21c Museum Hotel Cincinnati is for travellers who want their hotel to be part of the trip. The 21c brand pairs boutique hotels with free contemporary art museums, and here that means rotating exhibitions of contemporary art in the public spaces, open to guests and visitors alike, with surprises in the corridors and lobby. The hotel fills a roughly hundred-year-old building that was once the Metropole hotel, on Walnut Street in the downtown arts district, next to the Contemporary Arts Center and across the street from the Aronoff Center for the Arts, so you can walk to a Broadway touring show or a gallery opening in minutes. There are 156 guest rooms, finished in a clean modern style with art on the walls. The restaurant, Metropole on Walnut, serves brunch, dinner and late-night plates built around seasonal, local ingredients, with drinks from local distilleries and vineyards, and it also handles in-room dining from breakfast to dinner.
Location and getting around: the hotel is in the middle of downtown, a few blocks from Fountain Square and an easy walk to the riverfront, The Banks and the stadiums. The free Connector streetcar runs close by, linking you with Over-the-Rhine, Washington Park, Music Hall and Findlay Market to the north and the Freedom Center to the south. Over-the-Rhine's restaurants are about fifteen minutes away on foot.
Rooms and who it suits: it suits couples, art lovers and theatregoers, and anyone who likes a hotel with personality and a busy bar scene. Families are welcome, but the vibe leans adult and design-led. Rooms facing Walnut Street are livelier on show nights, so ask for a higher floor if you are a light sleeper. The gallery spaces are worth exploring even if you are just passing through.
Good to know: valet parking is about forty-five dollars a night with in-and-out privileges, and a cheaper short-term valet rate covers a few hours. Pets are always welcome, for a one-time fee of one hundred and fifty dollars and a signed pet waiver at check-in. Check-in is at 4pm and check-out at 11am; checking out late costs half a night up to 4pm. Book Metropole ahead for weekend brunch and pre-theatre dinners.
Why stay here
- ✓Free contemporary art museum
- ✓156 design-led rooms
- ✓Metropole on Walnut restaurant
- ✓In-room dining
- ✓Across from the Aronoff Center
- ✓Valet parking
- ✓Pet friendly
- ✓Walk to the streetcar
Good questions
Is the art at 21c Museum Hotel open to the public?+
21c pairs each hotel with a free contemporary art museum in its public spaces. Check the hotel's museum page for current exhibitions and access.
How much is parking at 21c Cincinnati?+
Overnight valet is about forty-five dollars with in-and-out privileges. A short-term valet rate is available for a few hours.
Does 21c Cincinnati allow pets?+
Yes, pets are always welcome. There is a one-time pet fee of one hundred and fifty dollars and a waiver to sign at check-in.
