Are you on the lookout for the most poppin’ Cocktail Bars in Columbus?
Then we have you covered!
On this page, you’ll find the official shortlist of the best Cocktail Bars in Columbus. (More in-depth further below)
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Despite being dubbed “America’s biggest little town,” Columbus is home to a diverse variety of neighborhoods, including the German Village, Arena District, and fashionable Short North, which showcase a cultural mosaic of German, Italian, and Latino influences in its eateries. If you explore deeper, you’ll notice that Columbus has a booming nightlife as well – just look at the best cocktail bars in the city. From Ohio State University students to thirsty visitors, Columbus has no lack of people seeking for a decent location to drink. Fortunately, Columbus has no shortage of fantastic bars, ranging from live music venues to chill-out lounges.
The Light of Seven Matchsticks
The Light of Seven Matchsticks is a 1920s-themed subterranean speakeasy inspired by Wes Anderson that serves handmade drinks and small appetizers. What we like about it: The Light of Seven Matchsticks has the atmosphere of a bygone period. This speakeasy takes it to a new level, from the luxurious velvet décor to the hidden menu you must locate before ordering. What to get at this bar: Nor in my circus, not with my monkeys. Yes, it is the actual name of the drink! It contains Overproof Rum, Smith & Cross, lemon, cinnamon, and demerara sugar. In Great Mythologies, the Heroes’ adventures begin with a summons to experience, and they must leave their usual surroundings. Dr. Joseph Campbell describes this other realm as a Kingdom Underground, a Profound Dream State.
Tonight, they want you to run away with them, escape the commonplace, defy convention, leave your inhibitions at the door, and explore that other realm by the Light of Seven Matchsticks. “Cocktail for a Cause” is available. Among them are tequila, lychee, Blue Curacao, citrus, and spice. To promote reproductive choice, $3 from each drink sold is contributed to Planned Parenthood. They hold an Industry Night regularly. Every Sunday, if you’re in the business, which includes artists, you receive free popcorn all night, 10% off, and $2 snaquiris. Standup From the Waist Up has returned! You are cordially welcomed to The Light of Seven Matchsticks for an exclusive drink and comedy event! Host Travis Hoewischer and his guests Mary Santora and Pat Deering sling drinks and quips from behind the bar.
If you’d like to throw a party with a group of close friends, don’t hesitate to contact ticketing@bonafideproduction.com. The Light of the Seven Matchsticks tucked away behind Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza, and Live Music invites you to journey back in time. With luxurious velvet seats, a traditional bar, and warm lighting, you can practically hear Prohibition-era Columbus, the rich history of the site, and the individuals who have gone before you. The house drink menu invites you into the intriguing and burgeoning world of craft cocktails, blended and shaken with quality house-made ingredients and an adventurous attitude. The cuisine selection pays homage to heritage while pushing the boundaries of the palate, and it is sure to please. This bar has its own set of regulations. Come with those you like spending time with! (There is no cell phone service.) Please leave your children at home, as much as adorable they are.
Antiques on High
Why we like it: Antiques on High offers a vintage feel with a beautiful selection of sour beers and cocktails on the menu. The area might become a little cramped when you travel upstairs to the rooftop patio. It’s much better in the winter because of the enormous fireplace! What to get: This Seventh Son Brewing offshoot is all about sour beer. Wax Poetic is my go-to beer at Antiques on High since I prefer a sour but not too sour beer. It’s a sour blond ale aged in oak barrels that’s “moderately sour,” according to the pub. Antiques on High is a highly-rated brewery located in the Brewery District of Columbus. They focus on sour and wild beers, but you can get hazy IPAs, classic-tasting pale ales, and other refreshing draft beers. AoH is a causal environment, so it’s no surprise that the food consists of food truck meals.
