LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Lakewood, considered by many an extension of Cleveland, has once again been honored as one of the hippest places in Northeast Ohio. The Thrillist, a website that ranks bars, restaurants and attractions in cities throughout the world, placed Lakewood on it's list of the coolest suburbs in the country.

While I tend to approach such rankings with an air of skepticism (have they really visited ALL 35 suburbs on their list?) in this case they happen to be right. Affordable housing prices and its proximity to downtown Cleveland have made Lakewood a haven for young people and couples looking to start a family.

It's one of the few Cleveland suburbs with destinations that bring people there from all over Northeast Ohio.

Here are 9 reasons why Lakewood really is Cleveland's coolest suburb.

Lakewood really is one of the coolest suburbs.

By Patrick Cooley

cleveland.com

April 22, 2016

The Thrillist, which ranks bars, restaurants and other attractions, named Lakewood one of the coolest suburbs in the country. We have 9 reasons why we agree.

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John Petkovic, The Plain Dealer

The nightlife

Lakewood is sometimes called a college town without a college and it’s not uncommon to find groups of young people strolling up and down Madison or Detroit Avenues on the weekends, looking for their next tavern. Bars like Around the Corner Saloon and Vosh provide an experience for those who don’t want to drive to downtown Cleveland, bars like Forage have creative cocktail menus, Humble Wine Bar features an eclectic wine selection, and the city has no shortage of sports bars for anyone looking for a big screen to watch the Cavaliers battle for a championship. For those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere, Lakewood has too many great dives and watering holes to list in this article.

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Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer

Music venues

The Foundry and Phantasy Concert Club — which are within a block of one another on the city’s east side — host a wide variety of nationally touring acts and some of the best local bands. Nine Inch Nails made their debut performance at Phantasy, securing the club’s place in music history. For those of you who prefer a more family-friendly musical environment, Mahall’s Lanes frequently hosts live bands, the Lakewood Public Library on Detroit Avenue has been known to hold concerts on the front lawn and The Root Café has the occasional performer.

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Cuisine for everyone

It’s emblematic of the city's variety that Cleveland Vegan — a breakfast and lunch and catering place for those who swear off meat, dairy and honey — happens to be a block away from El Carnicero — which is Spanish for “The Butcher.” If you want something different every time you eat out, Lakewood is the place for you. The Root Café provides plenty of vegetarian options, and Pizza Bogo features some of the most interesting pizza creations you’ve ever laid eyes on. The city has no shortage of ethnic food and features Pier W, one of the best seafood restaurants in Northeast Ohio. Feel free to bring up any restaurants I didn’t mention in the comments.

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Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer

Closeness to everything

If you live in the middle of Lakewood, it will take you around 10 minutes to get to Edgewater Park (provided the roads are relatively free of traffic), 15 minutes to get to Ohio City and the Warehouse District, 20 minutes to get to Quicken Loans Arena or Progressive Field, and 25 minutes to get to University Circle. How many other suburbs can boast such proximity to all of Cleveland’s hotspots?

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

16 Bit Bar

There isn’t much I can say about 16 Bit Bar that hasn’t already been written, but I’ll give it a shot. If you’re a 30-something who wasted a fortune in quarters on arcades as a child or a hipster looking for a retro vibe (or really anyone with a pulse, if we’re being honest) you’ll love the bar and arcade combination. The arcades are free to play as long as you’re buying drinks, of which they have an impressive selection. It remains one of the most popular bars in Greater Cleveland and has a tendency to get packed even on off nights, so it’s best to go early in the afternoon before it gets crowded.

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Melt Bar and Grilled, the original location

The first Melt opened on Lakewood’s Detroit Avenue in 2006 and has been a Cleveland-area staple ever since. Like 16 Bit Bar, there isn’t much I can say about Melt that hasn’t already been written. It’s best to go on weeknights if you’re not into half-hour waits.

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The Side Quest

One of the quirkiest bars in Greater Cleveland, The Side Quest is a haven for gamers. You can play one of their many board games or bring a group to play Dungeons and Dragons. You’ll have a tough time finding a watering hole as unique as The Side Quest anywhere else in Northeast Ohio.

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Bruce Geiselman, cleveland.com

Lakewood Park

With the recent addition of the Solstice Steps, there’s no better place to watch the sunset in Northeast Ohio and it has a gorgeous view of downtown Cleveland. An enormous playground and swimming pool also makes it a great place to take the kids on a Saturday or Sunday. Oh yeah, it also has tennis courts, basketball courts and a skate park, so you could almost spend an entire day there.

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Cody Peck, Sun News

The Lakewood Public Library

Bear with me on this one. The Lakewood Public Library has an impressive selection of graphic novels, frequently hosts interesting guests and authors and regularly screens classic movies and indie films. On Saturday, for example, the library is screening “Dear White People,” a criminally under-rated comedy about racial tensions on an Ivy League campus. And on June 4 you can catch “Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams,” a 1990 film from the legendary Japanese director. It definitely deserves a spot on this list.

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