The Tastiest Lounges in Columbus

The Avalon

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (18) • $$

"Visited Avalon based on Yelp reviews, but was disappointed :( I was visiting Columbus for the night and I'm from the Tri-state area so Philadelphia/NYC clubs are very different, which may be why Avalon did not compare in my eyes. It may have been an off night, but the music wasn't good and neither were the drinks. DJ wasn't behind the table for a good portion of the night and just left a mix on! One thing I'd have to commend them on is their staff. From the bouncers outside to the bartenders, everyone was very kind and attentive. It was easy to get the bartenders attention and they did not rush you through your order. Asked us how our drinks were too!"

Station1

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (33) • $$

"Yup, just a whole in the wall that paid off. Needed a spot after a long drive and stumbled on this bar instead of the brewery for some reason. Either way we had some nachos and jalapeño cheesy bread they hit the spot. Nachos were burnt which was actually perfect and the bread had a hefty amount of cheese. Also got some beers and they filled up a growler for us. Definitely a cool spot to hang out in. Eat well and travel safe -ant"

Club 185

★★★★☆ 4 (250) • $$

"Great neighborhood bar and grill. Came here with my adult son and husband. The bartenders are attentive and make great cocktails. The portabella soup is hands down one of my most favorite soups, ever!"

Milano Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (63) • $$

"Wonderful staff delicious food and drinks... we went in for valentines to have dinner and where just so impressed with how friendly and efficient the staff was. The place is clean and inviting. I ordered a chicken dish I'm not sure the name and my husband ordered raviolis and they were just amazing. They have house made garlic cheese bread just we just loved it. I also had a salty caramel martini that was delicious The price was not too much definitely worth the great service and food"

Bon-Aire Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★★ 4.8 (4) • $

"5 stars : great food; great service; great vibe; great music. I will definitely be coming here frequently."

The Crescent Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.3 (20)

"I've frequented this area for many years and have seen this establishment change hands a few times. I was excited to see a refresh of the property, formerly Demarcos, and the business is under new management.It's wasn't very crowded when I stopped in, so time will tell if this is the new favorite among locals. Already made plans to meet some friends here next week and will update my review with additional drink/food details."

Abbey's Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.6 (42) • $$

"Sat outside in the tent due to Covid crap. Inside, well the whole place was packed so service was slow, and the prices were pretty high by WV standards. The drinks were right sized, cold and good mix/flavor. 4 us and not a complaint at all. Shrimp, Mussels, fried pickles, salads, hamburger and sausage sandwich, lobster ravioli were all very well done. Fresh bread, sides and apps all good. Nice onion rings too, but ours came out cold due to the slow service. Worth a shot...just go when it's slow."

Vine + Forge

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (39)

"If you didn't have to enter the hotel to get here, you would have no idea you were inside of one after sitting down for a meal at Vine + Forge. For starters, the space is decorated beautifully with modern seating, tons of bright light, and they even have outlets AND hooks near every table. These details are small but for a girl like me, it can really add to my overall dining experience. As for the food, I came for lunch during the week with a friend and was really surprised by their menu. For my fellow vegetarian friends out there, they had several options for me to choose from. I ended up going with their veggie burger, which is a Beyond Burger patty with provolone cheese, avocado, lettuce, and a house made ketchup. It also came with a small side salad. The ticket price for this lunch was $15, which is very comparable for a burger of this type. I ate every bite of the burger, but my salad fell a little flat. While I loved the fresh blueberries and strawberries, I'm not a huge fan of red leaf lettuce. While I didn't come for drinks, I did order a mocktail and I loved it. I got the Highs + Lows, which had lime, mint, ginger, and a simple syrup. I really like that more places are offering mocktails and getting creative with them!Whether you're staying at a hotel nearby or simply looking to explore a new restaurant, I'd say my four stars is really accurate when describing the experience. I would be interested in coming back for happy hour with friends!"

The Bourbon Affair

★★★★☆ 4.3 (42) • $$

"If you're at all serious about bourbons, The Bourbon Affair is for you, but even if you are not, chances are you will be after drinking here so it's good for you too. I first have to say that the nearby street parking, being a city imposed "mandatory reverse angle" must have some merit, rhyme or reason to it. However, whatever that might be totally escapes me. It's generally the craziest thing I've ever come across. The only thing I can think of is that it avoids having to back up if you are leaving drunk, which might be a good thing. Upon entering The Bourbon Affair I was given a warm greeting and smile by the staff. It was if they were really enjoying what they were doing and really in fact appreciated my patronage. It's a greeting like this that sets the tone for ones experiences and their greeting couldn't have been more warm or friendly.I began by a review of their whiskey inventory. I must say, the sheer size, extent and selections gave me the OMG's I've died and gone to whiskey heaven. Not only do they have bourbons, but classes of American, Irish, Scotch and Canadian along with a really splendid selection of ryes. Then, there is a good wine list, but one of the best of all lists, being their signature as well as standards in cocktails. I started off with a Manhattan classically done with a rye, in this case a top notch Bulleit with a Carpano Vermouth and one of those more than heavenly Italian Luxardo cherries. It was totally delicious and perfectly concocted the way a real rye Manhattan should be done. I then tried one of their special for the Fall Season cocktails, a Drunken Pumpkin. Though on the sweet side, deliciously so, and of a creamy spiced pumpkin taste. I was impressed by it.Another factor I love about The Bourbon Affair is their generally décor and atmosphere. It's easy going and laid back with a distinctive classical touch of class. And let me tell you, the bartenders here really know what they are doing. In fact I hesitate to refer to them as bartenders because they're actually professional mixologists."

