50 Best Bars in Columbus

“We are from Kentucky and were in Columbus for a concert. I’ve always wanted to try a place that has been featured on Triple D, and this was the best decision ever! High Bank exceeded all expectations! We left with a full belly and A bottle of whiskey to remember them by. Food was incredible. Service was incredible. From now on, every trip to Columbus will include a stop at High Bank Distillery!“

“Fantastic new spot in Short North. Exceptional staff, great food and great vibes for dancing all night!“

“Friendly neighborhood bar w great food!“

“pros and cons. CONS.. If you were to base your visit on first checking out the cleanliness of the bathrooms before you eat, you'd turn around and leave. The men's room in the basement needs so much work and the multiple colonies of gnats was like visiting the basement of college kids from a party and cans and spilled beer have never been cleaned up. Horrible condition. The ladies refused to even look at theirs. Booths are small and tight. Definitely an old building, but it's kind of cool with its history. PROS... Those were some really really good burgers. Wife got the Ali and I got the Old School. Burgers are huge and easily splitable. We tried this after friends suggested the burgers and we were not disappointed. Onion rings were too greasy for us, but the fries and homemade chips were great. Alll and all, it's definitely an option to eat again when in town.“

“Awesome atmosphere! Service at the patio bar was exceptional. comfortable, friendly and just an all around great time.“

“Lived here 25 years. Started going to see good live bands and bluegrass. Small venue, great sound and great vibe. Room to spread out, do a little dance and immerse oneself into a plethora of local bad ass musicians who love what they do!
Must stop and pop one if you're rolling through town!“

“Enjoyed the “Daily Double” - two cheeseburgers and fries. Delish!“

“Only been here once. Enjoyed the beer I had.“

“Stopped in after volleyball at Backyard. I asked if I could get the Reds game on one of the TVs and the bartender, Colton said yes. Some regulars were watching the soccer matches but we found a tv that worked for everyone. I noticed the $4 draft Monday special and asked Colton who confirmed that included Bodhi. I ordered a Bodhi and Colton changed out the keg and let me know that the closer, Ian was coming in soon. Ian came in with a great attitude and kept a welcoming atmosphere in the bar. 5 out of 5 stars. Will be back.“

“Buy a drink and play for free! Great place for Gen X to bring their kids & grandkids“

“Fun eats and drinks with board games and music! Geek out and roll a d6!“

“Went to the Blu Note for the first time for my birthday in August. One of the waitresses was being trained by another waitress so we had two waitresses waiting on us (: and they did a great job!!! The live music was lively and the food was excellent , lamb chops were off the chain and the chicken wings were seasoned just right! They gave me complimentary New York Style Cheese Cake for my birthday as well ! In my Arnold Schwarzenegger impression “I’ll be back”.“

“Great music and service. Eric poured some great drinks.“

“Me and my friends experience was so nice in here! Such friendly vibes and great customer service! The bartender was so nice and explained so much to us and had such a great attitude! Such a vibe! 🫶🏻 The drink was amazing but this place should be called Full Baked because after a drink and a half I was gone. 😜 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Wine on High was the perfect spot for our company ladies night. Leading up to the event, Tina made the process seamless & easy. Her communication was great. The evening of our event, Eric took the best care of us. We did a wine tasting before dinner & he was so knowledgeable about the wines he was serving us. Dinner & drinks were loved by all. They even personalized the menus with our company logo which I thought was a sweet touch.“

“We have been taking our Vigo to The Wag since opening day, at least once a week, sometimes twice. He gets a little too excited with other dogs on leash, but we love that we can check in at the window and go straight through to the outdoor space without having to get him through the building on his leash.

He gets so excited when we're on the way, he starts whining and pacing in the back because he knows exactly where we're going when we take a certain turn off of the highway. Everyone who works there is so friendly and we've gotten to know a few of the staff pretty well, especially Vigo's favorites. He gets so excited to see Olivia when she is there, and has also gotten to know Natalie and will go to both of them for his little side hugs that he likes to give when he trusts someone.

