The Coolest Neighborhoods

NEO's Got 'Em

Everywhere you look cool neighborhoods are popping up in the Cleveland/Akron area. Brand new hotspots like Waterloo or 78th Street Studios and long-gestating communities like Ohio City and Oberlin. Urban crossroads like Highland Square and Little Italy, and pastoral communities like Peninsula and Medina.

We've identified more than 30 cool neighborhoods and sent our correspondents out to bring back just the coolest, locally-owned venues in each hot area. Complete with photos, videos, links and interactive maps. Soon, you'll be able to find all this info 24/7 on our mobile app.

Nowadays, everyone wants to shop LOCAL. Not only will you find something different (and probably of higher quality than what the big box offers), the money you spend will stay invested in the community.

OK, what did we miss? Drop us a line at EventsATCoolCleveland.com.

78th Street Studios The former home of American Greetings’ design department has become one of the hottest encampments in the region. Art lovers from all around are drawn to this sprawling warehouse with it’s vast windows and brilliant light. 78th Street Studios has quickly become the largest art and design complex in Northeast Ohio, featuring over 170,000 square feet of design showcases, art galleries, design studios, and creative spaces, all under one roof.

Head on up to Akron's Historic Arts District, located in the heart of Downtown, at the corner of E. Market Street and Maiden Lane for fine dining, good music & shopping at some of the greatest hot spots in Ohio.

AsiaTown is cultural, gritty and full of authentic Asian restaurants & grocery stores -- #1 Pho, Korea House, Slyman's & the Asian malls, to name a few places. Find everything here -- from hole-in-the-wall restaurants serving up the best dim sum you've ever had to larger mini-malls selling trinkets & unique decor.

There's more than football in Canton. Arts are on the rise in this city, with Lynda Tuttle’s Art Center and 2nd April Galerie & Studios at the center of it all, along with Canton Arts District's First Fridays events. Friendly ppl, good eats and, yes, football make Canton a destination of its own.

Consider Chagrin Falls a fancy small town. Buy designer goods, check out art galleries, gaze at gorgeously restored homes and eat gourmet popcorn -- all while overlooking the scenic falls.

Cleveland Hts -- and especially Coventry -- are long known as Cle's bohemian enclave. What once was a popular home to hippies is now home to hipsters, activists, families, indie rockers & ppl of all stripes. Shop at Big Fun & Record Revolution and eat at the legendary Tommy's or grab an organic frozen yogurt at Piccadilly.

Akron is an indie/industrial wonderland. Cool aside from the fact the city spawned so many influential artists & musicians, Downtown Akron is chock full of new galleries, legendary music venues, indie boutiques & local eateries, making it a true destination.

Is Downtown Cleveland experiencing a revival? Quite possibly. Young professionals are flocking to live here and areas like E. 4th Street & Euclid Ave. are only growing in popularity. Fill up at eateries like Lola, Greenhouse Tavern & Chinato, and shop the 5th Street Arcades & CLE Clothing Co.

The Edge

The Edge is one cosmopolitan community on the edge of Cleveland and Lakewood. THE hotbed of live entertainment, fashion, eclectic food, and more! Experience life on The Edge!

Twenty-six islands dot Lake Erie; some tranquil and remote, others full of partying. South Bass Island, Kelleys Island & Middle Bass Island are ripe for exploration, as are mainland towns like Sandusky and Vermilion. Get your fill of history, wineries and lake views.

Gordon Square is transforming into an entire district built around and for the arts. The newly renovated streetscapes and storefronts create a welcoming vibe that attracts visitors and keeps them coming back for new theatre productions, arts events and entertainment venues. Be sure to check out the newly restored Capitol Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre & the massive 78th Street Studios.

Akron's Highland Square neighborhood is trendy, hip, artsy and growing, making this a popular location for families. Take in a movie, enjoy a great meal, get your shop on at places like Square Records, the Market Path, Revival & more.

Hudson is a historic small town w/ a bourgeois edge. Shop the First & Main District w/ its collection of local and chain shops, check out Hudson's top-notch farmers market and visit the Learned Owl -- an indie bookstore, Hattie's Cafe, and Downtown 140 Wine Bar.

Often described as a suburban neighborhood in the city, Kamm's Corners is home to quirky shops like Carol & John's Comic Book Shop & Starship Earth, as well as bars... lots of Irish bars, and its own year-round Kamm's Corners Farmers Market. And, with West Park's "renaissance" under way, things just keep getting better.

