23 Essential Cincinnati Creamy Whips You Need to Visit This Summer

If you grew up in Cincinnati — or even in the Midwest — you know that when your favorite neighborhood creamy whip…

By CityBeat Staff

Whipty-Do!
    2529 Montgomery Road, Maineville
    Whipty-Do! opened its doors in May of 2009, when owners Joe and Kristen Fields turned their love of ice cream into a colorful brick-and-mortar shop. They began serving blue ice cream in 2010, and customers drive from as far as Columbus and Indianapolis to stock up on the stuff with coolers and dry ice in tow.
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24 Kid-Friendly Cincinnati Spots Where Parents Can Get a Damn Drink

Let's all raise a glass to parents. It's not an easy job — but someone's gotta do it. And sometimes that job,…

By CityBeat Staff

Porch at Washington Park
    
    1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
    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 their zoomies out.
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The 21 Hottest New Restaurants in Cincinnati Right Now

Summer is almost here, and Cincinnati's food scene is heating up. Dozens of restaurants have opened in recent months, from Mexican joints…

By CityBeat Staff

Alcove
400-1410 Vine St. in Over-the-Rhine
MadTree Brewing has opened a multi-level Over-the-Rhine bar, restaurant and event space called Alcove. MadTree describes Alcove's main bar and restaurant as containing "a large bar, light-filled lounges, dining areas and an intimate private dining room for small groups." The space also features a "lush outdoor patio space for lounging and dining." The food menu is focused on farm-to-table dishes created by chef Stephen Williams of Bouquet Restaurant and Spoon: Kitchen and Market. The drink menu features housemade cocktails — utilizing herbs grown in that aforementioned greenhouse — and MadTree’s own brews will be on tap at the three bars located throughout. From a design standpoint, Alcove is stuffed with live greenery from Urban Blooms in every corner, creating a secret-garden-like feeling with living feature walls. In the event loft on the third floor, there's even a massive chandelier made of ferns.
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See Inside Nolia, Over-the-Rhine's New Southern-Style Restaurant

New restaurant Nolia adds some Southern flair to Cincinnati’s foodie landscape. But while the restaurant serves unique dishes inspired by Chef Jeffery…

By Sean M. Peters

See Inside Nolia, Over-the-Rhine's New Southern-Style Restaurant
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Everything We Saw at Cincinnati's Asian Food Fest

On May 7 and 8, Court Street Plaza transformed into the culinary epicenter of Cincinnati during the 11th Asian Food Fest. Over…

By CityBeat Staff

Everything We Saw at Cincinnati's Asian Food Fest this Past Weekend
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27 Patios Where You Can Dine, Drink and Enjoy the Warm Weather

Restaurants and bars across the city are beginning to open their patios to give diners the ultimate al fresco experience. From rooftop…

By CityBeat Staff

Somerset
    
     139 E McMicken Ave, Over-the-Rhine
     Somerset Bar features both an outdoor and indoor bar that’s perfect for events or just relaxing.  The bar’s exotic garden gives off a nice feeling of seclusion and you almost forget you are in a city.
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Cincinnati's Top 27 Spots to Sip on a Margarita

Nothing says summertime quite like sipping on a salt-rimmed frozen margarita in the sunshine — or one on the rocks. Both are…

By CityBeat Staff

El Barril Mexican Sports Bar & Grill 
    940 Pavilion Ave., Mount Adams
    As its name suggests, El Barrill Mexican Sports Bar & Grill is part restaurant — boasting both Mexican street food and bar bites — and part sports bar. The menu ranges from street tacos, piled-high nachos and meat-stuffed burritos to more traditional bar food like loaded burgers, mozzarella sticks and wings. Enjoy your feast and an ice-cold margarita in one of three indoor dining areas, or on the first- or second-floor patios.
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See Inside Mama’s on Main, Covington's Newest Italian Restaurant

Covington’s Main Street — the heart of historically designated MainStrasse Village — boasts one of the best assortments of restaurants in Greater Cincinnati.…

By Pama Mitchell

See Inside Mama’s on Main, Covington's Newest Italian Restaurant
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What Cincinnati's Oldest Restaurants Looked Like 15 Years Ago

Cincinnati has changed a lot, especially within the restaurant scene. While trendy new spots deserve recognition, it's incredibly important to pay homage…

By CityBeat Staff

What Cincinnati's Oldest Restaurants Looked Like 15 Years Ago
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23 Over-the-Top Eats from Cincinnati Restaurants Sure to Satisfy Your Munchies

Sometimes a sort of unreasonable hunger strikes, and when that time comes, a regular ol' grilled cheese just won't cut it. Lucky…

