In December, right before the holidays, my mom and I had the opportunity to travel to Cincinnati to see what it has to offer. Before moving here to North Carolina, you may know that I had lived in Ohio for about ten years, but had never visited Cincinnati. Crazy, right?
We were warmly welcomed to the very hip 21C Hotel with this fantastic gift bag filled with goodies local to Cincinnati.
Our corner suite at the 21C was everything I look for in a hotel – modern, sleek, and fresh. I couldn’t stop raving about it once we walked in.
Once we’d settled in, we headed downstairs to the restaurant inside the 21C, called The Metropole. These very cool neon lips beckoned us in…
This was a few weeks before my competition diet began, so I wore my stretchy pants and settled in for an amazing holiday-themed four course meal with a cocktail pairing for each course! My meal at the Metropole included an oyster dish, lamb, quail, and a lightly-sweet peppermint ice cream atop a delicate meringue. I know. It was ridic.
When we checked into the 21C earlier that day, the front desk clerk made sure to mention that on the hotel’s lower levels is an art gallery that’s open 24 hours a day! So after our huge meal, we decided to explore. Below is one of my favorite pieces. Look at all the glitter! *heart eyes emoji*
The following morning, we woke up and strolled right around the corner to Collective Espresso, located right inside the Contemporary Arts Center to meet our gracious host, Debbie from the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau.
I tried their cortado (espresso with milk) at Debbie’s suggestion, which was both beautiful and delicious. To go along with it, I had a breakfast hash with roasted root vegetables, a fried egg, and kale.
After breakfast, I set out for a walk through Over-the-Rhine, a very hip neighborhood in downtown Cincy. It was a brisk, but beautiful sunshiney day and there really is tons to see and do in OTR. It’s easy to navigate, too, if you walk up and down Vine Street.
I did some Christmas shopping at the boutiques in the area, including picking up this awesome skull sugar spoon for my honey – but mostly window shopping.
Along the way, I stopped for coffee at Happy Belly on Vine, and later had a lunch of fried chicken with spicy honey (and a beer…and mac & cheese) at Cincinnati favorite The Eagle. You can also check out some photos from those two food stops on our Instagram!
Having gone into this trip knowing almost nothing about Cincinnati, I came away thinking about it in an entirely different light. It’s full of art, culture, and excellent food and drink, and really is a destination of its own.
Have you visited Cincinnati in the past 10 years? If not, you should! I’m told it’s changed so much!
Comments & Reviews
I had never really given much thought about going to Cincinnati, but you make it sound like such a fun place to visit that I want to book at trip there ASAP!
This sounds like a wonderful place to visit. I would love to go.
Your photos make me want to go. I should add Cincinnati to my bucket list.
I’ve never been to Cincinnati at all. The hotel looks very stylish, and I really like the pigs in the street and the mural on the outside of the building.
It sounds like a really great city, doesn’t it. I can’t wait to book a trip there.
I have never been to Cincinnati and did not know they had so much to offer.
We love Cincinnati! Our daughter goes to college just about 10 minutes from downtown Cininnati – there are so many great things to do and see. She especially loves the art museum.
What a stylish hotel ! Love that they give you a gift bag with local goodies from Cincinnati !
I’ve been all over the world, but I’ve never been to Cincinnati. I love the modern hotel suite. And the art gallery that’s open 24 yours a day on the lower level is amazing. I need to visit.
What a fabulous city! I have never been there even though I travel through Ohio quite a bit. I would like to explore the city sometime.
Another major city I’ve never been to. Thinking about hitting Columbus this summer, but Cincinnati has always escaped us.
Same here! I’m glad I finally made it there.
Cincinnati looks like a wonderful city. I’ve never been there, but it looks like there’ s a ton of stuff to do, and I love the scenery.
It definitely does look there is a lot to do. I was surprised with all the cool stuff in this post.
This looks like a beautiful city with so much to see and do. That hotel looks so fabulous! And that cortado looks so perfect!!!
Wow, all that food looks amazing. And I love the look of your hotel! Now I want to visit Cinnicinati.
This looks like a nice hotel and the food looks great. I have never been to Cincinnati, but i would add add it to my must visit list.
Never really considered going to Cincinnati for a vacation. Looks like there’s some fun things to do there and the hotel is pretty cool.
I agree that the hotel is really nice. Having a nice place to stay when on vacation can make a big difference.
What a neat hotel! I have been to Cincinnati once, but it’s been about 15 years ago and it was only for part of a day.
