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Ah, Cleveland. The CLE. Home of the Guardians and Browns. The city had 15 minutes of fame when Khloe Kardashian gave birth and the world watched. Cleveland is a beautiful city with a waterfront packed with activity. The downtown area is full of things to do and incredible places to eat and drink. This post includes 10+ of the best restaurants in Cleveland you must try.
If You Want Breakfast
1. Lucky’s Cafe
This breakfast spot was our first stop in Cleveland. The restaurant is located just outside the city in the Tremont neighborhood. The neighborhood is laid back and you are able to sit on the patio with a cup of coffee.
We ordered The Biscuits which were smothered in eggs and gravy. We also ordered the Grilled Cheese which comes with house-made cream of tomato soup.
See over 1,000 reviews of Lucky’s Cafe on YELP!
Lucky’s Cafe has been featured on Diners, Drive & In’s and Dives twice! I understand the hype. This quickly became one of my favorite restaurants in Cleveland and I cannot wait to go back!
Plan your trip now and view Lucky Cafe’s website HERE!
If You Want The Waterfront
2. Punch Bowl Social
This restaurant features indoor arcade games for the kids and a rooftop bar for the adults. Located downtown, Punch Bowl Social offers views of the surrounding buildings. We scanned around at the different architecture surrounding us.
See over 500 reviews of Punch Bowl Social on YELP!
The rooftop bar overlooks the Cuyahoga River and the Iron Curtain Bridge. The waterfront views are a calming presence out in the distance. The rooftop bar also features views of the First Energy Stadium, home of the Cleveland Browns. It really felt we were in a punch bowl and the city of Cleveland surrounded us.
Plan your trip now and view Punch Bowl Social HERE!
3. Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett sings about Brown Eyed Girls and Margaritaville. How lucky are we to get to live out his songs?
Margaritaville is a bar and restaurant in Cleveland. It is located along the Cuyahoga River. Offering views of the water in the distance, it is the perfect place to sip on a drink and have a bite to eat. There is indoor and outdoor seating at Margaritaville.
As an added bonus, there is a rooftop bar called Landshark Rooftop Bar. We were able to visit at sunset and watched the sun turn into a disappearing orange ball over the water. This view helped Margaritaville become one of my favorite restaurants in Cleveland. There was a magician walking around doing card tricks. There are couches for lounging. There is anything you could want!
Plan your trip now and view Margaritaville’s website HERE!
4. Lindey’s Lake House
This restaurant sits on the Cuyahoga River underneath the Main Avenue Bridge. This bridge is recognizable as it crosses through town with its sprawling blue arches. It adds to the riverfront aesthetic that is Lindey’s Lake House. There is indoor and outdoor seating available. The patio watches the river pass by.
Check out Lindey’s Lake House on YELP!
Pull up a chair and sit with the boats cruising next to you. We stopped in for a quick drink and appetizer as we were concluding our trip. This is one of the best restaurants we could have concluded our visit to Cleveland with. The views allow you to take in the beauty of the water and enjoy life by the river.
Plan your trip now and view Lindey’s Lake House website HERE!
5. Whiskey Island Still and Eatery
We dropped into Whiskey Island Still and Eatery on a nice afternoon. It was still early and we could tell they were setting up for a jam packed day. A band was getting ready to play. We sat on the tables on the grassy lawn. The water feels only feet away with views of the riverfront. If you enjoy a relaxing afternoon along the water, Whiskey Island Still and Eatery might be the place for you. Even more exciting, they often have live music.
See the band schedule and more on Whiskey Island Still and Eatery’s website.
If You Want To Bowl
6. HI and DRY Bowling and Beer
Are you interested in going bowling in Cleveland? While this spot has bowling lanes, it is not an official bowling alley. HI and DRY Bowling and Beer is a restaurant and bar that has miniature bowling lanes and arcade games. We had a group of people so we had fun taking turns renting a bowling lane for a quick game.
Check out HI and DRY Bowling and Beer on YELP.
We arrived at HI and DRY Bowling and Beer for a surprise birthday in Cleveland. We pulled off the surprise on the back patio. Any time we were not bowling, we hung out on the back patio. It was nice to enjoy the clear Cleveland day and get away from the bustle inside.
Find out more about HI and DRY Bowling and Beer on their website.
7. The Treehouse
Nestled in the Tremont suburb of Cleveland is a treehouse. And it serves alcohol. It is not in someone’s backyard. It is a bar and restaurant called The Treehouse. Complete with this unique bar, the restaurant has a back patio and a second story venue. We initially stopped in for a quick drink. I became obsessed with how unique this structure is. They serve most of the local beers but also have a full bar.
Check out The Treehouse on YELP!
We visited Cleveland again a few months later and had a surprise birthday party at The Treehouse. It was an epic venue for a party. When it got too crowded after dancing, we stepped out onto the patio. It is small and an easy escape from the people inside.
Plan your trip now and view The Treehouse’s website HERE!
If You Are In The Suburbs
8. Craft Collective
Cleveland has many surrounding suburbs. A very familiar suburb is Shaker Heights: the setting for the famous book and television show Little Fires Everywhere. Celeste Ng did an amazing job of detailing this neighborhood in Ohio.
In Shaker Heights lives Van Aken Market Hall. There are various shops inside. For example, one of my favorite shops ended up being STEM Handmade Soups. I fell in love with the almond oatmeal soap and wanted to buy it all. Fun Fact: If you are traveling, they can ship your order. This made it easier not having to pack my purchases in my carry-on.
Anyways, Van Aken Market Hall is home to Craft Collective. This is one of the many places to order food and drinks. Craft Collective had a wall of beers to choose from. After opting for two different ciders, we sat outside. The patio was perfect for the nice Cleveland day.
Check out Craft Collective on YELP!
If you are in Shaker Heights and looking for a cool spot, check out Craft Collective and Van Aken Market Hall. It is a fun way to spend the afternoon checking out local shops and drinking Ohio brewed beer.
Plan your trip now and view Craft Collective’s website HERE!
9. Fat Head’s Brewery
A local chain of restaurants, Fat Head’s Brewery is on the outskirts of Cleveland in the Middleburg Heights suburb. The brewery is located near the airport which is how we ended up there. The food list includes mostly bar food with pizzas, sandwiches, and so on. There is a large selection of beer or some other choices.
See the 4 star reviews for Fat Head’s Brewery on YELP!
In addition to sitting indoors, you can see the giant operation behind the scenes. You can poke your head around the brewing area. It made me have an appreciation for the beer. If you notice in Cleveland, you will see Fat Head’s Brewing on tap at many places! Now, you can say you have seen where that beer is brewed.
Plan your trip now and view Fat Head’s Brewery’s website HERE!
10. M Italian
In the suburb of Chagrin Falls is a land of amazing restaurants. One of which, is M Italian. This indoor outdoor restaurant is perfect for a sit down dinner over pasta dishes or a quick cocktail and appetizer.
To read more about M Italian, check out these 3 memorable things to do and see in Chagrin Falls.
Bonus: If You Want A Cool Bar
11. The IVY
Disclaimer – This venue has a strict 21+ age requirement.
After tailgating a Cleveland Browns football game, we went to The IVY to watch the game. The vibe was incredible. The game was on the big screens where the crowd went wild for every play. During commercials, the music would play and there would be little bursts of fun. After the game, the music stayed on and we were able to see how The IVY usually looks. It was the middle of a Sunday afternoon so it was nowhere near a club atmosphere yet. It was a fun spot to hang out with friends and listen to good music.
Plan your trip now and view The IVY’s website HERE!
My favorite part of The IVY were the jello shots. They were $1 a piece and were in syringes so you could shoot them into your mouth. There were also food and cocktail options to order so we were able to hang out here for a few hours.
Book Your Trip Now
These incredible restaurants in Cleveland helped make my trip complete. We had amazing meals and enjoyed any every opportunity to sit on the riverfront. These restaurants in Cleveland are sure to make your trip a memorable one.
Do you have any favorite restaurants in Cleveland? I love recommendations. Please share your experiences below.
Want to see more of Cleveland? Check out these 10 unforgettable things to see and do in Cleveland.
Cheers!
