What it is

A 156-room ode to artful living has it all: a rooftop cocktail bar, award-winning restaurant, spa and even an 8,000-square-foot museum.

What it isn't

Just for humans. Pets up to 50 pounds are more than welcome here for a $75 cleaning fee; staffers will even point you to the city’s most pawfect sights.

What we think

Cincinnati has always been an under-the-radar capital of cool, thanks to a buzzing gallery scene, the Zaha Hadid-designed Contemporary Arts Center, and a plethora of jaw-dropping urban murals. So it’s no surprise 21c’s stunner is a Cincy destination all on its own: after all, it has a veritable contemporary art museum tucked everywhere from its elevators to its sidewalks (you don’t want to miss walking through the solarium at night to see Coepnhagen-based artist Astrid Krogh’s Lightmail, a glowing fiber optic piece that feels a bit like Aurora Borealis). Guest rooms within the century old former Metropole Hotel were designed by Deborah Berke Partners to be just as artful, with their custom sculptural furniture, Cincinnati-made tiles and art pieces by Kentucky artist Laura Lee Brown. But what we love most is that they’re equally comfy, with sumptuous bed linens and Malin + Goetz toiletries. Want an ultra homey experience? Go for the Two Bedroom Corner Suite, which has an 1,100-square-foot floor plan and a separate living and dining space.

You're here because

When you’re on vacay, you love nothing more than having rooftop cocktails within a quick elevator ride of your guest room. The terrace menu here includes a boozy slushy in ginger beer called the “Ed Sheeran” and the Kiki cocktail (hibiscus simple syrup, bubbly and lemon).

The Moment

You’ve been desperate for a day of all-out pampering, and the three-room spa here is all you need. Today, you’re going to live your very best life with a Himalayan salt stone massage and oxygen facial that promises to leave you glowing. Bliss.

Restaurants & Bars

Metropole- New American cuisine

Cocktail Terrace- Summertime inspired cocktails

Location

The heart of downtown Cincinnati, within a 7 minute drive of the Cincinnati Art Museum—built in 1881 and among the earliest art museums in the country. The collection includes works by Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and more.