With warmer weather comes picnic season, and Cincinnati has an abundance of outstanding parks. Below are several ideas to support some of our amazing local parks and park systems while also supporting great local restaurants.
Each idea gives the distance from restaurant to park as well as park amenities, location and hours, and recommendations from each restaurant. When applicable, there is also a direct link to order online.
If you are interested in an idea closer to where you live or to cater to your palate, all you have to do is ask!
[Scroll to the bottom for a quick picnic packing list, with items I personally recommend.]
Sharon Woods + The Root Beer Stand
Distance: 1.1 miles (4 minutes driving)
Sharon Woods (Sharonville)
Great Parks of Hamilton County
11450 Lebanon Road
Sharonville, Ohio 45241
730 acres
Great Parks’ oldest park. Recreation includes fishing, boating, golfing, and hiking. There is also a 2.6-mile paved multi-purpose trail around the lake, a 1.0-mile fitness trail, and the 0.7-mile Gorge nature trail.
Note: The Boathouse and Lakeside Lodge will remain closed during the Sharon Lake Improvement/Dredging Project through 2025.
Reminder: All Great Parks sites require a Motor Vehicle Permit for admission. For Hamilton County residents, cost is $5 daily or $10 annual. ($8 daily/$16 annual for others.)
The Root Beer Stand (Sharonville)
11566 Reading Road
Sharonville, Ohio 45241
Open daily 11a–8p
Online ordering
Open seasonally, March through October, RBS offers a menu of footlong cheese coneys, cheeseburgers and sandwiches, ice cream, chips and side, and homemade root beer (floats) from their walk-up window.
Recommendations: A single cheeseburger (just $3) and a root beer float ($3.75). They now serve fries ($3), too!
Tip: The Root Beer Stand has a playground and picnic tables onsite, if you should ever choose to eat there.
Vegetarian Option:
Brij Mohan
11259 Reading Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45241
Alms Park + Taglio
Distance: 1.1 miles (4 minutes driving)
Alms Park (Mt. Lookout/Columbia Tusculum)
Cincinnati Parks
710 Tusclum Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
94 acres
Features include the Alms Park Pavilion (reservable), hiking trails, paved walkways, playground, and stone slide. Enjoy river views and vistas of Lunken Airport, Northern Kentucky.
Bonus: You can watch airplanes take off and land at Lunken Airport.
Taglio (Columbia Tusculum, pizza)
3531 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
Sun–Thurs: 11a–9p
Fri and Sat: 11a–11p
Order online
Appetizers, salads, and pizza, which are perfect for picnic fare. Their pizzas are available in New York and Detroit style.
Recommendations: Detroit-style Pepperoni + Hot Honey pizza with a side of their housemade ranch. I’m not lying when I say this is one of the best pizzas around.
Note: Delivery is available.
Ault Park + Carl’s Deli
Distance: 1.9 miles (6 minutes driving)
Ault Park (Mt. Lookout)
Cincinnati Parks
5090 Observatory Circle
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208
224 acres
Features include Cherry Blossom Grove in spring, flower gardens, butterfly garden, picnic facilities, nature trails, children’s play areas, and lookout points to view the Ohio River. Ault Park Pavilion is reservable for events.
Carl’s Deli (Hyde Park, deli/American)
2836 Observatory Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45208
Mon–Sun: 10a–8p
Order online
With an extensive menu, Carl’s Deli offers something for absolutely everyone, including dozens of sandwich options, salads, quiches, lasagnas, pastas, soups, and sweets—all made with fresh ingredients.
Recommendations: I change it up every time I go depending on my mood. I usually end up building my own sandwich.
Westwood Town Hall + Business District Fare
Distance: in the same neighborhood block
Town Hall Park (Westwood)
Cincinnati Parks and CRC
3019 Harrison Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211
Ran jointly with Cincinnati Parks and Cincinnati Recreation Commission, Town Hall featuring events like Second Saturdays, art exhibits, live music at the amphitheater, and other community events. Amenities include a playground, lawn, dog park, and recreation center.
Catch-A-Fire Pizza (Westwood, pizza)
3044 Harrison Avenue (West Side Brewing)
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211
Sun–Thurs: 12–10p
Fri: 12–11p
Sat: 11a–11p
Order online
Snacks, apps, wood-fired pizza, sandwiches, and cookies for dessert.
Recommendations: Knotty Bread, Smile BBQ, and a build-your-own wood-fired pizza with ranch on the side.
Bonus: Their Cincy Snack mix is a great item to snack on while having a beer!
Nation Kitchen & Bar (Westwood, American/burgers)
3435 Epworth Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211
Mon–Thurs: 11am-9pm
Fri: 11a–10p
Sat: 10a–10p
Sun: 10a–8p
Order online
Starters, salads, burgers (black bean patties available for substation), sandwiches, [loaded] tots and fries, sweets, beer and cocktails. Brunch available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10a to 2p.
