Sotto ★ 4.7
Sotto on East 6th Street downtown is David Falk's subterranean Italian room in Cincinnati, with hand-rolled pastas and wood-fired antipasti.
Signature: Hand-rolled pasta, Wood-fired meats
Restaurants in Downtown
Boca ★ 4.8
Boca on East 6th Street downtown is David Falk's flagship Cincinnati dining room, a modern American destination with luxury proteins and a deep wine cellar.
Signature: Pacific bluefin, Wagyu tasting
Salazar ★ 4.7
Salazar on West 5th Street downtown is Jose Salazar's Cincinnati flagship after its 2025 move from OTR, daily-changing New American menus and a consistent kitchen.
Signature: Foie gras toast, Wagyu beef tartare
Mita's ★ 4.6
Mita's on Race Street downtown is Jose Salazar's Spanish-Latin American room, with paella, jamon, ceviches and an extensive sherry program. Open since 2015.
Signature: Paella, Jamon iberico
Orchids at Palm Court ★ 4.7
Orchids at Palm Court inside the Hilton Netherland Plaza on West 5th Street downtown is Cincinnati's AAA Five Diamond modern American tasting room.
Signature: Seasonal tasting, Wagyu and seafood
Montgomery Inn Boathouse ★ 4.3
The Montgomery Inn Boathouse on Riverside Drive is Cincinnati's Ohio River barbecue outpost, with sauce-glazed pork ribs and a long porch over the water.
Signature: Pork ribs, Saratoga chips
Nada ★ 4.3
Nada on Walnut Street downtown is David Falk's modern Mexican room, with tableside guacamole, carnitas and a tequila and mezcal list 100-plus bottles deep.
Signature: Carnitas, Tableside guacamole
Maplewood Kitchen and Bar ★ 4.3
Maplewood Kitchen on Race Street downtown is Cincinnati's California-leaning Thunderdome all-day room, with rotisserie chicken and grain bowls.
Signature: Avocado toast, Roasted half-chicken
The Davidson ★ 4.4
The Davidson on Vine Street downtown is the modern French and American room on Fountain Square, with wood-fired meats, a raw bar and a long cocktail list.
Signature: Wood-fired prime rib, Half-shell oysters
Casual Dining in Downtown
The Davidson ★ 4.4
The Davidson on Vine Street downtown is the modern French and American room on Fountain Square, with wood-fired meats, a raw bar and a long cocktail list.
Signature: Wood-fired prime rib, Half-shell oysters
Maplewood Kitchen and Bar ★ 4.3
Maplewood Kitchen on Race Street downtown is Cincinnati's California-leaning Thunderdome all-day room, with rotisserie chicken and grain bowls.
Signature: Avocado toast, Roasted half-chicken
Izzy's ★ 4.3
Izzy's on Elm Street downtown is Cincinnati's kosher-style Jewish deli founded in 1901, with the signature reuben sandwich and giant potato pancake.
Signature: Reuben sandwich, Potato pancakes
Nada ★ 4.3
Nada on Walnut Street downtown is David Falk's modern Mexican room, with tableside guacamole, carnitas and a tequila and mezcal list 100-plus bottles deep.
Signature: Carnitas, Tableside guacamole
Arnold's Bar and Grill ★ 4.4
Arnold's on East 8th Street downtown is Cincinnati's oldest tavern, opened in 1861, with old-school American food and live music in the courtyard.
Signature: Spaghetti Joe, Greek pasta
Montgomery Inn Boathouse ★ 4.3
The Montgomery Inn Boathouse on Riverside Drive is Cincinnati's Ohio River barbecue outpost, with sauce-glazed pork ribs and a long porch over the water.
Signature: Pork ribs, Saratoga chips
Cafés in Downtown
Cheapside Cafe ★ 4.3
Cheapside Cafe on East 8th Street in Cincinnati's downtown is the all-day cafe and lunch counter with espresso bar, sandwiches and seasonal soup bowls.
Signature drink: Espresso, soup and salad bowls
Bars in Downtown
Igby's ★ 4.2
Igby's on East 6th Street downtown is Cincinnati's multi-level bar inside the former Maisonette building, with cocktails, beer and local food.
Signature drink: Local craft beer and bourbon flights
Food: Burgers, wings, brunch
Breweries in Downtown
Moerlein Lager House ★ 4.3
Moerlein Lager House on Joe Nuxhall Way at Cincinnati's Smale Riverfront Park is the riverfront brewpub of the revived 1853 Christian Moerlein heritage brand.
Food Festivals in Downtown
Taste of Cincinnati ★ 4.5
Taste of Cincinnati on Fifth Street downtown is the city's biggest food festival since 1979, running every Memorial Day weekend, claimed as the longest-running US food fest.
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati ★ 4.6
Oktoberfest Zinzinnati at Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove on the Cincinnati riverfront is the German-American festival every September, with bratwurst, beer steins and the Running of the Wieners.
Budget Eats in Downtown
Izzy's Deli ★ 4.3
Izzy's on Elm Street downtown is Cincinnati's century-old kosher-style Jewish deli since 1901, with the signature reuben and the giant potato pancake.
Try: Reuben sandwich and potato pancake
Brunch in Downtown
Sleepy Bee Cafe Downtown ★ 4.5
Sleepy Bee on East 4th Street downtown is Cincinnati's all-day brunch outpost of the Oakley flagship, with pancakes, omelettes and an open-kitchen counter.
Order: Bee Cakes and sausage gravy biscuits
Metropole Weekend Brunch ★ 4.4
Metropole inside the 21c Museum Hotel on Walnut Street downtown runs Cincinnati's hearth-driven weekend brunch, with wood-fired Benedicts and grits.
Order: Wood-fired eggs Benedict, hash and grits
Maplewood Kitchen Brunch ★ 4.3
Maplewood Kitchen on Race Street downtown is Cincinnati's California-leaning Thunderdome brunch room, with all-day breakfast plates and avocado toast.
Order: Avocado toast, rotisserie chicken bowls