Once a year, we turn over the entire issue to you, the readers, to tell us what the very best things in Cleveland are.
It’s a chance to celebrate the certified best the city has to offer, the plum perfect shops, restaurants, people, businesses and more that define this great city.
After tens of thousans of votes, the winners have been decided.
These are the best bars and clubs of Cleveland for 2021.
Best Concert Venue: Beachland Ballroom and Tavern
15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland
Before they opened the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern in Collinwood over a decade ago, co-owner Mark Leddy booked garage and punk bands at Pat’s in the Flats while co-owner Cindy Barber worked as a journalist. Diehard music fans, they turned their dream of running a club into a reality when they purchased this old Croatian dance hall and turned it into a music hotspot that features both an intimate tavern and a spacious ballroom; the club will often host two shows a night. Bands like the White Stripes played the Tavern before graduating to bigger venues, and the Nashville-via-Akron garage-blues duo the Black Keys played their first-ever show in the Tavern. You’ll still find a diverse lineup of bands about to break through and indie favorites who make it a point to include the Beachland on their tour schedules. Oh, and the club also hosts one of the most popular Sunday brunches in town.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Jazz Club: House of Swing
4490 Mayfield Rd., University Heights
A small bar with a big blues sound, the House of Swing will transport you back to an old-style juke joint from the 1920s. It may be called the House of Swing, but if you want to hear some of the best blues music Cleveland has to offer, this is the place to be.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Rock Club: The Agora
5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
The Agora is a Cleveland rock landmark that has been around since 1966 and in its current location since 1986. Divided into a spacious theater and a more comfortable ballroom, the club has three bars, and it’s as big as the names who play there.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bar or Club for Local Music: Mahall’s
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood
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. A mecca of awesomeness, with food, cocktails, music, bowling and beer. The doors opened in 1924. In 2012, new owners re-vamped the menu and space while holding onto the business’s historical integrity and glory.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bar or Club for Underground Music AND Best Hip-Hop Club: Grog Shop
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights
This Coventry Road concert venue opened in 1992 when owner Kathy Blackman and two business partners took over a Cleveland Heights bar on the corner of Coventry and Mayfield roads. Since that time, the club has moved to a bigger space at the corner of Coventry and Euclid Heights Boulevard but has maintained its roots and ethos. It regularly hosts a dynamic mix of bands that includes everything from punk and reggae to hip-hop and indie rock.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Blues Club: The Bop Stop
2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
With sweeping views of Lake Erie, the Bop Stop is an awesome venue for smaller shows. As part of the Cleveland Music Settlement, this non-profit organization hosts performances most nights of the week in non-COVID times.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest LGBTQ Bar, Best Hip-Hop Club and Best Club or Bar to Dance: Twist Social Club
11633 Clifton Ave., Cleveland
With a pretty thorough renovation in 2014, Twist returned with a fabulous vengeance and is now the premier LGBTQ club and bar in town. And even though summer is finally winding down, the patio at Twist Social Club anchors a splendid little westside district and offers a fun and welcoming trip for all. Garage doors open from the club onto the patio, and the energy inside (music! lights!) spills outward with zeal.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bar/Club for EDM: FWD Day + Night Club
1176 Front Ave., Cleveland
If you’re looking to dance your ass off while overlooking the Cuyahoga River, FWD is definitely the spot you’re looking for. During the warmer months, the day and night club hosts electronic acts and DJs from far and wide and makes this a party like no other in town.
Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene ArchivesHoopples
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 ArchivesBest Neighborhood Bar: Treehouse
820 College Ave., Cleveland
There’s really nothing fancy about the Treehouse, save, of course, the fake tree that sprouts from the middle of the bar and extends its branches outward. Otherwise, you’ll find a nicely stocked batch of taps, a healthy dose of (not always healthy) bar food, and one of the most glorious patios in Cleveland. Really, the patio is huge, and it’s filled afternoon or evening. It is one of the best spots to enjoy a brew under the open sky in one of Cleveland’s favorite neighborhoods.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Spot for Day Drinking: Platform Beer Co.
