31 of the Oldest Surviving Restaurants and Bars in Cleveland

By on Fri, Nov 13, 2020 at 3:40 pm

It's amazing if a restaurant stays open 10 years these days. So the fact that these 25 bars and restaurants have been around since at least the 1970s, and most for much longer than that, dating all the way back to the early 1900s is pretty damn impressive. It's especially impressive to survive 2020, with COVID-19 causing sweeping closures to restaurants and bars across the country, including Sokolowski's, a Cleveland staple since 1904.

So, don't just admire these Cleveland area landmarks from afar. Visit them, eat at them and drink at them because they must be doing something right.

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Harbor Inn 1219 Main Ave., Cleveland As the oldest continuously operating bar in Cleveland — open since 1895, thank you very much — the Harbor Inn has many stories to tell. Thankfully, the West Bank of the Flats spot keeps its secrets, and night after night allows patrons young and old to imbibe in witty conversation and general tomfoolery virtually undisturbed while swallowed up in dim yellow light. Photo via Harbor Inn/Facebook

Harbor Inn

1219 Main Ave., Cleveland

As the oldest continuously operating bar in Cleveland — open since 1895, thank you very much — the Harbor Inn has many stories to tell. Thankfully, the West Bank of the Flats spot keeps its secrets, and night after night allows patrons young and old to imbibe in witty conversation and general tomfoolery virtually undisturbed while swallowed up in dim yellow light.

Photo via Harbor Inn/Facebook
Heck’s Cafe 2927 Bridge Ave., Cleveland If you’re on a search for the best burgers in town, Heck’s is surely not to be overlooked, as they’ve been serving up burgers since 1974. If you can handle the spice, the Hot Fire Burger is the way to go. Don’t forget an order of Heck’s Fries, topped with salt and pepper and a side of malt vinegar aioli. In addition to their original Ohio City location, they’ve expanded to Avon and opened a Heck’s Express downtown. Photo via Scene Archives

Heck’s Cafe

2927 Bridge Ave., Cleveland

If you’re on a search for the best burgers in town, Heck’s is surely not to be overlooked, as they’ve been serving up burgers since 1974. If you can handle the spice, the Hot Fire Burger is the way to go. Don’t forget an order of Heck’s Fries, topped with salt and pepper and a side of malt vinegar aioli. In addition to their original Ohio City location, they’ve expanded to Avon and opened a Heck’s Express downtown.

Photo via Scene Archives
Nighttown 12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights The preeminent jazz and blues club in town also serves up some of the best high end pub fare, and that’s been the case since 1965. The Dublin Lawyer, their house specialty, is fresh lobster sautéed in a mild cayenne butter cream sauce, mushrooms, scallions and Irish whiskey and is served with rice pilaf and it’s worth the trip alone. Photo via @JCopsey/Instagram

Nighttown

12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights

The preeminent jazz and blues club in town also serves up some of the best high end pub fare, and that’s been the case since 1965. The Dublin Lawyer, their house specialty, is fresh lobster sautéed in a mild cayenne butter cream sauce, mushrooms, scallions and Irish whiskey and is served with rice pilaf and it’s worth the trip alone.

Photo via @JCopsey/Instagram
The Greenville Inn 7150 Pine St., Chagrin Falls While this Chagrin Falls dive goes back since at least the 1920’s, legend has it that it might date back even further than that. With cheap beer, live music every Friday and Saturday nights and karaoke every Tuesday, this place is always a fun time. Photo via Scene Archives

The Greenville Inn

7150 Pine St., Chagrin Falls

While this Chagrin Falls dive goes back since at least the 1920’s, legend has it that it might date back even further than that. With cheap beer, live music every Friday and Saturday nights and karaoke every Tuesday, this place is always a fun time.

Photo via Scene Archives
Bearden’s 19985 Lake Rd., Rocky River Bearden's has been around since 1948 -- in fact, it says it right in their slogan, “Always fresh, never frozen, original recipe since 1948” -- so you know their burgers (with optional and recommended chili topping) have been completely perfected. Photo via Bearden’s Rocky River/Facebook

Bearden’s

19985 Lake Rd., Rocky River

Bearden's has been around since 1948 -- in fact, it says it right in their slogan, “Always fresh, never frozen, original recipe since 1948” -- so you know their burgers (with optional and recommended chili topping) have been completely perfected.

