FWD | Forward Day + Nightclub

I’ve always had a great time at FWD! Definitely one of the best spots in Cleveland! FWD has such a unique layout with the best atmosphere! The DJs/music selection is always top notch and it’s worth every penny! Always had a pleasant experience with servers and management! The manager Dina is very pleasant to work with.. made the booking process super easy and quick! Can’t recommend enough!

Bought a ticket to get in and this guy incapable of reading licenses not issued within the state of Ohio denied my Texas ID. I’m 24 years old. Another girl in my group went up with a Texas ID who is the same age and he said she could go in. My friend with an Ohio issued license went up to him and questioned why I was denied and he said he can’t take out of state IDs yet let the girl in my group who is also from Texas in. I’m very disappointed in this establishment. They took my money and have illiterate bouncers who can’t tell the difference between a real id and a fake one. Go at your own risk and just know they’ll take your money and potentially deny you.

Just spent my birthday here and had the absolute BEST time with all my girlfriends!! The service was top-tier — Amanda made sure everything was perfect and taken care of down to every last detail. A few of us were new to the spot but we all had the best time and can’t wait to come back. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fun night out!! Hottest club in Cleveland, 100%

Went for the first time this past weekend and I am impressed! The staff was amazing, from the second I walked up until the moment I left. The bouncers and other staff members were super friendly and made sure I was good, if I needed anything. And for it being my first time out downtown, in a very long time, this was definitely the perfect place to spend my night! Will for sure be back!

5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Shoutout to Sam Russo, the FWD manager, who welcomed us in off the street and instantly made us feel like VIPs. The hospitality was unmatched — it felt like we were on vacation at a luxury resort. Sam and the team treated us like family and gave us an experience we didn’t even know Cleveland was capable of. They proudly represent the city in the best way. We’ll absolutely be back — not just once, but for years to come!

I wore thousand dollar nice pants and got dress coded for not having belt loops even tho I bought a section… overly strict dress code for no reason. Bouncer was extremely rude. It’s pants. Nice pants. We paid a lot of money to be here. Why UPDATE: since we spent so much money buying a section and drinks. We went home changed and went back. SO many people were wearing ripped jeans and pants similar to mine. I saw someone with a rip halfway down his leg.

I randomly decided to go out to FWD for the first time and was lucky enough to be put in contact with Jenna who helped answer a million questions about getting a table set up for me and my friend the experience was so wonderful I went back the next 2 nights in a row and everything was just as seamless each night! The music is great and the bottle girls are wonderful and made sure to keep all of our stuff safe when we wanted to go dance! 10/10 ✨

I always have a great experience here. The venue is modern, sleek, and designed for a party — from VIP cabanas at night to a pool area that turns up during day parties. The lighting and sound systems are top-tier, and the energy is always electric. I would highly recommend checking it out!!

Ok FWD, I see you! I was visiting Cleveland with friends and while we were there we decided to go to a show at FWD. I had never been there before so I wasn't too sure what to expect. That said, I was really caught off guard. I definitely didn't feel like I was in Cleveland and I had a really great time. For one - it's on a roof top. Two - there a pool. Three - the music was on point. I mean, what else can a club girlie ask for... and this was on a Sunday afternoon! My friends and I saw Loud Luxury and it was a blast. The tickets weren't too much and the drinks were what you'd expect. Nothing like the prices you would find at a club in a big city, though. Drinks weren't too hard to get either. Overall, I really enjoyed myself and would totally come back for another show if the opportunity presents itself.

Very nice venue I was there for the American Heart Association ride and it was a blast. It rained but the staff made sure we had drinks and were comfortable.

The poolside daybeds are fun I rent two every summer holiday and am able to have wristbands for my friends to join me poolside. It's a bottle a bed and the bottles are way overpriced but you can get in to the pool without a cabana for a 20 a head charge with no seating. You can see across the bay to shooters from the pool deck. It's nice in the summer will be visiting again.

