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.
As a mother of five and a manager of many, I’m always trying to find places that are family-friendly, have lots of variety, or at least allow me to get some semblance of a workout in. Need to find a place you can take your kids but also occupy them while getting a drink and not spending too much on food? I gotchu. Need a spot near the office where non-beer drinkers can hang out with cocktail lovers and wine aficionados without breaking the bank? Give me a call. I also know the best soccer fields where you can keep an eye on practice while getting in a run around the park (email me for a list of those if you’re interested … mgoth@linknky.com).
Keep reading for some of my favorite places to keep everyone happy, whether you’re with your family or trying to stay away from them (It’s OK. I won’t tell, I promise).
Best place to drink alcohol while pretending to parent: Fifty West
I don’t even like beer, but as a mom of five, I’m happy to go anywhere with a fence to keep the kids in and enough sand pits and volleyball courts to keep them busy (and away from me for five minutes. Don’t hate. The moms know). I can always find something I like to drink and the food isn’t super expensive. There’s chicken fingers and hot dogs for the kids and amazing cheeseburgers for whoever, but above all: Make sure you order extra fry sauce. Oh and the milkshakes are my kids’ favorite. Pro tip: Invite your friends over and get a spot in the shade next to the sand pit. The kids will be occupied and you’ll be able to imbibe a bit before it’s time to take everyone home and hose the sand off of them. (Covington Yard is also a great spot that has a fence and stuff for kids to do. It’s at 401 Greenup St. More info at covingtonyard.com).
7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township and 5224 District Park Drive in Mason; fiftywestbrew.com
Bike trail most likely to make you hate everyone on a bicycle: Loveland Bike Trail
In all honesty, I love the Loveland Bike Trail. Downtown Loveland is one of my favorite spots to get some exercise (sans kids), get a drink with friends or take the family out for brunch. BUT. As someone who grew up in Denver where literally everyone cycles everywhere, it was very strange to go to Loveland and see so many people who seem to consider themselves professional cyclists. What do I mean by this? There’s the newest carbon model that you can pick up with one finger; there’s the matching shirt and bike shorts with a pocket above your butt for your keys; there’s the matching hat with the small bill; and best of all, there’s the sunglasses with the little rearview mirror attached. The way you can really point out a faux professional Loveland cyclist is when your child is very earnestly trying to get going on their bike that they just learned how to ride only for someone to yell “ON YOUR RIGHT!!!” when they’re basically on top of your kid, scaring them to death and making them fall over and lose all confidence. For the love of all mothers who are trying to keep their sh** together, please just slow down and go around. It’s a family trail and you’re not a professional.
206 Railroad Avenue, Loveland; lovelandbiketrail.com
Best bookstore to take your time in when you need a break from it all: Joseph-Beth Booksellers
I moved to Cincinnati when I was 16, and our house was a five-minute walk to Joseph-Beth. If you’re looking for something specific, you can usually find it here, but I love going when I don’t have anything on my list. I’ll get a coffee, browse the surprisingly large amount of non-book merchandise, then go section by section. I usually end up with a pile of books and find a chair or a corner to look through them and sip my coffee. I always buy more than I meant to, and I never regret it. (If you need a place with lower prices, check out Half Price Books locations throughout the city for secondhand books and new items. Go to hpb.com for more info and locations.)
2692 Madison Road in Norwood (You might also think this is in Hyde Park. It’s actually in the city of Norwood, which is separate from the city of Cincinnati, inside which Hyde Park sits. But I digress); josephbeth.com
Best smoothie that doesn’t taste like a protein bar pretending to taste like a cookie: Better Blends
I might be calling it the wrong thing. Is a smoothie still a smoothie if it’s mostly protein powder and there’s no fruit? In any case, Isaac Hamlin thought of the idea for his franchise when he was tired of choking down gross protein shakes while training for rugby matches. Now there are Better Blends all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky so that anyone can get that protein in without having to sacrifice taste.
betterblend-smoothies-bowls.com
Best place to look sexy while still getting a good workout in: PoleKittens Fitness
I had to double check how long this fitness studio has been leading pole dancing classes, because I was 99% sure I went once with my friends before my first wedding in 2008. I was right! Personally, the more I try to look sexy the unsexier I feel, so maybe it’s just a me thing, but either way, this class was fun, surprisingly difficult (though it’s made for all skill levels!) and actually gave me a workout. Everyone else looked sexy, so I was probably just getting in my own head. The instructors want you to feel good in your skin, strong in your body, more like yourself and maybe even a little sexy. It’s not full of barely-clothed women with perfect bodies – the class is truly meant to make women feel good about themselves. Normal workout clothes are expected: No worries. There’s no crowds of drooling men with beer bellies and 1-dollar bills in this studio!
4719 Vine St., St. Bernard; polecore.com
This article appears in Best of Cincinnati 2026.
