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View from Lakefront

Downtown is in Cleveland.

Get in

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

See

Old Arcade

Historic buildings and architecture

Old Arcade
  • 1 Terminal Tower Observation Deck, 50 Public Sq, +1 216 736-7646. Sa noon-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Located on Public Square, the centerpoint of Tower City Center, was the second tallest building in the world when it was built in 1929. Now it's the second tallest building in Cleveland. The building was constructed as the main railroad terminal in Cleveland and currently serves as the main hub of the RTA Rapid Lines (below the retail mall levels). Go to the Terminal Tower's observation deck on the 42nd floor to observe the surrounding environs (particularly, Lake Erie, the winding Cuyahoga River, and the juxtaposition of downtown against industrial uses to the south and west). The observation deck is only open on weekends.
  • The Arcade, 401 Euclid Ave, +1 216-696-1408. 10AM–6PM Monday-Saturday. Built in 1890 and designed by John Eisenmann. The construction was financed by John D. Rockefeller, Marcus Hanna and several other wealthy Clevelanders of the day. The cost of the project was approximately $875,000 - today it would be impossible to replicate. The inspiration of the project is said to be the Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy. Although pedestrian arcades exist in several North American cities, few - if any, compare to the grandeur of the Arcade in Cleveland. The Arcade was the first building in Cleveland to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The structure features a five-story atrium with extensive metal decorative work. The top floor features gargoyles which circle the entire atrium area. The structure includes the famous skylighted atrium as well as two nine-story towers, one each on Euclid Ave and Superior Ave. In the past decade, the structure was renovated as a Hyatt Regency Hotel.
  • 2 Hope Memorial Bridge (Lorain-Carnegie Bridge). Named for Bob Hope's (the famous actor/comedian and native Clevelander) father, who worked on its construction. The bridge is framed by four art deco pylon sculptures portraying the evolution of forms of ground transportation. In addition to a large number of jack-knife and lift bridges along the Cuyahoga, one of the world's few remaining "Swing Bridges" is still in use, connecting the east and west banks of the Flats entertainment district.
  • 3 Key Tower, 127 Public Sq (Rockwell Ave at E Roadway). The tallest building in Ohio, and second-tallest between New York City and Chicago for that matter, designed by Cesar Pelli.

Museums & Galleries

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
  • 4 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 751 Erieside Ave (Drive north on East 9th St exit until you reach the Hall of Fame. If you drive into Lake Erie, you've gone too far.), +1 216 781-ROCK (7625). Located at North Coast Harbor, this distinctive building was designed by noted architect I.M. Pei and houses a massive collection of rock and roll memorabilia. Cleveland was home to the first Rock concert, the term "Rock and Roll" was coined by a Cleveland DJ and many of the music genre's icons used Cleveland as their springboards. As Rock Inductee, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, has been paraphrased - to become a rock star in the U.S., first, you have to be loved in Cleveland. Admission: Adults: $22, Seniors (60+): $14, Children (ages 9-12): $11, Children (8 & under): Free.
  • 5 Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St, +1 216 862-8803.

Art

Cleveland was named a Top 25 Arts Destination by www.americanstyle.com in 2003. In addition to its museums of art, the city boasts a vibrant art community with galleries scattered throughout its trendiest neighborhoods.

Free Stamp with Rock and Roll HOF in background
  • Cleveland Public Art. Headquartered in Ohio City, this non-profit organization sponsors art projects throughout the city, including the spires and vegetable wall near Progressive Field, the murals on Tremont School, and the Wade Oval gate at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
  • 6 Free Stamp. This controversial piece of pop art, located in Willard Park to the east of City Hall, was commissioned in 1982 and designed by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
  • Cleveland Institute of Art. Visit its galleries and catch an art film at the Cinematheque.
  • ArtCraft Building, 2570 Superior Ave.
  • Brenda Kroos, 1300 W 9th St.
  • Spaces, 2220 Superior Viaduct.
  • 7 The Bonfoey Gallery, 1710 Euclid Ave, +1 216 621-0178. M-Th 8:30AM-5:30PM, F 8:30AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-3PM (closes on Sa at noon during summer). A contemporary art gallery with rotating exhibits that has been in business since 1893.
  • Piccadilly's Fine Art Galleries, 2253 Professor Ave, toll-free: +1-888-579-4300. One of the oldest galleries in the greater Cleveland area, representing nationally recognized artists, since 1988.

