Cleveland may not have developed it’s lakefront as well as other cities, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have some bars and restaurants with some great views of the water. With the Cuyahoga River, the Chagrin River and of course Lake Erie, there are plenty of bars and restaurants in the Cleveland area to visit where you can sit outside, enjoy a nice meal and look out at one of these bodies of water.
Cleveland may not have developed its lakefront as well as other cities, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have some bars and restaurants with some great views of the water. With the Cuyahoga River, the Chagrin River and of course Lake Erie, there are plenty of bars and restaurants in the Cleveland area to visit where you can sit outside, enjoy a nice meal and look out at one of these bodies of water.
Shooters On The Water
1148 Main Ave., Cleveland
Shooters has historically been a focal point for the Flats. There’s an outdoor bar, plenty of patio seating, and endless Instagram-worthy picture spots. It’s right off an RTA stop, providing easy access and views of trains, bridges and ships at harbor.
Photo via Shooter On The Water/FacebookTinkers Creek Tavern
4000 Tinkers Creek Rd., Walton Hills
Set close against a rural, tree-lined road, and just at the border between Walton Hills and Valley View, Tinkers Creek Tavern is a casual watering hole and restaurant in a remarkable natural setting on the Cuyahoga River.
Photo via Tinkers Creek Tavern/FacebookThe 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. The music is as likely to be rootsy rock as it is Irish.
Photo via Scene ArchivesCollision Bend Brewery
1250 Old River Rd., Cleveland
Zack Bruell’s brewpub in the East Bank of the Flats was recently named the best brewpub in the country, 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 ArchivesWhite Oaks
777 Cahoon Rd., Westlake
Founded during Prohibition, White Oaks has been serving up booze and a mostly meat and seafood menu to Clevelanders since 1928. This throwback of a restaurant serves an awesome Yuengling battered walleye for Lent.
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe Rusty Anchor at Music Box
148 Main Ave #200, Cleveland
Sitting perfectly amidst the water and the city’s skyline, you feel like you’re in the heart of Cleveland. If the food and the views aren’t enough, they have outdoor music to soundtrack your experience. Although it is open only as a bar Monday and Tuesday, there’s full restaurant service Wednesday through Sunday. If you haven’t been yet this season, what’re you waiting for?
Photo via @MusicBoxCle/InstagramNuevo Modern Mexican
1000 E 9th St., Cleveland
Right on Lake Erie, Nuevo is the spot to hit up before visiting the Rock Hall. They originally opened in Akron and expanded to the banks of Lake Erie in 2016 and have been serving up tacos and tequila there since.
Photo by Doug TrattnerLuca
2100 Superior Viaduct., Cleveland
One of the best Italian restaurants in town also contains one of the best views of the city. The sacchetti, which contains white truffles over ricotta stuffed pasta shells, may sound heavy for the summer but you have to get it while sitting on the patio at this Superior Viaduct-located spot.
Photo via Luca Italian Cuisine/FacebookLakehouse Restaurant
11850 Edgewater Dr., Lakewood
Good food in a casual atmosphere with a beautiful view of Lake Erie is the name of the game at this Lakewood spot. It’s a smaller, family-friendly restaurant and one of the only places with a great view that’s also open for breakfast.
Photo via Lake House Restaurant/FacebookE55 On The Lake
5555 North Marginal Rd., Cleveland
The Metroparks has totally revived this beautiful lookout point of Lake Erie by adding a bar, restaurant and bait shop to this spot. There’s also live music on Saturdays and some of the best views in town.
Photo via @WonderWoman415/InstagramAlley Cat Oyster Bar
1056 Old River Rd., Cleveland
Alley Cat Oyster Bar in the Flats offers up the freshest seafood and equally delectable views of Lake Erie. Plus from 3 p.m.-6 p.m., the place boasts $2 oysters and $5 cocktails. Take in the scenery and kick back some oysters while planning out your summer getaway.
Photo via Scene ArchivesChez Francois
555 Main St., Vermilion
Nestled on the banks of the Vermilion River, this quaint French restaurant reminds us of why we might never need to visit France. While it’s a bit of a hike out to Vermilion, this is dining and views at its finest and well worth the trip.
