Cleveland by Monaco

A guide to my favorite spots in the North Coast

Top 5 Places According to My Belly

  • Amba

    INDIAN | HINGETOWN (Ohio City)

    Amba is the place that makes me feel like I’m not in Cleveland anymore. There are two experiences, Amba and Bar Amba, both of which serve the same menu. My favorite menu items are the clay bread, spinach dip, chicken tikka, string beans, pineapple cucumber salad, lamb, and the shrimp.

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  • Cents Pizza

    PIZZA | OHIO CITY

    This is some of my favorite pizza anywhere. The flavors are so interesting. You must start with the Wonder Bread and Straciatella!!!! As for the pizza, my favorites are the Pink, Cherry, and Papa.

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  • Marble Room

    STEAK, SUSHI | DOWNTOWN

    This is one of the most premiere dining experiences in Cleveland, but don’t be intimidated because it’s very attainable. The atmosphere is an experience in itself. Make sure you have reservations or call ahead, even to sit at the bar.

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  • Soho Chicken + Whiskey

    MODERN SOUTHERN | OHIO CITY

    The drinks, the deviled eggs, the chicken options, truly a dream. Save room for Mitchell’s (ice cream), next door!

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  • Casa la Luna (formerly Luca)

    ITALIAN | WEST BANK

    Incredible food and wine, and a fabulous view of downtown. Also, one of the best happy hours around, but good luck getting a seat. My favorites: Sacchetti Al Tartufo Bianco, Saltimbocca Di Vitello, and Penne Alla Vodka (happy hour menu).

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Top 10 Plates I Probably Eat Too Often

  1. Penne Alla Vodka at Casa La Luna (it’s only available at Happy Hour at the bar so good luck)

  2. Wonder Bread and Straciatella at Cent’s

  3. Nachos at Jukebox

  4. Hingetown Burger (angus) from Jukebox

  5. Flank Steak at Butcher and the Brewer

  6. Bees Knees Pizza at Saucy

  7. Peanut Butter Pretzel Yogurt from Mitchell’s

  8. Calamari at Luxe

  9. Spicy chicken quesadilla from Jukebox

  10. Meatballs and bread from Lago

Cleveland by Neighborhood

Downtown

The heart of it all. Downtown is home to East 4th Street, Playhouse Square, The Arcade, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Public Square.

  • Butcher and The Brewer
    This is one of my favorite spots in Cleveland. Usually easy to get a spot, small plates… I love the flank and chimichurri, spicy patatas bravas, and kimchini. It’s on East 4th St which has a handful of spots, but this is the best by far.

    Cordelia
    James Beard award winning, a fabulous menu for both food and drinks. Very large bar.

    Society Lounge
    A great underground cocktail bar for after dinner, also on East 4th.

    Marble Room

    Garden of Eden
    Rooftop bar on The 9 (where the Kardashians stay when they visit)

    BAR 32
    Bar in The Hilton on the 32nd floor with beautiful views.

    Il Venetian
    Fancy Italian spot

    Acqua de Dea
    Really nice modern seafood spot.

    Rebol
    Fast casual healthy bowls and drinks, great for lunch and you can eat there or in Public Square

    Map Room or Johnny’s Little Bar for dive bars

  • Playhouse Square for a Broadway Show

    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. That area is walkable and has great lake view.

    Walk through The Arcade and Heinens

    The library has a really cool indoor floral exhibition until August 2024.

    JACK Casino if you like to gamble. Take a look at the 10 million window murals I designed that surround every exterior wall and storefront in site.

Ohio City

My home and favorite neighborhood in Cleveland. Known for the West Side Market, there are so many things to get into day and night in Ohio City.

  • Jukebox - best quesadilla, Hingetown Burger, pierogis, and the NACHOS are a must

    Patron Saint - an all day Italian cafe and apertivo bar

    Cents - some of my favorite pizza ever

    Larder - if you’re into meat stuff

    Nano Brew - super casual place to get a burger or some apps

    Mitchell’s - ice cream, my favorite is the peanut butter pretzel yogurt

    Mason’s - more ice cream but lots of unique flavors

    Le Petit Triangle - French restaurant

  • Hingetown is a little enclave where I like to hang out. Rising Star Coffee, Jukebox, and Saucy Brew Works are all right by each other.

    West Side Market - an open air market with lots of food and produce vendors (above photo)

    There are a handful of breweries, like Market Garden, Great Lakes, and Saucy.

Tremont

Totally cute neighborhood off of downtown, enjoy the Towpath for an evening stroll, and plenty of places to find craft cocktails. Home of The Christmas Story house.

