People Drive From All Over Cleveland To Relax At This Tiny But Legendary Tremont Bar
By Nikki Rhoades|Published November 08, 2022
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
There’s something so warm and welcoming about decades-old family businesses. Here in Cleveland, there are quite a few notable old-school businesses — Guarino’s may be the oldest eatery in Cleveland (having opened in 1918), but we’re going to take a look at another long-standing watering hole in the area. Hotz Cafe has been around since circa 1919, and it’s truly unforgettable. As one of the oldest bars in Cleveland, it has a vibe that just can’t be beat. Check it out:
At first glance, Hotz Cafe feels like an old-school Cleveland bar. And it is. Having opened in 1919, it's full of history.
This Tremont tavern was designed to feel like a home away from home. Warm and dim, it's easy to envision blue-collar patrons puffing cigars and playing cards here just a century ago.
Almost as soon as Hotz Cafe began, so did Prohibition. Obviously, everything worked out!
While Prohibition spelled the end for many local watering holes, Hotz Cafe continued to operate as a speakeasy. Over time, its hospitality became famous, attracting the likes of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and even Cleveland's own infamous safety director Eliot Ness.
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More than a century after its founding, Hotz Cafe continues to offer libations in a warm, neighborhood-focused environment.
While closed on Sundays and Mondays, you can swing by Hotz Cafe any other day of the week beginning at 4 p.m. Just as during Prohibition and the Great Depression, you'll find low-priced drinks and a welcoming environment where you can kick back for a while.
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And, if you know where to look, you'll see remnants of the tavern's history scatted throughout the venue.
Just think... when this table was unveiled, Gone with the Wind was newly published. Clevelander Jesse Owens won the 100-meter dash in Berlin and achieved national fame. The Hoover Dam had just been built. Strides were being made across the country, and many Clevelanders discussed unfolding history over a game of shuffleboard on this table.
Nearly a century later, playing games here is still a coveted pastime.
Once upon a time, Cleveland politicians cozied up in this milieu to have private conversations over drinks. Eliot Ness may have sat here pondering how to catch the Cleveland Torso Killer, a feat he would regrettably never accomplish. Today, you can sit where history was once made.
And, of course, there's no shortage of beverages to keep you refreshed.
You'll be saying "cheers!" all night long. And that's an appropriate addition to this atmosphere, as it feels like this is one bar where everyone knows your name.
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Hotz Cafe is one of the most welcoming neighborhood bars in Cleveland.
When you’re getting to know the oldest bars in Cleveland, you’ll find that a local neighborhood vibe is central to each business’ personality. Hotz Cafe is no different… even if you’ve never visited, you might find that it feels like a home away from home. So sit back, relax, and treat yourself to a nice drink at Hotz Cafe.
Want to check out another historic bar in Cleveland? Visit Harbor Inn in the Flats for history dating back to 1895.
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