25 Greater Cincinnati Restaurants and Bars With Scenic Views

Vista at Lytle Park

311 Pike St., Downtown
Cincinnati’s Lytle Park Hotel features a spectacular rooftop patio named the Vista at Lytle Park. The 5,000-square-foot rooftop lounge offers panoramic views of the Queen City and Ohio River. The space is equipped with an "indoor" lounge (where the bar is located) lined with windows that open up to the outdoor patio with two fireplaces, seating and tables. Choose from a selection of cocktails, wine, beer and spirits, or opt for their large-format cocktails that serve four or more. Their food offerings range from hummus and olives to their Vista and Margarita flatbreads and 4YR Cheddar Burger.

Top of the Park

506 E. Fourth St., Downtown
For a stunning, nearly-360-degree view of downtown Cincinnati and its riverfront, plus some amazing craft cocktails, snag the elevator in the lobby of The Phelps hotel and take it to the very top where you’ll find one of the best rooftop bars in the city. The seasonal Top of the Park is intimate, with plenty of comfy seating, including a glass bar top where you can sit with your drink and enjoy the bird’s-eye view. Grab a Rooftop Lemonade (Ketel One Citroen, muddled strawberries, fresh lemon juice and wild berry simple syrup) and toast to the amazing sights.

Incline Public House

2601 W. Eighth St., East Price Hill
Named after the Cincinnati inclines that traveled to Price Hill, Incline Public House features a gorgeous view of the city and delicious American food for brunch, lunch and dinner. While you enjoy the view of downtown Cincinnati on their all-season patio, try one of their popular pizzas, like the equal-parts sweet and salty Prosciutto Fig, featuring fig jam, Italian ham, goat cheese, caramelized onions and arugula on top. Or, build your own using the expansive list of sauces, cheeses and toppings. Pair it with one of their local craft brews on tap and their mouthwatering short rib poutine to split with the table to top off the experience.

Lisse Steakhuis

530 Main St., Covington
This Dutch steakhouse in the heart of Mainstrasse has a third-floor rooftop lounge that offers excellent city views. On the menu, you’ll find plenty of steaks, as well as seafood and Indo-Dutch favorites like Nasi Goreng and Babi Panggang. Lisse Steakhuis also has an extensive list of wines, and its bourbon offerings also recently got it named a member of the B-Line, a trail of bourbon-centric bars, restaurants and distilleries in Northern Kentucky.

Eighteen at the Radisson

668 W. Fifth St., Covington
As Cincinnati’s only revolving steakhouse, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of both sides of the river’s unique city skylines from the Radisson’s 18th floor. The restaurant interior moves just fast enough to register with your eyes if you stare, but too slowly to notice at a glance — it takes an hour to make a full rotation and it’s not the entire top of the building that moves, just the restaurant floor.

Rhinegeist Brewery

1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
The sun feels warmest on the roof at Rhinegeist. Or, at least, it sure seems like it when you have 360-degree unobstructed views of OTR. The brewery has amazing, crushable beers like Glow and Cheetah that are perfect for an outdoor happy hour, but Rhinegeist’s cocktails are also surprisingly top-notch. A word of advice: Arrive early on especially gorgeous days if you want to secure your spot on the roof.

AC Upper Deck

135 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks
This modern hotel situated right at The Banks is sure to offer perfect views of the city. Enjoy some cocktails from the Upper Deck, one of the largest hotel rooftop bars downtown, or, if you want to stay the night, many of the rooms offer city views with their own balconies.

Vinoklet Winery & Restaurant

11069 Colerain Ave., Colerain Township
Nestled near the edge of the West Side is an idyllic winery surrounded by rows of grapes and rolling hills. VinoKlet is the only working winery in Hamilton County and is home to 12 award-winning wines. Bask in the warmth of a nice day with a glass of vino and enjoy the scenery. And on Fridays and Saturdays, the winery hosts its Grilled to Perfection dinner where you select your entree and grill it yourself while sipping on a half bottle of wine of your choosing.

City View Tavern

403 Oregon St., Mt. Adams
City View Tavern is Mt. Adams’ beloved hillside dive and home of one of the best spicy bloody marys, along with offering some of the best views in town. The burgers are damn tasty, too.

Little Miami Brewing Company

208 Mill St., Milford
Little Miami Brewing Company features a patio that overlooks the scenic namesake river. Stop by the popular Milford brewery to enjoy some of their 16 seasonal craft beers on tap and tacos or hand-tossed pizza, plus some breezy views. For a touch of adventure, you can also rent a kayak from Scenic River Canoe Excursions and roll up on the bank by the brewery for a good time, or hop on the Little Miami Scenic Trail at the nearby Milford trailhead for some strolling or biking.

Moerlein Lager House

115 Joe Nuxhall Way, The Banks
With a come-as-you-are atmosphere, a relaxing biergarten and a stunning view of the riverfront and Roebling Bridge, Moerlein Lager House is a prime stop for Reds or Bengals game-goers, Smale Park revelers and those who just find themselves at The Banks craving a beer and hearty meal. The restaurant and microbrewery’s menu features New American-style eats with German influences, like the shareable pretzels and beer cheese, the German sausage platter entree and the Zincy Style Bratwurst. Along with its line of Moerlein beers, the restaurant also offers plenty of elevated bar-fare-style shareables, a variety of burgers and sandwiches and upscale entree offerings like the filet mignon or salmon Oscar.

