadTree Parks & Rec
Cincinnati brewery MadTree opened its third concept in Blue Ash’s Summit Park this February. MadTree Parks & Rec is continuing the brewery’s creative and sustainable traditions of taking an old space and repurposing it. In this case, the team converted a 15,000-square-foot airplane hangar into an outdoor recreation destination, tying into the park’s green space and offering things like cornhole, plenty of seating outside and walking trails. The taproom has indoor and outdoor play areas for the kids and cocktails and MadTree’s specially crafted beer for the parents. 4321 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash.
10th Island Tiki Bar and Grill
10th Island, a Hawaiian tiki bar and grill concept, opened in Over-the-Rhine this June. The restaurant offers a menu focusing on Hawaiian-inspired light bites like burgers and sandwiches, mussels, calamari and other seafood-centric appetizers. To drink, try from a selection of tiki cocktails, like mai tais and piña coladas, and traditional Hawaiian shave ice (non-alcoholic options for the kiddos and alcoholic options for imbibing adults). Inside, the space has been designed to make diners feel like they’re on an island getaway. The windows are completely covered in images of tropical foliage that complement the island-style interior décor. It’s also just steps away from Ziegler Park Pool, making it a premier summertime destination for kids and adults alike. 213 Woodward St., Over-the-Rhine.
Fifty West Brewing
Fifty West has tons of activities for kids to enjoy, like several sand volleyball courts, cornhole and pickleball, plus an ice skating rink in the winter. The brewery hub also has a Burger Bar serving up a menu of bread-and-butter diner specialties like classic cheeseburgers, flat-top hot dogs and loaded crinkle-cut fries. Don’t miss the 12 specialty burgers named for the 12 states that U.S. Route 50 runs through. Grab a house-made root beer or orange soda to wash it all down, or choose from a wide range of Fifty West canned, bottled or draft beers. 7605 Wooster Pike, Mariemont; 5224 District Park Drive, Deerfield Township.
Free Parking
Go straight to Free Parking; do not pass “Go.” This board game and neighborhood bar, where you can turn your friends into enemies over an intense game of Monopoly, aims to be a welcoming space where guests of all ages can enjoy a wide variety of board games, along with drinks and bites, in a relaxed atmosphere. The menu features specialty cocktails named after Monopoly spaces along with a selection of pub-style food, including sharables like pretzels and beer cheese, wings and a brisket flatbread, as well as handhelds like burgers and chicken sandwiches. They also offer a weekend brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with offerings like breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, platters and more. While Free Parking is family-friendly, it’s still a bar and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and not all the games in its game library are kid-appropriate. 6200 Hamilton Ave., College Hill.
Purrfect Day Cafe
For your animal-obsessed kid, reserve a 50-minute session to cuddle with kitties in Purrfect Day Cafe’s cat lounge room. Roughly 15-20 adoptable cats hang out in the lounge room, and all can be interacted with. Grab a snack like the “Paw-Pcorn” or “Purr-Etzels” and a drink — they offer up a variety of beers, wines and cocktails like the “Purrfect Meowmosa.” 25 W. Eighth St., Covington.
Hoppin’ Vines
A hub for beer, duckpin bowling and coal-fired pizza, Hoppin’ Vines is the perfect playground for kids and adults alike. Kids can play a few rounds of duckpin bowling (a blend of bowling and skee ball) while you enjoy their weekly rotating collection of craft beers from all over the country. Personal pizzas make it easy for picky kids to get exactly what they like, and the mac and cheese is so good, you’ll be stealing from your kids’ plates. 8150 Montgomery Road, Kenwood.
Porch at Washington Park
Head over to Washington Park and enjoy a selection of local beer, seasonal cocktails, canned wine and more. The bar offers seating on the porch or on the lawn, so BYOB (bring your own blanket). Tables and heaters are located under the covered patio for when the weather isn’t cooperating. Kids can enjoy the massive lawn and playground at the park, and for dog parents out there, Washington Park offers a dog park for pups to play and get out their zoomies. 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine.
Hofbräuhaus
Dining while parenting is all about strategy, and you can use the promise of doing the chicken dance on top of a table as plate-finishing leverage. This German bier hall is modeled after the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich and features house-brewed beer, German fare like soft-dough pretzels with bier cheese and wurst sausages, and servers in traditional dirndls. You’ll often find the sounds of German polka music, cheering and laughter drifting out into the streets — an atmosphere that will keep the kids entertained while you enjoy a bier (or two). 200 Third St., Newport.
Kings Island
At one of the largest amusement parks and water parks in the Midwest, there are plenty of thrill rides, family-friendly rides, daily live shows, water slides and traditional carnival games to keep the entire family entertained for hours. Alcoholic beverages are available at various hubs around the park, including The Mercado, Coconut Cove Cafe in Soak City and the Miami River Brewhouse. 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason.
