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12 Bars With Indoor Entertainment Perfect For Rainy Days

We’re no strangers to precipitation in this city.

Luckily, Columbus has a lot of great places where you can grab a drink, hang out with friends, and keep yourself entertained, even if it’s pouring outside. From arcade games and shuffleboard to DIY crafting experiences, these bars all offer some form of indoor entertainment that’s perfect for gloomy Ohio days.

When I say there’s something for everyone, I really do mean it. Keep scrolling and you’ll see for yourself.

Pins Mechanical Co. | Downtown, Bridge Park, & Easton


I can’t write about places to have fun inside while sipping on delicious cocktails and not include Pins Mechanical Co. Tried and true, Pins will keep even your most easily distracted friends entertained for hours. My husband and I had a pre-wedding get together there for our friends coming in from out of town and it was a massive hit with everyone. You can bowl, play giant Jenga, get your shuffleboard on, and play some arcade games.

Woodlands Backyard | Grandview

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Woodlands Backyard has tons to do, but the real piece de resistance is their volleyball dome. You can play sand volleyball all year long now. If setting and spiking aren’t you’re speed, you can also play some pool, hit up the arcade games, or take a turn at duckpin bowling.

BrewDog DogTap | Canal Winchester

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The DogTap at BrewDog is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. You can always find board games and shuffleboard going down, but they also have a variety of events at the space, including ping pong tournaments, yoga sessions, and more.

Suzi-Cue Pool Hall | University District

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It was Mrs. Peacock with the rope in the billiard room! Just kidding, there aren’t any clues to be solved at Suzi-Cue, but there are a lot of billiards to play. In addition to their 12 pool tables, Suzi-Cue also has two dart boards, ping pong, beer pong, and pinball. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, college students can play pool for free, so don’t forget to bring your student ID.

16-Bit Bar + Arcade | Downtown, Bridge Park, & Easton

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16-Bit Bar + Arcade was the first bar arcade I had ever gone to, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Order a cocktail, play some Street Fighter, and let loose. Be sure to check out 16-Bit’s social media, as they frequently host tournaments for specific games. Maybe you’ll be the next champ!

Makers Social | Franklinton


If you’re not a big fan of games, maybe crafting something would pique your interest. At Makers Social, you and your squad can choose unique projects to create, like personalized dog leashes and jewelry, all while enjoying a cocktail or two. Grab a hammer and let out some of that pent up frustration.

Brewcadia | Short North

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Brewcadia is a great spot to prove that you really are a pinball wizard. They’ve got a variety of arcade games ready to go, plus you can enjoy some great craft beer while you play. If there’s a long line for Pac Man, don’t stress. You can entertain yourselves with a board game like Cards Against Humanity, Yahtzee, or Scrabble. They’re only open Thursday-Sunday, so if it’s a weekday rainstorm, you’ll have to choose another one of these awesome options.

Old North Arcade | Old North Columbus

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I adore Old North Arcade. It’s got a great vibe and a huge variety of arcade and video games. But the thing I love the most about Old North Arcade is the air hockey table. If you see me there, you’d better turn around, because I came to win. P.S. I think I’m a lot better at air hockey than I actually am.

Pretentious Barrel House | Taylor Ave.

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What if I told you there was a place in Columbus where you could not only taste some innovative and delightful sour beer, but also destroy your friends at Skeeball? Would you be excited? Now’s your chance to find out, because, at Pretentious Barrel House, you can do just that. In addition to just playing Skeeball while you’re at the bar, you can also sign up for their Skeeball League. There’s also shuffleboard, darts, and arcade games. Let’s go!

High Bank Distillery Co. | Grandview Heights

If good food, incredible drinks, and games are all on the agenda, head over to High Bank Distillery. Their menus are insanely elevated, so after you eat a mindblowing meal, you can saunter on over to the game area, where you’ll find foosball hockey tables and shuffleboard. After you show all of your friends how to win, you can buy the next round of drinks.

Level One Bar + Arcade | Crosswoods

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Some days, you just want to have a drink and play BurgerTime, ya know? Level One has a huge selection of arcade games, including Donkey Kong, Punch Out, Mortal Kombat, and more. Plus, they have the cocktails to go with them. Drinks on the menu include the Frogger, a coconut rum drink, and the Pong, a classic old fashioned.

Columbus Axe Throwing | Brewery District

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A visit to Columbus Axe Throwing is the perfect way to make sure that you fall asleep as soon as you get home. Throwing axes as hard as you can at the wall is a great way to burn off the calories you’re drinking with each beer. But more than all of that, it’s just plain fun. While this is definitely a fun group activity, it’s also fun for couples.