neighborhood/place to live

Love city living? Looking for a family-friendly community? Need a little more space? We've got you covered! Please note, this is not an exhaustive list and there are plenty of other fantastic options that are not listed below - our Facebook page is also a great place to get your specific questions answered. 

  • Anderson Township - Located southeast of the city, Anderson is a popular location for families. ("...very Suburban without being far away from anything and Beechmont Avenue has EVERYTHING. Quick access to 275.")

  • Clifton - Situated on the hill overlooking Northside, Cincinnati. The Gaslight District contains many independent shops and restaurants. ("great commute, great community, can walk to parks and restaurants")

  • Columbia-Tusculum - Cincinnati's oldest neighborhood. ("Beautiful historic painted ladies with tons of character. Easy walking to several restaurants, bars, 24-hour fitness, yoga, and Alms Park. Only 10-12 minutes to UC Hospital.")

  • Fort Mitchell, KY ("Commute to Cincinnati Children's / UC is also 15-20 minutes during non-rush hour times.")

  • Hyde Park ("It's a little pricey but you can easily walk to Hyde Park Square and Mt. Lookout, which both have a lot of restaurant and shopping options. Also, there are many events that take place in Hyde Park Square (Flying Pig Marathon goes through the square, farmers' market every Sunday, Hyde Park Blast)")

  • Kenwood area, Deer Park ("accessibility to everything and we are central to all the hospitals my husband works at")

  • Madeira - A popular neighborhood with a weekly farmer's market situated close to shopping and I71.

  • Madisonville - ("Centrally located but cheaper than Hyde park")

  • Mariemont - (pronounced Mary-mont) Charming neighborhood with great walkability, located on Wooster Pike east of the city.

  • Mount Adams - ("great location good moms group")

  • Northern KY ("a great place to live because it's cheap and close to the hospitals")

  • Norwood - Nestled in the heart of the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. ("equal quality homes and amenities as nearby neighborhoods, but far more affordable")

  • Oakley - The main strip on Madison Road features lots of great shops and restaurants. Close to parks and Rookwood/Oakley Station shopping ("Proximity to hospitals and stores is great! Very walkable, lots of parks and events.").

  • Pleasant Ridge - A neighborhood with a great playground/community center and main strip that features locally owned shops and restaurants, including a play cafe. Has a very popular neighborhood Montessori elementary school.

  • Reading - A few RSA members own homes in this northern suburb. ("It is a little north of the city, but close to major highways, only 20 minutes to UC and CC, and less than 10 minutes to the Kenwood Mall. You can also get a lot more house and land for the money. Reading has a brand new K-12 school that opened in 2019.")

  • St. Bernard - Like Norwood, an enclave surrounded by the city of Cincinnati. ("Very close to hospitals. Great value for your money!")

  • West side of Cincinnati ("The people here tend to be laid back and many are long-time Cincinnati residents. There is an abundance of "mom & pop" stores and a preference for that over the high-end shopping centers of the East Side. The commute to the hospitals is quick with the bonus of being able to take Westwood Northern Blvd instead of interstates.")

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Park or playground

  • Alms Park ("nice trails and picnicking, Overlooks Lunken Airport and the river.")

  • Ault Park ("so amazing in the spring and summer. There is are large playground for kids, beautiful community gardens you can walk through and there is a cool overlook.")

  • Beech Acres in Anderson Township.

  • Blue Ash Nature Park features several playgounds, small trails, picnic areas, and is usually pretty quiet!

  • Cincinnati Nature Center Schott Nature Playscape is a really neat playground with natural features designed for open-ended creative play - admission fee is required.

  • Dogwood Park (aka, Mariemont playground/Tot Lot)

  • Eden Park ("beautiful vegetation, also the location of the Krohn Conservatory and Cincinnati Museum of Art, which I think are must visits.")

  • Glenwood Gardens is a beautifully landscaped park with trails, formal gardens, and the fantastic Highfield Discovery Garden designed to encourage guests to explore the natural world in a fun engaging environment.

  • Goebel Park in Covington KY is best known for it's iconic German-style Carroll Chimes Clock Tower, which displays a charming mechanical puppet show of the Pied Piper on the hour, April through December.

  • Julif's Park is located in Anderson includes hike/bike trails, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, tennis courts, and water play.

  • Mariemont Playground, also known as the "tot lot" is shaded and fenced-in.

  • Mt. Storm Park in Clifton.

