Harbor Inn is a dive bar. To some people, that's an insult, but I love dives. Especially the ones with character. And you are bound to get some character when you are the oldest bar in Cleveland.
The beer selection is GREAT for such a old, dive-y place. I'd guess over 30-35 craft beers in bottle. And cheap! The most expensive beer is around the $4 range. I go for Happy Hour after work a lot (thurs-fri afternoons) and Miller Lites are $2 and a large selection of shots are $3.
They will let you bring food in since they do not serve food after lunch. They are also great at accommodating for large parties. If you call and let them know you are coming, they will make arrangements. They also have an upstairs party room for the larger groups.
For entertainment, they have 2 dart boards, bar bowling and a TouchTunes machine. The basics, but staples in a good dive bar. If you are downtown and are looking to grab a drink in a laid back atmosphere and want to see a little living Cleveland history, then jump on into the Harbor Inn.
A great place for a good drink.
The Harbor Inn, not only has a great upstairs room to rent out for large groups, but the downstairs -the true heart of the Harbor Inn - is where the magic happens.
Imagine yourself stepping into one of the oldest bars in Cleveland and hearing a mix of classic Polka tunes and "I'm on a Boat". Â Yep, there you go! Â
I also suggest doing the "dusty bottle tour". Â They have lots to choose from, many of which will burn going down and you can absolutely get your $3 worth.
Harbor Inn has been around forever and is a must stop place in Cleveland. Â I have spent many a drunk hour in this place over the years. Â And you should really be drinking heavily to be able to ignore the layer of dirt over everything...after a few drinks it just becomes part of the ambiance!!! Â You never know who you might run into here...retirees, blue collar workers getting off of a shift, teachers, nuns, local celebrities....
Review Source:I know people in Cleveland love this bar but everytime I go in here I feel "god this place is boring"! Â I would love to support an old school, local bar but this place makes ya feel like an outsider if your not a regular for sure. Â On a recent trip I walked in solo for happy hr. Â I was in there 5 seconds before I heard the haggard bartender say...and I quote.."ya should slapped that bitch in the mouth" to a dude sitting at the bar. Â Now dont get me wrong, I like a rowdy bar..but it just came off as white trash and depressing.. Â Guess her 90s, denim mom jeans shoulda gave it away! Â I have had fun in the Harbor but its when were already half in the bag and we bring our own party there. Â Shooting darts a few years ago with Ryan Dunn was pretty fun too (r.i.p.). Â On an average day though this bar just seems cold and boring.
Review Source:I went here with a group of girls and really wasn't expecting much considering it was just a chill bar but was I wrong. They had darts, random bowling game, upstairs - maybe a secret patio area, and plenty of alcohol for cheap. If you love Pinnacle Whip, they have every flavor here so great stuff to make tasty shots. It was a weekday so I didn't go crazy so I just had their Guinness. It tasted flat to me so the bartender was nice enough to switch it to something else.
I'd come again if I'm in the area. It's down in the flats so not sure if I would come here during the night time....
A mainstay of my college years in the mid-70's and a must when I'm in town. Â The Harbor Inn has always epitomized much of what makes Cleveland one of America's most underrated major cities. Â Patrons are welcome here whether they come here daily or are first-timers . . . there are 300+ different beers on tap or in bottle, and you won't be gouged on their prices . . . more a pub than a dive bar, down to the darts games. Â It would be hard not to be comfortable here.
Review Source:Great neigborhood bar on the West Bank of the flats. Run by the same family for over 40 years, the oldest bar in Cleveland. Â The staff is very friendly, attentive, and fun. Many regulars and youre guaranteed to make friends with these laid back friendly folk who just love to have a good time. Old school bowling game, pinball, darts, a fantastic jukebox which often plays "Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy (when im there anyway). Â Name your favorite or most obscure beer, they have it. Â U like Schlivovica? Â If u know it, u know what im.talkin about. They have it. Â Great place to start before any event elsewhere, or to end the night after an event. But i tend to arrive there early and end up staying til close. Â If ur a Clevelander and havent experienced this, u need to. Â Highly recommended.
