Your guide to a night out on the town in Columbus’ Short North Arts District.
Our town has a lot going for it you guys. What, with our unpredictable weather patterns and our roadways that seem to defy all reason with their constant state of construction? It’s enough to get even the grouchiest of Michigan-loving Columbus natives to swell with Buckeye pride (trust me, we know who all of you are, we’ve known for years).
But no doubt, the glistening crown jewel of Central Ohio is its Short North Arts District. It’s got all the things Columbusites love to do, namely, pretending to be fancy while loading away irresponsible amounts of booze. Oh, and food. God, do we love food.
All of these things and more can be found in the Short North. So for all of you food, booze, and fancy art newbs out there, here’s a handy guide of stuff to do and places to go next time you’re looking for a night out.
Where To Eat In The Short North
SoCal Kitchen + Bar
SoCal Kitchen + Bar opened as Del Mar SoCal Kitchen and took its current name in 2024, when Cameron Mitchell moved the Del Mar name to a new restaurant at Easton. It’s still one of those restaurants that fully transports you. From the SoCal vibes to the light, coastal menu, it really does feel like you should look out the front window and see an oceanfront view. While you can visit for brunch or happy hour, you really can’t go wrong with dinner. Doors open at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for brunch, and happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: 705 N High St, Columbus
Website: SoCal Kitchen + Bar
Metsi’s
Metsi’s is chef BJ Lieberman’s wood-fired Italian restaurant, opened in June 2025 a few steps off High Street on East Lincoln. Everything comes off an open hearth, and the two-floor room gives you a choice between cozy and cavernous. Ginger Rabbit, the jazz lounge a short walk away, is its sister venue, which tells you the drinks get the same attention as the pasta. Happy hour runs Wednesday through Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: 36 E Lincoln St, Columbus
Website: Metsi’s
Rooh
ROOH combines traditional Indian cuisine with local ingredients to create some of the best meals you can find in Columbus. The restaurant has a great location and an effortlessly glamorous vibe. Dinner starts at 5 p.m. every night, and brunch runs Friday through Sunday.
Location: 685 N High St, Columbus
Website: ROOH
The Pearl
After a long day of exploring the Short North, there’s nothing quite like stopping into The Pearl for a bite. From oysters to fish and chips, The Pearl is serving up perfectly prepared seafood.
Location: 641 N High St, Columbus
Website: The Pearl
North Market
North Market is so much more than a restaurant. If you’re visiting Columbus, a lunch at North Market is an absolute must. Not only can you choose from a huge variety of food stalls, you can also grab a gift or two to remember our fair city by. The stalls run from Nepali dumplings at Momo Ghar to Somali plates at Hoyo’s Kitchen, with Vietnamese and Mexican counters a few steps away. The downtown market opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday and Monday.
Location: 59 Spruce St, Columbus
Website: North Market Downtown
READ MORE: The Best Restaurants in the Short North
Where To Drink In The Short North
Bodega
What: Great happy hour deals in a welcoming, neighborhood location, with 47 taps that change constantly.
Where: 1044 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Bodega
Union Cafe
What: Union has been a hub for Columbus’ LGBTQ community since 1996. It offers friendly service and a great patio, and Sunday drag brunch starts at 11 a.m. with the show at noon.
Where: 782 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Union Cafe
Short North Tavern
What:Â A neighborhood bar where everyone is welcome to pull up a stool and grab a pint.
Where: 674 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Short North Tavern
Lincoln Social
What: With incredible views of the city and amazing cocktails, starting or ending your night at this rooftop bar is a must. Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Where: 711 N High St, Columbus
Website: Lincoln Social
Denmark on High
What: An upscale cocktail bar offering innovative concoctions with friendly service. Denmark is known for having some of the best cocktails in the city, so prepare to be wowed. It’s on the second floor, open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 p.m.
Where: 463 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Denmark
Oddfellows Liquor Bar
What: A dim, low-key bar that’s more neighborhood regulars than bachelorette parties, and it stays open until 2:30 a.m. seven nights a week.
Where: 1038 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Oddfellows Liquor Bar
Local Bar
What: A chic but comfortable bar with a diverse crowd of regulars.
