After a stay we received an email from the property encouraging feedback to them. We sent the following email and after several days have not heard back. My wife and I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Symphony Hotel when we attended a concert at Memorial Hall. We really love the place. The location is fantastic. The lounge and the restaurant were nice to have on property. Having spent many years in hospitality and many more years traveling for work my wife and I both noticed things that keep your property from being the best it can be. For the past 20 years we have stayed in different Marriott properties with comparable pricing and amenities to the Symphony. The Symphony did not come close to the standard of the cheapest Marriott. We hope you can take our comments and improve upon what could be a great property. We were greeted wonderfully and attentively by Worley. He did a great job communicating and making sure we had reservations at Vivaldis, which as it turned out were not needed. However he was in shorts and a T-shirt. I get it, times have changed. But for the traveler we don't think decorum has changed quite that much. Our whole stay the uniform for management seemed to be T-shirts and casual shorts. Very unprofessional. I would expect that at a motel charging $69 per night. Not a boutique hotel in the $150+ range. When we got to the room we noticed several little things that added up quickly. You could tell the room had been given a cursory dusting just around items on horizontal surfaces. The lamps and such and behind things had not been touched. In quite a while. One lamp was leaning and loose on its base. A 30 second fix at most. Our AC was malfunctioning when we arrived. It was leaking profusely. Whilst it was taken care of in a timely manner the fact that someone had not checked the room prior to our arrival is a bit of a let down. Especially considering the number of rooms you have. When we picked up one of the glasses provided for guests to drink from we found it was stuck to the table. Cleaning solution? Someone else's beverage? No idea. Luckily we carry our own glasses with us just in case. The coffee machine had a used pod in it showing it had not been cleaned or checked. It also had a blinking light indicating it needs a descaling. There were mismatched mugs which could be a fun thing, except based on what was in the 'breakfast' area it did not need to be. The coffee was not checked when someone brought up towels leaving us having to ask for a coffee refresh. Dinner was good, but not great. The menu did not match up to the one online though and a couple of items we were looking forward to were no on the menu. The barrata should have been room temperature but was straight out of the refrigerator cold. Our Ravioli was very underdone, not even close to al dente. We told our waitress we were attending the concert, but when it came time to pay our bill I had to hunt her down. As it turned out she forgot we were there. I'm not sure how that even happens. After the concert we went to the little rooftop patio that Worley had shown us. There was very little lighting and only half of that was working. It could have been a great space. The grab and go breakfast could be a nice touch, but the presentation was less than professional. Items were in original containers rather than in carafes. It did not look well attended to. It looked more tossed together. Overall the place is saved thanks to being a lot of fun with the rooms, the theme, and the location. Otherwise I'm not sure we would even consider returning. read more

Novel place next to Music Hall. The rooms are beautifully decorated and reflect an era of Cincinnati before the turn of the century. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. They are very proud of this place. Just ask questions and let them tell you stories . They have a restaurant and a quaint bar area.. we're in their Biergarten having a brew before the FC Cincy match. read more

See all

We stayed here back in October, and had a great time. The hotel staff were very kind and welcoming. Our rooms had eye masks and melatonin, which was a sweet touch! The breakfast on weekdays is very simple and there's not much to it, just grab and go. The weekend breakfast was very good, and you could choose from the menu. We also had dinner here one night which was good. It was pretty bare bones and I would say average but the staff were very kind. read more

See all

My friends and I enjoyed a nice dinner on Saturday evening before a show in OTR at the Symphony restaurant just across from Music Hall on 14th street. When you walk in you feel you're walking into someone's dining room and we were seated in tables along the front of the restaurant facing the street. We asked for a drink menu and we were handed one of the largest drink menus I've seen in Cincinnati just about any drink you can imagine plus a few crafty cocktails. Our group tried a variety of drinks the best cosmopolitan ever, the deconstructed old fashioned, a fall moscow mule with cranberry, vodka and ginger beer. We enjoyed the fried green tomatoes just the right amount of seasoning and greek yogurt sauce paired nicely. We then moved to salads and soups - the fall salad looked great mixed greens, apples, pears and feta cheese. Then to the main dishes the hangar steak was wonderful cooked just right with blue cheese, the cod dishes were enjoyed and so was the deconstructed chicken pot pie. I wanted lasagne, but they were sold out, so went with our waitresses suggestion of Chicken Parmesean, the chicken was huge, but was dry and so was the pasta and there wasn't any tomato sauce. We wrapped up the evening with desserts, not they have huge portions for their desserts - the gourmet cookie is huge, probably the biggest cookie in town, the corn cake was huge pancake with homemade corn ice cream and chocolate brownie with ice cream and chocolate icing. Thank you for wonderful time at the Symphony Hotel & Restaurant read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Cosmo with fresh squeezed lime juice - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

