City Guide

Cincinnati, Ohio

A city that punches way above its weight. Underground speakeasies, a 200-year-old public market, craft breweries in century-old buildings, and a downtown renaissance that's still accelerating. Here's everything you need to know.

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Work From Here

Best spots to work remotely in Cincinnati

Travelling for work or working while you travel? Cincinnati has a growing number of laptop-friendly cafes with fast WiFi and the right vibe for getting things done. Here are the best near our downtown apartments.

Coffee Emporium — OTR

110 E Central Pkwy

WiFi

Fast & reliable

Outlets

Available

Seating

Spacious — varied

Noise

Moderate café hum

The OTR flagship. Large space, full food and drink menu, and a relaxed atmosphere that works for long sessions. Metered street parking and nearby pay lots.

1215 Wine Bar & Coffee Lab — OTR

1215 Vine St

WiFi

Good

Outlets

Some along walls

Seating

Café tables + bar

Noise

Quiet daytime

Wine bar by night, excellent coffee lab by day. A quiet, focused spot in the morning that transitions into a social space by evening. Perfect if your work style is flexible.

Deeper Roots Coffee — OTR

1814 Race St

WiFi

Fast

Outlets

Good

Seating

Industrial-cool

Noise

Low to moderate

Located in the old Ohio Mechanics Institute — industrial vibes, great natural light, plenty of seating. One of Cincinnati's best roasters. Friendly baristas and consistently excellent espresso.

Urbana Cafe — Downtown

824 Main St

WiFi

Fast

Outlets

Available

Seating

Large, meeting-friendly

Noise

Moderate

Great meeting space downtown near Fountain Square. Full drink menu plus sandwiches and pastries. Near the Connector streetcar stop.

BlaCk Coffee Lounge — Downtown

824 Elm St

WiFi

Good, no time limit

Outlets

Available

Seating

Comfortable

Noise

Calm

Black-owned coffee shop with quality drinks and a welcoming vibe. Full coffee menu, excellent light bites. Great atmosphere for focused work.

Mercantile Library — Downtown

414 Walnut St

WiFi

Fast

Outlets

Available

Seating

Beautiful, quiet

Noise

Library-quiet

A hidden gem — a gorgeous, historic private library in downtown Cincinnati. Day passes are affordable and it's one of the most beautiful, quiet workspaces in the city. Feels like a secret.

Best Coffee

Cincinnati's coffee scene is deeper than you think

From established roasters to neighborhood gems, Cincinnati's coffee culture has matured into something special. These are the spots the locals swear by.

Deeper Roots Coffee

OTR (1814 Race St) + Oakley (3056 Madison Rd)

Cincinnati's most respected roaster. Direct-trade, single-origin focus with precise roasting and brewing. The OTR location in the old Ohio Mechanics Institute is a stunning space — industrial architecture, natural light, and serious coffee.

Order tip: Single-origin pour-over. Their beans are some of the best in the Midwest.

Coffee Emporium

OTR (110 E Central Pkwy) + Hyde Park

A Cincinnati institution. Large menu with something for everyone — traditional espresso drinks, creative seasonal specials, and a full food menu. The OTR location is spacious and reliably good.

Order tip: Seasonal specialty latte or a classic cold brew.

Collective Espresso — OTR

207 Woodward St

A tiny, focused espresso bar in OTR. No frills, just exceptionally well-made coffee. The baristas here are craftspeople. Walk-up window vibe that's become a neighborhood ritual.

Order tip: Cortado. Let them do what they do best.

Carabello Coffee

Newport, KY (right across the river)

Just across the river in Newport. Fair-trade focused, community-minded, and the coffee is excellent. Warm space, friendly staff, and a mission-driven approach. Great WiFi too.

Order tip: Any espresso drink. Also a solid WFH spot.

Mom 'n' em Coffee & Wine

Camp Washington + Madisonville

The Camp Washington location is comfy and homey, Madisonville is newer and more polished. Both serve great coffee and transition to wine in the evenings. Pastries and light bites all day.

Order tip: Latte in the morning, glass of wine when you finish work.

Iris Book Cafe — OTR

Over-the-Rhine

Locally-sourced food and coffee in the heart of OTR, surrounded by vintage books and rotating art exhibitions. Hidden outdoor patio in warm weather. A true hidden gem.

Order tip: Coffee and something from their locally-sourced food menu. Don't miss the patio.