By CityBeat Staff

OLLA Taqueria Gutierrez 
    302 W. MLK Jr. Blvd., Covington
    OLLA Taqueria serves up Mexican-style street food, and the menu is stacked with tacos, burritos, nachos and “Guti nachos,” with nine different meat/veggie options (including birria) to choose from. The “Guti nachos” are topped with refried beans, guacamole, mozzarella, cilantro, onion and cotija cheese, served with a side of red and green salsas.
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All The Special Dinners You Can Eat During Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week, April 18-28

Greater Cincinnati Restaurant Week is back, bringing delicious local dining experiences to Cincinnatians. From April 18-28, participating restaurants will offer up dine-in…

By CityBeat Staff

Okto
645 Walnut St., Downtown
$46 // 3-Course Lunch and Dinner
Third course option: Bia Bowl with chickpeas, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, feta, red onion, tzatziki on side, couscous
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Cincinnati’s Top 10 Outdoor Dining Destinations, According to CityBeat Readers

CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati®  for more than 25 years, highlighting the city’s most outstanding…

By CityBeat Staff

No. 1 Outdoor/Patio Dining: Incline Public House
  2601 W 8th St., East Price Hill
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The Best Rooftop Bars in Cincinnati as Ranked by CityBeat Readers

CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati® for more than 25 years, highlighting the city’s most outstanding…

By CityBeat Staff

No. 1 Best Rooftop Bar: Rhinegeist
 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
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Cincinnati Food Truck Smokin' Dews Offers Barbecue and Other Comfort Food Staples

If you’re looking for a delicious dose of comfort food in a hurry, you’ll find it at Smokin’ Dews food truck. Since…

By Ashley Moor

Smokin' Dews food truck.
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25 Northern Kentucky Restaurants Every Cincinnati Foodie Needs to Try

It’s easy for Cincinnati foodies to focus all their energy on the city proper, but there are plenty of top-notch establishments on…

By CityBeat Staff

Bouquet
519 Main St., Covington
Since 2007, Bouquet has been a charming bistro where diners can always find great seasonal food and excellent wines. Chef/owner Stephen Williams is a leader in using fresh, local food on his ever-changing menu. The "Motherboard" charcuterie is a menu staple and guest favorite, featuring five cheeses, four cured or smoked meats, pickles and accoutrement.
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El Barril Mexican Sports Bar & Grill in Mount Adams Specializes in Loaded Burgers and Tacos

Mount Adams recently welcomed a new dining establishment to its quaint hilltop neighborhood. El Barril Mexican Sports Bar & Grill opened last…

By CityBeat Staff

El Barril Mexican Sports Bar & Grill
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Take a Tour of Café Alma, Pleasant Ridge's New Mediterranean Breakfast and Lunch Spot

Health-focused Mediterranean restaurant Café Alma recently opened its doors in the former Molly Malone's Irish Pub in Pleasant Ridge. The cafe says on…

By Maggy McDonel

Café Alma interior.
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The Best Breakfast and Brunch Spots in Cincinnati, According to CityBeat Readers

CityBeat has been in the business of curating the Best Of Cincinnati® for more than 25 years, highlighting the city’s most outstanding selections…

By CityBeat Staff

No. 2 Best Brunch: Taste of Belgium
  Multiple locations including 16 West Freedom Way, Downtown; 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
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These Are Cincinnati's Best Bars, According to CityBeat Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike decide which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

No. 6 Best Overall Bar/Club: Longfellow
    1233 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine
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Cincinnati's Best New Restaurants as Ranked by CityBeat Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

No. 1 Best New Restaurant: Decibel Korean Fried Chicken
    922 E McMillan St., Walnut Hills
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These are Cincinnati's Best Restaurants, According to CityBeat Readers

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike decide which bars are the booziest, which people are…

By CityBeat Staff

No. 3 Overall Restaurant: Pepp & Dolores
    1501 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
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26 Hip Foodie Restaurants Located in the Cincinnati Suburbs

While downtown and Over-the-Rhine offer many Instagrammable restaurants, bakeries and bars, there are other hip Cincinnati eateries located outside the city center.…

By CityBeat Staff

The Governor
    231 Main St., Milford
    Milford’s The Governor diner feels like a bit of Over-the-Rhine out in the suburbs. With subway tile, industrial decor and a walk-up window — where you can grab a boozy slushie to go to enjoy in the DORA district — the menu offers modern fare for brunch, lunch and dinner. There are salads, soups, a fun invention called the fromelette (basically a giant frittata) and sandwiches like an Asian-inspired fried chicken sandwich and a burger on a donut bun. While the meats are exciting — braised short rib, smoked salmon salad, housemade pastrami — vegetarians aren’t an afterthought here, either.
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Take a Tour of Alcove, MadTree's New Over-the-Rhine Restaurant and Event Space

MadTree Brewing has opened its multi-level Over-the-Rhine bar, restaurant and event space called Alcove. The menu focuses on farm-to-table dishes created by…

