Cleveland is a city of distinct districts linked by good transit, so where you sleep shapes your trip. For most visitors the choice comes down to downtown, where the Rock Hall, the theatres, the stadiums and the restaurants are within walking distance, or University Circle, the leafy museum district a few miles east. Ohio City and Tremont are wonderful to visit and eat in, but they have few hotels, so most people stay in one of the two main areas and travel to the neighborhoods for meals.
Downtown around Public Square and Tower City: best for transit and first-timers
Public Square is the hub of the city, and Tower City beneath it holds the rapid transit station with direct trains to the airport, to Ohio City for the West Side Market and to University Circle. Staying here means you can arrive without a car and stay without one. Our splurge pick, The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, is in Tower City itself, with 206 renewed rooms looking over Lake Erie or the skyline, TURN Bar and Kitchen, and a Sushi by Bou omakase counter. A few minutes' walk away, the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade puts you inside the city's glass-roofed Victorian arcade of 1890, a memorable setting close to the Museum of Illusions and East 4th Street. Both suit couples and first-timers; the Ritz for luxury and views, the Hyatt for history and atmosphere.
East Ninth Street and the sports district: best for game nights and shows
Around the corner of East Ninth and Euclid, the arena and the ballpark are a few blocks south, Playhouse Square is a short walk east, and the Rock Hall is straight down East Ninth toward the lake. The Kimpton Schofield Hotel, in a restored landmark building with Betts restaurant downstairs and a pet-friendly policy, is our mid-range pick here. It suits couples and friends who want character, and sports fans who want to walk to the game. Ask for a higher floor on game nights, when the streets are lively.
The lakefront side of downtown: best for value and families
Closer to the lake, around City Hall and the convention center, the Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown fills a restored former Board of Education building about half a mile from the Rock Hall. Free hot breakfast, a free evening Kickback with hot food, beer and wine, an indoor pool and two-room suites make it the best value downtown for families and longer stays. Budget for valet parking if you drive, as it is the only option.
University Circle: best for museums and a quieter stay
East of downtown, University Circle gathers the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland History Center, the Botanical Garden and Case Western Reserve University around parks and lagoons, with the restaurants of Little Italy next door. Our pick is The Glidden House, a 1910 mansion built for Frank and Mary Glidden and now a historic boutique hotel with free European-style breakfast and on-site parking. It suits couples, culture lovers and parents visiting students. Downtown is a short ride on the HealthLine or the Red Line.
How to choose
On a first visit of two or three days, stay downtown, near Public Square or East Ninth, so you can walk to the Rock Hall and the theatres and take the train to the West Side Market. If the art museum and the History Center are your priorities, or you prefer quiet evenings, choose University Circle. Families on a budget should look first at the Drury Plaza for its included meals and pool. Wherever you stay, check the sports and convention calendar before you book, because big weekends push up prices across the city, and remember that parking is paid almost everywhere downtown.
