Top Dining and Drinking Spots in Cleveland
At the turn of the 20th century, Cleveland, Ohio was an economic powerhouse, with Rockefeller’s Standard Oil bringing millions of dollars and major financial institutions to the city. Although that’s now part of a bygone era, the spaces remain, and former money markets now house restaurants, bars, markets, and clubs. You can bank on having a good time at these seven spots to eat and drink in the city.
Marble Room Steakhouse & Raw Bar
Swanky Marble Room Steakhouse & Raw Bar opened in September 2017, transforming the Garfield Building, which was commissioned by Harry Augustus Garfield and James Rudolph Garfield to honor their father, Cleveland native President James A. Garfield. After housing the Guardian Bank and Trust, and then the National City Bank Building, the property sat vacant for 12 years before the owners began construction on the restaurant.
Today, the massive space boasts a lofted wine cellar, grand marble staircases, and a 3500-sq-ft vault in the basement that’s used for posh private events.
Start by slurping oysters and munching on a yuzu miso salmon roll before tearing into a long-bone tomahawk topped with truffle butter or bone marrow. Don’t miss their take on a classic Negroni, which adds fig-infused vermouth and pineapple juice to the standard gin and Campari.
Heinen’s Fine Foods
Founded in 1929 by Joe Heinen, Heinen’s Fine Foods is today a 23-location chain operated by brothers Tom and Jeff Heinen, Joe’s twin grandsons. In 2013, they obtained a lease on space in the Ameritrust Tower, occupying the property’s first two floors. The focal point of this flagship store is the central rotunda, topped by a colored-glass dome and flanked by murals depicting the settlement of the Midwest.
Heinen’s has frequently been listed among America’s most beautiful supermarkets, and with good reason. Savor a bite at one of the first-floor café tables while appreciating the design elements, including marble tiles and gilded arches, or venture to the second-floor balcony, where wine is dispensed self-service style from a tap system.
Luxe Kitchen and Lounge
You’ll find the Mediterranean-Italian bistro Luxe Kitchen and Lounge in a building originally constructed for the Central Savings and Loan Company. The grandfather of current owner Melissa Cole purchased the building in 1949, and Cole still possesses the combination for both vaults, which now serve as wine and liquor storage.
The spaces had several uses over the years, including a tavern and pool room, before being transformed into a restaurant serving up eclectic but approachable cuisine.
Order a selection of sharing plates like baked gnocchi, charred octopus, and fried carrot croquettes before moving onto slow-roasted pork blade steak or wild mushroom pizza. Don’t pass over seasonal sippers like the deeply complex Demian, crafted with cold brew-infused whiskey, cherry juice, chocolate bitters, and sweet vermouth.
Vault
The aptly named Vault cocktail lounge at the chic boutique hotel Metropolitan at The 9 is an intimate bar located in the century-old bank vaults beneath the Cleveland Trust Rotunda. It once contained the largest bank vault in Ohio; what is now the main bar used to be the manager’s office. Today, the Vault is a hot spot with four separate spaces decked out in 1920s decor.
Guests can sip more than 30 cocktails such as the Safe Deposit Box or Millionaire’s Row. Equally luxe are bites like Kobe tartare and Cognac pâté.
Crop Bistro
Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood is home to Crop Bistro, which invites guests to travel through the lobby of the United Bank Building, featuring expansive 35-foot-high coffered ceilings. Adjacent is the actual vault, which now serves as a dining space, boasting the original front and back doors, weighing a combined 160,000 pounds.
The industrial vibe is accentuated by white metal walls, oversized sepia photos of the city’s architectural icons, and a small vault where, decades ago, the wealthiest customers stored their documents and valuables. Enjoy a candlelit table with dishes like Faroe Island salmon, short ribs, and leek and cheese tartlets.
Wild Eagle Saloon
This neighborhood hangout is located in the Howell Building, once home to a branch of the all-but-forgotten Morris Plan Bank dating back to the 1920s. Wild Eagle Saloon still has the original bank vault doors, but the rest has been transformed into a destination for games, self-serve craft beers on tap, and fun finger foods like pork belly burnt ends and sweet potato nacho tots. The vault itself? It’s now filled with skee ball machines.
Touch Supper Club
This vibrant restaurant, bar, and nightclub in a 1920s-era bank offers an exciting dining experience, complete with working vault doors. Guests can dine in the former bank manager’s office.
The cuisine features a playful take on global dishes, with flavorful small plates such as Korean fried chicken wings, pierogi, shakshuka, and poutine. More substantial offerings include Thai basil rice, lobster mac and cheese, and pork belly ramen. Brunch is a full-on affair, showcasing Benedicts, omelets, and Cleveland’s original Bloody Mary bar.
