My Cincinnati weekend: chili 5-ways, OTR breweries, a Reds game on the river, and a walk across the Roebling Bridge to Kentucky. These are the spots I send every friend visiting the Queen City.
Map
I order a 4-way with onions and a couple of coneys at the Skyline on Ludlow, the Clifton original that's been ladling chili since 1949.
Skyline Chili
I hit Camp Washington Chili for a 5-way at any hour, since this James Beard-honored diner is open around the clock most days.
Camp Washington Chili
I spend Saturday mornings at Findlay Market, Ohio's oldest public market, grabbing goetta, pastries, and a beer in the biergarten.
Findlay Market
I always get a scoop of Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip at Graeter's, where they still make every batch in small French pots.
Graeter's Ice Cream
I catch the Cincinnati Symphony or the Pops at Music Hall, a gorgeous 1878 Gothic Revival hall that sounds as good as it looks.
Cincinnati Music Hall
I hang out at Washington Park with a drink from the bandstand bar while kids splash in the fountains and live music plays.
Washington Park
I play cornhole and drink a Truth IPA on the rooftop at Rhinegeist, set in an old bottling plant in OTR.
Rhinegeist Brewery
I drink a pint under the soaring ceilings at Mellotone, a brewpub inside a converted 1850s church across from Washington Park.
Mellotone Beer Project
I go to The Eagle on Vine Street for crispy fried chicken, spoonbread, and a cold beer in a lively beer hall.
The Eagle OTR
I grab Greek spaghetti and catch live music in the courtyard at Arnold's, Cincinnati's oldest bar.
Arnold's Bar & Grill
I book a table at Sotto for the short rib cappellacci, served in a candlelit basement dining room downtown.
Sotto
I meet friends under the Tyler Davidson Fountain at Fountain Square, which turns into an ice rink in winter.
Fountain Square
I take the Queen City Underground Tour with American Legacy Tours to explore the old lagering tunnels beneath OTR's breweries.
American Legacy Tours
I wander the Contemporary Arts Center, a free museum in a striking Zaha Hadid building.
Contemporary Arts Center (CAC)
I swing on the giant porch swings and walk the riverfront at Smale Park with views of the Roebling Bridge.
Smale Riverfront Park
I walk across the Roebling Suspension Bridge to Kentucky, the 1866 bridge that served as a model for the Brooklyn Bridge.
John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge
I set aside a few hours for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, one of the most moving museums I've ever visited.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
I catch a Reds game at Great American Ball Park, where I love the river views and the smokestacks that shoot fireworks.
Great American Ball Park
I order a slab of saucy ribs on the riverfront at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, a Cincinnati barbecue classic.
Montgomery Inn The Boathouse
I eat pulled pork and jalapeño cheese grits at the picnic tables at Eli's BBQ, right next to the river.
Eli's BBQ - Riverside
I spend an afternoon at the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park, and general admission is always free.
Cincinnati Art Museum
I walk around Mirror Lake in Eden Park and stop at the overlooks for sweeping views of the Ohio River.
Eden Park
I visit the Krohn Conservatory for the butterfly show in spring and the holiday display in winter.
Krohn Conservatory
I go to the Cincinnati Zoo to say hi to Fiona the hippo, and the Festival of Lights in winter is a must.
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
I always stop under the huge Art Deco rotunda at Union Terminal, then explore the history and natural history museums inside.
Cincinnati Museum Center
I lose an hour at the American Sign Museum, which is packed with glowing vintage neon signs.
American Sign Museum
I picnic at Ault Park and walk the formal gardens up to the pavilion for a view over the valley.
Ault Park
I look through the 1845 telescope at the Cincinnati Observatory, one of the oldest working telescopes in the country.
Cincinnati Observatory
I make the drive to Jungle Jim's for its gigantic international aisles, hot sauce wall, and quirky animatronics.
Jungle Jim's International Market
I cross the river to the Newport Aquarium for the shark bridge and the penguins.
Newport Aquarium
I raise a liter of German beer and order a giant pretzel at Hofbräuhaus Newport, just over the bridge from downtown.
Hofbräuhaus - Newport
I bar-hop around MainStrasse Village in Covington, a German-heritage neighborhood with a cute fountain square.
