Best Cleveland Bars

Last Updated Feb 16, 2026

I love a good night out, and over my years living in Cleveland, I've tried to check out new spots that have opened as well as old ones I may have missed. Although my list skews to the west side, take a look below for my favorites from cocktail bars to dance parties to dives.

The Flats

Goodnight John Boy

My favorite downtown/Flats dance spot by a mile, Goodnight John Boy has a light-up dance floor, tons of sofas and 70s living room decor, retro tunes, and a fenced-in astroturf patio area with beer pong.

Decades

If you need a change from Goodnight John Boy, hop right next door to Decades, another dance party with colorful lights and throwback hits.

Collision Bend

This brewery is great for brunch, dinner, or drinks. Between a super spacious interior and a patio overlooking the river, this is a prime spot to start the night, especially with a large group.

Brewdog

Debatably not quite in the Flats, considering it actually has a parking lot, Brewdog has great beers and decent food in a very large space that's good for groups. There's an equally large patio as well as a game space for events.

Downtown

Noble Beast Brewing

This high-ranked Cleveland brewery has a very pretty interior with skylights and plants. Although I've only had drinks here, I hear the food is worth trying too.

Society Lounge

Always my go-to bar on E 4th, Society Lounge is a swanky underground bar with a speakeasy type feel, dim lights, cushy seats, and fancy cocktails. Come around Christmas for themed decor and drinks.

Wonder Bar

My second choice for E 4th bars, I love how colorful it is inside, and there are a few arcade games at the back as well.

Jolene's Honky Tonk

This is admittedly not my vibe at all (Dolly is cool, I'm just not a country fan), but I was pretty impressed with the set-up inside. The tables are all yard furniture like barbeques and kegs, tractors to sit in, and there's an astroturf rooftop with swings.

Vault Bar at the 9

In the basement of The 9 hotel, you'll find this bar among giant bank vaults. There are multiple options for rooms to sit in with cozy couches and chairs to enjoy your cocktails.

Masthead

Masthead looks like an old wooden warehouse and smells like yeast, but these are some of my favorite beers brewed in Cleveland, hands down. I keep a 4-pack of Masthead Jalapeno IPA in my fridge at all times. They also serve food, mainly pizzas.

The Jack

I personally don't gamble, but if you need a bar opened late or just like the flashy casino vibes, head to The Jack. They also decorate the place for Christmas.

Lakewood

Birdietown

Lakewood's new mini-golf bar has two floors with 9-hole courses and incredible cocktails. It is a little pricey for putt-putt, in my opinion, but nice for a fun change of pace. There's also a full restaurant menu if you want to make an evening of it. Highly recommend the Azalea cocktail.

LBM

A small, vaguely Viking-themed cocktail bar on Madison, LBM has incredible cocktails, staff, and food. It's a great go-to for visitors or a date night.

Mahall's

Mahall's has tons to offer with three different floors and various events every weekend. Upstairs is The Roxy, a large concert hall hosting bands and dance parties. On the main floor is another dance room for smaller concerts and events, as well the primary bar across the lobby that has a rotating seasonal cocktail list and booths to enjoy food from Parky's Pop-Up. In the basement, there are retro bowling lanes as well as a 70's cocktail bar, Pins & Needles, which has the decor of a living room straight from that era.

I've been here for shows, dance parties like the Broadway Rave, dinner, Emo Night on my birthday, New Year's Eve, or just a night of bowling. Check their events page!

NYE in the Roxy

Around the Corner

While not a bar I frequent often, Around the Corner not only has a nice patio, they are THE best Christmas bar in NE Ohio. Come in December for an absolute explosion of festive decor.

Corky's

A large dive bar, Corky's has one claim to fame - constant karaoke. The waiting list for the mic is always long, so plan accordingly and be ready to hear increasingly drunken renditions of just about any song you can think of.

McGinty's

McGinty's is a Lakewood favorite of mine. A cozy Irish pub with a good draft list, one side holding the bar and my favorite seating nook, the other with tables and a pool table.

