Overview
Downtown Cleveland is the city's central business district and is undergoing a period of substantial residential growth, bringing with it new options for dining, nightlife, and other attractions. Downtown is bordered by the Cuyahoga River in the west, Lake Erie in the north, and extends east to include Cleveland State University. The southern edge is less well-defined, but most visitors will not have a reason to go south of the baseball stadium. Downtown Cleveland is also home to the tallest building in Ohio, the 947 foot (288m) tall Key Tower.
Downtown contains several major neighborhoods of interest, including:
- E. 4th St. – A narrow street partially converted into a pedestrian walkway featuring some of the city's best restaurants and bars
- Warehouse District – 19th-century warehouses and offices converted into retail and residences, home to many bars and nightclubs
- Playhouse Square – Cleveland's theater district, the largest in the US outside of New York. Featuring broadway shows, concerts, and other live events
- Flats East Bank – The east bank of the Cuyahoga river has been completely redeveloped. There are restaurants, bars, an outdoor night club, and an Aloft hotel.
- Gateway District – Home to two of Cleveland's professional sports arenas, Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
- North Coast – Home to most of the museums downtown, as well as Huntington Bank Field
- The Mall – A massive open-air public space consisting of large open lawns and pavilions. Also includes the Cleveland Convention Center.
16 sights · 14 things to do · 11 places to eat · 6 bars & cafés · 15 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Downtown
Public Square
A historic 10-acre plaza in the center of downtown Cleveland.
Terminal Tower Observation Deck
It was the second tallest building in the world when it was built in 1929. Now it's the second tallest building in Cleveland. The building was constructed as the main railroad terminal in Cleveland, and serves as the mai…
The Arcade
Built in 1890 and designed by John Eisenmann. The construction was financed by John D. Rockefeller, Marcus Hanna and several other wealthy Clevelanders of the day. The cost of the project was approximately $875,000 - tod…
Hope Memorial Bridge
Named for the father of Bob Hope, the famous actor/comedian who grew up from early childhood in Cleveland (though born in London). Hope Sr. worked on its construction. The bridge is framed by four art deco pylon sculptur…
Key Tower
The tallest building in Ohio, and second-tallest between New York City and Chicago for that matter, designed by Cesar Pelli.
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
Designed by prominent Cleveland architect Levi Scofield, this 125 ft tall monument and sculptures honors Cleveland-area Civil War veterans.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Oct. Summer highs reach about 84°F; winter lows dip to about 22°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Sep and Apr. (climate data from nearby Cleveland)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CLE Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland — 10 mi away (major hub). Directions
- CAK Akron Canton Regional Airport, Akron — 42 mi away. Directions
For information on getting to Cleveland, see Cleveland#Get in.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Public Square, Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Jack Casino Cleveland
- Lunch Sans Souci
- Afternoon Terminal Tower Observation Deck, Key Tower
- Dinner Mabel's BBQ
- Evening House of Blues
Day 2
- Morning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Great Lakes Science Center, Steamship William G. Mather Maritime Museum
- Lunch Blue Point Grille
- Afternoon Cleveland Browns football, Free Stamp
- Dinner Johnny's Downtown
- Evening Society Lounge
Day 3
- Morning The Bonfoey Gallery, Playhouse Square Center
- Lunch Walnut Wednesdays
- Afternoon Cleveland International Film Festival
- Dinner Barrio
- Evening Wild Eagle Saloon
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
For information on getting to Cleveland, see Cleveland#Get in.
Downtown is easily accessible by car and transit. Most of Cleveland's freeways converge toward downtown. Traffic is usually relatively light for an urban area outside of typical weekday commuting hours and special events. Parking in garages and surface lots is plentiful and generally inexpensive compared to larger cities. Street parking is available on some streets. Free parking is also available on residential streets (eg. Lindazzo Ave). Many hotels and restaurants offer valet service.
By public transit, the RTA Red Line goes between the airport and downtown (Tower City) in approximately 30 minutes. Be sure to check the RTA website as frequent west side track maintenance often necessitates replacing part or all of the route with buses on weekends, which can add several minutes. Most of RTA's bus routes originate downtown, near Tower City, upstairs from the Red Line station.
Cleveland's Amtrak, Greyhound, and Megabus stations are all in the downtown area.
See
Historic buildings and architecture
See Terminal Tower Observation Deck
It was the second tallest building in the world when it was built in 1929. Now it's the second tallest building in Cleveland. The building was constructed as the main railroad terminal in Cleveland, and serves as the main hub of the RTA Rapid Lines (below the retail mall levels). Go to the Terminal Tower's observation deck on the 42nd floor to observe the surrounding environs (particularly, Lake Erie, the winding Cuyahoga River, and the juxtaposition of downtown against industrial uses to the south and west). The observation deck is only open on weekends.
See The Arcade
Built in 1890 and designed by John Eisenmann. The construction was financed by John D. Rockefeller, Marcus Hanna and several other wealthy Clevelanders of the day. The cost of the project was approximately $875,000 - today it would be impossible to replicate. The inspiration of the project is said to be the Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy. Although pedestrian arcades exist in several North American cities, few - if any, compare to the grandeur of the Arcade in Cleveland. The Arcade was the first building in Cleveland to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The structure features a five-story atrium with extensive metal decorative work. The top floor features gargoyles which circle the entire atrium area. The structure includes the famous skylighted atrium as well as two nine-story towers, one each on Euclid Ave and Superior Ave. In the past decade, the structure was renovated as a Hyatt Regency Hotel.
