Eat, Drink, and Shop
Cincinnati Zoo offers a variety of food and drink selections, including healthy options! Zoo Bucks are a great way to pay for snacks and gifts during your visit.
Your purchase provides critical financial support and enables us to achieve our mission. Thank you!
Shopping
The main Zoo Shop, located in Vine Street Village, carries a wide range of items to commemorate your trip to the Zoo and also stocks practical items, such as sunscreen, to make your visit more enjoyable!
Shop Online
You can now shop at the Cincinnati Zoo’s Gift Shop online! Don’t miss all of the latest merch!
We are Plastic Bag Free as part of our sustainability initiative. Please Bring Your Own Bag: Bring a reusable bag or purchase a Zoo-themed tote from the gift shop for only $2.99. Thank you for helping us be The Greenest Zoo In America®!
Dining

Sweet Treats During PNC Festival of Lights
Warm-up with a variety of holiday treats available throughout the park including a new Glow cotton Candy and the popular Hot Hippo Drink!
Event MenuRestaurants
Hops, the Zoo’s craft beer garden, features local breweries from MadTree, Fifty West, High Grain, Fretboard Brewing Company, and MPH Brewing and overlooks scenic Roo Valley and our adventure ropes course, Kanga’ Klimb.
In addition to the excellent selection of local craft beers, our kitchen offers amazing made-to-order flatbreads, nachos, and pastas. Our Member’s favorites are here too: elephant ears and jumbo soft pretzels.
Hops has been certified as a Green Restaurant from the Green Restaurant Association!
Menu
Take a break from the elements in our traditional café. We have air-conditioned dining inside or sit on the Africa Deck, enjoying views of the Savannah while eating. We serve All-American classics including hand-breaded chicken tenders, LaRosa’s pizza, seasonal salads, deli sandwiches, & grilled burgers. Multiple kids’ choices make this stop a crowd pleaser for the entire family. The Base Camp Cafe has been rated the “Greenest Restaurant in America” by the Green Restaurant Association!
Located at the base of the Veldt across from Rhino Reserve is LaRosa’s, your neighborhood family pizzeria. Have a slice of Cincinnati’s classic cheese or pepperoni pizza, an order of breadsticks, or grab a whole pie for the family to eat on our al fresco patio. Draft beer and canned wine, also available.
Feeling famished from your travels? Bring your expedition to the Outpost Café for lunch to experience some of the classic Cincinnati Flavors, like Skyline Chili, Grippo’s Chicken Sandwich, or Avril and Bleh Brats.
Stop inside Mai Thai’s Marketplace to enjoy a scoop or two of local hand-dipped Graeter’s ice cream, either in a cup, a waffle cone, or as a decadent sundae. Need a quick coffee break? Chase that down with a Coffee Emporium specialty coffee available hot or iced or a Nitro Cold Brew coffee.
The Grove
Located in The Grove. Try our delicious Chicken & Waffles or hand-breaded chicken tenders. Spice it up with a little Buffalo Sauce or Nashville Hot Sauce!
Located in The Grove. Grab dinner at Wild Burger with offerings like our Wild Burger, Chili Dogs, or try the vegetarian-friendly Black Bean Burger. Loaded fries are also available here with toppings of bacon, cheddar, and ranch.
Located in The Grove. Funnel cakes, Pretzels, and Hot Chocolate, with the added aroma of our Cinnamon Almonds getting roasted! Menu
Snacks & Desserts
Located across from the Base Camp Café. Enjoy salty or sweet cinnamon sugar pretzels or hot chocolate and add some “Holiday Cheer”. Or pick up a delicious Funnel Cake loaded with wonderful toppings!
Located next to the train station, Refill & Refresh is Hot Cocoa Express! Stop by for a quick Hot Chocolate or a delicious soft pretzel – cinnamon sugar or salted.
Dippin Dots is an adventurous twist to your old ice cream favorites. The ice cream of the future is served in a variety of cool and tasty flavors at three locations: In Historic Vine Street Village, across from the Safari Train, and adjacent to LaRosa’s Pizzeria.
Chill out at Savannah Soft Serve with a cup or cone of Vanilla or Blueberry Soft Serve or be a little daring and twist them up with some fun toppings like rainbow sprinkles! Also grab a soft pretzel or popcorn to make your day complete!