Cleveland offers plenty of laid-back spots where diners can enjoy a relaxed meal, but there’s something to be said for spicing up the experience with a little novelty sometimes.

Enter this collection of restaurants and bars that offer themed motifs and menus to liven up the experience. They range from the relatively tame — tiki and video games — to the truly outlandish —haunted houses and ’70s suburbia.

For an extra dose of kitsch, choose one of these 20 spots and get your crew to dress to match before heading out.

Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar 1163 Front Ave., Cleveland When the West Bank of the Flats was revamped in 2015, one of the first spots to come in was Big Bang, the dueling piano bar with three other locations around the country. Always a good time, the bar features piano players that put on a show for the crowd with boisterous piano playing, singing and performing. Credit: @BangCleveland/Instagram
Bookhouse 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. Credit: @BookhouseBrewing/Instagram
Tabletop Board Game Cafe 1810 W. 25th St., Cleveland For those who are content to chill and play board games but also want a change of scenery and a drink, Tabletop in Ohio City is the perfect night out, with friends, with a date, with strangers, really with anyone. They have game concierges ready and willing to help which game is right for you. They also have a bar and good food so plan to go here the next time you’re looking for something besides your regular bar. Credit: Scene Archives
Hofbrauhaus 1550 Chester Ave., Cleveland Filled with beer, music and lederhosen, Hofbrauhaus overloads the senses. Grab your friends and have a rowdy night on the town at this beer hall that will transport you to Germany for the night. Credit: Scene Archives
LBM Bar 12301 Madison Ave., Lakewood LBM, located in Lakewood, is everybody’s favorite Viking and metal-themed neighborhood cocktail bar that specializes in craft cocktails and European-inspired cuisine. The bar’s name stands for “Liquor, Beer, and Meat,” and they have an extensive selection of all three. The interior is stylish yet rustic, with brick walls and wooden accents, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere where they also blast metal music. Credit: Doug Trattner
Good Night John Boy 1050 West 10th St., Cleveland Forward Hospitality Group opened this 1970s-themed nightclub in the Flats in 2021 after two years of planning. It’s quickly become the place to dance and be seen on weekend nights. There’s wood paneling, shag carpet, a disco ball, crazy wallpaper and much more, making for decor that looks like it’s from the 70s mixed with modern hipness. And people come there to dance. So be ready. Credit: Scene Archives
The Haunted House Restaurant 13463 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights Melt closed its Cleveland Heights location in 2020 after a decade in business. The Haunted House Restaurant took its place, where the only thing that’s scary is “how good the food is,” the one-of-a-kind space presently taking shape pays homage to the pantheon of great horror flicks. As soon as guests cross the threshold they’ll be greeted by the aroma of fresh-popped popcorn. In place of a traditional host stand is the ticket booth. Original artwork celebrates iconic characters like Pennywise, Slimer and Frankenstein’s monster. And staffers will dress in theater usher uniforms. Credit: Scene Archives
Funhouse 1539 West 117th St., Lakewood This small dive bar is truly like no other in town. They of course have beer on tap and interesting signature drinks, but they also have a sushi machine, a cotton candy maker, corn dogs and popcorn. It’s all carnival all the time and it’s a trip. Credit: Scene Archives
Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar + Arcade 1880 West 25th St., Cleveland Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar + Arcade is a unique combination of a vintage arcade and a modern bar and bowling alley. The space is massive, with rows of classic arcade games, skee-ball, and pinball machines lining the walls. The bar features an impressive list of craft beers, cocktails, and spirits to keep you refreshed as you play. Whether you’re looking for a nostalgic trip down memory lane or a fun night out with friends, Pins Mechanical Co. and 16-Bit Bar + Arcade is the perfect spot for you. Credit: Scene Archives
