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    Literary Tavern

    4.5 (119 reviews)
    ModerateCocktail Bars
    Open Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

    Literary Tavern Photos

    Business Info

    LITERARY TAVERN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Literary Tavern

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    Cocktails
    Jennifer B.

    Bustling, local watering hole. Plenty of free street parking and easy to find. This neighborhood is one of my favorites because of the hidden gems quietly tucked in this residential area. I know they serve food, but we just came for drinks. It was very busy during the week about 6pm. We were able to sit at the bar. The bar was filled with regulars, most of whom were friends with the bartender. She was not enjoying her job this night and appeared stressed sounded annoyed. She did make us drinks and warmed up slightly, but I hate feeling like you're putting the staff out just by ordering a drink off the menu. We ordered an Alligator Lounge and Yada Yads. Both tasty. I felt drinks were on the pricey side for what you get. It's a very popular place and feels intimate. I would try it again when back in the area.

    Through the window
    Jennifer T.

    Great Cocktails. We were told to come here and the recommendation did not disappoint. The Espresso Martini was just ok. Too sweet for me. My second drink was amazing, Through the Window. I have never had a Cantaloupe cocktail with black pepper, sage etc. The only disappointment was coming back the next night and they were sold out. The downfalls of pre-batched cocktails. We have been back several times now and have always had delicious cocktails and good service. It gets very busy and it's very loud.

    Anna H.

    I love this place and if I lived in Tremont I would be a regular. We sat at the bar for a drink and had fries to snack on. Very good, and great, friendly service. My cocktail was unique and quite good. Wine poured on top. The Tavern Fries were so good, and came with both ketchup and a black garlic aioli that I loved. Cozy seating in the front room with the bar, and a dining room beyond.

    Veal meatballs
    Christi S.

    This place is an absolute must visit. I've travelled extensively and this spot has earned one of my top favorite places to eat. We had the arancini, root vegetable latkes, fried calamari and veal meatballs. The sauce for the meatballs was the kind of sauce you want more of to dip your bread into. The meatball was perfectly seasoned and tender. The star is the calamari. Do not let the idea of kimchi throw you off, it made the dish. My husband does not like kimchi and he polished off more of this than I did. Service was top notch both in service and conversation. And while the tavern is small, it just adds the right vibe.

    Pira K.

    Went to Literary Tavern to meet up with some friends after work and was able to get seated quickly! We didn't make a reservation so I'm glad we got a table! Ordered a couple of cocktails and shared some amazing truffle fries! Drinks were creative and delicious, and the truffle fries were delicious when paired with the garlic aioli! The vibes of Literary Tavern was laid back and chill and super cute!

    LIT burger
    Brendon B.

    Unique themed drinks all with a mocktail or thc option great for anybody with specific drink taste. The burger was delicious and a great environment

    Blood Fountain
    Jacqueline P.

    Slipped away into a slice of unnoticed Tremont but yet steps from Lincoln Park and the Professor strip is this little spot...Don't blink, you might miss it! There are so many great eats in the coolest neighborhood in the 216 but I encourage you to add this one to your list. Walking in the door of this narrow establishment, you can tell it's a gathering spot for regulars. I love their slogan of come in as strangers but leave as friends because sweet Katie who was working as hostess, bartender and server extraordinaire proved it true! When I spoke to her on the phone, I already I liked her because she ended with See You Soon! Guess who greeted us with a beautiful smile? We sat on the patio which is really the alley between the blogs but in Tremont, that adds to the funky vibe. We paused at first, but sat next to another table of guests and before we left 1.5/2hrs later, most of the tables had filled. The drinks were wonderful and if you like unusual, craft drinks...here ya go! The sidecar did not miss and was on point and the Blood Fountain was as pretty as delicious! How can you go wrong mixing bourbon and malbec! The selection of creativity is spectacular! I enjoyed the chicken swarma, full of tender chicken and dipping goodness and truffle fries! Archie took over as server and he filled in every bit as well as Katie. We really enjoyed the music, the vibe and interesting taste offerings, whether bits or sips. Stop by... drink a "Corny as Kansas", on me (psyche). Drinks constantly change!

    Old fashioned
    Jacob B.

