Exploring East 4th Street: 16 restaurants, shops and venues in the downtown neighborhood
5 min readCLEVELAND, Ohio — Restaurants, shops and nearby entertainment attractions like Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field make East 4th Street in downtown Cleveland one of the most popular destinations in the city.
The street was redeveloped decades ago into a pedestrian-friendly strip of apartment buildings, restaurants, bars and other shops. Located just a few blocks away from Cleveland’s biggest sports stadiums, East 4th Street earned its own kind of draw for foodies, nightlife lovers and sports fans alike.
In recent years the area’s seen some comings and goings — longtime favorites Lola Bistro and The Greenhouse Tavern closed in 2020, and two new restaurants are slated for the neighborhood for 2021.
We took a look at the businesses that currently line the entertainment district, and two that should open soon:
(Photo by Marc Bona, cleveland.com)
Butcher & The Brewer
Butcher & The Brewer has been temporarily closed since December due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the restaurant has continued to brew and serve its beers at bars around Ohio, including at its sister restaurant, Tremont Taphouse.
2043 E. 4th St., Cleveland
Citizen Pie Roman Cafe
Like Citizen Pie’s other locations, Roman Cafe offers some of the best pizzas in Cleveland. But, unlike its two other locations, Citizen Pie’s East 4th Street location offers cheesy goodness by the slice, quickly cooked in rectangular pans — along with menu selections from Bigmouth Donuts and Six Shooter Coffee.
2057 E. 4th St., Cleveland
CLE Clothing Co.
Want to wear your Cleveland pride on your sleeve? Cleveland Clothing Company sells a variety of city pride t-shirts and other apparel, along with household items like bar glasses, mugs and stickers — many featuring the city skyline or “Cleveland” script letters.
342 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
(Photo by Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer
Cleveland Visitors Center
Destination Cleveland operates its downtown Cleveland visitors center 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, helping tourists navigate and enjoy the city’s center.
334 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
(Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer
The Corner Alley
Knock down a few pins and order a meal at The Corner Alley, downtown Cleveland’s bowling alley on the corner of East 4th Street. The business hosts 16 lanes for bowling, and a menu of American fare, along with a solid drinks selection including some locally brewed beer.
402 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
(Photo by Marc Bona, cleveland.com)
Flannery’s Pub
Flannery’s Pub has been open at the corner of East 4th Street for more than 20 years, offering pints of Guinness, bangers & mash and other traditional Irish pub fare to downtown Cleveland residents.
323 Prospect Ave., Cleveland
(Photo by John Kuntz, cleveland.com)John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Harry Buffalo
Sports bar and restaurant Harry Buffalo has nine locations in Ohio and Florida, and one of them can be found on East 4th Street. The outpost is just a quick walk away from the Jack Casino and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
2120 E 4th St, Cleveland
(Photo by Jon Fobes, The Plain Dealer)
House of Blues
One of House of Blues’ 11 locations is right in downtown Cleveland, typically offering live music year-round — along with a restaurant and bar serving Southern-inspired dishes. With multiple bars throughout the venue, the House of Blues also operates the Foundation Room, a cocktail lounge, on the top floor of the building.
308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
(Photo by John Kuntz, cleveland.com)John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Mabel’s BBQ
Celebrity chef Michael Symon’s restaurant Mabel’s BBQ is a big draw in downtown Cleveland, and also in Las Vegas. Here, you can taste “Cleveland-style” barbecue, which incorporates Bertman’s Original Ball Park Mustard into its sauce.
2050 E. 4th St., Cleveland
(Photo by Chris Stephens, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer
Pickwick & Frolic / Hilarities Theatre
Catch some of the world’s best-known touring comedians at Hilarities Theatre, and enjoy food and drinks from Pickwick & Frolic, all in the same building. The venue and restaurant have both been open since 2002.
2035 E. 4th St., Cleveland
(Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)
Society Lounge
Sip a carefully made classic cocktail in Cleveland’s Society Lounge. The old-school small bar focuses on quality ingredients and seasonal menu offerings.
2063 E. 4th St., Cleveland
(Photo by Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer
Saigon Restaurant & Bar
Pho, stir-fried noodles and various rice dishes make up the menu at Saigon, a Vietnamese restaurant on East 4th Street. (The bubble tea is exceptional, too.)
2061 E. 4th St., Cleveland
(Photo by John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer)John Petkovic
Wonder Bar
The colorful Wonder Bar in downtown Cleveland has indoor seating year-round, and prime patio seating for warm summer nights. The East 4th bar offers a solid beer and wine list, along with a few basic cocktails.
2044 E. 4th St., Cleveland
(Photo by Peggy Turbett, The Plain Dealer)The Plain Dealer
Zocalo Tequileria
Known for its colorful, huge margaritas, Zocalo also offers burritos, tacos, quesadillas and other Mexican specialties.
2071 E. 4th St., Cleveland
Coming soon: Goma Sushi
Chef Dante Boccuzzi will open his newest concept Goma Sushi in the first week of June. The restaurant will focus on sushi rolls, noodles, tempura plates and hot pot dishes, including shabu-shabu. “Goma” is Japanese for “sesame.”
2079 East 4th St., Cleveland
Coming soon: Indie
A music-themed American dining concept called Indie will fill a gap in downtown Cleveland’s East 4th Street neighborhood this October. The former Greenhouse Tavern space at 2038 East 4th St. closed in February 2020. Indie, set to open this year, is a new concept from local restaurateurs and husband-and-wife duo Gabe Zeller and Julie Mesenburg. Inside, Zeller and Mesenburg will showcase their love of indie music — a passion they’ve shared for the past 17 years.
2038 East 4th St.
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