As a veterinary professional, I appreciate that they have taken the time to train their staff on canine behaviors so that they can intervene immediately when something might not be going right, and have a points system to track dogs that are repeatedly having issues so that no one gets hurt.

Funny enough, as I was looking for pictures from when we have been there, everything that is on my phone is my dog with a random dog who had come up to lay by him. But I love that. Once they get tuckered out, they just find someone who seems cool to chill with and plop down.

We have had a membership since they opened and we plan on keeping that membership for the entire time that we have a dog.“

“What a hidden 💎 gem. Wife and I found this on sleepy Sunday when everything else was closed. Enjoyed a BBQ pizza with some buffalo which was amzing plus the DownEast cider which was delightful. Wife loved the Slammade. Fun vibe inside and everyone is so friendly“

“Bob’s was my Cheers when I lived in Columbus. Super chill, bartenders are all cool af with magnificent vibes. 100% will always stop in when I’m in town.“

“the blonde bartender Kat will nickle and dime you $1.10 for a tomato on a sandwich. She's padding her register with your money while she's sneaking shots. Sad was a great place to go“

“awesome place. owner friendly and welcoming. he supports veterans!“

“One of the greatest storytellers in Columbus runs this spot. Frequented by kind people with weird hobbies. Bring a friend or make one.“

“This is such a hidden gem“

“This bar is so awesome! Matt is one of my favorite bartenders! They have live music on Friday and Saturday and open mic night on Tuesdays! The patio was super cozy and the inside is all wood and rustic. Worth checking out this location neighborhood bar. During the summer, they have cookouts on Thursdays very affordable.“

“Nice, friendly place- ideal for a hang out with a group of friends.“

“Great place for a drink. Very reasonable prices! The bathrooms are downstairs, and not overly clean, but I didn't mind. The bar tender was really nice and attentive. We packed it in because other places were closed, but it was a great time.“

“The outdoor bier garten also offers a wide variety of live music weekly spring thru fall…“

“Nicole, Jonah and Matt are my absolute favorites!!! amazing vibes, great service!! the best dive bar in the brewery district 🙌🏽!! Kitchen open till 1am always a plus 🤌🏽 and if you can catch Tommy he's best gem of the whole place ❤️“

“We came in from Cleveland, looking for a more "local" stop for a few drinks before the night started. Bartenders were super friendly and attentive, even the customers made the place very welcoming!“

“Visited after a long day of travelling and stopping at the Columbus zoo. The last thing we wanted was fast food or a chain restaurant. Bartender was amazing! Great beer and food recommendations. Wings were amazing and everything we tried on tap was superb. Atmosphere is totally chill with an 80s twist. Will stop here again when passing through. With lots of love from Baltimore!“

“This establishment is family owned, with live music on the weekend, great happy hour along with very nice service. I have been a customer of the Canabar for a very long time, definitely would recommend meeting your friends there!!!“

“Fun crowd. Great atmosphere.“

“The staff is attentive, friendly and personable. The Draft House is clean and neat. I ordered one of their sub sandwich and a soda which was tastily. I watched ,Poor Thing's last night and enjoyed it immensely, It was funny, twisted and highly entertaining, I highly recommend this movie. I want to give a shout out to Amy who works at the Draft House and put up with me and my antics.“

“Wonderful experience and great atmosphere“

“Went to Columbus, Ohio with my friend and we play duckpin bowling. It was so much fun. We enjoyed it.“

“Our first time there was great and we will be back! One of our favorites for sure!“

“I would like to see the bartenders to be able to control or at least have some type of control over patrons that come in they’re arguing and making threats to the person they’re arguing with. Last night there was two people in there and they were in the middle isles when you come closer to the front door. One of the two people that were arguing was making threats to the other person, saying that he will kill him. He will shoot him. The bartender does nothing at all nothing. The bartender called out the wrong person loudly thought that called the police. Police came in and everybody got quiet. Safety should be number one at all times if somebody’s gonna argue, making threats and threatens to shoot the person that they are arguing with in the bar be put out and or the police called . The bartender has a responsibility to the bar and protect the patrons. This did not happen, there should be some type of protocol in place that all the bartenders need to adhere to when something of this nature happens. There was also two killings last year at two close bars we don’t need to have it at The Rock!!!!“

“Bodega is one of those places that knows exactly what it is and leans into it. A low-key, no-frills neighborhood dive with just enough charm to make you want to hang out longer than you planned.

