50 Best Cafes in Columbus

“Such a fun atmosphere, they make you feel and treat everyone like family! We initially met Scotty and crew at a wedding they were catering (delicious food!) and learned about the restaurant, which is what lead us to the actual cafe. Wonderful food and friendly service. Scotty and Gina are so kind and take time to get to know the people dining in. Looking forward to bringing our kids for their birthday celebrations!“

“I have returned from my hiatus to speak on behalf of parable (again). Pastries just wake me up like nothing else. I say that but every time I try to get to parable "early" (i.e., before 10am), I fail to do so ;'( But it's ok! These days there are still goodie pastries available for the sleepy birbs (hurrah) Unfortunately, my gastrointestinal system did not hunger at that hour of the morn, so the spinach artichoke danish was a bit of an underwhelming experience, even though the danish was freshly toasted ;'( I liked the chip though (cronch). Otherwise, it kind of gave artichoke dip but served in a pastry vessel instead of a plastic container. I enjoyed the honey grapefruit brûlée circle croissant and guava cream cheese pastelito more. Neither were too sweet and both had nice crispity crunchities! Service was very thoughtful as well! Whenever staff brought pastries to someone's table, they'd always ask if the person would like a fork and would then go run and grab one. I personally prefer to go feral on my food with my fingers but the gesture seemed very kind. Also, I'm pretty sure the entire album of The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess was played. We stan queer icons“

“Such a fun atmosphere, they make you feel and treat everyone like family! We initially met Scotty and crew at a wedding they were catering (delicious food!) and learned about the restaurant, which is what lead us to the actual cafe. Wonderful food and friendly service. Scotty and Gina are so kind and take time to get to know the people dining in. Looking forward to bringing our kids for their birthday celebrations!“

“I recently experienced incredible compassion at Habibi Grill after the unexpected loss of a parent. Tarek, the owner, went above and beyond to accommodate our last-minute dinner plans for our friends and family with grace and understanding. Every detail, from a private space to a personalized menu, was tailored to our needs, providing comfort during a difficult time. The staff's warmth and care were exceptional, making it clear that genuine compassion is a hallmark of Habibi Grill. I highly recommend it for both exceptional cuisine and a sanctuary of understanding and empathy.“

“My fiancé and I love coming here. We grab lattes every weekend and are never disappointed. It’s the perfect grab and go latte spot. The drinks are affordable and seriously delicious. Everyone who works there is always delightful and makes for a joyful experience. 10/10 recommend.“

“The Bacon Egg Breakfast Sandwich was absolutely delicious! We split one between the two of us and were not disappointed. The price($10) was a bit high, but after eating it, I understand why. The quality of ingredients were definitely superior to other breakfast sandwiches we've had. YUM! We would definitely go back to try more items. Thank you!“

“A Japanese French bakery in CBUS? Pinch me! If it were only closer to home. Maybe it's a blessing though, because everything is sooo good. Try the made-to-order crèpes, they're very good, I love their almond croissants & mango mousse cake, their sandwiches, breads, everything I tried was done well and with great intention to detail. What a gem!!“

“Florin Coffee is a reasonably priced cup of coffee that is locally roasted and offers sustainable to-go packaging.There was no wait when I arrived and the staff were super friendly. The decor inside is modern meets natural with indoor and outdoor seating. Street parking is available right in-front of the business.Florin Coffee is one of the stops on the Columbus Coffee Trail. I recommend signing up for the trail! You get 1 point for every coffee shop you visit on the trail and those points can be redeemed for various FREE rewards.Dietary restrictions: Plenty of options for people on a gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian diet.Parking: Street parking in front of business.“

“I don't understand why the dj gives up after the caberaet show. It's like they're trying to drive out the crowd so they can pack up early and still get paid a full night. I'm going to assume complacency from being the resident without competition for to many years. Both friday and Saturdays dj's are guilty of this. Ivan (RDJr), I'm told you read comments, pay attention. Your bartenders and VIP hostesses are suffering because of this. Everything else is absolutely amazing. Hate to see Michelle go. Best spot in Columbus period overall. Fix this and get a full nights revenue from that liquor license I'm sure isn't cheap.“

