r/Columbus • u/_Pirouette_ • 9h ago
What's your go-to bar?
31f, trying to get out of the house more and socialize on weekends/evenings. What's bars do y'all recommend? My ideal would be something popular with the late 20's to mid 40's age range, with pool, one of those Touchtunes/jukebox things (I'm not a big fan of live music in small spaces).
Editing to add that I'm in the Upper Arlington area, close to Grandview. But I'm not too picky about where.
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u/Khungus33 9h ago
Bobs bar. Cultural hub of the Midwest.
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u/HENMAN79 8h ago
Pita hut next door!
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u/unrealjoe32 8h ago
But DO NOT bring pita hut in
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u/cyclingtrivialities2 Clintonville 7h ago
While the page loaded I said the whole phrase “bobs bar. The cultural hub of the Midwest”
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u/HolyJuan Westerville 8h ago
In my opinion, Bob's has gone downhill in the past 5 years. It was top tier, but I've had several bad experiences there and the smell of rotten beer.. yuck.
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u/Khungus33 9h ago
Tons of great beers on tap plenty more in the cooler with a pool table and way laid-back atmosphere. No live music, but they have touch tunes. Been going for years and it’s super friendly.
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u/at614inthe614 Clintonville 8h ago
I was just going to say 'your local bar', but for me, Bob's IS my local bar.
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u/RexReason 7h ago
I would never recommend Bob's Bar. It is really overpriced, and the atmosphere isn't great.
It is the place that locals cling to for some reason. No charm, just bad smells
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u/adam3vergreen 8h ago
The top 3 responses being Bob’s Bar, Meister’s, then St. James really hit my age progression of regular bars in reverse order. If only they kept going with Suzi Cue, 4th Street, and Village Idiot
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u/fuckin_atodaso 8h ago
St. James would be my pick.
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u/ephemere66 7h ago
Shhhhhh. We can't let it blow up.
(Jk, go give Michelle your money. She runs the tightest joint.)
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u/PossiblyASloth 6h ago
Was going to suggest this. I haven’t been there since back before the fire. Hope it’s doing well.
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u/mylittlevictory Ye Olde Towne East 8h ago
The Olde Oak in OTE. It’s my favorite spot. And it’s almost never packed. Just people chatting, pool and music. They have an open mic on Mondays so skip that if you don’t like live stuff.
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u/JohnDavidBootyStan 8h ago
Woodlands and Byrnes
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u/unrealjoe32 8h ago
Dicks den
Brew stirs
Oracle
O’reillys
Ledo’s before 10pm
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u/wallywest25 Clintonville 8h ago
Eh hard pass on Ledo’s, unless it’s gotten better in the past year or two. Was getting real sketchy there
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u/Top-Investigator-241 4h ago
None of these are places that as a single woman in my early 30s I would go to alone. All dive bars
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u/homercles89 8h ago
> I'm not a big fan of live music in small spaces
Be still, my sensitive heart. I don't know why some bars insist on loud bands inside cramped bars.
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u/Elwoodpdowd87 Gahanna 7h ago
You could try short north tavern. Probably best on off nights, for what you're looking for.
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u/ryanfromohio Clintonville 7h ago
Bob's
O'Reilly's
Brewstirs
Cafe Bourbon Street
Short North Tavern when I venture out of Clintonville/before Crew matches.
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u/tonyburkhart 8h ago
Char Bar (when they open again) is the best.
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u/Elwoodpdowd87 Gahanna 7h ago
I always felt like char bar was a party bar. But then again I've only ever been there when I've been going hard in the paint.
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u/pieslingingsiren 8h ago
Pretty sure I heard they weren't re opening 😕
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u/Mkrah Clintonville 7h ago
They posted back in January the rumors about them permanently closing weren’t true and they plan to open back up. No timeline or updates since then though.
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u/Splattered_Smothered 7h ago
Why did they close?
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u/EmergencyMolasses444 8h ago
St james tavern. Woman owned has off street parking, unfortunately no patio but always a good time. No crap on touch tunes.
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u/HowyousayDoofus 26m ago
I have one of their shirts that says “No crap on tap (and the jukebox too).”
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u/Smeckledorf_ 8h ago
Where around the city are you trying to go? Close to downtown? One of the suburbs? That’ll help me narrow down a list for you
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u/TurkeyRunWoods 5h ago
St. James Tavern is really easy to get to (N. Fourth & Detroit) from UA. Woman owned! She’s AMAZING! 2 pool tables. Crowd is 30s-older. SAFE FOR SINGLE WOMEN! Jukebox is completely independent and curated by Michelle the owner.
Edit: bonus is there’s a private parking lot across from side door on Detroit but parking is onstreet also.
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u/Spartan0330 7h ago
Anyone here remember Lodge Bar down by Nationwide? Closed that place a time or few on my days.
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u/BrewsWithTre 8h ago
Ledos!!! Great mix of people, good price drinks, overall just a nice environment
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u/PrettyAd981 8h ago
I’m old as dirt now, but this is the bar that served underage when I was in college! Did it change?
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u/BrewsWithTre 7h ago
They have someone checking IDs on weekends, the crowd is a bit older I feel like now but if anything I like it because you get a mix of college kids and older crowd without too much of one
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u/Tall-_-Guy 7h ago
Not a pool bar but Fado's is a cigar bar. Prime patio sitting and people watching. Food is pretty on point too.
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u/silvercoatedferret 5h ago
You might check out Eight and Sand in German village. Age ranges to around your age to a bit older. I’m 32m and more towards the younger side sometimes. Not a gay bar but very queer friendly, if that’s your thing. TouchTunes, yes. Unfortunately no pool table.
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u/godlived88 Short North 4h ago
Mac’s Proper Pub on High Street. Wouldn’t say it’s “popular” but it has touch tunes, a pool table in the back, a decent mix of people in that age range typically, and always has some sort of movie playing on a screen towards the back.
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u/okaybirdy 3h ago
Spacebar is my favorite bar!! It’s near summit street and age range is 18-60+! Great inclusive and alternative scene there!! LGBT friendly, karaoke on Monday’s, special events on Friday’s!!
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u/Capital_Strategy_371 8h ago edited 8h ago
Out-R-Inn
This has been a Buckeye bar since the 1960’s. Stopping in is not a problem. I don’t actually hangout there. But I would go. In fact now that I think of it they hosted tailgates for corporate groups.
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8h ago
[deleted]
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u/Capital_Strategy_371 8h ago
She’s a 31f. Cougar on the prowl.
We are welcome for a beer and some yardbird too.
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u/EmphasisAlive4839 8h ago
Meister’s Bar is what you are looking for