The Yummiest Music Venues in Columbus

Ruby Tuesday

★★★★☆ 3.9 (43) • $

"For starters, this is not your family style restaurant. Look closely at the details here on Yelp people. You don't want to arrive hungry and completely confused. Instead, this is a badass dive bar not far from campus. They have live music often, cheap drinks, friendly bartenders, a couple pool tables, a small patio, and a handful of televisions. When I arrived, I immediately felt like I was in my happy place. I mean c'mon, a round of top shelf tequila shots for four people was only about $22. Rejoice, rejoice!I'm sad it took me so long to visit but I know I'll be back. This is definitely a hidden gem for those that appreciate a good divey spot."

The Idle-A-While Supper Club And Venue

★★☆☆☆ 1.6 (5)

"My Uncle whose is 83 yrs old and still drives, mind you. Heard about a soul food restaurant. When we walked in i thought i was at a Speak Easy. Order my food off of a hard paper flyer, (my bad card stock flyer. Spare ribs, 2sides was my choice. Green beans and Potato Salad. That plate was delicious!!!! Band was setting up while Hip Hop and R &B blared in the back ground, played by a Caucasian DJ ,j off of a IPAD. He was decent. I had a chance to hear a few songs while i ate and was impressed by the band and their Jazz Funk, Genere. The Band's name is Eye28. My 83yr old uncle is speeding and i am typing, so i don't tense up from being scared. Any way...if you get a chance check this place out."

Doc's Big City Saloon / Cameo Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.5 (12) • $

"This is a college bar. The service was good. Your drink will come in a plastic cup. There wasn't much seating. Looks like they have a stage for some live performances, maybe open mic nights? There's a lot of floor space. There wasn't any entertainment when we were there on a Friday night. Do people dance? Or just stand around in herds? If people dance, I could see the abundance of floor space. Otherwise, they'd benefit from more high top tables for gathering. The place was clean. There were a few pool tables. They seemed to like their jack Daniels and had honey jack available. They even had a statue of Jack in the corner. Ha!"

The Walrus

★★★★☆ 3.8 (602) • $$

"I kept hearing about this place, and hearing how good it was, but it didn't quite seem like my kind of place, and it wasn't quite in the neighborhoods frequent. Today, I figured what the heck, and stopped in when I was passing nearby. It's joined to a bar, and the inside has a very old-school bar feeling with brick walls, etc. I happened in on a Monday, which is burger day, and they talked me into trying one. And it was excellent. $5 burgers, all toppings a small extra charge. I ended up spending $7.50 for one with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, chipotle mayo, and queso fresco. It came out and looked pretty small, but also pretty tall, and paired with a side it was plenty for lunch. Nice meaty burger, excellent bun, perfect toppings. Just a really good burger all around. At a really good price. Get two if you're super hungry, although by the time I ate it and my side of excellent Brussels sprouts topped with a ton of bacon, I was full. Service was excellent. Prices were good, but of course it was a super deal so I'm not sure about the rest of the menu. And the rest of the menu is very interesting, with essentially upscale bar food. The beer and cocktail menus also look interesting. The place is cozy and comfortable; the restaurant area in the front doesn't seem that big, but in the back it is bigger, and there's a bar, and there's a whole 'nother side of the building. There's a pool table, a stage, an interesting booth/dining nook, and more. Excellent fast friendly service all around. I will definitely be back to try some of the other options, andheck, if I am hungry for a burger on a Monday."

Robey's Sports Pub & Patio

★★★☆☆ 3 (8) • $

"Good atmosphere with enough people. Good place to watch a game. Typical strip center style bar. Just ordered beers all night with a few shots. A little birdie told me their mixed drinks were too weak so I didn't want to try them."

Woodlands Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (177) • $

"I've been coming here for oh, at least a decade. Even when I lived in Zanesville, about an hour away, friends and I would purposely come to town to go to Woodlands. The music is what draws us here. I almost always only come here when there is a live show taking place.The space itself is split into two, one side is the bar and kitchen, the other side is the music venue. They also have a great patio out front. I had pizza here once way back in the day, but I usually just order a few drinks while I'm here. The venue side has a small bar but the kitchen side is where they have the most options.As I mentioned, the main reason I come here is for the music. I've seen the Floorwalkers once or twice and I always make it a priority to come when the Spikedrivers are playing. I went to OU where they've played often, and try to catch them whenever they are in town. The space has a whole light system and the sound is usually pretty good. I like that they give you wristbands so you can walk back and forth between spaces. I also like that you can purchase tickets ahead of time instead of paying cash at the door.There's no doubt I'll continue coming here. If you've never been and you're a fan of live music, add it to your Yelp Collection pronto!"

