If you’ve dated in Cleveland, you’ve had your ups and downs. Mainly downs. Okay let’s move on. Anyway, if you’ve dated in Cleveland you’ve also definitely done all if not most of the following, because they’re so utterly Cleveland to their core, and because they’re fun and proven winners. Haven’t done them all? Check off one on your next date night.

Cleveland Museum of Art 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland It’s free, which is a great start, but the Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the best art museums in the country. And as for a perfect date destination, the space allows for ample whispering and even hand holding while walking through the storied halls. Nuzzle up close to read signs, lean in to point out something beautiful. Credit: Tim Evanson/Flickr
The Muni Lot Schlepping downtown to a giant parking lot filled with converted trucks and porta potties might not sound like the most romantic thing in the world but in Cleveland it qualifies. Love is swigging White Claw at 9 a.m. out of a plastic cup while barking “Here we go Brownies.” Credit: Emanuel Wallace
Cleveland Metroparks Walk The Metroparks is one of the shining gems of Cleveland. Hiking through the woods, makes for one of the more romantic Cleveland things you can do with a date. It’s quiet. It’s all about the conversation. And if words fail you, nature is there to pick up the slack. Credit: Jen Goellnitz/Flickr
See a Show at Cleveland Cinemas on $5 Mondays The cheap movie night has been a go-to since your parents were dating and it never goes out of style. Get close, maybe do a little making out, see a flick. Rinse and repeat. Credit: Scene Archives
Swings-N’-Things Bring out your inner child at Swings-N’-Things (8501 Stearns Rd., Olmsted Twp.). the Cleveland institution where you and your sweetie can putt putt, take some swings in the batting cages, or hit the bumper carts. Credit: Swings-N-Things/Facebook
Cedar Point There may not be a more ‘Ohio’ date than Cedar Point. Voted the best amusement park in America on a regular basis, it’s the roller coaster capital of the world, and it’s right down I-90. Even if you and your date don’t love high speed rides and skyscraper-tall coasters, Cedar Point has something for you, even if it’s just the merry-go-round. Credit: @TBug2001/Flickr
See a Guardians Game at The Corner With $15 tickets available, a true Cleveland date is buying two tickets at The Corner to watch the Guardians. You may end up drinking more than you actually watch the game, and you’ll definitely end up talking more than watching the game, but you can’t beat the atmosphere. Credit: Erik Drost/Flickr
Li Wah 2999 Payne Ave., Cleveland Located in the Asian Plaza — a three-floor complex of professional offices, gift shops, herb stores, and Asian food markets — Li Wah offers an assortment of traditional dim sum as well as a large menu of fresh seafood and authentic Hong Kong-style cuisine. Cleveland guys and gals know to go on a Sunday afternoon, when the variety of dishes being pushed around on carts is at its maximum and when they want to show off to their date that they know the best brunch spot around. Credit: Scene Archives
Explore the Newly Opened Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar + Arcade 1880 West 25th St., Cleveland A project that was first announced in 2019 finally reached the finish line in March. Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar + Arcade, which opened in Ohio City, was previously home to Daniels Furniture. The sprawling entertainment complex spans 27,000 square feet spread across two floors. While the all-ages social destination is one cohesive attraction, it is comprised of two separate venues. Cleveland gamers likely will be familiar with 16-Bit, the classic arcade game emporium that for six years lured nerds to Lakewood. Joining that concept is Pins Mechanical, Rise’s duckpin bowling brand. Credit: Doug Trattner
Best Late Night Eats: Edison’s 2373 Professor Ave., Cleveland When it comes to late night pizza and a beer, you can’t go wrong with Edison’s. It’s the quintessential Tremont bar, the quintessential Cleveland bar — a real bar’s bar, you dig? But they also have great pizza, so you should definitely hit this place up. Credit: Scene Archives
