Summer 2026 Edition

I used to think you had to leave to find something worth your time. You get older, you realize it was here the whole time. You just have to slow down enough to see it.

Summer's when Toledo opens up. The patios fill in, the river slows down, and the city finally gives you a reason to stay put. Here's where I land when it gets warm.

It starts with coffee. Not a to-go cup on the way to something else, a real one, sat down, early, before the day starts asking things of me.

Vistula

Earth Coffeehouse

Tucked inside TolHouse in Vistula, this coffeehouse and cafe is open to all, with more than 150 plants keeping you company while you sip.

When it's time to eat, it's Souk. Small groups, good cocktails, a meal that runs longer than you planned because nobody's in a rush to leave. That's the whole point of my summer.

Featured

Warehouse District

Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar

Mediterranean plates and craft cocktails in the heart of the Warehouse District. It's the kind of spot you settle into and don't want to leave.

Some nights I don't make a plan. I end up over in Vistula, the oldest neighborhood in the city, and let the block set the pace.

And when I want the best fish in the Midwest, and I mean that, it's Kengo. Every single time.

Featured

Warehouse District

Kengo Sushi & Yakitori

Tucked into the Warehouse District, this spot does chef-driven sushi and charcoal yakitori right. It's a Toledo standout worth the trip.

Small groups, smooth cigars, laid-back vibes. That's summer in the 419. Go find your own.