Black Brick

★★★★☆ 3.5 (16) • $$

"Great small bar with a large selection of craft beers and cocktails. Connected to Donatos so you get great pizza and drinks. Parking lot in back."

Uncle Buck's Public Riding Stables And Dance Barn

★★★★☆ 4 (10) • $$

"I woke up last week feeling claustrophobic. I had to get out of the city. I called my friend and asked her if she wanted to get the hell out of town for a bit. She said, "yeah, if I can wear my pajamas." Done. We drove aimlessly east for awhile until I remembered that I had a friend that worked at Uncle Buck's. I'd never been there, but I'd heard that it was pretty sweet. How could a dance barn not be sweet? I called and got directions to the stable. An hour later we crept past a trailer-settlement of gawking locals until we reached our destination.We arrived the day after the last music event of the year. Apparently The Rarely Heard, a bluegrass band that's famous among bluegrass fans, had played the night before. A showing of 200 hundred people is pretty amazing for a dance barn in the middle of nowhere. My friend was scrubbing and cleaning, as she had been for hours, trying to recover from the previous night's show.We bummed around the place, checking out the horses and meeting the tour guides. I hung out with Uncle Buck for awhile until the horses were ready. Uncle Buck was relaxed and amiable, talking mainly about past shows and bands we were both into. He told us to check out Moonville tunnel on our way out, just past the second steel bridge heading south. It's worth seeing. You can find more info here: www.forgottenoh.com/moonville.htmlUncle Buck's has a full bar, an outdoor patio/beer garden, a stable, and a stage on a sprawling plot in the middle of Zaleski Forest. Between Zaleski, Lake Hope, and Uncle Buck's, you can make a pretty sweet day trip an hour and half outside of Columbus. The horse rides cost $25 for an hour trip. It's worth the cost if you like horses."

Rumba Café

★★★★☆ 3.6 (62) • $

"Great Sunday night here during Memorial Day Weekend with the HooDoo band--a regular Sunday band at this club. Just $12 per person cover and they rocked in two sets from 9 to midnight.The inside was packed body to body and the outside patio packed with smokers. We went out there during the bands break and got fumigated in a second and had to pop back inside.Age range here 30 to 70.Parking is a little challenge. Do what we did and park across the street 2-3 blocks away and walk it back.By that time you can see if you are sober enough to drive. Perfect place to go after the club closes: White Castle--that's where we went.See you at a future HooDoo night."

The Lost Anchor

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (26)

"The only complaint I would have is it took a while for the staff to approach me... but then found out they have had a plumbing issue (fixed now) Ok the good stuff Emma, Tristan and the owner Rick are awesome they are very friendly and inviting ... food was awesome and the pours are generous!!!!I l ok me the place and the staff and the food!!!!!Will be back!!!"

The Bluestone

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (80) • $$

"One of my favorite venues!!! Bartenders make great drinks, never a bad view, and they have flavored CROWN ROYAL!! I am an avid concert goer and I'm picky! I don't want crap selection or beer!! Keep it up!!! Love this place!!!"

Skully's Music-Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (172) • $$

"Awesome music venue Took an Uber to Skullys to see SMASH INTO PIECES from SwedenIt was a packed house Great venue , Bartenders were great tooHoping they book more live bands !"

