I recently had the opportunity to visit Cleveland for a few days and hang out with one of my favourite people in the world. I’d never heard anything good about Cleveland but having visited, I can tell you that Cleveland is a city that holds a certain undeniable charm, in the way a moldy basement might hold a dusty treasure chest.
The once mighty steel and auto industries now resemble a collection of rusting skeletons, a constant reminder of the past. But the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gleams brightly, a shrine to the city’s musical heritage and a more vibrant past. The Cuyahoga River, once so polluted it famously caught fire, now flows peacefully through the city. And Lake Erie offers a moody backdrop to the city skyline.
Cleveland, for all its quirks and imperfections, fosters a certain resilience in its inhabitants. They are a hardy bunch, persisting like a determined dandelion pushing through a crack in the sidewalk. I learned from several Uber drivers that they embrace their city, flaws and all, with a fierce loyalty that both confounds and compels me. Their sports teams, while perpetually on the cusp of greatness and perpetually falling short, inspire a devotion bordering on masochism.
I’m sharing things I did as well as things that sound fun and would be worth checking out on my next weekend in Cleveland.
- How to Get Around in Cleveland, OH
- What to See and Do in Cleveland, OH
- Where to Stay in Cleveland, OH
- Where to Eat and Drink in Cleveland, OH
- Itinerary for a Weekend in Cleveland, OH
Don’t miss out on this! This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Cleveland.
How to Get Around in Cleveland, OH
Walking is a good option given that most attractions in Downtown Cleveland can be reached within a 20-minute walk.
- Take advantage of Link by Superpedestrian, Spin, Lime or Bird electric scooter and bike shares. Note that the bikes can be used anytime, but the scooters are only active from 5am-11pm.
- Cleveland’s Regional Transit Authority (RTA) runs free trolley buses on weekdays. Visit RTA’s website or use the Transit App to purchase fares, plan trips, and track your bus.
- Lyft and Uber ride shares are also available.
What to See and Do in Cleveland, OH
Catch a performance in one of the Playhouse Square theaters or at the very least, visit the world’s largest outdoor chandelier adorning the street in the middle of the square. Playhouse Square is the largest performing arts center in the US outside of New York City.
See the Guardians of Traffic, four pairs of statues symbolizing progress in transportation that sit along the Hope Memorial Bridge. They are the inspiration for the name change of Major League Baseball’s Cleveland Indians to Cleveland Guardians.
Explore the interiors of some of Cleveland’s greatest buildings such as The Arcade, the 5th Street Arcades, the Cleveland Trust Co. Building, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the Cleveland Public Library, and Trinity Cathedral Episcopal Church. I didn’t have time to see the last of these but spent way too much time admiring the rest.
Cleveland Public Square is a large landscaped city square, often used for festivals. Look for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument (which you can enter for free) and the Old Stone Church. On the weekend, head to the Terminal Tower Observation Deck on the 42nd floor of Terminal Tower across from Cleveland Public Square for 360° views of Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River and the entire city of Cleveland. You need to buy tickets online for $5 plus service charge. (If the website says this event has ended, it means the observation deck is closed for the season).
Peruse the West Side Market. This market, open since 1912, has over 100 vendors selling fine meats, fresh vegetables, fresh seafood, baked goods, dairy and cheese products, fresh flowers, ready-to-eat foods, herbs, candy, and nuts. Grab a snack and head up to the balcony to enjoy a great overhead view of the market while you eat.
Visit the Cleveland Museum of Art. This is a free to visit art museum with an architecturally interesting atrium and over 45,000 works of art. See Monet’s “Water Lilies (Agapanthus)”, a display of Tiffany glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany, “Marilyn x 100” by Andy Warhol, an original casting of “The Thinker” by Auguste Rodin, and many more notable works. Note that if you drive here, the parking deck costs $14.
The Wade Lagoon would be a great place to relax and enjoy the cherry blossoms after visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Visit any number of other Cleveland museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland History Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Magick, International Women’s Air & Space Museum, or last but not least, the A Christmas Story House. I didn’t make it to any of these but am intrigued by the International Women’s Air and Space Museum, and the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Walk around Lake View Cemetery, a large, peaceful burial ground. Look for Wade Memorial Chapel (ornately decorated in Tiffany glass), James A. Garfield Memorial (with it’s breathtaking golden dome), Daffodil Hill, and the grave of John D. Rockefeller. The buildings were both closed when we visited, but Daffodil Hill was just starting to bloom!
Explore the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. This iconic museum is absolutely bursting with music memorabilia. There are 7 floors to explore, each filled with pop star clothing, hip-hop songs written on loose-leaf paper, broken heavy metal guitars, folk music video props, and so much more. This is worth the visit whether or not you consider yourself a “music person”.
Visit the USS COD Submarine Memorial. It was not open when I visited but this World War II era sub is open for tours May through September.
Spend your weekend exploring public art such as murals and script signs throughout Cleveland. I’ve marked a number of them on my map.
Explore one or more of the 18 parks that make up the Cleveland Metroparks system. Immerse yourself in nature with 300 miles of trails, challenge yourself on a stunning golf course, or encounter amazing wildlife at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. While I didn’t actually visit any of the Cleveland Metroparks on my trip, my friend and I did do a quick hike at a metropark outside the city.
