Updated: July 28, 2026
Much like our city’s dedication to all things food, Columbus has plenty of places to grab a good drink.
It doesn’t matter if you are looking for a fancy evening with high-end cocktails or keeping it lowkey with some games and beers, you can find what you’re looking for in C-bus.
We’ve gathered the best bars in Columbus and organized them by type, giving you your very own handy, dandy checklist when it comes to going out around town.
Every bar on this list was verified open in July 2026.
| Category | Our pick | Neighborhood |
| Cocktail bars | Cobra | Brewery District |
| Rooftop bars | Astra Rooftop | Downtown |
| Games and shenanigans | Pins Mechanical Co. | Downtown |
| Breweries | Seventh Son Brewing | Italian Village |
| Dive bars | Dick’s Den | Old North |
| Bars with great eats | Veritas | Downtown |
| Mead, wine, and spirits | High Bank Distillery | Grandview Heights |
Cocktail Bars
Sidebar
Why we love it: Because tapas. Enough said.
What to order: I don’t know when it started happening exactly, but whenever I go to Sidebar now, I just want wine. Maybe it’s the environment, maybe it’s a good selection. Don’t be afraid to ask for suggestions!
Huli Huli Tiki Lounge
Why we love it: There’s nothing quite as joyous as getting a drink with some sort of fruit or umbrella in it. And that’s a fact. The original is up in Powell, and a second location opened downtown on Mound Street in May 2026, so the tiki drinks now come to you. What to order: Treat yo self. Order a Mai Tai, pretend you’re on a beach somewhere, and just enjoy your night. You’ve earned it.
The Keep
Why we love it: The Keep is modern, elegant, and perfect for date night or just generally impressing your company. It’s inside the most beautiful and iconic building in Columbus and the food and drinks are all top-notch.
What to order: Order the Pear Necessities, made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Lemon house-made pear & pineapple liquor, and egg white.
Cordial Cocktail Club & Bottle Shop
Why we love it: If you like your ambiance laid back but your cocktails fancy, Cordial Cocktail Club & Bottle Shop, formerly The Bottle Shop, needs to be on your to-do list. Their drinks are tasty and their staff is friendly, plus they’ve got a decent variety when it comes to drinks.
What to order: The staff is really helpful at Cordial, which is why I want you to live a little and just try what they suggest to you. I’ve never had a bad sip there, and I doubt you will either!
Denmark on High
Why we love it: Want to feel like an absolute baller? Order a cocktail from Denmark on High and then sip that cocktail while you look down on North High Street. Seriously. You’ll feel grown up AF.
What to order: Brexit No. 86, a refreshing cocktail made with mint, cucumber, Pimm’s Liqueur, Ginger liqueur, lemon juice, strawberry jam, Turbinado, and soda.
Sacred Palm
Why we love it: A tropical speakeasy doesn’t really need a lot of explanation when it comes to why we love it, right? It’s bright, unique, and they’ve got incredible drinks.
What to order: I think part of the beauty of Sacred Palm is discovering all of the quirks yourself. Try something new, fam!
Cobra
Why we love it: Cobra won Best U.S. Restaurant Bar at the 2026 Spirited Awards, the only Ohio bar to take home hardware, and the Brewery District spot wears it lightly. The room is Asian-inspired, the cocktails are serious, and the kitchen holds its own with the drinks.
What to order: Ask for whatever the bar team is proudest of that week. The menu moves, and that’s the fun of it.
Law Bird
Why we love it: Law Bird has been quietly running one of the smartest cocktail programs in the city from Brewery District since 2019. The menu turns over a few times a year, and the bar never lets the concept get in the way of the drink.
What to order: The $5 Mini Martini. A small pour, a fair price, and the fastest way to understand the place.
