Review: Cleveland Marriott East

A recent road trip brought me for a short overnight stay to Cleveland Marriott East. Situated right off the interstate, the location was ideal for getting on and off the road quickly. Additionally, the property sat adjacent to a high-end outdoor shopping development for easy access to a handful of restaurants and entertainment.

The property itself seems to have received some basic updates, particularly to the spacious common areas. However, my king guestroom, while clean and relatively modern, was also incredibly basic and utilitarian. That’s probably how I’d describe the entire ethos of this property: convenient and practical, but lacking the nicer qualities you would typically find in a newer or better outfitted Marriott.

© Holly Riddle

Keeping with this theme, the hotel did offer all the amenities one might need during their stay, including a well-equipped gym, coffee counter, free WiFi and an indoor pool. The on-site dining at River City Grille was perfectly adequate, and the restaurant and bar served well into the evening, an appreciated fact if one’s arriving late and after many of the surrounding restaurants are closed. While the basic cocktails left a little to be desired, I shared several appetizers and a dessert with my travel companion and found the portions to be generous and the quality to be exactly what you’d expect from an American restaurant serving typical pub fare. Throughout my stay, all the staff I encountered were friendly and eager to help.

All in all, Cleveland Marriott East isn’t going to wow you by any means, but it does its job, fulfilling all a traveler’s needs without going over the top.