    Not what you expect from the outside. Absolutely a cozy date spot with great cocktails, shareable and entrees. Sit at the bar and ask for the bartenders favorite for an exception time with great service.

    Coconut curry muscles and broccoli dip (my favorite)
    Amanda D.

    Enjoyed the flavorful food, the atmosphere and the quick service. Wasn't too busy for lunch on a Wednesday. The falafel balls were a bit salty, but I still enjoyed them.

    Blood Fountain and Godzilla Water
    Katie B.

    Godzilla Water and Blood Fountain - we celebrated my birthday well. Literary Tavern provides a vibe, delicious cocktails, and great service.

    Calamari
    Katy C.

    I was expecting some literary references at the Literary Tavern, but what I got instead was a great cocktail and the best snack we had while in town, so I'm not mad. Nate and I stopped in and grabbed a seat at the bar. I got a very tasty old fashioned for only $11 which was a steal. Nate ordered the Tony, Toni, Tonic, which we both loved. Great cocktails here! We were a bit hungry so we went with the calamari, which was a very generous portion and had an Asian twist with the sauces and kimchi. When I tell you this is some of the best calamari I've had, I mean it. Tender and not at all rubbery and so flavorful and delicious. We devoured this and both agreed it was our favorite food we ate in town. I think this would be my spot if I lived in the area. Not sure when we'll be back in Cleveland, but Literary Tavern would be on my "let's go back" list.

    Colette W.

    Absolutely amazing . I was the only one there so the service was good, got a smash burger and truffle fries, and the drink I got was amazing too (it's called the Princesa something). Literally zero complaints! Good music/cute inside too.

    Mark R.

    Have had cocktails here before but our dinner on Friday was the first time we have eaten here. Our food was excellent all around and the cocktails on point. Service was friendly and attentive. Vibrant atmosphere - really fun.

    Comfortable, uncluttered

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    1 year ago

    Great food, great service, great atmosphere very welcoming and nice people. I went with some work clients and they enjoyed themselves.

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    1 year ago

    Good cocktails. High level old fashioned! Good ambiance and the bartenders were very nice!

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    Smoke & Mirrors - Mirrors

    Smoke & Mirrors

    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.9 miOhio City

    CLE's best kept secret!…read more A few of my friends raved about Smoke & Mirrors, so I finally checked it out. I stopped in during Stargazers Ball hosted by YoreCraeft Productions. It was a fun cosmic costume party at Smoke & Mirrors. Smoke & Mirrors delivers on their promise, there are mirror accents and intermittent smoke. They also have a lot of silver accents that have a cool juxtaposition with the cave look. You can find this nightclub underground at Clandestina on West 25th. Enter the club by going through mezcalería (Clandestina) and going downstairs. The club calls themselves "subterranean catacomb club." I'd describe it as a nightclub giving off speakeasy vibes with some exposed brick, cave vibes, and sultry red illumination. It's a very mysterious dungeon looking club. It's raw and unusual for the local nightclub scene in the very best of ways. The coolest space in this club is the once upon a time coal room that serves as a little private nook to sip your cocktails. The rest of the club has one dance floor, some comfy seats against the wall, and a small bar. It's very intimate. The club is mostly known for its EDM DJs. Don't expect big names but expect good music. You can find their lineup on their IG @smokeandmirrorscle. They're open on Thursdays for karaoke, and Saturdays for DJ and dancing. The party that I attended had a lot of dancing and good vibes. The club seems to have a cover charge, but the amount is not shared on their socials. The menu consists of cocktails, craft beer, and wine, which is a generous selection for a night club. There were some themed cocktails during my visit ranging from $8-$14. I certainly plan to stop by during a regular weekend night to check out the full experience and DJ's. You should too. If you drop in, stop Clandestina bathroom for a selfie with flattering light. Can't wait for my next visit!

    The basement bar has the best house/dance music in the city and never has a cover charge. The…read moreneighborhood is safe enough for groups to roam responsibly at night after a few drinks.

