The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Cleveland, Ohio

You’ll have plenty of time to settle into your palatial, silver-grey-and-blue digs at the Ritz-Carlton after the concierge whisks away your luggage – so why not stop first for a black old fashioned in Turn Bar + Kitchen, where leather barrel chairs swaddle you as you sip your smoky cocktail in front of the gas fire pit? You’re only a few blocks from the waterfront if you’re keen on a jaunt to Wendy Park – but if you book the Junior Presidential Suite, you’ll enjoy quiet views of the lake and the city from your cushy roost. End the day with a dip in the soaking tub of your Italian marble bathroom. Bliss.

Metropolitan at the 9 sets the vibe for a swanky stay with rooms containing cherry-red wingback chairs, zebra-print pillows, dark wood cabinetry and gold-topped tables. A spicy bourbon sidecar paired with poutine or Korean barbecue pork belly sliders is a must at Vault – a cocktail lounge housed in the century-old bank vault beneath the Cleveland Trust Rotunda. Polish off an espresso martini before ambling down the street to the Milan-inspired Cleveland Arcade: one of the first indoor shopping centers in America.

There are a variety of five-star hotels in Cleveland, but nothing quite like Glidden House, a boutique 1910 property listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The converted mansion was crafted in French gothic style – evident in its brick finishing and gabled roofing. Take the self-guided art tour to learn about Glidden’s storied past, then grab a signature drink in the lounge and embed yourself in the royal blue velvet sofa. We recommend the iconic Last Word drink – which has its roots in prohibition – before a stroll to Cleveland Botanical Garden, just across the street.

If you’re after AAA Four Diamond ratings, high-end amenities and all-round convenience, InterContinental Cleveland ticks your boxes. Enjoy tandoor-roasted lamb lollipops and sip a local Great Lakes brew at on-site Table 45 before hitting nearby Cleveland Museum of Art. If you get lonely in your spacious room, book the Chef’s Table experience for a party of up to four and choose a customizable five-course tasting menu.

Let’s set the scene: it’s 1902 and Cleveland’s craft coffee and farm-to-table culture is on the rise. Local artisans sell their wares outside a brick high-rise. Flash-forward to the present: you’re inside that building, savoring a Teetotaling Tiki mocktail and polenta-quinoa fries at Betts scratch kitchen while absorbing the city’s past through the craftsman, contemporary and Scandinavian blend of interior design. You retire to your Soldiers & Sailors presidential suite – but not before bringing your artistic dreams alive with a complimentary guitar rental through the on-site loaner program. Welcome to the Kimpton.

If the sirens of Lake Erie are calling you, Hilton Cleveland Downtown is just close enough to the shoreline that you can heed their song – or lock yourself in your Lakeview Corner Room, unseen until you emerge to take in panoramic aquatic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows at Bar 32. Here, a new siren song beckons from lobster rolls, crab cake sliders and oysters on the half shell – along with classic cocktails including the moscow mule. If exercise is your achilles’ heel, book the King Cardio room – equipped with an elliptical machine.