Open since 1882, The Cincinnatian was one of the first hotels in the world to have elevators and incandescent lighting; it is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The accommodations are lovingly maintained and incorporate modern technology, like Internet access and multi-line telephones.
The Cincinnatian Hotel is the city’s only boutique hotel (though other projects are in the pipeline) and has the increasingly distinct honor of being independently owned. As a result, guests will find a refreshing diversity of styles and amenities among the 146 rooms within the beautiful 19th-century hotel, Cincinnati’s oldest. Furnishings lean toward the contemporary, while some rooms feature balconies and fireplaces and infused with local artwork featuring Cincinnati landmarks.
The eight-story atrium of the Cricket Lounge serves afternoon tea and evening cocktails. The fine dining and impeccable service at the Palace restaurant make it one of the top tables in town.
The Cincinnatian Hotel is the city’s only boutique hotel (though other projects are in the pipeline) and has the increasingly distinct honor of being independently owned. As a result, guests will find a refreshing diversity of styles and amenities among the 146 rooms within the beautiful 19th-century hotel, Cincinnati’s oldest. Furnishings lean toward the contemporary, while some rooms feature balconies and fireplaces and infused with local artwork featuring Cincinnati landmarks.
The eight-story atrium of the Cricket Lounge serves afternoon tea and evening cocktails. The fine dining and impeccable service at the Palace restaurant make it one of the top tables in town.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- Original paintings and sculptures created by Cincinnati artists — Frederic Bonin Pissarro, among them — grace every public area and guest room throughout the hotel, instantly creating a sense of place that distinguishes it from other luxury hotels in Anywhere, U.S.A.
- The Cincinnatian Hotel is within walking distance of several Cincinnati attractions, including the Cincinnati Public Library, the Contemporary Arts Center, the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company and the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
- It’s located in the heart of downtown, within walking distance of Fountain Square — the public soul of the city — and theaters, restaurants and nightspots.
- You can see a Cincinnati Bengals game at Paul Brown Stadium, just a six-minute drive from the hotel, and afterward, enjoy the view of bridges along the river form the nearby Smale Riverfront Park.
Things to Know
- The luxury hotel employs the city’s only full-time concierge, and the evening turndown service features warm cookies made by the pastry chef, Russ Wheeler.
- “Welly” is a genuine London Cab owned by the hotel that can drop off and pick up guests anywhere in downtown Cincinnati.
- Live jazz graces the Cricket Lounge on Friday and Saturday nights and features accomplished musicians.
- Every December, the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel offers a daily high tea, featuring traditional smoked salmon, cucumber and egg salad sandwiches, scones, tea brands, pastries and 36 varieties of loose-lead tea.
The Rooms
- The Cincinnatian Hotel’s standard rooms range from a cozy 350 square feet to 475 square feet and include a sitting area, dual sinks in a dressing area, a desk and an oversized bathtub.
- Atrium rooms are similarly sized and appointed at 400 square feet and offer a balcony for two overlooking the eight-story, glass covered atrium.
- Additional luxuries are added at multiple price points above the standard rooms: more space, walk-in showers and separate Roman baths, whirlpools and, in the case of suites, more beds, rooms and a fireplace.
- The rooms are continuously renovated, resulting in a wide array of styles that allow the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel’s decorators to cater to the tastes of virtually any luxury traveler.
- Room styles run the gamut from conservative décor in staid, classical, muted color schemes to fanciful décor with an artist’s flair, with touches like shag area rugs, eye-popping patterns and contemporary artwork.
The Restaurants
- The main restaurant in The Cincinnatian Hotel, The Palace, offers fine dining daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try delicacies like Thai lobster-coconut bisque and Irish sea trout. Vegetarian diners have their own menu with equally delicious options, such as roasted beets with fennel and an autumn vegetable ragout studded with potatoes.
- The Cricket Lounge Bistro, also within the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel, offers a more casual dining venue with items such as an open-faced roast beef sandwich or a baby arugula salad for under $10.
- The Cincinnatian Hotel's main bar is the airy, eight-story atrium of the Cricket Lounge. The bar stocks domestic beers for $4 and imports for $4.50 in addition to its hefty selection of red and white wines from all over the world, served by the glass or by the bottle.
- It also serves specialty cocktails, such as a Mandarin cosmopolitan made with Absolut Mandrin vodka, Grand Marnier, cranberry juice and orange juice, and a white chocolate martini made with Stoli Vanil vodka, Baileys Irish Cream and crème de cacao.
- Go on the weekends to sip your cocktail to the tune of a live jazz trio during your stay at the Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel.
Getting There
601 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
TEL800-942-9000
TEL800-942-9000
TEL513-381-3000
TEL513-381-3000
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
CVG (14-20 min)
