Cincinnati hotels

As a hotel chain known for keeping guests conveniently close to campus, Graduate by Hilton is one of the best hotels in Cincinnati for visiting the University of Cincinnati. It’s also within a quick bike ride of Nippert Stadium if you plan to catch a college football game while you’re in town.

The interiors are so cool and colourful, especially the playful lobby mural depicting Star Wars and Batman characters. The guestrooms and suites are equally fun with checker, houndstooth, and geometric patterns giving the vibrant colours more of a pop.

This is also one of the best hotels in Cincinnati for families thanks to its playful family rooms, which feature custom bunk beds and drawing desks for the kids. Meanwhile, the amazing Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens is just 800 metres away and one of my favourite family attractions in the city.

Smale Riverfront Park is always one of the first places I visit when I come to Cincy, so I know the AC Hotel by Marriott at The Banks well. This is one of the best hotels in Cincinnati for an iconic city experience—I love this place so much, it’s hard to choose my favourite feature.

The views of the Ohio River from the Upper Deck rooftop bar are fantastic. Meanwhile, the near-instant access to the Great American Ball Park makes it seem like you could catch a pop-fly in your suite.

The fitness centre is also helpful for sticking to your workout schedule while on the road, especially if you pair it with a cool-down walk along the Ohio River Trail. If you can, book a guestroom with a balcony—they offer the loveliest views, especially in winter.

One of the finest luxury hotels in Cincinnati, The Lytle Park Hotel is where I’d book for a sophisticated yet relaxed stay in the city. The 1909 building fits in perfectly with its historic district neighbour, the Taft Museum of Art.

It’s located downtown, but still adjacent to the core of the city. This makes its garden-inspired interior and exterior spaces feel like a real retreat from the concrete jungle.

I love the chic blue aesthetic in the suites. Plus, suite names like “Taft”, “Rainwater”, and “River” really resonate with the themes of the city. Whether you’re dining at the rooftop Vista restaurant or stepping out into Lytle Park, this is a great choice for combining a city break with a laid-back getaway.

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant is one of the best boutique hotels in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighbourhood. This OTR gem has only nine guestrooms, each themed around a specific jazz composer and filled with antiques.

I love the Mozart Room’s brick fireplace that retains its charming mantle and century-old aesthetic. By far the coolest spot in the hotel is its Jazz Lounge. I always make a reservation for the club, not only because guests can pair it with a delicious Italian dinner, but also because it’s a popular OTR venue for locals and visitors alike.

Another lively spot is Symphony Hotel & Restaurant’s biergarten, which opens three hours before every FC Cincinnati game to serve some of OTR’s best beers.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time getting to know 21C Museum Hotels around the US, and I’m always impressed with how they merge a boutique hotel with a contemporary art museum. Cincy’s edition is no different: galleries of rotating exhibits fill the space of the former Metropole Hotel, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Granted, not all the 156 suites are decked out in colourful, art-filled decor, but that’s what makes the common spaces so much livelier. If that is what you’re after in your room, however, go for The Nightwatch Suite, which features an exclusive art installation.

I think 21C Museum Hotel is one of the best hotels in Cincinnati because of its art credentials, but others may find sensory delights at the spa. There, you can book dreamy massages, body treatments, and more.

Custom-designed mattresses mean you’re all but guaranteed an undisturbed sleep at Kinley, despite the fact it’s in the centre of downtown. This is one of the best hotels in Cincinnati if you want to feel like a local.

The chic rooms act like studio apartments with features like a premium entertainment TV, a mini fridge, and a writing desk. Kinley is all style, but it’s also all substance. The hotel’s Unexpected Burgers & Bourbon casual dining restaurant serves mouth-watering dishes like short rib eggrolls, burgers with candied jalapeño and pork belly.

Located in the Race Street Historic District, the Duke Energy Convention Center, Taft Theatre, and Contemporary Arts Center all within walking distance.

The Westin will always have a special place in my heart, as it’s one of the first places I set foot inside in Cincy. It had a prime location on Fountain Square, too, which is the perfect place to enjoy Graeter’s Ice Cream in the summer or watch the annual lighting of the Christmas tree in the winter.

No matter the season, I always suggest a Fountain Square-view suite to anyone staying here. The modern guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows show the city off in all its glory.

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant has an ever-evolving menu of surf and turf, while the hotel bar, Over Vine, has handcrafted cocktails that taste amazing, whether sipped on your bar stool or while soaking in the views from your room.

As one of the best hotels in Cincinnati’s downtown core, the Hyatt is close to Paycor Stadium. My in-laws are big Bengals fans, so I love that when I stay here, I don’t have to worry about finding game-day parking. The Red Roost Tavern champions the city too, integrating local ingredients into the menu.

In terms of the rooms, I appreciate the Hyatt’s range of high-floor suites with generous windows and desks. Staying in one of these makes it easy to work remotely while still being able to admire the city or river.

The river-view Thrive suite turns a pleasant stay into a philanthropic one, as the hotel donates proceeds to a local charity with each night’s stay. Lastly, don’t miss the indoor pool, which puts most outdoor pools to shame.

Waking up to a free breakfast buffet and a swim in an indoor pool is one of the loveliest ways to start your day. And that’s exactly what you get at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in the university area.

The University of Cincinnati is so separate from the hustle and bustle of downtown, it provides a totally different Cincy experience. I like that the Fairfield Inn & Suites’ location right across the street from campus retains the local feel but still keeps guests within minutes of the city’s top attractions.

Guestrooms feature writing desks with ergonomic chairs, coffee makers, and separate sitting areas. The rooms are fairly spacious too, which is a perk in this area of Uptown. It's worth noting that the Aronoff Center for the Arts is less than four kilometres away, while the Bearcat games at Gettler Stadium are just across the street.

Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter is one of the top-rated hotels in Cincinnati, though it’s not actually in the Queen City itself. It’s set across the Ohio River in Covington, Kentucky—and I’ve always enjoyed my time in this historic riverside district whenever I’ve visited.

The Cincinnati Marriott has great views of the Cincy skyline, offering a panoramic vista that’s hard to appreciate from the Ohio side. Its guestrooms are supremely comfortable and there’s a 23-metre indoor heated lap pool.

The Mash + Oak restaurant has a great selection of Kentucky bourbons which add a little Bluegrass State flavour to a Cincy visit. Taxis to Cincinnati are available, but I always choose to walk across the gorgeous John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. The walk takes only a few minutes and connects to Cincy’s riverfront parks.