Cleveland/West Side

For information on getting to Cleveland, see Cleveland#Get in

• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

  phone: +1 216 661-6500
  address: 3900 Wildlife Way
  Exhibits include Australian Adventure; African Savanna; Wilderness Trek; The Primate, Cat & Aquatics Building; The RainForest; Waterfowl Lake; and Monkey Island, an island with colobus monkeys living in free-range conditions. Some exhibits require additional admission fees.

• A Christmas Story House

  phone: +1 216 298-4919
  address: 3159 W 11th St
  This is the actual house used in the 1983 modern-day classic film A Christmas Story. It has since been converted into a museum dedicated to the film - most visitors come during Christmas season. Access to the inside of the house and the museum are limited to tours. Tours run hourly at 15min past the hour and last for about 45min. Inside the house there are props to play with (like a Red Ryder bb gun, a blue bowling ball, several hats, Lifebuoy soap, etc.). Tours start at the gift shop which is also where tickets can be purchased.

• Franklin CastleA victorian era stone house that is very castlelike. Many claim the house is haunted.

• Greater Cleveland Aquarium

  phone: +1 216-862-8803
  address: 2000 Sycamore St
  Features exhibits representing both local and exotic species of fish.

Tremont Art Galleries

Tremont is experiencing an enormous influx of redevelopment that was pioneered by the arts community. The Tremont ArtWalk takes place on the second Friday of every month (6-10PM).

• Asterisk Gallery

  phone: +1 330 304-8528
  address: 2393 Professor St
  Often features live music and DJs as well as its art.

• Doubting Thomas Gallery

  phone: +1 513 555-5555
  address: 856 Jefferson

Other Galleries

• 78th Street Studios

  address: 1300 West 78th St
  A large art gallery complex housed in a repurposed motor factory building in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Every third Friday of the month, they have an open house. Features over 30 galleries. Visit the website for events.

• Lakefront ReservationThe West Side's lakefront park. There's a seasonal beach on Lake Erie with grills, picnic shelters, a playground, a snack bar & fishing pier.

• Glass Bubble Project

  phone: +1 216 696-7043
  address: 2421 Bridge Ave
  Here you can experience the magic of glass blowing. Local artists give free public demonstrations. Take a class or browse the gallery, you might just find a piece of hand blown glass artwork that fits your fancy.

• West Side Market

  address: 1979 W 25th St
  An old world produce market directly across the Cuyahoga River from Cleveland's skyscrapers, along with an arcade area containing shops with food of Irish, German, Slovenians, Italian, Greek, Polish, Russian, and Middle Eastern descents, among others.

• Banyan Tree

  phone: +1 216 241-1209
  address: 2242 Professor St
  Home decor and jewelry designed to an artwork.

• Steelyard Commons

  address: 3447 Steelyard Dr
  Large retail complex featuring a Target, Walmart, K&G Fashion, Old Navy, Marshalls, Petco, Home Depot, and numerous other stores.

• Great Northern Mall

  phone: +1 440-734-6300
  address: 4954 Great Northern Mall, North Olmsted, OH
  Hosts shopping, Macy's and JCPenney department stores, Dick's Sporting Goods store, and over 120 more shops and restaurants. Family parking near the H&M and Dillard's mall entrances.

• Happy Dog

  phone: +1 216-651-9474
  address: 5801 Detroit Ave
  A uniquely Cleveland restaurant in a repurposed Croatian tavern, featuring hot dogs with over 50 toppings ranging from the normal (ketchup, mustard, and relish) to the insane (Fruit Loops and peanut butter) that you can mix and match in any combination that you'd like. They also have a great beer selection. They often have live music, and there's a basement bar with pinball and shuffleboard. Check the website for events.

• Sokolowski's University Inn

  phone: +1 216 771-9236
  address: 1201 University Rd
  Famous family owned cafeteria style Polish restaurant.

• The Parkview Nite Club

  phone: +1 216 961-1341
  address: 1261 West 58th St
  Somewhat hidden neighborhood bar known for their live blues shows.

• 100th Bomb Group Restaurant

  phone: +1 216 267-1010
  address: 20920 Brookpark Rd
  An elegant WWII, aviation themed restaurant.

Lolita One of Michael Symon's numerous Cleveland institutions, Lolita serves adventurous fare with a vintage-chic atmosphere. Recently closed after a substantial fire. Will be reopened in 2017 as Sherla's Chicken & Oysters.-->

The West Side is home to many coffee shops, craft breweries, and streets full of bars. One of the West Side's main drinking locations is West 25th St, which is anchored by the West Side Market and home Northeast Ohio's largest craft brewery, Great Lakes Brewing Company. There are bars scattered throughout the Tremont neighborhood, particularly on Professor Street. The stretch of Detroit Avenue beginning at West 58th St. and ending at West 78th St. is quickly developing into a go-to location for drinking and dining. If you tend to like working-class dive bars that are off the beaten path, consider visiting Pearl Road or State Road in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood, which are guaranteed to have cheap drinks and local color. Below are just some of the many places to grab a drink.

• Jukebox

  phone: +1 216 206-7699
  address: 1404 W 29th St
  Small neighborhood bar based around the idea of having a great music selection and delicious perogies.

• Platform Beer Co.

  phone: +1 216 202-1386
  address: 4125 Lorain Ave
  Cleveland's most inventive craft brewery. Visit often as the beers on tap change frequently.

• Velvet Tango Room

  phone: +1 216 241-8869
  address: 2095 Columbus Rd
  Known for its mixed drinks and intimate setting.

• Rocky River Brewing CompanyBrewery and restaurant on the west side.

• Great Lakes Brewing Co

  phone: +1 216 771-4404
  address: 2516 Market Ave
  Largest brewery in the area. Happy hour M-F 4PM-7PM. Offers beer samplers.

• Western Reserve Meadery

  phone: +1 216 7162500
  address: 2135 Columbus Road Suite C
  Makers of mead (honey wine) with a cozy tasting room where you can sample and learn about mead. Mead available for consumption on premise or to go.

• The Cleveland Hostel

  phone: +1 216 394-0616
  address: 2090 W 25th St
  The only hostel in Cleveland with a large kitchen, wi-fi, bike rentals and a very large open common space on the second floor. It's located in Ohio City near the West Side Market. The coffee shop on the first floor acts as the reception for the host, so even though the hostel is 24hrs, reception's hours are limited to 9AM-10PM. The hostel is very modern and very nice. There are several bathrooms on both floors, which is why ensuite dorms are only nominally more expensive than regular dorm rooms.

• Sheraton Cleveland Airport

  phone: +1 216 267-1500
  address: 5300 Riverside Dr
  The only hotel located on the grounds of Cleveland International Airport (CLE).

• Brumback Library - Ohio City Branch

  phone: +1 419-965-2918
  address: 101 Carmean St, Ohio City

• Cleveland Public Library Jefferson Branch

  phone: +1 216-623-7004
  address: 850 Jefferson Ave

• Station A Cleveland Post Office

• Lakewood - The first suburb to the west of Cleveland, Lakewood is full of bars, boutiques, and independent restaurants.