The restaurant scene is eclectic, from ethnic fare to fancy and comfy.
But first, you might want to check out these three grocery shopping venues:
Now to the downtown and surrounding area bar and restaurant scene.
Since the warm weather is still with us, here are a handful of places to visit with outdoor seating, thanks to Plain Dealer John Petkovic’s 2018 Patio Guide.
Popular Cleveland restaurants you’ll find on most every “best of” list include: Blue Point Grille, 700 W. St. Clair Ave.; Greenhouse Tavern, 2038 E. 4th St.; Chinato, 2079 E. 4th St.; Cowell & Hubbard, 1305 Euclid Ave.; Red The Steakhouse, 417 Prospect Ave.; and Taza Lebanese Grill, 1400 W. 6th.
Does your group hate sitting still? Consider The Corner Alley, where you can bowl, eat and drink at the same time.
Located at 402 Euclid Ave., “The Corner Alley features 16 lanes of upscale bowling action. Designed for people who want to have fun and bowl at all skill levels. The state-of-the-art, custom-designed scoring system delivers attention-grabbing multimedia content. Hungry or thirsty while you bowl? Experienced servers come to you for lane-side service, filling your food and beverage needs.”
A surprise to many Ohioans, National Geographic Traveler named Cleveland as one of 21 Best Places to visit in 2018 because of its “new cultural energy.”
"You can see a focused energy of creative talent — people who would have the option to go anywhere, but they're making Cleveland great again," writes editor George Stone, who grew up in Toledo.
The city’s cultural footprint is certainly expanding, but make sure friends, especially out-of-towners, visit some of the landmarks.
The Cleveland Museum of Art opened in 1916 “for the benefit of all the people forever,” and admission continues to be free, though there may be a charge for special exhibitions.
Its permanent collection includes:
If your group is comprised of 10 to 25 people, you can schedule a private tour. Is your group a mix of ages? Consider an intergenerational visit Sept.15-16 for its annual Chalk Festival. Work alongside professionals to create a colorful square ($10 to $20 depending on size, chalk included).
The Cleveland Orchestra’s home is Severance Hall, with concerts September through May.
“As it nears the centennial of its founding in 2018, The Cleveland Orchestra is undergoing a new transformation and renaissance,” according to its website.
The 100th anniversary gala is Sept. 29, and other upcoming concerts include Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake,” Mahler’s “Resurrection” and Handel’s “Messiah.” A great way to celebrate the holidays with family and friends is to attend one of the orchestra’s festive concerts Dec. 14-23.
Throughout the season, the orchestra features “At the Movies,” showing classic films with live accompaniment. They also perform Family Concerts, starting with “Halloween Spooktacular” on Oct. 28.
Other Cleveland cultural venues to consider:
The city’s backyard is Lake Erie, and one way to enjoy the lake is a cruise. Goodtime III, a quadruple-deck 1,000 passenger luxury ship, operates until Sept. 30 with a variety of cruises, including a narrated luncheon cruise. (Discounts available for groups of 20 or more.)
The Nautica Queen cruises year-round, with lunch, dinner and sightseeing cruises.
If you’re more of a landlubber, plan a visit to Lake View Cemetery, a 285-acre parklike setting featuring the Garfield Memorial, Wade Memorial Chapel, grave sites of many great civic, social and cultural leaders, plus sculptures and lakes. Your four-legged friends are also welcome.
With nine miles of roads, you can walk for hours. (On Oct. 14, the annual “Run Through History,” you can run a 5K or walk two miles and support the cemetery’s foundation.)
On Sundays in September and October, you can hop aboard Lolly the Trolley. Reservations are required and cost $20 per person. The cemetery also offers private walking tours for groups of at least 12.
Spend an afternoon or evening at Progressive Field, where the Cleveland Indians will be playing until the end of September, hopefully into October. Let’s hope the Cleveland Browns, who begin play in September, have something to cheer about this season too.
Once you’ve sampled Cleveland’s culture, we have some more recommendations for you. We’ve created a guide, Planning Your Next Adventure: Must-Sees and Travel Tips, to help you discover your newest favorite getaway. Download it today to find close-to-home day trips, national parks, booking tips and more!