  • Sharon Woods is a beautiful park, especially in the fall. Features running & biking trails, golf, picnicking spots, playground, and a lake with boat rentals.

  • Smale Riverfront Park has it all - a great playground, beautiful carousel, splash fountains, really nice areas to stroll, and porch swings that overlook the river.

  • Summit Park featuring Cincinnati's most creative Children's Playground, is also the site of Red, White, and Blue Ash - the area's largest Independence Day event with a spectacular fireworks show.

  • Voice of America Park in West Chester. ("has a 2-mile trail around a lake and a new large kids playground")

  • Washington Park in Over-The-Rhine has easy parking, a great splash pad, playground, and is the site of frequent festivals and events.

  • Winton Woods has something for everyone with trails, fishing, boating, horseback riding, golfing, camping, picnicking spots, playgrounds and a splash park. Parky's Farm is a fun place to visit with kids.

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Place of worship

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Hair salon/Nail spot/Spa

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RESTAURANT

  • Abigail Street Mediterranean wine bar in Over-The-Rhine. ("great for date night")

  • Alfio's Buon Cibo Italian-Argentine cuisine in Hyde Park Square. ("Great for date night! It's okay for kids as long as you go early")

  • Amma's Kitchen in Roselawn is a vegetarian restaurant serving Southern Indian specialties. ("Fantastic lunch buffet is vegan on Wednesdays.")

  • Ando in Blue Ash. ("most authentic Japanese sushi")

  • Brown Dog Cafe in Blue Ash will soon move to new location at Summit Park. ("Our go-to for special occasions - we've never had a meal here that wasn't excellent.")

  • Buz in Columbia Tusculum.

  • Chung Kiwha in Florence, KY. ("best Korean BBQ")

  • Cooper's Hawk in Kenwood is a winery and restaurant.

  • Dewey's Pizza has several area locations. ("great for kids")

  • Dutch's bar, bottle shop, and larder in East Hyde Park features one of the largest selections of refrigerated beer in the region.

  • Eli's BBQ in Riverside. ("fun for kids and big groups because you can eat outside on picnic tables.")

  • Graeter's Ice Cream, a Cincinnati institution - various locations.

  • Grand Oriental in Montgomery ("best Dim Sum")

  • Gordo's pub featuring gourmet burgers in Norwood.

  • Holtman's Donuts in Loveland, Over-The-Rhine, West Chester, and Williamsburg. ("make sure you try a "dunker" - a cake donut fried extra-long for a dark crust that is perfect for dunking in coffee or milk!")

  • Ichiban Japanese Cuisine in Mt. Lookout.

  • Incline Public House in East Price Hill. ("awesome patio views, and really good food as well. Be prepared for a long wait, it's a popular spot especially on nice days... but you can sit at the little incline park next door and enjoy the views while you wait.")

  • Kinneret Cafe in Deer Park serves kosher Middle Eastern dishes that are mostly vegetarian. ("Try the shakshuka!")

  • Mad Mike's has several area locations. ("hole-in-the-wall burger place")

  • Mardi Gras on Madison in East Walnut Hills. ("authentic, delicious Cajun food served in a friendly, laid-back atmosphere")

  • Mazunte in Oakley serves up tacos. ("a must")

  • Nada modern Mexican in downtown Cincinnati. ("great for date night")

  • New Krishna in Sharonville. ("best Indian buffet north of Cincinnati")

  • Nicola's in OTR.

  • Otto's in Covington. ("They have amazing brunch!")

  • Pho Kimmy in Sharonville. ("best pho north of downtown, good for kids and family, very casual.")

  • Pho Lang Thang in Findlay Market ("best pho in downtown")

  • Precinct steakhouse in downtown Cincinnati. ("Our absolute favorite")

  • Prime 47 in downtown Cincinnati.

  • Quatman Cafe in Norwood and Mason. ("delicious but cheap hamburgers. Not pretentious.")

  • Red Feather in Oakley.

  • Ruthai's Thai Kitchen in Mount Lookout is BYOB.

  • Salazar new American eatery in Over-The-Rhine. ("great for date night")

  • Sleepy Bee in Oakley and Blue Ash is a fantastic family-friendly breakfast and lunch spot featuring locally sourced ingredients. ("The Queen City Bee breakfast sandwich is my favorite.")