I was so excited to try this place. And disappointed. They were short staffed and let us know this. I completely get it. And tried to be understanding. But while we can understand sub par service as a result of staffing issues, the other issues can't be ignored. The server didn't know the menu. I ordered a Bianca (white glass pour at the top of the menu page). She returned to the table asking me, " You ordered a Bianca? What is that??" Strange. Service went on to be horrible. We were told we'd be moved to the room with jazz. Never happened. But upon leaving, we saw that someone else was indeed moved there (of much lighter skin shades). I ordered the crab cakes. They were so salty, it burned the back of my throat and were inedible. I sent them back. My friend ordered the cod which was better seasoned but terribly LACKING salt. The butternut squash soup was more rustic as opposed to smooth. Which would've been fine if the flavor were more nuanced and the presentation more appealing. But they weren't. So it too was horrible. THE JAZZ WAS AMAZING! The jazz and the overall decor and ambiance of the place are the only saving graces for the evening. I would like to try again when better staffed -- both in number and quality. read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Butternut Squash Soup - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I have now had dinner at Symphony, as well as listened to two more jazz performances here. It was great! I ordered off the lounge menu, with a slight bit of customization that I swore not to disclose, but the staff were extremely accommodating to my ridiculous requests. The food was delivered promptly, even with my changes, and the music was amazing. About the only downside - they only have one bar tender, and while he's a very funny guy, he's also very busy when they get more than ~5-10 people in the area, so if a large group comes in it can become a little chaotic. read more

See all

Atmosphere and jazz music were terrific. Great drink menu. Sadly, the food was inedible. I ordered the crab cakes. It was served on a plate of cocktail sauce. The cakes were too salty to eat. I got the carrots as a side, but they were served on top of the cocktail sauce so that was the only thing I tasted. Nobody in our group of 4 enjoyed their dinner. I do not like to complain and rarely leave an unfavorable review, but I spent $150 for 3 drinks and 2 inedible entrees and it was very disappointing. My recommendation is go for drinks and eat elsewhere. read more

I have loved going to this restaurant and brought three new people to share the experience with unfortunately the food was horrible. Not sure what changed since I was there last year but if this is the new direction, I'm not going back. The drinks were great but the food was terrible. They had a limited menu last night due to a big party and the table next to us actually left because they called ahead to make sure there were good vegetarian options and due to the limited menu their option was a salad. One of the people at my table wanted the pork but they were out so he went for the prime rib special and said it was absolutely the worst prime rib he's had. I've loved the deconstructed chicken pot pie and was craving it unfortunately I could only eat part since it was over cooked and rubbery and then when we got dessert it tasted like it was out of a freezer. The atmosphere and music is always great so I hope they get their food back to being good again but paying 300 for a table of four when the quality has gone this far down hill was disappointing. And the fact that there were two vegetarians next to us that had to leave because of the limited menu was even more disappointing. A chef should be able to pull something together especially if they called ahead to make sure before making reservations. read more

My husband and I had dinner reservations here yesterday evening before attending a play at the Shakespeare Theatre. It's such a beautiful restaurant! We were greeted warmly by Buzz and taken to our table. Our server, Carter, came right over with menus and introduced himself. After ordering drinks, we ordered an appetizer of Crab Cakes. (while we were waiting for the valet service a woman, who was leaving and waiting for her car, told my husband that "The crab cakes are amazing. You should try them.") They were delicious! My husband proclaimed them to be the best crab cakes he's ever had. My Manhattan was fabulous! All the reviews say that Buzz is a fantastic bartender and I can concur. We decided against ordering multiple courses and just ordered an entree. My husband ordered the Wild Cod. It's a butter poached basil lemon cod served with roasted root vegetables. I ordered the Steak. It's a grilled hanger steak with a chimichurri rojo sauce and served Mexican street corn and smoked beets. I ordered my steak cooked to a medium rare. My husband thoroughly enjoyed his meal. He said it was great and he'd definitely order it again. Unfortunately, my steak arrived at the table well done and tough. As much as I hate to send food back, and rarely do, I had to because it was inedible. At this level of price point it's just unacceptable and inexcusable. The server and Buzz apologized profusely and took care of it immediately. I assured them that it was "ok and it happens sometimes". I was told, "It shouldn't happen and we don't want it to happen." Perfect response!! The Mexican corn and smoked beets were amazing and I continued to eat them. My new steak eventually came out and it was prepared correctly and was quite good. My husband ordered a dessert of Fresh Berries with Whipped Cream and we were told that it was comped because of the issue with my steak. We told them that it was fine and we'd pay for the dessert but it was insisted that it was their pleasure to provide it. During our meal a Jazz trio set up their instruments and we were able to hear a little bit of live jazz music before we were finished with our dinner. They were wonderful and I wished I could've stayed longer to listen to them play. Since sending my steak back caused us to be a little behind, and in a rush to make it to the play we were attending, we asked if we could leave our car with the valet service there. We had already prepaid for the valet service at the Shakespeare Theatre but with all of the added Blink traffic and the delay in the meal we just didn't have time to wait for the car and make in around the block. They were so courteous and allowed us to leave our car with them, which enabled us to make it to the play on time. I can't praise the server and especially Buzz enough! Definitely top-notch service. We're looking forward to another visit some time in the future. read more