Very disappointing experience with bouncer when we were trying to get in. We weren't drunk or anything just unhappy and lack of understanding customer service bouncer. Bartenders were nice but drinks were weak. I have been many clubs all over the world and have never negative experience even with language barrier. This is sad for Cleveland.

I didn't like this place. Really tried to but was disappointed all around. Coming from LA, I had a certain expectation for a "club" feel. For 10-20 dollar cover, I was expecting at least decent drinks and decent music. My drinks tasted watered down and the music was so-so. Nothing special. Interesting crowd. My friends really liked it here so maybe you might too. Worth checking out if looking for something different. Apparently this is "thee club" in the area. Maybe that's true, which further highlights the disappointment.

BEST nightclub in Cleveland hands down. This spot is on par with some of the greatest nightclubs around the WORLD with incredible talent, sound and lights.

Hi Yelp Community! FWD? What do I think? I think Cleveland needed a place like this. It's by far the best night club I've been in Cleveland. I love that it's outdoors and the industrial feel to it. You get to see the train pass by the club all night, considering the concept it's pretty cool. If you have more than 4 people on your group Bottle service is the way to go. Average bottles are in the 300s. You will hear a lot of EDM so I hope you like it.This club gets pretty packed so I recommend that you arrive at 11 or so. I had a great time and I hope you do to.

I'm a little bit confused about how I feel about FWD. It's definitely a cool lounge/bar right on the water but it must be a seasonal place to hit up since there's no indoor space at all?! Anyway, it's pretty, the location is great, and the music is awesome. However, why is there a pool? I heard it was supposed to be a Vegas-style place, but this pool was merely a kiddy pool, and it's definitely meant for decor and not swimming. Anyway, being that they just opened, I'll give FWD the benefit of the doubt that they'll figure everything out by the next warm weather season, since it is almost Labor Day so it definitely won't have much of a crowd come the next few weeks... As for the drinks, they're strong, and the bartenders are attentive, but like I said, I'm CONFUSED.

Very frustrating experience last night because of lack of consistency and communication. Was with a group of people who had a table inside. Wasn't sure what the 'exact' name was as it was a mutual friend and we were just invited last minute, but the bouncer refused any other way to verify the table such as someone from the group coming to get us. Was initially told that the "only" way to get in was to have a bottle service table at $285 a bottle with a 2 bottle minimum. 10 minutes later they formed a general admission line and were charging $10 covers. Fine, we were going to do that since it was our only way at that point. But the bouncer started letting everyone else in the GA line except my group. He started making comments about how we were stupid for not knowing the name of the table the first time. Obviously annoyed, my friend argued with the bouncer about why he was letting everyone else in but us and he just said "okay now I'm not letting you in at all". What kind of childishness and unprofessionalism is that? For "the largest club in the midwest" as the bouncer bragged, I certainly expect to have more mature staff and at the very least, a consistent process. Have never been here before and was excited to go, but probably will never be back! Wanted to have my birthday here

Hipster vibes only! Came here with a few friends. As if paying to get in isn't enough the drinks are also pricey they also have hookah available however it's a separate company so they're 60-80 dollars. This is good for a few times a month/special occasion, night out with the gals or big group of friends. They also host good DJS here, which you can buy tickets online. But when they don't have popular DJS it can be very bland. Still fun! They have a pool for day time and many bars located all over the club! Summer vibes and fun times is what this place is all about!

Great service. Great VIP treatment. :) The cabanas are so much fun. The staff is great. They even help you look for lost jewelry the morning after, lol.

There is truly nothing like FWD in the midwest. Though it's a seasonal club they make the most of the short seasons. If they had a roof they would surely blast it right off. Every year the acts they book get better and better. Just this season alone they're having Pauly D and 3Blau! They also have a pool and host day parties on the weekend. The staff is great and super friendly! Whether you're a day drinker or want to party all night long FWD has something to offer!