Porco Lounge & Tiki Room 2527 West 25th St., Cleveland Porco Tiki Lounge in Cleveland, Ohio, is a tropical paradise that transports you to a Polynesian-inspired oasis. From the moment you walk through the doors, you’re surrounded by bamboo, thatched roofs, and tiki statues. The bar’s menu features an extensive list of cocktails, including classics like mai tais and daiquiris, as well as unique creations that are sure to delight your taste buds. With its lively atmosphere and friendly staff, Porco Tiki Lounge is the perfect place to escape and unwind. In 2016, the Food Network named the bar one of the best tiki bars in the country. Credit: 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. Credit: Josh Dobay
Jukebox 1404 West 29th St., Cleveland A music-themed neighborhood bar in the Rock N’ Roll capital? Sounds like the perfect spot and that’s what this Hingetown haunt is. The warm, brick-lined space features industrial lighting fixtures, rock and roll themed art and decorations, and the namesake jukebox, a 100-CD version stuffed with various Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted musicians, beginning in the ’50s and running clear through modern indie rock and hip-hop. Credit: @JukeboxCle/Instagram
Welcome to the Farm 1054 Old River Rd., Cleveland Welcome to the Farm, a live-music and entertainment venue from Forward Hospitality Group and country music star Chase Rice, opened to the public in March of 2022. The club is located in the same building in the Flats as Smokey’s BBQ and Saloon. The 5,250-square-foot space features a center stage, capacity for 280 people, and garage doors that open up to a patio on the banks of the Cuyahoga River. The venue joins other Forward Hospitality Group (which includes former Cleveland Indians’ second basemen Jason Kipnis as a part owner) properties in the neighborhood such as Good Night John Boy and FWD. Credit: Scene Archives
Pins and Needles 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood Pins and Needles is a 70’s style lounge located inside Mahall’s. It’s an intimate bar and lounge that looks ripped from 1970s suburbia, right down to the wood paneling, cushy furniture, and even the glassware. There’s room for about 35 guests in the retro-chic lounge and bar. When it comes to the beverages, those, too, were worm-holed straight from another era. But unlike most of the versions whipped up 50 years ago, these cocktails are made with fresh-squeezed juices, handmade mixers and other top-quality ingredients. While there, guests can also order food from the restaurant. Credit: Josh Dobay
Forest City Shuffleboard 4506 Lorain Ave., Cleveland A bar/restaurant devoted solely to shuffleboard? Sounds awesome. That’s what you can find in Ohio City at Forest City Shuffleboard. Bring your friends, warm up your arms, and sling those discs. Credit: Scene Archives
Tiki Underground 1832 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls Since 2017, Tiki Underground has served up awesome tropical cocktails surrounded in an environment meant to feel like you’re on a Hawaiian island, minus the weather when you step outside of course. Its new home in Cuyahoga Falls leaves no detail unattended to as it delivers a transportative experience for all the senses. Credit: @TikiUnderground/Instagram
Galaxy Karaoke Bar 1593 E 30th St., Cleveland Unlike your classic karaoke night at the dive bar, this venue, which opened in 2017, is solely dedicated to the art. With 15 private rooms and a community lounge, this gorgeous “karaoke box,” as they’re called in Asia, is a world away in Cleveland. Credit: Doug Trattner
Pioneer 2407 Lorain Ave., Cleveland Pioneer, the new wood-fired sports bar at Intro in Ohio City, opened in June of 2022. As the name implies, Pioneer captures the spirit of the great outdoors and camping culture, but filters those activities through a new-school lens. Owner Dan Whalen describes the menu as “American food with hints of Latin and South American flavors.” Most sports bars follow a typical format that includes cheap domestic beer, sticky floors and deep-fried everything. Whalen surveyed the landscape and saw the potential for a more elegant version of the sports bar destination. Credit: Scene Archives
Superelectric Pinball Parlor 6500 Detroit Ave., Cleveland Superelectric is a pinball parlor where fun-loving folks can while away the days playing vintage arcade games like pinball and anything else from the strange, cool world of vintage gaming. In addition to pinball and other games, there’s a full service bar plus a kitchen. Credit: Scene Archives
Tailgate Sports Bar and Grille 1938 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Tailgate Sports Bar and Grille opened in March right by Cleveland State. It has a large selection of TVs, a full bar, and a menu of classic American fare. It’s a great place to watch the game with friends or family. Credit: @Tailgate216/Instagram

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