Bars & Nightlife

OTR has some of the best bars in the Midwest

Over-the-Rhine is the nightlife capital of Cincinnati. Craft cocktail bars in 19th-century buildings, speakeasies in lagering tunnels, retro arcades, and dive bars with character — all within walking distance of our apartments.

Ghost Baby

Four floors below Vine St, OTR

A speakeasy in a 170-year-old lagering tunnel. Four floors underground, moody lighting, live jazz on select nights, and cocktails that are widely considered the best in Cincinnati. The atmosphere is genuinely unlike anything else.

Go-to: Espresso Martini. Arrive early — it fills up and there's often a wait.

Sundry and Vice

18 W 13th St, OTR

Pharmacy-themed cocktail bar with apothecary-style drinks. Test tubes, vintage medicine bottles, and serious craft behind the playful aesthetic. The bartenders know their stuff.

Go-to: Tell the bartender your mood and let them prescribe something.

Somerset Bar

OTR

Elevated cocktails in a sleek, intimate setting. The bartenders are genuine craftspeople — thoughtful drinks with unusual ingredients executed flawlessly. A favorite with locals.

Go-to: Dealer's choice. Tell them what spirits you like.

Lost & Found OTR

OTR

Eclectic decor, unique seating areas, creative cocktails. Every corner of this bar feels different — you can come back multiple times and have a completely new experience each time.

Go-to: Explore all the rooms before picking your spot.

Uncle Leo's

OTR

Named after the Seinfeld character. Dive bar energy with better-than-expected drinks and zero pretense. The kind of place where everyone feels welcome.

Go-to: A cold beer and whatever conversation finds you.

16-Bit Bar+Arcade

OTR

Free-play retro arcade games from the '80s and '90s plus a full bar. Pac-Man, pinball, NBA Jam, and craft beer — a perfect low-key night out or group outing.

Go-to: Grab a drink, challenge someone to Big Buck Hunter.

Nice Life

OTR

Retro cocktail bar and dance hall inspired by the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Bold orange wallpaper, streaming light fixtures, gold disco ball, and a colorblock dance floor. Signature cocktails, THC beverages, and non-alcoholic options.

Go-to: Rosemary Rhapsody cocktail. Saturday nights are the move.

Restaurants

Where to eat in downtown Cincinnati and OTR

OTR has become one of the most exciting food neighborhoods in the Midwest. From James Beard-nominated chefs to beloved taco joints, the density of quality is remarkable.

Pepp & Delores

OTR

Handmade pasta and creative cocktails. The only Cincinnati restaurant to land on OpenTable's most beloved restaurants in America list. Homemade, comforting Italian food that's worth every minute of the wait. A reservation is highly recommended.

Go-to: Any fresh pasta. You literally cannot go wrong.

Salazar

Across from Fountain Square

Chef Jose Salazar's eponymous restaurant, reopened in 2025 in a massive new space. Five times the original size, with three private dining rooms and a large bar. Fresh pastas, seafood towers, prime ribeye, and the famous lil fried oyster slider.

Go-to: Lil fried oyster slider — the returning fan favorite.

Abigail Street

OTR

Mediterranean-inspired flavors in a warm, upscale-casual space. Rich, shareable plates blending Middle Eastern and Mediterranean traditions. One of OTR's original restaurants — open since 2012 and still packing the house.

Go-to: Start with mezze, finish with lamb.

Nolia

OTR

New Orleans-inspired cuisine from James Beard-nominated Chef Jeff Harris. Southern soul food reimagined with Cincinnati craft. Consistently one of the best dining experiences in the city.

Go-to: Whatever the chef is running as a special.

Krueger's Tavern

Vine St, OTR

Centrally located with great craft burgers, shareable apps, and a solid beer list. Unpretentious and reliable — the neighborhood spot where you always know you'll eat well.

Go-to: Smash burger and a local draft.

Bakersfield — OTR

OTR

Tacos, tequila, and bourbon in a lively, always-buzzing space. Great selection of spirits, innovative street tacos, and a scene that works for groups or solo dining.

Go-to: Fish tacos and a mezcal cocktail.

Goose & Elder

Near Findlay Market

Gourmet burgers and American comfort food near Findlay Market. Creative takes on familiar dishes, excellent craft cocktails, and a casual neighborhood energy.

Go-to: The burger. Then walk to Findlay Market for dessert.

Craft Beer

Cincy's brewing heritage runs deep

Cincinnati was one of America's great beer cities before craft beer existed. German immigrants built the original lager breweries here in the 1800s — and the new generation of craft brewers is carrying that tradition forward in the same historic OTR buildings.

