Are you ready to elevate your after work evenings in downtown Columbus? Whether you're a local winding down your workday or a visitor looking for a perfect spot to meet up with friends, the city's vibrant happy hour scene has you covered. From craft breweries to rooftop bars, downtown Columbus boasts an array of enticing options to explore.
Here are 20+ happy hours to try in downtown Columbus.
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing
Not only is Wolf’s Ridge Brewing one of the city’s top-rated restaurants, it’s also one of our best breweries! You get to enjoy the best of both at its taproom and main dining room.
In the restaurant…
- When: Tuesday-Friday, 5-7 p.m.
- The deal: $7 bartender’s choice classic cocktails, $8 house wine, $8 shishito giardiniera and fried smelts, $10 Persian tomato salad
In the taproom…
- When: Tuesday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.
- The deal: $1 off drafts, $2 off BYO flights, $2 off big pretzels and wings
Goodale Station
Located on the twelfth floor of the Canopy By Hilton, Goodale Station offers beautiful views of the city as a backdrop to drinks, dinner, or weekend brunch.
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.
- The deal: Discounted small plates, $9 cocktails, $3 bottles/cans, $5 drafts, $6 wines
Rishi Sushi Kitchen & Bar
There are plenty of reasons to love Rishi: artfully prepared sushi, big bowls of ramen or noodles, a curated selection of sake. Its happy hour is icing on the cake.
- When: Monday-Thursday, 5-6 p.m.
- The deal: $6-8 specialty cocktails; buy two get one free sushi (Mondays); BOGO starters (Tuesday); half off bottles of wine (Wednesday), half off bottles of sake (Thursday)
The Keep
The Keep is the in-house bar and restaurant of the Art Deco LeVeque Tower, Columbus’ first skyscraper built in 1924!
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.
- The deal: Discounts on selection libations
Little West Tavern at The Junto
Little West Tavern is the ground-floor eatery of the new Junto Hotel. It’s built around a cozy open-hearth kitchen and offers hearty fare to hotel guests and visitors.
- When: “Easy hours” 4-6 p.m. daily
- The deal: $8 crunchy wings, queso fundido, and poutine; $8 Punchy and From Tx with Love; $7 Pony + Whiskey or tequila shots; $5 local drafts
El Camino Inn
The recently reopened El Camino Inn invites you to their weekly happy hour specials.
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.
- The deal: $7 margaritas, $4 Palomas, $2 beers and El Toro shots, $10 tortilla chips with salsa, queso, and guacamole
Slammer’s
Slammer’s is a beloved downtown, LGBTQIA+ bar that’s been welcoming the community for more than 30 years.
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.
- The deal: $5 shareables, $4 well shots, $3 domestic pints, $1 off signature cocktails
Little Palace
Little Palace is another beloved hangout with a retro vibe, serving an eclectic mix of sub sandwiches, pizzas, stromboli, gyros, and specialties like loco moco and poutine.
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m.
- The deal: $3 drafts and well cocktails, $2 domestic beers, $2 off wines by the glass
Sidebar
Sidebar is a cozy spot on East Main Street that offers vintage cocktails and Latin-inspired small plates.
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.
- The deal: $8-10 tapas, $15 pizzas, $ beers, $8.50 wines, $9 cocktails, $4 desserts
Pat and Gracie’s
This Clintonville-area, LGBTQIA-owned pub recently opened a location in the Lazarus building downtown!
- When: All day Monday + Tuesday-Friday, 2-6 p.m.
- The deal: Specials on appetizers; half-off draft beer; $3 off select cocktails; $2 off bottled beer, liquor, and wines.
Hadley’s Bar & Kitchen
Hadley’s is a delightful outpost on South Fourth Street, with dinner, drinks, and brunch.
- When: Wednesday-Friday, 4-7 p.m.
- The deal: $5 draft beer, select spirits, and wine pours; $6 appetizers
The Woodbury
The Woodbury is a modern diner offering a delightfully eclectic menu.
- When: Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.
- The deal: Half off drafts; $6 Proverb wines; $4 wells; $5 nachos and crab rangoon dip; $6 pork belly tacos and Wings Your Way
Parable After Dark
Parable After Dark is the late-night cocktail pop-up at Parable Coffee. They serve drinks from 3 p.m. to midnight, Thursdays to Sundays.
- When: Thursday-Sunday, 3-7 p.m.
- The deal: Discounted cocktails for downtown and service industry friends
The Citizens Trust
One of downtown’s most beautiful bars, The Citizens Trust is located in an old bank lobby above Veritas restaurant.
- When: Wednesday-Saturday, 7-9 p.m.
- The deal: $8 classic cocktails, $4 beers, $5 gin and tonics, $8 glasses of wine
Downtown Tavern
The newer Downtown Tavern boasts the “best, never-ending happy hour.” They offer great deals on drinks whenever they’re open!
- When: All day, every day
- The deal: $6 martinis, mules, and mojitos; $5 classic cocktails and wines by the glass; $3 shots; $15 mimosa kits; deals on buckets of domestic beers and seltzers; 4 for $12 house pudding shots; much more!
Stories on High
The 28th-floor restaurant on the new Hilton Tower just introduced the following:
- When: 4-6 p.m. daily
- The deal: $9 small plates and cocktails, $7 wines and house spirits, $5 beers
Milestone 229
It’s really hard to beat the views at Milestone 229, overlooking the riverfront and the Scioto Mile!
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m. at the bar
- The deal: $9 specialty cocktails and small plates, $5 draft beers
Buckeye Bourbon House
Buckeye Bourbon House is nestled in the lobby of the Residence Inn downtown. In addition to small pates and dinners, they boast one of the city’s biggest whiskey lists.
- When: Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m.
- The deal: $7 signature cocktails, Manhattans, and Old Fashioneds; $6 wines; $3 domestics; half off select starters
Due Amici
Due Amici is a long-running favorite on Gay Street for Old World Italian fare and excellent wines in a beautiful space.
- When: Monday-Saturday, 3-6:30 p.m.
- The deal: Half off small plates, pizzas, wines by the glass, beer, and Moscow mules
Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus
Elevator’s beautiful historic digs downtown have long made it a popular spot for beer, cocktails, and excellent dinners.
- When: Tuesday-Friday, 3-6 p.m.
- The deal: $2 off appetizers, draft beer, wine by the glass and bottle, liquor, cocktails
PINS Mechanical Co.
PINS is the ultimate hangout, a full bar with duckpin bowling, pinball machines, yard games, and more fun.
- When: Monday-Friday until 7 p.m.
- The deal: $2 off specialty cocktails, draft beer, and wine
Bar Cicchetti
The house bar and restaurant for the Westin Great Southern Hotel is operated by internationally known chef Fabio Viviani.
- When: Monday-Friday, 4 - 6 p.m.
- The deal: Half off appetizers, glasses of wine, house cocktails, beer
The Goat
The Goat is the in-house eatery for LC RiverSouth. They open early for coffee and breakfast, and stay open late!
- When: Monday-Friday 3 - 7 p.m.
- The deal: $6-8 cocktails, $5 beers and seltzers, $5 house wines
Aracri Pizzeria
Aracri is a go-to spot for giant slices of pizza, subs, pastas, and calzones.
- When: Tuesday-Friday, 4 - 6 p.m.
- The deal: $5 drafts and glasses of wine; $2.50 bottled beers; $8 all apps
Market 65
While Market 65 is known for its build-your-own lunch salads, they offer a select happy hour and special evening hours when Broadway shows visit the Ohio Theatre!
- When: Thursday, 4-6 p.m.
- The deal: Flatbreads, beers, and wines by the glass