See all

We were excited to try this place, and very disappointed. The waitstaff was very inexperienced. Server did not understand the menu, served breadbasket without bread plates, cappucino without a saucer. Minimized time in the room so it was hard to get her/their attention. They seemed to be in an awful hurry. I had the grouper, my wife had the chicken pot pie. Both were overcooked. The patrons on both sides of our table were similarly disappointed as we discussed other options for dining before the symphony. There are too many good restaurants in the area to return here. read more

We loved our stay here. We stayed in the Copland room and it was perfect from the nice queen bed to the large bathroom. The free electric tram stop is a 1 minute walk. Our first time in Cincinnati and we loved it more than our last road trip stop in Cleveland. The OTR neighborhood was for us very clean and we felt very safe walking at night to area bars. No elevator but they make that known you have to go up a few flights but your in an old historic building. We went on a Tuesday so no restaurant or music review but it looks very quaint read more

Ambiance check Great food check Wonderful service check Nice live music that you don't have scream over. read more

Perfect location for a pre-symphony dinner, delightful historic building, extraordinary food preparation and presentation, warm and engaging service. Liked the flexibility of expanding to a two- or three-course meal. The vegan sweet potato curry soup was exceptional! read more

Truly unique property. Perfect locale for a cultural weekend in Cincinnati. Across the street from the newly renovated Music Hall. Two blocks from the bars and bistros of Vine Street. If the 15 minute walk to the Aronoff Center is too long, take the trolley which runs a half block away, and drops you off at the front door. And it's located on a quiet side street. Rooms are named after composers and include the usual modern amenities in this 19th century mansion. All but two rooms have their own bath. Includes breakfast. First rate restaurant on first floor with an impressive Sunday brunch. Also a side room near the bar for small jazz group performing evenings. Parking is a block away in a secure, covered lot featuring chandeliers! read more

See all

We were excited to try it. The hostess was less than pleasant to us because we didn't have a reservation. WE are bar people. They have 6 seats at the bar. Five were full. The bartender was as pleasant as the hostess and wouldn't allow me to stand while my wife occupied the open seat at the bar. He mumbled some crap about fire code and then said "if you stand there and someone spills their drink on you we won't pick up the dry cleaning". Go $@&% Yourself. There are way too many options available in this area to be treated this way. We left and happily discovered Pepp and Dolores. They were appreciative of our business and we had a great time. When the hostess and the bartender are comfortable treating patrons the way we got treated you know that comes from the top down. We won't consider a second visit based on this experience because like I said, there are far too many options to deal with that sort of treatment. Best of luck to them. We won't be back. read more

The place was a little hard to find, it has a very small sign, but you can find it by looking out for their valet attendants. My boyfriend and I had the 5-course meal, he had a meat entree. Normally I would do meat, but I had to do vegetarian for cultural practices this month. We made reservations a week or two in advance and was taken to a small corner table for two. The place is very old and has a lot of character. We were seated next to a fireplace which was super warm. We started off with a butternut squash soup and a chef's special chicken quinoa soup. Butternut squash soup was good, had some pumpkin seeds which gave it a good crunch and texture. The chicken quinoa wasn't as memorable, but it was a very simple a little bland. Next, we had the salad which was too bitter for my taste. It lacked goat cheese, nuts, and dried cherries that were supposed to help cover the bitter flavors from the arugula, and an abundant amount of sliced endives. Notes from the sliced pears did come through to slightly help mask the bitterness, but it was just still too bitter. Seems like they skimped out on the goat cheese, nuts. and dried cherries, because I scarcely saw any of them. For the intermezzo, we had a spiced pear sorbet. It was very nice, smooth, and not too sweet. Very nice palette cleanser. Entrees, the birthday man had a med-rare duck, which was cooked just right. He thought the glaze/sauce was very good, and the grits as well. The vegetarian dish was not a favorite of mine. When they call it a cannelloni I expected some sort of cheese filling of some sort. Instead, it was just an eggplant rolled around some more eggplant, peppers, and zucchinis. The skins on the eggplant and zucchini were very tough to chew. There were some sauces which one was a tomato-based sauce, and the other was some sort of basil puree. There also was a crispy goat cheese and parmigiano polenta cake. I think if the dish was meant to be vegan than it would have made sense. But, that polenta cake had cheese... Anyways, I thought the cannelloni would have benefited a creamy flavor to help elevate the tomato sour sauce. Dessert baffled me. My creme brulee came out burnt and curdled--very lumpy texture! Very disappointed. I really wanted to love it here, but this visit did not win me over. Our server was great, and the atmosphere was beautiful, wish the food could have been the same. read more