  • Sotto Italian in downtown Cincinnati. ("great for date night")

  • Sushi Kingdom in Mason ("best made-to-order sushi buffet")

  • Susie Wong's in East Walnut Hills. ("fun Asian-fusion," "Bih Bim Bop!")

  • Taft Ale House in Over-The-Rhine. ("good for kids because it's noisy!")

  • Taste of Belgium serves up delicious Belgian waffles at several area locations. ("The TOB latte and chicken and waffles are my personal favorites.")

  • Tom+Chee (as seen on Shark Tank!) has several area locations and offers up delicious grilled cheese and tomato soup.

  • Twin Dragon Buffet in West Chester. ("best Chinese buffet")

  • Uncle Yips offers tasty Chinese and dim sum in Reading.

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Coffee shop

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favorite activity for visiting friends/relatives

  • Head to Smale Riverfront Park on the river, ride on Carol Ann's Carousel, play in the splash fountains or at the playground, and catch a Reds game or have dinner at Moerlein Lager House or Montgomery Inn Boathouse, both with great views of the river.

  • Ault Park is a great place to picnic and play.

  • National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world and makes for a great day trip.

  • Get a drink or do a tasting at Rhinegeist, MadTree, or Taft's Ale House.

  • Take the kids to Pogo Play in Blue Ash or Red Balloon Cafe + Play in Pleasant Ridge (especially great during the winter months or on rainy days).

  • Cincinnati Nature Center is a fantastic place to explore and features 16 miles of hiking trails, many of which are handicap accessible. Also the home of the Marge & Charles Schott Nature PlayScape where native plants, fallen logs, boulders, rocks, water, and soil create forest and field habitats for children to explore.

  • Jungle Jim's is a Cincinnati must-do with two locations (Eastgate or Fairfield) featuring wacky decor and an astounding assortment of weird and wonderful American and International groceries, plus a huge beer and wine selection.

  • Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal houses the History Museum, Children's Museum, and Museum of Natural History and Science and features special exhibits, kid and adult programs, and omnimax movies. Union Terminal is one of the most widely regarded examples of the Art Deco style and also happens to be the largest half-dome in the western hemisphere. Complimentary tours of the rotunda are held Saturdays at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. and Sundays at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. **NOTE: Museum Center is currently closed for renovations.

  • Explore the beautiful and historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood which is believed to be the largest, most intact urban historic district in the US. Grab breakfast at Taste of Belgium or eat as you explore the colorful and fantastic Findlay Market. Attend an event at Washington Park or Music Hall, take a Queen City Underground tour, or explore the many unique shops and restaurants in and around Vine Street.

  • Meet for drinks at Unwind Wine Bar and then walk to Hyde Park Square for dessert.

  • Grandparents visiting? Head to breakfast at Sleepy Bee in Oakley, followed by story time at Blue Manatee, followed by shopping at The Spotted Goose and/or King Arthur's Toys, followed by ice cream at Aglamesis Brothers!

  • Drive to Mt. Adams to see the view and grab lunch at the Mt. Adams Bar and Grill. Mt. Adams also has an incredible view of the city at night - while you're there grab some cocktails at The Blind Lemon!

  • The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens is the second oldest zoo in the US, is consistently rated one of the best zoos in the nation, and is highly recommended by many of our members.

  • Grab a designated driver and hit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, which consists of nine historic distilleries all within a 3-hour drive of Cincinnati. If you're feeling ambitious, add the ten distilleries of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour to your itinerary.

  • Visit the Newport Aquarium and grab lunch at Tom+Chee.

  • Take a day trip to charming Yellow Springs, Ohio. This town of artists is home to the Yellow Springs Street Fair, a "festival like no other" featuring over 200 arts, crafts, and food vendors, two music stages, a beer garden, and street performers throughout town.

  • Explore the Art Museum (which features programming for all ages - including infants!) and head to nearby BonBonerie for a tea party lunch.

  • Grab a Red Bike and see if you can spot each of the 35 Art Works Cincinnati murals located in Downtown and Over-The-Rhine.

  • Check out the fascinating and beautiful American Sign Museum and grab a 3-way at the historic Camp Washington Chili.

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Date night place/activity

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Bar/Late night spot

  • 16-Bit Bar+Arcade in Over-The-Rhine features 50+ classic arcade games, which are free to play while you enjoy drinks! You are welcome to bring your own food. Occasionally holds kid-friendly "bring your shorty" days with earlier opening hours.