Where to Stay in Cleveland, OH
There seem to tons of good accomodation options in Cleveland, though most were booked up when I went so try to plan ahead!
I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square. It offers a nice central location with modern rooms and friendly staff.
Kimpton Schofield Hotel – chic and centrally located hotel with tidy rooms and playful decor.
Residence Inn Cleveland Downtown – charming hotel with spacious rooms, modern amenities, free daily breakfast, and a convenient location for a weekend trip.
Metropolitan at The 9, Autograph Collection – charming hotel in a former bank building. It’s in a convenient location, but has transparent bathroom walls.
Hyatt Regency at The Arcade – In a prime location for a weekend in Cleveland and featuring views of the city or overlooking The Arcade.
Where to Eat and Drink in Cleveland, OH
Coffee and breakfast:
- Stop by The Copper Moon, a super tiny, standing-room only, unpretentious coffee shop with perfectly executed espresso drinks.
- I fell in love with Patron Saint Cafe + Bar, located in what was once a Vitrolite showroom. High ceilings and glass tiles grace the airy space. This cafe has Italian vibes all-day long with creative coffee in the morning which turns to aperitivi by evening. Expect light bites like continental breakfast plates and piadinas.
- A Cleveland breakfast favorite, Martha’s on the Fly is a cool diner with signature steamed egg sandwiches and house-made buns. They also have tasty sides like fries and seasonal hand pies.
- Goldie’s Donuts & Bakery boasts a gorgeous interior with marble, brass, and glass. Goldie’s uses premium ingredients to make sour cream donuts, honey-glazed crullers, and cinnamon rolls daily.
- The Cleveland Bagel Company makes slow-fermented, hand-rolled bagels that strike a balance between Montreal-light and New York-plump. Grab them fresh, possibly with spreads or as breakfast sandwich.
- Get your caffeine fix, enjoy a local craft beer, or indulge in a boozy donut – all at Brewnuts! This bright and artsy space is the perfect place to relax and unwind or watch some women’s’ sports. I disappointingly did not get to visit because it was closed the day I tried. Womp womp.
Lunch:
I sadly didn’t make it to any of these lunch spots but they all come highly recommended and are on my list for my next weekend in Cleveland!
- Leavened offers perfect sourdough breads, plus focaccia, cardamom buns, cheddar and scallion scones, cinnamon buns, Danishes, and delicious cookies. They also have rotating soups and sandwiches making this the perfect stop for lunch.
- The Judith is an effortlessly cool neighborhood cafe. They’ve taken art, fabrics, wallpaper, and vintage finds to create a dreamy, cozy escape. Fuel up with coffee, or savor labneh with fruit preserves. Want something more substantial? Dive into a cheese and charcuterie plate or a dressed-up tin of fish.
- According to Eater, headliners at LJ Shanghai are the steamer baskets overflowing with xiao long bao, but there’s more to consider. Must-tries include the shrimp dumpling wonton soup, spicy beef noodle soup, scallion noodles, shredded pork with preserved vegetables, and their signature soy sauce duck.
Dinner:
- Don’t miss Vero Pizza Napoletana for fantastic Neapolitan pizza. Get anything on the menu and you will be happy. It’s that simple.
- Zhug offers a tempting selection of small plates. From honey roasted beets and warm white beans to curried lamb on hummus and saffron braised lamb, the menu takes you on a delicious journey. Every meal comes with warm pita bread and zhug, my all-time favourite hot sauce. Don’t sleep on the creative cocktail menu either.
- The menu at Bright Side features creative comfort food made with fresh, local ingredients, while the drink list is heavy on craft beers and fizzy wines. An open-air island bar juts up against a glass wall, letting the sunshine (and people-watching!) flow right into this glamorous space. I will definitely have dinner here on my next weekend in Cleveland.
Desserts:
- Try Mason’s Creamery for ice cream. It was temporarily closed when I visited, but I’m hopeful that it will reopen for the summer.
Drinks:
- Unwind at Cloak & Dagger, a cozy haven with leather-bound books, antiques, and plush furniture. Their literary themed cocktails (beautifully illustrated booklet!) and all vegan menu are supposedly a must try. Enjoy fig butter bread, inventive salads, or a BLT with smoked tofu. I sadly did not make it here on my last trip.
- I fell in love with Patron Saint Cafe + Bar, located in what was once a Vitrolite showroom. High ceilings and glass tiles grace the airy space. This cafe has Italian vibes all-day long with creative coffee in the morning which turns to aperitivi by evening. Expect light bites like continental breakfast plates and piadinas.
Late night:
- Happy Dog is a dive bar serving up super creative hot dogs with toppings as wild as Froot Loops, peanut butter, and Flaming Hot Cheetos.
Itinerary for a Weekend in Cleveland, OH
I had 2 full days in Cleveland and I think one more day would have been perfect for a first visit to Cleveland. That said, I’m not going to spell out a detailed itinerary for you because you may want to do slightly different things than I did, but hit me up if you want help coming up with your own personalized itinerary. Here’s my Google Map that you can use to start planning your own adventure in Cleveland, Ohio.
Much like a forgotten casserole in the back of the refrigerator, Cleveland boasts many layers, some more appetizing than others. So be sure to pack an umbrella and a fire extinguisher, for you never know what misfortune might lurk around the corner. And try not to get burned by the river.
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