Charming, quaint, quirky, comfortable! And very clean. ;). The rooftop patio is to die for - I could spend hours up there by the fire pit. -- and I just might come back to do that!! Right next to the music hall and 10 minutes from the Cincinatti Playhouse in the Park. The staff is friendly and helpful. A fantastic experience read more

I hate to say this but overall this was not a great experience. If a "boutique" hotel means old, outdated, nonfunctioning amenities and lack of comfort then this fits that description. The big PLUS is the location. Easy walk to restaurants, Music Hall and Memorial Hall which was a great perk. We stayed here (Mozart room) because we were attending a concert at Memorial Hall and liked the convenience of walkability to the venue and surrounding restaurants. The room was extremely outdated and frankly not very convenient as far as providing space for clothing, bathroom products, etc. The furniture was so old that the wood was stained and the drawers looked dirty and were not lined. There was a wardrobe in the room that we hung a few items in but even that piece of furniture was in need of repair and the doors were difficult to open and close. The bathroom consisted of a shower that did not look very clean and a toilet. The sink was outside of the bathroom so after using the toilet, you have to open the door and step outside to wash your hands. The liquid soap provided at that sink however appeared to have been mostly water which tells me that they have refilled it with some water to save money. Not cool and not particularly hygienic especially when you consider that this is a hotel and many people stay in the room over time and open that bathroom door to get to the sink to wash their hands after toileting. The door to the bathroom did not shut firmly either. The bed had a very high mattress and my husband and I are both tall people but it was difficult to get in and out of the bed. If you are short, forget staying in this room or bring a step stool. Actually, there should have been one in the room. We did not sleep well because we faced the street and two windows faced the bed. The shades were inoperable and even though they were halfway down they were so sheer that it would not have mattered. The light shone brightly in our room all night long. They did provide two eye-masks however they do not stay on and was pretty much worthless. The TV was awful and operating the air conditioner was a challenge which we never did master. It is the weirdest set-up I have ever seen. We were given 2 keys to the room and to unlock the room also wasn't smooth. Same issue with the front door key code when we came in from our concert at 10:30. We punched the code in numerous times before we could get it to work. If you have any type of knee, hip issue or are elderly and cannot handle steep stairs I think all of the rooms are upstairs which is accessed by a very steep old, wooden staircase with a low rail on the left side. The check-in process is different as is the parking process. I will say it was nice to have a parking garage to park our vehicle. When I reserved this room (several months ago) the confirmation referenced a nice restaurant and a nice cocktail lounge. Neither was available. There is a complimentary breakfast but we did not partake. It runs from 9AM - 11AM. I am not sure how that was possible since the restaurant wasn't open but we did not try it so I cannot really provide feedback. One of the nice things (other than location) was the rooftop patio area. I paid $189 (after a $30 discount offered on their website) and I feel that was way overpriced. We left very early and I did not even shower because I was not comfortable with the way the shower looked. We got up and immediately packed our things and headed for home. They are renovating downstairs it appears but their bedrooms are in sad need of repair and updating. The sheets and bedding seemed very clean although the bedspread did not look fresh at all. They also have all of these fragile tchotchkes sitting around everywhere which would be OK if there was ample space to place personal items but there is not. They did leave us waters and snacks which was nice. They provide robes (which we did not use) and there is a coffee set up in the room - unfortunately they provide coffee, sugar, creamer but nothing to stir the coffee with. read more

I was gifted a Groupon and came here with my husband for Sunday brunch. I had always been interested in this place as it seems a bit off the beaten OTR hot-spots. First the dining room is super cute. Real table clothes, interesting mis-matched china. I felt 'fancy' compared to some of my other brunch spots! The service was good. No problem with the Groupon and explained exactly what we got with it. You get 2 sides with your entree. And it's a lot of food! I had the Findlay Market Veggie Omelet, side of bacon (3 slices), and 1 pancake. The mimosa was yummy. My husband got the Washington Park Strada with same sides. Both of us were delighted with the food. We took a look at their dinner menu and definitely want to come back. They do 2, 3, or 5-course meals for a fixed price. Prices overall looked reasonable. Only 4 stars because: coffee was lukewarm at best. I don't want scalding but it bordered on no temp at all (not iced and not hot). Speaking of temperature, I was boiling. The other dining area had the windows open and there was a nice breeze (gorgeous day). However, the room we were in didn't seem to have air on or really circulation. I shouldn't have sweat dripping down my chest while eating a pancake. I was in a top and skirt so appropriately dressed for weather. But I guess it's good the coffee wasn't too hot then? I will definitely come back and am quite interested in seeing what the hotel rooms look like! Overall, good experience and a great place to take a date or out-of-town guests. read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Beautiful little place right next to the Music Hall. Jazz trio playing - wonderful menu Had a flight of bourbon that was priced attractively and the meals were superb Also a charming hotel right in Over the Rhine read more