I was in Cleveland on business and the conference I attended hosted an opening night party here. It was confusing given the demographics of the conference, this venue felt like somewhere a rave would happen and seemed very young. It was pretty down by the water away from the chaos but certainly not the best environment for networking.

I had a fun when I went here as any 22 year old would but it is expensive, I got a double vodka soda and it was $19. More importantly I left my card there and have called everyday the last 5 days and it goes straight to a recorded message and they have yet to get back to me. I know my debit card is there so it's very frustrating to not get a call back.

Oh FWD.... if clubbing is your vibe you'll like this place. Personally, I'm not a clubbing kinda person and prefer the W 6th or OHC atmosphere, and this place just reeks wannabe Vegas to me. The bartenders are friendly & always nice, I'm always surprised considering how pretentious this place is. It's about $7 for a bud light so it's 100% overpriced. Overall, it's not that bad and is pretty big so there's room to move around.

I absolutely adore FWD. This is the best club to happen to Cleveland - makes you feel like you're somewhere else! I got cabana bottle service this weekend for my best friend's birthday, and I couldn't ask for better customer service. As soon as we got through the table service line, we were treated like VIPs. Our server was incredibly sweet and made the experience a great one for us - she really went above and beyond for us. The whole group can't stop raving about how much fun we all had, and how we would love to get a cabana there again!

Can someone let me in it's freezing also I have appropriate footwear on now the music sounds good though seriously though I can't feel my tootsies

Im not even sure where to begin with this review. First there is no sort of organized line to get in. Seems that us regular folk stand in one area and in one area if you know the person working the door/rope you can get in on the side. From the outside the place looks cool and the music is great. After finally getting in after standing outside for almost 30 mins or so, my husband and I walked up the ramp and were told it was $25 for men and $10 for women. Are you kidding me?! This is Cleveland, Ohio NOT Las Vegas, NYC or Chicago. Although their concept is great and exciting to see something different in Cleveland, I don't foresee this place lasting. Its a seasonal club that has no potential of even remotely being able to be open during the colder winter months. Again, great concept, just not sure how long it will last in the CLE. Needless to say we did not pay the $25 for my husband to get in, so we turned around and walked out.

Amazing vibe, great venue right on the water in the newly developed East Bank of the Flats. I disagree with a few of the other reviewers as far as no VIP. There certainly was, because I was in it 5 times already. I had very large parties and every time I had great service from the experienced staff. They escorted each of my guests to our table. It was a very smooth experience even with the place being new and everyone wanting to try it out. All of my friends wanted to come back. People that want a real VIP experience should make reservations ahead of time. They were great to work with. I really enjoyed the Sunday "Day Party" too. It's very chill, with great DJ's. Can't wait for the pool to be open. Definitely would highly recommend FWD (pronounced Forward) to anyone looking for a higher end experience in an outdoor setting.

This was my first time in the flats for an event so my judgment might be A little slighted. Parking was 10$ and then 10$ to get into the club. I was there for a networking event pool party and the young lady coordinating the event had a terrible experience with one of the workers, managers idk but she wasn't very happy to begin. Nonetheless the club is very nice outdoor club. The scenery is beautiful. We had bottle service and the servers kept things filled and replenished before we needed to ask. I'm A blogger/show host so I planned to broadcast a show from the club with my portable mic and was told I couldn't bring it in. Kinda upsetting and made the live harder to hear without it but I just took it back to my 10$parking spot which was nice and close and kept it moving. Bathrooms were very clean and maintained well.

If you've got money to blow, you'll love FWD! $21 for two small shots (less than a typical 1 oz. shot). You'll need to order bottle service if you'd like somewhere to sit down, as all seats are off-limits even if it's early in the night and no one is there yet. FWD has a great outdoor vibe (until it rains and you're stuck standing on the stage!) I appreciate them trying to bring the Vegas / Miami nightclub feel to Cleveland, though.