The funnel cake fries are the real surprise hit. Crispy, fluffy, perfectly dusted with sugar and dangerously easy to keep eating. I honestly came in for a drink and left thinking about those fries.

Huge shoutout to Salim behind the bar. Super friendly, attentive, and bringing just the right mix of smooth and playful energy that makes you feel welcome the moment you sit down. He made the whole experience better.

Bodega may not be trying to be fancy, and that’s part of its appeal. It’s a relaxed, easygoing spot with good vibes, great service, and snacks that punch way above their weight.

Would come back, especially for those funnel cake fries and Salim’s hospitality.“

“Great staff. Good food. Always come when I’m Columbus.“

“Yummy and great staff! The outdoor patio is the best!“

“Found this little gem Elton John.Concert and we are so glad we did! Staff was great, environment and vibe were fantastic and bubba was fabulous, great service,.great night!“

“Great place to spend time with friends. Friendly staff and creative drinks!“

“Great place for drinks and dogs!“

“I wish I could give a higher rating! We were visiting from FL and stayed at the Moxy hotel that was near by. We were there just for the weekend and went to Pint House THREE TIMES! Everything we ordered was delicious!! I wish we would’ve ordered more honestly! Service was amazing and the atmosphere was great. We encounters quite a few servers and I wish I would’ve gotten all their names, only one I got was Amina (I believe) but everyone there was amazing!“

“We had an awesome experience on the Echo Spirits bourbon tour, and a huge part of that was our tour guide, Robbie He was knowledgeable, engaging, and made the tour both fun and informative from start to finish. You could tell he’s genuinely passionate about bourbon and the distilling process, and he explained everything in a way that was easy to understand while keeping the group entertained.

The tasting was excellent, and Robbie took the time to answer everyone’s questions and share interesting stories along the way. Whether you’re new to bourbon or already a fan, he makes the experience memorable.

If you’re visiting Echo Spirits, I highly recommend taking the tour—and if you get Robbie as your guide, you’re in for a great time. Thanks for making our visit such a great experience!“

“I've been going there for years love this spot, Friendly atmosphere“

“The Lamb was really good. A little too spicy for me but still very good. We also liked the scallops. The cocktails were very refreshing and the desserts were delicious. We love the atmosphere as well.“

“Service is top-notch 👌 👏
Makayla working the bar is really good at her job. Super friendly and engaging. She knows her stuff and makes the customer feel welcomed.
When you come inside, it's cozy, and it doesn't feel like a bar. It's been here for years but is up to date. Comfortable seating areas by fire, seating at bar, and pool tables, a smoking area outside, and the bathrooms are very clean.“

“Great spot for shows and the staff there are incredible at what they do!“

“03/21/2026 - First time visiting The Oracle for a birthday party with some acquaintances and friends for a friend. Nice elongated bar that is visible when you enter that provides a nice variety of top of the shelf liquor, and same mixed cocktails, and drafts. There is some seating available, on the other side of the bar there is a dance space that comes alive as the evening progresses. Thank you DJ. Tight and free street parking nearby. Enjoy.“

“Eldorado's is one of the best local bars in Northside-Morse road Columbus Ohio.
2 great pool tables and a dart board. The 2 working bartenders are attentive to not only drinks but they're kitchen as well.
It maybe the best bar on Morse road, I've never had a bad time from the Karaoke trivia nights with DJ Timmah!
I recommend checking the place out, not a bad stop on any night.“