Columbus might be better known for its college football than its wine lists, but skipping the city’s wine bar scene would be a serious oversight. You’ll find a vibrant mix of patrons here: OSU professors debating vintages over a glass of Willamette Valley Pinot, young professionals unwinding with natural orange wines after work, and savvy foodies seeking pours beyond the usual suspects. The result?
A surprisingly sophisticated selection that ranges from crisp Austrian Grüner Veltliners to bold California Cabernets.
Due Amici
$$ | (614) 224-9373 | WEBSITE
The heart of downtown Columbus isn’t necessarily where you’d expect to find a restaurant with such a relaxed yet classy vibe and vintage charm. But Due Amici has become a favorite of locals who walk over from nearby offices or drive in from the suburbs to enjoy their excellent happy hour. The restaurant’s atmosphere is so inviting, you’ll think they just opened for the evening.
But that just means there are fewer things to distract from the food, which includes consistently delicious options like bruschetta, Caesar salad, chicken Marsala, veal meatballs, and the most amazing tiramisu.
If you can make room after trying several dishes (and your wallet still has something left in it—the happy hour offers great prices on food and drinks), you’ll want to add on the option of enjoying it all on their patio or at the bar, where the professional and attentive staff, including one particularly exceptional bartender, will ensure you never have a bad experience.
The Capital Grille
$$$$ | (614) 453-2760 | WEBSITE
If a classic steakhouse had a sophisticated cousin—one who’s a little more refined, and a little more polished—it would be The Capital Grille. The restaurant serves upscale American fare that spans from comforting classics like the dry-aged strip steak to more indulgent seafood selections, like the seafood tower with lobster, shrimp, and oysters. Each meal is a splurge with entrees hovering around $60, but that doesn’t stop The Capital Grille from drawing a steady crowd each evening.
Set apart from the everyday dining scene, this is a prime spot for a grown-up birthday or an anniversary celebration.
Brothers Drake Meadery
$$ | (614) 388-8765 | WEBSITE
When you’re ready to upgrade from standard wine bars but are craving something equally engaging, turn to Brothers Drake Meadery, which serves meads in a wide range of authentic flavors. Their tour experience is the one we reach for the most—it’s a super-informative, ultra-educational tasting that can entertain one or a group, depending on your level of curiosity.
Brothers Drake is our go-to for a casual weekend outing: a tour with a tasting flight is the perfect laid-back activity when it’s too busy to plan something elaborate, or too quiet to even think about staying home.
Vino Volo
$$ | (614) 237-3400 | WEBSITE
The egg and cheese croissant is usually the first thing people mention when they talk about Vino Volo. And while the airport-famous breakfast is good, it’s Vino Volo’s charcuterie board that puts them in a league above other wine bars near the gates. The tender chicken on the BLT is a love letter to layover dining, and the spicy ham in the pizzetta cuts the perfect tang of the melted cheese. Vino Volo doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but they just might have perfected it.
Hunan Lion
$$ | (614) 459-3933 | WEBSITE
People love Hunan Lion so much they had to close for two years after a kitchen fire, and loyal customers are thrilled it’s finally back. And for good reason: You can put away a lot of fried rice in one sitting. The menu is around $15–$25 per entrée, no matter how much or how little you order. Everything is served family-style, so you can share a bit of everything—though if you’re like us, you’ll want extra orders of the tender, flavorful Szechuan chicken.
Wash it down with some hot tea, a classic Chinese beverage that pairs perfectly with the sizzling rice soup. Like a lot of the best spots in Columbus, the inside of Hunan Lion looks beautifully detailed with art and a fish tank, which is probably why most people opt for indoor seating to soak up the warm, inviting atmosphere.
Dos Hermanos Easton
$ | (614) 383-7930 | WEBSITE
There’s nothing like a place where you can joyfully shout across the table and maybe spill salsa on your new white shirt, and that’s why we come to Dos Hermanos Easton. The always-busy Oaxaca Mexican restaurant is inspired by authentic spots that peddle everything from birria tacos to house-made chips and serve heaping plates of flavorful dishes in the center of it all.
Dos Hermanos plays up its affection for them with authentic, well-maintained decor lining the walls, tables welcomingly packed together, and a bar stocked with good tequila. Expect a menu full of comfort meals, like tender birria tacos, sides of fresh salsa, and warm, scrumptious dishes.
