Happy hour is calling, and we must go! Whether you love reds, whites, or rosés, it is time to dive into the best wine bars in and around Cleveland!
While Cleveland is definitely known for its amazing breweries, when it comes to wine, there are also some pretty awesome spots to grab a glass of vino. Whether you are searching for a new date night spot or want to grab drinks with friends, this city has some fantastic wine bars to satisfy your cravings.
6 of the Best Wine Bars in Cleveland
If you are looking to do some wine tasting in Cleveland, here are our go-to spots.
1. Market Avenue Wine Bar
2521 Market Ave., Cleveland (Ohio City)
Perfect for a date night in Ohio City, this cozy spot is situated on the lovely cobblestone street of Market Avenue adjacent to W 25th.
While you could sit inside on velvet chairs under romantic mood lighting, we love sitting outside in the summertime, as you’ll have fantastic views of the iconic West Side Market!
This spot is the perfect place to split a bottle of wine or try a glass or two from around the world like an Argentinian Malbec, California Chardonnay, or perhaps French Bordeaux. Pair it with one their hor d’oeuvres like baked Brie or olives, and you’ll feel like you’re sitting at a Parisian café enjoying your glass of vino.
Plus, if you are planning an event, they have party space available, too!
2. Flight
5712 Detroit Ave., Cleveland (Gordon Square)
This newer Cleveland wine bar is quickly becoming a crowd favorite, and i’s easy to see why! While you could certainly get just a glass of wine, this spot is known for its fantastic wine flights.
Flight has 13 different wine flights on offer! Enjoy some bubbly with the Let’s Get Fizzical with 3 tastings of sparking wine from France and Italy. Or try The Italian Job for some phenomenal Italian whites.
My favorite is definitely the Rainbow Nation. I’m a big fan of South African wine, especially Chenin Blanc! Try that paired with a Cabernet Franc and a red blend, and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a sunny day in the Western Cape.
For real though, this place is a gem. Flight also has a wine shop to pick up a bottle for home (or you can drink it there for a fee), along with a really cute outdoor patio for those sunny summer days.
3. Toast
1365 W 65th St., Cleveland (Gordon Square)
Another great wine bar in Cleveland, this place in Gordon Square is a fantastic date night location. With many cocktails, a fabulous wine list, and perfectly shareable small plates, you’ll enjoy a post-work happy hour and unwind here.
Aside from their awesome rosé, as mentioned above, they have unique wines from around the world including an orange wine from the country of Georgia, many wines from Italy’s wine regions, and even a couple of selections from Maryland and Long Island.
They also label their wine list with organic, natural, sustainable, and biodynamic wines for those that are interested in knowing how the wine was produced.
4. CLE Urban Winery
2180 Lee Rd, Cleveland Heights
Located in the historic Cedar-Lee neighborhood in Cleveland Heights, this urban-style winery almost looks like a brewery at first glance. However, it is actually wine being made in those big vats!
This laid-back place offers brewery vibes, and they are known for naming their wines after Cleveland landmarks, neighborhoods, and traditions as well as giving back to the community.
This place isn’t just selling wine by the glass either! They also serve wine flights, a delicious wine slushie, and even wine cocktails. If you prefer to stick to regular vino, then the Rustbelt Rose or Murray Hill Pinot Grigio are sure to please.
5. Humble Wine Bar
15400 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Who said pizza and beer are the way to go? Pizza and wine is pretty much the bomb dot com over at Humble Wine Bar in Lakewood.
With Neapolitan-style pizza, fabulous charcuterie and wine boards, and an extensive wine list, you’ll leave here feeling full and happy. We love this spot for a date night with dinner and drinks.
They have some fantastic pizza including fig and prosciutto, chorizo, and even a vegan sausage pizza. Pair it with world-class wine like a Grenache/Syrah from the Rhone Valley in France or a Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough Sound in New Zealand. Basically, if you are searching for fantastic pizza and wine to pair it with, this is the place.
Humble Wine Bar also has a nice patio area that’s also dog-friendly, meaning it’s a spot the whole family can enjoy.
6. Rocky River Wine Bar
1313 Linda St., Rocky River
If you travel further west, you’ll happen upon Rocky River Wine Bar. While this is a bit further from downtown, this Cleveland wine bar has an award-winning wine list.
You can also get brunch here to enjoy with wine or typical brunch drinks like a Bloody Mary or mimosa.
But no matter when you visit Rocky River Wine Bar, you’ll love their lengthy wine list including some Veuve Cliquot Champagne, a tawny port from Portugal, or even a glass of their ever-rotating rosé selection.
