Black Meetings & Tourism - CINCY WELCOMES NEW DINING + ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS ALONGSIDE $800M CONVENTION DISTRICT TRANSFORMATION

Industry Briefs
CINCY WELCOMES NEW DINING + ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS ALONGSIDE $800M CONVENTION DISTRICT TRANSFORMATION
PHOTO 1 Meetings in Cincy are heating up with new and award-winning dining options to accompany the $800 million transformation of the city’s Convention District. The reimagined Convention Center, brand-new Marriott Headquarters Hotel and lively Elm Street Plaza will soon anchor a district designed to inspire connection and creativity. Cincinnati is known for its myriad of diverse dining options, with two exciting new restaurants and fresh entertainment options adding even more depth to Cincy’s award-winning culinary and cultural scenes. What to Expect from Cincy’s Newest Restaurants The new Salazar, opening in late November, will bring farm-inspired New American cuisine to the heart of the Convention District. Led by renowned chef and James Beard finalist José Salazar, the 200-seat restaurant sits just across from the Convention Center, offering a convenient spot for group lunches or post-meeting dinners. Flight Club , a British-style pub and darts hall, will open its downtown Cincinnati location later this year. Guests can enjoy darts in private or semi-private areas accommodating up to 270 people, providing a fun and lively way for groups to unwind after a busy day at the nearby Convention Center. The venue pairs craft cocktails with a menu of brunch, small plates, and shareable favorites like sliders, tacos, and flatbreads, all within an upscale entertainment setting. PHOTO #2 Where to Enjoy Existing Favorites in the Queen City Cincinnati is home to a host of beloved dining experiences that are group-friendly. Downtown, Five Iron Golf offers a fun way to unwind after a day of conferences, with multisport simulator games, pool tables, shuffleboard, ringo, and foosball in a full-service sports bar setting. Other uniquely Cincy favorites include Montgomery Inn for BBQ with riverside views, the diverse offerings at Findlay Market , and Moerlein Lager House for local craft brews and classic dishes served with skyline views in charming 19th century beer gardens. Recently named one of Bon Appétit’s “2025’s 20 Best New Restaurants in America” and featured on The New York Times’ Best 50 Restaurants in America list, Wildweed celebrates the region in its most delicious light. The restaurant is led by James Beard Award finalist Chef David Jackman, honored in 2025 for Best Chef: Great Lakes, and offers private dining options for groups. PHOTO #3 Beyond the dining scene, Cincy’s entertainment districts offer walkable fun at every turn to spoil convention attendees. Art lovers can visit the Contemporary Arts Centeror Taft Museum of Art to take in stunning masterpieces. For fresh air, Washington Parkis perfect for live music or a relaxing break in nature. History buffs can dive into the city’s past with American Legacy Tours, explore powerful stories at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, or celebrate music legends at the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame. With nearly three months to go before the milestone debut of Cincy’s newly reimagined Convention Center, the city is bursting with fresh energy and bold new offerings, redefining the future of meetings while setting the stage for a new era of events.

Industry Briefs

CINCY WELCOMES NEW DINING + ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS ALONGSIDE $800M CONVENTION DISTRICT TRANSFORMATION

PHOTO 1

Meetings in Cincy are heating up with new and award-winning dining options to accompany the $800 million transformation of the city’s Convention District. The reimagined Convention Center, brand-new Marriott Headquarters Hotel and lively Elm Street Plaza will soon anchor a district designed to inspire connection and creativity. Cincinnati is known for its myriad of diverse dining options, with two exciting new restaurants and fresh entertainment options adding even more depth to Cincy’s award-winning culinary and cultural scenes.

What to Expect from Cincy’s Newest Restaurants

The new Salazar, opening in late November, will bring farm-inspired New American cuisine to the heart of the Convention District. Led by renowned chef and James Beard finalist José Salazar, the 200-seat restaurant sits just across from the Convention Center, offering a convenient spot for group lunches or post-meeting dinners.

Flight Club , a British-style pub and darts hall, will open its downtown Cincinnati location later this year. Guests can enjoy darts in private or semi-private areas accommodating up to 270 people, providing a fun and lively way for groups to unwind after a busy day at the nearby Convention Center. The venue pairs craft cocktails with a menu of brunch, small plates, and shareable favorites like sliders, tacos, and flatbreads, all within an upscale entertainment setting.

PHOTO #2

Where to Enjoy Existing Favorites in the Queen City

Cincinnati is home to a host of beloved dining experiences that are group-friendly. Downtown, Five Iron Golf offers a fun way to unwind after a day of conferences, with multisport simulator games, pool tables, shuffleboard, ringo, and foosball in a full-service sports bar setting. Other uniquely Cincy favorites include Montgomery Inn for BBQ with riverside views, the diverse offerings at Findlay Market , and Moerlein Lager House for local craft brews and classic dishes served with skyline views in charming 19th century beer gardens. Recently named one of Bon Appétit’s “2025’s 20 Best New Restaurants in America” and featured on The New York Times’ Best 50 Restaurants in America list, Wildweed celebrates the region in its most delicious light. The restaurant is led by James Beard Award finalist Chef David Jackman, honored in 2025 for Best Chef: Great Lakes, and offers private dining options for groups.

PHOTO #3

Beyond the dining scene, Cincy’s entertainment districts offer walkable fun at every turn to spoil convention attendees. Art lovers can visit the Contemporary Arts Centeror Taft Museum of Art to take in stunning masterpieces. For fresh air, Washington Parkis perfect for live music or a relaxing break in nature. History buffs can dive into the city’s past with American Legacy Tours, explore powerful stories at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, or celebrate music legends at the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.

With nearly three months to go before the milestone debut of Cincy’s newly reimagined Convention Center, the city is bursting with fresh energy and bold new offerings, redefining the future of meetings while setting the stage for a new era of events.