
ILLUSTRATION BY BRITTANY DEXTER
What do Malört, the Japanese horticultural art of bonsai, and the Loveland Frogman have in common? They’re all 2023 Best of the City Winners! Here are the champions from A to C.
Afternoon Tea: Mrs. Teapots Tea Room
Fancy a cup of tea? While Greater Cincinnati might be an entire ocean away from Great Britain, there’s a delightful tea room in Bellevue that offers to any tea drinkers a taste of the British Isles. Mrs. Teapots Tea Room is an enchanting brunch spot that’s simultaneously buttoned-up British and warm-and-welcoming Bluegrass. Book a private party or come for high tea; it’s always teatime at Mrs. Teapots. Between its location in Bellevue’s delightful historic district and the quirky pink interior, this tea house is the perfect place for a British-inspired soiree. Pinkies up! 339 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, (859) 491-2731
Alternative Coney: Dixie Chili’s Alligator
At a chili parlor, a plain hot dog is for toddlers. A chili cheese sandwich is a mess. But the alligator—a dill spear, wiener, mayo, mustard, and cheese—is a true alternative. It’s odd, yes, but there’s something satisfying about the sneaky snap of brine beneath all that cheese and beside the mustard’s tang. Yes, you can add chili, but why would you? Covington, Erlanger, and Newport, dixiechili.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMY KRAMER
Apple Orchard: Irons Fruit Farm
Apple picking is just the beginning. This family-owned farm sells its own apple butter, apple cider, jams, jellies, and more from its converted horse barn. While the apples remain Irons’s claim to fame, the farm’s autumn pumpkin patch and free hayride have cemented its place as a true family attraction. 1640 Stubbs Mills Rd., Lebanon, (513) 932-2853, ironsfruitfarm.com
Ashtray Shot: Malört at Binski’s Bar
Kiel Erdelac’s Camp Washington corner bar pays homage to his Chicago roots with the Chicago Handshake: a shot of Jeppson’s Malört and an Old Style. The Malört, a sort of Swedish bitters, flavored with wormwood, appears before you in a small (clean!) ashtray; the Old Style comes in a can. Fair warning: Malört tastes a bit like very aromatic and alcoholic bug spray, but Binski’s itself is worth seeking out. It’s a new bar with an old soul. 2872 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington, @binskisbar
Bonsai: Reminiscent Herb Farm, Nursery, and Landscaping
Reminiscent understands the difference between buying and maintaining bonsai. Not only are its ready-to-buy plants beautiful, but the helpful staff send new owners home with regional-specific care guides and provide essential trimming, repotting, and even tree-sitting services. Think full-service pet grooming and boarding—but for your miniature tree. 1344 Boone Aire Rd., Florence, (859) 525-8729, reminiscentnursery.com/bonsai

ILLUSTRATION BY NATALYA BALOVA
Bakery: El Camino Baking Company
Owned by Ryan Morgan of Sixteen Bricks and pastry chef extraordinaire Megan Ketover, El Camino’s organic, fresh-milled bread and scrumptious baked goods (such as fruit tarts, blueberry lavender croissants, and Kouign-amann) have gained quite a following since opening in College Hill last summer. Morgan mills the flour by hand, and we’re convinced that’s what makes the bakery shine. Don’t forget to catch the pizza on the weekends! 5915 Hamilton Ave., College Hill, (513) 996-0199, elcaminobakingcompany.com
Birria: Olla Taqueria
The birria at Olla will have you slapping the table and howling like a cartoon wolf as your lips tingle from all of the chiles, herbs, and spices. It’s just that good. As it turns out, the stew—typically made from goat, beef, or lamb, and marinated in an adobo sauce before it’s cooked in a broth—isn’t only served in crispy tortillas here. You can also get it in breakfast burrito and ramen form. Olla just needs to add a birria dessert and customers are fully covered. 302 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Covington, (859) 261-6552, @olla_cov
Bowling Alley Food: Madison Diner, inside Madison Bowl
Inside this classic bowling alley on Madison Road, there’s a secret diner serving up breakfast and lunch specials that are, well, special. From Marcella’s Mud Beans to the half-pound Big Burger with your choice of cheese and toppings ($2 off on Wednesdays and Thursdays), the food is classic and satisfying. Like picking up a spare on a 7–10 split. 4761 Madison Rd., Oakley, (513) 271-1270, madisondiner.com
Canned Cocktail: Lime and Black Cherry Sway, from the seasonal pack
First it was cider, then it was seltzer, and finally canned cocktails entered the chat. Of the locally made versions available, we fell hard for the Lime and Black Cherry Sway we discovered in the Seasonal Sips variety pack. The MadTree-produced vodka soda line is full of fresh flavor combos, but this blend of citrus and stone fruit adds a bit of zing and a touch of sweetness to the extra-bubbly soda. madtree.com
Clothing Store, Goth: Gothippie
There’s no outfit that wouldn’t be improved by a pair of sky-high, buckled platform boots. But it’s kind of hard to find anything quite so dramatic at your everyday shoe store. Enter Gothippie, a Northside boutique that’s jam-packed with, yes, all things goth, but also alt-glam outfits that might be more suited for a rave in 2010 or a night out in Harajuku. 4731 Hamilton Ave., Northside, gothippiefashionboutique.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMY KRAMER
Cornbread: Nolia Kitchen
Jeff Harris’s entire menu is a focused hit list of reimagined New Orleans classics, both unexpected and satisfying. So you might wonder why we celebrate the humble cornbread. First, it’s made in individual cast-iron skillets. As any proper hillbilly will tell you, that’s the perfect vessel. Second, the cornbread itself is neither too cakey nor too crumbly, neatly skirting any which-type-is-better argument. Finally, there’s the butter. Spiked with Steen’s Pure Cane Syrup, a Louisiana staple, its sweetness carries a note of something more, a caramelized earthiness that lingers with every bite and signals that this is the start of a very, very good meal. 1405 Clay St., Over-the-Rhine, (513) 384-3597, noliakitchen.com
Cryptid: Loveland Frogman
First spotted in 1955, the Loveland Frogman stands apart from most other cryptids with its flair for the dramatic. There are frogs, and then there are three-foot tall amphibians with magic wands. But like all the best mysteries, it keeps its secrets and doesn’t pose for passing photographers (often). The Little Miami River, Loveland
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