Cleveland is a diverse city filled with so many unique venues, restaurants, landmarks and more. Of course, those of us who live here already know how cool our city is, but when Good Housekeeping Magazine reached out to ask if I would share some of the cutest spots to visit in Cleveland, I was bursting with pride to show off my city to a diverse group of readers from all over the US. You can catch my Cleveland hometown feature in the December 2018 issue of Good Housekeeping!
Now that the issue is on stands, I am taking to my blog to share my top 10 Instagram Worthy Spots in Cleveland. Honestly, this list doesn’t even scratch the surface of my favorite local spots, but it is great itinerary for cute places to shop, eat and explore in Cleveland. I skipped over the traditional tourist spots and decided instead to focus on the local businesses that I love to support and provide an amazing backdrop for capturing Instagram-worthy photos!
Pour Cleveland
Pour Cleveland is a stylish, boutique downtown coffee bar with a bright, yet warm atmosphere that welcomes visitors from all walks of life. Located in downtown Cleveland, this coffee shop takes extreme pride in their coffee, which is only rivaled by their pride in their hometown city of Cleveland. Whenever I have a meeting downtown, I like to make sure I get there a few minutes early so I can pop into my favorite coffee shop for a classic café latte.
The Arcade
This iconic Cleveland landmark holds the title as the first indoor shopping center in America. The building first opened its doors in 1890, and has gone through several restorations since that time, including a major update in 2001. Hyatt Regency Cleveland now occupies the top three levels of the atrium of the building and boutique retail stores and dining make up the lower two levels of The Arcade Cleveland. As a party stylist, I dream of one day planning an event in this beautiful, historic venue!
East 4th Street
A vibrant, bustling entertainment district nestled into the heart of downtown Cleveland, East 4th Street is a hot spot for restaurants, bars and shopping. This is the place to be on a Friday night and especially after a hometown sports team victory! One of my favorite spots on East 4th is Corner Alley, where my friends and I love to enjoy appetizers and drinks, while bowling in a fun bar atmosphere.
Azure Rooftop Lounge
Perched 150 ft above city streets, Azure Rooftop Lounge is a trendy rooftop lounge with panoramic views of the downtown Cleveland skyline. With fresh menu items and an vast selection of handcrafted cocktails, it is a great spot to eat, drink and play in Cleveland. This is one of my favorite date night spots with my husband. There is simply nothing better than enjoying a glass of rosé with my hubby while enjoying the lights, sounds and view of our city!
Brewnuts
Combining a love of donuts, beer and Cleveland, Brewnuts is a quirky donut bar featuring local beer, coffee and beer-infused donuts. In addition to the delicious menu of donuts and local brews, the hip and inviting atmosphere boasting whimsical wallpaper, a custom pink neon sign that reads “Donut Mess With Cleveland” and even a jukebox, makes this unique shop the perfect place to hang with friends and to capture some awesome photos for Instagram! My go-to donut flavor is Strawberry Sprinkle, which is made with Samuel Smith Strawberry Organic Ale topped a strawberry cream icing. Yum! And it pairs perfectly with a Rhinegeist Rosé Ale.
Fount
Fount is a Cleveland-based design studio and store selling sophisticated handmade leather handbags and accessories. With a passion to create quality products that are ethically made in the United States, Fount is a go-to local shopping destination for luxury leather goods. My personal favorite piece is the Finley Clutch, which is the perfect small size for carrying a few essential items for a night on the town.
The Plum
The Plum is a bright and beautiful restaurant space that is impeccably Instagram-worthy with lots of windows, white walls, pink booth seating and a funky lemon print wallpaper that accents the front of the restaurant. But people don’t come here for the decor, what they really come for is the incredible, ever changing menu. The owners of The Plum work with local farmers to source fresh, seasonal ingredients, and carefully curate American menu items based on what is currently available. The Plum is home to the best frozé in all of Cleveland, which is my go-to cocktail of choice whenever I visit with friends!
Mitchell’s Ice Cream
Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream is a unique Cleveland ice cream shop with an incredible passion for their product and for their city. Mitchell’s handcrafts their ice creams one small batch at a time in their flagship Cleveland store, using local grass-fed dairy and fresh seasonal ingredients. My personal favorite flavor is the Carmel Fudge Brownie scooped into a freshly made waffle cone! On any given Summer Saturday, Mitchell’s is usually where you will find me enjoying ice cream with my family after my sons’ baseball games!
Westside Market
Built in 1912, Westside Market is Cleveland’s oldest public market, It is home to over 100 vendors offering meats, seafood, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, dairy, flowers, ready-made meals and more. Not only can you take in the diverse culture and history that makes up Cleveland at the Westside Market, but the structure of the building is absolutely breathtaking and most definitely Instagram-worthy! I love visiting the Westside Market, especially on an empty stomach. There are just so many different food options to choose from, but I always make sure to grab a cannoli while I am there!
Townhall is a Cleveland hot-spot with a hipster vibe, expansive craft beer list and a completely non-GMO and mostly organic menu of innovative bar eats. Not only is the outdoor patio super adorable with living green walls, but they boast the best brunch menu in all of Cleveland! It is definitely a must on my to-do list when anyone visits from out of town and is also one of my favorite mid-week lunch meeting spots!
So now that you’ve read my list, what is YOUR favorite spot to visit in Cleveland?
Photography by Brittany Gidley Photography.
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