Fun Things to Do in Cleveland for an Active Night Out

ByKevin Payne

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As much as I enjoy traveling, there are few things I like more than exploring my home city. Cleveland has so many options for an active night out for adults, whether that’s downtown, one of the city’s distinct neighborhoods, or the nearby suburbs. Some of the activities below will put your brain to the test, while others are more physical. Some offer environments better suited for conversation. Others get loud and competitive fast.

I’ve been to many of these places below on date nights with my wife, with family, and with friends. There are still several I want to check out or revisit. Use this list to plan your next active night out in Cleveland.

Games, Arcades, and Social Play

Birdietown Mini Golf + Lounge

In Lakewood’s Birdtown neighborhood, Birdietown pairs two 9-hole mini golf courses on separate levels with two bars and a full dining menu from Executive Chef Rachelle Murphy. The upstairs Club Course has an open, airy feel; the lower Lounge Course is darker and more relaxed. Golf is $13 per person per round, and golf and dining reservations are booked separately through their website. It is 21+ after 7 pm, and any reservations, including those with guests under 21, must be made before 6 pm. Weekend tee times fill up, so book ahead. Closed Mondays.

Pins Mechanical Co. + 16-Bit Bar + Arcade

Pins Mechanical and 16-Bit share one combined two-story space in Ohio City, with duckpin bowling, 40-plus pinball machines, and classic arcade games spread across both floors. No reservations required. The arcade games are free to play, and quarters go to Ronald McDonald House Charities. It is 21+ after 8 pm Monday through Saturday, with no age curfew on Sundays.

Superelectric Pinball Parlor

Superelectric packs machines from multiple decades, all in working order, into a pinball bar in the Gordon Square Arts District. Entry is $8 for unlimited play. If pinball is the reason you’re going out, this is the right spot. Closed Tuesdays.

Hi and Dry

Hi and Dry is a neighborhood bar in Tremont with duckpin bowling, pinball, arcade games, a full bar, and food. It’s smaller and quieter than most on this list, which makes it a better fit for nights when conversation is part of the plan.

Competitive Games and Challenges

Activate Games

Activate in Strongsville is a series of timed game rooms, each built around a different challenge, whether that’s reflexes, coordination, or problem-solving. Groups work through rooms together. Reservations required. It’s located near SouthPark Mall.

Perplexity Games

Perplexity Games is an escape room venue in Ohio City with five multi-room challenges, every 60 minutes on a ticking clock. All games are private at no extra charge, unlike at most escape room venues. Groups of two can book Tuesday through Thursday; a three-person minimum applies on busier days. Reservations are required, and the booking system closes several hours before each game time.

Lumber Legends

Lumber Legends in Valley View offers axe throwing across multiple lane configurations, with instructors on hand for groups of any size. Reservations are recommended.

Active and High-Energy Activities

Cleveland Pickleball Center

Cleveland Pickleball Center has ten indoor courts, a pro shop, a bar and lounge, and open play sessions throughout the week. Courts can be reserved in advance, or you can drop in for open play. Running year-round matters in Northeast Ohio, where outdoor courts sit empty for months.

Boss Pro-Karting

Boss Pro-Karting near Cleveland Hopkins Airport has electric go-karts on an indoor track with live lap timing. Each session lasts about 7 minutes, with 15 to 20 laps. The facility also has axe-throwing and a free-roam VR arena in the same building. An annual racing license ($6) is required and can be purchased on arrival.

Ray’s Indoor Bike Park

Ray’s is a converted warehouse with ramps, flow lines, and sections built for different skill levels. Riders bring their own bikes. It’s one of the few dedicated indoor riding facilities in the region. It’s also a great option if you’re looking for things to do in Cleveland with your kids. The park runs seasonally from October through April, so check the schedule before you plan around it.

Cleveland Rocks Climbing

Cleveland Rocks is an indoor climbing gym inside the Ohio City Masonic Temple with bouldering, top-rope, and lead climbing routes across a range of difficulty levels. Gear is available for rent on-site. First-time visitors can expect staff to walk them through the equipment and safety basics before they get on the wall.

The Foundry

The Foundry is Cleveland’s community rowing and sailing center on the Cuyahoga River in the Flats. It runs adult Rowing for Fitness classes several days a week, open to all experience levels. Programs follow a seasonal schedule, so check before you plan around it.