I think there’s nothing wrong with it because there’s a different food truck every day, and all of the food truck alternatives are fantastic! On Saturdays, I get a California Burrito from the burrito truck, and on Tuesdays, you guessed it, I get tacos. If food trucks aren’t your thing, that’s fine. Antiques enable you to bring food from nearby eateries that may be more attractive to you. Just be sure to order drinks from them! This is one of my favorite Columbus rooftops. You may not only contain a wonderfully prepared cocktail or a sour beer from the bar, but you can also enjoy it on the roof. They have a cozy fireplace, relaxed lighting, and an excellent atmosphere for drinking with your friends. 714 S. High Street is the address for Antiques on High.
Monday through Thursday, 4 pm to 12 am, Friday, 3 pm to 2 am, Saturday, 11 am to 2 am, and Sunday, 11 am to 12 am. Antiques on High is located on South High Street in Columbus, Ohio’s brewery area. As the sister brewery to Seventh Son Brewing, AoH focuses on producing sour and wild beers, hazy hop-forward IPAs, and pale ales. Along with our AOH beers, several wines and craft cocktails are offered on draft. Feel free to bring food from their neighbor’s Kolache Republic, Smoked on High, Emmett’s Cafe, Local Cantina, or Lawbird when a food truck is not on the premises. So, this is one of the best bars Columbus has to offer you.
Watershed Kitchen + Bar
Watershed is a swanky dining room inside a distillery offering signature house cocktails & seasonal American fare. Why we like it: Watershed is elegant and outstanding. When I have out-of-town guests, it’s always my go-to spot to wow them with dinner and cocktails. That’s the tea: it’s a lovely restaurant with high-quality service and items. The Dunhill is the drink to order. This drink mixes several things I don’t usually enjoy into one of the most excellent drinks I’ve ever tasted. Four Peel Gin, East India Sherry, Dry Vermouth, Dry Curacao, and Absinthe Rinse make the Dunhill. Watershed Kitchen & Bar, located just off the beaten path in Grandview, reflects the community they love, the ingredients that inspire them, and a platform for the people who make it great.
They collaborate to deliver excellent offerings and experiences with genuine hospitality, warmth, and a sense of fun by procuring from local producers and enabling the creativity of their staff to show. Watershed Kitchen & Bar is a terrific location to meet new people and get to know their spirits, space, and crew. Visit them for happy hour, a get-together with friends, a date night, a special occasion, or everything in between. Respect for ingredients and people is the foundation of honest food and drinks. They seek to make Watershed Kitchen & Bar a reflection of the town they love, a platform for the people who make it great, and a representation of the foods that inspire us. They collaborate to deliver excellent offerings and experiences with genuine hospitality, warmth, and a sense of fun by procuring from local producers and enabling the creativity of their staff to show.
Watershed Kitchen & Bar is a terrific location to meet new people and get to know their spirits, space, and crew. Their cocktail menu represents their bar team’s energy, innovation, and seasonality, creating one-of-a-kind flavor combinations and transportive beverages. They provide an immersive themed cocktail menu twice a year that includes a wide selection of styles, spirits, and tastes for customers wishing to drink in their unique distillery atmosphere. The cocktail menu not only contains Watershed Distillery spirits but also rotating low- and no-ABV beverages for everyone to enjoy. They provide genuine Midwestern fare. Food demonstrates a regard for the ingredients and how they arrived in the dish. Food with a feeling of time, changing with the seasons, and place, recognizing how they live and grow up.
Pins Mechanical Co
At Pins Mechanical Co, craft cocktails are served in an industrial space with duckpin bowling, pinball & other classic games. It is a social destination featuring duckpin bowling, dozens of classic pinball machines & many more ‘old schools’ entertainment options, along with high-quality cocktails and craft beers served daily. Go Play! Why we love it: Duckpin bowling combined with a fantastic beer, excellent companions, and a late-night food truck feast equals a pretty incredible night. Pins Mechanical Co. is an excellent spot to gather a large party even if you don’t intend to bowl. What to get: At Pins, I can order whatever I want: they always have fantastic beers on tap and some delicious cocktails. Because I’m a bourbon fan, I recommend the Brown Derby, prepared with Four Roses whiskey, honey, and grapefruit juice.
