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Drive a couple miles Central Pkwy North to Hopple West. Just over the highway on the right is Camp Washington Chili. It's Greek chili, not Tex Mex. I advise a cheese coney and a 3-way. If you like beans and onions, do a 5 way.
It's totally fine to order something to split, and three are options for small orders of chili spaghetti. They have goetta there too, but you can't order it during lunch unless it's Saturday.
This is a good idea- gets you goetta, Cincy chili (though I prefer skyline for actual chili- Camp is great for the whole diner experience).
There is a bus I want to say that you could hop if you don't have a car. I would use the Transit app to find it. Can't think of which one would do that route off the top of my head.
The 16 and 64 appear to go right by there.
I figure if you have one shot, you should try to hit all at once. I'm a Skyline fan and have never had their chili, but I have never heard anything negative. The Skylines downtown don't have the chili parlor feel, so I would recommend here first for both time and ambiance.
Mod here- I guess we could use a wiki eh? Or some stickied thread with info (like maybe this one?)
Anyhow, @Th3D3k0y@lemmy.world did a great job with some OTR recs for eating. I'll add a bit.
Findlay Market is worth a look. Has a bunch of different food shops and restaurants. They serve beer on the weekends too at each end of it. Eli's is a decent BBQ place (note- NOT like KC bbq, NC bbq, etc.- just a standard good bbq place.) Vietnamese, Colombian, Asian in general, etc. restaurants. Cigar lounge, cheese "restaurant" which serves all manner of cheeses - The Rhined - plenty of play on words with the neighborhood obviously.
In OTR alone you have a few places to drink. Rhinegeist is the big brewery just north of Findlay (specialties are IPA but everything they do is pretty good). Right next door is Northern Row who is fantastic for old world styles in general. Both are part of the historic Moerlein Brewing Co complex (who is now up the road and also has a spot down on the river with great views. ) Next door to Findlay Market is also the only other Sam Adams taproom (since we produce at least a third and probably more of all the Boston Beer Co stuff).
Another brewery that recently changed to a new one is Mellotone Beer Project in an absolutely stunning old church. I have to say the decor has changed far for the worse (used to be great beer hall tables with a warm wood finish) but the building is still nice and the beer/food is great. Not far are plenty of other bars and restaurants. Thai Rolled Ice Cream down the street, our local Graeters ice cream at 14th and Vine is amazing (handmade in French pots). Taglio has Detroit style pizza, Goodfellas has NY style with pizza by the slice.
Flight Club is downtown (another post on here about it recently)- throw darts. One of the few outside the UK afaik. Dueling Axes and all that by Findlay.
For "must do" eats I think goetta (also at Findlay Market but unsure if they prepare it hot- maybe Eckerlin's?), Cincy style chili (I prefer Skyline- there are a few around downtown), Graeters ice cream. Those are the main ones you'll only find here anyhow.
As a local suggestion, I heartily recommend brunch on Sunday (or a normal meal at other times) at Kantine. It is run by a great German guy named Peter and the food is amazing. This is a true biergarten experience and there really isn't a bad thing on the menu. It'll be too cold to sit outside but it is quite lovely if that is something that'd be up your alley. Obscure location which is why I don't think any tourist would normally find it. Buses go up that route the same as to Camp Washington chili (or drive to it- parking in the lot or on the street is readily available.)
Edit- tours could be good.
First is pretty cool- go underground in some old cellars. Second is pure OTR. Third is more beer oriented. All are good I believe (I've done both the first and third personally- even led a couple of the third.) There also is a free app for the Brewing Heritage Trail that you can use while you're out and about if you're interested in beer (Cincy was/is a massive beer city.) https://brewingheritagetrail.org/the-trail
I'm not one for drinking personally, so I can't help there.
I do however recommend the American Sign Museum, and Krohn Conservatory. If you like art Contemporary At Center and Cincinnati Art Museum.
For food Knockback Nats has very good smoked wings. Alabama Fish Bar for... fish. Daruma has onigiri if you're here on a weekday. The Eagle has very good fried chicken. Allez has really good sourdough bread for sandwiches. Then there are the almost always recommended Nada and Sotto if you want upscaled food.
There’s already a lot of great suggestions here but I’ll throw in some of my personal favorites!
Hope you have a great time in the city!