6 Favorite Restaurants near Cincinnati’s New Elm Street Plaza Ice Skating Rink
The holidays are fast approaching, and it’s always a fun time to make a trip to Downtown Cincinnati. A tradition for many has been to visit the heart of the city to see the huge Christmas tree and to go ice skating at Fountain Square.
Socially-distanced ice skaters on Fountain Square in 2020.
For this 2025/2026 season, you will still find the tree at Fountain Square, but the ice rink has moved to the new Elm Street Plaza near the Duke Energy Convention Center. Elm Street Plaza, just a couple blocks from Fountain Square, will be an extension of Downtown’s public spaces offering a park-like setting, public art, a dog park, Outdoor Pavilion bar, and programmed events. And Elm Street Plaza will be the new home for our beloved outdoor skating rink!
The ice skating rink will be open from November 21, 2025-February 16, 2026. Admission is $12 per person and includes skate rental. Hours vary, but Saturdays from 9 am-10 pm and Sundays from 9 am-8 pm tend to be the most popular days. With that in mind, I put together a list of some of my favorite locally-owned walk-in restaurants where you can enjoy a bite to eat before or after your skating excursion. These are places within a couple blocks of the ice rink, where you typically don’t need a reservation, where will find good food and drink, and where you can “come as you are.” Hours vary for each, but I confirmed that these spots are open during the day on Saturdays. In addition, all but Abby Girl Sweets are also open on Sundays. For Sunday skaters looking for a sweet treat, you can’t miss with Cincinnati’s homegrown ice cream shop Graeter’s at Fountain Square.