Notable Wine Shops Where You Can Drink Wine in Cleveland
1. Rozi’s Wine House
14900 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
I’ve been visiting this wine shop for a couple of years and absolutely love it. First of all, it has a fantastic shop to purchase wines from around the world. Second, if you prefer beer, this place also has an immense selection and the option to “make your own 6-pack.”
We have spotted many unique wines and great beers from around the world at this place! And they also sell gift baskets and plenty of beer and wine accessories.
The best part is that you can drink while shopping here thanks to their Front Porch Café. Or you could just sit and sip on their front porch area. They have some fantastic wines to try, like a great Pinot Noir from Oregon or even a Riesling from Germany.
2. Heinen’s of Downtown Cleveland
900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
I know what you’re thinking: can’t you pretty much buy wine at any old grocery store? Well, yes. But there is your run-of-the-mill grocery store, and then there is Heinen’s downtown.
Located inside the historic Cleveland Trust Co. building downtown, this place is not only an architectural gem, but also the perfect spot for happy hour wine tasting in Cleveland!
You can either get wine by the glass for a super-reasonable price during happy hour, or you can load up a card and check out dozens of wines on tap to fill your glass up with.
And they have an exhaustive selection of wine. From the rare and expensive to the everyday drinkable wine, you could spend hours here just tasting, shopping, and trying to figure out which wine you’d like to have next. They have wine from around the world and even from Ohio!
If you aren’t sure what kind of wine you like or want to branch out and try some new varieties without spending a lot of money, this is definitely a fantastic spot to go to. Plus, if you get hungry, the first floor has a lot of prepared foods for your dinner.
3. Little Birdie Wine Nest
6060 Broadview Rd, Parma
If you’re looking for a spot that offers a little bit of everything (and I do mean everything, from a wine store to a coffee bar to space for sip-and-paint events and even a yoga studio), then you need to head to Little Birdie Wine Nest in Parma.
The wine store section of the shop has a wide selection of wines to suit all tastes and price points. Their dine-in (or I guess we should say drink-in) menu includes pours of several different wines, along with sangrias and wine slushies.
They also have various flights you can order, from regular wine flights to wine slushie flights to the very popular mimosa flight. To go along with any of these, you can order a charcuterie board, or even a brunch board.
Tips for Wine Drinking
Whew! I know these are all fantastic options for wine bars in Cleveland, but here are some key tips to know about drinking wine:
1. Don’t drink and drive.
I mean this goes without saying I suppose, but be responsible and either have a designated driver or get an Uber or Lyft home.
2. Key Regions/Wines to Note
I’m in the camp that if I plan to drink wine, I love to savor it. I love learning where the wine comes from, its flavor profile, and more. If you are of a similar mindset and nerd out over this stuff, or if you are starting to learn more about wine, here are some well-known wines on many menus and some key regions where the grapes grows best.
- Pinot Noir
- Willamette Valley, Oregon
- Santa Barbara and Sonoma Valley, California
- Burgundy, France
- Northern Italy
- Central Otago, New Zealand
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, California
- Bordeaux, France
- South Australia
- Aconcagua Valley, Chile
- Chardonnay
- Burgundy, France
- Sonoma Valley and Russian River, California
- Mendoza, Argentina
- Southern & Eastern Australia
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Marlborough Sound, New Zealand
- Loire Valley, France
- Tuscany, Italy
- Casablanca and San Antonia Valley, Chile
- Western Cape, South Africa
- Napa Valley, California
- Riesling
- Mosel Valley, Germany
- Alsace, France
- Finger Lakes, New York
- South Australia
- Pinot Grigio
- Northern Italy
- Sonoma, California
- Willamette Valley, Oregon
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but if you choose one of these wines from any of these regions, chances are it’ll be pretty good!
3. Know where to learn more
Want to learn more about wine? I love checking out apps like Vivino for wine ratings and reviews, and my favorite book for learning about wine is Windows on the World Complete Wine Course by Kevin Zraly.
When it comes to wine tasting in Cleveland, there are plenty of amazing places to enjoy a glass. From wines from around the globe to even in Ohio’s own backyard, you’ll enjoy these unique wine bars in Cleveland!
What is your favorite Cleveland wine bar?
Kat is a Cleveland transplant and has lived here for over 5 years. She loves to eat, drink, and explore all across the city, and has made it her personal mission to find the best breweries and pizza in Northeast Ohio. She also runs a couples travel blog and podcast called World Wide Honeymoon.