The Taste of Cincinnati is fun but also crowded and often hot.
Are you a little too hot, have you walked a little too much or are your feet blistered? Never fear: There are plenty of great places to go to take a break from Taste of Cincinnati and still enjoy great food and drink — and they're right by Taste itself.
McCormick & Schmick's: Air conditioning, beer specials and it's right on Fifth Street? McCormick & Schmick's is a hidden gem during Taste of Cincinnati. Stop into its bar and grab a drink or one of the reasonably priced bar bites and cool off while still being in the thick of things.
Via Vite: With its beautiful piazza, delicious Italian food (try the veal meatballs with any pasta dish), view of Fountain Square and great drinks (Sgroppino, a concoction of Prosecco and Madisono's Pink Grapefruit Gelato, will cool you off), Via Vite is an elegant alternative to being in the crowd.
21c: Whether you are inside at the bar or lounge, or on its rooftop bar, 21c adds a little art to your Taste of Cincinnati weekend. Tour the open-to-the-public art exhibit. Then pop upstairs for a view of Taste (you can almost see it from there!), a Poptail, a popsicle-cocktail combination, and special rooftop bar snacks.
Renaissance Hotel: The Renaissance Hotel's mod-meets-classic interior has plenty of space for you to relax with a drink or a bite. Sit near the street-level windows and watch the world (and other Taste-goers) go by.
Bar at Palm Court: Get a little fancy with the Bar at Palm Court, where you can sip on its own Netherland Plaza Ale and nibble on bites that echo some of the tastes you'll get outside (but in air conditioning and the most gorgeous bar in the city). Pass the Brussels sprouts and an NP cocktail, please.
Knockback Nat's: There's always sports on during Memorial Day weekend, and Knockback Nat's is a great place to watch them in comfortable, neighborhood surroundings. The highlight? Smoked wings, some of the best in the city, crank out of its tiny kitchen.
Top of the Park: Wander down Fourth Street into the Residence Inn for Top of the Park, a rooftop spot with an excellent view of the river and city. Try one of its Queen City Marys, a Bloody Mary topped with a burger, cheese, olives, bacon, onion rings ... it's a meal and a drink! Or go a little simpler (maybe after you've had one too many potato pancakes at Taste) with a Top of the Punch or a Rooftop Lemonade.
Where do you go to cool off and relax during Taste? Let us know!