Photo via Chez Francois/FacebookPier W
12700 Lake Ave., Lakewood
This Lakewood seafood restaurant has won Scene’s Best Of award for ‘most romantic restaurant’ multiple times, and for good reason. The views of Lake Erie and the city are unmatched, the atmosphere is sophisticated and elegant and the seafood is delicious.
Photo via Scene ArchivesLindey’s Lake House
1146 Old River Rd., Cleveland
Coastal Taco turned into Lindey’s Lake House. While the name may and concept may have changed, the ownership group is the same and they kept the same fun atmosphere and good food for this joint in the East Bank of the Flats.
Photo via Lindey’s Lake House/FacebookTrader Jack’s
35901 Lakeshore Blvd., Eastlake
Located right on the Chagrin River, Trader Jack’s, in Eastlake, is a vacation-like setting, where you can kick back, grab a beer and a meal and kick your feet up over one of their fire pits on their beautiful patio.
Photo via Trader Jack’s Riverside Grille/FacebookThirsty Dog
1085 Old River Rd., Cleveland
Thirsty Dog originally started as a brewery in Akron before expanding to Cleveland. In October of 2017, they opened in the space previously occupied by Crop Rocks in the Flats and took over a space where you can put your feet up, grab a freshly brewed microbrew and watch the barges going by on the Cuyahoga.
Photo by Brett Zelman17 River Grille
17 River St., Chagrin Falls
Located overlooking the waterfalls of the Chagrin River in quaint downtown Chagrin Falls, Jekyll’s Kitchen turned into 17 River in 2020. Owned by veteran restaurateur Rick Doody, founder of Brio and Bravo, 17 River not only has beautiful views but also the food to match and is a gorgeously designed restaurant.
Photo via Scene ArchivesSummer House
12900 Lake Ave., Lakewood
In 2020, restaurateur Tony George opened up his new restaurant in the former location of Swingo’s on the Lake, which has been permanently closed since 2009. Located inside Carlyle on the Lake condominiums, customers are able to enjoy views of Lake Erie and downtown Cleveland as they dine. So yeah, there’s no patio, but the views are great.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDante’s Inferno
1059 Old River Rd., Cleveland
Dante Boccuzzi of Dante and Ginko saw success of his pizza stand at Progressive Field and so when a space became available in the East Bank of the Flats, he jumped on it to take his pizza concept from a stand to a full service restaurant and bar with great views of the Cuyahoga.
Photo via Dante’s Inferno Flats/FacebookLockkeepers
8001 Rockside Rd., Valley View
This Italian joint in Valley View is often one of the most overlooked restaurants in town, but make no mistake, everyone who goes there raves about it. With a view of the Erie Canal, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a summer evening eating really good food and drinking wine.
Photo via Lockkeepers/FacebookBeau’s on the River
1989 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls
Floor-to-ceiling windows give the dining room of this New American restaurant supreme views of the surrounding greenery. It’ll feel like you’re eating outside even when the Cleveland weather dips into arctic territory.
Photo via jirehceb/InstagramSunset Harbor
625 Prospect St., Fairport Harbor
Located on Lake Erie, this hidden gem sits on the dock of a fishing pier in Fairport Harbor, out east by Mentor. Enjoying some fish tacos and a cold beer is our idea of summer, while watching the sun set over the 90-year-old Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse.
Photo via Sunset Harbor Bar and Grille/FacebookMerwin’s Wharf
1785 Merwin Ave., Cleveland
Unparalleled atmosphere paired with discounted wine, cocktails, and appetizers. Everyone rave about the sights, the sounds and the ambiance. Everything from couches in front of a roaring fireplace and cocktail tables beneath strings of fairy lights, to giant Jenga and corn hole, it’s enough to make you want to move in to this Metroparks run establishment.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBeerhead
1156 West 11th St., Cleveland
Another addition to the East Bank of the Flats, Beerhead serves up one of the most extensive beer lists in the city. They have fire pits on their patio which will keep you warm against the cold breezes that occasionally come off of Lake Erie.
Photo via Beerhead/FacebookWhiskey Island Still and Eatery
2800 Whiskey Island, Cleveland
There’s nothing closer to the waterfront than being right on Whiskey Island. Live music, drink specials, greasy food, a beautiful view and a great time to be had by all at this casual eatery. What more can you ask for?
Photo via Whiskey Island Eatery/Facebook
