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Coffee Shops
There are several excellent coffee shops on and around campus. The 86 is a local non-profit which has a location in UC’s College Conservatory of Music, very close to most conference events. Rohs Street Café serves local brews just southwest of campus. The Upside and Sitwell’s Act II are both great places to work and enjoy some of their drinks and food. There are Starbucks locations in UC’s Lindner College of Business and Langsam Library.
Bars
Near Campus
The Vick at Hotel Celare
310 Straight Street
This is a rooftop bar at the closest hotel to campus. It is more expensive than most area bars, but it has great views of campus.
Uncle Woody’s
339 Calhoun Street
Your staple college bar, mostly populated by undergraduates. There is not a ton of space by the bar, but more seating can be found in the back.
Arlin’s
307 Ludlow Avenue
Just down the street from main campus, they have solid bar food, including wings and fries. Their crowd is a bit older than the bars closest to campus, and they have a pool table and board games.
Over-the-Rhine
Ghost Baby
1314 Republic Street
An underground bar with live music and craft cocktails. They are on the pricier end and have a “smart” dress code that bans athleisure.
Somerset
39 E McMicken Avenue
A nice bar that is not too crowded and offers a large outdoor space. They don’t have a dance floor, but are a great place for conversation.
Japp’s
1134 Main Street
A loud bar with a small dance floor. They specialize in pre-prohibition era cocktails.
Pins
1124 Main Street
Part bar, part arcade, and part bowling alley. In addition to drinks, they have a wide selection of pinball machines and duckpin bowling.
Downtown
Arnold’s
210 E 8th Street
Arnold’s has been serving drinks in Cincinnati since 1861. They have live jazz and bluegrass and an excellent menu of food.
Igby’s
122 E 6th Street
A hip joint, and one of the larger bars in Cincinnati. It has multiple floors and two outdoor patios.
Northside
The Comet
4579 Hamilton Avenue
A casual spot with excellent burritos and live music every Thursday and Friday and two free sets by the award-winning Comet Bluegrass Allstars every Sunday beginning at 6:30. Their Sunday brunch is superb.
Restaurants
Quick Bites On Campus
UC’s Tangeman University Center (TUC)
Just across the quad from Arts & Sciences Hall, TUC contains many on-campus dining options. The lower level food court includes Chick-Fil-a, Pei Wei (similar to Panda Express), Halal Shack (which serves rice bowls and wraps), and Cincy Grill (offering burgers and chicken tenders). Main Street ExpressMart is a snack shop located on the floor above the food court.
Subway
Located in the Steger Student Life Center, across the plaza from Tangeman.
DAAP Cafe, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning
Another quick option, located across the street from Clifton Court Hall, the main conference building.
ShakeSmart
Smoothie bar located in the entry to the Campus Rec Center.
Dining Halls (all-you-can-eat)
UC’s all-you-can-eat dining halls cost $11 for lunch and $14 for dinner. CenterCourt is the closest dining hall to the conference, located mid-campus, connected to the Campus Rec Center. It offers pizza, build-your-own sandwiches, salad bar, soups, potato bar, stir fry, and rotating entrees.
Restaurants Near Campus
Dewey’s Pizza
$$ – Gaslight District – 265 Hosea Avenue
Regional pizza chain with thin crust and excellent salads. Their calzone is a great value.
Graeter’s Ice Cream
$ – Gaslight District – 332 Ludlow Avenue
Cincinnati’s famous locally-owned French pot ice cream, in operation since 1870. The chip flavors will blow your mind.
Kiki
$$ – Gaslight District – 358 Ludlow Avenue
Excellent Japanese food near campus, offering sushi, skewers, and ramen. Try to get a reservation ahead of your visit.
Kung Fu Noodle
$$ – Clifton Heights – 349 Calhoun Street
New restaurant right off of campus with excellent hand-pulled noodles, a Sichuan menu, and mochi doughnuts.
Skyline Chili
$ – Gaslight District – 290 Ludlow Avenue
A Cincinnati institution, and this location is the best around. Try a cheese coney or a 3/4/5-way for the true Cincinnati experience. They are open until 2:00 AM on weekends.
Thai Express
$ – Clifton Heights – 213 W McMillan Street
No-frills family-owned take-out spot with great prices on Thai staples.
Multiple Indian restaurants near campus
Excellent Indian take-out options near campus include Krishna, Adeep, Elephant Walk, and Ambar. Ambar also has a nice dining room in the Gaslight District.
Worth a Lyft
Cafe Mochiko
$$ – East Walnut Hills – 1524 Madison Road
A James Beard-nominated Japanese restaurant with an excellent pastry selection. They don’t take reservations, but you can wait at the Growler House next door. Keep an eye out for the Cincinnati Chili Ramen.
Luca Bistro
$$ – Mt. Adams – 934 Hatch Street
Offers excellent French food, including a very reasonably priced steak frites. They also do not take reservations, but you can wait at The Blind Lemon next door.
Northside Yacht Club
$$ – Northside – 231 Spring Grove Avenue
This hipster dive bar has a surprisingly good kitchen. Their menu is affordable, and Guy Fieri lauded their burger.
Ruth’s Parkside Café
$$ – Northside – 1550 Blue Rock Street
A cozy new-American restaurant with a number of specialty martinis.
Plan Ahead
Try and snag a reservation at these restaurants, all of which are a short Lyft from campus.
Abigail Street
$$$ – Over-the-Rhine – 1214 Vine Street
Abigail Street is a Mediterranean-inspired small plates restaurant that is widely regarded as one of the best in the city.
Mita’s
$$$ – Downtown – 501 Race Street
Mita’s is James Beard-finalist José Salazar’s Argentinian tapas-style restaurant with a fun drinks menu and an extensive Spanish wine list.
Nolia Kitchen
$$$ – Over-the-Rhine – 1405 Clay Street
Chef Jeff Harris at Nolia is currently nominated for a James Beard Award. The menu is focused on New Orleans cuisine, with influence from across the South, and it has an excellent atmosphere.
Pepp & Dolores
$$ – Over-the-Rhine – 1501 Vine Street
An affordable spot with fine pasta dishes and a very lively atmosphere.
Wildweed
$$$$ – Over-the-Rhine – 1301 Walnut Street
A new, buzzy spot focusing on pasta and locally sourced ingredients. Their “chef’s counter” tasting menu includes 12 courses for $135 and is a unique experience in Cincinnati.