Overview
Lakewood is a city next to Cleveland, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
4 sights · 3 things to do · 7 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lakewood
Beck Center for the Arts
Local theater often featuring Kevin Kelly.
Nicholson House
A New England-style home from 1839, with Victorian renovations. Rumored to be haunted.
Museum of Divine Statues
Oldest Stone House Museum
A sandstone house from 1834 that is now a museum of Lakewood History.
Lakewood Park
Gorgeous park with amazing views of Lake Erie. Site of the yearly 4th of July fireworks.
First Federal Lakewood Stadium
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 — 5 mi away (major hub). Directions
- CAK Akron Canton Regional Airport, Akron — 43 mi away. Directions
From the airport, follow Ohio 237 north; from most parts of Cleveland proper, take I-90 or Ohio 2 west and follow the signs.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Nicholson House, Museum of Divine Statues, First Federal Lakewood Stadium
- Lunch Szechwan Garden
- Afternoon Oldest Stone House Museum, Lakewood Park
- Dinner Aladdin's Eatery
- Evening Sauced Taproom
Day 2
- Morning Beck Center for the Arts
- Lunch Pier W
- Afternoon Clifton Beach
- Dinner Dianna's Deli & Restaurant
- Evening Game On
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.
Understand
History
One of Cleveland's original "streetcar suburbs," Lakewood was built and settled primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of its existing housing stock was built in this timeframe, and is surprisingly well maintained. Lakewood has managed to retain many of the best features of a city, small town, and suburb, and scenes reminiscent of all three can easily be found within a few blocks of downtown Lakewood (Detroit Ave. between Cook and Bunts) and in the Gold Coast neighborhood.
Get in
By car
From the airport, follow Ohio 237 north; from most parts of Cleveland proper, take I-90 or Ohio 2 west and follow the signs.
By bus
RTA bus #26 serves both Lakewood and Cleveland along Detroit Avenue, and the Red Line features two stops just inside the Lakewood/Cleveland border, West 117 and Triskett Road, from which you can easily walk to the southeastern neighborhoods of Lakewood.
Get around
The areas of Lakewood of most interest to a visitor, notably the downtown area, are very walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods. If coming from Cleveland, the #26 bus runs relatively frequently down Detroit Avenue and takes about 45 minutes between downtown Lakewood and downtown Cleveland. Driving in and around Lakewood is fairly easy as well. The speed limits are 20 mph in school zones and 25 mph on most other streets, and are vigorously enforced. Parking is limited in and near the downtown area, though paid garages and metered parking are available almost everywhere.
See
Do
Do Lakewood Park
Gorgeous park with amazing views of Lake Erie. Site of the yearly 4th of July fireworks.
Do First Federal Lakewood Stadium
Do Clifton Beach
Buy
Shop Malley's Chocolates
Excellent chocolate. Store features an old timey soda fountain with a multitude of ice cream treat options. Widely known for their fresh hot fudge.
Shop Rozi's Wine House
Family-owned store with an incredibly wide selection of wine, beer, gourmet food, cheese, and gifts.
Eat
Eat Aladdin's Eatery
Delicious Lebanese food and home of the chain's national headquarters.
Eat Borderline Cafe
Tiny tex-mex style breakfast nook. Almost always packed and closes at 2PM.
Eat Dianna's Deli & Restaurant
24-hour, home-style diner, with a very colorful (sometimes not for the best) wait staff.
Eat Elmwood Home Bakery
Delicious cakes, breaks, and baked goods. As featured in the movie American Splendor.
Eat Melt Bar and Grilled
Incredibly long waits only matched by the amazing food. Cheese!
Eat Pier W
Described as a ˝landmark Cleveland restaurant˝ but it's within Lakewood city limits. Serves delicious food, with a mostly seafood menu, and offers a bar and valet parking. Nice atmosphere and great view of the lake. Sunday mornings are their buffets - a nice time to bring the whole family. A bit pricey
Drink
- Riverwood Cafe
Sleep
Stay Days Inn Cleveland Lakewood
Stay Travelodge Cleveland Lakewood
Stay safe
Most parts of Lakewood are very safe, particularly by comparison to Cleveland proper. At night, use caution in the neighborhoods adjacent to West 117th Street south of Detroit, and Madison Avenue east of Madison Park.
Respect
Lakewood is well known as an economically, culturally and ethnically diverse community. Prejudice in any form is not appreciated, but treat other people the way you wish to be treated, regardless of any differences, and you should be fine.
Go next
Explore Cleveland or the metro area.
Nearby
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My experience
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