“Cute little cafe in downtown! I walked here from my hotel after reading about this Lemon Aioli and Rosemary-Lemon Sausage, I knew I had to have it. I placed my order online and headed over. It's super cute and isn't incredibly busy in the area where it's located. It also has its own parking lot which is a plus! My order was ready as soon as I arrived. I ordered the Rosemary Breakfast Sammich. Yum! Totally unique and unlike any breakfast sandwich I've had. Super flavorful, and the marriage of the flavors betwixt the fresh baked croissant bun. Chef's kiss! I also ordered a regular drip coffee. It was tasty! The cafe itself is adorable and cozy, but bright and happy. I also really loved reading about (and supporting!) their mission. Swing by here while you're in the area and have one of their elevated breakfast staples. You won't be disappointed!“

“Truly amazing. The staff greeted me immediately upon entering the establishment. I spoke with a gentleman named Derrick who treated me like we'd been friends for over 20 years. After leaving I found out he was the owner of the establishment. The food was amazing. The jerk lamb chops may be the best in the state. I may have found my new thing in Columbus.“

“Our Non-Profit organization held a fundraiser and reception for a visiting author. We chose Mozart's due to our years long appreciation of the food and service. Anand worked with our group to provide a wonderful atmosphere for our event. The staff were attentive and very professional in their assistance. The food was delicous and enjoyed by all the attendees. It was the perfect place and we had a wonderful time.“

“We are regulars here. The staff are friendly and hard working. Not afraid to have a conversation with you and they will make your order right without issue. They have other locations but we prefer this location based upon the employees we encounter and the food being so on point.“

“beautiful spot for a nice dinner! the ambiance is refined without being snobby; clean, comfy interior with low lighting is perfect for an intimate dinner. service is so nice and recommended great drinks and dishes based on our preferences. i can't remember all we got but the focaccia was a crowd pleaser and my chicken entree was perfect. i would love to visit again!“

“Tabletop is a great place to meet up with friends for games. I go several times a month. Their overall beverage selection is pretty strong - both alcoholic and non. Not a huge variety of beers to choose from but enough to get something quality you'll enjoy. The food is simple, but it is healthy, easy to eat while you play and not a wallet-buster.“

“Went for the first time. The space is gorgeous and they kitties are living in luxury however I was disappointed in how many people are allowed in the room at once. We had 12 people in our 10:30 am slot all trying to pet the 5-6 cats that were out in the common area and it was very apparent the kitties were over stimulated with that many people.. However I still recommend going and checking out those babies I just wish the limit was a bit smaller so we can get to know each cat better especially if we are looking to adopt.“

“Great little spot for some lunch or a sweet treat. We stopped in and had a sandwich and a piece of cake for lunch and it was amazing. Service was so nice and engaging you have to give it a shot. Oh, and get the carrot cake but better bring help, the slice is the size of your head! “

“I have quickly become a regular at Winn Winn Cafe. By far the best cookies in Columbus - especially the sugar cookie and chocolate chip. The coffee cake is also beyond delicious. Very cute and aesthetic location with phenomenal customer service.“

“This is my favorite coffee shop in Columbus, because of the owner, the best barista in Columbus. Raymond is passionate about coffee and teaching others about how his products are sourced, and what makes them unique. He comes up with great specialty drinks with various herbs, spices, and fruit to keep things interesting in case you want to mix it up a little and try something new. His staff are well trained and knowledgeable about what they're making, and their expertise shines through all their drinks and snacks.Dietary restrictions: Coconut, oat, soy milk alternatives.Parking: Giant parking lot that fills up fast on the weekend.“

“Bright and wonderfully decorated modern space. Efficient counter service and delicious menu options. The vegan mango Lassi with cardamom was particularly special. Gluten free options were clearly available on the menu. Will definitely go back. We'll done.“

