Top Things to Do in Cleveland, Ohio
The City of Rock and Roll has a playlist of attractions that includes University Circle’s 10 museums and galleries, and Little Italy’s hillside bakeries and restaurants. Oh, and there’s that rockin’ hall of fame too. Check out our trip guide of what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.
Do
The Arcade Cleveland Shop, dine or simply pop inside for photos at one of the city’s most iconic public spaces. The Victorian-era retail center features a massive glass ceiling, sparkly railings and the Hyatt Regency Cleveland hotel. theclevelandarcade.com
Cleveland Bike Tours Two-hour guided tours cover about 4.5 miles in downtown, University Circle or Ohio City. clevelandbiketours.com
Cleveland Botanical Garden The 18,000-square-foot Glasshouse spotlights plants, insects and birds from the spiny desert of Madagascar and the rainforest of Costa Rica. Roses and topiaries thrive in outdoor gardens. cbgarden.org
Cleveland Museum of Art The impressive collection spans 6,000 years of art. Look for highlights like Andy Warhol’s Marilyn x 100 and a 5,000-year-old statuette believed to be from Western Anatolia. clevelandart.org
Cleveland Museum of Natural History In addition to displaying favorites such as dinosaur skeletons and gemstones, this University Circle attraction puts on planetarium shows daily. cmnh.org
The Cleveland Orchestra During the summer, listen alfresco at Blossom Music Center, 25 miles southeast of Cleveland. clevelandorchestra.com
Cuyahoga Valley National Park Thirty minutes from downtown, forests, waterfalls, bike trails and a scenic train promise a family-friendly retreat. cvsr.com
Great Lakes Science Center See hundreds of exhibits and an Omnimax theater. greatscience.com
The Holden Arboretum More than 20 miles of trails wind through the gardens. A new 500-foot-long canopy walk provides views of dense pine forest from 65 feet in the air. holdenarb.org
Lake View Cemetery This cemetery feels like a park with views of Lake Erie. Visit the James A. Garfield Monument and the Tiffany-designed interior of Wade Memorial Chapel. lakeviewcemetery.com
Playhouse Square An outdoor chandelier with more than 4,200 crystals reflects the ornate lobbies of surrounding reborn movie palaces. Guests attend concerts, dance productions and touring Broadway musicals in America’s largest performing arts center outside New York. playhousesquare.org
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Look for treasures like Jimi Hendrix’s childhood drawings or jam on guitars, drums, keyboards and other instruments in a new space called The Garage. rockhall.com
Terminal Tower Catch a great view from the 42nd floor. towercitycenter.com
West Side Market More than 100 booths and stalls sell everything from soup to nuts at the indoor market; vendors reflect Cleveland’s melting-pot heritage. westsidemarket.org
Eat
Adega Be dazzled by chandeliers made of hand-blown glass and flatbreads like the shrimp and chorizo with garlic oil and arugula. metropolitancleveland.com
Alley Cat Oyster Bar Views of the Cuyahoga River complement seafood dishes (including, of course, oysters) in the buzzy Flats East Bank area. alleycatoysterbar.com
B Spot Burgers Celeb chef Michael Symon's most casual Cleveland joint serves the award-winning Fat Doug burger with pastrami, Swiss cheese and coleslaw. bspotburgers.com
Cleveland Tea Revival The husband-and-wife team of owners will happily explain the differences between kombucha, puerh and oolong. Lounge on the deck with a cup of your choice. clevelandtearevival.com
Cowell and Hubbard The former jewelry store shines with creative twists on contemporary French cuisine. Save room for hamburger-size meringues. cowellhubbard.com
Crop Bistro and Bar Gleaming marble columns and 35-foot- tall ceilings in a former bank provide a dramatic setting for dishes such as ribeye with heirloom tomato sauce. cropbistro.com
Fahrenheit This Tremont bistro has spiffed-up entrees, such as pizzas and coffee-and-mustard-crusted pork tenderloin. chefroccowhalen.com
Great Lakes Brewing Company Sample from a dozen or so craft beers on tap in an 1870s tavern. Flights pair well with a plate of locally sourced meats, cheese and produce. greatlakesbrewing.com
Noble Beast Brewing Company The family-run brewery and restaurant turns out exceptional brews, as well as creative dishes like pickled watermelon rind salad with edible flowers. noblebeastbeer.com
Lola Bistro In the hip Fourth Avenue entertainment district, celeb chef Michael Symon's menu draws carnivores eager for braised short ribs and beef-cheek pierogis. lolabistro.com
Lucky's Cafe Legendary cheddar and scallion biscuits with sausage gravy and homemade pastries keep this Tremont breakfast hangout hopping. luckyscafe.com
Mabel's BBQ Ribs, brisket and pork belly slow-cook to juicy perfection in wood-fire smokers at this downtown joint, an endeavor of celebrity chef and Cleveland native Michael Symon. Mabel's BBQ facebook page
Melt Bar and Grilled The grilled cheese-centric menu lists more than 20 options. We love the Monte Cristo, with honey ham, turkey, two cheeses and berry preserves. meltbarandgrilled.com
The Plum American food with creative twists might include grilled peaches with pistachio creamed corn or an Ohio lamb burger with feta and saffron yogurt. theplumcafeandkitchen.com
Presti's Bakery and Cafe Baseball-size cream puffs, cannoli and tiramisu are just a few of the sweet treats at the 116-year-old family-owned spot in Little Italy. prestisbakery.com
Pura Vida by Brandt Flip-top jars filled with chickpea spread accompany house ricotta, basil pesto, olive tapenade, radishes and grilled bread for an urban picnic experience. puravidabybrandt.com
Sweet Moses Soda Fountain and Treat Shop Get your fix of nostalgia with drinks and desserts at this old-fashioned joint. sweetmosestreats.com
Tommy's Restaurant Thick, rich milk shakes might be the first reason you come, but inventive vegetarian entrees (and decent burgers) make the eatery in Coventry Village destination-worthy. Be sure to sign yourself in on the waiting list. tommyscoventry.com
Stay
Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown Two fully restored 1931 murals by Cora Holden highlight a two-story lobby in the former Cleveland Board of Education Building. The hotel opened in 2016 after a $52 million renovation. druryhotels.com
Cleveland Airport Marriott A stunning renovation turned this into a gleaming gem. Whether you stay here or not, dine at AMP 150, a destination small-plates restaurant with veggies grown out back. marriott.com
Glidden House A converted 1910 French Gothic mansion gives guests a choice of vintage suites in the original structure or more modern rooms. gliddenhouse.com
Metropolitan at the 9 Sensuality rules in guest rooms equipped with glass-walled showers and gold lamé pillows. Chill at the rooftop bar, Azure, or try Mediterranean fare at on-site restaurant Adega. metropolitancleveland.com
The Schofield Hotel Playful nods to the city’s musical and manufacturing history—acoustic guitar loaners, sock-monkey-and-argyle-sweater carpet design—elevate the experience at this 122-room Kimpton lodging. theschofieldhotel.com
The Tudor Arms Restored murals and sculptures in public areas contrast with guest rooms’ sleek Euro-style furnishings in the 1929 hotel. doubletree3.hilton.com
For more information thisiscleveland.com