Cincinnati Food Tour: 6 Tastings & Top 10 Sights with Streetcar

Six food stops woven through Cincinnati's architecture, murals and riverfront in a single afternoon.

A 3-hour guided food tour of Cincinnati combining 6 tastings at local spots with sightseeing through downtown, Over-the-Rhine, and Findlay Market, led by a local guide who shares the city's history and insider tips. The tour includes a ride on the modern streetcar and covers about 45 to 60 minutes of walking across the day. Findlay Market is closed Mondays, so the tour substitutes goetta and waffle tastings at The Taste of Belgium Bistro on those days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge8m
2. National Underground Railroad Freedom Centerpassing by

Cincinnati city tour with food stops

• Visit The Banks riverfront area
• See John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge
• Pass by National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
• Explore Fountain Square
• View murals by Cincinnati Artworks
• Pass by Carew Tower
• Pass by Aronoff Center for performing arts
• Pass by Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art
• Pass by Central Parkway
• Pass through Over-the-Rhine neighborhood
• See Cincinnati Music Hall
• Ride by Washington Park
• Final tasting and tour at Findlay Market or alternative

The experience

The tour starts with a guide who knows Cincinnati inside and out, and the first stop lands you at The Banks: the mixed-use development along the Ohio River where the Bengals stadium and Great American Ball Park frame the riverfront. From there you walk past the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, the 1,057-foot span that held the title of world's longest when it opened in 1866, decades before the Brooklyn Bridge took the record. The guide points out the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and walks you through Fountain Square, the symbolic heart of downtown since 1871, where the fountain sits ringed by restaurants and bars.

The food tastings are woven through the sightseeing: a Belgian waffle, German goetta, Graeter's raspberry chocolate chip ice cream, a chili cheese dog, a French macaron or Market cookie, and one more surprise. You'll pass story-high murals painted by Cincinnati Artworks (over 230 of them across the city), and see the 49-story Carew Tower, an Art Deco landmark from 1931. The Aronoff Center, designed by César Pelli, and the Rosenthal Center, the first U.S. museum designed by a female architect, both appear on the route. Over-the-Rhine, the historic German neighborhood with 19th-century buildings and craft breweries, gets its own stretch, and you pass Music Hall, the 1878 performance venue that now hosts the Cincinnati Ballet and Symphony. The modern streetcar ride is built into the day, so you're not walking the entire 3 hours. The car carries you between neighborhoods.

The final tasting happens at Findlay Market, where the tour ends. On Mondays, when Findlay Market is closed, the goetta and waffle tastings move to The Taste of Belgium Bistro instead, so the food stops stay the same. Wear comfortable shoes because the walking adds up to between 45 and 60 minutes spread across the afternoon, and bring a water bottle. The guide hands out a food guide and streetcar map at the start, and gratuities for the guide are not included. You'll handle that at the end. Drinks like coffee, soda and tea are available to purchase along the way.

What’s included

• The tour includes a local guide leading the full 3 hours.
• a modern streetcar ride connecting the neighborhoods.
• 6 food tastings at local spots (Belgian waffle, goetta, Graeter's ice cream, chili cheese dog, French macaron or Market cookie, and a surprise).
• a food guide and streetcar map.
• and sightseeing through downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Findlay Market, and the riverfront. Gratuities for your guide are not included and should be arranged at the end.
• drinks like coffee, soda and tea are available to purchase.

Information

Lasts 3h–3h 20m, runs Monday to Friday at 10:00, from US$ 79 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 10:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Riverside Food Tours LLC

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and delivers commentary throughout, so you follow the history and stories without needing to read a map or app: good for anyone who wants to understand what they're looking at, not just pass through it. The 45-to-60 minutes of walking is spread across 3 hours with the streetcar doing some of the work, so it suits travelers who want to cover ground without a relentless pace.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What are the 6 food stops on the Cincinnati food tour?

The tour includes a Belgian waffle, German goetta, Graeter's raspberry chocolate chip ice cream, a chili cheese dog, a French macaron or Market cookie, and one surprise tasting. On Mondays when Findlay Market is closed, the waffle and goetta tastings happen at The Taste of Belgium Bistro instead of the market.

How much walking is involved in this Cincinnati tour?

The tour covers 45 to 60 minutes of walking spread across the 3-hour day. The modern streetcar ride connects neighborhoods, so you're not on foot the entire time. Comfortable shoes are essential, and the tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness.

Does the tour go to Findlay Market?

Yes, Findlay Market is the final stop where you have your last tasting and tour the market before returning to the starting point. The market is closed Mondays, so on those days the tour substitutes tastings at The Taste of Belgium Bistro and still covers all the sightseeing stops.

What sights does the Cincinnati tour include besides the food stops?

The tour covers Cincinnati's Top 10 must-see sights: The Banks riverfront development, the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Fountain Square, story-high murals by Cincinnati Artworks, Carew Tower, the Aronoff Center, the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, Over-the-Rhine's historic German neighborhood, Music Hall, and Washington Park. You also ride the modern streetcar as part of the experience.

Is the Cincinnati food tour wheelchair accessible?

The tour is motorized wheelchair accessible and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. However, the tour involves 45 to 60 minutes of walking and is not recommended for physically challenged walkers, so confirm your specific needs with the supplier after booking.