Oakley Greens
Oakley Greens from Gorilla Cinema is similar to Covington Yard, one of Gorilla Cinema’s already successful open-air bars, with specialty cocktails, a large green space with ample seating, massive flat screens and options for dining in, it’s different in that it has 36 holes of elevated mini golf, making it a great place to drink, eat and play. Oakley Greens offers specialty cocktails and guests can get food from Hangry Omar’s Food Hall, which offers sliders, loaded fries, tater tots and cheese bites. Carnitas tacos, chips and queso, nachos, pizza and salads are also available for ordering at the two kiosks inside the main Oakley Greens building, and Mr. Oakley’s Ice Cream Shop offers a sweet treat for adults and kids alike. 3065 Vandercar Way, Oakley.
Bircus Brewing Co.
Ludlow, Kentucky’s nonexistent craft beer scene sent in the clowns, leading to the launch of Bircus Brewing Co., a branch of an original concept from Ghent, Belgium. Pronounce it like ‘beer-cuss,’ a hybrid of beer and circus, as the brew shares the limelight with carnival performances at the taproom. Performers can do everything from breathing fire to flying on the trapeze. 322 Elm St., Ludlow.
Par 3
Newport on the Levee scored a miniature golf and restaurant concept last summer. Par 3 calls itself an innovative and modern approach to traditional mini golf that focuses on “competitive socializing” through interactive gameplay. The venue is open to guests of all ages and skill levels and offers three different nine-hole courses with unique designs and over-the-top themes. Each hole is designed to be challenging, but fun, and each one was created to even the playing field for all participants, so even the beginner could quickly become a pro. The space also has a full bar and indoor and outdoor dining areas with big-screen TVs, a gaming zone and a VIP section for private parties. The menu features high-end, sharable small plates like flatbreads, tacos and burgers, as well as specialty cocktails named after golfing terms, like “The Putterfly Effect” and the “Hole in One,” Par 3’s take on an old fashioned. 1 Levee Way, Newport.
Factory 52
Norwood’s mixed-use development, Factory 52, features an array of food, drink and activity options for both adults and kids. The Gatherall food hall offers dining options ranging from tacos to pizza and cupcakes, plus kids 12 and under eat free on Monday nights. The food hall also has three bars for adults — cocktail bar According to Hoyle, Fretboard Brewing and the new One Eyed Jacks, an outdoor bar offering summery and tiki drinks. Factory 52 also has Jeni’s for ice cream, ACES for pickleball fun and Braxton Brewing will open on the site soon. 4590 Beech St., Norwood.
Cartridge Brewing
Head down to the banks of the Little Miami River where Cartridge Brewing sits inside of the historic Peters Cartridge Factory. Its menu features shareables like nachos and pretzels with beer cheese, plus pizza, sandwiches and more. While you’re there, be sure to grab a cocktail or one of their house-made brews. The brewery sits right along the Loveland Bike Trail, making it the perfect stop while taking your kids on a ride. 1411 Grandin Road, Maineville.
13 Below Brewery
Next door to Fernbank Park on the Ohio River, you’ll find micro-craft brewery 13 Below. They specialize in brewing small batches of craft beer, including porters, IPAs, ambers and brown ales — but don’t skip on their hard seltzers or “beertails,” the Summer Wedding (13 Below’s Wedding Day Belgian tripel and lemonade) being especially loved. They’re also kid- and dog-friendly, and you can sit both outside and inside with your pup while you enjoy a brew or two. Food truck Incline Smoke Shack is also permanently parked outside for all your BBQ needs. 7391 Forbes Rd., Sayler Park.
Pins Mechanical Co.
Pins is full of fun and games for both kids and adults, including duck pin bowling, ping pong, foosball and pinball machines. There are 36 beers on tap and loads of imaginative cocktails for the adults — plus mocktails for kids and anyone not drinking. Customers can also head over to Goodfellas Pizza down the street and bring it into Pins. 1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine.
Milkman
Is there anything more nostalgic of being a kid than sipping on milkshakes and demolishing a big plate of hot, crispy fries at the local diner? Milkman serves up those nostalgic vibes for your now-children along with its unique take on diner food with smash burgers and “not a burger” options like hot dogs, fried chicken sandwiches and salads. There are also options for non-meat eaters, including tofu nugs plus the meat for any of the chicken sandwiches can be switched out for fried tofu. You also can’t leave without trying one of their milkshakes (and parents can also add a little booze to theirs). 1106 Race St., Over-the-Rhine.
Dewey’s Pizza
This popular pizza chain offers a slew of creative pies — from barbecue chicken to a Killer Veggie — plus a nice selection of wine and local brews on tap. Each location also boasts large windows to see into the kitchen, allowing guests to watch their pizzas being made. Kids are encouraged to watch as cooks roll and hand-toss dough, add ingredients and put the finished product in the oven; adults are more than welcome, too. Multiple locations.
The Acres
Hungry families who aren’t ready to commit to a junior golf schedule need to know about The Acres. Formerly Etter’s Golf Center, The Acres debuted in June 2022 and now features two mini golf courses, a Trackman interactive golf simulator and the golf center’s first full bar and restaurant. They also added space to just hang out. There are fire pits, cornhole boards and plenty of outdoor tables and seating. The food menu at The Acres’ restaurant is a short selection of elevated American classics. 9941 Reading Road, Evendale.