Midwest Charm Meets Cultural Renaissance
Nestled along the winding Ohio River, Cincinnati is a revelation for people who trek beyond America's coastal hotspots and well-traversed Midwest meccas (looking at you Chicago and Minneapolis).
What makes the Queen City an intriguing destination? To start, its authentic character: Germanic heritage meets Southern hospitality. From chili served on spaghetti to Art Deco landmarks and a rich brewing history, Cincinnati defies stereotypes and delights.
Learn something about everything and everything about something. Telisha Galizio, Director of Strategy at Curiosity, lives by this motto. So, it seemed natural to reach out to the Cincinnati resident and get the inside scoop on the city she now calls home.
“Honestly, Cincinnati has a phenomenal drinking culture. As a Germantown,” Galizio says, “we’re most known for our breweries and microbreweries, but I highly recommend checking out one of the many cocktail bars, wine bars, or dive bars.”
In the spirit of seeking out authentic experiences, rather than simply hitting the popular spots, Galizio suggests picking a neighborhood and bouncing around. Or picking a spot to grab a drink or two before dinner.”
Follow along as Galizio opens the door to Cincinnati's best-kept secrets and the city’s celebrated treasures. The places where locals gather and culture thrives.
Good eats
Cincinnati’s food scene has evolved. And while it has yet to completely shake off its chili-on-spaghetti fame, it’s now home to Italian trattorias, Southern cooking, and Japanese izakayas.
Sotto is the reigning king of Italian restaurants in Cincinnati and it’s for a good reason. The rustic basement location creates a sophisticated ambiance for a nice night out. To start, you can’t go wrong with any of the grilled bread options, but I’d recommend the goat cheese with hazelnuts and honey or the tuna with caper aioli and egg. All the pastas are a hit, but the cappellacci with short rib and the mushroom tagliatelle are personal favorites. For something heartier the Florentine steak is amazing.
While Sotto reigns, Pepp & Dolores has become another Italian hotspot. It’s a little more casual, but still good, high end Italian. The must not miss dishes include the artichoke, pasta al limone, and if it’s the right season, the butternut agnolotti.
As far as steakhouses go—this is the Midwest after all—Jeff Ruby’s and their many satellite restaurants are what you’d come to expect: high-end service, amazing steaks, and phenomenal drinks. Everything they do is done well (except the steaks!), including their dirty martini. Honestly, just grab a spot at the bar, get a few martinis, and order a good steak.
New on the scene in the last few years is the Southern restaurant Nolia. The owner Jeff Harris has been nominated for a James Beard award and the restaurant has been named to several top restaurant lists.
For true deli-style sandwiches and sides go to Carl’s Deli. They have an extensive menu with all sorts of creative creations and classic sides like pasta salad.
On the newly revamped Court Street you’ll find Midcity. The menu offers all sorts of creative creations, some with Japanese influence, and the atmosphere is warm and low key.
In addition to restaurants, Cincinnati also has a number of amazing bakeries. Brown Bear Bakery has a selection of savory and sweet treats. Café Mochiko offers Japanese pastries, but be sure to go early because they often sell out.
Adult beverage, anyone?
If you appreciate a well-made cocktail, then check out King Pigeon. During the day, they offer a menu of delicious coffees, but even more interesting is the extensive menu of unique cocktail creations, organized according to tasting notes and changed up seasonally.
Somerset is an indoor/outdoor garden oasis with beautiful architecture and décor salvaged from all over the world.
Longfellow is a bar that has the feel of a local watering hole, but still offers plenty of craft cocktails. You’ll find people here almost every night of the week.
Hart & Cru has really helped elevate the wine scene in Cincinnati with its crew of Sommeliers and source of amazing wines. They often offer wine classes and bring in vintners from all over the world. It’s the perfect spot to have a few glasses or a bottle and snack on some amazing cheeses.
State of the arts
The Cincinnati Art Museum has an amazing collection of art, but also does a great job of curating unique exhibits. Admission is free for non-exhibitions so you can wonder the halls anytime. It’s also located in one of Cincinnati’s most beautiful parks.
Taft Museum of Art also has an amazing collection and always hosts beautiful exhibits, but what really makes it special is the architecture and Duncanson throughout. For all sorts of Broadway and Off Broadway plays check out the Aronoff Theater.
Photo credit: Leah Newhouse
Why Cincinnati?
For a former New Yorker, Cincinnati proved that Midwest has plenty of life, culture, and history to offer.
Telisha Galizio
As a strategist, Telisha lives by the motto, “learn something about everything and everything about something” and indeed, she is driven by her curiosity. Telisha started at BBDO in New York, but eventually made her way back to the Midwest, where she serves as a Director of Strategy at Curiosity.
