Ohio Weekends > Ohio > Dayton

Nearby places: Germantown, Greenville, Richmond, Waynesville, Yellow Springs

Although Dayton is not generally perceived as the cultural center of the universe, there are a number of worthwhile attractions. Dayton is home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which hosts the Air Force Museum. Admission is free and a vast number of warplanes, experimental planes, and spacecraft are on display. The museum also boasts an IMAX theater.

The Dayton Art Institute has displayed a number of high-profile exhibits in addition to its permanent collection. We were fortunate to see the Ansel Adams exhibit, but unfortunately missed the Dale Chihuly glasswork exhibit.

Restaurant Reviews

We've discovered several favorite places for pizza and other Italian cuisine. Skip the overrated Dominic's and try these great restaurants.

Breakfast in Dayton can be a fulfilling experience- even at lunch time. Our favorite is First Watch, a growing chain of restaurants serving breakfast, brunch, and lunch. First Watch has been a favorite since our college days. Worthy of mention are the Breakfast Club Cafe and the Golden Nugget. Although the food at both of these restaurants was excellent, the coffee has a long way to go.

For lunch or dinner, El Meson may be one of the most unique restaurants in Southwest Ohio. The restaurant serves up authentic Latin American cuisine in a festive setting. A wise friend once said "you can't go wrong with the Cuban sandwich", although the biggest problem is trying to decide what to order. A broad selection of tapas, wines, and desserts makes for a delightful lunch or dinner.

We like the Dublin Pub, despite its rough spots. Maybe we wouldn't have noticed them if we were drinking? We're not experts on Irish cuisine, but the food is tasty, with authentic specialties such as Shepherds Pie and the Guiness Beef Boxty. Nice warm apple tort with cinnamon ice cream for dessert. We have two complaints. First, there are no high chairs for children; surely even the Irish take their children to eat! Plus, it was nearly as cold inside (January) as outside. The restaurant would benefit from a remodeled entrance to help keep out the cold winter air.

Shopping

Aside from the usual suburban sprawl, we have yet to discover too much interesting shopping. Foodies would do well to visit one of the three Dorothy Lane Market locations.

Dayton Art Institute
456 Belmonte Park North
Dayton, Ohio
(800) 296–4426

Cox Arboretum & Gardens Metropark
6733 Springboro Pike
Dayton, Ohio
(937) 434-9005

United States Air Force Museum
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
1100 Spaatz Street
Dayton, Ohio
(937) 255-3286

The Breakfast Club Cafe
South Main Street & South Patterson Boulevard
Dayton, Ohio
(937) 228-2179

El Meson
903 E Dixie Drive
Dayton, Ohio
(937) 859-8229

First Watch
2614 Colonel Glenn Highway
Fairborn, Ohio
(937) 431-9150

The Golden Nugget
2932 South Dixie Drive
Dayton, Ohio
(937) 298-0138

Check out our reviews of Italian cuisine!

Dorothy Lane Market
Three locations, including new Springboro location
2710 Far Hills Avenue
  Dayton, Ohio
6177 Far Hills Avenue
  Dayton, Ohio
740 N. Main Street
  Springboro, Ohio

Active Dayton
A local portal site

City of Dayton
The official City of Dayton web site

Dayton Daily News
The hometown newspaper

Dayton International Airport

WYS0 91.3 FM
public radio station in Yellow Springs, Ohio