  • Dante

    Dante Nextdoor (brunch)

    Ginko (sushi)

    Literary Tavern

    Cloak & Dager (vegan, drinks are great)

    Prosperity (great drinks, food not so good)

  • Walk the towpath, start by the Cleveland Script sign on Abbey Road

    Visit The Christmas Story House

Flats East Bank

Great neighborhood along the river, walkable from downtown with tons of night life, patios, and clubs.

  • Eat at Lago for great Italian and some of my favorite meatballs ever.

    Beerhead has barbarian pretzel that’s the best I’ve ever had. They have great pizza and huge beer selection.

    Lindey’s Lakehouse has okay food, the patio is 10/10.

    Alley Cat if you’re into seafood.

  • Fabulous boardwalk along the river where it meets the lake.

    Lots of nightclubs…

    FWD is an outdoor night club (think EDM and Pauly D).

    Welcome to the Farm is a country club.

    Goodnight Johnny Boy is a disco club.

    I Hate Cowboys is a bourbon bar sandwiched between these spots.

University Circle

On the east side, this neighborhood is very cultural. Home of the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Orchestra, other museums, The Cleveland Clinic main campus.

  • Definitely venture to Little Italy which is nearby. Mia Bella is a favorite, but tons to choose from.

  • Definitely go to Cleveland Museum of Art. Inside and out, it’s stunning.

Gordon Square

A small few blocks west of Ohio City, home to a few of my favorite restaurants and places to get drinks.

  • Luxe
    Great cocktails, my favorite calamari in town, crab cakes, brussels. The small plates are better IMO. Sit on the patio if you can

    Astoria
    You must get the saganaki.

    Happy Dog
    If you’re into hot dogs!

    Flight
    Wine Bar

    Old 86
    Loveeeeee this bar. The vibe is dark, chic, and it’s a hidden gem.

  • Local theater, admire the street art, Italian Festival in August

    West 78th Street Studios opens on the third friday of the month to shop all the vendors.

    Access to Edgewater Park, go to Battery Park first and walk under the tunnel to the beach.

FRVs (Frequently Requested Vibes)

FOOD AND DRINK

  • West Side Market Cafe

    1. Jukebox

    2. Brightside

    3. Patron Saint

  • Cleveland Bagel Company. The sea salt one is my favorite. Love the bacon, egg, and cheese.

  • Proof (great happy hour too!)

    Woodstock

    The Landmark

  • These are my favorite to-go options if you just wanna eat in.

    Cilantro Taqueria (the chicken tinga bowl is 10/10)

    Ohio City Burrito (like a local Chipotle)

    Mulberry’s for pizza

    Taco Tanto’s (burritos are superior to the rest of the menu and try the homemade root beer)

    Aladdin’s Eatery (the honey dijon pita 10/10)

    Liquid Planet (greek pita and chicken paprikash soup!)

    Swensons Drive-In (the Galley Boy is one of my favorite burgers ever, and get it with the potato teezers)

    Local West for sandwiches

  • Saucy Brew Works (get the Bee Knees pizza)

    Noble Beast

    Great Lakes (A Cleveland staple)

  • Astoria

    Luxe (great patio!)

    Juneberry

  • Jukebox, get the Hingetown burger (can request angus or meatless)

    Heck’s Cafe

    Johnny’s Little Bar (it’s a dive connected to a much fancier restaurant)

    Nano Brew

  • Clandestina (amazing Mezcal)

    Literary Tavern (more casual)

    All Saints

    Jukebox (more casual)

    Amba

    LBM

    Porco (Tiki)

    Cordelia

    Prosperity

    Luxe

    Momocho (marg flight!)

  • Rising Star (I get the Promised Land)

    Lekko

    Phoenix

    Edda

    Patron Saint

  • Marble Room (steak and sushi)

    Cordelia (midwest-nice hospitality, James Beard winner)

    Red (steak)

    Jaja (steak)

    Acqua di Dea (seafood)

    Cleveland Chop (much more casual, but this is a crowd pleaser)

  • Hoatz Cafe (Tremont)

    Johnny’s Little Bar (downtown)

    Tina’s (karaoke) (Gordon Square)

    Hoopples (Tremont)

    Old Eagle Tavern

    Old 86 (Gordon Square)

    Rowley Inn (Tremont)

    Map Room (downtown)

  • Ohio City Burrito

    Rebol

    Brassica

  • Casa La Luna (Luca)

    Il Venetian

    LockKeepers

    Lago

    Mia Bella (in Little Italy)

  • Go to Xinji and get the Korean Fried Chicken rice bowl, the bao buns and the balls are also amazing. Pass on the ramen.

