Gameday

The Thirsty Parrot

The Thirsty Parrot is the closest bar to Progressive Field and has been a pregame spot and rite of passage for local fans for decades. Although it may seem small from the outside, its massive outdoor deck serves as pregame central for gameday crowds. For an authentic Cleveland experience, ask about the “Cuyahoga River Water.”

The Clevelander

As some may say, you can’t say ‘Clevelander’ without ‘Cleveland,’ and the bar with the namesake has been a staple for pregame activities since its inception. The two-story bar offers Cleveland memorabilia, pop-a-shot, and a true sports bar feel. There’s an outdoor patio and some pregame drink specials, and it’s only a three-minute walk from the ballpark.

TSI TIP: Honestly, we like the Clevelander’s outside patio, but the inside of the bar is pretty dim and dark. We say stick to the outside.

Mabel’s BBQ

The spot to get BBQ downtown is owned by Cleveland native Chef Michael Symon. Mabel’s serves your food on metal lunch trays and offers BBQ options with a Cleveland twist – it incorporates Cleveland’s very own Bertman Mustard right into the sauce. That’s the same sauce that’s been the calling card at Cleveland stadiums for the last 90 years. There’s a reason this place is always busy!

Barrio

Barrio is a casual and affordable gameday staple that we locals love. You can build your own tacos or just pick from a list of their favorites. The service is usually quick, and the chips and salsa are complimentary. (FYI: Barrio is also located inside the ballpark, but if you have the time, the restaurant version will have way more options, and will be significantly less expensive. Three tacos in the ballpark will cost over $20, but around $12 at the restaurant).

Whistle Taproom & Pizza

The Whistle wins on three fronts: it’s very close to the ballpark, it has slices of pizza on gamedays starting at $6 (pizza starts at $11 inside the stadium), and they have a wall full of 50 self-service craft beer taps. If it’s a nice day, the outside patio is in the sun, and the inside is great as well. This is a hidden gem that most visitors would easily overlook as they walk by.

TSI TIP: For even cheaper pizza (without the wall of beers), Geraci Pizza’s is next door to the Residence Inn and has slices starting at $5.

Geraci’s Slice Shop

Bowling at the Corner Alley

The Corner Alley is at the north end of 4th Street, and is part restaurant, part bowling alley. With large garage doors that are open on nice days, this bar offers standard pub fare, and bowling for up to eight guests per lane. It’s a great place to stop in for some pregame entertainment.

Colossal Cupcakes and Rocket Fizz

Located right next door to each other on Euclid Ave, this is a one-two punch for those who need a sugar fix. Colossal Cupcakes has a fantastic array of bakery treats, while Rocket Fizz’s gigantic candy selection will make any kid happy. They’re right off the East 4th, making it easy to drop by before the game (and you are allowed to bring your own food into the stadium with you, so feel free to load up).

Pregame drinks

If getting in early and finding a good place to hang out is your goal, head straight to the Corner Bar in right field. The two-deck bar has drink rails, seating, and tables on both levels. 

The Corner Bar has been a ballpark favorite since the 2015 renovations and is always lively. It’s open to everyone, and is a good place to get out of the elements if needed. The bar has multiple flat-screen TVs and is steps away from the right-field drink rails. 

TSI TIP: If you can get in early, make your way directly to the second level of the Corner District to grab a seat on the general admission railing – it’s a great view, and tends to be less crowded than the SRO area below it.

Visit Heritage Park

Even if you aren’t there to root for the home team, Heritage Park is great to check out. You can’t miss the main level of the monument, which is right on the center field plaza concourse. But make sure to walk down the stairs to the rest of the exhibit, which is full of plaques of past Indians/Guardians players, as well as a bronze replica of the drum used by the late superfan John Adams, which he used at more than 3700 games over 46 years. The Park is open throughout the game, and it’s free, so you can do this before or during the game. No worries about lines – there’s always space.

First Game Certificates

Don’t forget to commemorate your visit to the ballpark with a first-game certificate! Head to Fan Services in the lower bowl behind section 153 or in the upper bowl at section 550. If you forgot to get your certificate, don’t sweat it – visit the Guardians website to get one digitally emailed or sent in the mail to you — both options are free. 

TSI TIP: The first game certificate in the ballpark is printed on a heavier, glossier cardstock. If you can get this one and keep it safe from the elements, go for it! Worst case scenario — if it gets damaged, you can print out another at home.

Photo ops

Slider has been a staple at Cleveland games for over 30 years and is hard to miss with his fuchsia color and polka-dotted belly. Unfortunately, Slider doesn’t have any regularly scheduled appearances around the park, so if you want a selfie, you’ll just have to bump into him randomly on the concourse. 

The same goes for the Hot Dog mascots that have taken on popularity and lore of their own. Onion, Ketchup, and Mustard participate in the Sugardale Hot Dog Derby after the top of the 5th — and if you’re sitting in right field you’ll have the best view as they run right by. This is also a good place to try to snap a photo with them as they frequent the area, including for the seventh-inning stretch.

For a photo opportunity that isn’t constantly moving, you can snap a shot by the large Diamond C, which is located in the right field concourse as you go up the escalators to the upper levels (behind Sections 108-113). There is also new Cleveland-themed signage on the Family Deck level and Terrace Garden, so head up there for additional photo ops.

Best for kids

The family deck is located in right field behind sections 303-316 and is a good spot for those with younger kids. We don’t think this is the greatest kids’ zone we’ve ever seen, but kids are easily impressed, and there’s enough to do here to let them burn off some energy. The good news is that the entire area is under shade, so no worries about the kids overheating.

Watch an inning from the Old Bullpen

When Jacob’s Field opened, it was designed with two separate bullpen areas in right field. However, during previous renovations, the bullpens were moved to the stacked set in right-center field, allowing fans to watch the home and visiting teams warm up.

Now, you can line up right outside the corner bar area by the remaining old bullpen (next to Section 113) and get a wristband to watch an inning from field level. Only 15 people are admitted at a time to watch one full inning, but the view is worth the wait. 

TSI TIP: Try to do this in the earlier or later innings of the game. Weekday games usually draw less than the weekends, so it may be easier to do during the week.

Food and beverage options

Progressive Field offers a lot of concessions from local restaurants, which is why eating inside the ballpark is something that we are happy to recommend. Some of our favorites include:

• Barrio (109, 158, 529) for great tacos
• Happy Dog, for unique twists like their Slider Dog (which has Fruit Loops on top!)
• Perry’s Ice Cream, featuring their “Doughing Doughing Gone” flavor
• Local beers from Great Lakes Brewing Co, Fathead’s, Brew Kettle, and more.
• A bunch of local options are located in the outfield behind sections 101-113