Looking for somewhere new to grab a cold one (or three) this weekend? Look no further than these bars and breweries that you may not have frequented in the past. They’re all worth your time, we promise.
Stone Mad Pub
1306 West 65th St, Cleveland
Everyone who talks about this Detroit Shoreway neighborhood spot mentions two things; the bocce ball court and the beautiful patio. St. Patrick’s Day is next level at this Irish pub.
Photo via @Joey_Bowling67/InstagramThe Harp
4408 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
An Irish bar on steroids, the Harp isn’t just your corner joint with a few shamrocks on the wall. It boasts a large Irish-influenced menu and a spacious patio with a view of the lake. And with the Irish influence, they obviously know their fish and chips. They’ve been closed for COVID but will reopen March 2nd.
Photo via The Harp/Facebook Credit: Scene ArchivesMoriarty’s Pub
1912 East Sixth St., Cleveland
Opening in 1933, Moriarty’s has earned its name as downtown’s oldest bar. Before the Warehouse District and Tremont and Ohio City and East Fourth were the places to hang out, Short Vincent was the happening area of town. Moriarty’s is the sole survivor of a bygone era.
Photo via Moriarty’s Pub/FacebookHoopples
1930 Columbus Rd., Cleveland
We give a lot of credit to Hoopples for having one of the best views in the city with its industrial panoramic of the river and Cleveland skyline backdrop. An even more glorious scene: a basket full of filled-to-the-brim tacos. Sure, Tower City looks nice all lit up, but it’s twice as nice when you’re throwing back a pint at this spot in the Flats.
Photo via Scene ArchivesWorking Class Brewery
17448 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
This brewery and taproom, located in Kamm’s Corner, definitely lives up to its name by catering to the working class. Wednesday is a great night to visit if you’re in to trivia. And while we’d recommend getting a flight of beer at most breweries, this one is really the place to do it so you can sample a myriad of their delicious brews, which are mostly named after blue collar professions.
Photo via @AABatson/InstagramGunselman’s Tavern
21490 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park
Gunselman’s may mostly be known for their award-winnning burgers, but it’s also a great place to grab a drink. This former speakeasy, which has been opened since Prohibition, is a favorite hangout for locals.
Photo via @GunselmansTavern/InstagramHansa Brewery
2717 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
This Biergarten and beer hall is one of just a select few of German-style breweries in Cleveland. The menu of schnitzel, sausages and pretzels makes it feel like you could be in Ohio City or Munich. Oh, and the beer mugs are as big as you’d expect.
Photo via Scene ArchivesTina’s
5400 Herman Ave., Cleveland
There’s no better date than embarrassing yourself with some karaoke. And Tina’s Nite Club in the Detroit Shoreway is a quintessential Cleveland dive bar with the most fun karaoke in town. Karaoke is for paying customers only, but the drinks are more than reasonable.
Photo via @XOXOGarbageGirl/InstagramThe Spotted Owl
710 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland
With a detailed eye, reclaimed wood and stained-glass windows, the beautiful Spotted Owl came to Tremont in 2014. A cocktail bar at once sophisticated and approachable, with drinks that change as the Owl debuts new menus throughout the year, and which are seriously and thoughtfully constructed.
Photo via @SpottedOwlBar/InstagramThe Tavern Company
2299 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights
The Tavern Company has been a Lee Road staple for over ten years. In 2014, they took over the space that the iconic Colony operated in after owner Jim Brennan’s tragic passing. The Tavern Company, or TavCo as locals call it, is as Heights as it gets.
Photo via The Tavern Company/FacebookMerry Arts Pub and Grill
15607 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Since 1932, Merry Arts has served up food and drinks to the Lakewood community. It opened during the Great Depression, and if it could make it through that, well, we have a feeling it won’t be going anywhere any time soon, especially with how beloved Taco Tuesday’s are.
Photo via Scene ArchivesJohnny’s Little Bar
614 Frankfort Ave., Cleveland
Right around the corner from the popular Warehouse district white tablecloth Italian joint Johnny’s, you’ll find Johnny’s Little Bar, an iconic Cleveland spot. In addition to being a wonderful place to go after leaving your downtown job, the bar boasts a “world famous” burger, giving the traditional Italian menu at the main restaurant a run for its money. And the people watching is outstanding here.
Photo via Scene ArchivesHotz Cafe
2529 West 10th St., Cleveland
This Tremont bar has been in the same family since 1919. Back in the days of League Park, it used to be a favorite hangout of visiting ballplayers and was frequented by the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig and Ty Cobb. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is also said to have thrown back a drink or two at this dive.
Photo via Scene ArchivesFlat Iron Cafe
1114 Center St., Cleveland
The oldest Irish pub in Cleveland was established over 100 years ago, all the way back in 1910. They’ve been serving alcohol and pub fare to blue collar Cleveland in the Flats ever since.
Photo via Scene ArchivesHarbor Inn
1219 Main Ave., Cleveland
As the oldest continuously operating bar in Cleveland — open since 1895, thank you very much — the Harbor Inn has many stories to tell. Thankfully, the West Bank of the Flats spot keeps its secrets, and night after night allows patrons young and old to imbibe in witty conversation and general tomfoolery virtually undisturbed while swallowed up in dim yellow light.
Photo via Harbor Inn/FacebookCorky’s Place
13302 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Corky’s, which hosts karaoke every Wednesday through Saturday, keeps its songbooks stocked with the newest hits from the Nashville country scene as well as old-school Seattle grunge. And unlike most karaoke spots, where the drunk redneck singing “Ring of Fire” is shoved off into the corner, here you’re the headliner, front and center, with stage lighting, a roaring sound system, and a packed house — especially on the weekends.
Photo via Corky’s Place/FacebookThe Cleveland Brewery
777 East 185th St., Cleveland
This under-the-radar brewery in the Euclid/Colinwood neighborhood brings a much needed brewery to the near east side. This is the perfect spot to hit up before or after a show down the road at the Beachland Ballroom.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBrick and Barrel Brewing
1844 Columbus Rd., Cleveland
This brewery fits perfectly into the low-key vibe of the Columbus Road Peninsula neighborhood of the West Bank of the Flats. The interior feels like your neighbor’s really cool garage and the beers are really fantastic, especially the Noble Saison, which is blended with Riesling wine. This is the perfect spot before heading to a show at Nautica (or whatever the hell it’s called these days.)
Photo via @BrickAndBarrelBrewing/InstagramBookhouse Brewing
1526 West 25th St., Cleveland
Differentiating itself from both the rough and ready garage-style brewhouse and the cavernous factory-size production facility, Bookhouse is delightfully cozy, with fine carpentry softening exposed brick walls, tile floors and tin ceilings. Bookshelves line the walls, lending a snug reading room vibe to the 100-seat space.
Photo via Bookhouse Brewing/FacebookAcademy Tavern
12800 Larchmere Ave., Cleveland
Larchmere’s Academy Tavern is one of the oldest drinking establishments not just on the East Side, but in all of Northeast Ohio. Like a well-worn couch, this vintage corner tavern may show its age, but its comfort is undeniable. For proof, just look at the diverse clientele. They started serving cocktails just after prohibition, in 1939, and have been a staple of the neighborhood since.
Photo via @DJMikel/InstagramThe Little Rose Tavern
14206 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
This little bar, which opened in 2019, opened with a goal of being the neighborhood bar for the West Park area of Cleveland and has succeeded so far. Three friends and former Happy Dog employees turned the space that was formerly Nolan’s Bar into a great hangout spot for near Westsiders.
Photo via The Little Rose Tavern
