The Best Tourist and Local Spots You Can’t Miss in Cleveland

With full of amazing things to do for tourists and locals, Cleveland, Ohio may not be the urban colossus that Los Angeles or New York are, but that just means that all the cool spots are conveniently closer to each other. Since the city’s a happening place to be in right now, the only thing you should worry about if you’re visiting the city in the coming months is just how you’re going to fit all these unique things to do in Cleveland into your schedule.

Well, we’d like to help you! Aside from keeping Cleveland sparkling clean, we made a list of some of the best places to visit in and around the city, in no particular order. We’ve included food, outdoor activities, sports, and more so that there’s something for everyone. And if you’re a local instead of a tourist, you might rediscover the magic of this great town!

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Yes, a pretty obvious choice, but don’t roll your eyes just yet. Housing a number of permanent and temporary exhibits that showcase amazing collections and artifacts from the best rock and roll musicians of all time, this is clearly a prime destination for fans of the genre and casual visitors alike. Located in downtown Cleveland just next to Lake Erie’s shores, the museum’s perhaps best known for the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which happens every April, so if you’ve never been there before, it might make it worth the visit during that time.

Cleveland Cinemas

Housed in various theaters and cinemas throughout the city, the Cleveland Cinemas have preserved the traditional feeling of movies both on and off the screen for decades now, showing a wide range of films that include cult, arthouse and blockbusters alike. Most locations offer midnight and late-night showings, complete with craft beer and the knowledge that you’re helping keep the old-school ways of cinema alive.

The Plum Cafe and Deli

“A purveyor of carefully curated American dining,” according to their website, The Plum opened on May 2016 and has been preparing some of the most out-there dishes in all of Cleveland since then. It’s one of the best restaurants in Cleveland. But don’t let the whimsical, hard to categorize nature of Chef Brett Sawyer’s cuisine put you off, since it’s all consistently and surprisingly delicious. Some of the descriptions and ingredient combinations might reach out of some people’s comfort zones, but that’s just another reason to go for it. Bon appétit!

The West Side Market

You can trace the market’s origins back to 1840 when it was a simple tract of land; the West Side Market now hosts over 100 different vendors selling anything you can imagine, from fresh produce and dairy to meats, candies, and preserves. Seasoned visitors recommend that you try everything before purchasing since there are so many options, but over 1 million visitors walk through it every year, so you might want to show up early. The market is free to visit and is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 am to 4 pm.

Cleveland Museum of Art

Yes, it might be small, but it’s also been ranked as the seventh best art museum in all of the United States, so that should tell you something about the nearly 45,000 pieces of art housed in there. Arranged in chronological order and spanning 6,000 years of human history, the exhibits include sculptures, paintings, installations and photographs from some of the greatest artists the world has seen, like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Claude Monet, just to name a few. On top of that, the museum also holds events such as Parade the Circle and the Solstice Summer Music Festival. “For the benefit of all the people, forever” indeed.

Brewnuts Donuts and Beer

Instead of making jokes about the Browns, how about enjoying some Brewnuts? Combining the hospitality of a corner donut shop with “the comfort of your favorite watering hole”, this unassuming, cozy little eatery combines small-scale craft beers with delicious donuts, two of life’s simplest-yet-best pleasures (although yes, they do serve coffee). Brewnuts offers a rotating cast of seasonal donut flavors and around sixteen local brews on tap. It’s all best consumed as fresh as possible, so why not make a stop and enjoy some donuts and beer?