Rusk Kitchen + Bar

2724 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills
Rusk Kitchen + Bar serves up eclectic American cuisine and elevated bar food alongside beverage options like beer, wine and housemade cocktails you can enjoy on their rooftop patio, which offers a killer view of East Walnut Hills. With its cozy, welcoming vibes, Rusk aims to become a neighborhood go-to where you can watch the game, enjoy date night or just hang out with friends. The menu features a variety of lunch and dinner dishes, including sandwiches, like what would surely be Michael Scott’s favorite sandwich, “That’s What Brie Said” (grilled chicken, melted brie, honey dijonnaise, lettuce and tomato served on a croissant), burgers, entrees, salads and power bowls, as well as daily specials.

Porch at Washington Park

1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
Head over to Washington Park and enjoy a selection of local beer, seasonal cocktails, canned wine and more. The bar offers seating on the porch or on the lawn, so BYOB (bring your own blanket) and enjoy the sites of one of Cincinnati’s oldest parks. Tables and heaters are located under the covered patio for when the weather isn't cooperating.

The Rooftop at 21c

609 Walnut St., Downtown
The rooftop at the 21c Museum Hotel features a menu of sharable Peruvian-style dishes crafted with bright flavors and seasonal ingredients, as well as coastal-inspired cocktails. Kam Losonsky, the recently appointed executive chef of the hotel’s restaurant, Metropole, designed the menu to reflect the vibrant scenery and laid-back vibes of The Rooftop at 21c. Menu highlights include the Goetta Croquette (sweet onion and scallions); the Oyster Shooter (Pisco-spiked watermelon and aji panca sangrita); and the Pan Con Chicharron Slider (aji-amarillo-glazed pork belly, salsa criolla and smoked sweet-potato mustard). The beverage menu features refreshing craft cocktails like The Mirage (pineapple rum, Diplomático, falernum, lime and demerara sugar) and Green With Envy (tequila, mezcal, pineapple, cilantro, mint, passionfruit and lime). There is also a selection of beer, wine and zero-proof options.

Bishop’s Quarter

212 W Loveland Ave., Loveland
Each floor of this three-level bar comes with its own vibe. On the first floor, you’ll find an extensive list of bourbon and the feel of New Orleans’ French Quarter; go upstairs to the second floor for wine and coziness thanks to the fireplace and love seats; and for an industrial and sports-bar-style space with a view of historic Loveland, go to The Landing, Bishop’s Quarter’s rooftop bar on the third level.

Bridgeview Box Park

1 Levee Way, Newport
Bridgeview Box Park, a cluster of small food, drink and shopping vendors, offers a panoramic view of Cincinnati year-round. The establishments are housed next to each other in shipping-like containers — hence “box park” — and are interspersed among a common outdoor area. The breezy space overlooks the Ohio River and city and features turf lounge areas, string lights and outdoor games like corn hole and giant Jenga.

Braxton Brewing Company

27 W. Seventh St., Covington
The Rooftop at Braxton Brewing Co. doesn’t just have a scenic view of Covington and downtown Cincinnati, but also comfortable outdoor seating, shade and greenery. Sip on all of your favorite Braxton drafts, and if you’re hungry, you can grab a pizza from the new Dewey’s next door.

Kreimer’s on the River

6052 OH-128, Whitewater Township
Located in the backyard of Kreimer’s Bier Haus, this Bavarian biergarten on the Great Miami River has three decks, fire pits and a ton of Black Forest-inspired wood features, from picnic seating to a whimsical cuckoo-clock-looking German grill house, which serves snacks like sauerkraut balls, pretzel bread, bier cheese and plenty of juicy metts. You can also order to-go from the restaurant and take your meal into the biergarten for dinner with a view.

Primavista

810 Matson Place, East Price Hill
Primavista offers their menu of high-end Italian meals along with a panoramic view of Downtown Cincinnati. Their menu specializes in veal and fresh fish, but they offer dishes from all regions of Italy and feature nightly specials. Have an antipasto of fried calamari or bruschetta before your plate of ravioli or veal marsala and top it off with a glass of vino from their extensive wine list. Cap off your dinner with the Gelati Misti or tiramisu for dessert while you marvel at Cincinnati’s beauty.

Shires Rooftop

309 Vine St., 10th Floor, Downtown
The View at Shires Rooftop is on the 10th floor of the City Club Apartments and offers views of the riverfront and the surrounding cityscape. This rooftop spot’s menu features a wide selection of smoked, grilled and wood-fired options for dinner and they open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday for brunch. Try the Rooftop Benedict, with poached eggs and prosciutto on an English muffin, topped with blister cherry tomatoes, roasted shallots, herb oil and chimi-hollandaise with a side of breakfast potatoes.