Top 15+ highly anticipated restaurants, bars opening in Greater Cleveland in 2026

Saravanan “Babu” Chandrababu, owner of Safar, points to the spot on the Cleveland mural where the restaurant is located.

And 2026 shows no signs of slowing down. From high-end cocktail bars to globally-inspired restaurants, Northeast Ohio is on track to gain several exciting new restaurant concepts over the next 12 months.

To celebrate the start of another year, check out 15 highly-anticipated restaurants and bars set to open in Greater Cleveland in 2026. While we can expect way more restaurants and bars to open this year, these 15 give a taste of what’s to come.

Agave Social Kitchen will open in the Cleveland Flats East Bank.

ROSY

ROSY is the second project from chef Vinnie Cimino and restaurateur Andrew Watts, the owners of the James Beard-nominated Cordelia on East 4th. ROSY is bringing an open-fire concept to Cleveland’s Hingetown neighborhood in the former ALEA space. The restaurant will be a celebration of ancestral European cuisine and local terroir, with an evolving communal menu of fire-cooked dishes centered around hyper-seasonal ingredients sourced within a 200-mile radius of Cleveland.

Vinnie Cimino is the chef/owner at Cordelia on East 4th Street in Cleveland.

Nightjar

Cleveland’s eastside suburbs are getting a new place for an evening of craft cocktails and music just in time for Valentine’s Day. Nightjar, a new cocktail bar at Eton Chagrin Boulevard, will open to the public Friday, Feb. 13. The 60-seat venue will occupy a previously unused corridor between Heritage Steak & Whiskey and Lululemon, transforming it into what its founders describe as an intimate, old-world hideaway.

Paper Tiger

Hangry Brands is bringing an American Chinese restaurant dubbed Paper Tiger to Tremont in the former Crust Pizza and Visible Voice Books space. A full-service restaurant, private patio, two bars and a takeout window are planned for the space. The menu will celebrate the nostalgic comfort of American Chinese food — with a twist. Diners can expect “classic Chinese takeout hits” like General Xiao’s chicken (named after business partner Xiao Lin), honey walnut chicken and sesame chicken, alongside creative, chef-driven dishes such as filet and peppers, egg roll queso, guacamame (avocado-edamame) dip, bao tacos and carbonara lo mein.

Safar, Sazani Oceana, Agave Social Kitchen and ROSY are a few new restaurants set to open in 2026.

OLINDA

Gervasi Destinations will open OLINDA next month at The Marketplace at Nobles Pond in Canton, further expanding its regional reach. OLINDA will feature a modern menu of shareable plates, chef-inspired entrées and crafted cocktails in a chic-casual atmosphere with a contemporary design. The name OLINDA honors Gervasi matriarch Linda Swaldo (Scott’s mother) and comes from the Portuguese phrase meaning “Oh, Beautiful.”

Easy Out

Buildings and Food, which recently named chef Jill Vedaa its vice president of culinary operations, will open Easy Out in Lakewood this year. The sports bar in the former Ohio Inn space, 11822 Detroit Ave., will feature plenty of screens, sports memorabilia and an elevated bar menu.

Sazani

Akin Affrica is teaming up with former Browns wide receiver Josh Cribbs to bring a contemporary upscale seafood restaurant to Shaker Square. Sazani Oceana plans to openin February at 13220 Shaker Square, the former home of Edwins Too and Fire Food and Drink. Affrica, who owns Zanzibar Soul Fusion, the Cleveland Breakfast Club, the Vegan Club and Angie’s Soul Café, believes Sazani is filling a huge “void” in the area, where most of the seafood options are fried, takeout-centric restaurants.

Juliet

Juliet in the Warehouse District will soon become restaurateur Lola Jacaj’s fourth restaurant in Greater Cleveland, joining Acqua di Dea, Casa La Luna and Oliva Steakhouse. The French fine dining concept will open at 1313 West 6th St., sometime later this year, joining Acqua di Dea and Oliva on the same block.

Hereafter

Local bartending expert Gabriela Holzer is opening an intimate cocktail bar and restaurant dubbed Hereafter in Ohio City this year. Holzer’s experience at local bars like Porco Lounge, Cloak & Dagger and Thyme Table make it a highly-anticipated spot for craft drinks and beyond. Hereafter will be at 4732 Lorain Ave.

Urban Meyer Pint House

Two years after the initial announcement, the former Winking Lizard location in the Gateway District will become the second location, and first in Northeast Ohio, of Urban Meyer’s Pint House. Saucy Brew Works acquired the original Urban Meyer’s Pint House in Dublin and will open the new location this summer.

Kate’s Fish restaurant concept

Kate’s Fish plans to open a yet-to-be-named approachable seafood restaurant in Tremont this year. Owner Tom McIntyre hopes to open the restaurant later this year that will specialize in dishes like fried clams, lobster rolls, bouillabaisse and more. The restaurant will take over the former Polish Legion of American Veterans Roosevelt Post 58 space at 2442 Professor Avenue.

Agave Social Kitchen

Despite recent closures in the Flats East Bank district, Agave Social Kitchen plans to bring some lifeback into the former home of Beerhead. Agave is a tequila-forward bar and late-night dining concept owned by the Tres Potrillos Group.

Millie’s Cocktail Bar

Millie’s Cocktails is going from a pop-up concept to a full-fledged cocktail bar in the Waterloo Arts District. Aside from inventive cocktails, Millie’s new space will also feature a kitchen.

EVOO

Cleveland Restaurant Group will be opening an upscale Greek-Mediterranean restaurant in Legacy Village, in the former California Pizza Kitchen space. EVOO will feature Greek-inspired dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Diners can expect freshly baked sourdough pita, marinated meat and roasted fish, all prepared with a blend of traditional and innovative techniques.

Safar

The 80-year-old Tick Tock Tavern – on the edge of Cleveland and Lakewood – is being reborn as Safar, an upscale, modern Indian fusion restaurant. Safar, 11526 Clifton Blvd., brings a new concept, interesting menu and fresh energy to the space, with dishes like short rib Madras curry, prawns with chili and garlic and cauliflower bezula on the menu.

The Witch Doctor

The Witch Doctor, an apothecary-style bar, is scheduled to open its doors in Old Brooklyn sometime in 2026. Bartenders will mix up craft cocktails influenced by botanical cures in the former Sticks and Stones Social Lounge at 3314 Broadview Road. They are not offering medicinal beverages but working with historical spirit combinations.

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit cleveland.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.