The Best Bars and Clubs in Cleveland in 2022, According to Scene Readers

Best Jazz Club and Best Blues Club: Brothers Lounge 11609 Detroit Ave., Cleveland With three separate areas to enjoy music, a great drinks and food menu and live music, Brothers’ is one of our favorite spots in town for a night out. There’s the wine bar for a relaxing atmosphere, the bar area and the music venue and always awesome live music playing. Credit: Scene Archives

Best 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. Credit: Scene Archives

Best Bar or Club for Local Music: 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. Credit: Scene Archives

Best 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. Credit: Scene Archives

Hit Up A Dance Party In addition to all the concert series, also be sure to check out a whole bunch of no-cover themed series and monthly dance parties at clubs around town: Dollar Country is usually spinning dustbin country at the Little Rose Tavern every month, Emo Night Cleveland brings all the tunes and emotions, and Black Mass Cleveland’s punk-rock drag showcase shouldn’t be missed. Credit: Scene Archives

Best 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 Archives

Harbor Inn 1219 Main Ave., Cleveland As the oldest continuously operating bar in Cleveland — open since 1895, thank you very much — the Harbor Inn has many stories to tell and when you open at 11 a.m., there’s plenty of time to create more stories. Thankfully, the West Bank of the Flats spot keeps its secrets, and night after night allows patrons young and old to imbibe in witty conversation and general tomfoolery virtually undisturbed while swallowed up in dim yellow light. Credit: Scene Archives

Best Place for Arcade Games: 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 gaming fans to Lakewood. Joining that concept is Pins Mechanical, Rise’s duckpin bowling brand. Credit: Scene Archives

Best Neighborhood Bar: Merry Arts Pub and Grill and Best Bartender: Amanda Popikl 15607 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Since 1932, Merry Arts has served up food and drinks to the Lakewood community. It opened during the Great Depression, and if it could make it through that, well, we have a feeling it won’t be going anywhere any time soon, especially with how beloved Taco Tuesday’s are. Credit: Scene Archives

Lakewood Truck Park 16900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Five years in the making, Lakewood Truck Park finally opened last summer, just in time to take advantage of alfresco social-distance partying, starting daily at 11 a.m. The 12,000-square-foot property features two bars, a rotating selection of food trucks and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Fun events like yoga, cornhole tourneys and Tiki Tuesday with live steel-drum music keep the vibe lively and beverages flowing. Credit: Scene Archives

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

Porco Lounge & Tiki Room 2527 West 25th St., Cleveland There’s only one way to improve the tropical drinks from this legendary Ohio City hideout and that’s by sipping them outside under the sun and stars. The summertime vibes are alive and well on this colorful garden patio. If you’re feeling particularly celebratory, order the Botany Bay, a whole barrel of punch for you and your mates. Credit: Scene Archives

Georgetown 18515 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Step off busy Detroit Avenue, stroll through the wrought-iron gate and you enter the secluded courtyard patio at Georgetown. From the gravel paths and twinkling lights to the towering trees and lush undergrowth, this quiet spot is always in high demand. The extensive menu offers scores of tempting small plates and mains. 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: Scene Archives

Best 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. Credit: Scene Archives

Noble Beast 1470 Lakeside Ave. East, Cleveland In a quieter part of the city on the edge of Downtown sits Noble Beast, one of our favorite breweries in town. Their Imperial Cookies and Milk Stout is a real standout, as is their Catchweight Kolsch. They’re closed on Mondays and open at 11:30 a.m. every other day. Credit: Scene Archives

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

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

Best 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. Credit: Scene Archives

Best Patio: Stone Mad Pub 1306 West 65th St, Cleveland Everyone who talks about this Detroit Shoreway neighborhood spot mentions two things; the bocce ball court and the beautiful patio. St. Patrick’s Day is next level at this Irish pub. Credit: Scene Archives

Best 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. Credit: Scene Archives

Great Lakes Brewing Company 2516 Market Ave., Cleveland The microbrewery that has been around since well before the microbrewery wave really overtook the country, GLBC has been a staple of Ohio City since 1986. Known widely for their Christmas Ale and their Dortmunder Gold Lager, the brewery and eatery is a Cleveland staple. Their brewhouse opens daily at noon (11:30 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.) Credit: Scene Archives

Best 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 mantle 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. Credit: Scene archives

Best Club or Bar to Dance: 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

Collision Bend Brewery 1250 Old River Rd., Cleveland Have brunch on the river courtesy of Collison Bend, the year-old brewery from Zack Bruell and company. In addition to the regular lengthy menu, diners have a choice of a half-dozen breakfast-themed items to enjoy alongside those watery views. Eggs in Purgatory — eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce — is showered with feta and accompanied by grilled flatbread for soaking up all that angry gravy. The tantalizing French Toast Bake consists of brioche layers intermingled with sweet cream cheese, berries, Nutella, egg custard and vanilla maple bourbon syrup. A knife-and-fork-style Breakfast Pizza is weighed down with house-cured bacon, caramelized onions, tomato, mozzarella, cheddar and a sunny egg. A list of boilermakers pairs house brews with compatible shots of booze. Credit: Scene Archives

Cordelia 2058 East 4th St., Cleveland When speaking of hotly anticipated openings, nothing topped Cordelia taking over the former Lola space. Owner Andrew Watts calls East 4th Street “the best address in the city,” and in July, he and executive chef Vinnie Cimino officially became that street’s newest operators with an approach they call “Midwest Nice”. To complement that “Midwest Nice” hospitality, Cimino has devised a style of cuisine that he calls “Modern Grandma,” which reimagines familiar Midwest classics that many of us grew up enjoying around the family dinner table. Cimino, the former chef de cuisine of Greenhouse Tavern, will put his local farmer connections to good use in dishes like “Pantry Snacks and Relish Trays,” which includes farmer’s cheese with honey and fermented garlic alongside jammy eggs with harissa. Other menu sections are titled “Breads & Things,” “Eat Your Veggies” and “From Our Butchers.” Some dishes that guests can look forward to are pork belly with sarsaparilla beurre blanc, popcorn chicken livers with ballpark maple mustard, and Steak Cordelia, a large-format cut. Credit: Scene Archives

Market Garden Brewery 1947 West 25th St., Cleveland This Ohio City brewery, one of the most popular microbreweries in town, is another great spot to enjoy a cold, locally brewed beer. An Ohio Beef Burger and fresh baked pretzel goes great with any of their beers. They open at 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Credit: Scene Archives

The Clevelander 834 Huron Rd., Cleveland Talk about patriotism! The Clevelander is a downtown sports bar that offers over ten screens to watch the game. They also open at 11 a.m., in case you want to pre-game early. Credit: Scene Archives