This is the place to be!! Always all around great vibes, very attentive staff, great music and dope venue! They always seem to be ahead of the trends, keeping the experience fresh every time. Look Forward to it opening every summer!

Love FWD! Without a doubt, this Vegas style Day + Nightclub offers the best experience Cleveland has to offer. Featuring the top DJ's in the area, FWD sits right on the lake and will leave you itching for more. Memories that last a lifetime are made here!

I am originally from Cleveland and I come back to visit often. I live in Chicago now. One of the main reasons I moved three years ago was due to the city's overall lack for the somewhat progressive, clean, modern, upscale nightlife. Almost every "club" in Cleveland, is really just a bar with benches against a wall for bottle service, a weak lighting system that looks like it was purchased at Spencer's with subpar sound and dirty outdated furniture. At FWD, the lighting, sound system, layout, furniture and DJs are exactly what Cleveland has needed for years! They clearly weren't trying to cut corners with design and decor in this place. Thankfully, as upscale as it feels, it can easily convert to nice casual, as not everyone was dressed to the nine or needed to be. It was the second weekend open and the place was perfectly packed. I say perfectly, because the place is huge, so while busy with tons of people there, you didn't feel crowded. FWD clearly also understands a concept currently lacking in Cleveland called crowd control. I would rather wait 10-15 min to get in somewhere, then get in right away and never be able to order a drink or move around freely. I was able to do both. That said, I cannot wait to go back, especially during the day or a Sunday Funday. It's about time someone decided to push the envelope and bring modern daylife and nightlife to Cleveland. Thank you!

I went for the pool party yesterday. I'm really surprised no one has been seriously injured yet. People are wasted doing flips into a not very deep pool. Drinks are expensive. Very crowded. Good music though.

If you want to drink with underage girls then this is the place for you! They will kick them out after a few hours of letting them drink and get loud but then let them in the next day. Was there for day one when they opened but it has just gone downhill from there. I'm sure it is just a matter of time before a serious incident happens because of the underage drinking and they get shut down.

Giving this place a 1 star now DUE TO MANAGEMENT! I've been coming here since it opened , almost every weekend , & majority of the time for a VIP Cabana! Ive actually probably had VIP here more often than not. Was always treated amazingly & always had a blast. Since the change of ownership I've been nothing but DISAPPOINTED ! A few weeks ago I was out with my girlfriends and we randomly decided to stop at fwd , & the cover charge was $35+ .. this is cleveland not Vegas.. jump off your high horse. Secondly , there is a new rule that vip can only have a certain amount of people in it & the price is something ridiculous of course ! Maybe if you're changing the rules here you should let people with VIP know this instead of just surprising them with a $300+ charge for something we didn't even know about ! & I mean come on , how RIDICULOUS is this new bs rule. TERRIBLE ON MANAGEMENTS PART ! Are you really that thirsty for some extra cash ? That you have to SURPRISE us with this charge ? You're already overpriced as is ! I can already tell you're going to loose a lot of VIP customers! Thirdly , the dress code is ridiculous ! One night they're extremely strict and the next they're not ! What the hell is that ! Good business is called CONSISTENCY! Obviously you should not come dressed like a homeless person , but a little rip in your jeans is called 2019 fashion ! One night they won't let you in because of a little rip in your jeans , & the second night I see girls in flip flops ! Hope the management goes back to HOW IT USE TO BE !

As an Ohian, I am used to the same clubs, same crowd and the same outcome. Fwd is a breath of fresh air here in N.E. Ohio. There's nothing like it anywhere around. The atmosphere was exciting, the people were great, and the bartenders were excellent. You have to see it to believe it. New favorite spot!