    Photos
    Smoke & Mirrors - Coal chamber

    Coal chamber

    Smoke & Mirrors - Mirrors

    Mirrors

    Smoke & Mirrors - Crowd

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    Crowd

    Lost Social Club

    Lost Social Club

    4.2(11 reviews)
    1.5 miWarehouse District

    The Warehouse District has a new upscale spot in town! Recently opening during NBA Allstar weekend…read morein CLE, it has already had the presence of many celebrities come through their doors. The setup has a wow factor as you enter the basement level of the building through a tunnel covered in plants and leading straight to your first photo opp! The circle with pink bench is a cute preview of what's inside. Once you check in with the hostess, enter through a door and welcome to the social club. Beautiful decor that mixes a level of sophistication with a little drama as you see the bright lights. Plenty of seating and even a private room that can be rented out. The drinks are phenomenal and the staff is friendly! The menu offers a mix of unique cocktails (and can be made as mocktail a too) and small bites. Upon recommendation, I tried the F.W. Marg drink. So good! The most unique aspect is the watermelon ice cube. As it melts the drink flavor changes. Creative & fun way to enjoy a cocktail. They open at 5pm, which would be a great spot for chill happy hour. Later in the evening, you'll experience more of a lounge/club vibe. Great edition to downtown CLE!

    We hosted a Young Professional networking event here, which was new for me because typically I only…read morefind myself arriving late on a weekend. I'm so happy we did because Stella made sure we had a stellar time (she put the Stella in Stellar? Sorry, nerd status) and the food provided was super fresh and the staff was so attentive. We had a pretty large group all come in at once and they got us through quickly with our first round of drinks! The ambiance is intimate enough where you can step aside to a table for a nice convo or large enough to create a dancing space where we you're at... which was exactly what some of us did because the music was just too tempting. From a more organized event to a late night par-tay mentality, the subtle and eclectic vibes of Lost put you in the right head space. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Lost Social Club
    Lost Social Club
    Lost Social Club

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    Birdietown Mini Golf + Lounge - The upstairs bar

    Birdietown Mini Golf + Lounge

    4.3(58 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    Had a great experience here! Went on a Friday night and there was a decent crowd, but not too…read morecrowded. For dinner, we split the street corn dip and it was really good. For my entree, I had the cauliflower Milanese. It was really good. Perfectly breaded cauliflower and a nice salad on top. I will say it was expensive for an entree that didn't have a protein ($19). I'm a vegetarian so my options were limited but I would've liked maybe some tofu or beans to go with it to make it more substantial. My boyfriend had the lobster roll and really enjoyed it. For golf, we could only play the top floor course because there was a private party downstairs which was kind of disappointing. But the golf was fun. Fairly easy course and didn't have to wait too long for the group in front of us. I'd definitely like to come back and try the downstairs!

    I visited for the first time for lunch in late October 2025 with friends. After lunch, we all went…read moredownstairs to play mini golf and we had so much fun. FOOD -- I ordered the Slow Braised Pork ($22) which includes sweet potato gnocchi, fennel, crispy sage, and apple cider glaze. This was a delicious and very hearty meal. I hardly eat pork so I'm glad that I enjoyed the dish. The sweet potato gnocchi was perfectly paired with the pork. Everything in the dish just blended well together. All my friends enjoyed their food too, from the meatballs, calamari, burger with fries, ratatouille, and more. I nibbled on a few of them and loved it especially the wagyu meatballs. The food was all full of flavour. Service was nice all afternoon as the server came to check on us a few times including refilling our water glasses. MINI GOLF -- Head downstairs to play some games. You pay a fee and are then given score sheets. A friend's friend had surprisingly paid for all of us and I had no idea until the next day (for some reason I thought the mini golf was included in the lunch cost...LOL). Each golf game has a different course with some being more challenging than others. I recommend Birdietown Mini Golf and Lounge for a fun day of mini golf plus lunch. I can see myself coming back again. **** GOAL of 250 reviews in 2026 - 48/250 total reviews in 2026 - 889 total Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 24 April 2026

    Photos
    Birdietown Mini Golf + Lounge - The Club bar (upstairs)

    The Club bar (upstairs)

    Birdietown Mini Golf + Lounge - Upstairs barrrrrr

    Upstairs barrrrrr

    Birdietown Mini Golf + Lounge - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Literary Tavern - cocktailbars - Updated September 2026

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