I'm from Portland Oregon and will be visiting Indiana next week, but I'll also be spending a day Cincinnati mainly to visit Over the Rhine. I love older neighborhoods and old and modern architecture and was curious if anyone has suggestions for other parts of the city to check out that best represent Cincinnati. Also suggestions on where to find some good beer would be appreciated as well.

I would visit Grammers in OTR for the good beer part (also a very historic bar) and if you walk around you'll see a good bit of OTR architecture near there

 

Grammers is on the corner of walnut and liberty, and the entrance is off of liberty.

 

As far as history, you can't beat OTR for that.  Another good area for pretty walks and homes and things to do would be Ludlow ave in Clifton/walking around the gas light neighborhoods up there (many of the flowering trees are in bloom and there are some beautiful historic homes there).  For nightlife, depending on your style, you may want to head up to Mt Adams for the bar and club scene up there (or if you are more the young urban hip type, stay down in OTR for more bars and a few great restaurants - Lavomatic for one is a great dinner before the night out)

 

 

For some good beer in OTR try Grammer's (Liberty & Walnut).  Arnold's (8th inbetween Sycamore and Walnut) also has a great selection on draft.

^ Grammers and Arnolds (I believe) are the two oldest bars in the city.  Grammers original location opened a few years after Arnolds (if I am not mistaken)

^

Isn't Washington Plattform the oldest or one of the oldest? I know the Pheonix Cafe was one of them too, but that's recently been shutdown.

Washington Platform could be, but for some reason I thought it started later (although in that same general time period).  I'll have to visit all three and get the dates, sounds like an excuse for beer to me!

Here I some information on bar history:

http://queencitysurvey.blogspot.com/2007/12/survey-says.html

 

Grammers wasn't open when I did that and it would be high on the list as a must visit!

Man, thats an awesome posting!  I am now wondering how I missed it when it was originally posted...

 

visitor - if you're into history, the blog linked above is well worth checking out (its one of my favorites)

I too will vouch for Grammer's and Arnold's for good beer.  Grammer's is more laid back, has some board games, etc., but on a nice night, you can't beat sitting outside in Arnold's courtyard and listening to bluegrass. 

 

If you like modern architecture, I would highly recommend the Contemporary Arts Center designed by Zaha Hadid (with a nice public art piece by Julian Stanczak covering the garage across the street).  Right next to the CAC (across 6th St) is Nada, which has superb Latin American food. 

What restaurant best represents Cincinnati food? Preferably $15-30

OK, there you'll need to qualify a bit.

 

Cincinnati has the "famous" chili of course, but thats not really a "gourmet" thing (but, it is cheap)  Skyline (my personal fav) for two, under $12 (for takeout).  There's a sky line downtown.

 

As far as what I consider fairly representative of the Cincinnati restaurant scene, a great choice would be Lavomatic in OTR.  Its at 12th and Vine.  Its a Jean Robert restaurant, a chef who is rapidly redefining quality downtown.  I've done a nice meal (the sandwich of the day (don't let the simple name fool you), and a beer for $13).  Its really quite nice.

 

Other options - Cincinnati has some fairly decent BBQ if you are willing to explore a bit (but it also will depend on what day of the week)

 

If you really want to do the "cheap" but quality route, if you happen to be in town on the weekend, Findlay Market is a great stop for all kinds of food.  Theres a really good little sandwich shop as you walk in from the parking lot area (sorry, forget the name now)

 

 

Go to the Montgomery Inn boathouse and order the ribs! It's downtown and you can get a great river view and eat outside. A lot of celebs and pro athletes eat here.

Theres a really good little sandwich shop as you walk in from the parking lot area (sorry, forget the name now)

 

Sirvaties Deli?

^ Yup, thats the one.  I had their Pancetta, Lettuce and Tomato sandwich on prohibition resistance weekend, and it was pretty sweet.

kaldis on main and 12th has a great local beer selection.

 

hit up the ohio book store on main and 8th for some great, hard to find titles.

 

Arnolds is the oldest bar in the city.  on 8th between main and sycamore.

 

be sure to walk a set of hillside steps.

 

come back in a few years, we will have streetcars.  just like yours but they will say different destinations.

 

the CAC on 6th and walnut is a wonderful piece of modern architecture, as is Univeristy of Cincinnati's Campus, (walk the ohio street steps up there from downtown, someone will give you directions)

 

Findlay market.

 

walk across the pedestrian bridge to hofbrau house and enjoy a great german beer.

 

enjoy

Thanks for all the help, I'm sure it will be a great trip and I'll give you an update after the 11th.

Wow what a beautiful city! I had a great time and the best Indian food I have ever eaten at

Akash which was only a block from the hotel we stayed (Cncinnatian ). Arnold's was a great bar where we enjoyed a few pints of barrel House. OTR was architecturally stunning, but I found it a little weird how the city painted the abounded buildings that surround the market bright colors (It reminded me of Brazil). I really didn't feel I had time to see all that I wanted to, such as the train station and the historic brewery district.

Glad you enjoyed your stay...come back anytime.

Indeed, glad to hear you enjoyed your stay... And Akash isn't even the best Indian food in town ;)