Welcome to Westlake, Ohio
A leafy Greater Cleveland oasis filled with lovely homes
This premier Cleveland suburb is endowed with natural beauty that serves as a serene setting for sought-after luxury residences.
Westlake is filled with gracious Colonial-style single-family homes constructed a half-century ago. Spacious brick, stone, and stucco houses built in recent years exude classic elegance thanks to time-honored architectural styles, superb craftsmanship, and fine finishes. Upscale apartments are situated in Crocker Park, a thriving mixed-use development.
First settled in 1810, Westlake is a welcoming community with superlative city services and activities and an appreciation for treasured historic sites. Dover Farm, a restored Greek Revival-style house constructed in 1838, was U.S. Senator Theodore Burton’s summer residence in the early 20th century. Lilly Weston House was built in 1844 with locally quarried sandstone blocks that are two feet thick. Italianate-style Clague House, which dates back to 1876, is now a museum and the headquarters of the Westlake Historical Society.
Residents love having wonderful places to shop, dine, and enjoy the great outdoors right in their hometown. East-west highways such as Interstate 90 offer easy access to Lake Erie beaches and to commerce and culture hub Downtown Cleveland just 15 miles away. And as an Ohio suburb, Westlake is centrally located within 600 miles of 60% of the U.S. population.
What to Love
- Gracious suburban living with homes surrounded by natural beauty
- Unparalleled shopping opportunities at Crocker Park
- Proximity to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which is eight miles away
Local Lifestyle
Westlake offers the best of suburban living with ample opportunities for outdoor recreation.
It is the home of Lakewood Country Club, established in 1921. The club features the only golf course in Ohio designed by A.W. Tillinghast, a founder of the PGA of America. A renovation of the 18-hole course has lengthened it to 7,022 yards. This private club also offers tennis courts and a swimming pool complex with lap lanes, diving boards, a tube slide, and a zero-depth entry area.
Bradley Woods Reservation offers visitors the opportunity to hike, stroll, and picnic on 795 acres dotted with former Berea sandstone quarries. Pin oak, yellow birch, red maple, and other types of trees populate a swamp forest. A pond called Bunns Lake hosts ducks, geese, and blue herons. The reservation features a waystation for monarch butterflies during their autumn migration across Lake Erie.
Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping
Westlake residents enjoy upscale shopping at Crocker Park, a 75-acre town center that combines ground-floor retail and entertainment spaces with upstairs offices and homes. The tenant roster includes national merchants such as Athleta, Sephora, and Warby Parker, boutiques that are unique to Greater Cleveland, and eateries ranging from fine-dining restaurants to ice cream shop Graeter’s, an Ohio business founded in 1870. Events such as yoga classes, outdoor movies, and a weekly farmers' market keep things lively.
In other parts of Westlake, beloved restaurants include Stella Mia Ristorante, with a menu of pasta dishes, flatbread pizza, and other Italian and Mediterranean favorites. Proprietor Dadi Nanut’s grandparents and great-grandparents were restaurant owners.
White Oaks Restaurant, which opened in 1928, is a fine-dining destination with a colorful past. During Prohibition, the restaurant flourished as a speak-easy with liquor secretly brought in from Canada and high-stakes gambling. The night watchman's quarters remaining on the property are a reminder of those bygone days. The menu showcases traditional gourmet favorites such as beef Wellington, slow-roasted Long Island duckling, and Maine lobster tails.
Things to Do
The Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra gives concerts at Westlake Performing Arts Center, which features an 800-seat auditorium. Founded in 1938, the orchestra is a mainstay of Greater Cleveland’s arts community.
Westlake residents come together for annual events such as Westlake in Bloom, with local homeowners competing for prizes in categories such as best front yard landscaping, best shade gardens, and best flower boxes. Celebrate Westlake is a charity race that raises money for good causes. Other community gatherings include an Independence Day parade and fireworks, a fall festival and pumpkin hunt, and a holiday tree-lighting ceremony.
Schools
The community, which is served by the Westlake City School District, is rich in opportunities for academic success. And sought-after private schools are situated within easy reach of the community: