When you think of top city destinations in the US, Cleveland is probably not the first one that pops to mind. Honestly I didn’t know much about this Midwestern city aside from the fact that it was a swing state. So, as a fitting prelude to this major election year, I had the chance to visit Cleveland and see for myself what the city had to offer!
President’s Day also fell on the same weekend as Valentine’s Day this year, and though we were skeptical at first, Cleveland turned out to be a perfect romantic getaway. Midwestern winters are notoriously brutal (we arrived to a temperature of 19℉!), but we also found many places to get warm and cozy. Read on for our 3-day itinerary to Cleveland, including the best places to eat, and things to do!
Disclaimer: This trip was sponsored by Destination Cleveland, the city’s visitors bureau.
Day 1
Morning:
We arrived Friday morning and took a quick 20-minute Uber (about $22) to our hotel, the Kimpton Schofield. We were greeted by a sleek lobby, with a modern fireplace surrounded by buttery-soft leather couches. Our room had views of the historic Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building, which now housed a grocery store (more on this below). There were Valentine’s Day treats waiting for us, and even a handwritten note by the staff wishing us a love-filled time. It’s these little touches that make hotel stays so great. The hotel is also perfectly situated right in the middle of downtown Cleveland, so we were able to walk to a bunch of places.
After settling into your hotel, grab a coffee at Pour Cleveland just down the block before heading to your lunch destination.
Afternoon:
For lunch, there are many great options in the area. The hotel is situated just a few minutes from 5th Street Arcades, as well as East 4th Street. Some recommendations I got included Mabel’s BBQ and Saigon. We ended up at Otani Noodle because the cold weather had us craving some much needed hot, soupy ramen.
From there, cross the street to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument located in Cleveland Public Square. This is a monument dedicated to the Civil War soldiers and sailors from Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. It’s really stunning from the outside, and there were so many amazing artifacts inside. The monument is free to enter.
From here, continue your walk toward Lake Erie to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On our way, make a stop at the Cleveland Public Library. There was a free photography exhibit featuring local photographers, and we saw some beautiful street photography showcasing the many sides of Cleveland and its people. The library itself is huge, and housed in a beautiful building that was built in 1869.
It quickly became apparent that Cleveland has no shortage of beautiful architecture. Stop at Cleveland City Hall next. The building opened in 1916, and features an impressive domed ceiling with skylights and majestic columns in the lobby.
From there it’s just a quick 15 minute walk to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is definitely a must-see when you’re in Cleveland. At $28, the entrance ticket is a bit pricey, but it’s worth it. I would devote at least 2 hours to the entire museum. There were costumes and musical instruments belonging to some legendary artists, and it was so cool to see exhibits dedicated to the musicians that defined my childhood.
On your way back to the hotel, stop at Heinen’s Grocery Store to pick up some snacks. This is Cleveland’s oldest family-owned grocer, and the building is a prime example of 20th-century architectural grandeur. There’s also an amazing wine selection to boot. Check out the beautiful glass rotunda:
Get back to the hotel just in time for wine hour (5pm-6pm)! They also serve spiked hot cider, which can be enjoyed by the lobby fireplace and is just perfect after a day of wandering in the cold.
Night:
Start the night with a drink at the Marble Room, just two blocks from the hotel. The building was built in 1893 by the sons of President James A. Garfield, who was a Cleveland native. Fun fact: Ohio has been referred to as the “Mother of Presidents” having been home to eight US presidents, the most of any state.
The interior is grand and majestic, and perfectly restored so that you feel as if you’re stepping back in time to a royal gala. There happened to be a live saxophone player when we were there, which set the mood perfectly!
For dinner, there are many options within walking distance. We went to Taza, a Lebanese grill. Other nearby options recommended by Eater and Yelp: Adega, Urban Farmer Steakhouse, Blue Point Grille, Johnny’s Downtown, and Lola Wine Bar.
After dinner, grab a cocktail at Society Lounge. The basement venue feels speakeasy-esque, as does the dark, velvet decor. There are many interesting drinks on the menu, and the place gets lively. On the night of Valentine’s Day, it seemed like the perfect spot for a nightcap.
Day 2
Morning:
This morning, take an Uber or Lyft over to Good Company by Edgewater Park. It’s a cozy eatery with some delicious comfort food on the brunch menu. Afterward, take a stroll over to Edgewater Park which runs along Lake Erie. In the summer, I imagine this place is packed with locals enjoying the sun. It was a sunny but freezing day when we were there, and we saw a few joggers and dog walkers. Continue west and you’ll end up at one of the many Cleveland script signs sprinkled throughout the city. This one offers clear views of the downtown skyline.
To warm up, take a 10 minute taxi ride over to Brewnuts. As the name implies, this place serves coffee (brew), beer on tap (brewery), and donuts (nuts)! On weekends, the line goes out the door for their insanely decadent doughnuts. There are classic flavors, like glazed and strawberry sprinkles, and more fun options like maple bacon or s’mores. We had the “Death by Chocolate”, which had a chocolate mousse center but was surprisingly not too sweet and the dough was very light and fluffy.
