Diners' Choice: Lively restaurants in Cleveland

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that have the most vibrant bar scenes in Cleveland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Velvet Tango Room

4.9

4.9 (31)

$31 to $50

Cocktail Bar

Tremont

About the restaurant

The torchbearer of classic cocktails.

Top review

sarah

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

Lovely bartenders and gave great recs. Would go back for the patio

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Experience

PRIDE Happy Hour

Ghost Pepper Taqueria & Tequila- Berea

4.9

4.9 (142)

$30 and under

Mexican

Olmsted Falls

About the restaurant

A quaint Taco and Tequila bar, just a mile from CLE Hopkins Airport, showcasing handmade margaritas, cocktails & delicious dishes. Our speakeasy vibe features an abundant amount of red lighting & cool décor, centered by a pink florescent bar that highlights hard-to-find tequilas. You'll definitely want to snap a pic in front of our Muy Caliente grass wall to share on your social! Fave dishes include Tina's Tostones, Queso Blanco w/ chorizo, Macho Nachos, Korean & Floridan tacos, & Fried Ice Cream. Our menu is small, but mighty when it comes to quality and flavor! If you love spice you'll want to try our signature Ghost Whisperer tacos~marinated chicken, Ghost Pepper dust, pineapple salsa & queso fresco. We also have over 11 tasty gluten friendly options!

Please Note: We've built our business over the last year from our walk-in guests. For this reason, not all tables are available to reserve. If we are booked, feel free to email us at info@ghostpeppercle.com for further availability.

Top review

MichaelVIP

Dined on Jun 11, 2025

Our server Jack was awesome, polite, funny and great service. Loved every single menu item we had and those margaritas!!!! Can’t wait to taste the new menu options.

Literary Tavern

4.8

4.8 (294)

$30 and under

American

Tremont

About the restaurant

Come visit our newly updated location at 1031 Literary Road, in Cleveland's Tremont neighborhood. With a brand new kitchen, we are serving entrees, appetizers and sandwiches 6 days a week. We are open for lunch Monday through Friday and Happy Hour is from 3 - 6 pm.

A favorite of area locals for many years, we are located in one of the oldest buildings in Tremont. We have worked hard to preserve the character of the historic location and offer an intimate atmosphere, inventive cocktails and a variety of wine and beers, chef made entrees and appetizers.

Top review

ShirleyVIP

Dined 7 days ago

We both enjoyed our lunch & cocktails. Service was great.. Be ware that there is limited parking.

Nano Brew

4.7

4.7 (219)

$30 and under

Gastro Pub

Ohio City

About the restaurant

Nano Brew Cleveland is a friendly neighborhood brewpub with 24 beers on draft both at the inside bar and at the lively outdoor Beer Garden Bar. Enjoy a freshly brewed beer from our 1 barrel brewhouse or any of the other local craft breweries we feature on draft. Brewmaster Andy Tveekrem brings over two decades of award-winning brewing experience to this small but mighty brewhouse to turn out adventurous and at times experimental brews. From one of a kind brews to recipes that might make it to full scale production at our Market Garden Brewery just down the block, the lineup of beers will change weekly.

Top review

Tim

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

The DJ was too loud. We were the only ones there and he was blasting music

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Experience

Wednesday Trivia at Nano Brew CLE

Blue Sushi Sake Grill - Westlake

4.7

4.7 (205)

$30 and under

Sushi

Westlake

About the restaurant

Blue Sushi Sake Grill unites creative ingredients with energetic vibes, premium cold sake with happy moments to give you a fresh and fun new way to experience sushi. Our sushi and grill menus allow you to explore your sushi favorites in new and unexpected ways. We like to say that sushi is for sharing, and our menu encourages it. Order a spread of all your maki, nigiri and sashimi favs from the sushi bar, and throw in a few orders of starters from the grill. We'll stagger your plates so you can savor it all bite-by-bite, and maximize the sushi experience you've been craving all week. If you're not sure where to start, tour the menu during Happy Hour, where all our guest favorites — from our sushi, grill and drink menus — are available at an amazing value. We offer Happy Hour every day of the week at Blue Sushi Sake Grill!

Top review

BrianaVIP

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

The only bummer was the music was too loud. I liked it-just a bit too loud and made it hard to ha e a conversation.

Sakana Sushi Bar - Rocky River

4.7

4.7 (321)

$30 and under

Sushi

Rocky River

About the restaurant

A DESTINATION
Sushi. Fusion. Cocktails. Laughter. Elegance.

Sakana Sushi Bar and Lounge, aims to please. From our beautiful bar dining area, spacious patio, family friendly main dining room - Sakana is the place to be.

Enjoy our Happy Hour from 3-6pm Tuesday-Friday and all day Sunday! (dine in only)

Top review

Kit

Dined on Jun 15, 2025

We had a great Father's Day dinner at Sakana Sushi Lounge! My mother-in-law has dietary restrictions that they are always willing and able to accommodate. The food is delicious, and the staff are always so friendly!

Pub Frato - Chagrin Falls

4.6

4.6 (464)

$30 and under

American

Chagrin Falls

About the restaurant

Pub Frato is celebrating its 10th year in Concord and are excited to bring our award winning menu to Chagrin Falls and all who come to visit its amazing culinary and shopping scene!

Pub Frato is the winner of Cleveland Magazine's Silver Spoon Award for Best Gastropub 2018-2023.

Our transformation of the legendary Raintree restaurant includes installing 4 large garage doors that allows us to bring the outside in for our guests. Whatever seat you're in, you'll have views of your favorite sporting event on at least one of our 7 TVs.

We're proud to partner with local purveyors; The Spice and Tea Exchange, White Barn Brands coffee & flowers.

You can make reservations here on our website, OpenTable, or just give us a call!

We look forward to meeting our new friends in Chagrin Falls because at Pub Frato, there are no strangers, only friends who haven't met yet.

Top review

Cindy

Dined 2 days ago

Always enjoy eating here – great food, service, and ambiance for casual dining.

Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern - Twinsburg

4.5

4.5 (2554)

$31 to $50

American

Twinsburg

About the restaurant

The Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern in Twinsburg is a casual upscale restaurant serving creative American cuisine. Established in 2004, The Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern interior invites guests into a north woods lodge atmosphere complete with large spruce log beams overhead and three stone fireplaces.

The American cuisine offered at The Blue Canyon Kitchen & Tavern includes specialty seafood, steaks and creative specialty dinner items under all categories; appetizers, desserts, casual. The restaurant has happy hour specials monthly promotions , monthly Sunday and Brunch and a kid's menu. Visit our website and or belong to our Facebook page to stay current with all of our offerings.

Top review

Peter

Dined on Jun 10, 2025

Two of us ordered identical burgers with different temperature levels. Medium rare and well done. They were server opposite and we did not know until we started eating and it was too late.

Market Garden Brewery

4.5

4.5 (886)

$30 and under

Brewery

Ohio City

About the restaurant

Market Garden Brewery features a 3,000 square foot "American beer garden", three fireplaces, two indoor bars, and private dining space for up to 400. The brewpub features a modern American pub menu featuring local and organic ingredients sourced primarily from our historic neighbor, the West Side Market, and the wonderful farms that dot our community. This dynamic menu is brought to you by our talented chef team. Market Garden is home to a 10 barrel brew house that has brewed up a menu of a dozen beers that span the flavor spectrum from easy drinking session lagers to big beasty ipas and porters. Noted brew master Andy Tveekrem, formerly head brewer at Dogfish Head, is at the helm. We also carry an exciting guest beer list highlighting the ever-changing American craft beer scene along with an extensive liquor & cocktail program focused primarily on American whiskies and spirits from the nation's top Micro-distilleries.
Hope to see you in Ohio City soon!

Top review

PaigeVIP

Dined on Jun 14, 2025

Our favorite place in Cleveland. Such a great spot. The food and drinks are incredible and the best part - dogs allowed inside!!!! We stop every time we are in the city.

The South Side

4.5

4.5 (76)

$30 and under

American

Tremont

About the restaurant

Walk-ins welcome!
We proudly work with local producers and farms to bring you the best dining experience. Our chefs work directly with local growers, collaborate with local small businesses, producers and farmers and love cooking for you everyday. All our sauces, dressings and soups are made in house from the freshest ingredients, and have been this way since day one. Our signature cocktails are all made from fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. We crate original syrups and infusions based on the seasons, precisely designed to pair perfectly with your food.

For a cozy dinner date, enjoy the indoor patio room with a beautiful fireplace. Large groups are welcome, we offer party planning for special events. Grab a seat at the 20 seat bar and enjoy craft cocktails and a huge beer selection. Catch the game on large TVs on Sundays. Dog friendly patio, weather permitting. Great Happy Hour specials M-F, and the Late Night Menu is served everyday until 2am.

Top review

DonaldVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Had the Shortrib pasta special....and it truly was special! The menu is varied with something for everyone.

Discover more

Experience

South Side Happy Hour

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