“Our 1st visit. It was restaurant week. Took awhile to be waited on after we were seated - they were quite busy and most likely not expecting the demand. Our waiter (in-training)was excellent). Our 3-course meals were wonderful with very fresh ingredients ..the lobster pasta dish was amazing. Nice atmosphere. We will be back.“

“This place was great! We moved to the neighborhood recently, and it's so wonderful to have a good cafe within walking distance. We were immediately greeted by the owners and thanked for coming in. Silvia took our order and was so sweet. The chicken salad and turkey burger were both delicious, and the coffee was incredible. We drank our lattes so fast we ordered a second round to go. The owner showed me around to the meeting areas and was so sweet and personable. I hate to think how much money I am going to be spending here, but glad to support this great business!“

“The food was delicious. I had the Mexicali salad and my husband had the pimento cheeseburger with fries and rosemary aioli. Both of us had hot apple cider to drink, which is our favorite drink! The service was quick and friendly. We went during a peak time so it was hard to find an open table right away (you seat yourself). The restaurant was clean, warm, and buzzing.Parking: There is a free lot in the back and extremely limited street parking. There's generally a constant turnover of a few cars in the parking lot but you might have to wait a few minutes for a spot to open up.“

“I'm very split on this place. I love that they clearly use high quality ingredients. I love that they have creative baked goods and breakfast/brunch items. I love the decor. However it is very expensive. Which would be fine, except half of the time (out of 4-5 times) I have gotten a meal here it has been bland. If I order a ham biscuit with horseradish sauce, that should have a ton of flavor, but lo and behold, somehow that happened (although the biscuits have always been consistently good). Where do you buy bland ham from? The service is generally quite dry... I always kind of get the impression that I'm an inconvenience. The employees aren't overtly mean or disrespectful, but they don't really do much to make the place feel welcoming. Again, that'd be fine if it weren't for the lack of consistency and the prices. However their desserts have always been very good, and I always like to see what seasonal pie they are doing. It's hard for me not to step in and buy a slice when I'm walking by on the sidewalk. You'd find me coming here much more often if they could make their breakfast/brunch consistently good enough to justify the high prices.“

“My husband and I ordered bloody Marys. The garnishes were old and gross. The bloody Mary itself was good. The bartender was less than thrilled about working. My eggs came out hard but they remade them. The potatoes that came with my husband's meal were old, hard and cold. The syrup bottle was dirty. I doubt we would ever go back.“

“Beautiful location, inside and out. The stained glass windows look great.Right when I took my first sip of the Almond Joy latte I knew it was the best latte I have ever had. Great taste, great price, great vibes.Maybe wish there were more outlets & seating but it was busier when I went.“

“First time visiting today! I got a latte and their breakfast burrito to go.Latte - 8/10 for taste! I would’ve liked it to be a bit hotter. I’ll remember to ask for it extra hot next time :)Burrito - didn’t think it would be so large! it was quite tasty to say the least. 10/10.Service - 10/10! I was greeted as soon as I opened the door, the woman working the front counter today was friendly & patient.Long story short, I will definitely be back again soon!“

“Nice area to get work done. The WiFi seemed questionable at times but I'd need to go back a few times for a better assessment. Staff all nice. Parking was free with 3hr limit posted on the signs. It was sunny when I went and enjoyed a calm walk exploring the area when I was done. I plan to come back periodically.“

“Instead of a Yes or No recommendation, we should have a third option: Maybe. The food was decent (I had gnocchi in meat sauce) and the seating was pleasant, clean and welcoming. My main complaint was the wedding soup. I’m guessing whoever makes it there has never had or seen authentic wedding soup. I realize it’s possible to make soup that differs from what one is accustomed to. But to charge over $7 for a bowl of broth, a few tiny meatballs and a handful of tiny pasta is a crime.“