  • My absolute favorites are the Pink and the Cherry from Cent’s Pizza.

    The Bees Knees and Phat Ranch from Saucy Brew Works come in second

    Any pizza from Mulberry’s because the sauce is so good. I usually just get pepperoni and banana peppers.

    Boom’s Pizza in Lakewood also hits.

  • Malley’s in Lakewood fo ice cream or chocolate

    Leavened for pastries

    Phoenix Coffee for a chocolate chip cookie

    Luna Bakery and Cafe

    Larder for any of their sweets

    Beckers or Goldie’s for donuts

    Rood Food and Pie for PIE

    ALEA for a fancier dessert

    Casa La Luna for espresso martinis and dessert

  • Hola Tacos

    Clandestina (chicken burrito)

    Momocho (marg flight!!!)

    Barrio (casual, BYO)

  • Kale caesar from Cent’s

    Any salad at Cleveland Chop

    Orange & Beet from Heck’s

    Blood Orange Panzanella from Patron Saint, soooooo good

    Jukebox always has a great seasonal salad and you can make it a wrap

    Asian Noodle salad from Saucy Brew Works

  • I do not eat Sushi but from what I’ve heard…

    Goma

    Ginko

    Marble Room

    Sora

  • Astoria

    Flight

    Casa de Luna (Luca)

    Patron Saint

OTHER

  • Flower Child

    RVD

    All Things For You

  • Tow Path in Tremont

    Wendy Park

    Edgewater Park

    Cuyahoga Valley National Park

  • Go to Chagrin Falls! The most fabulous little suburb out in the valley surrounding a river with waterfalls. The restaurants are fabulous and there’s a Jeni’s!

    Cuyahoga Valley National Park is enormous and has a lot to offer

  • Go to a Cleveland Script sign (Abbey Rd is my favorite view)

    Marble Room

    Wendy Park

    Flats East Bank

    Solstice Steps (at sunset)

    Christmas Story House (in Tremont)

    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

  • Twist Social Club is the main LGBTQIA+ bar/club

    Cocktails is the hole-in-the-wall, grungy + open basement vibe

    Dean Rufus House of Fun is a fabulous novelty/gift shop in Hingetown.

    Local drag queens Veranda L’Ni and Peach Fuzz are my favorites. Follow them to see what they’re up to!

  • Cleveland Museum of Art, world-renowned. Monet exhibition until August 2024

    Museum of Illusions is currently in downtown

  • Lindey’s Lake House

    Lago

    Luxe

    Proof

    Jukebox

    Literary Tavern

    All Saints

    BrewDog

    Astoria

    Collision Bend

    Merwin’s Wharf

    Pier W

  • Patron Saint - all day Italian cafe and apertivo bar

    Lekko - coffee shop with great Internet

    Edda - another coffee shop that’s larger and more modern

    Green Goat Cafe - very health-conscious place with lots of tables to work from. Great smoothies!

  • Bathroom at Clandestina

    Bathroom at Flight

    Elevator at Church + State

  • Downtown: Heinen’s, The Arcade, Public Square, Playhouse Square, Voinovich Park, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

  • The old Coast Guard station next to Wendy Park

    Solstice Steps in Lakewood

  • Obviously try for a Guardians or Cavs games! Cleveland fans are very passionate. The Guardians have standing room tickets that give you access to a handful of bars and food.

  • Check out City Goods

    Oceanne

  • Corus45 for Pilates

    Soul Yoga

    Harness Cycle

    Enjoy the water and go on a run or walk at Edgewater Park

My perfect day in Cleveland

I’d start by getting a bacon, egg and cheese on a sea salt bagel from Cleveland Bagel Co and walk over to Rising Star on W. 29th St. to get an Iced Almond Promised Land Latte and grab a seat outside, eat my bagel, drink my latte, and pretend to read something for seven minutes. If I’m feeling it, I’d also grab a cookie from Larder which is next door to Rising Star.

I’d then go for a walk at Wendy Park over to the old Coast Guard Station right on Lake Erie and enjoy the fresh air coming off the water and question why I don’t have any friends with boats.

For lunch, I’d go to Patron Saint for the Blood Orange Panzanella and an Aperol Spritz and head next door to Shore Society to buy their latest crew neck design.

Amba is the dinner spot, hands down. After dinner and a few drinks, I’d head over to Casa La Luna for dessert and an espresso martini, and then to Jukebox for a few night caps on the patio. If I feel like going out, I’d probably go to Goodnight Johnny Boy.