Corryville

In Corryville, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, the hip, late-night Highland Coffee House sits across from the vined canopies of Mecklenburg Gardens, the city’s oldest restaurant. These two establishments embody the neighborhood’s perfect blend of modern trends and charming history. The surrounding residential streets emulate the same balance, mixing with late-19th-century homes and recent, modern builds.

Brick and vinyl shotgun cottages, painted in various reds, yellows and blues sit side by side, offering modest options. These homes, among a collection of multistory Craftsmans, were mostly built anytime between 1880 and 1920 and list around $200,000. A selection of brick condos, built after 2000, offer updated features and a multifamily living environment. Streets like Bellevue Avenue and Eden Avenue pepper with late-Victorian styles listing for around $300,000. The University of Cincinnati surrounds the north and west sides of Corryville, so there's a significant population of renters in the area, according to Alicia Stoughton with Keller Williams Advisors.

Nestled into the residential areas, Highland Coffee House and Mecklenburg Gardens are two beacons of retreat. Highland defies coffeehouse expectations and stays open late into the evening, the arching front windows illuminating the silhouettes of indoor plants as the sky grows dark. Across the street, Mecklenburg has specialized in German cuisine since 1865. Be sure to order a Bavarian-style pretzel to share with the table before deciding on your entrée.

Later in the evening, live music floods out of restaurant and venue doors of Short Vine Street. "Short Vine Street is their business district. It's a really vibrant and fun area. I go to those places even though I don't live there any longer, and I’m no longer a college student," Stoughton says. Bogart’s, a live music venue, is yet another example of Corryville’s balance of new and old. "Bogart’s has been there forever," says Stoughton. The multistory music haven reimagined a historic theater, and now hosts popular artists from all over the country. Following Short Vine Street, you can explore the various restaurant, bars and boutiques Corryville has to offer. At the end of the street, Kroger caters to everyday grocery needs.

For some time spent outside, you can head to Burnet Woods, a 90-acre park in the heart of the city. A series of trails take you on a reflective nature walk through arching maple and oak trees. Anglers can cast a line at the lake, and painters can bring a canvas to document the scene. The park also features a disc golf course and playground for recreational fun. While you’re there, don’t skip a trip to the Burnet Trailside Nature Center, or you’ll miss the Wollf Planetarium, a 12-foot dome showcasing a map of stars. Corryville Recreational Center encourages more exercise and activity close to home. With an annual membership fee, you can access a fitness center and gymnasium. The public can always visit the playground and basketball courts just outside.

In between park visits, local youth can attend Hughes STEM High School, one of 65 Cincinnati Public Schools. At the end of each student’s sophomore year, they pick a STEM field of interest, like health science of software development, to incorporate into their ensuing curriculum. The school had a B rating for teachers according to Niche.com, and the district scores an overall B-minus rating.

Whether its heading to the Bogart to see your favorite music artist or grabbing an evening tea from Highland Coffee House, you’re bound to feel the charm of a hip, urban area without losing the historic foundation.

Written By

Elise Steele

Photography Contributed By

Bob Benkert

Video By

Dan Mack