A Couple’s Guide to Cleveland: My Favorite Date Destinations

While Mike and I love hiking at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and searching for seaglass at beautiful Lake Erie beaches, sometimes we also like to get dressed up a bit. While many of the big attractions in and around Cleveland like the touristy Metroparks Zoo, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the house from “A Christmas Story,” are far from romantic destinations, we have been able to find a few decent date worthy restaurants, cafes, and attractions thus far.

We enjoy both hiking and city attractions, and this metro is a great place to enjoy both. You don’t have to give up one for the other here. My guide will focus on a few of my favorite date destinations since moving here about a year and a half ago. I’ll add more to the list as I further explore the city.

Le Petit Triangle Cafe

Best for: An upscale brunch date

What to do nearby: Take a stroll around Edgewater Park

Le Petit is a cute French restaurant in the Ohio City neighborhood that we first visited many years ago while staying in the city for a night on a longer roadtrip. On our first visit, I loved the ambiance and food and was happy to find out that it was basically the same as I remembered it over 10 year ago. This is probably my favorite place for a brunch date. The setting is elegant, the vibe is usually quaint with other couples on dates, and the food is terrific.

For brunch, they serve a variety of plates from luxury appetizers like escargot, to traditional breakfast favorites like omelets. The best part of the menu is the large selection of sweet and savory crepes. Best of all, they offer free refills on their coffee (most cafes in this city unfortunately do not) so you can linger a little bit and stretch out your date. On a side note, I regular love their drip coffee which is medium/dark in intensity and full of flavor.

Most of all, I really love their crepes. A few of my recent favorites include: Lemon Curd and Chocolate Lovers (I went with The Dark Chocolate with bananas). We also love their vegetarian quiche. On my next visit, I am definitely trying the Shakshuka or the Savory French Toast which features wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, and roasted butternut squash served with sage maple syrup – it looks quite unique!

The Judith Cafe

Best for: A fancy coffeehouse date

What to do nearby: Get your game on at Tabletop Board game cafe (a $5 pass gets you unlimited board game access)

Recently, we planned a visit to this romantic French cafe that we have been wanting to check out for a while. To be honest, we avoided it at first due to the high pricing, however, we were celebrating an anniversary, so we figured why not?

I really love the ambiance here: the setting is definitely the most elegant of any coffeehouse we have visited thus far. We started with a delicious chocolate croissant and a tartine topped with preserves and a jammy egg. I also ordered one of their delicious new plates: the Petite Assiette. It was something different for sure, but quite delicious. This diverse entree included: 2 jammy eggs with kelp caviar, french lentils, cucumber and tomatoes with Greek yogurt, olives, Bulgarian cheese, persillade, gremolata, and a side baguette. Definitely a great pick for any vegetarian foodies out there!

The coffee was decent enough, although the $1.75 refills were a bit much and I would have preferred a smaller mug (coffee served in big mugs cools down too fast and I prefer my coffee hot). Overall, it was a nice experience and we would return for another date.

Omizu Japanese Restaurant

Best for: A fun dinner out

What to do nearby: Go back in time to the heydal of pinball at Pinball Planet, located just 2 miles away in another strip mall.

We drove by this restaurant so many times before finally deciding to check it out. I love ramen and I was not at all disappointed. Despite the Parma Heights strip mall location, this is a pretty decent restaurant. The ramen and sushi rolls are awesome, plus the ambiance is very colorful and eclectic. This is a nice place to enjoy a fun night out in the suburbs.

I loved the veggie ramen and Mike loved the shrimp tempura. Both portion were humongous, so a great value for the price. I was so full I couldn’t even consider the green tea ice cream! Bonus: Thursday is Ladies Night – one free drink included.

Pinball Planet

Best for: The young at heart, Anyone who grew up in the 70’s-80’s

What to do nearby: Dinner at Omizu Japanese

I was so excited to hear that a new pinball place was opening in suburban Parma Heights. Here you can play over 40 games from the 70’s through todays. Most games are a $1, but some of the old ones are just a quarter. My personal favorite are Harry Potter, Halloween, and Jaws.

I love that you still have to use quarters which makes the experience feel a bit more retro – I want to feel like I am back in the 80’s! While the all-you-can-play special at Superelectric is a better deal, this place is more old-school and low-key (and it’s never over crowded even on the weekends). We could all use a little break from modern technology so ditch the phone for a while 😉

Note: There is a bar on-site and a change machine.

Mini golf

Best for: Old-school fun

What to do nearby: Treat yourself to an ice cream scoop at Pine Cone Ice Cream Shop (I love the cozy outdoor seating area and attached garden shop).