What a lovely experience! My partner and I stayed here for the long weekend and loved every second of it. We stayed in the Brahms room, which was tucked away in the back of a little corridor and was so cozy. The room was gorgeous and the bathroom was updated & had a nice waterfall shower. This little hotel has so many unique additions, it operates as a bed & breakfast, a restaurant, a jazz club, & has a little bar. We did not get to try the restaurant because we waited until too late to get reservations. The space is smaller & only operates on Fridays and Saturdays so make sure to snag those early if you want to try it! The ambience is great, moody and classical, with a little modern flare. Every morning they have a combo self-serve & ordered breakfast downstairs in a cute portion of the restaurant by the bar. Our breakfasts were delicious although the menu is (understandably) limited. The innkeeper Melissa was so kind and available to us throughout our stay. It was really top notch service. We were able to walk almost everywhere we wanted to in OTR which was nice perk. Things to keep in mind: The bed was very firm which was not at all an issue for us but something to know. There is no elevator on site and you have to travel up some fairly tight stairs. Also, despite adjusting the heat, our room did stay very warm which was not an issue for us but again, something to keep in mind. All in all would highly recommend and we will be back! read more

Nestled back on 14th Street right next to Music Hall is the Symphony Hotel. Guests artists and visiting performers will often stay here when performing at Music Hall. Also before most performances at Music Hall one can take in dinner here before the show. Reserve early though as it's small and fills up quickly. It's in a beautiful old building with the characteristic German architecture and tall windows that are unique to Over-the-Rhine. To the left of the entrance is a large and gorgeous courtyard. I've never noticed it before driving by but there it was plain as day! The dining hall and bar are on the first floor. I was at an event that had the dining room set up buffet style. The food was excellent. I had this wonderful chicken manicotti with a cream sauce on top. There were also these potatoes with a creamy sauce on top and they were wonderful! The salad was also unique and flavorful with artichokes and tomatoes and crumbled feta. We were also served a divine filet mingion. The rooms upstairs are gorgeous and are filled with ancient antiques and bathroom fixtures. It's really a gem to stay in. Some rooms share a hallway bathroom while the bigger rooms have their own smaller bathrooms. As it used to be a house the layout is very non-traditional when it comes to a house. If I had to characterize it's style it would be European. This business is truly one of the many gems of Over-the-Rhine. read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

See all

This review is for dinner in the restaurant. The collective opinion of our group seemed to be that it was just average - and at the price points they play at, it needs to be better than average. The service was quite good, but some of the food just flatly missed the mark. There were some good dishes - and there were some disappointing dishes as well. A tip on the side - a good Manhattan served at a competitively high price point should have Luxardo Cherries at a minimum. Leave the Maraschino's for the chain restaurants.- this might seem like s small thing but the devil is in the details! Love the jazz club, will pass on the restaurant (for dinner - can't comment on breakfast or brunch- which I hear are very good). read more

Symphony Hotel is a popular bed & breakfast next to Music Hall. Originally, it was a mansion that was converted into a hotel with music related rooms: Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Schubert. The bedrooms are quaint and old fashioned with Victorian style furnishings and bedding. The bathrooms are closet-sized with a miniscule shower. Sure, this is a home from 1871, but the bathroom could be fancied up a bit. Downstairs, there is an in-house restaurant. It is only open on the weekends as well as whenever there is a Music Hall concert. Chef David Buchman, the sous-chef from the prestigious The Maisonette, creates "Light French" delicacies that delight every palate. The dining room seats about 30 guests and serves a 5-course meal for $40.00 per person. The meal options are listed online and can be pre-selected when reservations are made. Seasonal selections include: APPETIZER: Herbed Goat Cheese Crepe with Roasted Red Peppers and Tapenade SALAD: Treviso, Balsamic and Walnuts SORBET: Meyer Lemon ENTREES: - Roulade of Black Angus Flank Steak, Red Wine Sauce - Oven Roasted Cod with Smoked Salmon and Caper Butter - Irish Lamb Stew - Curried Tofu DESSERTS: - Chocolate Cheesecake - Creme Brulee - Fresh Fruit The restaurant also guarantees you will be finished with your meal to arrive on time to your Music Hall show. Room rates: $79.00 - $109.00 per night Restaurant price: $40.00 per person read more

