Cleveland's 25 Best Bars That Aren't in Downtown

Willoughby Brewing Company

4057 Erie St., Willoughby

In an area lauded for its craft beers, the contest for "Best Local Beer" is a tough one. But Willoughby Brewing Co., which has been slinging its Peanut Butter Cup Porter for years now, is no slouch. The eastside staple consistently ranks high on lists of our favorite breweries in town and the most underrated gems around here. You'll always feel welcome when you slip into a booth at Willoughby.

Photo via Willoughby Brewing Company/Facebook

BottleHouse Brewing Company

2050 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights

This Cleveland Heights brewery feels more like a community gathering place than a bar. Live music, board games, community tables and no televisions gives it more of that living room feeling. And the beer is delicious.

Photo via @BottleHouseBrew/Instagram

The Treehouse

820 College Ave., Cleveland

There's really nothing fancy about the Treehouse, save, of course, the fake tree that sprouts from the middle of the bar and extends its branches outward. Otherwise, you'll find a nicely stocked batch of taps, a healthy dose of (not always healthy) bar food, and one of the most glorious patios in Cleveland. Really, the patio is huge, and it's filled afternoon or evening. It is one of the best spots to enjoy a brew under the open sky in one of Cleveland's favorite neighborhoods.

Photo via The Treehouse/Facebook

The Spotted Owl

710 Jefferson Ave., Cleveland

With a detailed eye, reclaimed wood and stained-glass windows, the beautiful Spotted Owl came to Tremont in 2014. A cocktail bar at once sophisticated and approachable, with drinks that change as the Owl debuts new menus throughout the year, and which are seriously and thoughtfully constructed.

Photo via @SpottedOwlBar/Instagram

The Tavern Company

2299 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights

The Tavern Company has been a Lee Road staple for over ten years. In 2014, they took over the space that the iconic Colony operated in after owner Jim Brennan’s tragic passing. The Tavern Company, or TavCo as locals call it, is as Heights as it gets, and there’s nowhere we’d rather eat some classic bar food.

Photo via @TheTavernCompany/Instagram

Prosperity Social Club

1109 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland

Cozy and retro, this former workingman’s watering hole serves up food, booze, and a bowling machine along with the live music. You’ll find locals laying down everything from lounge and jazz to folk and bluegrass. They also have a kitchen that stays open nightly until midnight and brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Photo via @ProsperitySocialClub/Instagram

Porco Lounge & Tiki Room

2527 West 25th St., Cleveland

Porco Lounge & Tiki Room is only about five years old, but its dedication to professionally blended cocktails — even silly sounding ones — has helped its reputation grow at a brisk rate. The Mai Tai is the best of the bunch, a cold fusion of fresh fruit juices with coconut rum and a soupçon of almond. In 2016, the Food Network named the bar one of the best tiki bars in the country.

Photo via Porco Lounge & Tiki Bar/Facebook

Platform Beer Co.

3506 Vega Ave., Cleveland

The Ohio City-based brewery owned by Justin Carson and Paul Benner debuted with a wee 3-barrel system in the summer of 2014. Six months later the team upgraded to its current 10-barrel system, supported by a battery of new 15-barrel fermentation and conditioning tanks. It’s a microbrewery that feels like a bar you just want to chill at for hours.

Photo via Scene Archives

Parkview Nite Club

1261 West 58th St., Cleveland

Layers of mystery lie just beneath the surface of this rustic, aggressively unpretentious corner bar on Cleveland's near West Side. Start with the decorative motif: How can the Rat Pack poster mingle with the framed Three Stooges photo? If this is the Parkview, where is the park -- or the view? How can a bar tout its live blues bands, even as it advertises the birthday of a regular patron named "Disco Dicky"? Most of all, how has a bar with wood paneling on walls, floor, and ceiling managed to keep from burning down this long? These are matters that require intense study from the barstool and a thorough interrogation of the help.

Photo via @TheTavernCompany/Instagram

Nighttown

12383 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights

The anchor of Cleveland's jazz scene since 1965, Nighttown isn't just a place that locals love; it's received national recognition for its music programming. Down Beat magazine has called it one of the 100 best jazz clubs in the world. The Irish-themed bar and restaurant features a welcoming bar area, a casual lounge, an intimate private room, an all-weather outdoor area and a more formal main dining room that features a small stage where the bands play.

Photo via Scene Archives