Fountain District

Located in the heart of downtown Cincinnati and centered around the iconic Fountain Square, the Fountain District includes a variety of restaurants, bars and must-see attractions. Ready to plan your trip to Cincy? This Insider's Guide will help you learn the history of this district as well as places to visit and ways to get around.

The History of Fountain Square

Fountain Square, which is considered the epicenter of downtown Cincinnati, has served as a communal gathering space for quite some time. The Tyler Davidson Fountain, also known as The Genius of Water, was originally unveiled and dedicated “To the People of Cincinnati” in 1871. Located on a prominent city square nestled in between Vine/Walnut Streets and Fifth/Sixth Streets - Fountain Square played a huge role in revitalizing downtown in the early 2000s.

The 43-foot-tall, bronze-cast fountain was designed to look like the beautiful fountains found across Europe. It is made up of a nine-foot-tall woman, who is referred to as “The Lady” by locals, with human figures both big and small below and around her.

Fun fact: the four figures surrounding The Lady are working drinking fountains! Visitors of Fountain Square are still able to drink fresh water from them. Every year the Fountain is turned on during Major League Baseball’s Cincinnati Reds’ iconic Opening Day celebration, and runs through mid-November.

From live salsa music and dancing during the summer to a pop-up ice skating and bumper car rink in the winter, Fountain Square plays host to a variety of events throughout the year.

Getting Around the Fountain District

There are several ways to get around the Fountain District. 

• On Foot - get your steps in! The Fountain District is totally walkable, stretching just two blocks on each side from the Tyler Davidson Fountain.
• By rentable bike or electric bike. The Cincy Region’s Red Bike program is easy to use and can get you from place to place fast. 
• Metro: Hop on Metro Bus and get dropped off at any of the stops located all over downtown.
• The Connector: The streetcar is free for all, with 18 stops located throughout downtown Cincinnati.
• GEST Carts: Another free option to get around downtown Cincinnati! The only fee is tipping the driver. GEST carts can be called like any other rideshare.
• Scooter: Motorized and fast, Bird and Lime scooters can be found scattered around downtown. Download their apps ahead of time to check one out. 
• TANK: While this is the public transit option for Northern Kentucky, TANK has several stops in Cincy, including in Fountain Square. Pro tip: you can take TANK from Fountain Square all the way to CVG Airport for $1.50!

Eat & Drink in the Fountain District

Visitors can find an option that works for everyone in the Fountain District. 

• Baru: Gives Tokyo aesthetics in the heart of downtown Cincinnati and is a prime spot for cocktails and sushi.
• The Butcher and Barrel: Argentinian and Italian steakhouse with a menu focusing on fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
• The Davidson: An upscale spot located right on Fountain Square that serves a la carte style French, Italian and American dishes. 
• March First Brewing: This brewery and distillery has a long menu of delicious drinks on tap. From traditional light and dark brews to red cream soda and blood orange lemonade seltzers - you can get creative with what you're sipping on. 
• Nada: Modern Mexican food featuring tacos, margaritas, and killer outdoor seating. 
• Sotto: This iconic Cincy spot boasts an ambience as comforting as it's menu. The dining room is located below street level, in a beautiful setting that oozes vibes. The short rib capellacci and ricotta doughnuts are revered by locals for a reason!
• Urbana Café: A local favorite coffee shop; enjoy with some baked goods!
• Jeffy Ruby’s: THE steakhouse in Cincy. Whether you're looking for an extravegent meal to celebrate something special - or just want to treat yourself for no good reason - this is the spot to do it. A local fin(est) dining experienc

Things to do in the Fountain District

Everyone can find something to do in the Fountain District! Here are a few popular spots located in this area.

• Aronoff Center for the Arts: Home to several resident companies including Cincinnati’s Broadway.
• Contemporary Arts Center: Creatively presents exhibitions, performances and experiences that will change visitors’ view of the world.
• Five Iron Golf: Play for fun or work with a professional to improve golf skills by using golf simulating technology.
• Mercantile Library: A private library that holds over 85,000 books and hosts hundreds of events every year.
• Tokyo Kitty: Karaoke, anyone? Belt your favorite ballad in this trendy bar, or rent a private room for you and your close friends (WITH robot bar tender service!). 
• Cincinnati Public Library: The main branch of Cincinnati's public library is one of the most beloved institutions in the city. This newly renovated and sprawling facility has multiple floors of media, as well as historic exhibits of Cincinnati and special craft stations. It's worth checking out!