Symphony Hotel, Cincinnati
More photosIn the historic Over-the-Rhine (OTR) neighborhood, the Symphony Hotel & Lounge is a delightful slice of 19th-century charm. The main building was constructed in 1871 as a grand mansion, beating the completion of the city’s iconic Music Hall by seven years. It was designed by James McLaughlin, a legendary local architect who also drew up blueprints for the Cincinnati Art Museum and the city’s original public library.
What makes this boutique getaway truly unique is its deep love affair with classical music. Instead of standard room numbers, the hotel features just nine guest rooms, each themed entirely around a legendary composer like Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, or Rachmaninoff. Every room is individually styled and packed with stunning period antiques and authentic musical artifacts specific to that composer.
You don’t even have to leave the property to catch great entertainment, thanks to its intimate lounge. It hosts incredibly popular jazz nights from Thursday through Saturday where you can sip specialty cocktails alongside touring and local musicians. There is also a secret rooftop deck that offers a perfect, quiet escape above the bustling city streets.
Location is everything here, as the hotel sits directly across from the spectacular Victorian-Gothic Cincinnati Music Hall, home to the local symphony and the second-oldest opera company in the country. You are also steps away from the lush Washington Park, the contemporary Ensemble Theatre, and the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, making it an absolute hotspot for a cultural weekend.
Expert reviews
“Around the corner from Music Hall, the Symphony Hotel offers nine rooms in a traditional Italianate building. Each is named after a classical composer, and each is chock-full of period antique decor, such as a four-post bed or cherrywood armoire (they vary in style).”
What guests liked
- Top location
- Comfortable beds
- Friendly staff
- Good food
Location
Recent guest reviews
30 November 2023
Fabulous
21 November 2023
Very good
7 November 2023
We enjoyed our visit overall.
We were disappointed that the restaurant and lounge were closed for the weekend due to the chef being sick.
It was part of the reason we decided to stay here.
We did go around to some nearby places which were awesome. The street car made it easy to get around.
The restaurant and lounge being closed. I felt like the price was high considering things were closed. We had planned on listening to music and having a drink before walking up to our room.
17 October 2023
Very good
14 October 2023
Fabulous
9 October 2023
Pleasant
No one was available when I went to check in. No regular coffee in the room, just decaf
2 October 2023
An attractive boutique hotel in a convenient location that would benefit from more attention to detail for guests stayin
Location was great and history of the Symphony was appealing.
Our room was never serviced despite repeated requests and our shower body wash dispenser never filled.
25 September 2023
Fabulous
23 September 2023
Pleasant
19 September 2023
Exceptional
14 September 2023
Fabulous
11 September 2023
Exceptional
The location and history of the property is amazing!
8 September 2023
What a gem! We will definitely be back.
Architecturally lovely, beautifully appointed. Cozy, walking distance to several venues. Great free parking in a garage a block away. Very secure. A kind and charming young woman greeted us and showed us to our room.
5 September 2023
Bread and breakfast vibe, wonderful
Great location, our room was beautiful, just an overall great choice.
22 August 2023
Very good
22 August 2023
Fabulous
20 August 2023
Very good
12 August 2023
Ashlyn was very nice and helpful. The place was in a great location, it had a garage and a soul!
8 August 2023
We would stay there again!
The location was great and it was very clean and comfortable.
The stairs climb was a work out and when we first got there getting in our room was a little trickier and the air conditioning was not on so it was really hot at first. Also it said valet parking so we assumed that meant they would be parking our car. Guess that’s what we get for assuming, they gave us a garage door opener and told us where it was.
7 August 2023
Wonderful and historic boutique hotel
This hotel is beautiful and very unique. Each room is themed to a different composer. We were in the Bach room and it was very comfortable. Because it is a historical property, the rooms may not be as large as a standard hotel, but it really didn’t matter with all the character of the property. We stayed on the weekend and could hear the live jazz from the restaurant, but it just added to the charm. Free parking is in a garage near by. The location is great to go to parks, restaurants, Findlay market, and the Cincinnati zoo.
Nothing
6 August 2023
Fabulous
29 July 2023
Exceptional
27 July 2023
Exceptional
17 July 2023
Exceptional
11 July 2023
Exceptional
The whole experience was great.
11 July 2023
Disappointed on 2nd visit
This location is excellent when visiting the OTR neighborhood of Cincinnati. The beds were very comfortable, nice towels, complimentary snacks and water in the room.
Free parking nearby in secure garage!
Our bathroom was spotless - the 2nd room I reserved, for a friend, had a very dated shower/bath with nasty grout.
I could write words in the dust on the headboard and desk in our room.
The breakfast was minimal (stale granola and nuts) and the hot breakfast - cold waffle and burnt sausage.
Styrofoam cups for coffee :(
Unprofessional staff - PJs worn to "serve" breakfast???
The last time we were here it was great - not anymore. The place has great potential that is being lost!
11 July 2023
Exceptional
2 July 2023
Staff was very nice and if you like the Victorian style you would enjoy
Unique
The room was really small and the shower was so small you couldn’t even turn around. No elevator so if you’re old or you might want to rethink no utensils to stir the coffee with in the morning. Sink was in the corner of the room, but there was no countertop or table to put your personal belongings on to remove make up or for toothbrushes, etc.. no parking had to take your car to the garage and walk back
29 June 2023
Very good
23 June 2023
It was great!
Jada, Asst Innkeeper
Curtains did not go all the way down to the bottom of the window leaving about 2 feet from the bottom exposed to the outside.
21 June 2023
Pleasant
Central location and parking garage.
Noisy air conditioning outside Brahms room. Staff not resident at hotel, seemed put out having to deal with guests.
15 June 2023
Bad
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Snack bar
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Fruits
Services
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Express check-in/check-out
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Shared lounge/TV area
- - Grocery deliveries (additional charge)
Outdoors
- - Terrace
- - Outdoor furniture
- - Outdoor fireplace
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Heating
- - Allergy-free room
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
- - Adults only
Activities
- - Evening entertainment
- - Live music/performance
- - Bicycle rental (additional charge)
Parking
- - Parking garage
- - Accessible parking
Transport
- - Public transport tickets
Miscellaneous
- - Key access
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
- - Breakfast takeaway containers
- - Delivered food is securely covered
Reception services
- - Invoice provided
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