A Visitor’s Guide to Mt. Adams, Cincinnati, OH

Having lived in Cincinnati, I spent many weekends in Mt. Adams, enjoying its old-world charm and fabulous restaurants. Steep winding roads lead to a hillside neighborhood that towers over the city’s downtown district. With parks providing spectacular views, Mt. Adams is also a perfect getaway for locals who want to experience a location that seems more like a European village than a suburb of the Queen City.

I began this trip with a visit to Rookwood Bar and Restaurant which is located at 1077 Celestial Street. First established in 1892 as the location for the production of world-renowned pottery, a visit to Rookwood is one that will not soon be forgotten. Eat on the outdoor patio or request to dine inside of the kiln for a unique experience. I love the views from here and the food is spectacular.

UPDATE: Rookwood Restaurant now closed!

Across the street at 1071 Celestial is the upscale restaurant, The Celestial. This four-star restaurant requires a dress code, but the food is exceptional as well as the views of downtown Cincinnati. This piece of land was once part of Mt. Adams’ “entertainment district” where an amusement center and beer garden stood until they were destroyed by a fire in 1895.

UPDATE: The Celestial Restaurant has closed after 50 years.

I followed Celestial Street until it met Hill Street. Next to the Mt. Adams steps is a beautiful park. Quite often I would pass by runners and joggers along this path which opens up to phenomenal views of Kentucky and the Ohio River. This area was once owned by Nicholas Longworth who planted his vineyards along this hill. Soon thereafter, immigrants from Ireland and Germany took residence here. It was in this part of southwest Ohio that Longworth developed the Catawba grape which would be used to produce “America’s first champagne” known as Golden Wedding.

One of my favorite places to hang out with friends on the weekends was Mt. Adams Bar and Grill, located at 938 Hatch Street. This place has some great history and I love the fact that the backbar came from a speakeasy owned by “The King of Bootlegging”, George Remus. Remus was a Cincinnati criminal attorney that became famous for defending murderers, but was most known for making and distributing alcohol during the Prohibition. It is said that he was the inspiration for the famous character of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book, The Great Gatsby.

A small entrance leads to The Blind Lemon next door to Mt. Adams Bar and Grill and could easily be missed. Another hidden gem with lots of history, this amazing bar is the perfect place to enjoy the summertime garden patio or wintertime bonfires.

Most bars and restaurants on Mt. Adams are within walking distance, so finding a great streetside parking spot is essential. Since spaces fill up quickly, there is also the three-level parking garage on St. Gregory.

It was not unusual for us to start our night at Mt. Adams Bar and Grill for dinner, stop at The Blind Lemon for a couple of drinks and end the night at Yesterday’s Old Time Saloon where the drinks were strong and the prices were cheap.

A short walk from the Holy Cross Church is The Monastery that was once the location of the Cincinnati Observatory. Dedicated by President John Quincy Adams in 1843, the telescope was considered the most powerful scope of its time. Today the Monastery houses the property management firm of Towne Properties, while the Observatory has long been moved to the Mount Lookout neighborhood.

From the Monastery, I traveled down Pavilion to the next corner where I stopped for a Cafe Mocha at The Bow Tie Café. I took a seat at the Piazza where I took some time to enjoy the view, catch up on some of my notes and look over a few of my photos.

I sat under the shade of the monk statue who stood with grapes in his right hand and a cup of wine in his left. What a perfect representation of historical Mt. Adams when it was once a successful vineyard.

I continued my walk heading east on Pavilion where I reached Guido Street. Making a right, the street dead ends into The Holy Cross Immaculata Church. Built in 1859 for mid-19th century German immigrants, Mass continues to this day with one service on Saturday and two on Sundays.

Since the 1860’s, the Mount Adams steps leading up to the Holy Cross Immaculata have a great significance to Christians during the Good Friday holiday. The tradition is similar to the Santa Scala in Rome where believers start at the bottom and recite the rosary while advancing up each of the 85 stairs until reaching the top. Beginning at midnight on Holy Thursday until midnight on Good Friday, the ritual begins at the “Good-Friday Arch” on Adams Crossing, across Columbia Parkway.

Backtracking towards St. Gregory on Pavilion, I passed another popular spot on Mt. Adams, known as Crowley’s. Located at 958 Pavilion, Crowley’s is Mt. Adams’ oldest Irish Pub. Irish immigrants made Crowley’s their meeting place when it first opened and it has remained in the Crowley family for decades.

Mount Adam’s Pavilion has been a favorite bar on Mt. Adam’s for as long as I can remember. With a packed schedule of live entertainment, this location is also perfect for enjoying fabulous views of the river.

Along St. Gregory’s are several bars and restaurants to include:

Quincy’s, located at 111 St Gregory, Mt. Adams

Longworth’s at 1108 St. Gregory Street, Mount Adams

UPDATE: Longworth’s is now permanently closed.

Monk’s Cove, at 1104 St. Gregory, Mt. Adams

Tavern on the Hill, found at 1111 St. Gregory, Mt. Adams

Mt. Adams remains an artistic community and location for some of the best museums in Cincinnati. I have visited both the Cincinnati Art Museum and Krohn Conservatory. The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park is a two-time Tony Award winning theater which sponsors a wide variety of productions. For a period of meditation, visit Eden Park with its gardens, fountains and spectacular scenic views of the Ohio River, downtown Cincinnati and Kentucky.

I imagine Mt. Adams as it would have been when the German and Irish immigrants first lived here or when it was a community of artists, who enjoyed the quiet solitude away from the city.

I love this neighborhood’s strong history and its European charm where one can easily walk from one side of town to the next. So many things have changed over the years but one thing remains constant. Mount Adams is one of my favorite places to visit in Cincinnati.

Have you spent time in Mt. Adams or have a favorite Cincinnati neighborhood that I should visit? I would love to hear your recommendations if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for visiting Mt. Adams with me through my blog post and Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Monastery
1055 Saint Paul Place
Cincinnati, OH 45202

The Holy Cross Immaculata Church
30 Guido Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 721 6544r

Where to Eat:

Mt. Adams Bar & Grill
938 Hatch Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 621 3666

The Bow Tie Cafe
1101 St. Gregory Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 621 2233

Where to Drink:

The Blind Lemon
936 Hatch Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 241 3885

Yesterday’s Old Time Saloon – permanently closed
930 Hatch Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 421 9998

Crowley’s Bar
958 Pavillion
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 721 7709

Mount Adams Pavilion – permanently closed
949 Pavilion Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 744 9200

Quincy’s – permanently closed
1101 St. Gregory Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 381 3132

Monk’s Cove
1104 St. Gregory
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 703 7600

Tavern on the Hill – permanently closed
1111 St. Gregory St, #1
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 421 3309

Where to Stay:

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Cincinnati Midtown
610 Eden Park Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Telephone: 513 381 8300

Mt. Adams is located on the east side of Cincinnati and can be accessed by taking Columbia Parkway. For more information about this fabulous hillside location, pick up a Mt. Adams map by the parking garage or visit their website at www.mtadamstonight.com.