Thanksgiving in Cincinnati 2026: Where to Pre-Order, Dine Out & Celebrate Thanksgiving Eve

Where can you order Thanksgiving dinner, eat out on Thanksgiving Day, or celebrate Thanksgiving Eve in Cincinnati this year?

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and you've got options: local butchers, delis and bakeries taking pre-orders, restaurants serving a sit-down turkey dinner, and bars across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky throwing Thanksgiving Eve parties on Wednesday, Nov. 25. Pre-order deadlines start as early as Nov. 16, so it pays to plan now.

We know that's a lot of info at once, so we pulled together as many local spots as we could: shops taking pre-orders if you don't want to cook, restaurants serving a turkey dinner, and places to hang out the night before so you don't have to dirty the kitchen twice. Pre-order now, lock in a reservation, or start planning your Wednesday night escape from the in-laws.

Where to Pre-Order Thanksgiving Dinner in Cincinnati

Local shops are cooking, so you don't have to. Some of these sell out before their deadline, so order early.

Wyoming Meat Market x Rekas Butchery & Delicatessen | Wyoming

The Oven Roasted Whole Turkey ($150) is a pasture-raised, non-GMO, never-frozen bird from a local farmer, brined, roasted and sliced in the pan with au jus. It serves 10 to 12. Add the Side Dish Bundle ($220), which includes 4 pounds each of sage cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn pudding, sweet potatoes and green bean casserole, plus turkey gravy and homemade cranberries. Sides are also sold separately, including old-fashioned praline sweet potatoes with a nut-free topping.

• To order: Call 513-821-2200

Eli's BBQ | East End

If your family wants a little smoke with its Thanksgiving, Eli's Whole Smoked Turkey Breast comes with a bottle of BBQ sauce and reheating instructions for $80, and it feeds 10 to 12. Round it out with any of their regular sides.

• Order deadline: Nov. 24 (they often sell out sooner)
• Pickup: Flexible pickup times

The Pickled Pig | East Walnut Hills

The special Thanksgiving menu features smoked turkey, pork loin and lamb ragout, with sides like green bean casserole, pumpkin and sweet potato puree, corn pudding and cranberry chutney. Pies are available too. If you're new to the neighborhood, our East Walnut Hills guide covers what else is nearby.

• To order: Call 513-748-7114 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• Pickup: Nov. [24] and 25 at 645 E. McMillan St.

Eat Well | Newport

Eat Well's Thanksgiving Takeaway Shop is stocked with its most requested sides and desserts, including traditional sausage stuffing, vegan stuffed acorn squash and bourbon pecan pie. Build your own spread or grab the Thanksgiving Eve Bundle.

• Pickup: Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 518 York St., Newport
• Delivery: Available to most addresses inside the I-275 loop

Danny Boy Deli | [Neighborhood]

Danny Boy Deli's order-ahead menu covers the parts of dinner everyone fights over.

• Brioche rolls: $12 for 6
• Brioche herb stuffing (serves about 4): $20
• Garlic and herb mashed potatoes (serves about 4): $25, plus 16 oz. of turkey neck gravy for $10
• 9" real pumpkin pie with maple whipped cream: $30
• Order deadline: Friday, Nov. 20, by emailing dbs@21mfw.com

Daylily Deli | [Neighborhood]

You get a dozen soft, buttery brioche rolls with dill, sage, thyme, rosemary and flaky sea salt. They're pre-baked, so all you have to do is warm them. Fair warning: someone will eat a few before the turkey is cut.

• Order deadline: Monday, Nov. 16
• Pickup: Wednesday, Nov. 25 at DRC Mercantile or DRC Montgomery

Makers Bakers | [Neighborhood]

Makers Bakers is the place to go for dessert. A few standouts:

• 9" Derby Pie ($55): chocolate, pecans and a hint of bourbon
• 9" Caramel Apple Pie ($45): tart apples baked in a caramel filling
• Bourbon Caramel Banana Pudding Party Bowl ($75): 80 oz. of bananas, vanilla bean cake and house-made bourbon caramel
• Classic pies from $25: pumpkin, Mom's sweet potato and chess
• House stuffing mix ($8): sourdough, brioche, focaccia and honey wheat, for anyone still making their own
• To order: [How to order + deadline]

Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner in Cincinnati

These restaurants are serving dinner on Thanksgiving Day, so you can skip the cooking and the dishes. Book a table soon, since Thanksgiving reservations fill up fast.