Rhinegeist Brewery

1910 Elm St, OTR

The cornerstone of craft beer in OTR and one of the most successful craft breweries in the country. Massive atmospheric taproom in a former bottling plant. Cornhole courts, events, and a rooftop bar with skyline views. The Truth IPA is iconic.

Try: Truth IPA, then head to the rooftop for sunset. Free tours available.

MadTree Brewing / Alcove

OTR (Alcove) + Oakley (taproom)

MadTree's OTR restaurant concept, Alcove, is a garden oasis — greenhouse bar, beautiful patio, elevated food. Their brunch is one of the best in OTR (chicken & waffles, espresso martini flights). Oakley taproom for the full brewery experience.

Try: Psychopathy IPA at the taproom, brunch at Alcove.

Taft's Ale House

1429 Race St, OTR

Housed in a gorgeous renovated church in OTR. The architecture alone is worth a visit — soaring ceilings, stained glass, and a massive bar where the altar used to be. The beer is solid and the food menu is surprisingly good.

Try: Gavel Banger IPA and a soft pretzel in a former church. Hard to beat.

Braxton Brewing

Covington, KY (right across the river)

Just across the river in Covington. Large taproom with rooftop views of the Cincinnati skyline. Strong core lineup and creative one-offs. Their garage bar is legendary in summer.

Try: Garage Beer (their crusher lager) on the rooftop.

Skeleton Root Wine

Near Findlay Market, OTR

Not beer — natural wine made on-site in an early 1900s industrial building just north of Findlay Market. Local and regional grapes, small-production, and a secret garage-door patio. Perfect for when you want something different.

Try: A red wine flight in the tasting room, then explore the patio.

Things To Do

Explore the city

Findlay Market

1801 Race St, OTR

Ohio's oldest continuously operated public market, right in OTR. Fresh produce, local meats, baked goods, spice shops (Colonel De's Cincinnati Chili blend is a must), and prepared food vendors. Saturday morning is the main event, but it's open Tuesday through Sunday. Summer beer garden and City Flea artisan market.

Don't miss: Colonel De's spices, Dojo Gelato, and a stroll through the outdoor vendor stalls.

Washington Park & Music Hall

OTR

The green heart of OTR. A beautifully maintained urban park directly in front of the iconic Music Hall (a National Historic Landmark). Free concerts during summer music series, the City Flea market, and the Porch Bar for craft beer right in the park.

Check the events calendar — there's almost always something happening.

Fountain Square

Downtown

Cincinnati's central gathering place. Year-round programming: ice skating in winter, concerts in summer, food festivals, and community events. Surrounded by restaurants and bars. The natural starting point for any downtown exploration.

Walk from Fountain Square into OTR — about 10 minutes through the heart of the city.

The Banks & Smale Riverfront Park

Along the Ohio River

Cincinnati's riverfront entertainment district between the Reds' and Bengals' stadiums. Walking paths, river views, restaurants, and a beautiful park. Game day energy when the teams are playing, relaxed riverfront vibes otherwise.

Perfect for a morning run or an evening walk after dinner. Catch a Reds game if you can.

Cincinnati Art Museum

953 Eden Park Dr

Free admission to a world-class collection spanning 6,000 years of art. Located in Eden Park with views over the city. A genuinely excellent museum that would cost $25+ in most cities.

It's free. Go. The special exhibitions are worth checking too.

Connector Streetcar

Runs through Downtown & OTR

Free streetcar connecting The Banks, Fountain Square, and OTR in a continuous loop. The easiest way to hop between neighborhoods without a car.

It's free. Use it to get between dinner and drinks without worrying about parking or rideshare surge.

Local Secrets

Things only locals know

Walk, don't drive, in OTR

OTR is extremely walkable. Parking is available but metered, and most bars and restaurants are within a 10-minute walk of each other. Use the free Connector streetcar for longer hops.

The Kentucky side is part of the experience

Covington and Newport (right across the river) have their own great bars, restaurants, and breweries. Walk across the Roebling Suspension Bridge for views and explore Mainstrasse Village.

Findlay Market on Saturday

Go early (before 10am) for the best experience. The prepared food vendors are the hidden gems — get breakfast here.

Cincinnati chili is its own thing

It's not Texas chili. It's a cinnamon-spiced meat sauce served over spaghetti or on hot dogs. Skyline and Gold Star are the chains — locals have strong opinions on which is better. Try both.

Stay in the heart of it

Our 6 Cincinnati apartments put you steps from OTR, Fountain Square, and the riverfront. Book direct for the best rate.