Affordable fun with Cincinnati activities under $10
In Cincinnati, residents and visitors don’t need to break the bank to have a ball. With just $10, grab a drink, get a meal, see a play, visit a museum, and more! Make memories in the city without a high cost. Use this guide to find cheap things to do in Cincinnati.
Grab a latte and pastry at Black-owned coffee shops
Black Coffee Lounge
822 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (Downtown)
Price: $2.50 – $8.75
Days Offered: Tuesday – Sunday
Enjoy a specialty coffee shop inspired by hip-hop and community. Stop by Cincinnati’s #1 coffee shop for the culture. Enjoy a diverse menu of espresso, home-brewed coffees, like the ‘Wakanda’ blend, cold-pressed juices, and light bites, including vegan options.
Cream + Sugar Coffee House
3546 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45207 (Evanston)
Price: $3 – $12
Days Offered: Monday – Saturday
This local coffee shop in Evanston creates the perfect atmosphere for business meetings, catching up with friends and family, and refueling for the day. The cafe menu offers various options, including gourmet coffee, espresso shots, hot tea, fruit smoothies, and more. Order a delicious item made from locally sourced ingredients and take in the eclectic vibe of the shop.
Visit a museum to experience Black art
The Cincinnati Art Museum
953 Eden Park Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (Eden Park)
Price: Free
Days Offered: Tuesday – Sunday
All visitors receive free admission to the museum, except for specific ticketed exhibitions. Experience new exhibitions and permanent installations like Kehinde Wiley’s The Two Sisters. Also, visit the cafe- many items, like salads, are under $10.
Sundays and Mondays at the Taft Museum of Art
316 Pike St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (Downtown)
Price: Free
Days Offered: Sundays and Mondays
The museum offers galleries, including American master paintings, Chinese porcelains, and European decorative arts. Make sure to visit the historic Duncanson murals, painted by the famous African American landscape artist. Also, visit the cafe- many items, like sandwiches, are under $10.
Get moving and do an activity
OTR CRC Indoor Roller Rink
1715 Republic St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (OTR)
Price: Free with CRC membership; $5 for non-members
Days Offered: Monday – Friday
Enjoy indoor adult skating on weekdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission includes a skate rental. Check Instagram for special events with Downtown Skate Cincy, such as guest DJs, live music, and unique themes.
Bowling at Western Bowl
6383 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211 (Western Hills)
Price: $2.22/game
Days Offered: Tuesdays
Western Bowl offers bowling games at $2.22 per game from open to close on Tuesdays. Shoe rental is an additional cost per person. Enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere with great music and an in-house restaurant and bar.
Related Article: Low-cost Events Cincinnati: Ongoing Activities for Black Adults
Dine at Black-owned restaurants
Saturday Morning Vibes
3539 Reading Rd suite 101, Cincinnati, OH 45229 (Avondale)
Price: Starting at $1.25
Days Offered: Wednesday – Sunday
Enjoy a variety of convenient breakfast items, such as cereal, breakfast sandwiches, and parfaits. In this trendy restaurant, visitors can relive the joys of childhood by watching cartoons or checking out some classic video games in the store.
Ollies Trolley
1607 Central Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45214 (West End)
Price: Starting at $2.50
Days Offered: Monday – Saturday
This unique burger trolley restaurant offers retro-style seating and unique decor to create a fun atmosphere. Customers can choose from menus featuring BBQ and soul food under $10. The restaurant has various options, including ribs, chicken, fried catfish, mac and cheese, fries, fried okra, and more.
Shango’s Urban Taqueria
2750 Park Ave, Norwood, OH 45212 (Norwood)
Price: Starting at $3.75
Days Offered: Monday – Sunday
This Latin and Caribbean-inspired restaurant brings culinary flavors from around the world to Cincinnati. Choose from a diverse menu of Jerk chicken, birria tacos, elote dip, and more. Stop by the restaurant for fun events such as Taco Tuesdays and karaoke nights.
Grab a drink at Black-owned bars
Happy Hour at Park Place Restaurant
1185 Kemper Meadow Dr #4118, Cincinnati, OH 45240 (Forest Park)
Price: $5 drinks; $6 lunch specials
Days Offered: Daily, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Check out $5 top-shelf drinks and $6 lunch specials. Customers can choose from various options, including burgers, fish, chicken wings, turkey, cocktails, and more. This restaurant offers a fun atmosphere with music alongside good deals on beverages and food.
