Vista at Lytle Park

Vista at Lytle Park was one of the top places that I wanted to go to in Cincinnati. It’s a rooftop bar, so that's a given that it will at least be fun to go to, but the food and drinks there are impeccable which is such a great bonus.

The first time I went to Vista was during the summer, so I knew that it would be crowded. We put our names on the list and went and sat at the hotel bar area and got drinks while we waited. Miraculously, a worker came up to us and basically had us skip the line to get to the rooftop and we got to our table within about five minutes of being there.

After skipping the long line, the vibes were great and we ordered some of the restaurant's unique drinks. One thing about Vista is that they are changing the food and drink menu, so whenever you go back, you may not be able to get the same thing. When I went in the summertime, I got the Queen City Mojito which was delicious with rum and lychee flavors in it.

The food menu at Vista has such a good variety and it’s hard to pick one thing to order. I ordered the Vista Flatbread – which had sausage, pepperoni, and bacon – to split with my roommate, and the table split the Naanchos. I actually didn't know these were any different from regular nachos until now, but instead of chips, it was made with naan (wasn't even sure what that was until now). Nevertheless, the nachos were delicious and you can never go wrong ordering them.

Because of COVID, we spent the entire night at Vista because everything closed early at the time, and we made friends with the bartender who ended up giving us free shots. I don't know what the shots were, but they came out in a rainbow fashion, and it was nice for them to have some fun with us.

The next time I went to Vista was in the winter when you could still go on the rooftop, but it was all covered with glass panels. There was no wait for the restaurant, which was surprising because it still was just as beautiful in the summertime. I ordered the Crown Jewel cocktail that had vodka and elderflower flavors with a pretty orchid on top.

For dinner, I ordered the sliders, which is not usually my vibe, but my friend had gotten them the last time we went and said they were a must-get. Of course, they were delicious and the perfect size for dinner.

The best part about Vista is the unique signature cocktails they have, so of course, I had to try another one after my meal. I decided on 98 Degrees, which was a delicious spicy margarita-type drink.

Like anyone, I’m a sucker for a rooftop bar with an amazing view. It’s even better because Vista was just as great during the winter as it was in the summer. It’s the perfect place to go any time of the year, and it’s enjoyable to spend the entire night there trying new drinks. I’m looking forward to going back there to see what’s new on the menu and try more of the items.