Recommendations: Depending on my mood, I will get some combination of a chopped wedge salad, Temperance burger, or cheesesteak. While most people prefer their tots (which are great!), I absolutely love their fresh-cut fries and get them every time I go.
Don’t skip: Ranch dressing or honey mustard. They’re both great.
Tip: When applicable, be sure to ask for utensils, plates, and napkins from where you order your food.
Fable Cafe (Westwood, coffee)
3117 Harrison Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45211
Mon–Fri: 7a–3p
Sat and Sun: 8a–3p
If you’re more in the mood for caffeination and a small bite to eat, Fable has a full lineup of excellent coffee, tea, and decaf beverages, as well as pastries (all locally sourced or made in house), [vegan] donuts by Kes’s Donuts on the weekends, and breakfast sammies available at all times.
Recommendations: Seasonal drink depending on what house-made syrups they’re currently serving. Their matcha is excellent and I get a [hot] matcha with honey and oat milk.
Washington Park + Findlay Market
Distance: 0.4 miles (8 minutes walking or 5 minutes by fare-free streetcar)
Washington Park (OTR)
Cincinnati Parks
1230 Elm Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
6 acres
Features and amenities include The Porch (concessions with Coca-Cola products, beer, wine, seltzers, and liquor), playground, interactive water park, dog park, bandstand, and lawn spaces. Operated by the Cincinnati Park Board and 3CDC, with a full lineup of daily events.
Kanji OTR (Korean, sushi)
1739 Elm Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Tues–Sat: 11a–10p
Recommendations: Half-price sushi and, if the occasion allows, Galbi (Korean BBQ).
OTR Bagel Bar (breakfast, lunch)
107 W Elder Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Sun–Tues: 7:30a–3p
Mon: 8a–1p
Online ordering
Recommendation: Fresh herb cream cheese on an onion bagel. They have a lot of inventive bagel options to try, too!
Pho Lang Thang (Vietnamese)
1828 Race Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Tues–Sat: 11a–10p
Sun: 11a–9p
Online ordering
Recommendations: Goi Cuon Chay – Tofu (vegan summer rolls) with peanut hoisin sauce, Bun, and Beef Banh Mi during lunch. Some days I just really love noodle soup (small Pho Ga with no meat).
Friendship/Sawyer Point Park + Eli’s BBQ
Distance: 3.3 miles (6 minutes driving)
International Friendship Park (East End)
Cincinnati Parks
1135 Riverside Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
This riverside park connects with Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove (and Smale Riverfront Park) along the Ohio River Trail.
Amenities at Friendship Park include award-winning displays of sculpture and flora representing the five continents, riverside bike trail, and walking paths, while Sawyer Point & Yeatman’s Cove enjoy multiple events, beautiful landscapes, playgrounds, public art, walking paths, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and volleyball courts.
Tip: Parking is free at Friendship Park
Eli’s BBQ (East End, BBQ)
3313 Riverside Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
Open daily, 11a–9p
Online ordering
Recommendation: Two All Beef Dogs: Two smoked all-beef franks, flash fried and bunned with sauce, coleslaw, and pork crispins.
Winton Woods + Big Jay’s Place
Distance: 2.7 miles (6 minutes driving)
Winton Woods (Springfield Twp)
Great Parks of Hamilton County
10245 Winton Road
Cincinnati, Ohio 45231
2,555 acres
Amenities include concessions, playgrounds, Parky’s Ark wet playground, horseback riding, golfing, camping, 18-hole disc golf course, 2.6 miles of paved trails, 1.1-mile fitness trail, nature trails, basketball courts, Parky’s Farm, and harbor with boats, bikes, and fishing gear.
Big Jay’s Place (Finneytown, Caribbean soul food)
930 Hempstead Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45231
Sun: 12–5p
Mon: By Appointment
Tues–Fri: 12–6p
Call 513-493-4010 to order
Recommendation: Rasta Pasta and Soul Food Plate
Or you can pack your lunch and make a trip to any of our incredible local parks, including Cincinnati Nature Center, Devou Park, Eden Park, Glenwood Gardens, Miami Whitewater Forest, Mt. Echo, Summit Park, and Tower Park.
Want to make it an extra special occasion? Check out Sunday Afternoon Picnics, a pop-up picnic company providing curated picnic packages for birthdays, anniversaries, date nights, or just because.
Again, if you are ever looking for a custom recommendation, just ask!
Picnic Packing List:
Picnic blanket
Reusable water bottles
Clean, environmentally friendly, mineral-based sunscreen (for adults, babies, and kids)
Travel Utensil Set
Optional: Evenflo Pivot Xplore Stroller Wagon, used for transporting small children and picnic items
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