Natalie's Grandview

★★★★☆ 4.2 (65) • $$

"Great atmosphere. Service was good. Was busy during happy hour so it was not as quick as I would have liked for sitting at the bar. The music was great background for the conversations that were had. The food was good and drinks were delicious. Want to go back during an evening performance soon. Will definitely go back"

Ravari Room

★★★★☆ 3.7 (43) • $

"A decent bar and an okay venue, back when they had a decent promoter. The bar has a lot of angles from which you can't see the stage, which kind of sucks. There is also a gigantic island bar that is probably twice as large as it should be. They do serve a good amount of excellent microbrews like Stone's Arrogant Bastard (and Double Bastard when it's available). They used to have an incredible happy hour special for a pie from next door and some beer.They've got some attractive and friendly bartenders, as most bars do or should, and I've got a number of friends who do or have worked there. Oh, one of the co-owners of Circus used to bartend there as well. There are two or three pool tables, a pinball machine, and darts to boot. Karaoke Tuesdays were a big deal for a while. Not sure if it still is. Stupid dance party one Saturday a month too. Don't go, it's full of twats. Not the good kind.The Dwarves on NYE years back was awesome. Black Knots shows were awesome ($400 bar tab? We weren't buying it). Fu Manchu and Valient Thorr, awesome. The shows are gone now though!I haven't really gone back much in a few years...right around the time I broke up with an employee, lost my fifty percent discount, and was sort of banned from returning. lulz."

Chances-R

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (8) • $$

"Very small little place, surprised they can get the musical acts in there but they sure enough pull it off. No kids allowed. The wings are pretty damn good. On par with Roosters. They make their own sauces and have quite a list to choose from, and I believe I heard tonight they sell bottles of the sauce. Loaded spiced fries were also good. Monday and Wednesday are their special priced wing nights. Good wait staff, decent parking, relaxed bar atmosphere. Beer selection was above average."

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."

The Spacebar

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (22) • $$

"Many improvements from the prior venue (Kobo). First of all, the place actually has a theme! Location of the stage has changed, allowing for much more room and open visibility to the stage. The bar area is also nicer, as well as the draft list! TWO sets of bathrooms! This place is HOT AS HELL in the summer; those cutesy ceiling fans weren't doing much. Perhaps a few larger ventilation fans would help. Overall, this is a decently solid venue that most likely holds around 200 people - pretty intimate! Parking is all off street, so get here early and prepared to walk a few blocks."

Dan Lew Exchange

★★★★★ 4.6 (10)

"Had the BBQ chicken bowl!!! Buckle up it's to die for and plenty to share. Lindsey our waitress was the bomb. Tried to talk her out of the fancy bowl with lid to take home the extra. No soap... she wouldn't budge!"

Turtle Creek Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.6 (47) • $

"What a great old school bar. The bartenders were fantastic! Everybody was really friendly and the band for the night was "Red Light Go" and they were a really tight band that played nothing but great songs! Took a Lyft home because my friend and I kept winning pool games and stayed much longer than anticipated!! Yea us!!! Happy Friday! I did not eat here but my buddy did and said the wings and cheese tots were great!!"

Old Bill Baileys

★★★★☆ 3.9 (14) • $

"Love this place! Stopped in here to join friends for a fun Friday evening. It took awhile for us to get a waiter to our table to order food. But the food was delicious and it was quick too. The portions were bigger than we expected. Fun little place to catch up with friends too!"

Manchester Hill Winery and Vineyard

★★★★★ 4.6 (27)

"What a great find! Was visiting the area doing some hiking and stopped here after. A really nice selection of wines they make on site, the owners are very passionate about what they do, and they were so friendly! Nice outdoor area that is pet friendly, and some snacks that you can order with your wine. The cheese plate was simple but hit the spot. We both did a tasting flight, $6 for 6, and very healthy pours. I liked everything I tried, I was especially surprised by the vignole. There was a musician playing on Saturday night, and they were following Covid protocols so I felt safe. Would love to come back again and try the cider they also make but didn't have this time."

Wren Farm

★☆☆☆☆ 1 (1)

"If you intend to have an event here when it's cold outside, please just do yourself a favor: don't. Uninsulated barn with open vents - and only four space heaters to cover that much space?! I think not. I attended a wedding here today and three hours later I'm still trying to get warm again. It was so cold that my toes and fingers were numb, and I could see my breath the entire time. And note: this was not some freak storm. This weather was forecast weeks in advance. So my question is, what kind of event space just doesn't plan for this kind of thing??It's probably great in the summertime... not so much in November."

Park Street Tavern

★★★★☆ 3.8 (57) • $

"Great place to hear our local bands! If you're not in the know, look up the Shaun Booker Dammit Band! Best blues around!!"

