A former industrial city, Cleaveland in Ohio is known for its sense of fun, cheap beer and now very hipster-friendly industrial chic vibe. Many of the former working mills, factories and warehouses are still dotted all over the city but now you’ll find many of them turned into microbreweries, stylish eateries and art galleries.
Throw in interesting walkable neighborhoods, pleasant bike trails which follow along waterways, friendly locals, great markets, cozy corner taverns and some great attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum of Art and you’ve got yourself a very unique city destination! If you’re looking for somewhere extra special to stay, from cozy historic boutiques to hip and trendy high rises, here are the best cool and unusual hotels in Cleveland, Ohio…
1. Metropolitan at The 9, Autograph Collection – a trendy, modern and very Instagrammable hotel that welcomes pets too
Even arriving at this hotel is an event, the massive tower rising into the air with its unique frontage is both impressive and imposing, and a very familiar landmark for anyone who knows Cleveland.
Head inside to the impressive lobby and you find a heady mix of classic 20th-century style and the latest technology, impressing with its luxury while also feeling welcoming and relaxing at the same time.
Rooms come in three styles, RSRV for the ultimate in luxury living, suites for spacious comfort and deluxe that deliver a premium experience for everyone.
Whichever you choose, you can enjoy restored period features, free wifi, satellite TV and exceptional service, while every room is completed with exquisite furniture and the highest quality materials.
A choice of 5 eateries covers everything from fine dining to a grocery store for grabbing something on the go, while event rooms and a fully-featured gym give you the amenities you need. If you want to stay in the heart of Cleveland and take a trip into its majestic past, then Metropolitan at the 9 is the place to be.
- To book, check prices or availability for Metropolitan at The 9, Autograph Collection
2. Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade – a unique and elegant downtown hotel 19th-century landmark building
Cleveland has some impressive architecture, and one of the very best examples is the Hyatt Regency. The soaring arched windows give the frontage a unique look, and walking inside reveals even more impressive details. Among the leather and wood of the lobby you will enjoy fantastic service, while everywhere you go period details mix with modern style. It’s a wonderful place to spend time.
Rooms embrace modernity, with clean lines and quality materials everywhere, but those large windows remind you of the history of the place wherever you go.
It’s a wonderful blend and creates light, supremely comfortable environment that makes this hotel such a pleasure to be in. Within the hotel there are several dining options, the 1890 Restaurant overlooking the arcade offers a range of breakfast and lunch options, while the 1890 Lounge provides a full dinner menu and a range of local craft beers, fine wines and more in a more relaxed atmosphere.
You also have the option of in-room dining of course, and a market in the lobby for snacks. In the Arcade itself, there are other dining options including a pizza restaurant, coffee bar and other craft offerings to enjoy. A wonderful trip back into the history of this amazing city, the Hyatt Regency is a must-try for this area.
- To book, check prices or availability for Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade
3. Kimpton Schofield Hotel, an IHG Hotel – a modern, upscale design hotel to stay that offers excellent amenities
You enter the Kimpton Schofield Hotel through a beautifully restored Victorian era façade, a reminder of Cleveland’s historic roots, and walk into a lobby unlike any other in the world.
From the ornate front desk to the open seating areas with alcoves and an open fire creating space to get comfortable whenever you want.
Rooms are available with or without kitchen facilities, depending on your needs, and all bring modern style set to a backdrop od traditional architecture, providing relaxing, luxurious comfort. For music lovers, both the King and Presidential suites provide an acoustic guitar to help you enjoy the evening with your own jam session in your room, other accommodation has the option to rent similar guitars.
The hotel is convenient for the high-quality dining that Cleveland has in abundance but also has its own in-house restaurant, Betts, which brings classic American dishes to life with an emphasis on quality, healthy ingredients.
The hotel also features a fitness center, offers a yoga mat for every room, custom-designed Micro Kickboard scooters available in two children’s sizes and bicycles for the adults, as well as a full concierge service to help you make the most of your trip.
A great place for families, this hotel captures the essence of Cleveland in everything it does.