Law Bird
$$ | (614) 636-1053 | WEBSITE
Japanese-inspired cocktails, a breezy atmosphere, and seasonal pop-ups have made Law Bird the ultimate night-out destination in Columbus. It’s been a staple for years—and now, with more late-night spots nearby—but Law Bird is still reliable for evenings when you want something creative but approachable. Drinks are priced around $14–18 each, with fantastic combinations like Scandinavian-inspired cocktails that feel like little works of art, and bar bites like hotdog and spam sliders.
The friendly servers help navigate the menu, and though service can slow when busy, the vibe remains amazing—so much so that visitors plan return trips just to explore more of the scene.
Bullshotz
$$ | (614) 928-3060 | WEBSITE
Picture a typical Columbus sports bar with its predictable lineup of TVs and beer specials. Then, imagine a spot that feels more like your neighbor’s welcoming backyard party. That’s Bullshotz, the easygoing favorite of the local scene. This wine bar restaurant from the team behind the city’s best casual hangouts is so inviting, with its clean patio and tidy interior, that it stands out from the usual crowded downtown options.
The space is spacious enough for groups but still feels cozy, so you might have to arrive early on weekends to snag a table near the dart boards, but it’s worth it for their full kitchen’s great food and lively entertainment schedule.
The Alibi Bourbon & Cocktail Lounge
$$ | (614) 914-6477 | WEBSITE
We’re obsessed with what The Alibi calls their ‘quirky cocktail menu’ (actually, the whole happy hour crowd is), which features creative and unique drink options with a rotating selection. The intimate and lively spot in Columbus is our go-to for post-work unwinding, but their cocktails are so beautifully made and interesting that it doubles as a move for impressing out-of-town friends.
The Alibi has a small space inside, with a lively vibe and loud music, but we typically opt for a quick, enjoyable drink outing.
Wine on High Bar & Retail
$$ | (614) 294-8466 | WEBSITE
Regardless of the occasion, you’ll want to grab a seat at the second-floor table at Wine on High. Yes, it’s perfect for private dinners or events with 10-20 people, but it’s the commitment to creating special moments that makes us feel like we’re celebrating something important. You should come here for the wine, although they do have some excellent service from Jeremy and Chelsea, too.
Their classic interpretation of Mac and cheese makes for a comforting, easy meal, but we’ve also been known to just fill up on their warm atmosphere and friendly vibe.
Parable Cafe
$ | (614) 972-6001 | WEBSITE
You always know what you’re going to get at Parable Cafe: a cozy seat, excellent coffee, your decaf breve latte served in a ceramic mug, and a check that reflects its premium quality. This is the best place in Columbus to settle in for an afternoon, and Parable Cafe does the coffeehouse basics best—we love the straightforward, absolutely zero-frills cherry almond pastry with a side of mango goat cheese.
We also like the plain and satisfying seasonal drink menu, and a creative cocktail-heavy happy hour named for the summer months. Parable Cafe opened more recently, and a big city vibe still hangs in the air and curated music plays on loop. We hope this place lasts forever.
Windward Passage
$$ | (614) 451-2497 | WEBSITE
As the nautical decor all around will inform you, it’s always a voyage at Windward Passage. Make sure you understand the assignment before showing up: casual comfort, some coziness, and the relaxed attitude that’s been waiting for a night out are all a part of the unofficial vibe. It’s a popular feat to get a table at this busy restaurant, but once you do (and commit to the well-priced menu—drinks not included) you won’t be disappointed.
And especially not by the food—particularly the fresh-caught grouper that’ll get you thinking about your next visit.
The Bottle Shop
$$ | (614) 674-6300 | WEBSITE
You probably won’t be able to hear yourself think over the hum of cocktail enthusiasts, groups of friends, and semi-blaring indie music at The Bottle Shop, but you don’t come here for quiet contemplation. You come here to drink some of the best natural wines in town (which makes sense—the staff guides customers through finding the perfect bottle).
A wall of rustic wood shelves and eclectic seating look down over the closely packed patio crowded with glasses of wine on tap, plates from the food truck, bottles of spirits, and the best espresso martinis we’ve ever had.