See all

Ok, I'll break this into 2 reviews: 1) Staying at the Symphony as a guest - 5 stars. The staff was wonderful. The room was adorable and it was such a unique experience, plus you can't beat the location! Even the bartender enhanced our experience. I love staying in such a beautiful historic building. 2) Breakfast at the Symphony - 1 star. My scrambled eggs weren't actually scrambled. They were basically fried eggs stirred up and they tasted terrible. (So confused about how you mess up eggs...) My pancakes were super burnt. Like had char on the bottom side of them and so did my husbands...we left and I got some real food at Findlay market. read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Charred pancake - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I like my hotels like my men (er, man): classy, sophisticated, but with a nice bit of character and quirk. The below are just a handful of reasons why my husband and I enjoyed our stay: 1. The price was right (~ $120/night), which included a complimentary breakfast (artfully crafted and delicious - especially when accompanied by a mimosa carafe) 2. The location was unbeatable (central and walking distance to everything one would want to experience in the eclectic Over The Rhine neighborhood - do visit the Findlay Market, Japp's, Collective Espresso, Rhinegeist Brewery, and Taste of Belgium if you can) 3. Welcoming and Efficient Service (the owners and waitstaff were wonderful) 4. Our room was beautiful (we stayed in the "Rachmaninoff", the smallest room yet quite spacious) 5. Free Parking (yes, the "alley" leading to the lot is frighteningly narrow - but we managed to squeeze our volkswagen in/out unscathed) So, if you find yourself heading to Cincinnati, do stay here if you have the same taste in hotels and men as I do ;) read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I really feel bad for giving any restaurant 1 star, but tonight was awful. We had a reservation for 8 pm for a birthday dinner- 12 people. The table was not ready, ok, no big deal... we got a drink at the bar. our table was fantastic and we essentially had our own room. Once we were seated we ordered another round of drinks, my boyfriend and I ordered a bottle of wine. Everyone's drinks came out, no bottle of wine. The server came back approximately 10 minutes later.. no wine in hand so I asked and she informed us the bar was backed up etc etc. not really what you want to hear when you're expecting to pay about $100 for dinner for two. Eventually we got our wine, our server took our order, and multiple people in the group ordered appetizers and the 3 course dinner which cones with a salad. Appetizers didn't arrive for 20 minutes, salads and soups ten minutes later. Our entrees didn't come out for 1 hour and 10 minutes after our appetizer (we compared time stamps on pictures). VERY disappointed in the service. We were not expecting to spend over 3 hours dining here. Our checks were messed up, desserts were given for free despite none of us really wanting them (and the people with 3 courses had to ask to have their desserts comped). My friend's birthday was ruined. We had planned on about 2 hours for dinner and then bar hopping around OTR... unfortunately we didn't leave the restaurant until 11:30, after waiting to get our checks straightened out. On top of that.... one person's check 'was lost' and her meal completely free. That is kind of rude to the rest of us that just spent $100 plus on dinner. I decided I was going to say something and walked to the server area in back, asked if the manager was available (was not) and started voicing my disappointment when she turned and started a conversation with another server while I was mid sentence!! Rude. I will definitely be calling the manager tomorrow. We should have been given a deep discount. Absolutely the worst experience I have had in years and THE worst experience I have ever had in cincinnati. read more

The room was decidedly uncomfortable; the bathroom was always freezing and the heating system which was a wall unit right next to the bed was noisy and either too hot or too cold but always blowing on us. We were attending a wedding over the Haloween weekend and had to listen to a loud party with raucaus music until 11:00 p.m. and for an hour after. We were cold, bothered and miserable. In short, it was one of the worst hotel stays we have ever had and the quaint amenities made up for none of it. read more

This was listed as one of Cincinnati's best brunches. It really wasn't. For the 4 of us, it was $86. which would be fine if it was worth it. My husband got the tostada breakfast. He said it was fine, but cold. I got the avocado toast, it would have been awesome if the eggs were poached like the menu said vs hard boiled (really, just over done but in poach shape). My daughter got the Chocolate Chip banana pancakes. The first set was burned, and it took most of breakfast to get the second set. My son got the special which was a ham and quiche. He subbed out the quiche for scrambled eggs and they charged $4 to do that. We had also gotten the apple french toast to split/try, that was pretty awesome. The server was nice, the hostess seemed annoyed by our presence. Nothing special and poorly executed. read more

