Patios, Plates & Pours
Rooftop Energy
Start at the top. Jolene’s Honky Tonk on East 4th Street is full throttle with a rooftop that sets the tone. No warm-up here — this rooftop is amped up.
“It’s vibrant, colorful — it’s electric,” says Julia Licastro, vice president of operations and partner at the dining parent, Hangry Brands.
DJs spin on weekends and pre/post Guardians games, neon glows and the whole scene is loud, bright and unapologetically fun. Between bar games, a plastic-axe throwing setup and a crowd that’s ready to rally, this is less “grab a drink” and more “stay a while.”
Order something playful. Licastro suggests an ice shot. The glass is a hollowed-out ice cube. Jolene’s bartenders pour an ounce of your favorite potion and, after it’s downed, “you chuck it at a bell that’s tucked away in the corner,” Licastro says.
Or go big with the Cowgirl Kool-Aid, a 110-ounce, shareable throwback topped with rubber duckies and wild straws. Across the board, drinks skew toward spring and summer flavors. Think: the Julia’s Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy strawberry lemonade with vodka, Sun Cruisers (iced tea and vodka) and Super Lyte. You guessed it: sports drinks and vodka.
Work your way down. The four-story setup stacks the experience: a main-floor honky-tonk with a stage modeled after the Grand Ole Opry, a mezzanine lounge with truck-bed seating for private hangs and, in the basement, the so-called “chicken strip club,” serving kiosk-ordered tenders, nuggets and waffle fries. Double up on the house-made pink ranch for dipping.
Come early with kids. Meals are on the house before 8 p.m. After that, it’s 21+ and the party leans in. Either way, the rooftop is the headline. Work your way down. The four-story setup stacks the experience: a main-floor honky-tonk with a stage modeled after the Grand Ole Opry, a mezzanine lounge with truck-bed seating for private hangs and, in the basement, the so-called “chicken strip club,” serving kiosk-ordered tenders, nuggets and waffle fries. Double up on the house-made pink ranch for dipping.
Outdoor Oasis
Tucked behind Edison’s Pub in Tremont, the classic watering hole’s patio is low-profile. And that’s the point. Off the street and out of the way, “it’s a hidden oasis,” says Licastro.
It’s more of a hideout than be-seen spot with a “chill vibe,” she says.
Hangry Brands took over the longtime spot last fall and, at 40 years in, the goal was simple: don’t mess with it. A few upgrades like added TVs and more sound bring it up to speed without stripping the character. The popcorn machine is back, and Lil Ronnie’s next door serves up slices.
Cleveland Classic
Across from A Christmas Story House sits The Rowley Inn in Tremont, where movie buffs can keep the theme going with a Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltine cocktail or a Pink Nightmare after the tour. But the bigger story is what’s been happening here since 1906.
Originally a steel mill workers bar, The Rowley Inn has evolved into a food-driven neighborhood mainstay that still feels unmistakably old-school Cleveland.
“The bar is original. It’s very lively, very wooded, eccentric,” says Jon Oberman, owner.
He took over a decade ago and saw room to make the longtime tavern more welcoming while keeping its character intact. The result is equal parts heritage hangout and gastropub. Come early, come late, come hungry. Nobody’s judging a 7 a.m. beer.
The menu just got a seasonal refresh. New adds include a Nashville hot mac, buffalo pierogi, Mediterranean salad and a salmon entrée. A fried bologna sandwich made with meat from Parma’s State Meats joins the lineup.
There’s range behind the bar, too: local beers, a strong bourbon shelf, tequila picks and Oberman’s current favorite, the King Bee.
If these walls could talk, they’d probably tell you to order lunch, stay for another round and appreciate your hometown. Oberman says, “We are very, very Cleveland.”
Truck Park Vibes
Pull up to The Yard on 3rd in Willoughby and build your own night. The draw is simple: a spread of food trucks and an open-air bar, wide-open space and a garage for hanging under cover.
The scene is never quite the same. “It’s always rotating, and we keep it fun,” says Licastro, noting the fifth warm-weather season for the Hangry Brands venue.
Theme nights — from Taylor Swift sing-alongs to toga parties — set the tone. Live music on Sundays rounds out the weekend.
Daytime leans family- and pet-friendly and nights more social. The season kicks off in May and runs through October. And you can throw your own party with private rentals available.
“It’s a welcoming space with good music and friendly people,” says Licastro.
Daytime Reset
Wind down you’re on lake time at Summer Place, where city views and water vistas pair well with good company and a slow brunch state of mind. Prepare for a getaway without leaving town.
“It really feels like a reset,” says Annie Artiste, operations and events manager.
Opened in 2020 in the former Swingos space, the spot leans coastal casual with an elevated edge. Mosie in for weekend brunch, or plan a lunch date (new weekday hours, open at 11 a.m.) and if the day escaped, there’s always dinner with a contemporary American and Mediterranean menu.
What to try?
Seasonal dishes lead: wild Copper River salmon, pecan-crusted walleye and a Thai shrimp chop salad layered with mango, herbs and crunch. The beet and chicken salad hits that sweet spot with fresh strawberries, pickled beets, feta and pistachio. Try stuffed morels with tempura-friend ramps and muhammara.
Behind it all is a bigger mission. A portion of proceeds supports Awakening Angels, founded in honor of the owners’ son.
Dockside Comeback
Shooters is a legacy Cleveland dockside go-to, and now it’s elevated and reimagined under a new local ownership group that includes Machine Gun Kelly.
“There is something intangible about being by the water with friends,” says Executive Chef Ryan Boone, of Cordelia and The Greenhouse Tavern fame. “When you’re at Shooters, it feels like you’re on vacation. It’s a home-away-from-home destination without a flight.”
Since the last round of social day drinking and family brunches — the combo Shooters long mastered — the space was taken down to the studs and rebuilt. But it wasn’t erased. Original tile floors remain. The familiar layout holds. Around it: new bars, updated seating and more room to settle in by the river.
By day, it’s dockside easy: drinks, shared plates, boats pulling in. By night, it turns up with DJs, live music and a summer concert series in the works.
The menu is South Florida-inspired with a Lake Erie twist, which translates to coconut-crusted prawns with sweet Thai chili sauce, wasabi tobiko caviar and micro greens from Wild Patch. Sliders are a win and available a la carte.
“It’s a perfect hand-held party food, and we’ve had people come in and order 24 burgers for the table,” Boone says.
With docking and boat slips available and hospitality plus, Boone calls the reborn Shooters “the new kid on the block” of the West Bank. “It’s a warm, local celebration of Cleveland, the city we love,” he says.
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Kristen Hampshire
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