4125 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
The Ohio City-based brewery owned by Justin Carson and Paul Benner debuted with a wee 3-barrel system in the summer of 2014. Six months later the team upgraded to its current 10-barrel system, supported by a battery of new 15-barrel fermentation and conditioning tanks. It’s a microbrewery that feels like a bar you just want to chill at for hours .Earlier this year, they created The Lot, an outdoor beer garden.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Karaoke: Corky’s Place
13302 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
At Corky’s Place, even the drunkest and most vocally challenged are rewarded with a hearty round of applause. Maybe it’s because everyone else is just as drunk as you, or maybe the down-and-out atmosphere of this shot-and-a-beer dive makes your eyes-closed hatchet job of “Highway to the Danger Zone” seem right at home.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Happy Hour: Humble Wine Bar
15400 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
This place really has everything you look for in a wine bar. They have a delicious, eclectic selection of wine, great small plates, and a wonderful cheese selection. In addition to their awesome happy hours, their delicious Neapolitan style pizzas are what really makes this place stand out.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest New Bar: Cloak and Dagger
2399 West 11th St., Cleveland
This bookish cocktail lounge has nicely settled in at the revolving-door space in Tremont that has been home to many short-lived restaurants. Billed as a neighborhood craft cocktail bar, the library-themed salon boasts a book-like menu filled with libations described with tasting notes like herbal, floral, smoky and spicy. The beverages are buoyed by an all-vegan roster of bar bites like fries, “pork” rinds, BBQ “chicken” skewers and banh mi sammies.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Gentleman’s Club: Christie’s
1180 Main Ave., Cleveland
A repeat winner of this category, the strip club in the Flats is a fan favorite, and it’s not hard to see why. Christie’s is as classy as it gets for local strip clubs, and it’ll make you feel right at home. In addition to their regular line-up of gorgeous women, they’ll host some big names in the adult industry.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bar With Games: The Side Quest
17900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
You don’t have to be a game nerd to enjoy Side Quest, but it doesn’t hurt. The relatively young Lakewood bar filled a niche in the Cleveland bar landscape, notably as a destination for quirky, nerdy, friendly, board-game loving folks. There are trivia nights, themed nights (Star Wars, Pi Day), and a healthy batch of craft offerings. But the main draw is the selection of board games. Pick from the abundant options or bring your own. Bring some pals to play or join a game.
Photo via The Side Quest/FacebookBest Bar For Singles and Best Sports Bar: Around the Corner
18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
The popularity of the Lakewood dining scene and the newest bistro or gastropub can often cause visitors to overlook neighborhood spots like Around the Corner. That would be a mistake, as they are one of the best spots to watch a game and have one of the better bar menus in town, including award-winning wings.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Wine Bar: Flight
5712 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
Flight Cleveland, a wine shop and bar, opened in the former home of Latitude 41n in the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood in 2018. The property features two distinct spaces, one devoted to a large bar and soft seating like sofas, armchairs and banquettes. The opposite side is dedicated to the tasting room and retail bottle shop. Flight is one of the most attractive and appealing spaces around in which to explore and enjoy wine.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bar Patio: Rocky River Wine Bar
1313 Linda St., Rocky River
Located in a quiet spot right in the heart of downtown Rocky River — in a grotto of sorts off Linda Street — Rocky River Wine Bar has long been a westside gem. Credited informally with kicking off River’s Linda/Detroit development boom (see Bomba, Whole Foods, Market, etc.), the place is upscale without being snooty, and you can always count on a good time when you stop by. The wine is the centerpiece, but the food is top-notch.
Photo via Rocky River Wine Bar/FacebookBest Bar Trivia Night: Winchester Music Tavern
12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood
There’s something so Cleveland about the Winchester. Maybe it’s the way it books the familiar (’70s singer-songwriters), the reliable (veteran rockers), and the safe (acoustic duos). Its music room, hidden behind a tiny bar, is surprisingly large and comfortable. In addition to the live music, the Winchester also holds an awesome live trivia night.
Photo via Winchester Music Tavern/FacebookBest Local Beer: Masthead Brewing Company
1261 Superior Ave., Cleveland
If it’s true (please let it be true) that man can survive on a diet of just pizza and beer, then Masthead Brewing Co. has all the requirements necessary to sustain life. But more than that, this four-year-old brewery has injected a much-needed jolt of life into an area of downtown Cleveland that desperately needed it. Check out a few crowd favorites including their aptly named IPA, their Single Origin Coffee Stout and their Jalapeño IPA.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Metal Club: The Foundry
11729 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
This Lakewood hard rock club has gone through a number of iterations over the years but has seemingly found its footing as a westside joint specializing in hardcore and heavy metal. The birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll is blessed with an ecosystem of venues supporting every kind of music and the Foundry is proudly and capably carrying the mantel of earlier metal clubs that have been the central scenes for so many Clevelanders over the years and will hopefully do so for a long time.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Best Bar on the Water: Collision Bend Brewery
1250 Old River Rd., Cleveland
The brewpub in the East Bank of the Flats was named the best brewpub in the country in 2019 according to USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The combination of the exquisite views, the locally sourced menu and home brewed beers all contributed to that lofty ranking.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBest Bottle Selection: Winking Lizard
Multiple Locations
Let’s be real: The best part of world travel is sampling each nation’s brew. So leave your passport at home, and slither over to the Winking Lizard. The tour begins in Europe: Visit Belgium for Krullekop Tripel, England for a pint of Boddingtons, and Ireland for some Molings Red Ale. Swing up to Norway for a swig of Aass Bock — which tastes much better than it sounds — and cruise to Germany for Celebrator Doppelbock. Hop a continent to land in Japan’s own Kirin Ichiban, then dip down under for that Australian staple, Foster’s, in the fat 25.4-ounce can. Finally, celebrate your arrival back home with a big bottle of Stone Arrogant Bastard or with the familiar taste of Cleveland’s own Great Lakes.
Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene ArchivesBuckeye 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
