2 Days In Cleveland: What To Do, See & Eat

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Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Destination Cleveland, who kindly invited me to go explore Cleveland for the weekend. All opinions and newfound obsessions with the Midwest are entirely mine. Thanks Destination Cleveland!

When you think of Cleveland, Ohio, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the city’s long history as a central figure in the oil industry, or its proximity to massive Lake Erie. However, there is so much more to this Midwest city than you might expect. As the city continues to evolve and flourish, its revitalized, fresh face offers an impressively diverse and exciting array of things to do, see and eat.

Although there is much more to Cleveland than you could possibly fit into one weekend, this two-day itinerary will point you in the direction of some of the best things the city has to offer.

Featuring the most unique shops, beautiful streets and neighborhoods, delicious restaurants, fascinating (and free!) museums, refreshing bars and breweries, and other fun attractions – you won’t find many of these spots on other typical Cleveland itineraries.

Let’s dive in and explore Cleveland’s hidden gems together!

Where To Stay In Cleveland

I’ve been a big fan of Kimpton Hotels for more than ten years, so I was excited to check out Cleveland’s very own Kimpton Schofield Hotel. Let me tell you – I wasn’t disappointed! From the second you pull up to the hotel, the level of friendly, genuine service makes you feel warmly welcomed and right at home.

Centrally located in downtown Cleveland, the Kimpton Schofield is the perfect place to stay for travelers who want to make the most of a short weekend trip and be in close proximity to everything the city has to offer. The hotel is only a quick 2-minute walk to Cleveland’s bustling East 4th Street, a 4-minute walk to Progressive Field and other downtown attractions, and a 5-15 minute drive to major sights like the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Playhouse Square, and more.

Fun fact: A major action scene in the first Avengers film was filmed here! Bonus points if you can spot it during a re-watch.

The Kimpton Schofield is a beautifully designed upscale boutique hotel located inside a gorgeous old historic building that has been exquisitely restored. With the perfect mix of classic and modern touches, the only bad thing about the hotel is you won’t want to leave. 

Hot tip: The hotel’s adjoining farm-to-table restaurant, Parker’s Downtown, has the best kimchi fried chicken sandwich in the world (and yes, I may or may not have ordered it to my room twice…judge me, I dare you).

More Accommodations In Cleveland

Day 1 | Weekend in Cleveland

Presumably, your first day in Cleveland will be a Saturday. If you arrive on Friday with ample time to add things to your itinerary, check out the suggested add-on activities and places to eat and drink, located at the bottom of this post!

Day 1 in Cleveland is all about exploring the city’s vibrant Ohio City neighborhood, checking out the food scene, taking in some entertainment, and enjoying as much of the city as possible (while not running yourself into the ground). In other words: today will be busy, but expect lots of relaxation breaks in between activities.

Grab Breakfast at Jack Flaps

The first item on your agenda will likely be food. There are lots of delectable breakfast spots and coffee shops all around Cleveland, but I’ve included a couple of excellent options for both days that I have either tried myself or have been personally recommended by locals.

Here’s where you’re headed on Saturday morning:

  • Jack Flaps – 3900 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113. I went there specifically for the lemon curd & blueberry flapjacks and y’all, I was not disappointed. Other notable menu items: the Fireside Cider flapjacks or waffles (topped with apple cider syrup, crumbled goat cheese and ginger snaps) and the Real F’ing Breakfast Burrito (Adobo-braised beef, sunny side-up egg, crema, pico de gallo, the mouthwatering list goes on).

Other yummy breakfast options include:

  • Loop – 2180 W 11th St Cleveland, Ohio 44113 (super cool coffeehouse/record store combo)
  • Pour Cleveland – 530 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115 (serious coffee drinkers will be especially happy here)

Looking for Cleveland’s best vegan food spots? Check out this awesome guide!

Explore Lorain Avenue’s Antiques District

After you fill yourself up with the best brunch of your life, take a leisurely stroll down Lorain Avenue and pop in and out of its many antique stores. Even if you’re not an antiquing fanatic, you’ll enjoy the little oddities and beautiful things you stumble across.

My personal favorite was Helm Collective, which is located right next door to Jack Flaps. It’s basically an Instagrammer’s hipster-y heaven of a cozy little shop. Spend some time poring over the gorgeous antique rugs, baskets, furniture, and other home decor.

Here are some other antique stores on Lorain Avenue:

Stroll Through West Side Market

West Side Market is a local staple and a fun stop for visitors to Cleveland as well. It is the oldest operational indoor/outdoor market space in Cleveland, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

As soon as you enter the front door, you are greeted with the hustle and bustle of a busy market – including all the sights, smells, and sounds you’d expect from a working marketplace.

