After clinching a spot in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Philadelphia Union wrap their final road match of the regular season as they take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday at TQL at 2:00 pm.
If you’re heading to Cincy, I’ve put together a few recommendations to check out while you’re in town before or after match. If you’d like additional suggestions, feel free to reach out to me.
With that said, let’s get into it!
Places to Visit
Perched along the banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati blends historic charm with modern energy. Known as the “Queen City,” it offers a mix of vibrant neighborhoods, iconic architecture, a thriving food and beer scene, and plenty of cultural attractions from world-class museums to a beloved baseball legacy. Whether you’re exploring the scenic riverfront, catching a game at Great American Ball Park, or sampling the city’s famous Skyline chili, Cincinnati delivers a travel experience that feels both classic and fresh.
Here are a few places to check out while you’re in Cincinnati:
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second-oldest zoo in the United States. With 65 acres of animal habitats, attractions, botanical gardens, and the most famous hippo bloat in the world, the zoo is one of the best places to explore your wild side. It is dedicated to creating adventure, conveying knowledge, conserving nature, and serving the community.
Website: https://cincinnatizoo.org/
Jungle Jim’s
Jungle Jim’s International Market isn’t your typical grocery store, it’s a full-blown adventure. Sprawling across more than 200,000 square feet, this Cincinnati landmark is part supermarket, part theme park, and all spectacle. A highly recommended stop.
Website: https://junglejims.com/
Findlay Market
Findlay Market is the only surviving municipal market house of the nine public markets operating in Cincinnati during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, you’ll find a wide variety of food, drinks, and vendors at your fingertips to explore.
Website: https://www.findlaymarket.org/
Krohn Conservatory
Step inside the Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park and you’ll feel like you’ve wandered into a tropical oasis. This Art Deco greenhouse, dating back to 1933, is home to more than 3,500 plant species from around the world from vibrant orchids and exotic bonsai to desert cacti and lush rainforest canopies.
Website: https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks/visit-a-parkfacility/krohn-conservatory/
Kings Island
For more than five decades, Kings Island has been the premier entertainment destination in the Midwest for millions of families seeking the best in rides, live entertainment, food, and events all in a magical amusement park setting. At 364 acres, this massive amusement and water park is one of the top attractions in the Cincinnati area.
Website: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
If you are looking for one of the city’s most meaningful historical attractions, appropriately located beside the Ohio River, which once marked the boundary between slave and free states. With thoughtful storytelling, immersive exhibits, and emotional impact the center is worth a trip.
Website: https://freedomcenter.org/
Newport Aquarium
Located directly across the Ohio River in Kentucky, the Newport Aquarium features colorful reef fish to sharks, penguins, and jellyfish along other interactive exhibits that feature both fresh water and the ocean’s ecosystem.
Website: https://www.newportaquarium.com/
Places to Eat
Food is Cincy culture. The rest of the world is discovering what locals have long known: the city’s culinary scene is deliciously diverse. With African, Greek, French, barbecue, Cajun, and Latin American cuisines, the list of options is always growing. Send your taste buds on a global excursion and expand your culinary perspectives.
Here are a few places worth having a drink or grabbing a bite:
Esoteric Brewing Company
A unique spot offering a wide range of creative brews. Their master brewer spent years honing his craft, paying homage to traditional Belgian, English, German, and American styles made with old-world character.
Website: https://www.esotericbrewing.com/
Drunken Tacos
A wide variety of tacos, drinks, and burritos to fit everyone’s taste buds, all served in a vibrant, artistic setting with great music. Highly recommended.
Website: https://drunkentacocincy.com/
Gold Star Chili
Want an amazing Cincinnati style 3 Way? Done. How about one of the best classic cheeseburgers around? Fresh off the flat-top grill, juicy and perfectly cooked and even better when topped with their famous chili. Prefer chicken? Try a chicken sandwich and see why they’re the talk of the town.
Website: https://www.goldstarchili.com/
Urban Artifact
Our favorite Cincinnati brewery for fruited and sour beers. This Ohio brewery is dedicated to producing world class fruit tarts made exclusively with real fruit. Founded in 2015, it has grown into the largest dedicated fruit brewery in the world. Urban Artifact has pioneered new brewing styles and techniques, redefining the way real fruit is enjoyed.
Website: https://artifactbeer.com/
Taste of Belgium
Looking for a great breakfast or brunch spot? Their waffle menu is a standout, along with a variety of traditional and pub fare. The Taste of Belgium location near the stadiums is also a fun place to walk around after a meal.
Website: https://tasteofbelgium.com/
Before we get out of here, I reached out to Sons of Ben Travel Director Mike Blankemeyer who is a native of Cincinnati for some of his personal recommendations and thoughts on some places he enjoys around his home town.
Here is some places he thought would worth checking out as well:
The Blind Lemon
The nearly 60 year old hidden gem of a bar located in the Mount Adams area of Cincinnati named after legendary Texas bluesman Blind Lemon Jefferson features a quaint courtyard, live music, and a cozy indoor space with lots of historic memorabilia and vintage accents.
Website: https://theblindlemon.com/
21c Cocktail Terrace
From Mike: “It is a boutique hotel, a modern art museum, a cultural, civic center, and a restaurant rolled into one in Downtown Cincinnati, across the street from the Aronoff Center. A secret elevator inside the building brings you to 21c Beverage Terrace, which has 75 seats and offers great views of the city while you sip on a cocktail.”
Location: 609 Walnut St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Website: https://21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati/
The Gruff
Located right across the river in Kentucky again, The Gruff is a fun casual stop known especially for wood fired pizza, sandwiches, burgers, local craft beer, and weekend brunch. Make sure to try the 3 Billy Goats sandwich.
Website: http://www.atthegruff.com/
Hi-Fi Cincy
Cincinnati’s only vinyl record bar is known for its nightlife, great live music, drinks and food menu along with trivia and karaoke on select nights if you are looking for something fun to do to cap off the night.
Website: https://hificincy.com/
That’s all for today’s travel article! If you have any suggestions or recommendations for places to visit in Cincinnati, please send them my way so they can be included in a future article.
Safe travels, and enjoy your time in Cincinnati.
Main Article Photo Courtesy of the Philadelphia Union
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