1. Best Of Cincinnati 2025
  2. City Life
  1. Best Of Cincinnati 2025
  2. City Life
Cincinnati Burger Week is happening July 7 - 13, 2025!

Best Of 2025

Best of Cincinnati 2025 Issue Cover
Best of Cincinnati 2025 Issue Cover

City Life

Image: City Life
Here are the 2025 Best Of Cincinnati® Reader and Staff Pick winners for City Life.

Best Conservative: JD Vance

  1. JD Vance
  2. Liz Keating
  3. Joe Deters

Best Developer: 3CDC

  1. 3CDC
  2. Al Neyer
  3. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing

Best Do Gooder: Matthew 25: Ministries

  1. Matthew 25: Ministries
  2. Longbottom Bird Ranch
  3. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
  4. La Soupe
  5. ArtWorks Ohio
  6. Innocence Project
  7. Life Food Pantry
  8. ArtsWave
  9. The Friends of the Public Library
  10. Aubrey Rose Foundation

Best Friend to the Environment: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

  1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
  2. Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub
  3. Longbottom Bird Ranch
  4. Great Parks of Hamilton County
  5. Cincinnati Parks
  6. Keep Cincinnati Beautiful
  7. Krohn Conservatory
  8. Cincinnati Nature Center
  9. Indigo Hippo
  10. The Friends of the Public Library

Best Journalist: Bob Herzog (WKRC)

  1. Bob Herzog (WKRC)
  2. Jessica Schmidt (FOX19)
  3. Megan Mitchell (WLWT)
  4. Tana Weingartner (WVXU)
  5. Lucy May (WVXU)
  6. Tricia Mackie (FOX19)
  7. John Matarese (WCPO)
  8. Keith Pandolfi (Cincinnati Enquirer)
  9. Nick Swartsell (WVXU)
  10. Becca Costello (WVXU)

Best Local Activist: Jimmy Longbottom

  1. Jimmy Longbottom
  2. Jim Tarbell
  3. Missy Spears

Best Local Cause: Cincinnati Animal CARE

  1. Cincinnati Animal CARE
  2. Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio
  3. Longbottom Bird Ranch
  4. Matthew 25: Ministries
  5. Freestore Foodbank
  6. SPCA Cincinnati
  7. ArtWorks
  8. Cincinnati Public Radio
  9. Aubrey Rose Foundation
  10. ArtsWave

Best Local Elected Official: Aftab Pureval

  1. Aftab Pureval
  2. Greg Landsman
  3. Charmaine McGuffey

Best Local Podcast: Cincinnati's Crime Vault: Beyond the Broadcast

  1. Cincinnati's Crime Vault: Beyond the Broadcast
  2. Cincinnati Zoo Tales
  3. Jungle Jim's Podcast

Best MBA Program: University of Cincinnati

  1. University of Cincinnati
  2. Xavier University
  3. Northern Kentucky University

Best Northern Kentuckian: George Clooney

  1. George Clooney
  2. Nick Clooney
  3. Maryanne Zeleznik
  4. Kathrine Nero
  5. Missy Spears
  6. Cris Collinsworth
  7. Otto M. Budig Jr.
  8. Amy McGrath
  9. Gary Holland
  10. Lucy May

Best Northern Kentucky Neighborhood: Covington

  1. Covington
  2. Newport
  3. Union

Best Park (City): Smale Riverfront Park

  1. Smale Riverfront Park
  2. Eden Park
  3. Ault Park
  4. Washington Park
  5. Devou Park
  6. French Park
  7. Mt. Airy Forest
  8. Alms Park
  9. A. J. Jolly Park
  10. Bellevue Beach Park

Best Park (County): Cincinnati Nature Center

  1. Cincinnati Nature Center
  2. Sharon Woods
  3. Winton Woods

Best Philanthropist: Anthony Munoz


  1. Anthony Munoz
  2. Bootsy Collins
  3. James “Jungle Jim” Bonaminio

Best Place to Take a Visitor: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

  1. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
  2. Findlay Market
  3. Jungle Jim's International Market
  4. Over-the-Rhine
  5. Smale Riverfront Park
  6. The Banks
  7. Cincinnati Art Museum
  8. Cincinnati Reds Game
  9. Cincinnati Museum Center
  10. The Friends of the Public Library Warehouse

Best Playground: Smale Riverfront Park

  1. Smale Riverfront Park
  2. Washington Park
  3. Parky's Farm

Best Private School: Cincinnati Waldorf School

  1. Cincinnati Waldorf School
  2. Elder High School
  3. Saint Xavier High School

Best Progressive: Aftab Pureval

  1. Aftab Pureval
  2. Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
  3. Kari Bloom

New Roman-Style Sandwich Shop Opens in Mariemont

By Katherine Barrier

Alveo | 6816 Wooster Pike, Mariemont

Weezer, Maren Morris, Mt. Joy and More to Perform at America's River Roots Festival in Cincinnati

By Katherine Barrier

Weezer

BLINK Announces 2026 Festival Dates, Puts out Call to Artists

By Katherine Barrier

The Cincinnati Music Hall projection in Washington Park | BLINK 2024

Welcome to the ICE Age: Anti-ICE Signs Pop Up in Cincinnati Businesses

By Madeline Fening

Spun Bicycle owners Dominic (left) and Judi Lopresi (right) feel prepared to defend their customers from unlawful ICE arrests in their Northside bike shop.

All material © 2025 Big Lou Holdings, LLC | St. Louis, MO. All rights reserved.

Powered By Foundation
Subscribe