LOVED our Valentine's Day stay at this hotel! This visit was a surprise gift from my boyfriend, and the staff couldn't have made the experience any better. We stayed in the Bach room on the second floor, and everything was perfect... Our room was beautifully adorned with a big, comfy bed in the middle. They even brought complimentary sodas up to our room upon request. We had a late dinner reservation at a restaurant down the street, but the smell from the kitchen was making us hungry! I guess the hostess picked up on it and offered for us to join them in the dining room for dinner (I didn't even think it was possible with it being Valentine's Day and all, but they had a cancellation) The food and intimate atmosphere was fantastic, and the best part was we didn't have to brave the cold to go anywhere! We were surprised to come down the following morning, expecting a typical cafeteria style breakfast setup, to be seated in the restaurant and given menus to order from. So much nicer than fighting over the last mini-box of cornflakes! All in all, a great stay. Attentive and caring staff, beautiful room, and delicious food. I 100% recommend it! read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Valentine's Day dinner and stay at The Symphony! - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a wonderful experience. We highly recommend the Symphony! The food, service and property were awesome.

This is such a great little place - right next to Music Hall. It's a little, old, hotel with restaurant / bar. They have live music, bar, and food. I've only had drinks here, so I can't comment on the food, but I love coming here. read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Live music, bar, and food - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My partner & I live in the area and were looking for a sort of "staycation" to celebrate a birthday amongst a pandemic. I've worked in Over the Rhine for years and walked Elm Street many times, but I had no idea this amazing little boutique hotel existed. The outside doesn't look like much, but the decor / ambiance of the inside is both classy & comfortable. We stayed in the Mozart room and enjoyed the views and people watching from the fire escape. With so much to explore in this part of town we ventured out for dinner but when we returned late Saturday there was a duo playing jazz music - very nice ending to our evening. The next morning our *complimentary* breakfast was more than either of us could eat and absolutely delicious! Amanda and Luka were super accommodating and attentive and made our stay at the Symphony Hotel delightful. I look forward to staying there again in the future! read more

We recently visited the Symphony Restaurant on a Friday evening with another couple. It was a bustling night for the restaurant because many guests were headed across the street to the ballet. In the past we have had really good service and the food has been excellent. Unfortunately, this night was very different. The hostess did not greet us for about ten minutes. Our drink order was not taken for thirty min and the hostess never even acknowledged the long wait time. My wife had asked for a variation on her vegetarian dish and our hostess said she would see what the kitchen could do. But when our food arrived my wife was just given the standard dish and there was no comment regarding our request for a small change. I ordered the cod and it was good but definitely over salted. The experience was so disappointing because we took some good friends and in the past we have felt the Symphony Restaurant is a bit of a hidden gem. This time though the food was good but not exceptional and the service was really poor. read more

Amazing brunch & service! My boyfriend & I found a Groupon for this little gem in OTR & figured we would give it a try. It definitely exceeded all of our expectations! I had the Washington Park Strada with fresh fruit. The strada was so thick & fluffy & a HUGE portion. The fresh fruit contained all of my favorite berries--strawberries, blackberries & blueberries. My boyfriend got the Espresso Rubbed Steak, eggs & Peruvian potatoes & honestly it was one of the best steaks that either of us have EVER had. Our mimosas were perfect & overall we have absolutely zero complaints. Service was wonderful & prompt. We have found our new after church brunch spot! read more

Symphony Hotel & Restaurant - Hotels Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I did not stay in the hotel, only dined in the restaurant. Two friends and I made a 5:30 reservation prior to our 7:30 show at the Cincy Shakespeare Theatre on a Saturday. When booking, we specifically asked for the 5-course pairing and accepted 5:30 as their recommendation. When we arrived, we learned that 5:30 would not be sufficient for the 5-course because the kitchen was already backed up. Okay. Not an issue. Moving on, it was literally freezing in the restaurant; all the blue hairs were wearing their whole coats, scarves, etc. When we asked our server (who was lovely), she said the management decided NOT to turn the radiators on. It was 28 degrees outside. Okay. That just seems dumb, but okay. The food was lovely; however, we attempted to order a basket of rolls, but they had just run out. At 6:00 on a Saturday night. Overall, this experience was just okay. They had a full house prior to two performances nearby. It seemed like they could have done a little better considering. read more

My boyfriend and I enjoyed the food and the music ( Jazz ) it's cozy, comfortable we went there twice, and for sure we will be back soon..