Photo via Bearden’s Rocky River/Facebook
Mama Santa’s 12301 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Mama Santa’s has been serving up pies at the same Little Italy location since 1961. With its retro vibe, cheap wine, and stunningly inexpensive Italian eats, there’s no need to change much. Thin, greaseless, crisp-crusted pizza is the specialty of the casa; when you and the gang can score a 15-incher for less than 10 bucks, who cares if there's a wait for a table? Photo via Mama Santa’s Pizzeria/Facebook

Mama Santa’s

12301 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland

Mama Santa’s has been serving up pies at the same Little Italy location since 1961. With its retro vibe, cheap wine, and stunningly inexpensive Italian eats, there’s no need to change much. Thin, greaseless, crisp-crusted pizza is the specialty of the casa; when you and the gang can score a 15-incher for less than 10 bucks, who cares if there's a wait for a table?

Photo via Mama Santa’s Pizzeria/Facebook
Johnny’s Bar 3164 Fulton Rd., Cleveland Dark, intimate, and timelessly elegant, this manly little jewel box of a restaurant is the sort of place you suggest when you want to impress the boss, wow a date, or just remind yourself why you work so damn hard. The menu is crammed with upscale Italian specialties, including some stunning risottos and one of the city's finest long-boned veal chops; at lunch, though — pssst — the char-grilled burger is out of this world. Johnny’s opened as Louise’s Garden in 1920 and was renamed Johnny’s Bar in 1952. Photo via Johnny’s Bar on Fulton/Facebook

Johnny’s Bar

3164 Fulton Rd., Cleveland

Dark, intimate, and timelessly elegant, this manly little jewel box of a restaurant is the sort of place you suggest when you want to impress the boss, wow a date, or just remind yourself why you work so damn hard. The menu is crammed with upscale Italian specialties, including some stunning risottos and one of the city's finest long-boned veal chops; at lunch, though — pssst — the char-grilled burger is out of this world. Johnny’s opened as Louise’s Garden in 1920 and was renamed Johnny’s Bar in 1952.

Photo via Johnny’s Bar on Fulton/Facebook
Hotz Cafe 2529 West 10th St., Cleveland This Tremont bar has been in the same family since 1919. Back in the days of League Park, it used to be a favorite hangout of visiting ballplayers and was frequented by the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is also said to have thrown back a drink or two at this dive. Photo via Scene Archives

Hotz Cafe

2529 West 10th St., Cleveland

This Tremont bar has been in the same family since 1919. Back in the days of League Park, it used to be a favorite hangout of visiting ballplayers and was frequented by the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ty Cobb. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is also said to have thrown back a drink or two at this dive.

Photo via Scene Archives
Corky and Lenny’s 27091 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere In 1956, Corky Kurland and Lenny Kaden wanted to open a New York-style deli in Cleveland and did so at Cedar Center in University Heights. That location eventually closed, but in 1973, they expanded to Woodmere, where the restaurant still stands, serving delicious corned beef, pastrami and any other type of delicatessen food. The restaurant is currently owned by Kurland’s son Kenny and his cousin Earl Stein. Photo via Corky and Lenny’s/Facebook

Corky and Lenny’s

27091 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere

In 1956, Corky Kurland and Lenny Kaden wanted to open a New York-style deli in Cleveland and did so at Cedar Center in University Heights. That location eventually closed, but in 1973, they expanded to Woodmere, where the restaurant still stands, serving delicious corned beef, pastrami and any other type of delicatessen food. The restaurant is currently owned by Kurland’s son Kenny and his cousin Earl Stein.

Photo via Corky and Lenny’s/Facebook
Gunselman’s Tavern 21490 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park Locally sourced and served on a cast-iron skillet, these burgers were recently voted the best in town. Gunselman’s is an old-school joint that has been around since 1936. But they keep up with the times. For something special, try the Cleveland Handshake - a burger topped with Ohio City Pasta pierogi, Cleveland Kraut, Bertman’s Dortmunder mustard and Cleveland Pickle’s onion jam, a smorgasbord of ingredients from local businesses. Photo via @GunselmansTavern/Instagram

Gunselman’s Tavern

21490 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park

Locally sourced and served on a cast-iron skillet, these burgers were recently voted the best in town. Gunselman’s is an old-school joint that has been around since 1936. But they keep up with the times. For something special, try the Cleveland Handshake - a burger topped with Ohio City Pasta pierogi, Cleveland Kraut, Bertman’s Dortmunder mustard and Cleveland Pickle’s onion jam, a smorgasbord of ingredients from local businesses.

Photo via @GunselmansTavern/Instagram
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