It reminded me a lot of my favorite markets in Europe which brought back lots of good memories. Don’t forget – you can pick up lunch fixings or locally-made snacks here too!

Pro tip: Go up the stairs (located to the right inside the main door) for the best overview of the market from the balcony (seen above) and a lovely place to sit and enjoy your market spoils. I got lucky and enjoyed two local musicians playing guitar next to me for a few minutes while I was taking in the view.

Snap A Photo At The Cleveland Mural

Created by traveling street artists Victor Ving and Lisa Beggs, this vintage postcard-inspired mural can be found near the corner of Chatham and West 25th Street in Ohio City, just a couple of blocks from West Side Market.

  • Greetings From Cleveland mural – 2549 Chatham Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113
  • A full Cleveland street art guide can be found here

Allow Time For The Unexpected

One of the best ways to discover a city is to follow your nose (or your eyes, in this case) and let your curiosity lead you. This often ends up bringing you to shops, restaurants, parks, and events that you may not have encountered otherwise.

This was the case with Room Service, which is a stunning lifestyle boutique/heaven-on-earth store filled with unique, visually-appealing home goods, accessories, apparel, gifts, and other goodies. I got lucky enough to meet and chat with the co-owner of the store, artist Jennie Doran (and her adorable tiny babe Rune) while I was there.

I had to physically remove myself from this place so I wouldn’t buy every single thing in the store. I ended up impulse-buying some handmade Etta+Billie lip balm and then forced myself to leave. So, beware – it’s chock full of dangerously beautiful and enticing things that are incredibly hard to resist!

Eat Lunch At Bakersfield Taqueria

Right next door to my beloved Room Service and just down the block from West Side Market, you’ll find Bakersfield. This industrial-chic, friendly but serious-about-their-food authentic Mexican street food joint is the perfect stop for lunch. They also have over 100 tequilas and American whiskeys, if you’re in the mood for a midday libation.

Other lunch options include:

Play A Little At Punch Bowl Social

After lunch, head over to Cleveland’s 27,000 square foot, 3-story funhouse, bowling alley, arcade, brewery, mini golf course, restaurant, rooftop bar…did I mention this place has just about everything?!

Grab a cocktail or beer and take in the beautiful views of the river and vibrant East Bank Flats area from the rooftop, play a few games, and relax in one of their many lounges for a bit.

I can personally vouch for the deliciousness of their Moscow Mule, just sayin’. If I’d had more time, I would have stayed even longer! There’s so much to do in one place.

What To Do For Dinner

If you want to keep things simple, go ahead and grab some grub while you’re still at Punch Bowl Social! Take a look at their menu ahead of time (if you’re a bit of an obsessive planner like me) and see if anything tickles your fancy. Yes, I sound like a DAD. I’m fine with it.

Punch Bowl Social has some delicious food options, including shareable dishes like Green Chorizo Fries, Umami Bomb Chips & Dip, Sweet & Spicy Wings, a Sheetload of Nachos (yes please) or entrees like Pork Belly Tacos, Falafel Burger, A La Bama Chicken Sandwich with Rosemary Fries (hi, hello)…the list goes on.

Still looking for other dinner spots to try? How about:

  • Alley Cat Oyster Bar – 1056 Old River Road Cleveland, OH 44113 (East Bank of the Flats)
  • Salt – 17625 Detroit Rd, Lakewood, OH 44107

Take In A Broadway Show or A Game

To round out this super fun, full day in Cleveland, we’re wrapping things up with your choice of entertainment: a Broadway show or a sportsball game. Now, if you know me at all, you’re aware that every sporting event is called sportsball to me. I know nothing about sports and I don’t really care to.

That being said, I understand why people love going to games – and Cleveland definitely provides some solid options if you’re on the sports-lover side of the fence!

There are lots of sportsball teams in Cleveland, with three of the most notable ones being the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Cleveland Browns, and the Cleveland Indians (uh hi, 2019 – get it together with the team name situation). I digress. You can check upcoming games here.

If you’re not into sporty stuff, another amazing option is heading over to Playhouse Square for a Broadway show. You might be surprised to learn that Cleveland has a lot of the same offerings as New York City (and let me tell you, getting tickets is way easier here). Choose from famous shows like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Phantom Of The Opera, and others!

Not Tired Yet?

If you’re looking for a unique after-show or post-game experience, these Cleveland speakeasies offer atmosphere, great libations and a little air of mystery.

Other nightcap options include:

Now, go get some well-deserved sleep!

Day 2 | Weekend in Cleveland

Today is your second and final day in Cleveland, so we’re going to pack quite a bit in, including three museum options, a beach outing, and/or a botanic garden adventure! Buckle up and get ready for a busy day (but, as always, feel free to cut out any of these things and adjust things to your own comfort and personal interests). But first…

Have Brunch At Grumpy’s Cafe

A local favorite with the perfect name for us non-morning people, Grumpy’s Cafe is an American cafe serving up comfort food in casual, cozy, art-adorned space.

