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35 Cozy Cleveland Bars to Warm Up in This Winter

By Scene Staff

There's nothing like escaping the frigid winters by grabbing a drink at your favorite watering hole. The rich mahogany tones of an old bar with whiskey and beer flowing can warm up even the coldest of souls. Around Cleveland, there are a bunch of bars that fit this cozy description. Not too crowded with dark lighting and unpretentious.

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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

Velvet Tango Room

2095 Columbus Rd., Cleveland

What was once sort of an open secret around town has now become a full-on Cleveland landmark. The Velvet Tango Room remains the gold standard of martini joints in our city. Here, cocktails aren't just another drink. Here, there's a history and a story, not to mention handmade ingredients and the kind of expertise that translates to a few-minute wait for your drink and indelible, endless memories once you take a sip.

Photo via Velvet Tango Room/Facebook

The Foundation Room at the House of Blues

308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

Whether it’s before or after a show or just on any night you want to get a drink in a quiet place, you should check out the Foundation Room at the House of Blues - but make sure you know someone who’s a member in order to get in. This funkily-designed bar makes you feel like you’re somewhere in the far East, with Persian rugs and Indian designs giving the place a very relaxing feel.

Photo via Scene Archives

Prosperity Social Club

1109 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland

Cozy and retro, this former workingman’s watering hole serves up food, booze, and a bowling machine along with the live music. You’ll find locals laying down everything from lounge and jazz to folk and bluegrass. They also have a kitchen that stays open nightly until midnight and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Photo via @ProsperitySocialClub/Instagram

The 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

Johnny’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 Archives

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.

Photo via Happy Dog/Facebook

Flat 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 Archives

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 Archives

Becky’s

1762 East 18th St., Cleveland

Located half a block from Cleveland State's main campus, Becky's is always packed wall-to-wall with students downing $2 domestic beers and and chowing down on specialty sandwiches. The music, emanating from a small jukebox in the corner, tends toward '80s faves like Bon Jovi. The bartenders, most of whom are CSU students themselves, mingle freely with the crowd. The partyers linger till closing time, when bartenders have to shoo out the patrons.

Photo via Becky’s Bar/Facebook