Cleveland Neighborhoods
Clevelanders divide the city into “East Side” and “West Side,” with the Cuyahoga River being the dividing landmark. Because UH is on the east side of town, it’s most common for residents to live in the suburbs closer to the hospital on the east side, downtown Cleveland, or in the historic urban districts just west of the river. Certainly we have residents who live farther away for various reasons. If you’re contemplating living in an area that we don’t include here, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we can help put you in touch with the right people to answer any questions you might have.
Neighborhoods Surrounding the Hospital
University Circle
universitycircle.org
Location: within walking distance of University Hospitals
- Mostly apartments for rent, but there are an increasing number of condos for sale
- Right down the street from the hospital, so a very quick walk
- Uptown is being built up but already includes a lot of popular restaurant options
- Proximity to Case Western Reserve University campus – residents have a CWRU student ID, so they can use the track, gym, pool, etc.
- Close to many local museums
- Easy access to RTA red line (rapid transit train), which goes out to the airport
Little Italy
clevelandlittleitaly.com
Location: within walking distance of University Hospitals
- Mostly older apartments or houses for rent
- Right down the street from the hospital, so a very quick walk - the extra sleep definitely adds up!
- Many great Italian restaurants and bakeries
- Busy, colorful neighborhood with Italian festivals and music
- Very popular with undergraduate students
Near Eastern Suburbs
Cleveland Heights
clevelandheights.com
Location: one to three miles from University Hospitals (five to 10 minute drive at the outskirts; some areas within walking distance)
- Probably home to the greatest number of residents
- Many apartment and house rental options, as well as condos and affordable single-family homes for sale
- Close to the hospital - depending on where you live, ranges from a 5-10 minute drive (e.g. Cedar/Lee area) to walking distance (e.g. Coventry and Cedar/Fairmount area)
- Central location - easy commute to downtown and outlying suburbs
- Great restaurants, especially in Coventry, Cedar/Fairmount, and Cedar/Lee areas
- Diverse neighborhoods
- Family friendly: fantastic community recreation center, sledding hill, and open-air theaters at Cain Park
- Many areas are within walking distance to grocery stores and other conveniences
Cleveland Heights Neighborhoods of Interest:
Overlook Road
Overlook and the intersecting streets are lined with apartment buildings, townhouses, and homes for rent. As the first main thoroughfare outside of Little Italy, within easy walking distance of University Hospitals, it is a neighborhood filled with professional students and residents, and is particularly popular with interns who are new to the area. Many of the older stone apartment buildings have beautiful hardwood floors and large windows. This area is also within walking distance of the Cedar-Fairmount district, which has a small grocery store, banks, several restaurants, a jazz club and coffee shops. Resident favorite eateries on Cedar-Fairmount include Night Town (the jazz club) and Aladdin’s (Lebanese).
Coventry
Coventry is an eclectic, walkable neighborhood frequented by area bohemians, students and families alike. Residents can be found attending summertime street fairs; munching vegetarian fare with the hippie throwbacks at Tommy’s; or relaxing over drinks at one of the many bars on the street. Our favorites on Coventry include Hunan, Pacific East (sushi), and of course, Tommy’s.
Cedar-Lee
Some of the residents’ favorite activities on Cedar-Lee include indulging in margaritas with friends at Lopez southwestern restaurant; catching an independent film at the Cedar-Lee Theater; sharing homemade goodies from Stone Oven bakery; and discovering a yoga class at the award-winning Atma Center. Resident’s favorite restaurants include Anatolia Café (Turkish), Lotus Thai, and Melt Bar & Grilled.
Shaker Heights
shakeronline.com
Location:five to seven miles (10-20 minute drive) from University Hospitals
- Various apartment buildings (near Shaker Square is popular) and houses for rent. Single-family homes are more expensive here than University Heights or Cleveland Heights.
- Great city for foodies for the following restaurants: Sasa, Zanzibar Soul Fusion, Fire and many more
- Roughly 10-20 minute drive depending on where you live. Some areas are within biking distance to the hospital.