Culture can always be found in a college town and Kent is no exception. No pretentious here; Kent is friendly with plenty of small town nostaglia and a great place to see music -- the Kent Stage. Look out for the infamous black squirrels.

Cuyahoga County's neighbor to the east has a little bit of everything -- bustling suburbs, scenic countryside, charming towns, world-class gardens (Holden Arboretum) & Ohio's best beaches (Mentor Headlines). Visit one of the many wineries & enjoy what this lake county has to offer.

Not a suburb in the traditional sense, Lakewood is 5.6 miles of mom-and-pop shops, pocket parks & community gardens. Bike-friendly & walkable, "Lkwd" features many must-see shops like the organic Root Cafe, delicious Melt, French-inspired Blackbird Bakery & much more.

Walk through the winding streets of Little Italy to the occasional sounds of opera & accordion music and the smells of hot espresso, garlic & basil. Gorge on authentic Italian pizza, pasta & vino at places like La Dolce Vita, Mama Santa' & Presti's Bakery, and check out the neighborhood's many galleries & patios.

Small town charm is alive in Medina. Get to the Square, step in the gazebo and visit bakeries, cafes and a hardware shop that's over 100 years old. So quaint.

"Indie" before indie was cool, Oberlin is best known as home to the historically revolutionary Oberlin College. The small college town is also home to parks, quaint shops & locally-owned restaurants -- The Feve, Ratsy's Store & Allen Art Museum are just a few faves. After all these years, the town is still a hotbed for sustainability & progressive thinking.

Anchored by the historic and beloved West Side Market, Ohio City is alive with hot new restaurants & micro-breweries. Drink at the ABC Tavern, see art at Transformer Station, grab a freshly made latte at Rising Star and spend the day in a neighborhood that's always changing, always growing.

Located in the thick of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Peninsula is a quaint little village steeped in arts & culture, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Small shops and galleries make up downtown. Check out Fisher’s Cafe and Pub, Peninsula Art Academy or hop on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which stops right in town.

What was once at risk of a wrecking ball is now the center of its own district. Cle's PlayhouseSquare district -- comprising a variety of old-fashioned (and nearly destroyed) playhouses -- is thriving. Cleveland Play House offers top-notch theater, while PlayhouseSquare continually brings in Broadway shows. Hungry? Restaurants like Cowell & Hubbard and District allow you to refuel.

A cozy westside suburb, Rocky River still manages to be cool with local spots like Erie Island Coffee Co., Mitchell's Ice Cream, Market Beer & Wild Flour Bakery. And, of course, the views... which can best be appreciated in Rocky River Park.

Easily accessed by the Rapid running through it, Shaker Square (and neighboring Larchmere Blvd.) is an enjoyable destination day and night. Locally-owned shops abound -- Dewey's Coffee, Loganberry Books, PlayMatters Toys and, even, the independent Shaker Square Cinemas. Sit on a patio & take in one of the most eclectic parts of Cle.

Slavic Village is peppered with cultural relics, bike lanes, charming eateries & quirky shops. Biking is big here w/ the Morgana Trail & Cleveland Velodrome, and so is culture -- found at Bohemian National Hall/Sokol Greater Cleveland/Czech Cultural Center & Slovenian National Home (The Nash).

Long home to many of Cle's artists, Tremont is also home to upscale restaurants, old-school ice cream shops, galleries & specialty boutiques. Hot spots include Tremont Scoops, Barrio, Evie Lou & the iconic Christmas Story House.

University Circle and Uptown pack more culture, education and healthcare into one square mile than anywhere in the United States. Colleges and museums -- like the Cleveland Museum of Art, MOCA & Cleveland Museum of Natural History -- add a scholarly buzz to the neighborhood.

Wanna hit the clubs? Find all the popular nightclubs in the Warehouse District. But not just that -- this historic section of downtown Cle also features Constantino's Market, Surroundings Home Decor, Charkha Indian Restaurant & plenty of places to live.

North Collinwood's Waterloo Arts District is on the verge. The working class neighborhood started as a place for the families of Eastern-European immigrants who worked for the railroads and factories. Now it is emerging as a music and arts district, anchored by The Beachland Ballroom and Waterloo Arts.

Welcome to wine country. Amid the rural one-light towns, covered bridges & quirky summer destinations (like the iconic Geneva-On-The-Lake), grapes are growing by the bushel. Visit one of many, many wineries & enjoy the country.

Youngstown is alive and kicking with new energy. Visit the old -- Lanterman's Mill and the two world-class art museums -- or check what's new in the entrepreneurial world at the Youngstown Business Incubator. Y-town is on the rise.