College Hill - Cincinnati, OH Area Guide

Originally the wealthy Pleasant Hill suburb, College Hill was renamed in the mid-19th century when two local colleges — Farmer’s College and the Ohio Female College — were established. College Hill was incorporated as a village in 1866, after the introduction of a railroad line and horsecar service. Eventually, Ohio Female College ceased operation and Farmer’s College became the core of the Ohio Military Institute. In the early 1900s, the city of Cincinnati purchased the village and continued to develop the area.

College Hill residents often drive into Downtown Cincinnati to visit museums, art galleries and performing theaters because College Hill’s arts scene remains virtually nonexistent. The neighborhood does host several annual events, including an old-fashioned baseball game and fireworks held at Heitzler Field that kicks off baseball season.

College Hill’s restaurant options are just as diverse as its residents. Residents enjoy everything from fast food and chicken wings to Indian, Chinese and Mexican cuisine. While there isn’t one central restaurant location, most of the neighborhood’s restaurants sit along West Galbraith Road and State Route 127.

For top-notch Indian food, visit Swad on West Galbraith Road. The restaurant features a lunch buffet that includes salty fried pakora, creamy saag and spiced cauliflower. Swad’s extensive menu includes a wide range of vegetarian options, and approximately half of the buffet has vegetarian dishes. Locals recommend the naan with mint and chutney, the chicken tikka masala and any of the restaurant’s lamb dishes.

Located on Hamilton Avenue, Red Rose serves some of the best pizza in Cincinnati, according to the locals. Customers rave about the goat BLT pizza, which includes a white olive oil and garlic-based sauce and a blend of white cheese and comes topped with spinach, bacon, onion, tomato and crumbled goat cheese. The popular restaurant also serves a variety of salads, sandwiches, calzones and desserts.

For a great burger, visit BaCalls Café on Hamilton Avenue. The café serves several specialty burgers, including the BBQ Bacon Cheddar burger, the Black-n-Bleu burger, which comes topped with crumbled Bleu cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion, and the Cali burger, which features cheddar cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, onion and sun-dried tomato mayonnaise. Locals also recommend BaCall’s selection of gyros and the spinach dip.

College Hill’s lively nightlife consists of a mixture of music venues, dance clubs, pubs and sports bars, most of which sit along State Route 127. Locals dance the night away at Shakers Entertainment Complex on Hamilton Avenue, and visit Marty’s Hops and Vines, Good Brothas Bar & Grill or the Rustic Tavern for a cold beer and a laid-back atmosphere.

It isn’t easy for College Hill residents to complete daily errands on foot, and the neighborhood doesn’t have many designated bike lanes, so driving remains the most popular mode of transportation. State Route 127 runs directly through College Hill, connecting the residents to interstates 74 and 75 and State Route 126. Local businesses feature free parking, but the area gets crowded during the day so it isn’t always easy to find a spot.

You can’t hail a cab in College Hill, but you can call a taxi service or use your Uber app to schedule a ride. The majority of those who don’t drive, navigate the city via public bus. The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority’s buses service the entire Cincinnati area, including its suburbs, and Newport, Kentucky.

Even though College Hill isn’t a huge neighborhood, it houses five medium-to-large free public parks ideal for families with children, people with pets and exercise enthusiasts. McEvoy Park on Daly Road features picnic tables, a playground, athletic fields and a large sheltered picnic area, and the College Hill Recreation Center on Belmont Avenue features a playground, picnic shelter and tennis courts, as well as an indoor walking track and fitness facility. Hikers have three park options: LaBoiteaux Woods on Lanius Lane, Bradford-Felter Tanglewood at the corner of Kirby and Glenview and Fox Preserve on McCray Court. None of the neighborhood parks host annual events. However, LaBoiteaux Woods features a small nature library and hosts several enlightening nature programs. Dogs are welcome at all College Hill parks, but they must remain on their leashes.

The cost of living in College Hill remains on par with Cincinnati’s average cost of living. Residents expect to pay around $490 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, between $4 and $6 for a beer and $1.75 for bus fare within Cincinnati city limits — bus fare ranges between $2.65 and $4.25 one way in Cincinnati’s suburbs and Newport, Kentucky. Typically, gas prices hover approximately 9 percent lower than the national average.

Stores dot the College Hill neighborhood, most of which sit along State Route 127. You won’t find upscale shops, but residents have plenty of locally owned and discount store options.

Living Words Pottery specializes in handmade stoneware items, including dishes, pet bowls and vases. Customers frequent the shop to find household items or unique gifts. Avid knitters love the variety of yarn that Silk Road Textiles on Hamilton Avenue carries. The store also carries a wide selection of fine fabrics and gifts.

City Gear on State Route 127 specializes in casual men's clothing. The store sells everything from jeans and shirts to hats and tennis shoes. Sonshine House on Llanfair Avenue sells a wide selection of children's clothes, and D.S. Fashions on Hamilton Avenue sells clothes for both men and women.

College Hill residents complete large shopping trips at Kroger, Save-A-Lot or Northblend Supermarket, but the area also houses an EZ Market and United Dairy Farmers, both of which carry the basics. The closest farmers market, Northside Farmers Market, sits on Hamilton Avenue just south of College Hill. The year-round market opens every Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.