I have a friend in Cincinnati who is always putting up photos of how beautiful it is there. I really must make it my business to visit one day.
I have been lucky enough to see a lot of the U.S, but this isn’t somewhere I have been to. I love how quirky the hotel is.
Oh wow. I’ve never been and never even heard of the place! It looks amazing though, I love the fact there was an art gallery where you was staying and the food looks delicious x
oh wow looks amazing the pictures are fab its not even a place I have heard of
Wow Cincinnati looks like such a nice place to visit and that hotel is absolutely amazing! x
You have me intrigued with that Breakfast Hash. That would be the icing on the cake for me!! When you find a beautiful place and great food…. what more do you need
Those pigs are so cute. This is a very nice hotel.
Ahh, you were in my city! 🙂 I’ve never been to any of the places you went to – I really need to explore my own city more!
Totally! I want to come back and dive into the beer culture a little more 🙂
I’ve never been to Cincninati before. After seeing your photos, I’d love to go one day.
Ohh Cincinnati looks amazing. As does the Hotel. The food looks divine and the art gallery is amazing, too. Those little pigs look ever so sweet. Aww.
The hotel looks absolutely amazing, definitely the sort of place i’d love to stay in x
Looks like a great place to visit. Love the decor of the bathroom!
I love this post! You’ve really sold me on the 21C Hotel. I especially like the momochrome bathroom and the goody bag! Loving the pigs outside too.
That veg hash looks delicious and I like that is has a 24 hour gallery too!
Loving the pictures you got here. So beautiful.
I have never been here, it looks like a fun place to visit. I had to scroll twice at those pigs. I thought they were real for a moment!
I totally love that place, those pigs are cute lol. And I love the food yummy.
i love the hotel! the art works around the city are beautiful!
that gift bag they put in your room is so adorable! isn’t it crazy that we often don’t go to places in our own state that so many others travel too?
Thanks for this. I’m from Cincinnati and still go back fairly often to see my parents, so it’s great to see places features that I haven’t checked out yet. Nice pixs!
We never seem to visit places closer to home and often they are the most fun! Looks like you had a great time
What an amazing hotel, love the gift bag. It looks an amazing place to visit.
I have never been to Cincinnati, but hope to one day visit. I love the pictures and the Hotel looks really nice.
Your trip looks stunning on so many levels! I love that art gallery within the hotel and the only thing better than a meal with courses is a meal with courses and cocktail pairings.
you are close to my home f Columbus. hope you tried some skyline chili.
I’m from Columbus too! I miss it 🙂
We just moved to Lousiville and Cincinnati is just about an hour from use. I can’t wait to take a weekend trip to visit.
I love the hotel room, it looks so clean and relaxing too. The food looks awesome as always. Would love to go there and just enjoy the awesome weather!
I have never been to Cincinnati let alone Ohio. It was on a list for a race when I was running half marathons but since that is on hold, no trip.
I have not been to Cincinnati, but your photos are having me think that I should add it on my list of places to visit. Love your pictures.
What an interesting blog post! I’ve heard of the place but never been there, or anywhere in the US. i love the pigs. They are so random and pretty cool looking. Fried Chicken sounds tasty!
I have never visited Cincinnati but it looks like you had a great time!
I have not ever been to Cincinnati but am sort of fascinated about it. I think I watched an Anthony Bourdain weekend show from there and really would like to go poke around. Love the pics you took!
What an amazing visit to Cincinnati. It’s been years since I visited that city, and your pictures and description make me want to go back again.
I used to live in Ohio. Cincinnati is such a cool little city.
What a beautiful place to stay at! The food is quite interesting too!
The pictures give the sense of a beautiful city and time well spent.
It looks like you got a lot done during your trip. I am sure the next trip will be even more delicious – you should see if you can find a place to take a local cooking class. Those are always so fun!
I’ve never thought to do that during my travels, but it’s an excellent idea!
That was a lavish and cool stay! That’s definitely something to be recommended. Thanks for sharing this. 😉
Wow what an amazing place to stay in. I have not been to Cincinnati in 40 years. Yikes! I bet it has really changed since then. Will have to make it a plan to visit the great state of Ohio again in the near future and make sure we visit Cincinnati too.
This sounds like a fun place to stay. The tile lips is very ummm, weird.
I hope you enjoyed your stay.
What a lovely looking hotel and sounds like cincinnati is a beautiful town, I am in the UK so maybe when I come over for work I might have a weekend or two to visit
Looks like a super hotel with some great food! I’ve never been to Cincinnati, but I would love to one day!
