9 Best Hotels in Cincinnati, Ohio

A historic downtown landmark apartment building returned to its roots with the late-2012 opening of this, the country's second 21c Museum Hotel, a hotel dedicated to engaging the public with contemporary art and cultural programs. Built in 1912 and designed by the noted firm Joseph G. Steinkamp & Brother, whose other Cincinnati works included the Art Deco American Building, the former luxurious Metropole Hotel was a city mainstay famous for its two-story curved staircase and ornate ballroom. In 1971, however, the structure was converted into low-income residential units, then proceeded to languish unattended—until earning a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. Following years of renovations, the place has reemerged as the 21c. Now, along with revitalized original elements like the mosaic tiled elevator floors and that signature staircase, you'll find 8,000 square-feet of gallery and installation space showcasing the work of living artists (the rotating exhibits are open to the public for free, 24-hours a day; calendars are available online). Rooms all feature modern design, original artwork, and amenities like Nespresso machines, iPod docks, Malin + Goetz products, and free Wi-Fi. The three-room, on-site spa offers signature ReVive facials and a whirlpool in the couple's suite, while Chef Michael Paley's Metropole restaurant—a local favorite—takes things back to the hearth with a focus on local and sustainable ingredients cooked in a custom-built, wood-burning fireplace. Craft beers, bourbon, and more are served there and on the seasonal Cocktail Terrace, backed by panoramic views of the surrounding Backstage District.

One of the largest hotels in Cincinnati, this Downtown landmark has an atrium lobby with glass walls and ceiling, contemporary rooms in soft pastel colors, and first-rate service. It's connected by a skywalk to Saks Fifth Avenue and the Tower Place shopping center.

The Old English Tudor–style building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1926 as part of the planned suburban village of Mariemont. (Everything—even the cash machine—is in the Tudor style.) The inn is on the tree-shaded village square, near shops and boutiques and across the street from the arthouse Mariemont Theatre. Some rooms have hand-carved oak headboards and tapestries. Mariemont is on the eastern edge of the city, a 20-minute drive along Columbia Parkway (and the Ohio River) from Downtown.

A sedate 1882 French Second Empire–style hotel, the Cincinnatian offers contemporary elegance along with gracious personal service. The marble-and-walnut staircase is original, and ornate furniture and fine linens fill the spacious rooms. You can have afternoon tea or dine in the Palace Restaurant. It's not the largest hotel in Cincinnati, but it is the best.

Downtown's grand art deco hotel is in the Carew Tower. The two-story lobby has bas-relief sculptures and dramatic fountains and light fixtures; guest rooms have 10-foot ceilings and soft pastel colors but tend to vary in size and configuration, with some rooms noticeably smaller and less grandly appointed. Ask about your room setup when you book. The formal Grille at the Palm Court restaurant serves buffet lunches and fine American cuisine.

Just off I–75 in Sharonville near the Sharonville Convention Center, the renovated La Quinta (it was previously an all-suites hotel) has spacious rooms and all-new furnishings. The hotel is convenient to Tri-County Mall and the Springdale area around I–275, 2 mi away, and halfway between downtown Cincinnati and Paramount's Kings Island, each about 16 mi away.

Good lodging can be limited around the University of Cincinnati. Many visitors end up staying in a bed and breakfast near this urban campus or in a Downtown hotel, but the Marriott Kingsgate is an excellent alternative. It's on the UC hospital campus, a few blocks from the Cincinnati Zoo, and five minutes from downtown Cincinnati. Rooms are clean, and the beds especially plush. The campus area can be congested and does not have ready Interstate access. If you plan on a lot of back-and-forth travel outside the Downtown/UC area, consider staying in another neighborhood.

A restored 1878 Victorian mansion near the University of Cincinnati is now a B&B. Parker House has a music parlor, antique furnishings, reproduction wall coverings, and murals of Beethoven and Mozart hand-painted on the ceiling. Guests can use the kitchen.

In the heart of Cincinnati's hotel district, the Westin overlooks the city's most popular landmark, the Tyler Davidson Fountain on Fountain Square. The building, designed in the classic Renaissance style, was once the Albee Theater. Shoppers will appreciate that it's just a short stroll away from Tower Place mall at Carew Tower, while the business class will look to the on-site, 24-hour FedEx Kinkos. The hotel is smoke-free.