22 Casual Restaurants in Downtown Akron

Akronym Brewing is a beloved downtown brewery where community, craft, and tradition are warmly celebrated. In addition to craft beer, Akronym has a menu of appetizers, flatbreads pizzas, sandwiches, and rice bowls. Visit them Monday through Saturday to taste for yourself.

Located in the historic O'Neil’s building in downtown Akron, Barley House serves up great food, over 30 craft beers on tap, and over 30 televisions to watch the big game. Get classics like chicken tenders, cheeseburgers, or salads, or try their more unique offerings like Southwest egg rolls, gyros, or their cowboy frank. Barley House is the perfect place to grab a drink before a RubberDucks game, to get dinner after a concert at the Civic Theatre, or to enjoy a meal on your lunch break. Stop in today or order online for delivery.

You don’t have to go far for fresh seafood and sushi. Visit the Boiling House Seafood Restaurant for everything from Japanese squid salad to fried shrimp sandwiches to specialty sushi rolls. But what Boiling House is most known for is their namesake seafood boil, a Cajun-style meal featuring the seafood of your choice, corn, and potatoes boiled in a delicious, flavorful broth. Order carry-out online or make a reservation to dine in. Their full bar and large selection of boba teas make them an even more attractive choice.

Chameleon Cafe is an eclectic coffee shop offering gourmet coffee, homemade soups, and artisan wraps and sandwiches. Their lunch fare is delightfully unique and sure to satisfy, and if you dine in, their colorful atmosphere is sure to spark joy. Order online, or stop into their shop on Main Street to try their food and drinks yourself.

The Circle of 5ths is a craft cocktail bar that sits above BLU Jazz+. In addition to their gorgeous and one-of-a-kind cocktails, they have a curated selection of handhelds, and you can’t go wrong with any of them: The classic smash burger with American cheddar, pickles, caramelized onions, and special sauce; chicken sammies in both the spicy and homestyle varieties; the broke chopped cheese, featuring smashed and chopped patties, extra cheese, pickled garlic mayo, and red onion relish; and the Italian salad hoagie, a fully vegan option featuring fried eggplant, Sunday sauce, cashew “cheese,” and pickled peppers. They also offer a couple heavier entrees, as well as lighter fare like hot dogs and chips and dip, and for dessert, the chipwich—buttermilk ice cream between two of Grandma's chocolate chip cookies. Visit them Wednesday through Saturday evenings.

The Daily Pressed is bringing a taste of Europe right here to downtown Akron, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, and beverage specials. Visit them on Main Street for one of their signature paninis, wraps, quesadillas, or sandwiches. They also have salads, hearty breakfast choices, elevated dinner entrees, and a variety of grab and go items, as well as a drive-thru, for when you’re really in a hurry. Online ordering is available.

Diamond Deli has been around since 1997 and has everything from the best corned beef in Akron to box lunches, salads, soups, desserts, and deli trays. Try a classic Reuben or pastrami sandwich, or order one of their overstuffed specialty sandwiches with funky names, such as "Old Bald Guy," "CLAY'S AN EAGLE SCOUT," and "Billie's Belly Pleaser." Get a side of matzo ball soup and a slice of their famous carrot cake with it. They're open Monday through Friday, 9 am - 3 pm.

Get fresh off the griddle, award-winning cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches, Italian sausage, and more at Eddies Famous Cheesesteaks and Grille. Eddies is committed to creating quality food made with the best available ingredients and served with excellent customer service. Their menu also features fresh-cut steak fries, gyros, pitas, and slammers. Eddies is open Monday through Friday from 11 am to 7 pm for both dine-in and carryout.

Evelyn's is a Vietnamese coffee shop located in Lock 3. They serve up a variety of fare, including banh mi, salads, smoothies, dumplings, egg rolls, and kimbap. Try a Vietnamese iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk, and settle into shop, which has a beautiful view of the park, to enjoy your lunch. Online ordering is available.

You don’t have to be into Dungeons & Dragons to dig this medieval castle–themed board game bar and café on the second floor of its building on East Market Street. Choose from their selection of 750+ board games available to play, and order up some flatbread pizza, soft pretzels, sandwiches with all-homemade sauces, or other munchy snacks and dips. Bonus: They’ve got a great menu of themed cocktails and mocktails that rotates seasonally.