For old-school summer fun, you really can’t beat a round or 2 of mini golf. One of my favorite places is Fore Corners mini golf in Parma. It’s clean, affordable, never overcrowded, and best of all, located just minutes away from this awesome local ice cream place called PineCone in North Royalton. Their ice cream is really delicious and I love all the seasonal specials. Bonus points for the rustic setting with swing chairs and adirondack chairs: the perfect place to spend a summer night.

Sweetie’s is a bit pricer, but their course is a bit more upscale. There is also an ice cream shop and humongous candy store attached. I feel like the vibe here is a bit more family friendly, so not the best date night choice. That being said, they do stay up much later in the summer (11pm).

Metroparks Zoo (winter only)

Best for: A low-key winter stroll

What to do nearby: Relax with a great cup of joe at Roasted (one of my favorite coffeeshops in the region)

Personally, I would never recommend a stroll around the zoo for a summer date. It’s crowded with tourists and families, usually hot and humid, and there is a lot going on – 5k races, events, etc. A winter visit is another story. I rarely see more than maybe 5 people or so when we plan our visit in the morning. We have a membership here so we visit fairly regularly. The winter season is so tranquil and chill. I love putting on a nice coat and just strolling around enjoying the peace and quiet.

I love The Rainforest (note: it is currently under construction and will be transformed into The Primate Forest sometime in 2026). Another one of my favorite indoor exhibits for the cold season is The Primate, Cat, and Aquatics building. It’s usually super quiet during the winter season (it’s so busy, you can barely move come summer) and if you don’t feel like sweating up the big hill, you can take a free tram ride. I also love the indoor Koala bear habitat and Asian highlands featuring red pandas and leopards (both are usually out-and-about in the snow).

Guarino’s

Best for: An upscale night out in Little Italy

What to do nearby: Since you are already in Little Italy, you might as well treat yourself to dessert. Presti’s serves cannoli and pretty much every other treat imaginable.

A lot of the city’s tourist traffic centers around Little Italy. This compact area is always busy (especially in the warmer months) and quite hard to find street parking. It’s worth the parking frustration if you are looking for a concentrated area of authentic Italian restaurants.

There are a handful of bakeries and both casual and fine dining establishments. My favorite fancy place for a dinner date is Guarino’s, the city’s oldest Italian restaurant (it opened in 1918). The setting here is very dim and romantic and the presentation and service are both excellent. It’s a great place to spend Valentines’ Day or an anniversary. We love the Fettuccine Alfredo and Angel Hair marinara, but next up on my list is the Eggplant Parmesan.

Rockefeller Park Greenhouse

Best for: Anyone who loves botanical gardens

What to do nearby: Stroll the Cultural gardens and grab a casual lunch in Little Italy (I love Mamma Santa’s pizza)

This year-round nature oasis is one of my favorite places for a quiet stroll. It’s open all year and the gardens change along with the seasons, so you always get to enjoy something new.

It’s cozy and comfortable in here even if the city sees 10 inches of snow. I love seeing the scenery change here from spring flowers to winter poinsettias. It’s such a gorgeous asset to the community and it’s free for everyone to enjoy!

I would combine a visit here with a restaurant in Little Italy because they are so close. If you are up for pizza, Mamma Santas is pretty delicious. While beautiful, the gardens will only take a half hour at most to stroll through. It’s nice to plan a complementary activity to justify the drive. During the warmer months, I recommend a stroll through the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, also in the vicinity.

Metropolitan Coffee

Best for: A casual coffee date

This is another local coffeeshop which Mike and I frequent fairly regularly. This place is so quiet and the design so contemporary and clean. We love coming here during the week when the vibe is just so peaceful and local. The coffee here is always top notch: I would say right up there with the best in the city.

We enjoy the blueberry muffins and also the seasonal pumpkin cream cheese which sells out really fast. Occasionally, we order the veggie quiche depending on the ingredients. We tried their Baked French Toast one time and it was alright, although I prefer the muffins.

There seems to be a lot of other couples here on dates and I love the big open windows especially during the winter season when we can gaze at the snow falling down. The space is colorful and stylish, and you can even pick up some local art pieces.

Museum of Art

Best for: Art lovers

What to do nearby: Enjoy a light meal and espresso at Provenance, the museum’s highly regarded on-site cafe. Or drive to Little Italy – located just a quick mile drive away.

One of the city’s best assets is the wonderful art museum. I have been to many great art museums around the country including The Art Institute of Chicago, The Cincinnati Art Museum, and all the wonderful Smithsonian Museums in D.C. This one is right up there with the best-of-the-best. Museums are almost always great date ideas, especially those specializing in art as the kids usually stay home compared to say a science or natural history museum.

The collection and even the building itself is really beautiful, especially the atrium. What I find most impressive is the massive section dedicated to Indian and Southeast Art. You can see some of my favorite pieces in this article I wrote recently.