Ohio City

Forest City Brewery

This place is huge and the patio is magical, full of fairy lights and varied seating. There are multiple rooms indoors too, making this an easy place to show up with a large group.

Pins

If you're looking for more than just drinks, Pins is a great place to occupy yourself with games or bring a team/large group. They've got duckpin bowling, arcade games, ping pong, pinball, and more.

Tabletop

Another awesome game spot in Ohio City is Tabletop Board Game Cafe. They have shelves full of games to choose from and serve both alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks (including coffee). A great daytime option, although there may be a wait for a table on weekends.

Great Lakes

The flagship Cleveland brewery, Great Lakes offers both a restaurant using local ingredients and a basement bar that decorates for Christmas.

Tremont

Flying Monkey

I like the casual vibes and layout of Flying Monkey. Being on the corner before the main bar street, this is a good place to start a Tremont night out.

Coda

My favorite casual bar in Tremont, Coda is a basement bar full of red lights and rock memorabilia. They also host events like karaoke, bands, and comedy shows.

Treehouse

Probably the most popular Tremont bar, I couldn't leave Treehouse off the list. The large tree behind the bar is the defining feature, and they also have a patio area out back.

West Park

PJ McIntyre's

One of the most popular Irish bars in the Cleveland area, you'll find PJ's packed wall-to-wall on St. Patrick's Day. The rest of the year, it's a great spot to come in for a traditional Irish pub feel, decently priced scotch, and live music.

Bad Medicine

West Park's only (?) cocktail bar, Bad Medicine is a vinyl bar with good music, food, and quality drinks.

Cleveland Heights

Quintana's Speakeasy

My favorite speakeasy concept in NE Ohio, this bar is located above an actual, working barber shop. It absolutely does not look like a bar in any way from the street, but go around to the back door, tell them you're there for drinks, walk through the salon, and head up the stairs where you'll find a bookcase with a button to push. Inside, you'll find a cozy little room with comfy seats and cocktails!

Grog Shop

A two floor concert venue, Grog Shop is upstairs and B-Side Lounge downstairs. In the basement, you'll find dance parties and drag bingo; upstairs, bands, movie nights, and a monthly alternative drag show called GlamGore that I attend regularly.

Other West Side

Twist

My favorite gay bar, I just love Twist whether it's for a night of dancing, a Drag Race viewing, or a casual daytime drink. Amazing vibes all around, and even better in summer when the back patio is open. Pride is super crowded, but they do open the entire parking lot out back for overflow.

Funhouse

I'm a sucker for a themed bar, and we don't have many of them in the area. Funhouse delivers a theme to match their name in a divey setting with striped walls, crane games, funhouse mirrors, and more.

Old 86

This bar is not quite near any others, so I'm extremely happy I stopped in on a whim. The inside lives up to all my goth dreams, while the huge back patio area has cornhole, darts, and fairy lights, along with an additional outdoor bar.

Cocktails

For a less clubby gay bar than Twist, check out Cocktails on Detroit. They have more laid-back drag shows, a very pretty cloud ceiling, and a cozy fenced-in back patio area.

Leather Stallion

Also an LGBTQ+ option, this is the local leather bar. There's a huge outdoor patio area and often go-go dancers on the tables. The crowd is almost entirely men.

Porco Tiki Lounge

Porco is everything I want in a tiki bar. Gorgeous decor, a nice patio with fires, big booths, an awesome private room for events, and excellent tiki drinks that are listed on the menu according to potency. (I really like the Saturn!)

Stone Mad

It's hard to decide whether to sit inside or out at Stone Mad. Indoors is a beautiful Irish pub while outside is an all-stone patio with fountains. They also serve Irish food.

No Class

For grungy, punk vibes, No Class is the place. Come for concerts, fundraisers, alt drag, and more.

Did you think I missed some highlights? It's possible they're on my restaurant list here - including gothic cocktail bar Cloak & Dagger, speakeasy Amazonia, beer hall Hofbrauhaus, retro Never Say Dive, and bougie Fairmount Cocktail Bar. Check it out!