TERRIBLE and disrespectful service. This place only spends time with people who choose to waste a pay check in order to have a table to show off and make up for their insecurities and boost their egos. Don't waste your time here, unless you want to waste time on meaningless people with meaningless conversations that are equivalent to that you would have with a child entering puberty then go right ahead. Clientele is not ideal at best. Take your business else where to a place you can enjoy an intellectual conversation, because this is NOT the place for that!

I love this place! The lines outside are kind of confusing though; private parties all enter on the far left side. I found myself in line three times before I finally found the right one :( Once I found the right line, Julie the general manager took amazing care of my friend and I - treated us like family! They have fun events here all summer, great for a vegas-style pool day - I love seeing Clevelanders of all ages enjoying this scenic day club! The location is so unique, truly unlike anything else in Cleveland. At night it's just as poppin' as the day parties. I never wait long for drinks here, and feel they are priced fairly for the experience. The employees here work hard to service each customer well, making a visit to FWD an experience unlike any other. Tip your bartenders well, they work hard and make great drinks here!!

Amazing EDM atmosphere and amazing staff that took care of our group with bottle service! Amazing time

I was with a bachelorette party of 16 who reserved a table with bottle services. Our group would be spending a minimum of $1,000 during our time at the club. Part of our group arrived before others and were inside waiting for myself and others. My friend was denied because he was wearing a black tank top that read "gays do it better". The staff was very dismissive and downright rude about denying him entry. They explained that he couldn't come in because he was wearing a tank top and that males could not wear tank tops inside. We explained that we were with a bachelorette party who had a table and would be spending a lot of money in their business and asked if we could still gain entry. Again, the staff was very rude and said my friend could spend over $20 to purchase one of their shirts. My friend put a jacket over his tank top so it would cover his arms and he would no longer be sleeveless. We asked if he could come in now and they rudely denied him even though his arms were covered. We decided to cancel our table and leave. When a member of our party was getting her card back and asking about not getting charged, a staff member referred to her as a bitch. Their website does not explicitly state no tank tops, however their "dress to impress" code is written in a way that allows them to discriminate against whoever they please and to pick and choose what they want to enforce and with whom they want to enforce it with. I will never attempt to give them business again, nor would I ever recommend this club.

Dropped a combined $2482 with friends in one weekend. Worth every single penny. Must go if you go out in Cleveland,OH.

Good music, beautiful people! We had a cabana reserved last night, and I thought it was funny to have bottle service with an LED flashing rod (a replacement for actual sparklers, which was kinda strange). I do wish it was more inclusive for gay people; there was a massive crowd but no same sex couples among all the straighties. Shout out to Janae (sp?) our server, who was so helpful and friendly! DJ was awesome in a glamorous environment (but have a well sized wallet)

The owner was completely inconsiderate and rude. I'm visiting from out of town (Washington DC) and will not be back. I'll be sure to tell all of my family and friends in the area to not come to this place. The amount of alcohol pored into drinks is completely inadequate especially considering this place is not in some popping metropolitan.

by far the best club in ohio reserved a table for my wife's birthday Saturday a total blast thank you guys for a special night

I've been here a couple times before but just recently went to see Pauly D. For how many people were there they still had efficient lines we got right in no wait or anything, tentative bartenders & bouncers, good drinks (little pricey but hey what're you gonna do) however, they only have Coors light & Miller light for their domestics though and they're in cans.

Made my first visit on opening weekend after returning from a business trip to Las Vegas where I went to Drai's and XS at the Wynn. I was very pleased with what they were able to accomplish and like the "vision". It was just the right amount of busy and the staff was very pleasant. Made a return trip last week, and it was packed. Service kept up with the demand, and the crowd was very chill. I was almost expecting some of the West 6th crowd to filter in, but that wasn't the case. It was a nice departure from the norm. Overall, it's nice to see what is shaping up in the Flats, and FWD is an unexpected - but very welcome - addition. Definitely planning on returning this weekend...

