Some bars are just for drinking — but other bars are for when you’re thirsty. Here’s our roundup of metro Cleveland’s most happening, most reliable, and hottest hook-up bars. From karaoke bars to dives to pulsing clubs, there’s something in here to meet every Clevelander’s most elemental needs.

Bright Side/Bird of Paradise 1948 West 25th St., Cleveland It’s been 17 and 15 years, respectively, since Sam McNulty and co-founder Mark Priemer opened Bier Markt and Bar Cento in Ohio City. In late 2021 they closed them and reopened their new spots, Bright Side with Bird of Paradise below. Bright Side is a restaurant and bar and Bird of Paradise is a dance club and cocktail lounge and both are great places to meet someone. Credit: Bird of Paradise/Facebook
Barley House 1261 West 6th St., Cleveland Barley House might be THE bar for singles in town. Nowhere gets as reliably busy with partygoers on the weekends. With DJs and just about everyone know in town hanging around, it’s a mainstay of the Warehouse District for a reason. Credit: Barley House/Facebook
Karaoke at 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
Corky’s Place 13302 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Corky’s, which hosts karaoke every Wednesday through Saturday, keeps its songbooks stocked with the newest hits from the Nashville country scene as well as old-school Seattle grunge. And unlike most karaoke spots, where the drunk redneck singing “Ring of Fire” is shoved off into the corner, here you’re the headliner, front and center, with stage lighting, a roaring sound system, and a packed house — especially on the weekends. What better way to impress a stranger? Credit: Scene Archives
Edison’s 2373 Professor Ave., Cleveland You’re not doing Tremont right if you don’t land at Edison’s for at least some portion of your night. It’s the quintessential Tremont bar, the quintessential Cleveland bar — a real bar’s bar, you dig? Whether you’re just stopping in at the pickup door for a pizza or you’re posting up at the lovely bar for an evening round with your finest friends trying to meet someone new, you’ll be well taken care of here. Credit: Edison's Pub/Facebook
Porco Lounge & Tiki Room 2527 West 25th St., Cleveland Porco Lounge & Tiki Room is only about ten years old, but its dedication to professionally blended cocktails — even silly sounding ones — has helped its reputation grow at a brisk rate. In 2016, the Food Network named the bar one of the best tiki bars in the country. Come for a drink, leave with a new friend. Credit: Porco Tiki Lounge/Facebook
The Jolly Scholar 11111 Euclid Ave., Cleveland Located on the Case Western campus and run by its students, this brewery and kitchen is mainly a la is a real hidden gem. They have great wings and they open daily at 11 a.m. Credit: Scene Archives
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-themed art and decorations, and the namesake jukebox, a 100-CD version stuffed with various Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted musicians. It’s the perfect place to strike up a conversation. Credit: Jukebox/Facebook
Lost Social Club 1265 W 6th St, Cleveland Below Barley House you’ll find Lost Social Club, an exclusive nightclub from the folks at TownHall and DJ E-V. It’s one of the most lively clubs in town and a perfect place for singles … if you’re hip enough. Credit: Lost Social Club/Facebook
Merry Arts Pub and Grill 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. They’re open daily before 11 a.m., and even open at 7 a.m., on Thursday’s. Credit: Scene Archives
Town Hall 1909 West 25th St., Cleveland The popular West 25th bar and restaurant, which expanded to Columbus’ Short North neighborhood, has been the place to see and be seen ever since it opened in 2013. The GMO-free menu is also one of the more vegan/vegetarian-friendly places in town, if you’re looking to meet someone who shares those values. 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
The Flying Monkey Pub 819 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland Karaoke? Trivia? Cheap drinks? Relaxed atmosphere? Sign us up for this Tremont dive bar. Also, this is the bar to hit up if you want to bring your dog with you to drink. And Fido makes a great conversation starter.
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
The Fairmount 2448 Fairmount Blvd., Cleveland Heights Located in the Cedar Hill neighborhood, the Fairmount takes pub food to the next level. With a warm and lively atmosphere and one of the best patios in town, it always draws interesting people — the perfect place to meet someone who’s actually worth talking to.
B-Side Liquor Lounge 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights Equipped with a full bar and wall-to-wall arcade games, the intimate space is ideal for a fun night out with friends and maybe finding new “friends.” What used to be more of a concert venue transformed into an arcade a few years back but fret not, they still hold dance nights too.
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 Credit: Scene Archives
Credit: Emanuel Wallace
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. Credit: Scene Archives
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 on March 4. The club is located in the same building in the Flats as Smokey’s BBQ and Saloon, which also is nearing opening day. 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 and will become part of a diverse portfolio that also includes Garden City, Bell & Flower, 3 Palms and SeeSaw. Credit: Scene Archives
Best Bar For Singles and Best Sports Bar: Around the Corner 18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood The popularity of the Lakewood dining scene and the newest bistro or gastropub can often cause visitors to overlook neighborhood spots like Around the Corner. That would be a mistake, as they are one of the best spots to watch a game and have one of the better bar menus in town, including award-winning wings. Photo via Scene Archives
Dover Gardens Tavern 27402 Detroit Rd., Westlake This Westlake Tavern is offering family meal deals to the tune of $40 for 4 signature burgers and fries and a 6-pack of beer or 40 wings with 2 baskets of fries and beer for $45. Photo via Dover Gardens Tavern/Facebook
Dive Bar 1214 West 6th St., Cleveland Dive Bar is the spot for more than just drinking when it comes to the Warehouse District. Skee ball is the game that Dive Bar is known for. They even have skee ball leagues but you gotta bring your “A” game, people are serious skeeballers here. And maybe you’ll even meet a new special skeeball friend. Credit: Emanuel Wallace

Scene's award-winning newsroom oftentimes collaborates on articles and projects. Stories under this byline are group efforts.