You may wonder why someone would leave Miami to go live in Cleveland (again), but LeBron James is actually about to jump back in to a pretty solid drinking scene that they’ve got out there in the Cleve. If you’re planning to make a pilgrimage to Cleveland this coming basketball season to watch King James play, make sure you check out some of the more popular places to kick back and have a drink.
Happy Dog Bar
Happy Dog is a super fun, chill bar that has a great vibe. They’ve got over 75 beers (including more than 20 on tap) and an awesome variety of domestic, craft, and import beer. Don’t worry, they’ve also got a wide assortment of liquors and some nice wines behind the bar as well. Combine all that with some live music and $5 hot dogs with every topping ever invented, and you are going to have a great night.
Nano Brew
Nano Brew is a relatively new bar in Cleveland that seems to be doing everything right. They have 24 beers on draft both inside and outside in the Beer Garden Bar, freshly brewed beer from their 1 barrel brewhouse, and a food menu that features local, often organic grub. If you love to ride bicycles, however, you are going to love this place. They have a Nano Brew Bike Tune-up Station inside the bar with all the tools you’ll need to work on your bike; and yes, there is a drink rail to rest your brew while you tune up your bicycle. Bring your helmet and get half off your first beer.
Velvet Tango Room
This former speakeasy carries on tradition extremely well (make sure you check out the ceiling – the old bullet holes are real!). It’s a little classier than the average bar and they insist that you can never be overdressed in their establishment. There’s live jazz playing Monday-Saturday, so you really can’t help but feel like you’re really drinking in an old school speakeasy. Their cocktail menu is insane and each drink is handcrafted with love from your bartender.
Don’t miss out on one Cleveland’s many breweries, either! If you can only make it to one, hit up Hoppin’ Frog Brewery in Akron – it was ranked among the top 20 breweries in the world.