Rooftop Bars
Astra Rooftop
Why we love it: Astra took over the 8th-floor perch above the AC Hotel where Lumin used to be, and the One Hospitality crew behind Forno and Standard Hall turned it into something worth the elevator ride. The fire-forward menu leans Spanish, plenty of plates arrive still flaming, and Columbus Monthly put it on the Best New Restaurants list for 2026. The sunset views over Goodale Park didn’t go anywhere.
What to order: Something off the flame-kissed side of the menu, and a cocktail to watch the sun go down with.
Vaso
Why we love it: Rooftop views aren’t all created equal. But Vaso in Dublin has a pretty spectacular one. The bar overlooks the Scioto River and the drive to Dublin will definitely be worth it for your drink and that Instagram pic.
What to order: Order a Back of the Coffee Line. It’s made with Vanilla Bean Vodka, Espresso, Fernet, and a mint sprig. Refreshing and tasty.
Lincoln Social Rooftop
Why we love it: Lincoln Social is the perfect late-night cocktail meet-up spot. The views of Downtown Columbus are stunning, and a visit to the rooftop bar will literally brighten any day.
What to order: While you’re gazing up at a galaxy far, far away, you can sip on a Luke Skywalker, a lemongrass-infused Ketel One vodka drink made with matcha and lemon.
Mandrake Rooftop
Why we love it: Not only will the drinks impress you at Mandrake, you’ll also fall madly in love with the place itself. It’s got a fantastic view of Columbus and it’s perfect for a romantic date.
What to order: Start the night off right with an Espresso Martini
Goodale Station
Why we love it: Goodale Station has a casual elegance that isn’t replicated anywhere else in Columbus. That vibe is also reflected in their cocktail menu.
What to order: They’ve got some fantastic original cocktails on the menu, but if you’re looking for a classic, there’s nothing quite like a Hot Toddy outside by the fireplace with gorgeous views of downtown Columbus.
More of the best rooftop bars in Columbus can be found right here.
Games, Sports, and General Shenanigans
R Bar
Why we love it: R Bar is so much more than a hockey bar. Not that being a hockey bar is a bad thing, because loving the Columbus Blue Jackets is pretty easy to do. They have over 30 flat-screen TVs (remember when there were non-flat-screen TVs?) and they show all kinds of sports.
What to order: The bar carries a good selection of craft beer. So pick the one that will go best with your bar food and enjoy!
16-Bit Bar + Arcade
Why we love it: Want to play old-school arcade games while enjoying delicious beverages? If the answer is yes, then you most certainly already know and love 16-Bit. The original downtown location poured its last in 2025, but the Bridge Park spot in Dublin (6564 Riverside Dr.) keeps the cabinets humming, and the games are still free while you’re drinking.
What to order: A cold local draft. It’s perfect for a summer evening spent playing Frogger.
Gallo’s Tap Room
Why we love it: Gallo’s is the place to be when it comes to watching sports at a bar. They’ve got projectors, 4K TVs, and even free wi-fi. When it comes to the food and drink, they’ve got a chef-driven menu with 23 craft beers to choose from and over 50 bourbons and whiskeys.
What to order: Grab a beer and relax. There’s no pressure at Gallo’s!
Pins Mechanical Co.
Why we love it: Duckpin bowling + a great drink + good friends + a late-night food truck meal = a pretty epic night. Pins Mechanical Co. is a great place to gather a large group together, even if you don’t plan on bowling.
What to order: At Pins I can go either way: they always have great beers on tap and they have some pretty good cocktails. Pick your poison!
Ginger Rabbit
Why we love it: Sometimes, you just wanna get glammed up and go out for a night of sweet cocktails and smooth jazz. It’s because of days like this that we’re thrilled that a place like Ginger Rabbit exists.
What to order: Grab the bar’s namesake cocktail, The Ginger Rabbit. The drink is made with Gin, Manzanilla, Lemon Juice, Ginger Syrup, Carrot Juice, and Bitters.