Little Italy Dinner followed by Presti’s Little Italy has some of the best restaurants in the city and has been a date-night destination forever. A bowl of pasta and red sauce or a pie followed by pastries at Presti’s, which has been around since 1903, is a truly Cleveland experience that hasn’t changed much since your grandparents did it — eexcept maybe the names on a few of the restaurants. Credit: Presti's/Facebook
Happy Dog and Superelectric Start the night out with a dog, tots and beer at Happy Dog and stay for some live music and then head down the road to Superelectric Pinball Parlor where you can finish the night with pinball. That’s a pure slice of west side Cleveland right there. Credit: Super Electric Pinball Parlor/Facebook
Dinner and then ice cream at Mason’s Creamery Mason’s is delicious, Mason’s is cute, Mason’s has ice cream, Mason’s means summer, summer means love, love is everything. Credit: @MasonsCreamery/Instagram
Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios 1300 W. 78th St., Cleveland It’s easy to get overwhelmed by 78th Street Studios, home to over 60 creative businesses. But every Third Friday, from 5-9 p.m. you and a hot date can walk through a maze of breathtaking local art. As long as you’re getting to know each other, it will be ok to get lost a little and take your time. Credit: Emanuel Wallace
The Zoo 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland The zoo isn’t just for the kids, guys. It’s a magical place of wonder and nature and more romantic than you’d think. Who, after all, doesn’t love cute animals? No one. Credit: Alan92Rttt/Flickr
Bowling at Mahall’s Mahall’s has been around since 1924. There’s great food, live music, and of course bowling, which combine for a true Cleveland date night that you’ve been on before and will be on again. Credit: Mahall's/Facebook
Wandering around Chagrin Falls Chagrin Falls really has it all. In the quaint downtown, while you overlook the romantic Falls, you can do some men’s shopping at Cuffs, followed by some women’s shopping at Haven and Sanity, then some book browsing at Fireside, furniture shopping at W Home and Chestnut Hill. Then there’s vintage toys at Apple Jax and vintage home goods at White Magnolia. Of course, no trip is complete without some sweets at Jeni’s, The Popcorn Shop or Kelsey Elizabeth. Credit: Marc Buehler/Flickr
Stroll Lakeview Cemetery 12316 Euclid Ave., Cleveland No, taking a date to a place full of dead people isn’t exactly normal, but in Cleveland it is. Throughout the year, experience various events like the daffodil weekend and the lighting of the Christmas tree, all for free. Plus, there’s always the tomb of President James A. Garfield to explore. Credit: Lens Wide-Open Photography/Flickr
Go See a Drive-In Movie Seeing a movie from the car sounds to us like a perfect activity for the hot weather. With five theaters around Northeast Ohio, you’re sure to find one close to you. Just make sure you crank the AC up. Credit: Scene Archives
Kayaking the River There are few better ways to enjoy the sights of Cleveland than traveling through its main waterway in a kayak. The mighty Cuyahoga winds through Northeast Ohio carrying gigantic ore ships and weekend travelers, but it also affords you, the novice outdoorsman, the chance to kayak alongside them. Whether you’re each flying solo or in a tandem, kayaking on the river is a true blue Cleveland date activity that will never go out of style. Credit: Michael Lehet/Flickr
The Barrio Taco Date If it wasn’t the first or second date location, it was in the first 10 if you got that far. Credit: Barrio Tacos/Facebook
Best Karaoke: Tina’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. Credit: Scene Archives
See a play at Playhouse Square Playhouse Square truly is one of the best theater districts in the country outside of New York City. We get all the big tours, from Broadway musicals to dramas and everything in between. Take advantage of what our theater district has to offer. Credit: @Erik Drost/Flickr
The Orchestra at Blossom in the Summer A picnic, some wine, stars in the sky and stars on the stage? If there’s a better recipe for a romantic evening in Northeast Ohio show it to us, because this might be the best date of them all. And as a bonus, you’re showing that you’re creative and cultured by taking your date down to the summer home of the orchestra and explaining that it was that organization who built it decades ago. Credit: Courtesy the Cleveland Orchestra

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