“We went there for the first time on Christmas day. Everything else was closed so we figured why not try something new? It is an AUTHENTIC Somali restaurant. We were the only Americans there. The food was delicious and the staff were very friendly. They didn't have a menu you when we went, our server just asked what meat we wanted and we couldn't decide so he brought us an assortment. Fish, chicken, and goat. The goat was amazing!! We will probably get all goat next time. We got spaghetti and rice, both were fantastic. I would recommend. It feels like you are stepping out of Columbus and into another country when you enter this establishment.“

“A fun hipster coffee shop to casually hang out or catch up on some emails. Plants all have names and they play dope vinyls. The viet coffee I ordered took awhile to come out.. like 20 minutes. So it was a bit awkward having coffee with a friend but without coffee in front of me for so long lol. Viet coffee... was actually not as strong as I was hoping but it was still a decent drink Parking can get hairy if it gets busy but there's a small handful of spots along their storefront“

“The coffee is fantastic and they have a large variety of whole beans for sale. There are lots of places to sit and work. They also smartness put out burlap coffee sacks to take home for free. There are breakfast and lunch options as far as food goes. Overall a fantastic place to get coffee.“

“First time to Cafe Elena, and I'd love to come back and try more options from the menu. When you walk in, you stand and wait to be seated. There are baked good that you can purchase to go, and the menu is super diverse. This is on a plaza next to Planet Fitness. Plenty of parking available. Service was great. They were busy, but very nice! Food was great! They had sweet and savory options. Their food was very fresh. Berries looked delicious, beans were washed for the huevos rancheros, smoothie was delicious.“

“As always, even though they were busy, food was hot and service team was exemplary!! You actually felt like they wanted you there!! I've had the Floridian French toast and it's enough to share, or have over 2 meals!!!Vegetarian options: There are so many no meat options to choose from!! They have no issues when you ask to customize a meal.Dietary restrictions: No cheese...no dairy?? No problem!! They customize with a smile!!“

“My partner and I LOVE this place! He usually gets general tsos, and I usually get a club sandwich, but their menu is huge and diverse. I love that I can get a deli sandwich and a side of crab rangoon. And the food is GOOD. Seriously SO GOOD. Lettuce and tomato on my sandwich is always fresh, the bacon is sooo good, and they have tons of bagel options! Their pricing is also incredible, and service is fast and always accurate! Honestly kind of tearing up writing this review, I hope this place stays here forever and never changes. It's a very nostalgic feeling spot in the most comforting way.“

“A popular, corner spot to eat breakfast and brunch in Columbus. They said they have "award winning" breakfast tacos for $16. When you say, "award winning" you obviously have to order it. Now a CA gal knows her tacos. These tacos were good. You can taste the fresh made corn tortillas. Crema, cotija cheese and avocado made it stand out. I liked the chorizo and egg combo as well. It came with an ear of street corn which was good. Make sure to have clean hands because this could get messy. It is delicious. Here's my issue, my standards for tacos are pretty high coming from CA. While the taco was good, a $16 price point for 3 relatively small tacos in a paper vessel seems somewhat expensive, especially sitting outside in a cold patio. Maybe $12-13 and I would have been raving about this place. Surprisingly food is just as expensive in Columbus as it is in CA.“

“I love the creativity of this place! The coffee drinks are so fun, and the specialty flavors change monthly. The layered toasts are also really tasty! A fun new coffee & tea shop in town.I do recommend ordering it doordash or pick-up ahead of time online instead of going to the site to order, my first time visiting I didn’t realize it was a ghost kitchen. There is no cafe to sit in. I usually order through Doordash :)I recommend the current month’s Shamrock-iato!!“

“Wonderful place to have lunch during our museum outing. They validated parking (~$7 value). The kid menu is definitely affordable and can probably feed an adult if you order an additional appetizer. I just kept wanting to eat more pumpkin curry soup.....every bite was like, I want another bite. It was very savory and flavorful. The burger on a pretzel bun was cooked just right (thank you for not pressing the meat). The beet fried chips were light and although completely made out of beets, just barely tasted like beets. Sweet potato fries were excellent also.“