- To book, check prices or availability for Kimpton Schofield Hotel, an IHG Hotel
4. Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower – a hip, stylish and sophisticated hotel that provides beautifully designed rooms with city views
Just across the street from the Cleveland Convention Center, Marriott Downtown is in the perfect location for any visit to this historic city.
Surrounded by history, this thoroughly modern hotel provides the luxurious comfort and relaxing ambience that let you really enjoy your time in Cleveland.
Rooms are bright, spacious and full of quality materials, with all the tech you expect and large windows that give you a fantastic view of the city itself. With options for Italian cuisine, Sushi and classic American dining, as well as the Public Square Pantry for grabbing snacks on the go, there is dining for every taste in-house, while a spa and fitness center keep your body in shape during your visit.
Finally, you can enjoy the joys of a classic barbershop experience in the sumptuous modern surroundings of Armando’s, right in the heart of the hotel. Cleveland in luxury, that is the Marriott Downtown.
- To book, check prices or availability for Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower
5. Luckman Condos by Barsala – a popular contemporary aparthotel close to popular attractions
Located in the center of Cleveland and close to many of the sights, the condos offer fantastically comfortable accommodation with beautiful décor that makes you feel right at home.
With a kitchen area for food preparation and laundry facilities, you can be completely independent and choose your own schedule for your trip when staying here.
Despite that, with access to an impressive fitness center, swimming pool, games room and more including a rooftop bar area, you can still enjoy all the facilities of a boutique hotel experience while having the freedom of your own condo.
Something different, if you like doing things your own way, this is a fantastic alternative to a traditional hotel.
- To book, check prices or availability for Luckman Condos by Barsala
6. Renaissance Cleveland Hotel – an elegant hotel with a casino which features a very ornate lobby
Cleveland is rooted in American history, and downtown architecture still evokes those heady times of the roaring 1920’s with its incredible style.
That same sense of history is everywhere in Renaissance Cleveland, even from the moment you walk into the lobby with its deep red carpets and gold detailing on the walls, staircases and beyond.
Dining continues that classical luxury, where San Souci gives you a casual dining experience set to back drop of fabulous wooden walls and floors and classically styled seating. A modern fitness center and superb service at all times make this a wonderful hotel experience.
All rooms enjoy high-quality fabrics and furniture, with period style pieces offering modern comfort with traditional looks, it gives them a unique character and one that really makes you feel at home.
This is a traditional hotel experience in the best sense, and if you want to experience Cleveland as it was, this is a great option.
- To book, check prices or availability for Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
7. The Glidden House – a unique boutique-style hotel that has a French gothic eclectic style of architecture
A true boutique hotel located in the heart of historic Cleveland, Glidden House was built in 1910 as how to the Glidden family.
It witnessed the growth of the city, including the university, even becoming a part of the CRWU campus before eventually turning to being the hotel we see today.
Staying at Glidden House means enjoying all that history, you see it in every room, the stunning woodwork and classic period furniture, the artwork and details that catch the eye as you walk through the lobby. It is magnificent.
The rooms are impressive too, a mix of technology like free wi-fi and large TVs alongside the subdued colors and period look of the furniture. Comfortable and welcoming, the room constantly reminds you how special this hotel is. A chance to stay on a genuinely historic location, Glidden House is something truly unique.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Glidden House
8. The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland – one of the most sought-after upscale hotels in Cleveland
With attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just a short walk away, this hotel is in the ideal location. 206 rooms of modern luxury, the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland features a very modern, urban décor heavily focused on greys and blues, with sleek lines and high-quality materials.
The result is a breath of fresh air, where most hotels in the city focus on history, and when done well it is wonderful, here you enjoy an unashamed 21st-century hotel experience. It looks and feels amazing and is such a contrast to the cityscape that surrounds you as you look out the windows.
In-house dining offers a range of quality cuisines based around locally sourced ingredients, but you are close to the array of dining choices that Cleveland has to offer too, so you always have choice, the modern hotel also includes a state-of-the-art fitness center, concierge service and genuinely world-class service at all times.
