This past weekend was my first time to Ohio and after my wonderful stay in Cleveland, I can guarantee you it won’t be my last. Although small in size and feel, Cleveland has everything a big city would offer and then some. There’s delicious dining, Instagrammable rooftop bars, professional sports stadiums in walking distance, 33 breweries, stylish boutiques, and oh...did I mention it’s located beside one of The Great Lakes? All in all, there is much to see and do here (yes, even during a pandemic) and I’m happy to share my recommendations with you all!
Before I begin, it’s important you understand the various districts and pockets of the city so you know how to plan your future CLE travel itinerary. Like any major city, Cleveland has multiple neighborhoods and each region has a different vibe. The ones that I frequented during my stay were The Flats, The Warehouse District, and East 4th Street which are all Downtown Cleveland, as well as, The Market District in Ohio City. The Flats and Warehouse districts resemble a more sophisticated and youthful vibe, whereas the East 4th Street neighborhood will remind you of the bustling midtowns of larger cities. Ohio City, according to the Cleveland Visitor’s Center, is the place for craft beer fans and foodies (hence why I found myself in this region often). All lovely neighborhoods that are worth checking out when in Cleveland, but it can’t hurt to research what they have to offer. Check out the Visitor Center’s website to learn more about the neighborhoods here.
Now for the good stuff. Here’s what my lovely host and best friend, Quinn Murphy, and I did last weekend in CLE!
Lake Erie
If we’re being completely honest, this looks nothing like a lake when you’re gazing out at its horizon. It more closely resembles an ocean with its waves and oh so distant horizon line where the sky meets the water. Not to mention, it’s one of the smaller Great Lakes. The first day of my trip, Quinn and I headed down to Edgewater Park to have ourselves a wholesome lil’ picnic as a warm greeting to the city. Here you can find a fishing pier, marina, a small beach where locals enjoy the water and soak up the sun, and an expansive manicured lawn seasoned with picnic tables. With couples walking the path in and around the park, crowds gathered at the beach splashing in the water, and families scattered across the grass enjoying lunches and lawn games with their families, the scene was nothing shy of a happy summer day. Whether it be for an hour or three, definitely add some outdoors time to your itinerary and visit the lake!
Food
Cleveland restaurants, today I am your hype man. Not once did I leave a meal unsatisfied or with room in my stomach. Clear eyes, full bellies, can’t lose, right? Here is a list of the very few, but highly recommended restaurants that I so happily dined at (on more than one occasion).
Collision Bend Brewing Company - ate the Collision Burger and y’all...the tomato jam paired with the bacon was a phenomenal touch.
Heck’s Cafe - shamelessly ate here two mornings in a row and ordered the same meal because i’m a creature of habit and it was that damn good. Try the B.E.L.T. Sandwich and I guarantee you that their lemon-garlic aioli will be in your dreams once it hits your taste buds.
Azure Rooftop Lounge - Quinn’s go-to meal here is the Sweet Chili Pork Sliders, which are the perfect size to split and share among drinks at the bar’s Happy Hour specials! $5 mojitos that you can spice up with a variety of flavors? Keep ‘em coming, please.
Mitchell’s Ice Cream - D to the E to the L-I-C-I-O-U-S. Handcrafted batches of ice cream with fresh ingredients from farmers near and far that engage in fair-trade and organic practices. Need I go on?
Barrio Gateway - delicious Mexican cantina where you can make your own taco combination! Provided are pencils and order forms where the guest can concoct their own mouth watering creation.
Nano Brew - try the Buffalo Nuggets or Mac n Cheese Bites (hint: they pair well with an ice cold craft).
Rising Star - where you can and will satisfy your caffeine cravings with an artisan coffee or espresso drink and pair it with a flaky croissant or sweet scone.
Brewery Passport
I mentioned there were 33 breweries here, right? Thirty. Three. That number rings beautifully to a craft beer lover’s ears. What’s interesting about the beer scene here is that it’s not just the hazy IPA or the crisp Pilsner that draws the crowds in, but rather the physical incentives that accompany them. I’m talking about the Cleveland Brewery Passport, baby. As you would receive stamps in your travel passport as you visit different countries, you receive stamps in your brewery booklet each time you visit a new brewery and purchase any item. Upon arrival at your first brewery (and you can go in whichever order you’d prefer), be sure to ask a staff member for a passport and you’ll be on your way. After certain levels of breweries are reached, the holder is eligible for prizes and merch from the city. For instance, once you reach eight, you can redeem a set of Cleveland coasters. The prizes also get more glamorous with the greater amount of stamps you receive, the last being a chance to win a weekend getaway. So, buckle up as I take you for a ride through our brewery tour and which beers I tried at each.
Stop 1: Collision Bend Brewing Company - Square One IPA
Stop 2: Thirsty Dog East Bank - Labrador Lager
Stop 3: Bookhouse Brewing - Magdalena Pilsner
Stop 4: Saucy Brew Works - White Ale
Stop 5: Bad Tom Smith Brewing - Hazy River IPA
Stop 6: Great Lakes Brewing Company - Dortmunder Gold Lager
Stop 7: Hansa Brewery - FemDom Kölsch
Stop 8: Market Garden Brewery - Progress Pilsner
Stop 9: Nano Brew - Nano Lager Life
*Update: During COVID-19, the Destination Cleveland crew decided it was in the best interest to halt physical passports and continue through a mobile app. This way there would be a contactless way to interact with the staff at the bars. Download the Destination Cleveland app from the Apple Store or Google Play and check out the new steps they have for digital stamps on their website here.
Shopping
Retail therapy is needed now more than ever, and I certainly dropped the prettiest of pennies during my visit. I didn’t need anything new, per say. However, I did buy some cute new staples for the rapidly approaching fall season and a few stylish additions to my neutral wardrobe back home. Here are some great boutiques, shopping centers, and stores to check out in and just outside of the main city.
Cleveland Clothing Co.: Located in Downtown Cleveland and Shaker Heights (hello, Little Fires Everywhere fans), this store is where you can find all the merch representing the city.
Intro Boutique: One of Quinn’s favorite little shops in the East 4th Street neighborhood, selling adorable women’s clothing and accessories.
Luster: This shop is perfect for unique gifts to give a friend or family member for a special occasion. There are humorous birthday cards, purses, home accessories, candles and bath accessories, card games, and more. (Located in Shaker Heights)
Whiskey Grade: Boutique that serves both men and women by offering stylish apparel for all! I bought a simple, yet chic tan jumpsuit and paired it with a basic white tee to go for a casual look. Also, the staff is simply amazing and helped me pair together the components that created my purchased outfit.
Crocker Park: A beautiful outdoor shopping strip that is home to local and national retailers, as well as many dining options. Resembling an outlet mall, shopping here made for the perfect afternoon as we were able to be outside often while still scoring big inside its stores. Check out what retailers are located at Crocker here before you head outside of the city.
While COVID-19 prevented us from engaging in popular tourism such as seeing a show in the Playhouse Square theater district or cheering for the Cavaliers court side, we were still able to cross a ton of sights off our bucket lists. Safe to say I’ll be going back to cross off everything I didn’t get a chance to do. I’m very thankful for a weekend well spent in Cleveland with my best friend and I hope this post excites you to visit the beautiful city!
Picture taken at Azure Rooftop Lounge. Featuring Quinn Murphy. @azure_cle @the9cle