Topgolf

Topgolf in Independence is a driving range format where players hit into targets at varying distances, with automated scoring. You do not need to know how to golf, and up to six people can share a bay. I especially like going with experienced golfers, even though I’m terrible myself. I have fun no matter how I do, and every once in a while, I surprise them with a long, near-perfect drive while they’re overanalyzing every swing. Nothing frustrates a serious golfer more than watching someone who barely plays out-drive them. Reservations are strongly recommended on weekends.

Person playing WhirlyBall on court

WhirlyBall

WhirlyBall in Bedford Heights is a sport played in bumper cars. Two teams of five use lacrosse-style scoops to pass and shoot a wiffle ball at a target on an enclosed court. The facility has been open in Cleveland since 1987 and also has bowling, laser tag, and a bar on site. It is reservation-only with a minimum of eight players. Waivers must be signed before play and can be completed online in advance. I’ve only played WhirlyBall a few times, but have become a real scoring threat and daft driver on the court. 

Bowling and Social Fun

The Corner Alley

The Corner Alley is on East 4th Street in downtown Cleveland with 16 bowling lanes, a full restaurant, arcade games, shuffleboard, air hockey, foosball, and a bar. It sits in the middle of the city’s main entertainment corridor, which makes it easy to extend the night with dinner or drinks at a nearby spot before or after. You never know who you’ll see at The Corner Alley. We ran into a group of 20+ guys visiting Cleveland from Indiana, all dressed as Ricky Vaughn from Major League. It was one of my favorite “Cleveland” experiences. 

Mahall’s

Mahall’s is a Lakewood institution with bowling lanes, a full bar and restaurant, and a separate basement bar called Pins and Needles, a 70s time capsule with classic cocktails and its own ten original lanes. It also hosts concerts and comedy nights, so what you get depends entirely on when you go. Check the calendar before you make plans around it. Closed Mondays unless there is a show.

Large Entertainment Complexes

Main Event

Main Event in Avon has bowling, laser tag, a gravity ropes course, an arcade with over 100 games, and a full-service restaurant and bar under one roof. It works well for groups that cannot agree on a single activity or for groups that span a wide age range. Weekends get busy, so book your bowling lane ahead of time.

Person playing giant Pac-Man arcade game

Scene75

Scene75 in Brunswick is one of the largest indoor entertainment centers in the region, with go-karts, arcade games, mini golf, and more across a large floor. You will not get through everything in one visit. It’s definitely a sensory overload with all of the lights and sounds, but it’s so much fun. We love spending our time at Scene75 trying to outscore each other at Skee-Ball and playing the giant Pac-Man arcade game. 

Before You Go: A Few Things Worth Knowing

  • Build your night around one area. Several of these spots cluster naturally. Lakewood alone can anchor a full evening: Birdietown, 16-Bit, Hi and Dry, and Mahall’s are all within a few minutes of each other. The same logic applies in the suburbs if you lean toward Scene75 or Main Event. Picking a cluster saves driving and keeps the night moving.
  • Check age policies before you go. Birdietown turns 21+ after 7 pm. Pins Mechanical and 16-Bit, now sharing one combined space, are 21+ after 8 pm Monday through Saturday, with no curfew on Sundays. If you’re bringing a mixed-age group, check each venue’s policy and time your arrival accordingly.
  • Complete waivers online before you arrive. Boss Pro-Karting, Lumber Legends, Cleveland Rocks Climbing, WhirlyBall, and Activate all require waivers. If you’re going with a group, send the link around in advance so nobody has to fill out paperwork while everyone else waits.
  • Reserve time slots early for weekend visits. Birdietown, Topgolf, Boss Pro-Karting, and WhirlyBall all run on timed sessions and book up. Weeknights are generally more open, but Friday and Saturday slots at popular venues can fill by midweek.
  • Know what’s seasonal. Most of these run year-round, which is the whole point in Northeast Ohio. Ray’s Indoor Bike Park runs from October through April. The Foundry’s rowing and paddling programs follow a warmer-months schedule. Check both before you plan around them.

I love how Cleveland continues to grow and offer more ways to enjoy this beautiful city. Cleveland has no shortage of ways to spend an active night out. 

Follow along on Instagram or TikTok to keep up with my latest Cleveland adventures and other travel fun.

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Kevin Payne is a travel and personal finance writer whose work has appeared in Bankrate, Credible, and Matador Network. He is the creator of Hey Kevin Payne, where he shares practical tips and tools to help people travel better. Kevin is the founder of the award-winning website Family Money Adventure and host of the Family Money Adventure Show podcast.