The hotel for those who want to see history but maybe not live through it.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland
9. The Westin Cleveland Downtown – one of the coolest hotels to stay in Cleveland, perfect for Millennials and Gen Zs
Just a few blocks from the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, The Westin offers modern sophistication and luxury on the heart of historic Cleveland.
The lobby sets the scene for the hotel, with seating on a grand scale in sumptuous soft materials and beautiful wooden wall surfaces that bring the warmth of nature indoors.
Finally, the vertical garden, as greenery rise up the walls to give a stunning look and environmental benefits is somewhere you will aways remember.
Rooms feature quality finishings with modern lines, with spacious work areas and soft, comfortable areas for relaxing too. In-house dining includes The Westin Cleveland Kitchen, offering traditional American cuisine using fresh local ingredients, and the Urban Farmer, specializing in steak and seafood.
A fully fitted fitness center includes Peloton bikes to make sure you can keep your fitness regime going while away, and nearby there are restaurants and more to suite any taste.
- To book, check prices or availability for The Westin Cleveland Downtown
10. Hotel Indigo Cleveland Downtown, an IHG Hotel – a boutique hotel based in an enchanting neighborhood
Located in the Gateway District, the vibrant neighborhood that drives the entertainment and energy of the city, Hotel Indigo brings together that passion for life and the history of both Cleveland and the country to create a completely unique hotel experience.
Rooms are modern, comfortable and welcoming, and feature artwork based around the Mayflower and American Puritans. It creates a wonderful, relaxing environment and makes you feel instantly at home.
The hotel has a fully featured fitness center, while the Headliner Bar and Eatery takes care of dining, offering a casual dining experience as well as great breakfast options every day.
With its fantastic location near to the entertainment, restaurants and bars of the Gateway District, Hotel Indigo is a great experience and a fantastic choice for Cleveland nightlife.
- To book, check prices or availability for Hotel Indigo Cleveland Downtown, an IHG Hotel
11. Aloft Cleveland Downtown – a fun, funky, colorful, kitsch, and fun party hotel to stay in Cleveland
Just a few blocks from the convention center and sports stadiums, Aloft Cleveland Downtown is in the prime location for any visit this fantastic city. Rooms offer tech-driven luxury, with Apple streaming, ergonomic workstations and Bliss Spa amenities in each bathroom.
The re:charge gym is great to get your workout in, and dining is taken care of by two in-house options, Lago providing Italian classic cuisine in a relaxed dining environment that blends quality food with wonderful views across Lake Erie, and WXYZ® Bar that serves a range of quality cuisine in an informal atmosphere, with a colorful and vibrant décor creating a unique ambience.
Aloft offers a very different experience for Cleveland hotels, one not to be missed.
- To book, check prices or availability for Aloft Cleveland Downtown
12. Stone Gables Inn – a cozy quirky-chic inn based in a historic mansion that features whirlpool tubs
A small boutique hotel set within a historic mansion, Stone Gables Inn has just five rooms, each with its own unique character. Each features bespoke décor, with high-quality furnishings including incredible historic beds and their own color schemes.
This hotel is unusual in that it has no reception desk, with the entire hotel accessed through guest-specific access codes, giving you complete independence alongside hotel-style luxury.
There are many dining options nearby, providing a flexible approach to your time in Cleveland. If you like the idea of a historic hotel stay but love to keep to your own schedule, this is the ideal place to stay in Cleveland.
- To book, check prices or availability for Stone Gables Inn
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Gary is an award winning full time professional photographer and videographer with too much wanderlust for his own good. Fuelled by strong coffee, you’ll often find him wandering well off hiking trails in search of interesting photographic subjects or scenery to video. Self taught and with the use of pioneering digital techniques, he quickly built up a strong client base and has worked with many prestigious organisations, including GQ, BBC, London Fashion Week, Grazia, Sky, Metro, Vogue Italia. He specialising in evocative images of people, places and cinematic videography and his goal is to make the viewer look twice and engage. As well as a penchant for good design, the ketogenic diet and Hungarian Vizslas, he also has a huge affection for Chicago, Bucharest, Scandinavia, Croatia and absolutely everywhere in Italy. Find him on Instagram @garynansome, Twitter @garynansome and his website https://garynunn.co.uk/