Have you ever been downtown and wondered where you should take your family for dinner? This has happened to me a few times. Whenever I’m downtown I can’t think of a place to eat, and then when I get home I think of 15 places I wanted to try. I thought I’d help myself, and our readers by compiling a list of places to eat downtown. I hope this is a handy resource for you as well! You should bookmark this post, so you can pull it up on your mobile device when you’re looking for the perfect place to grab a bite while you are Downtown Cincinnati! Or print it out and keep it in your glove compartment for a handy reference.
This list was compiled using ideas from our fabulous readers & writers. Not every restaurant listed may offer a traditional kid’s menu, or have coloring sheets to keep them occupied…but trying new places to eat can be fun & exciting for the whole family. And there is so much to do and see downtown, that you could make an event out of it! Try dinner & a show, or breakfast & then shopping or one reader mentioned having solo “dates” with her kids at nice restaurants. Hopefully this list will help you find the perfect place to eat downtown with your family.
Since everyone is looking for something different for their families when going out to eat be sure to check out menus online to find the right meals and the right prices for your family. I’ll admit, sometimes I’m looking for a cheap meal for the whole family, but other times we want to splurge and have a really nice dinner out with the kids. And since I have a toddler, what I consider kid-friendly might vary from what someone with older children might consider kid-friendly. My spirited two year old makes me shy away from fancier restaurants, but when he’s a bit older I might change my tune.
If you have specific dietary concerns, or would like to know if a restaurant has high chairs, changing tables, etc please be sure to call ahead and ask! I’ve been known to call places and flat out ask…“hey, are you a kid-friendly place?”. I have also called restaurants and said, “I would like to bring my kids to eat there, when is the best time for us to come to avoid waits and crowds?”. If you have any tips for dining out with kids, I’d love to read them, please comment below! And if you’re looking for ways to make your family more friendly for dining out, read this great guest post on Family Friendly Cincinnati.
Happy dining!
The Downtown Cincinnati Family Friendly Dining Guide
There is something for everyone in this list!
Arnold’s Bar & Grill
Since 1861…The oldest tavern in Cincinnati!
210 East 8th Street ~ 513-421-6234
Burnell’s
915 Vine Street ~ 513-345-7163
Campanello’s Italian Restaurant
414 Central Avenue ~ 513-721-9833
Cincy’s on Sixth
41 East 6th Street ~ 513-621-6200
Crave
175 Joe Nuxhall Way ~ 513-241-8600
Family Friendly Cincinnati’s Review of Crave
Findlay Market
Pick up some fresh meats & cheeses for sandwiches and some fruit and veggies and head to Washington Park for a picnic. OR do what I like to do, pick up a few different things from the vendors and sit outside at one of the many outdoor tables and eat lunch (they also have some tables inside as well). There are so many places to choose from at this market, you can dine on something different every time you go. 
1801 Race Street ~ 513-665-4839
Family Friendly Cincinnati’s post about Findlay Market
First Watch
700 Walnut Street ~ 513-721-4744
Hathaway’s Diner
{Breakfast & Lunch only}
441 Vine Street (Inside Carew Tower) ~ 513-621-1332
Family Friendly’s Review of Hathaway’s Diner
Ingredients (some assembly required)
21 East Fifth Street (Located at the Westin) ~ 513-852-2740
Istanbul Café
628 Vine Street ~ 513-421-5100
It’s Just Crepes
39 East Court Street
AND 151 West Fourth Street
Izzy’s
Known for their delicious Reubens. (And don’t forget a side of potato pancakes!)
610 Main Street AND 800 Elm Street
Joe’s Diner
1203 Sycamore Street ~ 513-421-5637
Johnny Rockets at the Banks
191 East Freedom Way
Johnny Rockets at the Banks on Facebook
Lavomatic Café
1211 Vine Street ~ 513-621-1999
Family Friendly Cincinnati’s Review of Lavomatic Café
Mayberry
1211 Main Street ~ 513-381-5999
Family Friendly Cincinnati’s Review of Mayberry
Moerlein Lager House
Just a stone’s throw from Great American Ballpark, this is an awesome place to watch the boats go by on the Ohio River while you get a bite to eat.
115 Joe Nuxhall Way ~ 513-421-2337
Moerlein Lager House’s Website
Moerlein Lager House on Facebook
Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse
925 Riverside Drive ~ 513-721-7427
Nicholson’s Tavern & Pub
625 Walnut Street ~ 513-564-9111
Palomino
Several of the FFC writers love the pizzas at Palomino! Yum! And they have a beautiful view of Fountain Square.
505 Vine Street ~ 513-381-1300
Park + Vine
{Vegan Lunch & Brunch Counter}
1202 Main Street ~ 513-721-7275
Rock Bottom Brewery
10 Fountain Square Place ~ 513-621-1588
Rock Bottom Brewery on Facebook
Family Friendly’s Review of Rock Bottom Brewery
Silver Ladle
580 Walnut Street (faces 6th St.) ~ 513-834-7650
Skyline Chili
254 East Fourth Street AND 643 Vine Street AND 1001 Vine Street
Taqueria Mercado
800 Walnut Street ~ 513-381-0678
Taste of Belgium
1133 Vine Street AND Findlay Market ~ 513-381-4607
Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill
145 East 2nd Street ~ 513-721-8629
TK’s I Love This Bar & Grill’s Website
TK’s I Love This Bar & Grill on Facebook
Tom + Chee
Voted Best Grilled Cheese EVER by several of the FFC writers! We love this place!
133 East Court Street AND 420 Walnut Street
Family Friendly Cincinnati’s Review of Tom + Chee
Venice on Vine
{Dine in or Carry out}
1301 Vine Street ~ 513-221-7020
Venice on Vine’s Website (Check out this website and read all about this great restaurant, and how they are helping their community!)
Food Trucks ::
Sometimes you might be lucky enough to find one of the many wonderful Food Trucks of this area hanging out downtown. If the weather is nice you could grab food from the truck and eat on Fountain Square! Check their websites & Facebook pages to see where you can find them from day to day!
Café de Wheels
513-549-5246
C’est Cheese
513-535-8857
EAT! Mobile Dining
513-631-0715
New Orleans To Go
513-833-1342
Pizza Bomba
{They also have a brick & mortar location at 14 East 5th St. in Covington)
513-500-4239
Sugar Snap!
513-602-9660
Taco Azul
516-316-5412
Turophilia Quesadilla
513-317-7743
Turophilia Quesadilla on Facebook
Just Desserts ::
Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakery
41 West Fifth Street ~ 513-335-0898
Graeter’s Ice Cream
511 Walnut Street
513-381-4191
Orange Leaf at the Banks
160 Walnut Street ~ 513-421-5335
Orange Leaf at the Banks on Facebook
If I’ve missed your favorite family friendly place to dine downtown, please leave a note in the comments section below!
And for more family friendly dining ideas all over the Cincinnati/NKY area check out our Pinterest board where we pin our faves!
You forgot Paula’s – Best lunch ever Monday – Friday and serves breakfast too. Homemade soups and roasts her own Turkey & Ham. Plus a 7 min. burger. 41 E. 4th Street, 45202 381-0044
Great listing!
Thanks Katie!