But in between events, you’re going to have some downtime, and we want to make sure you make the most of your trip.
Enter our visitor’s guide, which is chock-full of food, drink and entertainment information so you can enjoy all Dayton has to offer.
Where to eat & drink
Close to UD Arena
- Carillon Brewing Company, 1000 Carillon Blvd., opened last August. They open for lunch at 11 a.m. daily and stop serving dinner at 9 p.m. Brews are available until 10 p.m. It's not to be missed with its close proximity to the Arena and ties to local Dayton history.
- The Brown Street area on the campus of the University of Dayton has tons of great spots to grab a quick bite to eat, or to enjoy a longer meal and drinks. Some of your top bets include: Dewey's Pizza (131 Jasper St.), Flanagan's Pub (101 E. Stewart St.), FUSIAN sushi (1200 Brown St #125), Shish Wraps (1200 Brown St #150), Butter Cafe (1106 Brown St.), Five Guys burgers (1143 Brown St.), Smashburger (1200 Brown St #190), Milano's subs and pizza (1834 Brown St.), Jimmie's Ladder 11 (936 Brown St., amazing patio), Buffalo Wild Wings (1900 Brown St.), Jimmy John's (1157 Brown St.), Potbelly (1200 Brown St, #130), Ginger & Spice Asian Bistro (1105 Brown St.), Hickory Bar-B-Q (1082 Brown St.), the Submarine House (1137 Brown St.), Penn Station (1159 Brown St.), Chipotle (1211 Brown St.) and Panera (1203 Brown St.). If you want to splurge, head to the Pine Club (1926 Brown St.), a Dayton steakhouse that has received national attention and is truly a Dayton institution, or the Oakwood Club, 2414 Far Hills Ave. in Oakwood, which offers a steakhouse menu with several seafood specialties. Plus, there's Ben & Jerry's (1934 Brown St.) for ice cream.
Historic Oregon District (bordered by Patterson Boulevard, Keowee Street and U.S. 35)
- Lily's Bistro, 329 E. Fifth St., dishes fresh and seasonal eclectic American food
- Jay's Restaurant, 225 E. Sixth St., featuring seafood specialties, dinner only
- Salar, 410 E. Fifth St., boasts Peruvian cuisine and killer cocktails
- Roost Modern Italian, 524 E. 5th St., Dayton. The name says it all and the menu won't disappoint.
- Thai 9, 11 Brown St., offers Thai cuisine and sushi
- Blind Bob's, 430 E. Fifth St., grills up burgers and bar fare
- 5th Street Wine and Deli, 416 E. Fifth St., builds stacked deli sandwiches
- Corner Kitchen, 613 E. Fifth St. This is a finer diner that runs the gamut from simple pleasures like poutine and mac and cheese to a six-course tasting menu.
- The Dublin Pub, 300 Wayne Ave., for Irish fare. Do yourself a huge favor and try the Pub Fries. You won't be sorry.
- Lucky's Taproom and Eatery, 520 E. Fifth St., offers pub food and vegetarian options.
- Trolley Stop, 530 E. Fifth St., for farm-fresh homemade foods
- Toxic Brew Company, E. Fifth St., for local craft brews drawing from Belgian, Bavarian and American traditions
Downtown
- OinkADoodleMoo, 10 W. Second St., for fast-casual (and local!) BBQ
- Arepas Colombian Comfort Food, 416 E. Third St., serving Colombian specialties
- The Barrel House, 417 E. Third St., across the street from Arepas, has craft draft beers and wines
- Coco's Bistro, 250 Warren St., has modern American comfort food and lovely cocktails
- Century Bar, 10 S. Jefferson St., has over 120 unique bourbons in this 72-year-old establishment
Near the Nutter Center
The Nutter Center is located close to tons of shopping centers and the Mall at Fairfield Commons along North Fairfield Road, with plenty of fast-food and sit-down restaurants closeby from Red Robin to Red Lobster, from Olive Garden to First Watch to LaRosa's. Three relatively new restaurants have opened there recently: Chuy's Tex-Mex at 2717 Fairfield Commons Blvd., BRAVO! Cucina Italiana at 2731 Fairfield Commons Blvd. and BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, 2715 Fairfield Commons Blvd. And here are a few places you may not have heard of and might consider checking out: W.O. Wrights Grill & Pub (3979 Colonel Glenn Hwy), Tsao's Cuisine (3989 Colonel Glenn Hwy), the Fox & Hound (2661 Fairfield Commons Blvd.) and Spinoza's Pizza & Subs inside the Mall at Fairfield Commons (near Sears).
When the kids are bored
- Boonshoft Discovery Museum, 2600 DeWeese Parkway, offers 94,000 square feet of interactive science fun with a children's museum, Discovery Zoo, space theater and more.
- Experience Dayton History at Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., with 25 historical buildings on 65 acres ripe for interacting with the hundreds of artifacts in our exhibits.
- Visit RiverScape MetroPark, 237 N. Monument Ave. and enjoy a view of the Great Miami River.
- Watch the Dayton Dragons play at Fifth Third Field, 220 N. Patterson Blvd.
- Free admission at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 1100 Spaatz St.
- Get lunch at Proto BuildBar, 534 E First St., and watch the 3D printer in action. Or print your own 3D dinosaur.
- A quick drive away along Interstate 75, check out Scene75: an entertainment complex with inflatable bouncing, arcade games, indoor go-karts, mini-bowling, indoor putt-putt and more.
For a little culture
- Visit the Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park North.
- For the car lover, the Packard Museum is the world's only restored Packard dealership operating as a museum.
- See a movie at The Neon. Tickets are only $5 here on Tuesdays.
For a little shopping
- Kill some time at nearby Oakwood Shops on the Boulevard. Six blocks of shopping — with free parking — includes women's and children's clothing, oriental rugs, arts and antiques, and a children's toy store. While you're there, get a local taste of Ohio's own Graeter's Ice Cream, order a New York-style sandwich from Flyboy's Deli or a sugar fix from Ashley's Pastry Shop. Definitely stop by Dorothy Lane Market (2710 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood) and grab a killer brownie!
- Head to The Greene in Beavercreek (easily accessible off Interstate 675) for an outdoor shopping experience with tons of great stores including Von Maur and Books & Co, a movie theater, comedy club and some seriously amazing restaurants, many of which have great patios for outdoor dining such as Brio Tuscan Grille and The Cheesecake Factory.
- If you're looking for more indoor shopping, try the Mall at Fairfield Commons (accessible off I-675 and near the Nutter Center) or the Dayton Mall (accessible off I-675 and I-75), which also has tons of great restaurants nearby. If you go, grab a cup of coffee and some chocolates from Winans just outside of the mall.
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