<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3RdkFk_196HVifB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3RdkFk_196HVifB00" width="1048" height="540" ><figcaption>Photographed by Erin Stinard</figcaption></figure><p>An event dedicated to sampling espresso martinis? It’s kind of wild that no one thought of this sooner.</p><p>Sips Collective started the Espresso Martini Festival in Columbus last year before bringing it to Cleveland for its inaugural event in 2026. On Feb. 12 at 78th Street Studios, 12 vendors — nine restaurants, two organizations and one mixer brand — shook up their original, sometimes wild takes on an espresso martini in vying for the title of “People’s Choice” or “Overall Winner,” selected by a panel of judges. Proceeds from the event benefitted Haven Makers, a local not-for-profit that brings dream bedroom makeovers to life for children battling cancer.</p><p>As a well-seasoned, self-proclaimed espresso martini enthusiast, I felt inspired to attend the event and put in my two cents with my own thoughts on the day’s competitors. Below, you’ll find my foolproof, gut-reaction ranking.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Sz9Pp_196HVifB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Sz9Pp_196HVifB00" width="960" height="1288" ></figure><h2>Honorable Mention: Pope's Kitchen</h2><p>While not a restaurant or brick-and-mortar establishment for espresso martinis, this local purveyor of cocktail syrups presented a sweet sip with chocolatey hints balanced by vanilla and honey. Being made from coffee concentrate, the espresso flavor was rich and smooth, but it lacked the robust notes of freshly brewed beans. <i>popeskitchen.com</i></p><p>Other offerings beyond the restaurant and retail scene included martinis from the United States Bartenders' Guild and Haven Makers, which were delicious, but which we excluded from this ranking to instead focus on locally available concoctions from restaurants and bars.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3DEHgr_196HVifB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3DEHgr_196HVifB00" width="960" height="1706" ></figure><h2>9. Hemingway's Underground</h2><p>The Medina cocktail lounge presented an Espresso Sunrise Martini, a rendition of a trending coffee beverage that combines espresso with orange juice, in place of milk. Hemingway’s version featured the bar’s house-made orange shrub mixer, which produced a flavor that was less acidic and more fruity and tart. The balance of orange-to-espresso felt off, though, leaning more into the shrub, which unfortunately didn’t mesh well with espresso's bitter profile. But the presentation was clean, featuring a gummy shaped like a fried egg on top of the cup for a fun play on the martini’s morning-inspired name. <i>236 S. Court St., Medina, 216-938-4012,</i> <i>hemingwaysunderground.com</i></p><h2>8. Betts</h2><p>A vanilla almond espresso martini was a promising, simple spin on the classic mix, featuring almond extract and crushed almonds as a garnish. The initial sip was coffee-forward with a great blend of nuttiness, but an aftertaste of pure syrup and extract was off-putting. <i>2000 E. Ninth St., Cleveland, 216-357-2680,</i> <i>eatatbetts.com</i></p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0JZift_196HVifB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0JZift_196HVifB00" width="1920" height="2031" ></figure><h2>7. Sol</h2><p>The beautiful presentation of this Red Velvet espresso martini was one of my favorites of the night, punctuated by a raspberry-beet syrup that gave the drink its rich namesake hue, plus a generous dusting of cocoa powder on top. But the drink lacked the sweet, chocolatey flavor of a typical red velvet dessert. A deep raspberry taste confused my palate and overpowered the espresso, leaving much to be desired. <i>38257 Glenn Ave., Willoughby, 440-918-1596,</i> <i>solwilloughby.com</i></p><h2>6. Rood</h2><p>The Lakewood eatery has practically perfected the dessert game with its bestselling pies, so a mixed cocktail endearingly called “Me So Dirty Chai” piqued my interest. My love for coffee grew from a phase of drinking strictly dirty chai lattes, and miso has just recently become one of my favorite latte add-ins. (Trust me, it’s good.) The martini packed a spice-forward punch from the chai that was reminiscent of the lattes I used to drink — and somewhat visceral. I was left wishing for a stronger miso flavor to neutralize both the chai and espresso notes, but it was still one of my favorite non-classic espresso martinis of the evening. <i>17001 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-712-4506,</i> <i>eatatrood.com</i></p><h2>5. Seeing