Coventry
Coventry is a short strip just east of campus that has a sort of artsy feel with a mix of great restaurants, bars and interesting shops. Some of the more unique shops include Big Fun, a must see full of old toys and paraphernalia – you can get your own New Kids on the Block button or Garbage Pail Kids cards. Record Revolution, a locally owned store, sells a great selection of music from all genres, but definitely has an alternative vibe. There is also Passport to Peru which has hemp clothes, silver jewelry and trinkets and art from all over the world. There are also great restaurants and bars mentioned in more detail elsewhere in the guide. Bars include Panini’s, McNulty’s and the Winking Lizard, if you want the college atmosphere, or B-Sides, which brings the atmosphere of W. 6th to Coventry. There is also a wine bar, the Cave du Vin which is small but has a great atmosphere. Restaurants include Pacific East (sushi), Chipotle (burritos), Que Tal (burritos), Grum’s (subs), Dave’s Cosmic Subs (duh), Mongolian BBQ, Tommy’s (various), Guy’s Pizza, Hunan’s on Coventry(Chinese), and the Inn on Coventry(various).
Cedar/Lee
This intersection of Cedar and Lee Roads has a number of restaurants, stores and bars. The Cedar Lee Theater is located here, a great venue for indie flicks. On Mondays tickets are $5 all day with free popcorn. Restaurants include Lopez (Mexican), Lemon Grass (Thai) and the Stone Oven Bakery (bakery/restaurant). There is also a Starbucks and a smoke-free wine bar called The Wine Room. Bars include the Pub on Lee and Parnell’s, as well as others.
Cedar/Fairmount
Cedar/Fairmount is located just south of campus at the moniker-appropriate intersection of Cedar Rd. and Fairmount Blvd. This is where you will find (Little) Giant Eagle grocery store and the medical school extension library (aka Starbucks—now with wireless Internet!) where you can sometimes bump into Dean Horwitz. Restaurants here include Aladdin’s (Lebanese), Bruegger’s Bagels, Mad Greek (Indian & Greek), The Fairmount (Martini bar), Jillian’s (pool and beer – note that there is free pool on Thursdays for one hour with ID!) and Nighttown (Jazz and food). Other stores include Zoss bakery, Sun Daez tanning salon, a small bookstore and wine shop as well as a few other assorted stores. In addition there is the Gelateria, a little shop where you can grab some gelato and people watch. If you are starting to feel the effects of caffeine addiction, Osiyo Tea House is a refreshing alternative.
Shaker Square
Despite its name, Shaker Square is not located in Shaker Heights, but is in Cleveland. Southeast of the school, at the intersection of Moreland Blvd and Shaker Blvd., Shaker Square is a traffic circle lined with shops and restaurants, and in fact is listed as the second oldest shopping center in the country and is registered as a historical landmark. It has a quaint feel and a diverse assortment of shops. It is accessible by rapid, but not directly from campus. However, you can get there via the Community Circulator. Parking is free in the lots behind the stores. Shaker Square Cinemas offers a mix of indie and mainstream films. They don’t offer a student discount, but on Mondays movies are $5 with small popcorn included. Stores include Ann Taylor and Next, as well as others. There are also a variety of restaurants including Luchita’s (Mexican), Sushi on the Square, and Yours Truly (American). Nearby there is a strip of antique shops and on the weekend they have a farmers market.
Little Italy
Located just up the hill from campus on Mayfield, Cleveland’s Little Italy has great art galleries, restaurants and bakeries as well as colorful shops that often blast Italian opera late into the night. Restaurants range from cheap (Mama Santa’s) to expensive (Baricelli Inn) with a number of restaurants in between. You can generally wander the street and check out the menus posted at the door to figure out where you want to go. Presti’s bakery is one of the biggest draws in Little Italy. It has everything from cakes and coffee to stromboli, with a large sit in area and outdoor tables in the summer. There is also a famed doughnut shop, Gilly’s, which is open into the early morning hours for those that need a quick sugar fix. Another tip, La Dolce Vita offers a ladies’ night special on Tuesdays (see Specials section). Other draws include the Feast of the Assumption, a huge festival in mid August which closes down the area for a few days, and the Murray Hill Art Walks which showcase the multiple art galleries in the area.
Warehouse District
Located roughly around the intersection of West 6th and St. Clair, this former industrial warehouse district has been transformed into a diverse collection of trendy restaurants, clubs and bars. Some highlights include D’Vine, a wine bar with great atmosphere but a slightly older crowd and Blind Pig, your basic bar where multiple med school social events have been held. Spy Bar, Velvet Dog and Liquid/Fusion are also popular clubs/bars. Great restaurants, generally pretty pricy, include Mallorca (Spanish cuisine), Sushi Rock, Cleveland Chop House (steaks), Metropolitan Café (American) and Circo Zibibo (Italian). Sushi Rock has a discount night on Wednesday (see Specials section).
The Flats
Once the hub of nightlife in Cleveland, the Flats have suffered a fall in popularity. The Powerhouse complex on the West bank of the Flats is still a popular venue, though, and houses the Rock Bottom Brewery and Howl at the Moon Saloon (piano bar) as well as the Cleveland Improv (Comedy). Also on the West bank is Shooters, a large bar along the river, which has remained a popular happy hour spot where people sit on the unbelievably huge outdoor deck and watch the boats pass. The East bank still has multiple bars and clubs, but the Warehouse District has taken over as place to go on the weekends.
"Chinatown"
Cleveland’s “Chinatown” is loosely scattered through several blocks around E. 30th and Payne. It is small, but has quite a few fun and unique places worth checking out. Siam Café (Chinese/Thai/Cambodian), Bo Loong (Chinese), Li Wah (Chinese),, and Seoul Hot Pot (Korean) are all good restaurants. At #1 Pho, you can get a large bowl of Vietnamese noodles (Pho) for $6.95. Li Wah, Bo Loong, and C&Y offer Dim Sum, a Southern Chinese dining style which allows one to try many small dishes presented on passing carts. Fresh Asian produce, seafood, bakery etc. (Tink Hall and Golden Bakery) can be found at the Asian groceries in this area.
Ohio City
This area on the west side tends to be far enough that it is an infrequent trip. Those brave souls that do wander out are rewarded by a culture that is entirely different from the East side. Unique restaurants in Ohio City such as Johnny Mango, an eco-friendly establishment that prohibits smoking, and the Great Lakes Brewery (where all the yummy local beer comes from), replenish the hungry stomach of the pilgrim. For those who prefer to do their partying as far away from school as possible, Ohio City offers up Möda, their swanky nightclub.
Tremont
Tremont is a great place to go if you want to feel a little bit older and “class it up” for an evening. This historic neighborhood is famous around Cleveland for its art galleries and nightlife. There are restaurants galore and plenty of bars available for an after-dinner beverage or just some weekend partying. There’s plenty to do in Tremont: coffee shops, clubs (Parallax), restaurants (Fahrenheit, Lolita, Fat Cats), neighborhood pubs (Dempsey’s Oasis Tavern, Lincoln Park Pub), wine and martini bars (806 Wine and Martini Bar), art galleries, an ice cream place, and pizza joints (Big Guys Pizza). Tremont is just a great place to spice up your nightlife a little bit. Get more information at www.mainstreettremont.com.
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