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®!
Plush Recycle, Reward, Repeat
Guests can now trade in an old or unused animal plush at the Cincinnati Zoo! These toys will be collected and sent to TerraCycle, ensuring that they are repurposed and kept out of landfills. ♻️
Dining
Restaurants
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!
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!
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 Mom ‘n ‘Em’s specialty coffee available hot or iced or a Nitro Cold Brew coffee.
New! Welcome to our convenient Grab and Go section at Mai Thai’s Marketplace! Here you’ll find a selection of your favorite zoo snacks like popcorn and cotton candy, freshly made wraps and salads, and refreshing beverages including a selection of canned beer and wine. We also have retail items available for quick and easy purchase on our self-serve kiosks. Stop by and grab a bite or browse through our curated selection of products for a hassle-free shopping experience.
The Grove
Snacks & Desserts
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!