Guidebook for Columbus
Drinks & Nightlife
This charming dive bar is full of personality and a place frequented by regulars; somehow the college kids haven't yet discovered it. $2 drinks, pool table, and live music on the weekends.
9 locals recommend
Dick's Den
2417 N High StThis charming dive bar is full of personality and a place frequented by regulars; somehow the college kids haven't yet discovered it. $2 drinks, pool table, and live music on the weekends.
Bodega
1044 N High StGreat beer selection and tasty food. Gets really busy during happy hour.
Food Scene
Hounddog's 3 Degree Pizza
2657 N High StAbsolutely the best pizza in Columbus, hands down.
Thom's on Grandview
My favorite Indian restaurant. Lunch buffet on Saturdays is a great deal!
The best sushi in Columbus. Great little place with a wide selection of Japanese and Korean food.
12 locals recommend
Akai Hana
1173 Old Henderson RdThe best sushi in Columbus. Great little place with a wide selection of Japanese and Korean food.
A wonderful place for a meal with organic foods - even vegan options - made using local ingredients. This location has shorter lines, more space, and better parking than the busy Short North location.
41 locals recommend
Northstar Cafe in Beechwold
4241 N High StA wonderful place for a meal with organic foods - even vegan options - made using local ingredients. This location has shorter lines, more space, and better parking than the busy Short North location.
My favorite coffee shop that doubles as a wine bar. Free wi-fi, reasonable prices, no corkage fee. A great place to get work done, then have a celebratory drink. $7 pizza & beer combo on Tues/Thurs.
7 locals recommend
Caffe Apropos
443 West 3rd AvenueMy favorite coffee shop that doubles as a wine bar. Free wi-fi, reasonable prices, no corkage fee. A great place to get work done, then have a celebratory drink. $7 pizza & beer combo on Tues/Thurs.
Marcella's
615 N High StA cozy, romantic place with amazing Italian tapas.
This is a popular spot to grab a coffee and do some work with the free wi-fi or read a book by the big stone fireplace.
18 locals recommend
Cup O Joe Coffee House
2990 N High StThis is a popular spot to grab a coffee and do some work with the free wi-fi or read a book by the big stone fireplace.
A popular spot for Mexican food with great margarita specials. This place is walking distance, but tiny, and can get really busy on weekend nights.
Cazuelas Mexican Cantina
2321 N High StA popular spot for Mexican food with great margarita specials. This place is walking distance, but tiny, and can get really busy on weekend nights.
Cuco's Taqueria
2162 W Henderson RdOne of the best Mexican restaurants in Columbus.
Another good option for Mexican food in Columbus; this is one of a few locations around town.
8 locals recommend
El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant
9130 Dublin RdAnother good option for Mexican food in Columbus; this is one of a few locations around town.
Diaspora
2118 N High StCheap, yet surprisingly good, sushi and Korean food within walking distance.
Good, reasonably priced Indian food in a renovated old house within walking distance of our place.
7 locals recommend
New Taj Mahal
2361 N High StGood, reasonably priced Indian food in a renovated old house within walking distance of our place.
An extremely popular spot for sushi. In the heart of the Short North (i.e., surrounded by other bars/restaurants), so a great place to go out and stay out.
Haiku Poetic Food and Art
800 N High StAn extremely popular spot for sushi. In the heart of the Short North (i.e., surrounded by other bars/restaurants), so a great place to go out and stay out.
Cowgirl-themed Ohio comfort food and drinks with sassy names. The Wild West-themed interior is one-of-a-kind. Try the "surly pizza" with gorgonzola, nuts, cranberries, and red onions -- it's divine!
Surly Girl Saloon
1126 N High StCowgirl-themed Ohio comfort food and drinks with sassy names. The Wild West-themed interior is one-of-a-kind. Try the "surly pizza" with gorgonzola, nuts, cranberries, and red onions -- it's divine!
A cozy European cafe with wonderful coffee and food. Great place for lunch.
10 locals recommend
Mozart's
4784 N High StA cozy European cafe with wonderful coffee and food. Great place for lunch.
Shisha Lounge
2369 N High StNeighborhood hookah bar with wi-fi and coffee.
Really unique Italian restaurant -- menu changes daily depending on what's fresh / what the owners feel like making. Prices are suggested, but not set, and sharing is encouraged. Closed Mondays.
Cafe Bella
2593 N High StReally unique Italian restaurant -- menu changes daily depending on what's fresh / what the owners feel like making. Prices are suggested, but not set, and sharing is encouraged. Closed Mondays.