Breweries
Antiques on High
Why we love it: Antiques on High has a retro vibe with some great sour beers and some amazing cocktails on the menu. The space can get a little crowded, but that’s when you move upstairs to the rooftop patio. It’s even great in the winter, due to the massive fireplace!
What to order: This spin-off from Seventh Son Brewing is all about the sour beer. I like a sour-but-not-too-sour beer, so my go-to beer at Antiques on High is Wax Poetic. It’s a sour blond ale that’s aged in oak barrels and the bar describes it as “moderately sour”.
Parsons North Brewing
Why we love it: North Parsons has an amazing space, both indoor and out. They frequently have a food truck on hand to satisfy your munchies and there’s also usually Bob Ross on TV. Heaven, pure heaven.
What to order: Order the West Coast IPA. It’s citrusy, bitter, and floral, sort of like myself
Short North Pint House
Why we love it: The front, Biergarten-esque part of Short North Pint House may just be my favorite bare in Columbus. It is just so bright and open, which is a good thing because this place can get pretty packed.
What to order: Allow me to introduce you to the Boozy Push Pop. They come in both Buckeye and Orange Creamsicle flavors and they’re just plain wonderful.
Wolf’s Ridge
Why we love it: Wolf’s Ridge has consistently made a name for itself ever since their debut. Through their incredible kitchen and food, as well as through their award-winning beers.
What to order: It would be a shame to go to Wolf’s Ridge and only try one of their beers. So my recommendation here is to order a flight. You can get a flight of 3 or 5 and one of those choices should definitely be Clear Sky Daybreak.
Land-Grant Brewing
Why we love it: There’s no other way to say it. Land-Grant is just a super chill bar. The people, both the staff and the patrons, are always friendly and welcoming, creating an atmosphere you won’t want to leave. It’s a popular spot for Happy Hour and post-work gatherings, and it’s a great place to unwind after a stressful day. In 2026, USA Today named Land-Grant one of its Best Bars in America, a national list of just 39 bars.
What to order: 1862 Ale. This beer is a dry-hopped American take on the classic German beer and it’s unbelievably delicious.
Seventh Son Brewing
Why we love it: It’s weird to think that Seventh Son has only been around since 2013. They seem like such an old soul, but that’s probably because they’re incredibly involved in the Columbus community. We love Seventh Son because they make handcrafted beers and they do it with care.
What to order: Humulus Nimbus. This flagship beer from Seventh Son walks a fine, yet perfect, line between an IPA and a pale ale. The Strong Pale Ale is 6.0% ABV and made with berry-piney hops and light malts.
Gemüt Biergarten
Why we love it: Gemüt brews German-style beer inside a converted 1890s firehouse in Olde Towne East, and the biergarten out back is one of the best patios in the city, dogs welcome.
What to order: A liter of whatever lager is freshest, and a pretzel big enough to share.
The Ohio Taproom
Why we love it: Every single tap pours something made in Ohio, and USA TODAY’s 10Best readers just ranked it the #2 beer bar in the entire country for the second year running. It’s the state’s beer scene in one room on W 3rd Ave.
What to order: A flight. The whole point is drinking across Ohio without leaving the stool.
Dive Bars & Iconic Local Haunts
Bodega
Why we love it: Bodega has a casual yet lively atmosphere, plus they’ve got a great happy hour, including $1 grilled cheeses on Monday. Plus they’ve got 47 taps full of craft beer deliciousness.
What to order: If I’m not ordering a beer at Bodega, I’m getting the High Street Honey. I’m obsessed with this cocktail which is made with Watershed Gin, sage-infused honey syrup, and lemon juice.
Olde Towne Tavern
Why we love it: Olde Towne Tavern is lively, fun, and they know the value of a spectacular daily special.
What to order: Death in the Afternoon was invented and relished by Ernest Hemingway. It’s a floral cocktail, made by blending champagne, sugar, and Bohemian-style Mata Hari absinthe. And it’s 100% the drink you should give a shot at the tavern.
Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails
Why we love it: Tip Top is the kind of bar where everybody knows your name. Well, maybe not initially, but if you get going there long enough, they will. It’s got a friendly crowd that can appreciate a good deal and a fun night out.
What to order: Back in the day, my go-to at Tip Top was $2 PBRs. But I guess as we mature, so do our tastes. Now, I just like to scan the 22 taps and choose a beer that actually tastes good! At least for the first round anyway.
Club 185
Why we love it: Club 185 used to be known as a speak-easy and it’s been serving up drinks and fun since 1954. It has charm and swag that only comes with decades of experience.
What to order: Don’t overthink your visit here. The name may sound exclusive, but it’s a friendly atmosphere where you can order something on tap and make some new friends.
Local Bar
Why we love it: I always describe Local Bar as a hipster dive bar, and I mean that with a sincerely affectionate tone. It has all of the things I love about both hipsters and dive bars, plus I can eat free popcorn.
What to order: I tend to keep it pretty simple at Local Bar. You can find me there with a Gin and Tonic.
Beck Tavern
Why we love it: In my humble opinion, Beck Tavern is the king of all Columbus dives. I’m sure that will be disputed, but I stand by it. Plus, they’ve got $1.75 domestic during happy hour, which is pretty close to unbeatable around town. They have TVs so you can catch the big game, darts so you can get a little competitive with friends, and they’ve got some of the most interesting regular patrons in the city.
What to order: They say they have the coldest beer in Columbus, so let’s just go ahead and accept our fate here.
Grandview Cafe
Why we love it: Grandview Cafe has always been a gem, but they’re even more elegant now after their semi-recent remodel. It’s just a nice place to relax, enjoy quality drinks, and have a good time.
What to order: You can choose any 3 bourbons off of their menu for a flight, and that’s totally what you should do.
Dick’s Den
Why we love it: Dick’s Den is authentic, exciting, and just genuinely one of the best bars in town. There’s nothing not to love!
What to order: You can get whatever drink you want. Dick’s Den is about the experience. They’ve got the best live music in the city and an atmosphere you won’t want to leave.
Oddfellows Liquor Bar
Why we love it: Oddfellows is always buzzing. It’s a popular bar for a reason, and that reason is that it is awesome. From their friendly staff to the dog treat vending machine to the adorable dogs that are always nearby at Oddfellows, it’s going to be a good night if you’re headed there.
What to order: Boozy slushies are the way to go at Oddfellows. Aren’t they sort of always the way to go?
Char Bar
Why we love it: Char Bar was the first place I ordered a drink when I turned 21. It’s a well-weathered dive bar that’s wormed its way into the hearts of many a Columbus resident. It’s a great place to catch up with friends or to play some darts. A pickup truck through the front door closed the place for seven months, and the 2025 reopening proved nobody was ready to let a 100-year-old bar go quietly.
What to order: Just do yourself a favor and order a Long Island.
Bob’s Bar
Why we love it: Bob’s bar is the self-proclaimed “Cultural Hub of the Midwest” and I have to say, I sort of agree. Hear me out. Yes, it’s a dive. One of the best dive bars in America, in fact. But that’s what makes going there such a great experience! Just trust me.
What to order: Scotch. The liquor selection at Bob’s surprises me every time, but there’s nothing like a nice glass of Scotch at a dive bar.
Ace of Cups
Why we love it: Musician Marcy Mays turned an old bank on N High into one of the city’s essential small music rooms back in 2011, and it’s been booking acts that outgrow the room ever since. Come for a show, stay because the bar itself is good company.
What to order: A cheap beer between sets. This is a rock club that happens to pour well.
Bars With Great Eats
Veritas
Why we love it: Veritas has received national attention, and for good reason. Chef Josh Dalton has gotten accolades from Forbes to Food and Wine, and Veritas deserves all of that and more. It’s an exceptional place to grab a drink, order some food, and enjoy the culinary creativity all around you.
