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The Best Bars for Foodies in Columbus

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by The OpenTable Team
Updated 26 February 2020

From the student population of Ohio State University to thirsty tourists, Columbus has no shortage of people looking for a great place to drink. Thankfully, Columbus also has no shortage of amazing bars, from live music joints to chilled-out lounges. But where are the best bars in Columbus? Welcome to our Tastemaker List bar edition. Our expert team have tried and tested the top drinking spots in the city and whittled them down to a list of “must-try” venues. From High Street Honey to Ernest Hemingway’s favorite, Death in the Afternoon, cocktails are a must in Columbus. It comes as no surprise that in such a foodie city, plenty of these concoctions come alongside small plates worthy of big restaurants. Enjoy olives in Italian Village, sweet stuff in Short North or burgers washed down with craft beer down High Street. Book now and reserve a comfy seat at one of the best bars in Columbus tonight.

A photo of Fireproof Restaurant restaurant
4.4
4.4 (1548)
$30 and under
Tapas / Small Plates
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
Fireproof’s owners designed it to be a one-stop destination where guests can enjoy a great meal, then finish off their night working through the cocktail menu at the bar. The food focuses on tapas separated out into snacks, soups and salad, meat, seafood and veggies. Customers come back time and again for treats like the octopus in orangecello vinaigrette, and the Hamachi tacos. Enjoy the chic surroundings whilst finishing off with a prickly pear margarita; plenty of new flavors to experience at Fireproof.
Top review
Shardae
Dined on 10 Dec 2024
The food was amazing and staff was very attentive!
A photo of Bristol Republic restaurant
4.5
4.5 (583)
$30 and under
Barbecue
Columbus
About the restaurant
An after-work favorite, Bristol Republic is a Nashville-inspired bar with an eye-watering range of whiskey and bourbon. Sundays are for BBQ buffet, and with the Nashville theme going strong, expect competition level ribs, wings and pulled pork. Drinks wise, for those not tempted by the hundred or more whiskeys, there are plenty of signature cocktails plus draft beer and cider. Join them at the weekends for Live Music Brunch, an event not found anywhere else.
Top review
Kiara
Dined on 8 Dec 2024
Great experience! Ended up being more people than reserved for but the staff was very accommodating, attentive, and served with a positive attitude. Food was great as well! Loved the fried chicken deviled eggs & the jumbo wings. Received an Apple dump cake for a birthday treat… soooo good!!
A photo of 1808 American Bistro restaurant
4.6
4.6 (2004)
$30 and under
American
Delaware
About the restaurant
Head out to Delaware for the day and book a table at 1808, a bright and warm restaurant redolent in wood and bare brick. There's a huge beer selection, complemented by unusual additions like mead, plus a three-category whiskey menu. Food here is all about combining the classics with local, seasonal ingredients. Enjoy melt-in-the-mouth beef carpaccio followed by wild-caught shrimp and grits, then finish off with a unique Boozy Popsicle. A huge hit in the Delaware dining scene.
Top review
KimVIP
Dined 5 days ago
This was our first time at 1808 and we are looking forward to going back. We were welcomed by the hostess and our server and promptly seated. We tried one of the seasonal pomegranate cocktails and brown sugar old-fashioneds to start. Both were delicious. Our party had the 1808 salad, the mushroom pasta dish and the twin medallions and a bottle of the Sokol Blosser. Everyone was extremely pleased. Our server was outstanding.
A photo of Service Bar restaurant
4.6
4.6 (646)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
Middle West Spirits Distillery has its own on-site showcase for its spirits, in the shape of Service Bar. Service Bar is as much as top restaurant as a favorite drinking spot, regularly appearing at the top of “best of” lists. A bustling and vibrant atmosphere is the backdrop for some astonishingly good looking dishes. Cheese & Poof is their take on pork rinds, under a tower of puffed pork skin. "Rachel" is their unique twist on Pastrami on Rye, with a touch of Kimchi. The restaurant's website encourages diners to follow Service Bar on Instagram to discover what the chef’s specials are- thoroughly embracing the digital generation. Booking recommended.
Top review
BillN
Dined on 5 Dec 2024
Food was very good. Pork cheeks were tender, burgers were good & seasonal pizza was interesting in a good way
A photo of SoCal Kitchen + Bar restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2271)
$31 to $50
Californian
Columbus
About the restaurant
California comes to Columbus in the shape of the Del Mar SoCal Kitchen. SoCal stands for Southern California, which is the inspiration for the menu here. Diners can watch as their food comes together in the open kitchen, or sit and enjoy premium cocktails at the bar. Happy hour includes plenty of drinks offers, plus a huge selection of dishes including octopus, shrimp ceviche, and tuna poke. Good vibes, served daily.
Top review
Ted
Dined on 5 Dec 2024
Great place, loved the meal. Will go back for sure
A photo of Forno Kitchen and Bar restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2875)
$30 and under
American
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
Forno is a Short North hot spot for pizza, drinks, and weekend brunch. Sit at the long, marble bar and indulge in local craft beer, a superb wine or one of their handcrafted cocktails. Dinner is all about contemporary cuisine finished to perfection in a stone-fired oven. As well as the signature pizzas, dishes include baked lobster rotini, salmon with red pepper coulis, and eggplant parmesan. Soak up last night’s alcohol with a hearty brunch of biscuits and gravy or the breakfast BLT. Elegant décor with a fun menu makes this one of the best bars in Columbus.
Top review
FredVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Perfect in every way - drinks, app, main dishes - perfect. Our server Molly was perfect!
A photo of The Avenue - Dublin restaurant
4.8
4.8 (3737)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Dublin
About the restaurant
Low lit and intimate, the restaurant has a cool 1920s vibe which is only accentuated by the red leather booths. Right on the fast-developing Grandview Avenue, this Steak Tavern is fast becoming the place to be. Valet parking is available at certain times, and the service is excellent. Enjoy a classic shrimp cocktail, followed by a hot chicken biscuit, or an 8oz top sirloin. Then relax at the bar and discover pre-prohibition cocktail recipes, reconstructed as faithfully as possible. A classy yet relaxed night out.
Top review
TroyVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Fantastic food and service! We started out with drinks at the bar and then moved to our table once it was ready. Starters were deviled eggs, crab cakes and two plates of oysters Rockefeller- which were outstanding! All three of us had steaks: a NY strip, a 20oz porterhouse and an 8oz filet mignon. A few bottles of California Pinot Noir and a few cocktails as well. Our server did a great job of guiding us and pointing out details that helped us with our menu selections. My two guests - both visiting for work from So California - were incredibly impressed with the entire dining experience. Great job.
A photo of The Pearl - Short North restaurant
4.7
4.7 (5878)
$31 to $50
Gastro Pub
Short North - Arena District
About the restaurant
Short North is home to many great eating and drinking spots. Not too many of them, however, claim to be a restaurant, tavern and oyster room all at the same time. The Pearl has an extensive drinks list including ales, lagers, stouts, wines, and unique cocktails. They focus on food for people who love to eat, from people who love to cook. Brunch is a laid back yet flavorful affair, with two types of Bloody Mary, rollmops, bacon-wrapped dates, oysters in the shell and, of course, amazing Eggs Benedict.
Top review
Tyler
Dined 1 day ago
Great Birthday dinner for the family! Our waiter Chris did an excellent job.
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