Coffee

Cleveland has a wonderful local coffee culture. Below are three excellent options, ranked in order of pretentiousness for those who care from least to most:

1.Phoenix Coffee - A more low-key pretentious option to Rising Star or Pour.

2. Rising Star - Located inside the Hyatt Regency, this is Cleveland's premier local coffee roaster.

3. Pour - A pretentious coffee lover's alternative to Rising Star.

Breakfast

Ben and Becca rarely eat breakfast downtown, but here are a few ideas:

1. Bloom Bakery & Cafe - This is a social venture eatery, hiring people with barriers to employment an opportunity. Also, the food is yummy. Closed on Sundays.

2. Jack Flaps - A popular pancake eatery located in the 5th Street Arcade across from the Hyatt Regency.

3. Your's Truly - A local, popular All-American chain. Located in the Playhouse Square district, near the largest outdoor chandelier in the world!

Lunch

1. Heinen's Downtown - Located in a restored bank, you won't find a more beautiful spot for a meal. You'll find excellent salad and sandwich options here and an extensive beer and wine selection on the second floor.

2. Barrio - $3 build your own tacos. You're welcome. Apparently, they also have a weekend breakfast taco brunch menu. Who knew?

3. Otani Noodle - We know it's summer, but is there ever a wrong season for yummy ramen?

4. Your's Truly - A local, popular All-American chain. Located in the Playhouse Square district, near the largest outdoor chandelier in the world!

Ohio City

1. Mitchell's Ice Cream - If we weren't so good at suppressing that little voice in our head, we would have ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

2. Great Lakes Brewing Company - A sustainable business that uses many of its excellent beers as ingredients in their high quality food. Get a flight of local brews to accompany your meal and don't forget to ask the bartender about the Eliot Ness bar...

3. Happy Dog (Detroit Avenue) - Get a hot dog or veggie sausage and some tater tots and then load them up with as many of the 50+ toppings as you can handle.

4. Le Petit Triangle - Lovely little French cafe with a tasty brunch.

5. Cleveland Bagel Company- Fluffy bagels and breakfast sandwiches.

6. Maha's Falafil at the West Side Market - The best falafel and hummus around.

7. Souper Market - Ben loves soup so much. This spot has a constantly yummy rotation of soups on menu along with fresh salads.

AsiaTown

1. Slyman's - We know, not exactly "Asian." But this deli gives you gigantic corned beef sandwiches and is a first stop for visitors ranging from culinary luminaries to sitting presidents.

2. Koko's Bakery - An utterly delicious Asian bakery.

Tremont

1. Sokolowski's University Inn - This wouldn't be a true Cleveland restaurant list without this James Beard award winning Polish eatery.

1. East 4th Street (across the street from the Hyatt Regency) has many different bars, each with their own vibe. A bit upscale, but nice atmosphere.

2. Chocolate Bar (inside the Hyatt Regency) serves up some sweet concoctions.

3. Go to the rooftops! Azure Rooftop Lounge and Bar 32 at the Hilton provide nice, sweeping views of the city.

4. Looking for the club scene? Check out one of the bumping spots in the Warehouse District.

5. Noble Beast and Masthead are some decent, downtown brewery options.

1. Flats East Bank - A walkable area full of a variety of bars like a Dueling Piano Bar, Margaritaville, Thirsty Dog Brewing Company, and the Best BrewPub in America Collision Bend Brewery, located right on the river.

2. Porco Lounge and Tiki Room - If you like your drinks very strong and very colorful, visit Cleveland's local tropical paradise.

3. Great Lakes Brewing Company - Offers delicious award winning beers and a really great brewery tour.

4. W. 25th Street - The heart of Ohio City, this strip is great for bar crawling at a local pace.

1. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Pay homage to your favorite musicians and enjoy artifacts dating back from the birth of rock and roll to today.

2. Cleveland Indians Game - The Tribe is in town, playing host to the Tampa Bay Rays. Visit the fantastic Progressive Field, witness the best team in baseball, and stick around after the Saturday night game for a spectacular fireworks show!

3. "Take a Hike" Free Downtown Walking Tour - Meet in the Hyatt Arcade at the doors on Euclid at 10 am Saturday for a free walking tour of downtown Cleveland.

4. JACK Casino - Try your luck in Cleveland's downtown casino and go home a big winner.

5. Cleveland Public Library - Across the street from the Hyatt Arcade, the first floor of this gorgeous library is hosting the art exhibit "The American Library" (part of the citywide FRONT International art exhibition) and the third floor is home to the special collections department, including rare books and the world's largest collection of chess publications.

6. Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument - Go inside this monument that commemorates the Civil War, which was designed by a local Civil War veteran. Located on Public Square, you will inevitably pass the monument on your way to...

7. Heinen's Downtown - Just pop in this grocery located in a gorgeously renovated historic bank. The food and drinks are good, but at the least, it's a sight you don't want to miss.

1. Cleveland National Air Show - Don't be alarmed: It's not a bird or Superman, but a plane, many planes! The annual Cleveland Air Show is taking place all weekend. Go to the show at Burke Lakefront Airport to see some cool planes up close or just look to the sky to watch them soar.

2. Edgewater Beach - Cleveland finally realized that it's on a nice big lake and developed a wonderful beach to enjoy this resource. Sit on the sand or the grassy area (which is where we like to sit) and enjoy some sunshine, fresh air, and planes flying by from the airshow.

3. Cleveland Museum of Art - Recently renovated, visit one of the great art collections in the country (and it's free!).

4. Great Lakes Brewery Tour - Tour Cleveland's best known craft brewery and enjoy some fresh suds for your efforts.

5. Mitchell's Ice Cream Tour - Tour the home of the best ice cream in town and enjoy a free scoop of fresh ice cream for your efforts.

1. Totally Kosher Rib Burn Off - A fundraiser for a local Jewish Day School, spend your labor day stuffing your face full of a variety of delicious kosher ribs.

2. Emerald Necklace - The city of Cleveland has some lovely nature reservations encircling the city. Bike the towpath, hike some trails, or visit the Zoo.

1. Drive Yourself

Rent a car at the airport. Take the highway I - 71 N to Cleveland. Merge onto I-90 E. Take exit 171 to Ontario Street, turn right to go around Public Square, then turn right onto Superior Avenue.

Hotel offers valet parking. Street Parking is FREE on the weekends and holidays.

Estimated Travel Time: 20 minutes

2. Take Uber or Lyft (or a Taxi, I guess)

Get in car driven by stranger. Tell stranger where you want to go. Uber/Lyft fare is roughly $15-$20. Taxi is probably closer to $25-$30.

Estimated Travel Time: 20 minutes

3. Take the RTA Lightrail (aka, the Rapid)

Hope on the Red Line at the Airport. Get off at Tower City. Follow signs to exit to Public Square. Walk to the opposite side of Public Square and walk down Superior. Hotel on right.

Estimated Travel Time: 30 minutes ride followed by 10 minute walk

4. Walk or Bike

This will take a very long time. We do not recommend this option.

Estimated Travel Time: Eternity