Uncover a whole new downtown
If you haven't been downtown in a while then you've missed a lot. Peel back the high-rise offices and work-a-day facade and you'll find some of the area's best dining, liveliest bars and most unique shopping along with world-class arts and entertainment.
Discover great new dishes at downtown's latest restaurants like fresh seafood at McCormick & Schmick’s or hip Mexican at Nada. Uncover energetic new nightlife with the club scene of FB or the trendy Mynt Martini. Find one-of-a-kind shopping at Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Hunt Club Clothiers, Brooks Brothers, Park+Vine, or Bromwell's. Explore all the great ways to have fun downtown, whether it's an afternoon at the Freedom Center, an evening at the Opera or Salsa Night on the Square.
Come see for yourself, try one of the itineraries listed here or create your own perfect afternoon, evening or overnight downtown. It's time to uncover a new downtown...because life happens here. Download and print downtown sample itineraries by clicking here.
City Tours / Segway Tours
For fun, try a city tour or even a Segway tour, currently offered from Fountain Square and in Eden Park, minutes from downtown. Find more information click here.
Queen City Walking Tour
Try one (or all) of the walking tours that the project team of Leaderships CincinnatiUSA Class XXXI developed for your enjoyment by downloading the printable brochure.
Cincinnati Art Snob Tours
Led by Kathy Stockman, art historian and teacher, Cincinnati Art Snob offers two tours specific to downtown: The first 'Cincinnati's Art History' includes stops at the Taft Museum of Art, Contemporary Arts Center, Art Academy of Cincinnati and the Weston Art Gallery. The second 'Waterways, Railways, Gateways' visits the Taft Museum of Art, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Betts House and an artist studio in Over-the-Rhine. For more information, click here.
Downtown Itineraries...
Downtown Gallery Hop
9 a.m. – Fuel up on blueberry pancakes and a cup of tea at
First Watch, 700 Walnut Street, (513) 721-4744.
10 a.m. – Explore the art of the “last 15 minutes” at one of the earliest contemporary art museums in the United States at the Contemporary Arts Center, 44 East Sixth Street, (513) 345-8400.
Noon – Appease your appetite with a soup and sandwich du jour at the Taft Museum of Art’s Café and then inspect 700 works of art, ranging from European paintings to Chinese porcelains, at the Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike Street, (513) 241-0343.
2 p.m. – Connect with 19th- and 20th-century paintings, pottery, and glass works at Cincinnati Art Galleries, 225 East Sixth Street, (513) 381-2128.
3 p.m. – Explore art of all types from a coalition of nationally and internationally recognized artists from the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area at Fifth Street Gallery, 55 West Fifth Street, (513) 579-9333.
4 p.m. – Choose and frame the perfect piece of art for your home at Fabulous Frames & Art, 17 West Fourth Street, (513) 579-9998.
5:30 p.m. - Invest in your stomach’s happiness by ordering a plate of homemade lasagna at the family-owned and operated Campanello’s Italian Restaurant, 414 Central Avenue, (513) 721-9833.
Downtown Tour of Culture
9 a.m. – Kick start your taste buds with a breakfast from
Sports Page, 626 Vine Street, (513) 721-0067.
11 a.m. – Catch a movie on the gigantic screen of the Omnimax Theater and take a stroll through history at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Avenue, (513) 287-7000.
1 p.m. – Order a sandwich or salad at the Gateway Café and then head over to the Rookwood Ice Cream Parlor to scoop up your favorite flavor of ice cream at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Avenue, (513) 287-7000.
2 p.m. – Explore the stories and circumstances of 19th-century slavery and the people who sought to escape it at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 East Freedom Way, (513) 333-7500.
5 p.m. – Enjoy authentic Korean cuisine at Sung Korean, 700 Elm, (513) 721-7864.
7 p.m. – Peruse the latest exhibitions featured at the Weston Art Gallery as you wait for the latest Broadway show to start in the Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut Street, (513) 621-ARTS.
11 p.m. – Kick off your shoes and climb into bed in your AAA Four-Diamond suite at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, 35 West Fifth Street, (513) 421-9100.
Downtown Night Owls
5 p.m. – Start your evening off with a southwest grilled steak or an overstuffed sandwich in the stylish western atmosphere of
Cadillac Ranch, 41 East Sixth Street, (513) 621-6200.
7 p.m. – Order a fancy martini while you enjoy music at the swanky Mynt Martini, Fountain Square (513) 621-6968.
9 p.m. – Jazz up your night with the trumpets and saxophones of local and national musicians at the historic Blue Wisp Jazz Club, 318 East Eighth Street, (513) 241-9477.
11 p.m. – Grab your friends and dance the night away in the lounge atmosphere of FB's, 126 West Sixth Street, (513) 246-4333.
12 a.m. – Spend the rest of the night watching movies in your comfy suite at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, 151 West Fifth Street, (513) 579-1234.
Downtown Fun for All Ages
9 a.m. – Try to get children out of bed.
10 a.m. – Actually get children out of bed and take them for fresh muffins and juice at Coffee Emporium, 110 East Central Parkway, (513) 651-5483.
