12 Places To Check Out On Larchmere Boulevard
From glass blowing to Brazilian food, this east side hot spot has it all.
2 | Larchmere Fire Works: No, not those kind of fireworks. Two local artisans turned a condemned storefront into a booming studio, gallery and glassware mecca that offers participatory classes on glassblowing, glass fusing and blacksmithing. 12406 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 216-246-4716, larchmerefireworks.com
3 | Felice Urban Cafe: The cafe nestled in a quaint, turn-of-the-century bungalow pumps out elevated, globally infused American cuisine, such as tofu nachos ($7), a braised pork belly sandwich ($14) and St. Louis barbecue ribs ($21), highlighted by ingredients from the restaurant’s adjacent garden. 12502 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 216-791-0918, feliceurbancafe.com
4 | Big Al’s Diner: Hefty portions of classic diner dishes such as corned beef hash ($7.50) and overstuffed omelettes ($7.99 and up) done to perfection and served with a side of friendly, expedient service has made Big Al’s the cushioned-seat, greasy-spoon standard for nearly 30 years. 12600 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 216-791-8550
5 | Batuqui: The spirit of Brazil comes alive in Cleveland with delicioso dishes such as the feijoada ($21), a plateful of black beans simmered with bacon, ham, beef, smoked pork loin, smoked kielbasa and linguica, an imported Brazilian cured sausage. 12706 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 216-801-0227, batuquicleveland.com
6 | Barroco Arepa Bar: Immerse yourself Barroco’s vibrant Latin American atmosphere by indulging in authentic and Americanized arepas — a meat- and vegetable-filled Venezuelan sandwich with white cornmeal dough instead of bread. A bustling live Latin music scene, with live performances every Monday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., will help you dance it off. 12718 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 216-938-9301, barrocoarepabar.com
7 | Academy Tavern: A few years ago, Larchmere locals’ favorite dive bar since 1939 underwent renovations that added a cherry oak bar, additional booth seating and a patio with more than 20 outdoor tables. 12800 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland, 216-229-1171, academytavern.com
8 | Bingham’s Antiques: Give your home a rustic touch with decorative and folk art, vintage furniture, light fixtures and more from this eclectic collection of midcentury modern pieces. 12801 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-721-1711, binghamsantiques.com
9 | Larchmere Oriental Rugs: No space is complete without a stand-out, cozy rug. You can’t go wrong with one of the thousands of handmade, one-of-a-kind floor pieces made with organic vegetable dye from Iran, Turkey, Nepal and more at this rug boutique. 12812 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-795-9802, larchmererugs.com
10 | Two Crows for Joy: This high-end children’s clothing boutique’s dedication to stocking eco-friendly products made by American manufacturers will give your child global perspective while making them look, like, super cute. 13005 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-920-7570, twocrowsforjoy.com
11 | Eclectic Eccentric: Expect the ever-changing and carefully curated shelves of vintage women’s designer clothing, accessories and homeware to give you all the boho-chic vibes. 13005 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-798-3002, facebook.com/eclecticeccentriclarchmere
12 | Loganberry Books: Dig through more than 100,000 new and used books — from first-edition leather bounds to Rust Belt literature — that line the four rooms and annex of this bookworms’ paradise. The Stump the Bookseller service taps a team of bibliophiles to help you sleuth that long-lost book from your childhood — even if you don’t know the title. 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-795-9800, loganberrybooks.com
Quick Picks:
Cleveland Beer: History and Revival in the Rust Belt ($21.99) Loganberry Books: Former Market Garden Brewery manager Leslie Basalla and local writer Peter Chakerian take readers on a bar crawl through the history of Cleveland’s craft beer scene, from post-prohibition to the modern-day brewery boom.
Mexicana Arepa ($14) Barroco Arepa Bar: It takes three days to hand-make these white corn tortillas stuffed with chorizo, vegetables, frijoles, guacamole and cheddar cheese — but the payoff is incredible.
Squirrel Cookies ($1) Poison Berry Bakery: Named after owner Jen Regan’s favorite animal, these chocolate chip-, peanut butter- and pretzel-filled vegan cookies taste like a crunchy Reese’s.
