You’re reading part of our 2026 Best of Cincinnati edition. Explore the full guide, including winners for Food & Drink, Things to Do, Shopping, Services and People & Places.
I am about as Cincinnati as you can get. In fact, my upcoming wedding (well, it will have happened by the time you read this, but as I write it, it’s still upcoming!) is at Findlay Market and we’re having it catered by four Findlay Market vendors. We’re even going to Rhinegeist for cocktails so everyone can enjoy the view from the rooftop.
All of that is to say, I know Cincinnati. I know where to get the cuddliest felines, where to get supplies for said felines, and where to look “fly as hell.” Here are some of my recommendations for services in the Queen City.
The best place to treat your furball like royalty: Pet Wants Cincy at Findlay Market
A store at Findlay Market ought to be special, and Pet Wants delivers. Michele Hobbs and Amanda Broughton founded Pet Wants in 2010 after they noticed problems with their own pets’ nutrition. Today, Pet Wants makes its own small-batch cat and dog food, along with dog biscuits and a variety of unique treats. Inside, the atmosphere is welcoming and a little playful, making it just as enjoyable for pets as it is for their owners. Bring your dog along for a visit, browse the shelves, and let them sniff out a favorite snack before you decide what to bring home.
1813 Pleasant St., OTR; petwantscincy.com
The best place to find lawn art: Sibcy Cline
You’ve probably seen the Sibcy Cline yard signs scattered across just about every Cincinnati neighborhood. I personally ended up using them when I bought my place in Walnut Hills, which is honestly why I’m talking about them at all. It wasn’t because of the yard signs. It was because someone I trusted pointed me in the right direction, and the experience held up. They knew the area, they kept things moving, and I never felt like I was in the dark about where things stood. If you’re somewhere in the middle of the home-buying process, or just starting to think about it, they’re worth a conversation. Cincinnati’s a big city made up of many very different neighborhoods, and it helps to work with people who actually know them.
sibcycline.com
The best place to hammer a nail: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati
In the past fiscal year alone, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati built 23 homes and made critical repairs to 174 others. They’re also the largest home builder in the Cincinnati area, which I didn’t fully appreciate until I looked into it more. More than 1,000 volunteers show up to help address the very real need for affordable housing here. Regular people, giving their weekends, swinging hammers, making it happen. What I like about Habitat is that it doesn’t feel abstract. The homes are here, in neighborhoods we all drive through. The families are real. The need is real. And the work being done to meet that need is consistent, year after year, in a way that’s genuinely hard to argue with.
4910 Para Drive, Bond Hill; habitatcincinnati.org
The best place to look ‘fly as hell’: Peppe Ramundo Menswear and Black Tie
My soon-to-be wife suggested I rent a tuxedo from Peppe Ramundo Menswear for our wedding this summer. When I arrived at the store, I was surrounded by brightly colored suits and tuxedos and an impressive selection of accessories. I had been there for a moment before I was handed the tux I’ll wear in June. The only tailor in the building spoke with me for three minutes, then went upstairs. When he returned, he had two jackets that fit perfectly. That was the moment I understood what an expert tailor really was — someone who doesn’t need a measuring tape to size up a customer. Just a three-minute conversation.
5229 Glenway Ave., West Price Hill; peperamundo.com
The best place to go for kitty snuggles: Ohio Alleycat Resource
Finding a second cat meant doing our homework, which led my fiancee and me to Ohio Alleycat Resource. We decided to get a second cat in 2024 and began researching adoption agencies. When we visited this Cincinnati nonprofit, we were promptly ambushed by the most devastatingly cute kittens imaginable. Determined not to adopt the very first fuzzy faces we encountered, we pressed on. (Spoiler: we came back.) And honestly? We’re glad we explored. The facility, formally known as The Joanie Bernard Home for Cats, is nothing short of impressive. Cats are housed in groups of four or five per unit, and roughly half of those units come with screened-in porches. Yes, porches. They are nicer than my home, frankly. The cats aren’t just housed, they’re respected, enriched and genuinely cared for. We left with one very perfect kitten, Lucy; OAR left us with zero regrets.
5619 Orlando Place, Madisonville; ohioalleycat.org
This article appears in Best of Cincinnati 2026.