Review Source:Easily one of my top five favorite bars in Cleveland. Â The Harbor Inn is a great spot to meet up with groups of friends, as there is plenty of space around the bar and tables that can be rearranged as needed. (they also have a rather big space on the 2nd floor, but I think it's usually open for private parties or for busy holidays). Â The bar is one of the oldest in Cleveland and it has a lot of character and charm because of it. Â They have an extensive beer selection and they carry every beer that you can see on display on the wall behind the bar. Â
Added bonuses: arcade style bowling machine, photo booth and dart boards. They have cool Harbor swag (tshirts, etc) on sale -- always a nice gift for friends and family. Â The staff is fantastic and always welcoming to regulars in a "Cheers" everybody knows your name style. Huge parties go down on holidays and for various fundraisers. The Halloween party is an outrageous costume party and it's something you have to see to believe. They also have fundraisers; the .5 k race and costume contest around the parking lot behind the bar was a big success and they were able to raise a good amount of money for charity. Â That was yet again, another must see event. Â If you like drunk and sober people dressed like idiots and freaks, then be sure to attend at least one of their many zany parties.
Overall, awesome joint to grab some drinks with friends or to witness some wild and memorable parties!
A very cool old-school bar run by the same family for over 40 years.
"Wally", the owner is friendly and makes you certainly feel at home. He can be usually found at the end of the bar cracking jokes and telling stories.
I was in Cleveland working a trade show nearby and it was pretty apparent that I was from out of town; no matter... I was treated as if I had been coming here for years and was a huge tipper. I appreciate that sort of welcome after I had been working my tail off all day and NEEDED a cold beer.
The Harbor Inn boasts a huge bottled beer selection- if it's beer imported into this country- they probably have it. Wally says they have no less than 300 different types of bottled beer in their coolers. The really good news is that It won't cost you an arm and a leg to try a beer that you aren't familiar with, so why not?
I know that this is not the main reason for going to a bar, and please forgive me if I offend the ladies, but the bartenders at the Harbor inn are not only kind, sweet and efficient.... but knock out beautiful in a way that isn't easy to describe.
(Begin rant) I wish that I could bottle the Harbor Inn's positive customer-focused attitude in an aerosol spray and apply it liberally to some of the folks working in bars in the Chicago suburbs. (End rant)
Let's say that the "good vibes" atmosphere at the Harbor Inn is a nice bonus over and above all of the other good things that they have to offer.
Check them out when you are in the flats- you won't be disappointed.
A truly classic Cleveland dive bar, through and through. Weathered and tested over the years and still known by many in "The Land" as the oldest bar in these parts. No muss. No fuss. No pretentious BS. Just great beer, people and vibe.
Basically the coolest bar in the Flats, in my opinion. You always know it's open and will be a great time, no matter when you go. The beer selection is out-of-control huge and amaze-balls. And old school bar games...yup, they've got 'em! Plus the patrons are usually all just down-to-earth Clevelanders looking to chill out and have a good time. Harbor Inn is the perfect neighborhood bar.
Now, I realize it can get a little sketchy over in that area of the Flats. But, if you can quickly park and get inside the bar without drawing too much attention to yourself, you'll be fine. Totally kidding. It's not that bad over there. Kind of.
Seriously, this bar is one that only a true Clevelander can appreciate. It's got the history, the vibe, the thorough beer list and the low price tag. Â And if you visit us and understand it's awesome-ness, then maybe we'll let you into the cool-kid's club. Maybe.
This is the only bar I like in the Flats. It is a classic Cleveland bar with a historic feel. If any of your friends drag you down to the Flats to go to Shooters or Christie's, sneak away and go to the Harbor Inn by yourself. It will be well worth your time. And with the extra money you save by not going to the above mentioned businesses, you could easily afford a cab to W. 117th and go to the Lido Lounge or to W. 25th and go to Monroe's.
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