Olga N.
Yelp
The W Sports Bar is such a vibe! I heard a lot of buzz around the city and wanted to visit for a while. Then I was walking on the street, smelled some deliciousness (Smokey and BBQ) and detoured from my destination walking into W. I was so happy that I did! The W Sports Bar is a woman-owned bar catering to predominantly women and showing a lot of women's sports. It's definitely not a dive, it feels aesthetically pleasing, spacious, and trendy.
The bar is pretty big with two rooms full of TV's, comfortable seating (tables, high tops, and a bar). All tables are sufficiently spaced so you have room to truly unwind with your company. I feel that it caters well to people arriving solo and with company. There are some high tops facing the windows if you're not in a social mood or want a little more privacy. The place has a lot of wooden details and cool brick exposed walls. TVs have various sports on. The place is decked out with empowering "Root for Women" neons and matching mech. There were plenty of guests when I arrived and more walked in a little after dinner. At around 7, the bar was buzzing and many guests were there. The clientele and employees are predominantly women. The environment is very welcoming. Waiters and kitchen are efficient. You're constantly being check on and catered to. Everyone is also greeted and can sit wherever they want. In my humble opinion, the service is really good.
Now, moving on to food and drinks. I was happy to see zero-proof cocktails especially at lower price points than cocktails. I ordered Wospo Comment Section (soda water with olive brine and a dash of tobasco, served over ice and garnished with a goat-cheese stuffed olive) from the zero-proof menu. The best way to describe this drink is a marriage between a martini and Bloody Mary. It arrives in a nice martini glass. It's really spicy, awakening, and delicious. I don't even enjoy spicy things and I liked it. I also ordered Korean Face-Off Flatbread (there are gluten free options available). Probably spicy and spicier weren't a good combo. The flatbread had Korean BBQ, mozzarella, blistered shishito, caramelized onion, bacon, and scallions. It was clearly prepared with high quality ingredients but wasn't my favorite. The initial taste is sweet but it quickly gets spicy. I think for me it had too many scallions and spice but it's just a personal preference. I also felt that it was pretty small for the price. I overheard praise of the wings, so they should be worth a try.
I look forward to visiting again and trying more items on the menu. The main reason I loved it here is because it feels incredibly safe. You can go to this place as a single woman and feel truly empowered and social. We needed this concept in CLE and I'm happy that it's finally here!