What more could you want than beer, fire pits, a lovely patio setting, and games? Pins have a fantastic outdoor layout, which is why it’s so popular. Not only is there bowling indoors, but there are also activities like Jenga, patio pong, and table tennis outdoors. Furthermore, the enjoyable atmosphere is ideal for spending time with friends or family. Pins does not have a kitchen, although some locations (including Easton and Dublin) offer food trucks on-site. Every day. Pins Mechanical Company was founded to provide a social gathering space that brings people together via non-traditional/playful activities. Pins combines ‘Old School’ entertainment, inventive handmade cocktails, and regional craft beer to reimagine how time should be spent with friends, whether it’s duckpin bowling, pinball, bocce, or old arcade games.
The vibe is retro-industrial, with an emphasis on comfort for prolonged stays. Pins caters to individuals searching for an alternative to the mundane, with a name taken from the pins of duckpin, the nostalgia of pinball, and the retro mechanic’s attitude of our workforce. The brand caters to a wide range of demographics, from bar-going veterans to young open-minded, beer-centric types to gaming beginners and fanatics; the nostalgic and lighthearted ambiance appeals to all sorts of gamers. The laid-back and trendy alternative to a night out has come. So, this is one of the best bars Columbus has to offer you. If you are in town, you should visit this venue at least once. Go with your family, friends, or loved ones for a fun, lovely, and memorable time! Their entertainment services make them one of the most fun bars in the city!
Denmark on High
At Denmark on High, Handcrafted cocktails & European-style small plates are offered in a chic, convivial atmosphere. 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. DENMARK is Columbus’ destination for an unforgettable drink experience. Guests may enjoy sips and snacks in the open, cosmopolitan ambiance of the 2nd-floor bar and lounge, which overlooks the High Street. DENMARK creates one-of-a-kind, delectable cocktails for all palates, employing handcrafted liqueurs and cordials, house-made bitters, fresh juices, and intriguing procedures.
Their home concoctions and advised classics shift periodically, so there’s always something fresh to try. DENMARK is located on the second level of the Yankee Trader building, just north of Columbus, Ohio. The bright, open, and attractive room, available to the public Monday through Saturday, can comfortably seat up to 100 people. The Secret Cellar, located on the underground level of the building, not only acts as the backbone of the DENMARK Lounge but is also a private event area that can seat up to 50 people. DENMARK takes pleasure in producing as many ingredients as possible in-house. All infusions, cordials, syrups, bitters, and tinctures are made in-house from scratch. In other words, if they can find out how to create it, they will. As a result, DENMARK offers a unique selection of drinks and tastes. Visit their blog for recipes, tips, and ideas! (Stay tuned!)
DENMARK & its private events venue, the Secret Cellar, can design and accommodate an event that is likely to rank as a highlight of your year, from a few friends meeting to learning how to mix excellent cocktails to eighty-person conference-opening blowouts to intimate, hassle-free weddings. They provide delicious hors d’oeuvres, make unique event drinks, and offer various event planning services. They would be delighted to host a gathering in the upstairs lounge or plan a special event for the Secret Cellar. Take it from the best! A member of their talented bar staff will lead the group in a hands-on cocktail demonstration in which students will prepare (and drink) numerous cocktails. Make a reservation for a private party of 8-20 individuals—ideal for holiday parties, birthdays, and team-building activities. Alternatively, join up for one of their next public cocktail courses!
Mouton
Mouton is a relaxed neighborhood pub decorated with local art that serves sophisticated cocktails, beers, and gourmet nibbles. Why we like it: Mouton is a Columbus institution for cocktails. It’s a little spot with a melancholy (but pleasant moody) feel. Cocktail enthusiasts in this city owe a lot to Mouton because they were among the first to raise the standard regarding mixed cocktails in town. Order the Old Fashioned. I’m not sure how they developed the world’s finest drink. But you won’t find a finer one than at Mouton. If you’re looking for a stylish and engaging atmosphere to have some cocktails at a Columbus bar, Mouton is the place to go. This central location is well-known as a neighborhood cocktail club with a reputation for refined beer, cocktails, and luxury drinks.