A lovely breakfast and sandwich shop with fresh, artisanal creations using local ingredients; my fave is the Mazatlan pork & egg sandwich w/ avo & roasted peppers on toasty old world bread.
76 locals recommend
Katalina's
1105 Pennsylvania AveA lovely breakfast and sandwich shop with fresh, artisanal creations using local ingredients; my fave is the Mazatlan pork & egg sandwich w/ avo & roasted peppers on toasty old world bread.
Tiny place full of local, organic flavors; best breakfast spot in Columbus. Get there early or prepare for a wait!
40 locals recommend
Skillet
410 E Whittier StTiny place full of local, organic flavors; best breakfast spot in Columbus. Get there early or prepare for a wait!
Essentials
A great place full of local vendors selling cheese, wine, fresh produce, hot foods, ice cream... the list goes on! They have a farmer's market on Saturdays and events (e.g., wine tasting) year-round.
204 locals recommend
North Market Downtown
59 Spruce StA great place full of local vendors selling cheese, wine, fresh produce, hot foods, ice cream... the list goes on! They have a farmer's market on Saturdays and events (e.g., wine tasting) year-round.
Cam Group
817 Bethel RdAsian food market with a wide selection.
Giant Eagle Supermarket
2801 N High StThe closest supermarket to our house.
Trader Joe's is the best for cheap, high-quality groceries and wine. This location is the smaller of the two in Columbus, but closer to the house and also near tons of shopping at Easton.
18 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
3888 Townsfair WayTrader Joe's is the best for cheap, high-quality groceries and wine. This location is the smaller of the two in Columbus, but closer to the house and also near tons of shopping at Easton.
Andy's Carryout
2480 N High StThe best place to buy beer and wine nearby. Great selection, friendly owners.
Arts & Culture
Shadowbox Live
503 S Front StSketch and musical comedy shows; good food and drink.
Rumba Café
2507 Summit StPopular, dive-y live music spot.
Newport Music Hall
1722 N High StLots of big-name bands put on shows at this concert venue.
Another spot for catching nationally popular bands -- Modest Mouse, Girl Talk, etc. have done shows here.
39 locals recommend
Express Live
405 Neil AveAnother spot for catching nationally popular bands -- Modest Mouse, Girl Talk, etc. have done shows here.
The only place I'll go for a movie in Columbus. Indie theater with one screen; huge beer selection; pizza delivery. They show current films but also the occasional Rocky Horror or other classics.
26 locals recommend
Studio 35 Cinema & Drafthouse
3055 Indianola AveThe only place I'll go for a movie in Columbus. Indie theater with one screen; huge beer selection; pizza delivery. They show current films but also the occasional Rocky Horror or other classics.
Entertainment & Activities
A nice riverfront park with a spectacular set of in-ground fountains. Beautiful for a picnic or stroll.
32 locals recommend
Bicentennial Park
233 S Civic Center DrA nice riverfront park with a spectacular set of in-ground fountains. Beautiful for a picnic or stroll.
A large green space with a carousel. Several food trucks set up here from 11-2 every Thursday, and there are also free fitness classes held several times per week. Outdoor concerts, sometimes, too.
35 locals recommend
John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons
160 S High StA large green space with a carousel. Several food trucks set up here from 11-2 every Thursday, and there are also free fitness classes held several times per week. Outdoor concerts, sometimes, too.
Take a picturesque walk or run around the lake, or use this as a starting point for running or biking along the Olentangy Trail.
16 locals recommend
Antrim Park
5800 Olentangy River RdTake a picturesque walk or run around the lake, or use this as a starting point for running or biking along the Olentangy Trail.
Shopping
Columbus is getting to be nationally recognized for this inventive ice cream. A must-try with fresh local ingredients. There's also a location closer to our house on N High St just south of Henderson.
164 locals recommend
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
714 N High StColumbus is getting to be nationally recognized for this inventive ice cream. A must-try with fresh local ingredients. There's also a location closer to our house on N High St just south of Henderson.
A nice (if gentrified) outdoor mall in the 'burbs with a wide selection of shops and restaurants. Free garage parking.
338 locals recommend
Easton Town Center
160 Easton Town CenterA nice (if gentrified) outdoor mall in the 'burbs with a wide selection of shops and restaurants. Free garage parking.
Rag-O-Rama
3301 N High StA great spot for scoring some sweet secondhand clothing deals.
Everything Else
GIVE Yoga
3520 N High StTiny, wonderful yoga studio.