Menu highlights: the Jambalaya Omelet (spicy creole casserole with rice, chicken, andouille sausage, ham, shrimp, and cheese) and Sweet Potato Pancakes (hand-shredded cakes topped with cinnamon honey butter and sweet cream cheese with candied pecans).

Pro tip: Grumpy’s is known to have the best brunch in Cleveland, so get there early to avoid longer wait times.

Other breakfast options:

Soak Up Some Art & Outdoors Time

After brunch, you get to choose your own adventure! Depending on your mood (and how many biscuits you had at breakfast), you have various options for your daytime activities.

I’d suggest picking two of these, and not attempting to do all four, unless you’ve had a million gallons of coffee and want to move at the speed of light. Hey, I’m not your mom – live your life!

Here are the combinations I’d recommend:

OR

The Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Botanical Garden are right next to each other, making it easy to visit them both in a short(er) amount of time. The Cleveland Museum of Art is also 100% free, which is pretty awesome.

Yes, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a Cleveland staple, and as a music-lover, I have to mention it. But, full disclosure, I didn’t even visit it this trip (I know, blasphemy!), because I was too busy enjoying the beautiful weather and other outdoor spaces on my last day. I do want to go back to Cleveland and take in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at some point though!

I ended up at Edgewater Park and absolutely loved it. I spent time relaxing on the giant grassy lawn in the park, sitting on the rocks by Lake Erie, reading my book, and just taking in the sunshine. It was exactly what I needed! You can swim, BBQ, paddleboard, go boating, have a picnic, go fishing – whatever you’re in the mood for.

Pro tip: if you want to grab a photo by the Insta-famous Cleveland Script signs, there’s one located here at Edgewater Park. Other Cleveland Script sign locations can be found here.

Eat A Light Lunch at Restore

Grab a pick-me-up smoothie, fresh cold-pressed juice, acai bowl, or loaded avocado toast at Restore downtown. Bonus – they have one of the most beautiful murals that I’ve ever seen, right in the store. Worth a stop for the mural alone!

Pro tip: I highly recommend the Blue Majick smoothie (pineapple, banana, mint, cacao nibs, whey protein, blue spirulina and almond milk). It’s possibly the best dang smoothie I’ve ever had – no joke.

  • Restore – 1001 Huron Rd E, Cleveland, OH 44115

Other lunch options, if you’re feeling hangry:

Grab A ‘Gram At The Cleveland Arcade

This was one of the most unexpected finds for me in Cleveland. From the outside, I would’ve never anticipated such stunning architecture. Cleveland Arcade is a perfect photo op, if you’re looking for one.

This building now houses a Hyatt Hotel on the upper floors and some sleepy little shops and restaurants on the lower floors. None of them are anything special, but the Victorian-era design of this place is absolutely bonkers. It looks a bit like an arcade you’d find in Paris or Vienna!

Get Dinner & Drinks On East 4th Street

To wrap up our weekend in Cleveland, head across the street from the Cleveland Arcade to East 4th Street. This is one of downtown Cleveland’s most happening spots, with world-class restaurants, breweries, stores, bars and other entertainment options. Another choose your own adventure type of situation – take a lap around East 4th and see what sounds good!

If you’re in the mood for some more fun before you head out of the city, step into Corner Alley and enjoy their state-of-the-art bowling alleys, delectable culinary offerings, or just catch “the game” on one of their high-def TVs. There will probably be a game on, right?

The Cleveland House of Blues is also located on East 4th Street, so if you’re a music lover like me, be sure you check their events calendar to see if any of your favorite artists are coming through town during your visit.

Phew – you did it! Tell me what your favorite part of your weekend in Cleveland was, or what you’re most looking forward to (if you’re in the middle of planning an upcoming trip). Drop a comment below and let me know!

 

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4 thoughts on “2 Days In Cleveland: What To Do, See & Eat”

  1. Liz

    I loved reading this post! Growing up we used to visit Cleveland all the time and exploring all the hidden gems throughout the city! I think you did a great job capturing all the major sites while also including some awesome finds in the city that make it so special!

  2. Vanessa Shields

    I never knew there was so much to do in Cleveland! Ohio is one state I haven’t been to yet but when I do I’m heading to Cleveland! Thanks for the info. 🙂

  3. Kareemah Ashiru

    What a great and detailed post, I loved it! I am from Ohio and I didn’t get to experience much of Cleveland. I always thought the Rock and Roll Museum looked fascinating. Also, the Westside market looks fascinating.

  4. Lana

    Looks like an amazing city to visit for a weekend. I had no idea that there were beautiful markets and an arcade to see there!

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