What to order: My current obsession at Veritas is the Desert Poppy, made with reposado, grand poppy, honey, lemon, and apple. But the menu is bursting with cocktails to try, so don’t hold back!
Arch City Tavern
Why we love it: What do you get when you combine great service with awesome food and drinks and a killer vibe? You get Arch City Tavern. And that combination is exactly why we love it.
What to order: Settle for nothing less than and Irish Kiss, made with Jameson Caskmates IPA, and Ginger Syrup with Hazelnut & Orange. Perfection.
Service Bar
Why we love it: Service Bar is a complete experience. From the food you order to the drinks you consume, you will understand why it’s become such a heavy hitter on the Columbus bar scene.
What to order: All of the cocktails at Service Bar are made with Middle West Spirits, so you really can’t make a wrong choice. But if you’re still looking for a suggestion, order the Barrel-aged Old Fashioned.
Barcelona
Why we love it: Tapas again. But this time I’ll elaborate. Barcelona is one of this city’s best restaurants. And the food is so awesome that sometimes, I think it overshadows the delightful drinks.
What to order: Get the Barcelona Manhattan. It’s house-made blackberry-maple-infused Woodford Reserve bourbon, with Miro Vermut de Reus Rojo, and Angostura bitters, served up or on the rocks with a brandied cherry. Yummmmmmm.
Mead, Wine, and Spirits
High Bank Distillery | Grandview Heights
Why we love it: There is a lot to love about High Bank Distillery, but nothing comes close to how much I enjoy their Socially Acceptable $5 Day Drinking menu on Saturday and Sunday. It deserves so much praise.
What to order: My cocktail of choice is the High Bank Vodka. It’s fruity and perfectly balanced and goes great with my sunny disposition.
The Alibi Bourbon & Cocktail Lounge
Why we love it: The Alibi is one of my favorite additions to Columbus. The bar offers craft beer, hand-crafted cocktails, and flights. They focus on Prohibition-style craft cocktails.
What to order: When it comes to choosing what to order, you should really take advantage of the knowledgeable bartenders. They know exactly what they’re talking about and they will definitely be able to steer you in the right direction.
Brothers Drake Meadery | Fifth by Northwest
Why we love it: Brothers Drake traded its longtime 5th Avenue tasting room for the production space at 1025 W 3rd Ave, and the move put the mead right where it’s made. The Thursday-through-Sunday tasting room pours Ohio honey wines you can’t get anywhere else in the city.
What to order: The cocktail menu is updated seasonally, so my suggestion would be to go in for a tasting and figure out which kinds of mead you’re drawn to. That will help you know what to expect when you’re looking over the drink menu!
Wine on High | Short North
Why we love it: Who doesn’t wanna have a wine day with the girls? I know I do, and when I get to experience that pure bliss, it’s always fun to gather at Wine on High. They’ve got a wine club, plus a great happy hour and helpful and knowledgeable staff.
What to order: Obviously the answer here is wine. If you’re unsure of what you’d like, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Seriously, they know what they’re doing.
Columbus bar questions, answered
What part of Columbus has the best bars?
The Short North has the densest run of them: High Street stacks cocktail bars, dives, and rooftops nearly back to back from Goodale to 5th. The Brewery District and Old North both punch above their weight, and downtown holds its own with spots like Sidebar and The Keep.
What time do bars close in Columbus?
Ohio bars can serve until 2:30 a.m. at the latest, and most of the late-night spots on this list go right up to it on weekends. Plenty of neighborhood bars close earlier on weeknights, so check hours before a late run.
What’s the most famous bar in Columbus?
Bob’s Bar in Clintonville has called itself the Cultural Hub of the Midwest for decades, and the nickname stuck. For national hardware, Cobra won Best U.S. Restaurant Bar at the 2026 Spirited Awards.