After filling up on donuts,, you can hop on another cab to the Cleveland Museum of Art. They recently completed an 8-year renovation and expansion project in 2013, featuring a beautiful atrium with skylights. This was also the first museum I’ve been to with an interactive art exhibit, featuring AI and sensor-activated activities that are fun for adults and kids alike.
You can easily spend a few hours here. If hunger strikes, L’Albatros Brasserie nearby is a good option for lunch. Otherwise, head back to the hotel to rest up before dinner.
When you get back downtown, I highly highly recommend you stop at The Arcade. This is a historic Cleveland landmark built in 1890 as the first indoor shopping center in America. The Victorian-era structure connects two nine-story buildings with a five-story arcade featuring a glass skylight that spans 300 feet, along four balconies. There are a couple of shops and restaurants here, as well as the Hyatt Regency hotel.
Night:
For dinner, head over to the arty neighborhood of Tremont. If you have the time, I’d recommend coming earlier to visit some of the cute boutiques and art galleries. There is also an incredible culinary scene here, and we had a long list of places we wanted to try:
- Tremont Scoops (featuring vegan ice cream)
- Fat Cats (an eclectic eatery with shabby-chic decor)
- The Treehouse (an Irish pub with food and a tree in the middle)
- Sokolowski’s Tavern (a family-owned mainstay serving Polish classics)
We opted for Barrio’s, which was a lively bar with quirky decorations, tequila flights, and a build-your-own taco menu. I wouldn’t call the tacos authentic Mexican, but they were still delicious and it was a fun experience!
There are a couple of bars to check out after dinner, if you’re inclined to do some bar hopping.
- The Spotted Owl
- Edison’s Pub (apparently has the best late night pizza slices)
- Literary Tavern
- HI and DRY Bowling and Beer
If none of the bars pique your interest, you can do what we did and take a short cab ride over to Ohio City. We stopped at The Velvet Tango Room, which is a lounge-y space with fancy cocktails and live jazz. If this isn’t your vibe, you can do what we did and head down the block to Forest City Brewery. We had a beer flight and enjoyed live music from a local rock band in the huge warehouse space.
Day 3
Morning:
If you didn’t check out Ohio City last night, you’ll get a chance to today! Start with breakfast at West Side Market. This is the oldest indoor/outdoor market space in Cleveland, which opened in 1912. Spend some time soaking in the sights and smells of fresh baked goods, imported cheeses, and the produce and meat aisles. There’s also a crepe station and coffee. Don’t forget to make a stop at the balcony so you can admire the beautiful architecture.
On your way out, take a detour over to the Greetings from Cleveland mural located on the corner of Chatham Avenue and W 25th Street.
Then, continue walking up W 25th Street to work off all those pastries because you’ll soon be filling up on ice cream at Mitchell’s Ice Cream. This is their flagship location built into an old theater, and features their ice cream kitchen where you can see workers crafting the famous homemade ice cream. Flavors are not too wacky so you can really taste the purity of the ingredients (and don’t forget you’re never too old for sprinkles!).
Afternoon:
This is definitely the day of eating. Continue walking north on W 25th Street till you reach Ohio City Galley. They call themselves a “restaurant accelerator,” giving local chefs a space to launch their restaurant concepts. There are currently four restaurant concepts, and a bar built into the historic Forest City Savings and Trust Building (are you sensing a pattern here?).
After chowing down and having an afternoon beer, head east on Detroit Avenue. As you cross the Cuyahoga River over Center Street Bridge, you’ll notice the city gets more industrial. This is Irishtown Bend, once the site of a 19th-century Irish shanty-town. It’s mostly deserted now, and there are a couple of creepy looking storefronts that are closed for good. We wanted to find the Cleveland script sign at The Foundry, which is a rowing club, for another photo opp.
It will be hard to catch a cab here, and it’s only about a 20 minute walk back downtown. We passed by Cleveland Public Square and noticed that the season skating rink was open. We spent some time ice skating as the sun set over the buildings of downtown.
Night:
Before dinner, take a stroll over to Playhouse Square and see the world’s largest outdoor chandelier lit up. This is the city’s theatre district, and is actually the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City. There was a huge boom in the 1920s, yet the theaters closed down over the years following WWII and as television became popular. Through a grassroots effort, many of the theaters have been revived and restored to their former glory. There are now regular shows and performances, including some Broadway productions, and restaurants and bars have been popping up to cater to show-goers.
For dinner, you have many options in the area. We headed back to East 4th Street and had a casual dinner at Butcher and the Brewer. The industrial-chic brewery has local craft beer and creative bar bites, but is known mostly for their high-quality meat options from local farmers. There are veggie options as well, and we especially loved the curry cauliflower.
So there you have it, a 3-day itinerary to the must-see spots in Cleveland. While there are many indoor activities and cozy spaces that make the city a great getaway for the winter, I’d love to come back in the summer one day. There seemed to be many outdoor dining options, and lots of green spaces scattered throughout the city. There are also some neighborhoods further away from the center that weren’t completely feasible to us without a car. I was pleasantly surprised by the culinary and nightlife scene, as well as how proud locals are of their city. Needless to say, there is still much to explore in Cleveland!