Where: 913 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Local Bar
Skully’s Music Diner
What: Showcases local and national music acts. Come check out their famous Ladies 80s parties for a great night of dancing.
Where: 1151 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Skully’s
Ginger Rabbit Jazz Lounge
What: Ginger Rabbit offers yummy cocktails, delicious tapas, and live jazz music. It’s chic, it’s exciting, and it’s honestly perfect. Jazz plays nightly, with doors at 5 or 5:30 p.m. depending on the day.
Where: 17 Buttles Ave, Columbus
Website: Ginger Rabbit
Where To Shop In The Short North
Big Fun
What: This toy store is a treasure trove of collectibles and nostalgia. The kids can definitely have a good time at Big Fun, but the store is geared toward adults and collectors. It’s open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: 672 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Big Fun
Sole Classics
What: A premier boutique for sneakers and street wear.
Where: 846 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Sole Classics
Prologue Bookshop
What: An independent bookstore that has been in the Short North since 2018. About 200 customers passed the books hand to hand down High Street when it moved into this bigger space in April 2026.
Where: 787 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Prologue Bookshop
Out of the Closet Thrift Store
What: The racks are cheap, and 96 cents of every dollar the store makes goes to AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s HIV prevention and treatment programs.
Where: 1230 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Out of the Closet
Magnolia Thunderpussy
What: An independent record store with new and used vinyl and a staff that knows the catalog. Yes, that’s really the name. It’s open until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Where: 1155 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Magnolia Thunderpussy
Ladybird
What: Ladybird specializes in established designers as well as up and coming artists. It’s the perfect place to have a trendy, fashion forward shopping experience.
Where: 772 N. High St. Columbus
Website: Ladybird
Things To Do In The Short North
Short North Gallery Hop
On the first Saturday of the month, all of Columbus comes down to the Short North to experience Gallery Hop. Galleries open new shows and shops stay open late, while musicians and street performers turn the sidewalks into stages from 4 to 8 p.m. It’s free, and it has been going since 1984.
Location: Short North Arts District, along N High St
Website: Short North Gallery Hop
Goodale Park
Surrounded by stunning historic homes, Goodale Park is the oldest public park in Columbus. The park is a great space to have a picnic, catch a festival or concert, or just take in a bit of nature in the middle of a bustling urban neighborhood. It covers 32 acres, pond and gazebo included.
Location: 120 W Goodale St, Columbus
Website: Goodale Park, Columbus Recreation and Parks
Short North Stage
A night at the theatre is the perfect way to have a night out on the town in Columbus, and the Short North just happens to be home to one of our best local theatre companies. Short North Stage produces several shows throughout the year from the historic Garden Theatre. The 2026-27 season is the company’s 15th there and includes Sweeney Todd and Hairspray.
Location: 1187 N High St, Columbus
Website: Short North Stage
Public Art
It’s not called the Short North Arts District for no reason, people! The Short North Alliance keeps a full map of the district’s public art on its site, but start with the two murals everybody photographs. Short North Gothic, Steve Galgas and Mike Altman’s take on American Gothic, covers the wall at 8 E Lincoln St, right at the corner of High. She Moves with Color, Mandi Caskey’s 2026 reimagining of the neighborhood’s original Mona Lisa mural, is on the side of the Moxy hotel at 800 N High St. Then find the Makers Monument, the Mark Reigelman sculpture that anchors the middle of the district at 815 N High St.
Location: Various locations. You can view a full list of public art in the Short North here.
Website: Shortnorth.org
Art Galleries
Although the neighborhood has grown and changed over the last few years, there are still plenty of galleries to check out, during Gallery Hop or any afternoon. The full list lives at the link below. Studios on High Gallery at 686 N High St has been artist-owned and operated since 1987, the oldest of its kind in Columbus. East Lincoln Street, a block off High, holds a short row of storefront galleries. The Columbus Museum of Art at the Pizzuti, at 632 N Park St facing Goodale Park, shows contemporary work and is closed Monday through Wednesday.
Location: Various locations
Website: Short North Art Galleries