Short North Stage

★★★★★ 4.5 (25) • $$

"We came to see HAIR. Man, the 18 kids in The Tribe worked their collective butts off. Loved the look of the stage and that the cast roamed around the theatre. Super enjoyable. The bathroom situation is untenable. Small bathrooms and many users. They had to hold the restart after intermission because the lines are so long. Beware."

Dalton Union Winery & Brewery

★★★★★ 4.7 (39)

"Dalton Union in Marysville has a wonderful winery/brewery with multiple indoor spaces and a lovely outdoor patio. This is a very well run winery, take it from someone who has been to close to 50 throughout Ohio alone. The staff is kind and will happily offer you some wonderful ciders or beer on tap, or assist you in selecting some wines that might hit the spot. Things that make this winery great include: awesome staff, tons of drink options, snacks available for purchase, table games onsite, and live music, events, and local food truck options scheduled on a regular basis. It's also nice that they have an area set up with cold and refreshing water as you cap off your night.About the space: There's a large open area with ample seating and a centrally located soft seating space around the fireplace. On the wall opposite of the front door there is a large projector screen (where I watched the Michigan game). There's also a back room... and you can check out the tanks to the side where the action happens. (The first time I checked out this winery, there was a bridal shower setting up in the back room, so it's nice to have a space to celebrate with your friends). Opposite of the fireplace is the bar area where you can order tastings. There's also two well equipped single restrooms and a smaller tasting room where the business first began.I had a cider flight, then selected one I liked best for my drink. All and all, I had a great night. On the drive home, I was blessed with two shooting stars, on which I made a wish: that the love of my life would be mine forever."

Peach's Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (212) • $$

"This is one of many stops at Peach's Grill. My husband had the wings but was disappointed that they weren't crispy as he asked for them to be. He liked the sauce. I had the chicken wrap and it was tasty as usual. Since it was Saturday, the place was packed. We were told it was a 20 to 30 minute wait. We could see an open table. After 20 minutes, we were seated there. I assume this was done deliberately for staff not to be overwhelmed. Our server was great. Not too many options in Yellow Springs especially on a busy Saturday. This is my favorite choice."

KEMBA Live!

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (236) • $$

"It's been a minute since I visited Express Live... for obvious reasons. However, I was finally able to go for a show post-ish COVID. All Promowest venues require vaccination and I love that this one is a beautiful, not too big and not too small, outdoor venue. I saw Porter Robinson and for that show, the attendance wasn't too crazy (I imagine due vaccination requirements). I actually liked having a little space to dance. Staff were all wearing masks, for guests it was optional and encouraged. Bathrooms were clean and there wasn't a line out the door. Major Score!Overall, I think they're doing a great job handling the live music scene in Columbus right now. I love the variety of artists that come through here and the health and safety measures are very much appreciated. I'll be back soon!"

Byrne's Pub

★★★★☆ 4 (101) • $$

"The food is actually quite good at Byrne's Pub. The ingredients are quality, the portions are large and everything is tasty. I've been going with friends to their Monday night trivia for the last couple months. The trivia play is deep the have 12 or more teams every Monday I've been. It's a great time. There are 6 rounds of three trivia questions and two bonus type questions one at the midway one at the end. The only bad part is waiting for food trivia night can be long. Everyone arrives about the same time and orders about the same time. So I am sure their kitchen gets slammed. I'll definitely be back!"

Little York Tavern & Pizza

★★★☆☆ 3 (94) • $$

"Start spreading the news,I'm longing to strayRight to the very heart of it Little York, Little York!Something about this tavern really appeals to me. Yeah, it's a little divey, a little dark, a bit grungy and definitely kitschy in the decor department. But the atmosphere is classic hangout bar and I like it.You've got the bar itself of course, three sided, leading into the big saloon room with lots of tables, big screen TV and two pool tables. TouchTunes jukebox. There's also a kind of game room with claw prize grabbing boxes and shooting games.I observed a second large dining room separate and apart. This was not open on either weekend afternoon when I was here so not sure what the deal is there. Give me the barroom!Then of course there's the patio- a covered patio with plenty of seating that has its own bar. So much fun to sit out here! Tables are always open, with service. Outdoor bar opens as scheduled depending on the day. There are speakers of course, and it seems that it'll be open well into cold weather as I saw lots of heaters and the plastic roll downs standing by.Menu includes most everything you'd expect, lots of sandwiches and apps, and some surprises like spaghetti. They've also got the GF/keto friendly cauliflower pizza crust available, and the many toppings include anchovies! They also understand the meaning of "pie cut" for your pizza. I enjoyed my properly cut, anchovy topped pizza very much, thank you.There is frequent live music or DJs here. It's a chillaxing kind of place where you want to linger. And worthy of my 500th review."

