Cleveland visitors during March Madness: Where to eat and visit

If you happen to be in Cleveland during the 2025 NCAA tournament here is everything you need to know

March Madness is coming to Cleveland as the newly-renamed Rocket Arena, home to the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, will host first- and second-round games of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. If you’re a fan visiting Downtown Cleveland, here are some suggestions of places to eat and visit.

Best Place to Eat Before the Game

Johnny’s Little Bar is tucked away down Frankfort Avenue off of West 6th Street in the Warehouse District. They feature a dive bar atmosphere with affordable prices on appetizers, salads, burgers and other sandwiches. Try their World Famous “Little Bar” Burger with a basket of fries, mixed with your favorite drink, and you won’t be disappointed.

For pizza lovers into a fun 1980s atmosphere, visit Geraci’s Slice Shop at the 5th Street Arcades on Prospect Avenue, with Rocket Arena in plain sight. They serve large slices with a variety of toppings, and the wood paneling, vintage arcade machines, and music all complement the retro vibes. After you’ve ordered, instead of getting a ticket number, you’ll get a photo card of a 1980s pop culture reference — like the Doc Brown from Back to the Future.

Best Place to Celebrate a Victory

There are no shortage of places to eat at on East 4th Street or in the Flats East Bank, where you’ll find crowds of people lining the area. For an experience in itself, though, head on down to Thirsty Parrot, where hundreds of other fans will join you inside and out on the patio deck. Thirsty Parrot is open whenever there is a sporting event, including on March 21st and March 23rd for the NCAA tournament games, and is located just down the road from Rocket Arena and Progressive Field.

Wayne Pearsall, a Cleveland native who frequents Thirsty Parrot regularly after baseball games in the summer, says that the establishment “is physically close to Rocket Arena, and they are staffed well to serve people quickly.”

Grab a half pound burger, fried cod sandwich, grilled chicken club or chicken finger basket with a side of fries. Or, take your stab at coconut shrimp, loaded nachos or fried mozzarella.

Best Place to Bounce Back After a Loss

If your team suffered a loss (or even if they didn’t!), you might feel in the mood for some tasty local desserts. Burn off some steam with the walk to Playhouse Square, where you can see the world’s largest outdoor chandelier before you venture on in to Corbo’s Bakery.

Although their main location is in the Little Italy neighborhood on the East Side of Cleveland, the Downtown location still has enough for you to enjoy: a selection of donuts, cookies, pastries, and other Italian treats, to go along with a selection of breakfast sandwiches, pizza, or pasta.

Best Place to Visit Outside the Arena

When you have some time in between the games to sight-see, head toward the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is the top tourist attraction in Cleveland and something you can enjoy for hours. After that, walk along the water to get to George Voinovich Park and relax for a bit as you look out on Lake Erie and some beautiful views of the city, including a photo in front of one of the Cleveland script signs.

Other unique attractions in Downtown Cleveland and close nearby include:

• The architecture in the Old Arcade.
• The rotunda of Heinen’s Grocery Store (formerly the Cleveland Trust Company).
• In Ohio City and see the famous West Side Market, with local meat and food vendors.
• Catch the Healthline bus further East to see all of Cleveland’s museums near University Circle.
• Edgewater Park is also a surprise to many visitors who don’t realize that Cleveland has a beach, but the weather in March typically means it won’t be the best time of year to visit it.
• Last, but not least, if you’re a fan of A Christmas Story movie (the one with the leg lamp), then you’ll love that the actual house is still up and does full tours along with a museum in the Tremont neighborhood.