  • Bakersfield features Mexican street fare and a selection of over 100 tequilas and American whiskeys in Over-The-Rhine.

  • The Blind Lemon in Mt. Adams ("Speak easy with large selection and specialty cocktails both in summer and winter").

  • Bromwells Harth Lounge in downtown Cincinnati.

  • Dutch's bar, bottle shop, and larder in East Hyde Park features one of the largest selections of refrigerated beer in the region.

  • Igby's in downtown Cincinnati.

  • MadTree tap room in Oakley.

  • Mount Lookout Tavern ("A little bit of a dive but cheap drinks, easy parking, and overall chill spot.")

  • Nine Giant artisan brewery and scratch-made kitchen.

  • Oakley Pub & Grill or Oakley Wines, both in Oakley.

  • Piccolo Wine Room in Glendale.

  • Sundry and Vice in Over-The-Rhine.

  • Taft's Ale House in Over-The-Rhine.

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Childcare

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Pediatrician (In alphabetical order by practice)

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PCP or specialist (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY PRACTICE)

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Real Estate Agent

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Physician Mortgages

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Financial ADVISOR

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Accountant/tax service

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Dentist

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Gym/Personal Trainer

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Home services

  • Hauser Air (Heating and air conditioning, "great customer service and middle pricing (not cheapest but not most expensive)")

  • Darren Barnett (Plumber, 513-617-1064, knetplumbing@gmail.com, "no fee for the house call, super nice guy")

  • Dryer Vent Wizzard ("great service and I haggled 20% off and they gave it to me without any fuss")

  • JWM Contracting and Jarred McHoes ("He's a gem. He is based out of Sharonville, has really affordable quotes, and did an amazing job with remodeling our home. I have recommended him to friends at church and they all said they loved him.")

  • Rachel's Cleaning Services (chimney sweep, cleaning service, roof repair)

  • R. Alonzo Landscaping

  • Tarvin Plumbing ("I've used them a few times and they always arrive faster than they promise and do a great job. Deals are sometimes available on Angie's List")

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Mechanic

  • All American Tire and Service on Blue Ash Road. ("Great prices and friendly service. Highly recommended by neighbors and we have been very satisfied.")

  • Cobb's Car Care in Oakley.

  • Deer Park Auto ("good prices, trustworthy")

  • Meinking's in Norwood.

  • Peru Auto in West Chester.

  • Ulmer's Auto Care in Milford and Anderson.

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VETERinarian

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pet grooming/boarding

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Tailor/alterations/Dry Cleaner

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Other Cincinnati secrets

  • The Gap Clearance Center in Hebron, Kentucky can have gems if you don't mind searching.

  • Don't miss the views from Mt. Echo park!

  • Many of the neighborhoods/police departments in Cincinnati use NextDoor to connect and communicate. See if your neighborhood is active as soon as you move!

  • A few have been mentioned above, but make sure you take time explore the many Great Parks of Hamilton County.

  • Looking for furniture or home decor? Check out Bargains and Buyouts on the west side - a HUGE warehouse full of amazing deals on furniture, rugs, and decor (bargaining is welcome - especially if you bundle multiple items together).

  • The minute you move here seek out an English muffin from Blue Oven Bakery, take it home, toast it, and eat it right away.

  • The Party Source in Bellevue, KY is a fun place to visit. This 100% employee owned business is the largest beverage alcohol store in the US and you can find literally any beer, wine, or spirit here!

  • Families with school-aged kids should check out The Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) which provides students from underperforming public schools the opportunity to attend participating private schools.

  • Clothes Mentor and Snooty Fox are the only way I can afford designer clothes and purses (BCBG, J Crew, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, etc.) at second hand prices.

  • Once Upon A Child is where I get everything for my kids at second hand prices.

  • Pipkin's Market in Blue Ash is my absolute favorite place to shop for fresh local and regional produce. Awesome prices, friendly service, and a great assortment of quality produce. Also has a great garden center!

  • Cincinnati has a Side By Side chapter. Side By Side is a division of Christian Medical and Dental Association where all religions are welcome. They are insta-friends who get your life and meet for book clubs, mentoring, new mom meal trains, and prayer support.

  • "This place is a hidden gem! There is so much history and neat things to discover about this place. Get out and explore and you will find a lot to love about Cincinnati!"

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Did we miss something? Please email us your suggestions!

Note: Cincinnati RSA suggests the above links as helpful resources but has no affiliation with/does not endorse their material.