By Maggy McDonel

Take a Tour of Alcove: Madtree's New Over-the-Rhine Restaurant and Event Space
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30 Iconic Cincinnati Restaurants to Take Out-of-Towners

From classic staples like Skyline and LaRosa's to new favorites such Pho Lang Thang, the Queen City has many unique dining options…

By CityBeat Staff

 Scotti’s Italian Restaurant
     919 Vine St., Downtown 
     Family-owned since 1912, Scotti’s has solidified itself as a Queen City staple. Their large menu features just about every pasta imaginable and nearly 20 different varieties of veal dishes. Finish off your meal with a bottle of wine and you’ll be full for days. Multi-colored tiles plaster the walls, and candles drip layer upon layer of wax on Chianti bottles at every table, providing a little light to the otherwise dimly lit dining room.
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24 Cincinnati Pubs and Taverns to Visit for a Perfect Pint

Whether you're looking to celebrate your Irish heritage or you're just looking for a relaxed spot to grab a drink, Cincinnati has…

By CityBeat Staff

O'Malleys in the Alley
    25 W. Ogden Place, Downtown
    O'Malleys in the Alley is a straightforward imbibing experience with homemade dishes that have stood the test of time. Accessible via the shaded alleyway on Ogden Place, the bar offers drink specials and its proximity to Great American Ball Park makes it a must before Reds games.
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Everything We Saw at Cincinnati's Beer-Fueled Bockfest Celebration This Weekend

Cincinnati's favorite debaucherous celebration of dark beer, springtime and goats took over the city this past weekend. Bockfest was held March 4-6 at the…

By CityBeat Staff

Everything We Saw at Cincinnati's Beer Fueled Bockfest Celebration this Weekend
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30 Must-Try Fish Fry Feasts in Cincinnati

It’s the Lenten season in Cincinnati, which can only mean one thing: fish fry Fridays are back (that, and someone you know…

By CityBeat Staff

Braxton's Garage Beer Fish Fry
Braxton's taproom is hosting a Garage Beer Fish Fry. Grab your favorite Braxton drafts, along with Braxton-beer-battered seasonal fish nuggets or sandwich served with fries and homemade tartar sauce. 5-9 p.m. March 4. 331 E. 13th St., Pendleton.
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25 Dog-Friendly Cincinnati Bars Where You Can Drink With Your Furry Friend

A trip to your local watering hole shouldn't mean leaving your furry friend at home. Greater Cincinnati is home to dozens of…

By CityBeat Staff

Streetside Brewery
4003 Eastern Ave., Columbia Tusculum
    From their taproom/brewery along Eastern Avenue in Columbia Tusculum, Streetside Brewery blends craft and community. With beers like their imperial strawberry cheesecake German brew We've Strayed from the Light, this brewery has developed a niche for having your cake and drinking it, too. The taproom frequently hosts food trucks and programmed events. Well-behaved dogs are allowed on the patio.
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See Inside Downtown's Newly Opened La Cantina Mexican Restaurant

The former Cheapside Cafe space downtown is getting new life thanks to local Crown Restaurant Group (Crown Republic Gastropub, Losanti, Rosie’s Cocktails &…

By CityBeat Staff

La Cantina serves a self-described mix of "contemporary, authentic Mexican cuisine and cocktails."
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18 Cincinnati-Style Chili Parlors You Should Have Tried By Now

If you’ve lived in Cincinnati for any amount of time, you’ve likely stumbled into the center of a debate between die-hard fans…

By CityBeat Staff

Dixie Chili
    733 Monmouth St., Newport; 3716 Dixie Highway, Erlanger; 2421 Madison Ave., Covington
    With a location in Newport, another in Covington and one in Erlanger, Dixie Chili has become an integral part of Northern Kentucky culture; each location a local landmark in its own right. Founded in 1929 by “Papa Nick,” Dixie Chili has classic, secret-ingredient Cincinnati-style chili with cheese and onions on spaghetti. Traditionally, Dixie’s offerings are dominated by Wisconsin cheddar, and the garlic is a great counterbalance to the dairy, making it one of the area’s favorite chili joints.
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Cincinnati’s Top 25 Breweries According to Yelp

Once one of the largest brewing boomtowns in 19th-century America, the Queen City was home to major pre-Prohibition beer kingpins and, in…

By CityBeat Staff

20. Locoba by Platform
1201 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
    "Excellent place for caffeine and craft beer. Never too packed for a stop in. Great choices and offerings." — Kelsey O.
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26 Cute Cincinnati Date Ideas Under $30 That Are Actually Good

The Queen City is overflowing with cute date ideas that won't break the bank. From $10 trips to the conservatory to tons…

By CityBeat Staff

Take a Tour of the American Sign Museum
 $15 per person 
 Explore a museum featuring over 100 years of signage. This 20,000-square-foot museum has everything from pre-electric signs to beautiful art-deco neon signs to modern plastic-faced signs. 
1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington.
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