In the 1820s, Cincinnati was given the nickname of the “Queen of the West”, and it is easy to see why!
There is a lot that the city is known for, from the food (particularly the signature Cincinnati chili), the beer, the history, the architecture, having the very first professional baseball team- the Cincinnati Red Stockings established back in 1869- and the rolling hills to name a few.
It is no surprise that Cincinnati has plenty of visitors, and those visitors are all sure to be dead set on finding the best places to get their caffeine fix when visiting.
That is where we come in, as we are going to be running through fifteen of the most noteworthy coffee shops and cafés that you will find spread throughout Cincinnati. Let’s get started.
We are kicking off this list with this established, three in one coffeehouse, bar and restaurant wherein you will find a relaxing bohemian atmosphere to soak in whilst you sip on your tasty coffee.
There are tons of coffee options to be had at Sitwells, from lattes to mochas, espressos and more.
You will also find other drinks to enjoy at Sitwells too- such as ciders, beers, hard kombucha and wines- thanks to the bar section and tasty food from the restaurant.
This is a great choice if you are visiting Cincinnati with friends and family and want a place to grab a bite to eat alongside your coffee.
Deeper Roots had been around a fair amount of years before they established their own brick and mortar coffee store back in 2015.
This is a great neighborhood hangout joint, with a welcoming atmosphere that celebrates the local community.
The coffee is fantastic too, with special blends such as the Community Blend- combining caramel with chocolate in a syrupy body-, the Bloom blend- an aromatic mixture of almond, stone fruit and floral undertones-, and the Losantiville blend to name a few, which includes chocolate with dark fruit to create a smoky and sweet full-bodied flavor.
Lola’s is a self proclaimed “eclectic” coffee and bar in Cincinnati, and it is a title that is certainly deserved thanks to the huge range of coffees that are available.
The diversity is strongest when it comes to the seasonal coffee flavors that Lola’s serves, such as the Red Velvet Cake latte- featuring red velvet cake with hazelnut and oat milk-, the Bee Stinger Latte- with cayenne pepper and local, organic honey-, and the Banana Nut Bread, which includes butter pecan, spices, banana and butterscotch.
That’s just to name a few of the delicious and creative flavors to find at Lola’s
This casual gourmet coffee establishment that is all about creating a community driven space where you can enjoy a drink or meal with friends and family. Their food and coffee menu reflects this well, with a wide selection available.
In terms of their coffee selection, there is a lot to choose from, from lattes to cappuccinos, macchiatos, espressos and more.
College Hill also allows for a shot of their vast syrup flavor selections- with tasty flavors available such as vanilla, coconut, cinnamon, gingerbread and more- to be added to any drink.
Address: 6128 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45224
If you are all about enjoying a book whilst you sip on your cup of joe, then Iris Book Café is definitely a coffee establishment that you will want to visit whilst in Cincinnati.
As well as serving up the highest quality coffee, Iris also offers books to read whilst you chill. There is a huge selection of books to choose from, such as literature as well as books on art, philosophy, film and cooking to name a few.
A fun fact about Iris Book Café is that they have the largest collection of Polish books in Cincinnati!
Mad Llama not only has an amazing name for a coffee shop, it also has a stellar line-up of coffees as well as pastries, bagels and sandwiches!
This combination coffee bar, roastery and bakery prides itself on handcrafting all of their food and drink, making for plenty of freshness and deliciousness.
Whether you are there for the coffee, the food or both, Mad Llama is definitely the place to go for a wide choice of caffeine and pastries.
If you are bringing your canine companion with you to Cincinnati, then you will probably want to know which establishments are dog friendly.
Urbana Cafe is one of the best dog friendly choices in the city that not only serve up tasty treats and rich, flavorsome coffee, but also donates a significant amount of their portions to both global and local dog rescue and charities.
The café even sells treats specifically for dogs that you can find under their pastry menu!
Urbana Cafe is definitely the best place to go for dog lovers and their four legged friends visiting Cincinnati.
Coffee Emporium is something of a landmark in Cincinnati, as it is considered to be the longest running coffee shop not only in the city, but also in Ohio (Also check out the Best Coffee Shops & Cafés In Cleveland, Ohio) thanks to their fifty plus years of business.
As is to be expected with a coffee shop that has such a vast history, the coffee is incredibly delicious.
To taste some Ohio history, Coffee Emporium is the place to go.
A coffee house that also doubles as a jazz lounge, Caffe Vivace, is a must-visit if you want to enjoy some smooth tunes as you sip your coffee.
Visit Caffe Vivace in the evening to enjoy the jazz music alongside some flavorsome artisan coffee.
The coffee itself is only the finest, made from Carabello Coffee which is acquired via farm direct and direct relationships as well as Fair Trade practices.
Mom ‘n’ Em is another coffee house where you can grab yourself some alcohol too, should the mood take you.
This is a well known, high quality establishment that was once named as the fifth-best Coffee Shop in America!
If this kudos isn’t enough for you, try it out for yourself and you will see just how good they are, with a range of seasonal drinks, spirits, wines and artisan coffees available as well as tasty treats.
Sleepy Bee is a café that has a strong focus on health and wellbeing, which can be seen in their food as well as their drinks, all of which have a range of vegan options available.
As well as this, Sleepy Bee also emphasizes the importance of local art by proudly featuring work from local artists.
Address: 3098 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209-1723
The principles of Bloc Coffee Company revolve around fostering the local community via change and coffee. The interior is a little different from other coffee places, as they have long tables to encourage guests to sit together.
When it comes to their coffees, Bloc has a wide selection as well as a dinner menu that runs from Thursday to Saturday from 5pm to 8pm.
Address: 801 Mt Hope Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45204
Final Thoughts
After going through this list, it is definitely safe to place “heavenly coffee” on that aforementioned list of things that Cincinnati is well known for!
No matter what kind of coffee you are interested in, hopefully you will find the establishment that suits you best thanks to our diverse list of Cincinnati based cafés and coffee shops.
My name is Dana Dupree and I am an avid coffee lover. Since I began college and realized what a heavy load writing majors took on, I have been a fan of the bean juice.
My job has taken me all over the US on book tours and press conferences, and my favorite part about the trip is exploring the best places to grab my cup of Joe.