“My husband enjoyed his sausage and peppers pizza. You can see them making it fresh for you. The chicken avocado sandwich is so good. Chicken was seasoned well and everything came together on the bun. It is pricey but I think it is worth it based on the quality of the ingredients. They also sell alcoholic beverages which is a plus!Kid-friendliness: There are many choices for your child such as pizza, grilled cheese, cheese burger..“

“Grandview Grind is QUIET, and I love it. Nothing against other Columbus coffee staples (you know who you are), but very often the noise is too loud to hold a comfortable conversation or just study in peace. Grandview Grind is a great place for either. Please go and enjoy good lattes, good (though limited) bakery, and a pleasant variety of seasonal drinks. Also, they frequently have a varied offering of local coffee beans AND you can buy them in bulk if that's your need.5/5 would recommend Grandview Grind to anyone who likes coffee, quiet, or both“

“First Watch is consistently very good for breakfast. The food arrives quickly and pancakes are still hot off the grill. The reasons I don’t give it a 5-stars is the coffee is often not as hot as I prefer it and the noise levels are very high when it’s busy, making it difficult to converse since the sound reverberates and the tables are close together.“

“I wanted to love this place. It was good. I prefer to brew with more leaf. It looked to be less than 5 gm to me. I wish I was given a gaiwan instead of a teapot with a strainer for the session. So, it wasn't a lot of leaf and you had to use a lot of water to get the strainer under water. It was more of a western brewing instead of gong fu. I did like the tea (Oriental beauty) even if was lighter than I like.“

“This place is phenomenal! From the customer service to the tips they offer you while trying to focus on healthy options. James is awesome and very friendly. Very knowledgeable about determination and healthy habits for a fitness mindset.My son requested we go back a second time today for a tea and shake! My son said I give this place a thumbs up and a 1,000 out of 10! I had pretty in pink and my son had a birthday cake shake! Absolutely delicious.“

“Excellent Kolache, the dough is just perfect and the menu has both regular staple items and seasonal items don't be afraid to try them both. Take home many of everything I wasn't disappointed but anything, my personal favorite was the cinnamon roll and the savory chorizo jalapeno. Service is prompt and friendly. They are co-housed with a tap house so I would get it and go, not much of an atmosphere to sit down and enjoy breakfast there.“

“This is a very new place. It has a very comfortable vibe and the staff was knowledgeable, nice and courteous. There are many options of shakes and teas.I ordered the Beach Bum (cherry, pineapple, coconut) tea and my husband ordered the Strawberry Lemon Cheesecake shake. Both were delicious! The tea was refreshing and flavorful though I'd like it to be more "beachy" than cherry but, overall it was a great price and I'd totally order again!My super picky husband enjoyed the shake. He actually said that we are leaving beloved Starbucks for this flavorful, nutritious alternative! I enjoy that we are enjoying things that aren't full of sugar and give us energy. Definitely a returner.“

“I had the Tidier-Tom sandwich, which was like a sloppy joe, and it had a yummy slaw mix and pickle slices on top. The mixed fruit was delicious, as was the Butterscotch Oatmeal cookie (which was HUGE, and I got too full, so I save the rest for later). So glad I tried this place!“

“I had the pleasure of stumbling into GVN one day on my walk around German Village and I was excited to see that they offered Acai Bowls. YUMMMMM. It is hard to find a good, fresh acai bowl in Columbus that doesn't have all the additives. Well GVN has a perfect, fresh Acai Bowl with upwards of 20 options for toppings. Service is also amazing. Now, if only they had Nutella! ;)Vegetarian options: They do not service meat.“

“This was my first experience with Somali food and people. Sophina and her family provided an exceptionally enjoyable dining experience for newcomers.They offered complimentary food and drinks, checked in on us at the table, and always had warm smiles at the ready.One plate feeds two, and the quality of the meat and produce was amazing! Thank you!“