We came to the Cincinnati Open for the tennis, but somewhere between matches, practices and walking around the grounds, food and drinks became a pretty big part of our experience too.
And honestly, we weren’t expecting this many options.
The Cincinnati Open felt like much more than grabbing a quick hot dog before heading back to your seat. There were local Cincinnati favorites, food trucks, coffee, cocktails, ice cream and plenty of places where we actually wanted to stop and hang out between matches.
After spending time at the tournament this year, these were 10 things we loved — and would absolutely get again.
1. Cincy Light by Rhinegeist
Let’s start with a very Cincinnati choice.
Rhinegeist joined the Cincinnati Open in 2026 as the tournament’s official local craft beer, and its Cincy Light even came in special Cincinnati Open-branded cans.
Cold beer + tennis + an August afternoon just worked.
We especially liked stopping for one between matches and taking a little break from walking around the grounds. If you want something local while you’re at the tournament, this was an easy choice.
2. Black Raspberry Chip from Graeter’s
You can’t really make a trip to Cincinnati without getting Graeter’s.
And yes, even though we have Graeter’s around Indy, there was something about having a cup of Black Raspberry Chip while spending the day at the Cincinnati Open that just felt right.
Creamy black raspberry ice cream with those huge chocolate chunks Graeter’s is known for — simple, classic and probably one of the easiest recommendations on this list.
Especially on a hot August day.
3. Double Classic Burger + Fries from Fifty West
This was one of those meals that hit exactly when we needed it.
Fifty West returned to the tournament with its food truck serving burgers, fries and shakes, and we went for the Double Classic Burger with fries.
No complicated explanation needed here.
A good burger, crispy fries and plenty of tennis happening around you. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Definitely come hungry for this one.
4. A Custom Bowl from BIBIBOP
After a few heavier tournament meals, BIBIBOP was a really good change of pace.
We loved being able to build our own bowl and choose exactly what we wanted. Protein, veggies, rice, toppings, sauces — make it as simple or loaded as you want.
It was fresh, filling and didn’t leave us feeling like we needed a nap before the next match.
For a full day at the Cincinnati Open, this was one of the easiest meals to fit into the schedule.
5. A Charcuterie Snack from Veroni
Not every stop needed to be a full meal.
Sometimes we just wanted something small before heading to another court, and the charcuterie from Veroni was perfect for that.
The Veroni Lounge inside the Fan Zone offered Italian charcuterie with cured meats, cheese, dried fruit and other small bites.
It was quick, easy to share and felt a little more elevated than your typical sporting-event snack.
6. Champagne Between Matches
This one wasn’t about a specific restaurant.
It was about the moment.
Find a bar, order a glass of champagne, sit down for a little while and enjoy the fact that you’re spending your day watching some of the best tennis players in the world.
The Cincinnati Open had bars and drink options throughout the grounds, so finding somewhere for a drink between matches wasn’t difficult.
Sometimes the best part of the day was simply slowing down for a few minutes before heading back to the courts.
7. A Gyro from Twisted Greek
If you’re a gyro person, put this one on the list.
Twisted Greek was one of the food trucks at the tournament, serving fresh gyros, pitas, falafel and Mediterranean flavors.
We went for the gyro, and it made for another great grab-and-go option.
This was especially convenient when we didn’t want to spend too much time away from the tennis. Grab it, find somewhere to sit and you’re ready for the next match.
8. Cincinnati Open Merch — Especially the Hats
Okay, technically you can’t eat this one. But we couldn’t make this list without talking about the merch.
The Cincinnati Open shop was one of our favorite stops away from the courts, and there was a lot to choose from. Our recommendation? Get a hat.
The selection this year was seriously good, and it’s one of those souvenirs you’ll actually use again after the tournament is over.
We definitely spent more time looking through the hats than we planned.
9. Morning Coffee from Brü Brothers
If you’re arriving early for a full day of tennis, start here.
Brü Brothers served coffee, nitro cold brew, tea and baked treats, and a good coffee in the morning made those early sessions much easier.
There’s something we really liked about walking into the tournament in the morning, grabbing a coffee and then heading toward the practice courts while everything was starting to come alive.
Simple, but definitely part of our Cincinnati Open routine.
10. A Lobster Roll from Lobsta Bakes of Maine
And finally, something for the seafood lovers.
A lobster roll probably isn’t the first food you expect when you think about spending the day at a tennis tournament, which is exactly why we loved seeing it as an option.
Lobsta Bakes of Maine brought a little coastal flavor to Cincinnati with its lobster rolls and seafood-focused menu.
If seafood is your thing and you want something completely different from the typical burger-and-fries stadium meal, this was the move.
Come for the Tennis, Stay for Everything Else
That’s probably what surprised us the most about the Cincinnati Open.
Of course, we went to watch tennis. That will always be the main reason to make the trip.
But the food, drinks, shopping and little breaks between matches became part of the memories too.
One minute we were watching a player practice from just a few feet away. The next, we were having a beer, eating ice cream or figuring out what we wanted to try next.
And we loved that.
The Cincinnati Open gave us plenty of reasons to walk around and explore instead of spending the entire day in one seat — and apparently, we ate pretty well along the way.
So if you’re planning your first Cincinnati Open experience next year, our advice is simple:
Come hungry.
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