Best Historic Hotels to Stay in Cleveland
Cleveland's historic stays are spread across the city rather than gathered in one preserved quarter, so the choice is as much about neighborhood as about the building. On Public Square, Hotel Cleveland Autograph Collection occupies a 1918 building connected to Tower City Center, and The Ritz-Carlton sits within the Terminal Tower complex. Near the ballpark, Kimpton Schofield Hotel works an older East Ninth Street building into a boutique stay. In University Circle, The Glidden House fills a gothic-inspired 1900s building on the Case Western Reserve University campus, and Stone Gables Inn brings a quieter historic option to Franklin Boulevard in Ohio City. I compare them by era, setting and what is within walking distance.
Cleveland is a lakefront city of railroad-era landmarks, university-district museums and older residential neighborhoods, and its historic hotels reflect all three.
Three Cleveland districts, three historic stays
Cleveland keeps its history in layers: the railroad-era money behind Public Square and Terminal Tower, the campus architecture of University Circle, and the older residential streets of Ohio City. A stay here lets you pick which layer to sleep in. I only list buildings that are described as historic in their own listings, and I say what each one is close to, so you can match the period to the part of the city you want to see.
Public Square is where the downtown story starts. Hotel Cleveland Autograph Collection occupies a historic 1918 building here and connects directly to Tower City Center, so its shops, restaurants and cinema are reachable without going outside. The hotel has a grand ballroom and an on-site restaurant, Mowrey's, and offers valet parking. The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland sits within the Terminal Tower complex on West Third Street, with TURN Bar + Kitchen on the ground floor. I would start here if you want the early twentieth-century downtown at your door and a hotel that works for a short city break.
Near the ballpark, Kimpton Schofield Hotel by IHG takes a different approach. It occupies a historic building on East Ninth Street and has been reworked with a 20th-century theme, which gives the lobby and rooms more personality than a standard chain hotel. Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse are both within 500 metres, so a game or a concert is a short walk back to the room. Pets are allowed with bowls provided, valet parking is available, and the rooms include yoga mats. I would choose it for a boutique stay in the middle of downtown.
Away from the downtown towers, two smaller historic options suit a calmer trip. The Glidden House, a gothic-inspired 1900s building on the Case Western Reserve University campus in University Circle, includes breakfast and free WiFi, and the Cleveland Museum of Art is a short walk away. It has a very high guest rating of 9.2 across several hundred reviews. Stone Gables Inn occupies a historic building on Franklin Boulevard in Ohio City, with free private parking, a garden and a sun terrace. I recommend it to anyone who wants a residential feel rather than a landmark hotel.
Guest ratings help separate the five. The Glidden House scores 9.2 from 585 reviews and Stone Gables Inn 9.1 from about 150, which suggests the smaller, quieter buildings please guests most. Kimpton Schofield Hotel stands at 8.5, Hotel Cleveland Autograph Collection at 8.3, and The Ritz-Carlton at 7 from only 20 reviews, so treat that last figure with caution. I would not let a single score decide: a guest who wants Tower City Center and the Public Square skyline may reasonably prefer the lower-rated landmark over a stay in University Circle or Ohio City.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I were choosing for a first historic weekend in Cleveland, I would book The Glidden House for its University Circle setting, with the Cleveland Museum of Art a short walk away and breakfast included. If the priority is the Public Square skyline and Tower City Center, I would pick Hotel Cleveland Autograph Collection instead. Either way, my advice is to choose by district first, then by building, because the three areas feel very different after dark and are not walkable between each other.
The Glidden House
Cleveland
585 reviews
A gothic 1900s inn on the university campus
Check availabilityWhy guests love itThe Glidden House occupies a gothic 1900s building on the Case Western Reserve University campus, which makes it a natural base for families visiting a student or touring the university. The Cleveland Museum of Art is a short walk away, an easy outing with children. Complimentary breakfast keeps mornings simple, and rooms come with a 42-inch flat-screen TV, a coffee machine and free WiFi for quieter evenings.
Stone Gables Inn
Cleveland
150 reviews
A historic Ohio City inn with free parking and a garden
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFree private parking is a real advantage at Stone Gables Inn, since many downtown Cleveland hotels charge for valet. The historic building on Franklin Boulevard in Ohio City has a garden and a sun terrace where children can get some air, and rooms come with air conditioning and streaming for quiet evenings. Check-in and check-out are private, so arrival is calm. I would pick it for families who prefer a residential street to a big lobby.
Kimpton Schofield Hotel by IHG
Cleveland
200 reviews
A historic boutique stay steps from the ballpark
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFamilies heading to a Guardians game or a Cavaliers night can simply walk: Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse are both within 500 metres of the Kimpton Schofield. The historic building on East Ninth Street has a 20th-century theme that older kids may enjoy, and the family dog is welcome, with bowls provided. Parking is valet only, so I would plan for that if you drive in. Yoga mats in the rooms are a nice extra.
Hotel Cleveland Autograph Collection
Cleveland
106 reviews
A historic 1918 landmark connected to Tower City Center
Check availabilityWhy guests love itHotel Cleveland Autograph Collection occupies a historic 1918 building on Public Square with an indoor connection to Tower City Center, so a rainy or snowy day with children still means shops, restaurants and a cinema without stepping outside. Mowrey's, the restaurant on site, keeps dinner close. Rooms have an oversized chair, a desk and a 42-inch TV, practical rather than plush, and valet parking handles the car.
The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland
Cleveland
20 reviews
Marble bathrooms and downtown views inside Terminal Tower
Check availabilityWhy guests love itI would book The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland for a family that wants a central address on Public Square. It sits on West Third Street within the Terminal Tower complex, with views of downtown Cleveland. Rooms have marble bathrooms and plush bedding, TURN Bar + Kitchen is on the ground floor, parking is on site and pets are allowed. Guests rate it 7.0 across 20 reviews, so the score is modest for the brand.
Local tips
- 1Choose the district before the hotel: Public Square, East Ninth Street, University Circle and Ohio City each give a different kind of historic stay.
- 2Book Hotel Cleveland Autograph Collection if you want to stay connected to Tower City Center and not step outside on a cold or wet day.
- 3Pick Kimpton Schofield Hotel when a game or event at Progressive Field or Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is the reason for your trip.
- 4Ask about parking before you arrive, since several of these hotels offer valet parking and Stone Gables Inn lists free private parking.
- 5Remember that a historic building often means room layouts vary, so tell the hotel if bed type or room size matters to you.
- 6Plan transport between districts rather than assuming you can walk from University Circle or Ohio City to Public Square.