The Symphony Hotel & Restaurant is amazing. We held a surprise birthday party here for my mother last night, and they were absolutely pleasant to work with during the entire planning process. Karen, the manager, (as well as Michelle and Tanya) were amazing with helping us plan the event. Everyone on the staff was insanely cordial, efficient, and so welcoming. Though we did not use the hotel portion of the venue, we had the party in the lounge area of the restaurant. Live musicians played throughout the night, the food was WONDERFUL (from appetizers to entrees and desserts), and the drink list was plentiful. Our waiter and bartender were great with service, adding an extra personable touch for my mother's celebration. Apart from the service, the actual space was gorgeous. The lounge was unique and it showed some restoration of the building's old roots in the Over-the-Rhine district of Cincinnati. Comfortable seating with plush pillows, and the archaic nostalgia was also maintained throughout the rest of the building. I would return simply for the history and upkeep of the building alone. Nonetheless, would definitely recommend to others and we certainly plan on making a return. Symphony won our entire party over as continuing customers. read more

See all

I am a German teacher and musician from Arkansas, who was drawn to this property because of its great historical standing in the Over the Rhine area, a German settled community with a strong influence by the arts. I called ahead and spoke to Colleen, manager, who was very helpful in answering my questions about the former mansion's amenities and after a few other inquiries to nearby B&Bs, the booking price and friendliness of her voice sealed my choice to soak up a night at the sweet sounds of a night in the Symphony Hotel. Colleen painted an overview of the rooms, noting each rooms details, each of which were themed by their own musical composer. There were rooms highlighting Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Rachmaninoff, all of which are located in the original portions of the eclectically decorated hotel. Three newer rooms highlighting Mahler, Copland and Beach are located in the newer addition to the hotel, separated by a soft gray floating deck covered by a pergola and trimmed out with blooming petunias and deep brown wicker furniture surrounding a fire pit. The outdoor area can be easily reached from the first floor rooms and easily from the new addition as well. The deck was overlooking the historic walls of the Music Hall from one side and glimpsing colorful row houses from the other side. I chose Schubert because he wrote so many love songs and I felt a touch of romanticism on my drive up from WV. At my arrival, my first impression was a large hand-carved wooden door fit for a giant. As soon as I parked my car, Colleen opened that huge door, greeted me at my car and carried my luggage up the long carpeted staircase leading to my room. I was quickly soaking in the deep jewel tones throughout the elegant home as we climbed the narrow staircase. After arriving in my room, Colleen had decided since I was the only guest on that Wednesday night, that she would upgrade me to the Rachmaninoff room. He was a Russian composer, not my favorite like the German-speaking Schubert, but soon I forgot all about Schubert. I am one for details and I quickly soaked up each detail about my room. Everyone always checks out the bathroom first. Mine was spotless, well lit with new fixtures and a nice standing shower. A bookcase had fluffy white towels and some more personal touches such as q-tips. The surprises continued in the alcove sink vanity area. A toothbrush holder, a bottle of scope, a bar of Symphony Hotel boxed soap, a floral vintage trinket box and a vanity perfume mirror trimmed with porcelain roses topped by a porcelain figurine. A raised basin sink centered in a dark slab of granite in front of an etched mirror finished off the lovely alcove. The bed had a vintage head and foot board but the main frame was modern which I appreciated. There's nothing like fearing you'll break a 200 year old antique. The mattress was plush and felt like the choice Goldilocks would have made, "it was just right." There were 4 sleeping pillows, one long plush body pillow, two large shammed pillows, two rectangular throw pillow and one cylindrical roll pillow. Another large flat round pillow lay at the foot of the bed. I thought it looked like a pillow a royal cat might sit upon but instead I found, a bar of orange dark chocolate with almonds, granola bars, fresh fruit and 2 small drinking glasses. Once I retired for the evening, I learned of the quality of the heavy embroidered comforter and I slept like a baby, even though I wasn't in the Brahm's room. Often B & Bs will leave out those modern comforts that we all have become accustomed but the Symphony avoided such cuts and included a flat screen TV atop an antique armoire, featuring satellite services. An remote-controlled wall-mounted air conditioner cooled the room and original radiators were throughout for heat. Each room had a fireplace, although non-working and each was decorated by paintings, sculptures, sheet music, and other musical impressions including instruments. Mozart's room even had a modern retro phonograph with one of his compositions ready to play. Several rooms included a small refrigerator and a coffee maker, although my room did not include these items. ......I will add more details later. I will speak about the great breakfast omelet and the other rooms in the bar and restaurant area but my pictures speak for themselves so check them out. read more

See all

I really love the charm of this place, we have been several times for drinks when they have live music. Their kitchen closes extremely early even on weekends so unless you are actually there for the fixed price dinner, it's hard to eat. Twice we have called to ask how late the kitchen was open and when we got there they said it was already closed and it was a half hour before the time they had said. I worked in fine restaurants for many years and if you say your kitchen is open until 9, that means you seat and feed the people who walk in at 5 till, that's just how business works. 9 means 9, not 8:30. The times we have had food it is good but standard. Atmosphere has so much potential, the staff could up their game a bit and create a more high end feel., it's a little too much like someone's living room and the servers and bartenders chat loudly with the regulars. I want to love this place so much, I think it has amazing potential but based on my experience and the other negative reviews, they need a little more professionalism to really make it great, it's a unique concept. read more