From curling to candle-pouring, we’ve put together some mini itineraries for a morning or evening on the town this winter. From breakfast to cozy nights in, from DIY drinks classes to distillery tours, read on to find dinner date suggestions throughout the city, or click here to jump to our brunch ideas.
Dinner Dates
Enjoy this selection of date night ideas for you and your loved one! If you make one of these ideas your own, tag @experiencecolumbus and share your adventure with us.
History, Bumper Cars on Ice and Igloos in Franklinton
First, head to COSI’s Dinosaur Gallery in Franklinton. COSI partnered with the American Museum of Natural History to bring these prehistoric creatures to life as you've never seen before. Then, take a short drive over to Land-Grant Brewing's Wintergarden, a new area where you can enjoy outdoor bumper cars on ice; then reserve a heated igloo to sip your brews in style! You’ll also be able to enjoy dinner from one of the food trucks Land-Grant hosts on a rotating basis.
Bumper Cars at Land-Grant Brewing Company
Woodfired Dinner & A Jazzy Night Cap
From James Beard nominee, BJ Leiberman, comes a new wood-fired concept, Hiraeth in the Short North. Hiraeth's menu is a reflection of a talented and diverse team, in which shared experiences, culture, and nostalgia are distilled into every dish. We recommend sitting at the Chef's Counter to get the full experience. End the night with a trip to Ginger Rabbit. Located just steps away Ginger Rabbit is a jazz lounge serving up small plates and gin-forward cocktails with live music from local and visiting musicians nightly.
Ginger Rabbit
Columbus Blue Jackets & Duck Pin Bowling for the Sports Enthusiasts
If you’re a sports fan, you can’t go wrong in Columbus’ Arena District; with three unique venues all within walking distance from each other, just pick your team! During the winter months, Nationwide Area comes to life as the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team. Before heading to the arena, enjoy practically any food you can dream of at the historic North Market. After you’ve cheered yourself hoarse, we suggest heading slightly south to downtown to settle in for a fun night of duck pin bowling at Pins Mechanical Co. or enjoy the chic, French-inspired dinner at The Keep located inside Hotel LeVeque.
Pins Mechanical Co.
Short North Tacos, Candle Pours and Elevated Drinks
Enjoy an afternoon out no matter the weather – start things off at Bakersfield for some authentic Mexican food and a selection of over 100 tequilas and American whiskeys, and then spend some time connecting at Penn & Beech while you create your own custom scents and pour your own candles! To round off the evening, head up to Lumin Sky Bar (atop the AC Hotel) for breathtaking city views, Spanish tapas, and creative cocktails. If you’re spending the evening with a group of friends, Lumin is even offering heated igloo reservations for groups of up to eight – it doesn’t get better than that.
Lumin Sky Bar
Diner Dinner and Drinks in Dublin
Cap City Fine Diner & Bar is a Columbus staple! If you’re in Dublin, head to the restaurant’s Riverside Drive location for a retro, classic array of menu choices. After dinner, stroll around the rest of Bridge Park for drinks at Vaso Dublin (they're another Columbus restaurant offering igloo reservations!), or drive over to Bridge Park West to a few brews at Getaway Brewing Company.
Getaway Brewing Company
Cook, Bake or DIY Together
From the Macaron Bar to The Kitchen and Makers Social (a woman-owned DIY venue with a full-service bar), Columbus has plenty of choices for participatory culinary, dessert, and crafting experiences to enjoy together while learning something new. Schedule a class and spend some quality time learning a new skill!
Makers Social in Franklinton
Sip and Savor on the Columbus Distillery Trail
Date night doesn't get better than participating in Columbus' curated experience guide, the Distillery Trail! With seven locations across the city creating award-winning spirits, anyone 21 and over can use the trail to explore Columbus' world-class distilling scene. Pick a stop on the trail for you and your date to enjoy, and consider asking for a tour or tasting as part of your night out.
Middle West Spirits
Brunch Dates
Up for a brunch date? There are countless delicious brunch menus in Columbus, but we’ve highlighted just a few below and combined them with some post-meal activities to round out your time together.
A Morning Date in Hilliard
First, stop in at Coffee Connections in Old Hilliard, a family-owned community favorite for your morning roast. Then, go just steps to the Starliner Diner, an old-timey restaurant decked out with kitschy – but fantastic – décor and a Cuban-inspired menu. Hungry for more adventure afterward? Don’t go far! Stroll through the rest of the Old Hilliard area, enjoying the parks and local businesses. If you’re up for something unique, spend some time at the Early Television Museum, a hidden gem of the city.
Coffee Connections
Plants & Art in the Short North
Enjoy some out-of-the-box breakfast in Harrison West for some Katalina’s Original Pancake Balls™, (so delicious you have to taste them for yourself)! Then, hit up the Columbus favorite Fox in the Snow in Italian Village for post-brunch coffee or pastries. If you’re enjoying your date on a Sunday, head to the Columbus Museum of Art (located south in the Discovery District) for a stroll through a wide range of fascinating pieces – the museum offers free general admission on Sundays! Or, enjoy the very short walk from Fox in the Snow to STUMP, a beautiful plant shop. Whether you have a green thumb or not so much, taking in STUMP's array of beautiful greenery is sure to be a relaxing and enjoyable end to your morning.
STUMP
Brunch & Books in German Village
You can’t go wrong with a brunch date planned in German Village! Start with Lindey’s classy and delicious surf ‘n’ turf brunch selections. Next, walk over to the famous Book Loft – even if you don’t consider yourself a book nerd, the Book Loft’s 32 rooms literally have something for everyone. Once you spend some time exploring, warm up with coffee from Stauf’s Coffee Roasters next door, or run right down the street for a unique European treat from Pistacia Vera.
Lindey's in German Village
Caffeinate along the Columbus Coffee Trail
Columbus is well known for its extensive Coffee Trail. Not only does the trail track the diverse, nationally-known places we have to get delicious roasts in our city, but it also makes planning a coffee date in Columbus simpler than ever. Pick your shop, find some nearby stores, parks or trails — easy to do in Columbus! — and head off for a great morning together.
Roosevelt Coffee
Breakfast & Shopping in Grandview
From Grandview Café to Brekkie Shack to Third & Hollywood, brunch options in Grandview are anything but lacking, and you really can’t go wrong with a single one. Once you’ve enjoyed your meal, if you’re up for exploring, take in the local businesses centered around Grandview Ave. Pick up coffee for the day at Grandview Grind or Stauf’s Coffee Roasters, and then grab some delicious desserts for the drive home from Lion Cub’s Cookies.
Brekkie Shack
Enjoy these winter date ideas in Columbus and share the love with us using #LiveForwardCBUS. Find more inspiration, here.