Wildlife Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (1)

"Trying someplace new! Staying for a couple days at Salt Fork Lodge. Wildlife Lounge is located in the lodge. Beautiful setting! Big windows on two sides with stone and wood interior! Plenty of seating, and a TouchTunes jukebox! A relatively nice menu, featuring a daily soup, special, four draft, beers, and a full bar! My wife decided on some fried fun, mini corn dogs and tater tot's. They were brought out relatively quickly, piping hot along with the necessary accoutrements. I enjoyed one of their Manhattan's as well as a nice Blood Orange draft. Our server amended the terrific job!"

Fireproof Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (284)

"Good food. A bit pricey. Good luck with parking. Even if you park in a spot that doesn't have a "special" sign out back for residents parking you still might have your car towed at an expense of $150. The restaurant will tell you "happens all the time, sorry"."

Lumin Sky Bar & Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (97)

"I've enjoyed my experience every single time I've been to Lumin. Their service is great and is consistent every time. Love their cocktail options and changing menu items.During the winter they have the igloos outside with a nice view of downtown Columbus. The view is not as cute right now with the construction, but still nice!The cocktails can have a very strong alcohol taste (not complaining lol), but a heads up for those who might not like it super strong. The food is good, but nothing that's a "wow." The chicken wings have good flavoring on them though! Highly recommend. There's street parking along with valet."

Renie's Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.6 (20) • $

"Best service, food, and drinks hands down for this area! I come to Columbus frequently and every time I stay at the same hotel (which is right by this bar) and I've never heard of Renie's! It's truly a hidden gem. The food is great, they have a large selection of liquor and beer, all decently priced. I will definitely be returning!"

Sidebar Columbus

★★★★☆ 4.2 (444) • $$

"Great tapas bar on the south side of downtown Columbus. Could easily be missed if you're just driving through, especially since downtown tends to be quiet.The hostess, bartenders, and servers were all nice and helpful. We sat at the bar for happy hour and were given menus and explanations of various offerings. I got sangria, which was really good and had very fresh, sweet berries (even in the winter). We also shared a few dishes which were the cilantro hummus, beef empanadas, and ceviche. I love cilantro and thought the hummus was great, very herbal and punchy. The beef empanadas were also tasty and came with a sauce that, personally, could have used more spice. The ceviche wasn't super impressive to me, could have used more salt and maybe more of a vessel to eat with it.I will say, cost wise, its a bit on the higher end, even for happy hour but food and drink were mostly worth the price. Definitely a tucked away bar worth checking out!"

Ace of Cups

★★★★☆ 3.7 (59) • $

"Wow, super cool venue for small shows. Good beer selection and friendly staff. Will definitely look for additional shows so I can return."

Salar

★★★★☆ 4 (401) • $$$

"Fantastic ambiance, very attentive servers, fine spirits selection, and a delectable menu. Salar provides an excellent option for a finer dining experience where you will be treated with superb service and very tasty menu items with generous portions.The Lomo Saltado was purely reminiscent of the top-tier Lomo Saltado dishes I've had in the past. The beef here seems a bit of higher quality than your standard tho. The Machu Picchu Pork Chop was a behemoth but quality was not lacking despite the quantity served. The Duck Fried Rice was not a necessary order but I wanted to try it so there I was, in a gluttonous fashion just enjoying the delicious of every bite regardless of me being nearly full to capacity The duck flavor wasn't too overpowering, and the slight savoriness of the rice was so flavorful.I started the evening at the bar for drinks and slowly made my way to the main dining area. The bar is a very comfortable place to relax and enjoy cocktails. Coupled with friendly and attentive bartenders, I wouldn't have minded staying there all night. But the dining experience was also superb, with the wait staff being very pleasant and frequently checking in on our table."

Huli Huli Tiki Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.2 (250) • $$

"Stopped for after dinner drinks. I'm visiting from out of town & my mom wanted to make sure we saw this adorable place. The Painkiller, frozen, was so good!!! You could actually taste the alcohol, but not in an overpowering way, just in an , "I ordered an alcoholic drink for a reason, thank you for more than a splash!" The waitresses were smiling & pleasant. Which also contributes to a pleasant experience.We can't wait to bring more family and try the food too."