11 a.m. – Take a look at the world around you from the top of Cincinnati’s tallest building, Carew Tower, 441 Vine Street, (513) 579-9735.
Noon – Fill your family’s tummies with some pizza or paninis at Ingredients, 21 East Fifth Street, Westin Hotel, (513) 852-2740.
1 p.m. – Participate in one of the many fun activities taking place throughout the year on Fountain Square, Vine & Fifth Streets, (513) 621-4400.
2 p.m. – Experience the fun and funky artwork at the UnMuseum in the Contemporary Arts Center, 44 East Sixth Street, (513) 345-8400.
4 p.m. – Become a firefighter for a day and practice fire safety at the Cincinnati Fire Museum, 315 West Court Street, (513) 621-5553.
5 p.m. – Try to catch food in your mouth as chefs cook Japanese fare right in front of your eyes at Benihana, 126 East Sixth Street, (513) 421-1688.
7 p.m. – Become fascinated by the stories and adventures presented by the Children’s Theatre, East Fifth & Sycamore Streets, Taft Theater, (513) 569-8080.
Downtown Shopping Spree
10 a.m. – Wake up with a croissant and a cup of coffee at
Iris BookCafe, 1331 Main Street, (513) 381-2665.
11 a.m. – Dig into the ever-changing selection of hand-made fine craft and gift items at MICA 12/v, Twelfth & Vine Streets.
11:30 a.m. – Scope out the unusual home accessories and gifts including greeting cards, candles, clothing and kids items at Metronation, 1213 Vine Street, (513) 564-0095.
Noon – Turn green with environmentally friendly and ecologically minded merchandise, ranging from home furnishings to apparel, at the green general store Park + Vine, 1109 Vine Street, (513) 721-7275.
12:30 p.m. - Check out the hip, urban furniture and home furnishings at Joseph Williams Home, 1232 Vine Street, (513) 721-3600.
1 p.m. - Browse through jewelry, folk art, and traditional artifacts from cultures around the world at Little Mahatma, 1205 Vine Street, (513) 723-1287.
1:30 p.m. - Browse through five floors of used and vintage books at Ohio Book Store,726 Main Street, (513) 621-5142.
2 p.m. – Take a break from shopping and enjoy the Scottish cooking from Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub, 625 Walnut Street, (513) 564-9111.
3 p.m. – Pick up a gift for the hat-lover you know at the famous Batsakes Hat Shop,1 West Sixth Street, (513) 721-9345.
3:30 p.m. – Take a stroll to Fountain Square to scoop up some world-famous French Pot made ice cream at Graeter’s, Vine & Fifth Streets.
4 p.m. – Purchase the perfect timepiece or piece of jewelry for that special someone from Tiffany & Co., 505 Vine Street, Fountain Place, (513) 721-2022.
4:30 p.m. – Find the clothing you need to spruce up your wardrobe at Macy’s, 505 Vine Street, Fountain Place, (513) 361-4200.
5 p.m. – Take a stroll over the skywalk from Fountain Place to visit Appointments, 441 Vine Street, Carew Tower (513) 421-7430.
6 p.m. – Wrap up your day by savoring 15 different types of meat prepared over an open fire and served tableside by authentic Brazilian Gauchos at Boi Na Braza, 441 Vine Street, Carew Tower, (513) 421-7111.
Only in Cincy
10 a.m. – Rise and shine to a fresh baked pastry or muffin at the Servatii Pastry Shop and Deli, 41 East Court Street, (513) 241-7500 or crepes from It's Just Crepes, 39 East Court Street, (513) 632-7373.
11 a.m. – People-watch and soak up the activities starting up on Fountain Square, Vine & Fifth Streets, (513) 621-4400.
Noon – Peruse through unique merchandise, including jewelry, novelties, housewares, and books, at the Contemporary Arts Center Store, 44 East Sixth Street, (513) 345-8431.
1 p.m. – Celebrate lunchtime with a soup, sandwich, and an old-fashioned shake at Hathaway’s Coffee Shop, 441 Vine Street, Carew Tower, (513) 621-1332.
2 p.m. – Get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the top of Cincinnati’s tallest building, Carew Tower, 441 Vine Street, (513) 579-9735.
3 p.m. – Show your Bengals spirit with apparel and accessories from the Cincinnati Bengals Pro Shop, 1 Paul Brown Stadium, (513) 455-8484.
4 p.m. – Learn about baseball’s first professional team and view over 500 pieces of memorabilia at the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, 100 Main Street, (513) 765-7576.
5 p.m. – Take a stroll through the winding walkways of Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park, 1101 Eastern Avenue.
6 p.m. – Taste the ribs that Cincinnatians can’t get enough of at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, 925 Eastern Avenue, (513) 721-7427.
8 p.m. – Hear the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra perform some of the world’s best music at Music Hall, 1241 Elm Street, (513) 381-3300.
10 p.m. – Get cozy in your AAA Four Diamond hotel suite at The Cincinnatian Hotel,601 Vine Street, (513) 381-3000.