You don't have to go far to find authentic Indian food when you're downtown. Visit Heera Indian Cuisine, a dine-in and take-out quick service restaurant, located on East Market Street. They've got tons of North Indian options, as well as South Indian and Indochinese cooking, all sure to satisfy your cravings. Order for pickup online, or stop in for a quick, delicious meal.

For a light, classic lunch that’s sure to satiate, Ilić Café, located in the heart of Main Street, has the goods. Turkey and ham, chicken and tuna salad, caprese—the sandwiches are superb. They also have a selection of salads and soups. Additionally, their pastry cases are filled with sweet and savory baked goods, like bagels, scones, tea bread, croissants, and muffins. Pair your lunch with a coffee, tea, or espresso beverage—or even an Italian soda or smoothie.

Think Jilly’s Music Room is just a great place for live music? Think again. Everything on their menu is 100% gluten-free and made from scratch to order. Enjoy wasabi deviled eggs, chicken wings, taquitos, or a flatbread while you listen to your favorite band. Or go for brunch and dine on sweet potato toast, chicken and waffles, huevos enchiladas lasagna, or the hash brown stack. Jilly’s also has a wide selection of more than 100 beers, wine, and signature cocktails. Even their popcorn is gourmet—freshly popped and sprinkled with applewood smoked bacon and dusted with Pecorino Romano cheese and seasonings. Next time you visit Jilly’s, go for the music, stay for the food. Or you can even order carryout online.

There’s no better pairing than gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and craft beer. Luckily you can find both at The Lockview. In fact, they serve fifteen different types of grilled cheese and have an ever-expanding craft and imported beer list, classic and seasonal cocktail selections, and an eclectic wine menu. But that’s not all The Lockview has to offer. You can also get awesome appetizers, great salads, comforting soups, signature sandwiches, and more. The Lockview is an Akron staple that’s truly one of a kind. Where else can you get Gold’n Krisp potato chips and Lawson’s chip dip as an appetizer or Goldfish crackers as a side dish? Order online or stop into their cozy restaurant for lunch or dinner today.

Luigi’s is an Akron institution, operating on North Main Street since 1949. They’re open seven days a week for lunch or dinner and serve award-winning pizzas, sandwiches, pasta dishes, and of course, their famous cheese salads. And don't fret about having to pay with cash—they now accept card payments!

Missing Falls Brewery offers a variety of finely crafted beers brewed with locally sourced ingredients. Their goal is to support the local economy and create partnerships with other businesses to help meet the growing needs of craft beer consumers. Quench your thirst with an IPA, stout, malt liquor, red ale, or one of their other refreshing beer varieties. And you better come hungry; Missing Falls is serving up burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and more. They also host events like trivia and paint and sips. Visit their unique taproom any day of the week for great beer, tasty food, and a fun time.

Located on Main Street and veteran owned, Perfect Pour specializes in martinis, bourbon, and burgers. They opened in early 2022 and are the perfect destination when you're looking for classic American comfort food with a modern, flavorful twist. Stop by for a wide array of craft cocktails and beers, and be sure to try their unique specialty burgers (including vegan options), mouthwatering appetizers, salads, and more.

Bar Phoenix is a bold cocktail bar where timeless classics meet modern flair alongside cuisine and live music. Elevated yet inviting. Tucked just behind Bar Phoenix lies The Phoenix Room, a moody, jazz-infused lounge for live music, private events and unforgettable nights.

Pizza 77 is downtown's newest pizza shop. They boast classic pizza shop offerings, from customizable to specialty pies, saucy wings, and jojos. Their crust is airy, their sauce is robust, and their pepperoni is Xtreme. Order in store or online. 

69 Taphouse is a sports bar featuring 24 draft beer lines, food, pool tables, darts, games and live sports in a welcoming atmosphere with exceptional service. Whether you're there for lunch, happy hour, date night, or a weekend celebration, this neighborhood spot is the perfect choice for any occasion. 

Stray Dog Café is here to make Akron more Akron-y. They are perhaps best known for their hot dogs, which are available in beef and veggie varieties, and also have a number of wraps, salads, sandwiches, and quesadillas. Order online, or stop into their library-connected café for a lunch you'll love.

There’s no such thing as too much pizza. Started by two good friends John Taylor and Ari Vandendriessche, Totally Baked Pizza is serving up some delicious creations, in this case, inspired by late-night cravings. In addition to pizzas with crazy flavor combinations, their menu features sub sandwiches and other delicious dishes like garlic knots, stuffed Hungarian peppers, and cannoli. Order for pickup online or stop by for a pie.