What a nice hotel it looks neat and looks like comfortable to stay for a weeks.
looks like a fun place to stay with my family and this is a neat hotel
So many places I want to visit in the U.S., here looks great!
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I have visited Cleveland but no Cincinnati. Looks like a great place to visit.
I love those hidden accent tiles, they’re so cool and definitely something that I haven’t seen done before! xxx
I have not been to Cincinnati in years but I really only drove through and never stay to see it. It sounds like would be a city to see for sure. The 21C Hotel looks like an amazing place to stay for sure. The room looks amazing and so does the flashy lips from Metropole. Thanks for sharing your amazing experience.
I’ve never been to Cincinnati, but your trip looks amazing. Love the hotel and the yummy foods!
I lived in Cincy for a few years. Loved it. You highlighted it well. Hope you go back again 🙂
I hope so too! I had a great time.
You took some marvelous pictures!
I normally would not consider visiting Cincinnati, but you make me think twice about this!
Cincinnati looks like a great place to go. I love the look of your hotel. The lip tile is so unique.
I’ve been to Ohio but not Cincinnati. I really missed out because it looks amazing. Especially the gorgeous 21C Hotel. My husband is a huge fan of modern contemporary art and I think he would love this hotel!
I love Cincinnati! It really is such a great city. Your hotel looks beautiful! I will have to stay there the next time I am in town.
I have always wanted to visit Cincinnati. I actually have a few friends there. Would love to visit myself. All that food you have posted has me seriously dying! So good.
I have never been to Cincinnati, but as the Veggie hash looks just amazing, that makes me want to visit alone x
We’ve been to Cincinnati many times. We’re from Lexington KY and Cincinnati one of the closest places with stuff to do. It’s great.
Looks like a fab place to visit, adding it to my travel bucket list now!
I’ve always wanted to visit Cincinnati. Mainly because I like the name! (I want to visit Massachusetts for the same reason!) Now I know what great things it has to offer, I want to go even more!
I’m so hungry for the egg + salad + potato breakfast thing! That and I’d love to visit this super cool hotel…
Cincinnati looks like a great place to visit. I’ll have to put it on my bucket list 🙂
I went to Cincinnati recently and I didn’t get to enjoy the city so now I want to go back after seeing your photos!
I would love to visit some day. I always like seeing travel pictures from this city as it looks so fun.
I have actually never been to Cincinnati but I would love to visit one day. My bucket list consists of visiting every US state and Ohio is on my list.
That looks and sounds like so much fun! I am impressed by the amazing food offerings in Cincinnati. Time for me to go back.
This is the coolest place I’ve ever seen. I love the art gallery and the room itself looks like art.
Never been there, but that is one hip hotel!
That place is really cool looking! I have been to Ohio a few times. When I was younger we traveled there to head to Cedar Point. A few years ago I went down to Cleveland and had a wonderful time.
What a great place to stay. I love that bathroom too
I’ve never been to Cincinnati but I’ll probably go within the next couple of years to run the marathon up there.
That’s awesome! Marathoners impress me.
Nice suite! Whenever I visit the like place I am always looking for some lightning fixtures ideas. And I must say.. I love theirs!
I have never been to Ohio but you just made me want to go! So much neat stuff to see and experience!
Oh wow your photos are lovely! The suite looks amazing.
What a beautiful place to visit. I really love the photos hoping that someday I could visit here.
I’ve never been in hotel like that. It was a nice hotel and looks comfortable
I never been there. but it looks like a good hotel i want to stay there
That is a lovely little adventure.
And what a beautiful place! It’s always nice to visit and experience new places. Glad you get to go back and visit again.
This place looks amazing, the goody bag is such a nice touch too x
Super cute hotel room. I imagine a ton of people puckering up for a selfie with that tile. Cincinnati is lovely and the food looks yummy!
Looks like a modern, hip and funky hotel, something like the ones in the Village here in NYC! Those lips in the tile kind of creep me out though! LOL
Looks like you had a great time in cincy! Makes me want to visit there!
This hotel looks nice and comfy, I love finding hotels as nice as this one.
What a neat hotel. It looks like i wanna stay there for good. I wish my room was look like this
This hotel rooms looks super cute!! I never been there but would like to stay there!!
I have never been to Cincinnati, but your pictures are gorgeous! I’d love to go there.
I’ve never been but it looks like a great place to visit. The hotel alone, would make me wanna visit. So pretty!
This place looks lovely, I love it the coffe shop the hotels everything.