Port Lounge & Smokehouse

★★★★☆ 3.7 (24) • $$

"Very nice bar with a nice outdoor area on the canal with picnic tables, the smokehouse grill and usually a band and a fire pit. pool table is inside, prices are fail. the only drawback is the restrooms. the mens never has a line but the womens line is terrible long. i suggest making them both either sex so both of them get used instead of having to wait in such a long line. the bands are always good and the smokehouse has lots of awesome food. its delicious and a decent value, we will always return. its also great if you own a boat as you can just go down the canal to the Port and the Amvets is right next door,"

Sparta Steak House & Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (70) • $$

"Always a great meal/ steak with awesome blueberry martinis ! Every one is friendly. The restaurant may not look like it from the outside , but the awesome food speaks for itself !"

Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails

★★★★☆ 3.8 (636) • $$

"Came in after a performance at the Palace. It's middle of the day- probably around 2pm. There were not a lot of diners. The server was so nice, very attentive and talkative. They were very accommodating for my child and what she wanted- Mac and cheese, side of corn and side of broccoli. Hubs and I shared the Italian shaved beef sandwich and pot roast on pretzel bun. Great experience and I will definitely be back."

Bankshot Billiards

★★★★★ 4.7 (23) • $

"really neat pool hall with a full bar. there's an atm, change machine, virtual games, and a juke box. great place to watch sports, bartenders and workers are super nice. very clean and not a horrible smell of smoke"

Char House on the Boulevard

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (58)

"Such a cute place! We were seated right away. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu. We had pulled pork onion rings and southwest spring roll appetizers that were both amazing. Ribeye and Salmon were also both a big hit."

Get Wright Lounge

★★☆☆☆ 2 (2)

"I love their products but they are literally never opened on time and often closed at random times to run errands and do stuff that greatly inconveniences the customer."

Scratch Steakhouse And Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (73)

"Came here for my birthday a few weeks back. The short ribs were phenomenal. My parents both ordered steaks and they were also excellent. Came on a Thursday without a reservation and we were seated immediately. Great atmosphere too! Can't wait to come back!"

Buckeye Bourbon House

★★★★☆ 3.5 (137) • $$$

"The ambience here is great- high ceilings, very open, natural lighting, huge windows, leather sofas, shuffleboard and chess tables. They previously had a better happy hour that went until 7 with a variety of food items and drinks, but this last time I went, they switched it so that there are only about 2 small food options and 1 drink option for HH. I was a little disappointed because I loved their old HH, but still love Buckeye Bourbon.For food options, the Brussels are a must have, the wings are huge, and the flatbreads are nice and crispy. The sandwiches are just okay.Would recommend for some of the apps and the ambience!"

The Refectory Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (564) • $$$$

"Best fine dining in Columbus, hands down! Had large group and tried chef courses plus off the menu selections. We had wine and hand made cocktails as well. Service, food and drinks were all exceptional. No hurrying to turn the table either. 5 stars all around! Only negative was charge back to customer for using credit card. Really guys??!!! Absorb this in your profit margin...this place is not inexpensive and I find this practice bush league frankly."

The Plaza Restaurant & Lounge

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (26)

"I'm going to disagree with some of the other reviewers here. The food is outstanding here. I think the problem is it is a little pricey for what you get. I have eaten here several times and the food is always hot, fresh and delicious. The servers and staff are professional and friendly, there is nice quiet music playing. Several TVs are placed around on the walls. The space is inviting, clean and modern. An outstanding view of the statehouse is available if you get the right table.I usually get the Angus burger and fries. Today's fries were just perfect, glistening fresh, hot, perfectly salty, like they were taken out of a fryer with fresh oil about 45 seconds before they hit my table. 10/10. My burger was almost as perfect, subtle smoky flavor, very meaty, fresh and pretty big, more than 1/3 pound, I think. I get mine with an egg over-easy on it. A nice option. The burger: 9/10. I came to a catered event here a couple of months ago, that was also a first-class experience. Delicious chicken and risotto that was just perfect.There's lots of on-street meters near and a parking garage underneath. It's an easy walk from many downtown businesses and apartments. The Plaza would be a good place for a date and a great place for a business lunch. I work nearby and try to get here at least once a month."

The 698

★★★★★ 4.6 (31)

"We were in for what was supposed to be the Justin Timberlake concert and sadly after it was cancelled we had to pivot our plans. We were recommended this place earlier in the day and it did not disappoint. Everything was outstanding. This was a true dining experience. The food and drinks were amazing. Service from the bar was a little slow, but our regular dining service was amazing. The GM was phenomenal. He helped our table a little bit since they had limited waiters. Once he found it was my friends birthday he made it a little extra special for her since the concert was cancelled and she flew all the way in from Montana. I would come back here in a heartbeat.We had a variety of drinks and food. Some food recommendations are Gin & Tea, The 698, Lychee Martini, The Galaxy Roll, Rainbow Roll, The Smoked Toro, and the Laksa, which was the star of the menu. This place is so cozy and intimate. Very Mexican goth vibes."

Fox Winery

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (4) • $

"Found out about this cute place in the paper! Had to try it and enjoy and taste so many types of wine!"