We all know food tastes better after a night out on the town after a few cold drinks. While many restaurants and bars have cut back the hours of their kitchens during the pandemic, luckily for us, there are still a bunch of places to enjoy a late night bite in town.

Happy Dog 5801 Detroit Rd., Cleveland Happy Dog is the perfect Cleveland bar – the food is reasonable and good and most weekend nights there’s live music and shows are usually free or cost just five bucks to get in. If you haven’t been to this institution, go next time you have a chance. (Open till midnight Sunday, through Thursday, 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday) Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
Flannery’s 323 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland Walking distance from where the Guardians and Cavaliers, Flannery’s has been a beloved bar since 1997. It sold in 2018 and was totally revamped but it maintained its feel as an Irish Pub. You can still get corned beef and kraut-stuffed Reuben balls, but there’s a great new half-pound pub burger blended with chuck, brisket and short rib. Classics like bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and meatloaf and mashers all have been upgraded. (Open till midnight Tuesday-Thursday, till 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 p.m. Sunday) Photo via Scene Archives
Edison’s 2373 Professor Ave., Cleveland You’re not doing Tremont right if you don’t land at Edison’s for at least some portion of your night. It’s the quintessential Tremont bar, the quintessential Cleveland bar — a real bar’s bar. Whether you’re just stopping in at the pickup door for a pizza or you’re posting up at the lovely bar for an evening round with your finest friends, you’ll be well taken care of here. (Kitchen open daily till 2 a.m.) Photo via Scene Archives
Steve’s Diner 6850 Biddulph Rd., Brooklyn Open since 1955, Steve’s Diner, also known as Steve’s Hotdog Diner, is a 24-hour haunt in Brooklyn. The no frills menu feels like a throwback to bygone days. Luckily, we still have places like this around to keep us honest. Photo via Steve’s Diner/Facebook
Mahall’s 20 Lanes 1114 Center St., Cleveland Coming up on their 100th anniversary in a few years, this bowling alley, music venue, bar and restaurant was established by the Mahall family in 1924. It’s still one of the more happening spots in town. Photo via Scene Archives
Town Hall 1909 West 25th St., Cleveland The popular West 25th bar and restaurant, which recently expanded to Columbus’s’ Short North neighborhood, has been the place to see and be seen ever since it opened in 2013. The GMO-free menu is also one of the more vegan/vegetarian friendly places in town. Photo via Scene Archives
The Fairmount 2448 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights Located in the Cedar Hill neighborhood, the Fairmount takes pub food to the next level. With a warm and lively atmosphere and one of the best patios in town, you’re missing out if you haven’t been. (Kitchen open until 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 12 a.m. Friday and Saturday) Photo via The Fairmount Cleveland/Facebook
Butcher and the Brewer 2043 East Fourth St., Cleveland This East Fourth spot brews their own beer, has a lively atmosphere, and a butcher shop where delicious sandwiches are made to order. Their meats, which are aged and cured in-house are fantastic and their house smoked corn dogs coated in buttermilk batter were featured on the program. So was their Stop-Hop-Kaboom IPA. Photo via Scene Archives
The Rib Cage 2214 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights and 1830 West 25th St., Cleveland This barbecue joint serves some of the meatiest wings around. Go for the ‘Carolina Mustard Vinegar’ for one of the most unique and delicious flavors in town. They’ve been open in the Heights since 2012 and expanded to West 25th in 2018. (Open till midnight Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m. on Thursday.) Photo via The Rib Cage Smokehouse/Facebook
Lago 1091 West 10th St., Cleveland Chef Fabio Salerno’s Lago is the place to be seen in the East Bank of the Flats. The patio is usually jumping and the meatballs are to die for. (Kitchen open till midnight Sunday-Wednesday, 1 a.m. Thursday to Saturday) Photo via Lago East Bank/Facebook
The South Side 2207 West 11th St., Cleveland Casually hip and artfully unpretentious, this clubby Tremont tavern offers very good food, cold beer, stylish surroundings and frequent appearances by local bands and DJs. And if all that isn’t reason enough to visit, remember that during warm weather, the handsomely landscaped patio is one of the coolest destinations in town. (Kitchen open till midnight Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday) Photo via @TheSouthsideCleveland/Instagram
Photo via @HollySanker/Instagram
Market Avenue Wine Bar 2521 Market Ave., Cleveland On a cobblestone street behind the Great Lakes Brewing Company, the Market Avenue Wine Bar is an oak-soaked, dimly lit getaway with an intimate Greenwich Village ambiance. Touted as Cleveland’s first-ever wine bar (it opened in 1985), it’s stocked with more than 700 bottles of wine, including 30 open bottles of reds to buy by the glass. It’s also applauded for its menu of hors d’oeuvres, with the baked almond brie the hands-down favorite. (Kitchen open till 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday) Photo via Scene Archives
Buckeye Beer Engine 15315 Madison Ave., Lakewood The beer flows at this joint, where they always have a wide variety of breweries on tap from around the country and the world. Right now they have a super pils from Belgium, a pilsner from Maine, a sour from Wisconsin, a Pumpkin Ale from Brooklyn and much more. The menu may sound like bar food, but it’s very high end bar food, done right. (Kitchen open till 11 p.m. daily) Photo via Scene Archives
City Tap 748 Prospect Ave., Cleveland Located in the heart of Downtown, City Tap is the perfect spot for wings and other bar food right before heading over to take in a Tribe or Cavaliers’ game. The ‘Honey Sriracha’ wings are a standout here. (Kitchen open till 10 p.m. Sunday, 11:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday) Photo via City Tap/Facebook
ABC The Tavern 1872 West 25th St., Cleveland A classic Cleveland “old-man” bar with a totally modern vibe, this well-run tavern offers a full bar and plenty of tasty noshes, ranging from roasted red pepper hummus to a humongous burger. Nightly happy hours help make this a popular destination. Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
Mars Bar 15314 Madison Ave., Lakewood Oh man, the gyro at Mars Bar in Lakewood is worth getting this place on its own. It’s one of the best versions in town: Warm, thick and plush pita is piled high with flavorful shaved lamb-and-beef meat, crisp red onion, thick-sliced tomato and creamy tzatziki sauce made by the owner’s mother. (Kitchen open until 2:30 a.m.) Photo by Emanuel Wallace Credit: Scene Archives
Barrio is somehow a controversial topic
My Friends Restaurant 11616 Detroit Rd., Cleveland Ask most people and the name My Friends Restaurant is what first comes to mind for the ultimate late night breakfast eatery. This 24-hour Lakewood/Cleveland border haunt serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day, but the people watching is priceless after midnight.

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