Double Speakeasy Bar</h2><p>From fruity, to nutty, chocolatey and smooth — this Strawberry Dubai Espresso Martini hit just about all the marks. Both coffee liqueur and espresso shots were met with pistachio and simple syrups, topped with homemade strawberry foam and a shard of Dubai chocolate. It was trendy, sweet and inventive, but it was perhaps too many flavors for one cup. It felt more like a dessert than a beverage, and made for a strange, dressed-up rendition of a cocktail I typically consider simple and humble. But don’t be fooled — this went down easy. <i>26880 Brookpark Extension, North Olmsted, 440-641-1267,</i> <i>seeingdoublecle.com</i></p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Od00p_196HVifB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Od00p_196HVifB00" width="960" height="1179" ></figure><h2>4. Encore</h2><p>The new cocktail lounge in Playhouse Square, which eventually earned the event’s “Overall Winner” award, served up two varieties of a classic espresso martini: one with vodka and the other with tequila. I took my chance on the tequila mix, which was topped with a generous layer of foam. The surprisingly neutral taste balanced the espresso-tequila profiles. This made it easy to take down, which is either desirable or dangerous for a cocktail — depending on who you ask. <i>1580 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-220-7823,</i> <i>encorepsq.com</i></p><h2>3. 1928 Public House</h2><p>This was the only drink to feature a creamy mixer, which is my personal favorite element of an espresso martini. A hint of pistachio essence made it reminiscent of a well-crafted latte, implying a very subtle vodka flavor. I enjoyed the rich taste from the cream and thought the pistachio accentuated that, while also adding a nuttiness that complimented the espresso. This sip rightfully earned the evening’s “People’s Choice” award, a distinction I can get behind. <i>18590 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, 440-234-1000,</i> <i>1928publichouse.com</i></p><h2>2. Le Burger</h2><p>Ohio City’s newest burger spot has been all the buzz, and its espresso martini can definitely get one going. The classic pour had an extremely compact flavor that was a near-perfect balance of espresso and vodka. The authentic coffee taste flooded the palate with sweet, robust and smooth notes all at once. <i>2407 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, 216-998-5355,</i> <i>leburgercleveland.com</i></p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0j3hQL_196HVifB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0j3hQL_196HVifB00" width="960" height="1342" ></figure><h2>1. Touche Bistro at Chez Francois</h2><p>Hailing all the way from Vermilion, this French eatery was a slight outlier against some Cleveland staples, but it quickly put up a good fight with a martini made from freshly pulled espresso shots. This produced a silky sip with a beautiful, no-frills flavor that would have any coffee lover head-over-heels. The sweetness felt natural, and the presentation was simple, with a natural foam topping and a lone coffee bean for garnish. <i>555 Main St., Vermilion, 440-967-0630,</i> <i>chezfrancois.com</i></p><p><i>For more updates about Cleveland, sign up for our</i> <i>Cleveland Magazine Daily</i> <i>newsletter, delivered to your inbox six times a week.</i></p><p><i>Cleveland Magazine is also</i> <i>available in print,</i> <i>publishing 12 times a year with immersive features, helpful guides and beautiful photography and design.</i></p></div></body>

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An event dedicated to sampling espresso martinis? It’s kind of wild that no one thought of this sooner. Sips Collective started the Espresso Martini Festival in Columbus last year before bringing it to Cleveland for its inaugural event in 2026. On Feb. 12 at 78th Street Studios, 12 vendors — nine restaurants, two organizations and one mixer brand — shook up their original, sometimes wild takes on an espresso martini in vying for the title of “People’s Choice” or “Overall Winner,” selected by a panel of judges. Proceeds from the event benefitted Haven Makers, a local not-for-profit that brings dream bedroom makeovers to life for children battling cancer.

Northeast Ohio’s Espresso Martinis, Ranked

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An event dedicated to sampling espresso martinis? It’s kind of wild that no one thought of this sooner. Sips Collective started the Espresso Martini Festiv

Northeast Ohio’s Espresso Martinis, Ranked

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