Dayton is your classic Small Midwestern City with a few good spots to explore!

Dayton Tips:

Dayton is pretty small so I would recommend just a day or two to explore.
I would recommend trying to stay closer to the university area or downtown! The outskirts of Dayton are not always super safe, so the closer to downtown the better.
On a road trip through Ohio? Check out my guides to Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Hocking Hills!

Adventures & Ales Top Dayton Recommendations:

The Barrel House: A fantastic beer bar with a killer tap list and phenomenal selection of cans and bottles for on-site consumption or to-go. If you can only go to one place in Dayton this is the number one spot! Highly recommend.
Branch and Bone Artisanal Ales: A nice little spot with tasty beers and friendly staff members. They have a small dog-friendly patio as well.
Nowhere in Particular Cabinet of Curiosities: A very funky brewery with some delicious beers and some average beers. Overall I would recommend checking it out. They are dog-friendly inside and out!

Other things to do in Dayton:

Warped Wing Brewing Company: A solid brewery in a converted warehouse with a massive tap list. They have a kitchen as well with tasty food! There is no outdoor seating option here so dogs are not welcome.

Toxic Brew Company: A solid brewery right downtown with a wide range of brews.
Ghostlight Coffee: A great coffee shop with two locations in town.

Planning an Ohio trip? Check out my Columbus beer and travel guide here, Cleveland guide here, Dayton guide here, Cincinnati blog here and Hocking Hills blog here.

Jackie O’s Brewing: Athens & Columbus

Jackie O’s is best known for their stupendous Barrel Aged Stouts, Barleywines and Porters. Everything they make is delicious, but their barrel aging program is really what makes them the number one brewery in Ohio. Jackie O’s has four locations in Athens—Public House Restaurant, Uptown Brewpub, Taproom and Brewery and The Bakeshop and they also have Jackie O’s on Fourth in Columbus.

CLAG Brewing Company: Sandusky

CLAG is quietly emerging as a powerhouse brewery cranking out stellar IPAs, Lagers and Stouts. Their taproom is shared with Small City Taphouse and both tap lists are full of incredible beers and guest taps. They’ve got delicious food as well. This spot is a delight to visit.

Hoof Hearted Brewing: Marengo & Columbus

Hoof Hearted is definitely a “hype brewery” but they live up to their hype. They are best known for their IPAs, but their Stouts and Sours are also great. Their original taproom is in Marengo and they have a second space in downtown Columbus.

Listermann Brewing: Cincinnati

Listermann is easily the best brewery in Cincinnati. Their Stouts and Sours are superb, but everything they make is generally great. Their taproom is right off Xavier University’s campus and has chill vibes.

Masthead Brewing Co: Cleveland

Masthead crushes the Hazy IPA game. Located in downtown Cleveland, their taproom is a fun and spacious building with a pizza kitchen as well. Their barrel aged beers are also gaining notoriety.

Little Fish Brewing Company: Athens & Dayton

Little Fish is focused on using local ingredients for both their beers and their farm-to-table restaurant menu. Their Wild Ales, Sours and Stouts are what they do best. Their original taproom is in Athens and they have a satellite space in Dayton.

Land Grant Brewing Company: Columbus

Land Grant has a large tap list with a large variety of beers available. Their Sours are the most impressive but everything is well done. They have a massive outdoor space and frequent events.

Branch and Bone Artisanal Ales: Dayton

Branch and Bone is making unique and delicious beers in Dayton. They are known for their our Wild Ales, Saisons and Mixed Fermentation Styles, but their tap list always has a large variety of beers for any palate.