The O on Lane

★★★★★ 4.5 (29)

"Really impressive restaurant that had an amazing wood fire pizza! We had Cobb salad to start. It was perfect to split before our pizza. We then shared the White Pizza and we devoured it. The crust was excellent and the flavors were wonderful."

A and R Music Bar

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (48) • $$

"Solid music venue in Columbus. We had no issues with the staff -- everyone was super nice and easy to communicate with. I share the sentiment with others here to make sure you're in the right line!! When we walked up my husband freaked out because there was a huge line outside, but it was for Kemba live. We were able to walk right up to the A&R bar stairs and get right in. I ALSO share the frustrations with the people that complained about the bathroom situation. There are only 2 bathrooms to accommodate this venue -- HOWEVER if the basement doesn't have a show they can open up the stairs and there's SEVERAL stalls per gender down there. It felt like a trade secret every time i passed the potty line and went down the stairs ha. Everything sounded amazing -- great show by UPSAHL and Brightest London."

The Barn

★★★★☆ 3.8 (54) • $$

"Yum! The food was so good and it was so beautiful sitting outside with the amazing views. Loved that the food was local and homemade. The woman that helped us was so sweet!"

The Dublin Pub

★★★★☆ 3.8 (425) • $$

"Stopped by the Oregon District Car Show before we walked up to the St. Anne's German Fest. We decided to stop in to the Dublin Pub for lunch given the day was so beautiful Never a bad day on the patio when it's a cool mid-70s in the summer. A cold Guinness to chase some Jameson is always a good combo for some day drinking. A Reuben and Fish-n-Chips is all we needed to recharge before hitting the festival in search of a cool Stein!"

Stuart's Opera House

★★★★★ 4.8 (14) • $$

"Came here for Southern Culture on the Skids, not sure what the venue would be like. Walking down the street, the whole front of the building is under construction and there were closed signs- uh oh, do we have the right place? The right date? But walk around to the side door, and yep, it's open. Once inside you go up some big stairs (not sure how handicap access works) and out into a small, beautiful old theater. Maybe 300 or so seats, but it feels like a private theater, or something like the Austin City Limits set where things are very intimate. Seats are old-school but comfy, and the sections are spread out so you can walk between them easily. The place has been restored and updated, and acoustics are amazing. The views are great, even from back by the merch tables. Staff were super friendly and helpful. It is a nonprofit, and the love shows. Prices are reasonable, and frankly underpriced- there are so few seats, and it is such a cool place, that I hope they are making enough. Nice bathrooms, a good bar in the back. Plentiful street parking. Renovations should be done in 2017, and I'm sure the front of the house will be nice. Can't wait to go back."

Rambling House Soda Pop

★★★★★ 4.7 (57) • $

"This is one of the most unique and surprising places I have been to in Columbus. So pleasantly surprised! I have actually passed this place a million times and vowed I would never go here because it looks a bit sketchy on the outside, especially in the daytime. It transforms at night, people milling about outside, friendly light and door open welcoming you in. The service was prompt and very friendly, bouncer was nice and the music was awesome! My roommate and I got some signature drinks with soda that they make in house. It sounds strange but the gin and lemon-lime soda combo was good! Holy crap, the band we heard was amazing. It was a cover band I forgot the name of playing bluegrass music. Disclosure: I think bluegrass is ok, this band was just so good. We found out after the fact that the lead singer was only 17, but he had a deep raspy voice of a 35 year old. Impressed with the band, the bar and my drink. Will be back for more fun here! Check this hole in the wall out, you'll be more impressed than you think!"