35 Best Cocktail Bars in Cleveland

“Fantastic Soba noodles (cold dish)! Great staff (Thank you, Shannon),very nice atmosphere. A wonderful night out with the Mrs. was made extra special. Can’t wait to go back.“

“The best fried ice cream I’ve ever eaten by far!!! Love the ambiance… so clean and so chill!!!“

“Great food great cocktails and great service! Love Chef Chris’s specials !“

“For even a non-vegan, the food is incredible. So many great tasting options. I like sitting at the bar and watching the craftsmanship of the staff. By far, the most creative cocktails in Cleveland in my opinion. Fantastic!“

“best burger I've ever had. periodt.“

“The vibes at Porco are immaculate. There is a unique attention to detail and cultivation of a certain, non-chalant vibe that you would want in a tiki bar. The menu was hand drawn and has fun little easter eggs from around the bar. The food is reasonably priced and very good. The times I have gone to Porco I had the good fortune of talking to the owner, Steph about the ingredients and the history of Porco.

The juices are nearly all fresh squeezed within the last 24h. The ingredients are sourced based on consistency in flavor. The history of Porco was rich. And its bartender alumni have gone on to open other successful cocktail bars in Cleveland.

I cant say enough positive things about Porco, its one of Cleveland's greatest hidden gems.“

“We love having our store at City Goods. It is the perfect way to open a store without doing it all alone. Our store showcases the artwork of over 38 Ohio Artists. At City Goods, there are over 20 other local businesses so it's the perfect spot for some local shopping.“

“My two dogs have been going here ~4x a week for two years. We have always felt safe and well looked after. It’s a god send for keeping them exercised and socialized.“

“We had a 12:30 pm Sunday Brunch reservation and we’re able to sit on their deck overlooking the Cuyahoga river. We had a wonderful meal, our server Cara was prompt, polite and pleasant. The service was outstanding, the food and beverages were enjoyed by our group. Great spot to hang out with a panoramic view of the river across from the Jacob’s Pavilion at Nautica. We will definitely go back.“

“There are 2 parts to this establishment. It was Sunday. One side there was a DJ. They were selling food in the back and someone was taking pics, And the patrons were dressed up. Men in suits and ladies in dresses, and the other side of the bar was dress down and there was a juke box.“

“My sister and I stumbled upon this true hidden gem in Cleveland. It offers a unique and unparalleled experience with a cool jazzy vibe. It's the kind of place where you can dress up and immerse yourself in a romantic and cozy night filled with great music and an incredible atmosphere. We need more places like this around.“

“My boyfriend and I stopped in here randomly while he was getting his car worked at on Midas down the road. The bartender was very friendly (I didn't get her name) and the drinks were super cheap. We got four tall drafts for $16. I would definitely come here again if I'm in the area.“

“Great BBQ, ribs and brisket! Great hidden patio out back, even on a hot summer day it was breezy and comfortable. Take advantage of their daily specials and outdoor entertainment. Sauces were great, food amazing, and staff very attentive. You must try the best BBQ in The Land!“

“La playa restaurante en Cleveland, el mejor ambiente y comida fresca , riquísimo, lo recomiendo.“

“Excellent food & service!“

“basil syrup, fresh black pepper, olive oil sound wonderful together. But in a coffee? It will surprise you and delight you! Coffee alone is a strong flavor, so it stands to reason that strong flavors like black pepper and a good olive oil would work with it. The basil syrup is a nice sweet note, a little subtle for my taste, but we’re here to be bold, and this adventure is worth taking. The croissant, so perfectly buttery and crispy all at once is heaven paired with a pistachio butter and marmalade; a worthy accompaniment to that singular coffee.“

“I have attended a few events at medieval pub recently, great experience all around!!! Food was amazing. Bartenders were fast, very professional, & kind. I love that this bar is all about the community with hosting family events. But also can keep it lit with other events they host! They have So much room to dance!!! 10/10 tell your friends!!!“