Coppin's Restaurant + Bar at Hotel Covington | Covington

Coppin's annual Thanksgiving buffet brings traditional holiday favorites and seasonal dishes to one of the prettiest dining rooms in Northern Kentucky. Each reservation gets two hours, with coffee, tea and soft drinks included. Thinking about the area? Our Covington neighborhood guide covers it.

• Adults $75 | Seniors $55 | Children 4 to 12 $19

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant | Montgomery and Liberty Township

The Thanksgiving menu starts with butternut squash soup, moves through slow-roasted turkey, stuffing, potatoes, roasted vegetables and cranberry sauce, and ends with pumpkin praline cheesecake. A wine list comes standard, which helps when a relative brings up politics.

The Golden Lamb | Lebanon

Ohio's oldest inn has served Thanksgiving dinner for generations, and some families have been coming for just as long. It's turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce with more than 200 years of history on the side. Call ahead, since Thanksgiving reservations go quickly.

Seasons 52 | Rookwood

Seasons 52 is serving roasted turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberry relish and a pumpkin pie mini indulgence, with zero dishes to wash afterward.

Eddie Merlot's | Montgomery

Eddie Merlot's is serving a three-course turkey dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the regular menu is still available for anyone who'd rather have a steak.

Where to Go on Thanksgiving Eve in Cincinnati

Wednesday, Nov. 25 is one of the busiest bar nights of the year. Everyone's back in town, and nobody has to cook yet.

Cincinnati Thanksgiving Eve Bar Crawl | Downtown

• When: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Where: Check in at Queen City Exchange
• Cost: $19 to $21

Hometown friends are back for one night, and this is the place to catch up.

Cyclones vs. Bloomington Bison | Heritage Bank Center

$2 beers the night before Thanksgiving is a Cincinnati tradition, and the Cyclones' Thanksgiving Eve game usually draws close to 10,000 fans. Stacking your empty cups into a pyramid is optional but encouraged.

Wobble Before You Gobble at The Stretch | The Banks

• When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Where: 191 E. Freedom Way
• Cost: Free entry

Catch the Cyclones game with $2 game beers, then stay for a live DJ at 9 p.m., $2 Miller High Life, $4 White Claw and specialty shots. It's right around the corner from the arena, so you can do both.

Thanks & Cocktails at Igby's | Downtown

• When: 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.
• Where: 122 E. 6th St.
• 4 to 7 p.m.: Half-price wells and drafts, $5 wine
• 8 p.m. to close: $4 cans, half-price wells and DJ Simo

Taste of Emo at MadTree | Oakley

• When: 7 to 10 p.m. (taproom open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

Thanksgiving Eve gets an emo night. Old band T-shirts are encouraged, and eyeliner is up to you. Our Oakley neighborhood guide has more on the area.

Holiday Pop-Up Bars Open for the Season

If you'd rather go somewhere festive, Cincinnati's holiday pop-ups are opening for the season, and several open Thanksgiving week.

• Holiday Hideaway at Red Leprechaun | The Banks | Now through Jan. 4, 2027
• Jingle Barrel at Braxton Barrel House | Fort Mitchell | Nov. 13 to Dec. 31
• Tiki Tiki Bang Bang at Sippin' Santa | Walnut Hills | Opens Nov. 24
• St. Nick's Speakeasy at Arnold's Bar & Grill | Downtown | Opens Nov. 25
• Cousin Eddie's Garage at Braxton Union | Union, KY  |  Nov. 25

Plan Your Cincinnati Thanksgiving Now

Pre-order deadlines start Nov. 16, Thanksgiving reservations go fast, and the night-before crowd is real. Pick your spots this week and Thanksgiving gets a lot easier. Football is part of the weekend too: our guide to where to watch Bengals games in Cincinnati has you covered.

Spending the Holidays Thinking About Your Next Move?

The holidays have a way of making you notice how your home works, or doesn't, when the whole family is in it. If you're thinking about more space, a new neighborhood or a move in the new year, the Better Way Home team is happy to talk it through. Call Brad at 513-916-2363 or email brad@mybetterwayhome.com.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Better Way Home!