Also, there is a beautiful little cafe on-site in the atrium called Provenance. I would check out the brunch menu which includes selections like Pecan Praline Pancakes, Shrimp and Grits, and Avocado Tartine.

Overall, this museum is just a great date destination that we come back to time and time again. Little Italy is less than a mile away, so I recommend pairing your visit with lunch/dinner at Guarino’s or Mia Bella – 2 great date spots.

Lekko Coffee

Best for: A caffeine boost prior to exploring any downtown attractions

What to do nearby: Explore the Rock N’Roll Hall of Fame. Check out the gorgeous architecture of The Arcade.

I had heard a lot of great things about Lekko since moving to this region, but always stuck to my favorites like Roasted and Civlization in Tremont. We decided to splurge on an anniversary weekend and visited this beautiful cafe early in the morning to beat the crowds. This place is pretty spacious – I really love all the artwork and the beautifully designed seating area.

It’s the perfect place for a low-key coffee date. The pastries were good (not great) – we enjoyed an apple turnover and a muffin. The coffee was really top notch with the Americano being one of the best I’ve tried to date.

Chagrin Falls

Best for: Strolling around a charming Main Street

What to do nearby: Dine at 17 River Grille, the area’s most scenic restaurant. I love the food and dining on the gorgeous patio facing the waterfall!

For the past 2 years, we have been checking out a lot of old-school Main Streets surrounding the city. It’s nice to park one time and then walk around to a bunch of local restaurants and shops. I love supporting local businesses so at least a few times a month, we try to explore a new downtown. Some of our favorites thus far include: Vermillion, Medina, and Chagrin Falls.

I would say Chagrin is the best pick for a romantic day date. Most notably, there is a beautiful waterfall in the center of Main St. Also, there are several more upscale restaurants and cafe and a nice bookshop (Fireside). Although it’s quite touristy, we like 17 River Grille. The food is great and the views even better. You really can’t beat their heavenly biscuits (made from scratch).

Gina’s Gelato and Java

Best for: Enjoying a latte minus the crowds

What to do nearby: Take a stroll at beautiful Big Creek Reservation. It’s one of my favorite low-key parks in the metro. During the colder months, consider bowling at Yorktown Lanes.

Gina’s is a relatively new cafe that just opened in 2024 in the suburb of Parma Heights. It’s a little Italian cafe which serves both gelato and a full espresso menu. We occasionally plan a date here on weekend mornings when it is pretty slow (most come for the gelato). The decor is nice and they even have Italian videos playing in the background.

The presentation is very nice and I love that they have little extras like flowers on the tables. It’s a very pretty space and they did a great job designing the space to look like a European bistro. The staff is so nice and friendly.

The coffee and specialty drinks are great and they even offer a few pastries (the muffins are quite good). As a bonus, we really enjoyed their White Mocha – their specialty drinks are right up their with Roasted which comes in first in my book.

Stone Oven Bakery

Best for: Amazing pastries

What to do nearby: Take a peaceful stroll at The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

I recommend Stone Oven Bakery if you are looking for the best pastries and baked goods in town. This is a low-key place with a cozy space where you can enjoy great coffee and pastries. We have enjoyed many goodies here including delicious almond croissants, cinnamon rolls, and berry danishes. I haven’t tried the lunch menu yet, but it looks pretty decent. They serve sandwiches, salads, and soups – all made in house. The Roasted Veggie will probably be my choice should we ever stop in for lunch.

The setting is much less hectic and a lot cozier than Luna Bakery which also serves up some great scratch made bakeries (but it’s way too busy and cramped for me to recommend it as a romantic date destination).

Stone Oven is a great pick with my only complaint being that they charge too much for coffee refills. I’ve lived in cities across the country and can’t believe all the cafes and coffeeshops here that charge for refills compared to other places I’ve lived. Seriously, coffee is cheap (my recommendation – offer one refill, you aren’t losing much money but probably gaining a lot of repeat business).

Cleveland Metroparks

Best for: Recreation close to the city

What to do nearby: Grab lunch or dinner at The Harp, one of the city’s best Irish pubs. It doesn’t have to be St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy some tasty Fish and Chips or the amazing veggie Boxty!

As the old saying goes – “The couple who works out together stays together.” I give this city the most credit for its’ wonderful park system. As a fitness buff and nature lover, to me, this is the primary advantage of living here. You can enjoy dozens of parks which are easily accessible no matter where you are staying.

I love walking through the forest or along the beach in the winter and fall season the most as the solitude and beautiful fall colors and snow are perfect for a romantic stroll. Some of our favorites during the off season include: Edgewater Park, Brecksville Reservation, and Big Creek Reservation. Cuyahoga is a great pick anytime of the year, with summer and fall being my favorite times to hike.