See Hope Memorial Bridge (Lorain-Carnegie Bridge)
Named for the father of Bob Hope, the famous actor/comedian who grew up from early childhood in Cleveland (though born in London). Hope Sr. worked on its construction. The bridge is framed by four art deco pylon sculptures known as the Guardians of Traffic portraying the evolution of forms of ground transportation. The sculptures are the source of the local baseball team's new nickname. In addition to a large number of jack-knife and lift bridges along the Cuyahoga, one of the world's few remaining "Swing Bridges" is still in use, connecting the east and west banks of the Flats entertainment district.
Museums
See Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Located at North Coast Harbor, this glass pyramid was designed by noted architect I.M. Pei and houses a massive collection of rock and roll memorabilia. Cleveland was home to the first Rock concert, the term "Rock and Roll" was coined by a Cleveland DJ and many of the music genre's icons used Cleveland as their springboards. As Rock Inductee, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, has been paraphrased - to become a rock star in the U.S., first, you have to be loved in Cleveland.
See Cleveland Police Museum
A collection of Cleveland police gear and crime scene artifacts from the 1800s to the modern era. Some of the artifacts include plaster castings of murder victim faces, an early police call box, and artifacts from the Kingsbury Run murders. Has a small gift shop.
Art
Cleveland has a rich artistic history. In addition to its museums of art, the city boasts a vibrant art community with galleries scattered throughout its trendiest neighborhoods.
See Cleveland Public Art
Headquartered in Ohio City, this non-profit organization sponsors art projects throughout the city, including the spires and vegetable wall near Progressive Field, the murals on Tremont School, and the Wade Oval gate at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
See Free Stamp
This controversial piece of pop art, in Willard Park to the east of City Hall, was commissioned in 1982 and designed by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
Do
Sports
With 4 stadiums downtown, chances are good that there will be at least one sporting event going on during your visit.
Do Cleveland Guardians baseball (Progressive Field)
The Guardians, renamed from Indians after the 2021 season, play in Progressive Field, a gem of a ballpark in Major League Baseball.
Do Cleveland Browns football (Huntington Bank Field)
The old Browns went to the birds, but the Dawg Pound carries on the tradition of the NFL's staunchest fans! While they haven't won a championship since 1964, and didn't pick up a playoff win after "The Move" until the 2020 season, most Browns fans remain loyal. Tailgating parties in the nearby parking lots may be more popular than the games themselves these days. Tickets for most games can be obtained cheaply on resale sites.
Do Cleveland Cavaliers basketball (Rocket Arena)
Cleveland's most successful sports franchise as of late with five division titles since 2009 and a league championship in 2016. They went through a rebuilding phase after LeBron James took his talents to the Left Coast, but are now contenders again behind younger stars Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell.
Do Cleveland State Vikings
The sports teams of Cleveland State University, members of the Horizon League with various sports throughout the year. Cleveland State University competes in baseball, basketball, crew, cross country, fencing, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.
Sporting events
Do MAC Basketball Championships
The Mid-American Conference of NCAA Division I college basketball holds its annual men's and women's championships in early March at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to determine the conference's automatic entries into March Madness (the NCAA tournament) for men and women.
Buy
Shop Tower City Center
Downtown Cleveland is home to Tower City Center, a large urban complex, a retail mall, hotels and the Terminal Tower. Shops range from high-end to standard mall franchises. The food court has great views of the river. Tower City is connected by walkway to the Tower City Amphitheater, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Progressive Field, and the federal courthouse. Rapid Transit lines head west to the airport as well as through University Circle and suburbs to the east, so anyone arriving from the Rapid will walk through the mall. Tower City has been struggling with the loss of many of its upscale tenants, but it remains one of the largest shopping areas downtown.
Eat
Budget
Eat Walnut Wednesdays
A gathering of food trucks every Wednesday, May-September
Mid-range
Eat Mallorca
Excellent Spanish and Portuguese food.
Eat Pickwick and Frolics
Classic American with comedy and dinner theater shows.
Eat Mabel's BBQ
Michael Symon's "Cleveland style" BBQ.
Eat Barrio
Downtown taqueria with build-your-own tacos and margaritas.
Eat Butcher & The Brewer
As the name suggests, they brew their own beer and cut and cure their own meat.
Splurge
Eat Blue Point Grille
Classy seafood and a large wine list.
Eat Johnny's Downtown
Upscale Italian with live piano music.
Eat Sans Souci
French and Mediterranean inspired food in the Renaissance Hotel
Eat Red: The Steakhouse
Classic white tablecloth steakhouse. Named one of the top 10 steakhouses in the US by Playboy.
Eat Alley Cat Oyster Bar
Upscale seafood with a view of the riverfront.
Drink
Drink Wilbert's
Live blues music.
Drink Winking Lizard Taverns
Area chain known for its World Tour of Beer, as well as solid local food.
Drink Society Lounge
Speakeasy-style bar with craft cocktails and tapas
Drink Wild Eagle Saloon
Self-serve beer dispensers, live music, and games.
Drink Masthead Brewing Company
Restaurant/brewery in historic part of town. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Stay Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade
Occupies the two towers and the top three floors of the atrium area. The two lower floors of the atrium area remain open to the public with retail merchants and a food court. In addition, the lobby and offices are located near the Superior Avenue entrance.
Nearby
Lakewood
City / town · 23 listings · 6 mi away
Cleveland Heights
City / town · 9 listings · 7 mi away
Shaker Heights
City / town · 11 listings · 7 mi away
University Heights
City / town · 3 listings · 8 mi away
Valley View
City / town · 9 listings · 9 mi away
Beachwood
City / town · 13 listings · 10 mi away
Middleburg Heights
City / town · 12 listings · 11 mi away
Westlake
City / town · 11 listings · 13 mi away
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