You’ll get a sense of an enthusiastic and high-spirited community with local art covering the walls. Mouton offers a broad range of drinks and beers to suit your taste and hence satisfy your hungry want. It is open from Tuesday through Friday, and its happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. Looking for a fancy place to drink in Columbus? MOUTON is the solution to your prayers. This neighborhood cocktail bar serves sophisticated drinks, craft beers, and premium appetizers. With local art adorning the walls, you’ll be able to get a feel for the neighborhood as well. MOUTON has a wide range of cocktails, so you’re sure to find something to your liking. Try the gregarious animal, the golden year, the daily superhero, or the rose gold. They also serve traditional drinks if you want to stick to the essentials. Don’t forget about happy hour, which runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday!
MOUTON has been one of your local bars for over a decade, serving as a beautiful meeting place for friends, family, and professionals. It’s a location to enjoy the company of those you’re with. Take in the beautiful works of the local artists whose work we are happy to display. Mouton serves unconventional yet professional beverages and cocktails in a modern and relaxed setting. They serve artisan bread, cheese, cured meats, European wines, and champagne. But the traditional vintage cocktails and highballs, all crafted with high-quality ingredients and tinted with hand-pressed citrus, set this restaurant apart. Beautiful artwork and sculptures fill the room, giving it an aristocratic aspect. Try a Whiskey Smash, Iowa Ham, Gin Gimlet, or one of their classic cocktails with a superb cheese combination.
Veritas
Veritas is a cozy space offering elevated dishes, a tasting menu & cocktails. Why do we like it? For a good cause, Veritas has earned national notice. Chef Josh Dalton has received honors from Forbes to Food and Wine, and Veritas deserves them and more. It’s a fantastic spot to drink, order a meal, and take in the culinary genius around you. What to order: The Desert Poppy, prepared with reposado, grand poppy, honey, lemon, and apple, is my current infatuation at Veritas. However, the menu is brimming with cocktails to sample, so don’t be shy! It is a cozy space offering tasting menus that are an alchemy of seasonal ingredients and imaginative composition. Chef Dalton has coupled his inherent confidence with a passion for travel and delicious cooking.
Chef Dalton has delivered beautifully crafted foreign meals and inventive beverages to the downtown Columbus neighborhood by plating his love. Veritas has developed into Columbus’ neighborhood fine dining forefather, noted for reflecting the natural world in straightforward and unexpected new ways – through elevated small dishes – throughout the years. Veritas has established a permanent residence in the old Citizens Trust Bank building. This location provides a one-of-a-kind, modern subterranean ambiance and the transparency of an all-glass kitchen, encouraging guests to participate in the creative cooking process. Veritas believes that the kitchen is a playground and your plate is a blank canvas. Each mouthful should be a starting point for a voyage of flavor, texture, beauty, aptitude, and experimentation. They value hard effort, remaining modest, ongoing change and progress, and the quest for knowledge.
Veritas began as a small incubator north of Columbus, where chef Dalton planned to experiment and develop new cuisine. Today, Veritas has evolved into a Columbus landmark, delivering an ever-changing cuisine and a unique sensory experience. Chef Josh Dalton has garnered multiple honors since opening Veritas in 2012 for producing one of the most inventive and imaginative restaurant experiences in Columbus, Ohio. It would be their pleasure to assist you with your next culinary adventure. Veritas, located in downtown Columbus, OH, offers an immersive, multi-course tasting menu experience in their main dining room. Their objective is to take you on a gastronomic journey highlighting the ingredients and methods fueling our enthusiasm for modernist cuisine. So, this is one of the best bars Columbus has to offer you. If you are in the city, we recommend you visit this bar!
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Conclusion
Without a question, Columbus, Ohio is a terrific place for cuisine and restaurants. But did you know that this city also has a plethora of fantastic bars where you can enjoy the nightlife? I don’t know about you, but for me, getting a few beers with pals is sometimes the only way to unwind after a busy week. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of my favorite pubs in town for a night out with pals. There is a bar in the city for everyone, whether you want a dive bar, a cocktail bar, or a place with a lot of entertaining activities. We’ve also listed several places with fantastic happy hour discounts so you can save some money.