Social Fridays at Kickbacks Bar and Grill
8087 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45216 (Hartwell)
Price: $5 drink specials; no cover
Days Offered: Fridays
Kick back and start the weekend on a high note. Customers can enjoy $5 drink specials, a live DJ, pool games, and great food with no cover fee. Food options include fried chicken Caesar salad, wing baskets, Cajun fried shrimp, and more. Patrons can also reserve VIP sections.
Catch a movie
Discount Movie Tuesdays
Esquire Theatre (Clifton), Kenwood Theatre (Kenwood), Mariemont Theatre (Mariemont)
Price: $7
Days Offered: Tuesdays
On Tuesdays, the Esquire Theatre Group offers discounted tickets all day. See the latest blockbusters at a discounted rate and enjoy fantastic concessions, including the world-famous popcorn. Each theatre offers a different menu, but the classic movie theatre atmosphere remains the same.
Discount Movie Tuesdays
Cinemark Theatres
Price: $5-$6.50
Days Offered: Tuesdays
On Tuesdays, Cinemark Theatres offers discounted tickets all day. Each location offers a different price, so check with the theatre beforehand. Each theatre provides classic movie concessions like Icees and popcorn and more extensive food options like pizza. See the latest blockbusters without breaking the bank.
Tour Black public art and Downtown Cincinnati
Black Public Art and History Tours in Cincinnati
Various Locations
Price: Free
Days Offered: Daily
Black public art and history illuminate the legacies and stories of many African Americans. Explore Black history in the greater Cincinnati area. Visitors of all ages can enjoy contemporary art, sculptures, and more with no price for general admission.
Connector – Street Car
Various Locations | View a map of stops and nearby locations
Price: Free
Days Offered: Daily
7:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.; 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., Saturday; 9:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., Sunday
See what downtown has to offer! The Connector is an electric-powered streetcar that operates along a 3.6-mile loop connecting Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine and Banks neighborhoods via the Central Business District. See sites from the train or explore popular destinations on the route, including Great American Ball Park, Fountain Square, Contemporary Arts Center, Public Library, Aronoff Center, Hard Rock Casino, Music Hall, and Washington Park.
Related Article: Free Cincinnati Activities for children and families
See a play and support the arts
Pay What You Can Night at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park
962 Mt Adams Cir, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (Mt. Adams)
Price: Varies
Days Offered: Varies
Tickets are first-come, first-served and cannot be purchased in advance. Tickets can be purchased by phone or in person at noon on the day of the performance only. Attendees can buy two tickets maximum. Performances are only in the Rouse Theater on special days; check each show for details.
Get desserts from Black-owned sweet shops
Davis Cookie Collection
4926 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45237 (Bond Hill)
Price: Starting at $3.50
Days Offered: Thursday – Saturday
With a different menu every week, customers can satisfy their sweet tooth. The menu goes beyond cookies, with options for ice cream and milkshakes. Stay active on social media to vote for each week’s flavors.
Makers Bakers Co
1801 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (OTR)
Price: Starting at $2
Days Offered: Tuesday – Sunday
Located in the historic Findlay Market, this sweets shop offers an extensive menu of baked goods. The daily menu includes cheesecake, cookie slices, banana pudding, and more. There are also more savory pastry options, including the feta spinach Danish.
Sugar
6 W 14th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (OTR)
Price: Starting at $3.25
Days Offered: Friday and Saturday
This sweet shop offers an extensive menu to satisfy every craving. Customers can choose from deluxe and classic cookies and cookie sandwiches. The selection of flavors ranges from fruity pebbles to signature chocolate chip cookies.
Visit a Black historic site
Fifth Third Community Days at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center
50 E Freedom Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202 (The Banks)
Price: Free
Days Offered: Third and Fifth Sunday of each month
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center creates a collective heritage, a more complete history that unites local and national communities. The museum helps shape and reflect the Black community, creating a community anchor and convener of dialogue.
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
2950 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206 (Walnut Hills)
Price: $5- $8
Days Offered: Friday – Sunday
Visitors can take a guided tour of the house for a low price. This house experienced two different time periods 100 years apart:
- 1840: Abolitionist author Harriet Beecher Stowe lived in Cincinnati as a young teacher and mother preparing to write the blockbuster antislavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin
- 1940: African American proprietor Irene Bacon managed the house as the Edgemont Inn–a boarding house and tavern listed in the Green Book
Get out and make the most of these Cincinnati activities under $10. With low-cost activities all around the city, there are plenty of options to have fun. Enjoy a low-cost Cincinnati, and check out what the city offers!
Exploring Cincinnati activities under $10 opens a world of affordable fun. Embrace the opportunities to experience low-cost attractions within the city. There’s always something new to discover without breaking the bank.
Did we miss any Cincinnati activities under $10? Please let us know at The Voice of Black Cincinnati.
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