- More quiet, shady streets and fewer conveniences, but known for beautiful parks (e.g. Shaker Lakes) and highly acclaimed public schools
- Shaker Square is a fun, walkable area with lots of great restaurants, outdoor dining in the summer, shopping, a movie theater, and the best weekly farmer's market in Cleveland.
- This community has the best public transit access of all the Eastern suburbs - two train lines traverse Shaker Heights, connecting it to downtown and the airport.
Beachwood
beachwoodohio.com
Location:five to seven miles (15-20 minute drive) from University Hospitals
- Further east than the previous three communities, and a less common area for residents to live
- Highly acclaimed public school system, great recreation center, very strong Jewish community
- Home to an outdoor mall (Legacy Village) and indoor mall (Beachwood Place), two of the most popular shopping areas in Cleveland
- Easy highway access
Downtown Cleveland
downtowncleveland.com
Location: five miles from University Hospitals (15 to 20 minute drive)
- Many recently renovated loft-style apartments in historic buildings, some with amenities such as concierge services, gyms, community rooms and gathering places
- Home to many young professionals, including residents
- Fantastic public transit access - Healthline bus provides direct route to hospital (15 minute commute), RTA rapid transit hub is at Tower City with convenient trains to University Circle, Shaker Square and the airport.
- Walking distance to restaurants, nightlife, sporting events, festivals, and shops, as well as a large and dynamic theatre district
- Lower taxes in Cleveland city limits
The streets of West 6th, West 9th and West St. Clair are lined with destination restaurants and nightlife. Unique coffee shops and specialty boutiques add to the charm of this neighborhood. Some of Rainbow residents’ favorite restaurants in the downtown area include Empress Taytu (Ethiopian), Blue Point Grille (especially for happy hour), and Urban Farmer.
Many of the historic warehouses in the neighborhood have been converted into distinctive loft apartments and condominiums, often with extra perks such as concierge services, on-site gyms, and rooftop terraces. A number of residents choose to live in this area, both to take advantage of the urban feel and proximity of downtown nightlife, as well as to be a part of the lively group of young professionals that live in this area.
There is ready access to public transportation in downtown Cleveland – a train line runs westbound to Ohio City and the airport; and eastbound to University Circle and Shaker Square.
Downtown: East Fourth Street
east4thstreet.com
Location: 5 miles from University Hospitals (15-20 minute drive).
Residents who choose to live on East Fourth have easy access to the RTA Healthline, a hybrid bus line that runs the length of Euclid Avenue. The HealthLine, sponsored by University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic, directly links downtown to the hospitals in University Circle and is about a 15 minute ride from downtown to Rainbow.
Near West Side
Ohio City
ohiocity.org
Location: Seven to nine miles from University Hospitals (20 to 25 minute drive)
- More single-family homes than downtown, condos also available and older apartments to rent
- Ethnically diverse and historic neighborhood with lots of great restaurants and nightlife
- Home to the legendary West-Side market
Tremont
tremontwest.org
Location: Seven to nine miles from University Hospitals (20 to 25 minute drive)
- Mostly single-family homes (restored historic homes and new townhouse-style developments) with some rental options
- Just south of Ohio City, a young, active community with a growing number of great bars, restaurants, cafes and art galleries
- Built around Lincoln Park, a sizable urban park with a playground, community pool and open space
- Home to a vibrant LGBT community
- Located near most major highways
Lakewood and Rocky River
onelakewood.com and rrcity.com
Location: Ten to fifteen miles from University Hospitals (20 to 25 minute drive)
- Home to Edgewater Beach - venue of Edgewater Live every Thursday in the summer
- Located near metro parks where you can kayak, fish and relax
- Walking distance to restaurants, nightlife, sporting events, festivals and shops
Southern Suburbs
Suburbs south of the city include Garfield Heights, Broadview Heights, Brecksville and Seven Hills.
- Located along the highway between Cleveland and Akron, these communities serve as a midway point for Rainbow residents whose significant others work in Akron
- Excellent schools
- Family-friendly