I have lived and worked in Las Vegas Nightlife, and I am very, very impressed with how much fun I had at this club! The staff is on fire! The sound system is better then any club in the country I've heard!!!! The bartenders are quick and serve delicious cocktails! I'm booking a table next time, the bottle service looks impressive!!

Best music I have heard/most fun I've had at a venue in a long, long time. Cleveland deserves a spot like this. Well done.

The vibe here is cool all the way around. I enjoyed relaxing on a comfy bed-like cushion here along the river last night, and witnessing the chic style of the ladies behind the bar. I admired their ensembles. I was a little upset to find that, like at many bars today, cocktails and coffee drinks were not on the menu. But the atmosphere was awesome, grown-up and professional. And the pool looks like it would be a blast during the day! I would have loved to have stayed for the dancing, but the crowd was a bit large for my ears that night.

Great place to see ankle bracelets. If your friends force you to go at night, jump in the pool. Problem solved.

This is hands down the best bar in Cleveland if you want to get into some LGBT bashing. Staff are super accommodating in that regard and will go out of their way to facilitate all your ice throwing needs. It helps if you're a local athlete on a team that went an entire season barely winning one game, but I'm sure even non-overrated local celebrities will have just as wonderful a time. Why settle for hurling objects and insults from a moving car when you could be doing it with an overpriced drink in your hand? I think if you manage to draw blood you actually get a discount at the bar, so make sure to be enthusiastic about it!

The bartenders were attentive to those waiting for a drink and the service from the bar was fast. The club is spacious and is in a super cool industrial location near bridges, cement silos, and an active train line. There is a large area for a dance floor with elevated cabana style bottle service areas surrounding it. The lighting was cool and the DJ's playlist was pleasing. Valet is located right in front of the walkway leading up to the club. I definitely liked the environment and will definitely go back - especially next summer when they can make use of the swimming pool.

Celebrated my 24th here and couldn't have had a better birthday! My server made sure we all had a good time and the VIP cabanas made my birthday experience!!!!

Give this place actually 0 stars. They are prejudice. Well let's say if you're not a particular race then you have different dress codes. My fiancé and I went to visit while on a trip in town for work. Upon arrival he was told he couldn't get in because he had on joggers. But, the weekend before he had on the same type of pants and was allowed in. His friend had on swim trunks and a Cleveland jersey. On that weekend he was told no jerseys. On today, my fiancé was told he can only be admitted with swimming trunks and or cotton shorts. No jeans. While the door attendant was stating this, a man of another race was walking out with jean shorts on. He was told well he could be an investor or something. Needless to say I will NEVER even attempt to come again. Horrible experience

Love this place day or night! This Vegas type club is exactly what we needed in CLE! The club is all outdoors with the trains passing by several times a night, it is just such a cool concept. It is a nice spot to spend a beautiful summer day with fun DJS and a party experience. By night this is the coolest and my absolute favorite club in Cleveland! The drinks are the same price as the other places in the East Bank, and they have many actual bars so that you do not have to wait long for drinks. You can also reserve a cabana for the full VIP experience, but you should do that a week in advance. Get there before 11 if you don't want to wait in line. I also love that there are many stalls in the women's restroom, I've never had to wait more than few minutes, even on a very crowded night. The staff is friendly, accommodating and treats us like family since we come back so often. Come here and dance the day/night away and enjoy the beautiful summer outdoors at the hottest club in Cleveland!

I went to FWD Saturday and had the best time! I was visiting from Indy for a friend's birthday and we got bottle service at one of the cabanas (also no cover charge). The entire staff was so good to us! They gave us free club tanks, champagne showers (plus free champagne from what was left in the bottles), and gave us a discount on our bottle of grey goose. The DJ was also great and had us dancing the whole time. I had just as much fun here as I did at wet republic in Vegas! Highly recommend, especially for birthdays or bachelorette parties.

Went there for Sunday evening party...beautiful views of the water and great music! Love the decor very different from anything in Cleveland. Can't wait to experience a Saturday night there!