“Many fun games& the good was delicious“

“While I’ve heard many speak of “The Standard” in Collinwood, I had never made it there until Thursday, when my “foodie” daughter, (@thingsivebeeneating), planned my surprise birthday dinner there for our big family.
The ambiance was so relaxing- dimly lit, sheers gently flowing between tables, a long beautiful bar, an open kitchen, and an outdoor garden patio area that truly felt like an oasis- you might forget you were in CLE on the eve of Halloween. It was lush, vibrant, and warm. The music that was piped throughout the restaurant, vacillated between “La Vie en Rose” and Frank’s “I Did It My Way”…truly transported you to a fine dining establishment in Paris. We were seated in front of the open kitchen. I don’t always enjoy this view, but the people in this kitchen seemed relaxed and happy to be there! While cooking, they seemed to have a camaraderie going- lots of smiles, and zero sense of being harried. (I noticed when a couple came in for dinner on the later side toward kitchen- closing, the staff there visually appeared welcoming nonetheless.)
Our group shared several bottles of wine, tried the innovative cocktails, and also the old tried and trues. We loved our server, Nicole. She was knowledgeable, welcoming, and fun! She quickly delivered the complimentary, freshly baked rolls with a trio of tapenade, olives, and oil/balsamic. My daughter warned us to come hungry, as we’d be wanting to try several apps. We had frog’s legs, crab croquettes, tuna tartare, French onion gratiné, beet carpaccio, and escargot. Other seldom seen items such as quail, foie gras, bone marrow, Moroccan lamb sausages, etc. were also available. We took SO long to decide on our entrees- they ALL sounded magical. We had aromatic, Fez chicken (complete with tagine) served with Moroccan couscous, Dover sole, pistachio encrusted rack of lamb, Chef/Owner Said’s bountiful paella, 24-hour braised short rib, and an epic “bowl” of pasta bolognese. My daughter prearranged a brought in cake, so we didn’t try the desserts, but Said amped our finale with a round of fancy nut-and-chocolate-encrusted coffee concocted liqueur shots! (Insert chef’s kiss!) This dinner celebration was nothing less than over the top! We had a fantastic evening! It almost (but not quite) makes me anxious to age, just to celebrate there again!“

“I got my food to go after I’d had a cocktail. The swinging benches across the street are a perfect place to sit and eat your divine tastes of FAT CAT’s … I had the salmon burger and Brussels sprouts and a Purple haze cocktail at the bar. The sandwich was literally perfect! The avocado was the perfect touch! Always a treat! Tastes and Travels gives FAT CATS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Went to Society lounge to celebrate my friend’s birthday for the Miracle Christmas pop up. We loved the decor, music, and lively atmosphere. The espresso martinis were addictive. We also enjoyed the whipped feta snack and the gingerbread specialty cheesecake made by a local baker. Would highly recommend visiting!“

“We had a wonderful dinner last night! Our waitress Rae was fantastic. Beautiful atmosphere on the patio..Will definitely go there again.“

“The best fried ice cream I’ve ever eaten by far!!! Love the ambiance… so clean and so chill!!!“

“The Fairmount is a perfect mix of all you could want! Amazing, delicious food, beautiful atmosphere on the large, enclosed green terrace and professional , friendly staff. I have never had a negative experience and I’m there often!“

“Friendly atmosphere and a lot of drink choices.“

“We went to Nuevo Modern Mexican in the Beachwood Mall. I will say this is probably the best Mexican food i have ever had in my life. I also wanna say that “Taco Tommy” is a super welcoming worker / employee. Tommy took it upon his self and gave us free samples for us to try and they were amazing. Big thank you to y’all, we will be back !!!“

“Jacob and team are great! They’re friendly, knowledgeable and know their regulars’ orders. I came for a cappuccino but will return for more. They have wine and cocktails too!

Parking: Plenty of FLEX parking spots in the lot and street parking.

Wheelchair accessibility: Ramps, door openers, counter space and friendly staff.“

“I really wanted to visit the vault because it seemed so cool! I wasn't sure of what to expect, but I thought someone would seat us or something. No one was there to seat us and we were able to go look at all the rooms. I'm not sure if those are usually reserved or if you can go take your drink to the room. We're not really big drinkers and we were really just there for the atmosphere and to see the vault. After we looked around, I didn't really feel like I needed to drink there, so we just left. I probably would've ordered something, but it was pretty empty and no one greeted or even talked to us, so we just left. I'm satisfied with my experience though! It was pretty cool!“

“Great meatballs! Friendly people!“

“I had dinner here while traveling, and it was amazing! They have wonderful food and drinks. I had the quesadilla and mac and cheese, paired with the tipsy shark splash and the Collision Bender strawberry guava seltzer. Staff were also attentive and polite.“

“Lovely staff and delicious food!“

“Chef Brian and his entire staff Nakia , BJ, To-Shawn, Dante, Carlos, Gill and Benji were absolutely the most professional, hard working staff I have ever witnessed in the restaurant industry!! Our food was perfection! Class act all the way around ! 11/26/23“

“I normally hate the club because it’s not my thing and I don’t drink but let me tell you how much I love this place. First of all, I’ve never felt so welcomed in my life. Immediately upon going for the first time Chad at the door and the manager Sam were unbelievably nice and welcoming. They take care of me and my friends whoever I bring every time I come now. I love how it’s more of a lounge than a club, the aesthetic is very nice when you first go downstairs there’s a gorgeous background for photos and it’s more chill and quiet. Then there’s the club area if you’re in the mood for that also back private rooms that Sam was nice enough to tour us through. You really can’t go wrong here. Both the environment and the staff are amazing I wish they were open all year round!“