Science and technology

The Great Lakes Science Center and Omnimax Theater

Parks

Do

  • The Horseshoe Casino Cleveland. Located in the historic former Higbee's department store on Public Square in downtown Cleveland.
  • Playhouse Square Center. The second largest performing arts center in the U.S.
  • Tower City Cinemas, 50 Public Square, +1 216 621-1172, . Admission: Adults: Matinees (All shows before 18:00): $5.75, Evenings (All shows after 18:00): $8.25; Seniors (aged 60 and over), College Students (with a current valid Student ID), Children (ages 3 - 12): $5.50; Children (aged 2 and under): Free.

Sports

  • four new sports facilities in the downtown area - Progressive Field (Still known as "The Jake" after a recent corporate name change) for the Major League Baseball Indians, QuickenLoans Arena ("The Q") for the NBA Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns Stadium for the NFL Browns and the Wolstein Center for the Cleveland State University Vikings basketball team.
  • Cleveland Indians baseball (Progressive Field), 2401 Ontario St (downtown NE corner of Ontario St and Carnegie Ave), +1 216 420-4636. Some consider Progressive Field the gem of the American League (per Travel World International Magazine). $8-$85.

Live music

Whether you prefer a world-class orchestra, jazz, or small local acts, Cleveland has many music venues to choose from.

Buy

Eat

City Tap is a burger restaurant with over 40 beers on tap. It is popular with fans before and after basketball and baseball games.

Markets

  • Asia Plaza (northwest corner of Payne Ave and E 30th St). Asian market in Chinatown.

Budget

  • #1 Pho, 3120 Superior Ave. Good Vietnamese cuisine.
  • Heck's Cafe (Ohio City).
  • Johnny Mango's (Ohio City). Southwestern fare.
  • Juniper Grille (SW corner of Carnegie Ave and E Ninth St, near Playhouse Square).
  • Mama Santa's Pizzeria (Little Italy).
  • Paninis (Gateway neighborhood, Historic Warehouse District).
  • Ruthie and Moe's (SE corner of Prospect Ave and E 40th St in Midtown-Cleveland). Refurbished diner buildings.
  • Siam Cafe, 3951 St Clair Ave, +1 216 361-2323. Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese.
  • Superior Pho, 3030 Superior Ave. Good Vietnamese cuisine.
  • Tea House Noodles (downtown on E 6th St). Offers healthy fast food, where you select noodles or rice, one of their unique and varied sauces, and chicken, beans, or tofu. $5-$7.
  • Yours Truly (Shaker Square). High quality food.

Mid-range

Splurge

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

  • 4 DoubleTree by Hilton, 1111 Lakeside Ave E (close to North Coast Harbor attractions and on northern end of Financial District), +1 216 241-5100.
  • Embassy Suites-Reserve Square, 1701 E 12th St (east side of Financial District), +1 216 523-8000.
  • Hilton Garden Inn-Gateway, 1100 Carnegie Ave, +1 216 658-6400.
  • Marriott at Key Center, 127 Public Square (located on Public Square, attached to Key Tower), +1 216 696-9200.
  • Radisson Hotel-Gateway, 651 Huron Rd, +1 216 377-9000. In the Gateway neighborhood.
  • Residence Inn by Marriott, +1 216 443-9043. Part of the renovation of the Colonial and Euclid Arcade complex, originally built in 1898, which joins the Financial District to the Gateway Sports Complex.
  • 5 Westin, 777 St Clair Ave NE, +1 216 771-7700.

Splurge

Connect

This district travel guide to Downtown is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.