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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 St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
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 St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Woody’s is 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 Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Arlin’s is 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 St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Ghost Baby is 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 Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Somerset is 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 St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Japp’s is a loud bar with a small dance floor. They specialize in pre-prohibition era cocktails.
Pins
1124 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Pins is 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 St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
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 St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Igby’s is a hip joint and one of the larger bars in Cincinnati. It has multiple floors and two outdoor patios.
Northside
The Comet
4579 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223
The Comet is 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
On-Campus Dining
UC’s Tangeman University Center (TUC)
Located 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). On the floor above the food court you’ll find a snack shop, the Main Street ExpressMart.
Subway
Located in the Steger Student Life Center, across the plaza from Tangeman.
DAAP Cafe, College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning,
This is 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 has several all-you-can-eat dining halls. The 2025-2026 school year pricing for all-you-can-eat dining hall meals is $11 for lunch and $14 for dinner. The closest such dining hall to the conference is CenterCourt, located in the middle of campus and connected to the Campus Rec Center. CenterCourt offers pizza, build your own sandwiches, salad bar, soups, potato bar, stir fry, and rotating entrees.
Quick Bites Near Campus
Kiki
Gaslight District – $$
358 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Kiki’s offers excellent Japanese food near campus, with a menu of sushi, skewers, and ramen. Try to get a reservation ahead of your visit.
Dewey’s
Gaslight District – $$
265 Hosea Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Dewey’s is a local pizza chain with thin crust and excellent salads. Their calzone is a great value.
Skyline Chili
Gaslight District – $
290 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Skyline Chili is a Cincinnati institution, and their location at Clifton and Ludlow 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 St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Thai Express is a no-frills take-out spot with great prices on Thai staples.
Kung Fu Noodle
Clifton Heights – $$
349 Calhoun St, Cincinnati, OH 45219
Kung Fu Noodle is a new restaurant right off of campus with excellent hand-pulled noodles, a Sichuan menu, and mochi doughnuts.
There are also several excellent Indian restaurants near campus, including Krishna, Adeep, Elephant Walk, and Ambar. These are great for takeout, and Ambar has a nice dining room in the Gaslight District.
Worth a Lyft
Cafe Mochiko
East Walnut Hills – $$
1524 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Cafe Mochiko is 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 – $$
934 Hatch St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Luca Bistro offers excellent French food, including a very reasonably priced steak frites. They also do not take reservations, but you can wait at The Blind Lemon next door.
Northside Yacht Club
Northside – $$
231 Spring Grove Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223
This hipster dive bar has a surprisingly good kitchen. Their menu is affordable, and Guy Fieri lauded their burger.
Ruth’s Parkside Café
Northside – $$
1550 Blue Rock St, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Ruth’s is a cozy new-American restaurant with a number of specialty martinis.
Plan Ahead
Try and snag a reservation at these restaurants, all of which are a short Lyft from campus.
Abigail Street
Over-the-Rhine – $$$
1214 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Abigail Street is a Mediterranean-inspired small plates restaurant that is widely regarded as one of the best in the city.
Mita’s
Downtown – $$$
501 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Mita’s is James Beard-finalist José Salazar’s Argentinian tapas-style restaurant with a fun drinks menu and an extensive Spanish wine list.
Nolia Kitchen
Over-the-Rhine – $$$
1405 Clay St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
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 – $$
1501 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Pepp & Dolores is an affordable spot with fine pasta dishes. It has a very lively atmosphere.
Wildweed
Over-the-Rhine – $$$$
1301 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Wildweed is 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.