For concert junkies, seeing your favorite band play your favorite song live, surrounded by fans who feel it just as deeply as you do, is practically a spiritual experience. Stepping outside the venue to find that the city you’re in is just as electric? It’s the encore you didn’t know you needed.

Next time you catch a show at Nationwide Arena, take time to explore Columbus beyond the concert doors. From buzz-worthy bars and restaurants to festivals, attractions, vinyl record shops, other live music venues and a place to crash when the amps finally cool down, this list of must-dos will have you saying #yesColumbus in no time.

 

Before the Show: Where to Eat Near Nationwide Arena

 

Wario’s Beef & Pork serves huge, east coast-style sandwiches to a huge Columbus fan base. | Source: Wario's via Facebook

 

Nationwide Arena is surrounded by dining options for every taste and timeline, from reservation-worthy restaurants to quick bites when pre-show time is tight.

Arena District

Wario’s Beef & Pork: These East Coast–style sandwiches served from a takeout window are legendary. Order The Steak “Wario’s Way,” a massive semolina-seeded roll stuffed with shaved ribeye, house-made cheese whiz, grilled onions, provolone and white American cheese.

Si Señor: Right across the street from the arena, this spot serves authentic Peruvian sandwiches made with from-scratch ingredients and meats roasted in-house.

Creole 2 Geaux: Known as “the home of the Creole bowl,” this restaurant brings big Louisiana flavor to Ohio’s capital. Try the shrimp and andouille sausage étouffée bowl or the shrimp po’boy – the latter is rumored to be the best in Columbus.

Moran’s Bar & Grill: This neighborhood watering hole serves pub fare and drinks inside a historic building that was once the Ohio Penitentiary. The restaurant’s name alludes to its storied past; mobster “Bugs” Moran was jailed there three times.

Downtown Columbus

Goodale Station: Sitting on top of the Canopy by Hilton Columbus Downtown – Short North, this rooftop bar features floor-to-ceiling windows, upscale cocktails and a terrace with fire pits.

North Market: This 149-year-old public market has multiple floors and more than 30 Ohio-based vendors selling everything from prepared international food, flowers, fresh produce and pastries to local BBQ and sweet treats. There’s a bar inside and plenty of seating where you can sip or eat your latest find.

Short North

FYR Short North: Fuel up for your concert with live-fire wagyu steaks, Ōra King salmon, charred vegetables and creative cocktails – like a coconut-based milk punch made with two types of private barrel tequila reposado.

Astra Rooftop: Visit this stylish rooftop for Spanish-inspired shareable plates and steaks, all paired with expertly-crafted cocktails and gorgeous city views.

German Village

Barcelona Restaurant & Bar: Sit inside the lively, art-filled stone interior or on the sleek, heated patio and indulge in authentic Spanish tapas, paella, wine, sangria and more.

 

After the Show: Get a Nightcap
 

End your night on a cozy note at Brass Eye at The Junto hotel. | Source: The Junto Hotel via Facebook

 

When a concert is that good, the last thing you want to do is go straight home to bed. Come down from your music-induced high with a nightcap at these post-show favorites.

Arena District

Betty’s Bar: This no-frills bar is less than a 10-minute walk from Nationwide Arena and schedules its opening hours around sporting events and concerts. It always draws a lively crowd, so your chances of reliving the night (a.k.a, belting the hits) with fellow concertgoers is pretty high. 

Downtown Columbus

Brass Eye At The Junto: Inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s work-hard, play-hard mentality, this rooftop bar features a creative “Drinker’s Dictionary” cocktail menu, enormous fireplaces, cozy seating perfect for conversation and sweeping city views.

Short North

Parlay Sporting Club + Kitchen: More than your average sports bar, Parlay has VIP tables, bottle service, sports betting, booths with their own TV controls, a game room and a “see-and-be-seen” atmosphere.

Stories on High: Floating 28 stories over High Street, this is Columbus’ tallest rooftop bar. It has two terraces, so every drink comes with 360-degree views of the city skyline.

 

Don’t Stop the Music: Follow the Columbus Live Music Trail

 

KEMBA Live! is a top stop on the Columbus Live Music Trail, with a capacity of up to 5,200 fans. | Source: KEMBA Live! via Facebook

 

Keep the concert energy going by getting lost along the Columbus Live Music Trail, which features more than 45 venues showcasing local and national acts year-round. Just steps from Nationwide Arena, these two sister venues on the trail are easy stops to keep the party going.

A&R Music Bar: This 400-person space hosts intimate shows, live radio broadcasts and musician meet-and-greets in a space covered in memorabilia from the venue’s three decades of concerts. Past performers include Three Days Grace, James Blunt, Imagine Dragons and Barenaked Ladies. 

KEMBA Live!: One of the city’s most popular indoor-outdoor venues, KEMBA Live! hosts everyone from emerging artists to global music sensations. Go here to see local Columbus headliners like Lily Bloom or major names like OAR and YUNGBLUD.

Pro tip: Check in at participating Live Music Trail venues on the Experience Columbus app to earn rewards points, gift cards or an exclusive t-shirt. Then, share photos and videos of your night on social media using the hashtag #Cbusmusic so we can see what it’s all about.

 

Shop the Sound: Record Stores for Music Lovers

 

You’ve hit the music lottery if you’re in town during one of Used Kids Records’ $1 sale days. | Source: Used Kids Records via Facebook

 

Whether it’s the day of the concert or the morning after, Columbus’ vinyl scene is worth digging into.

Spoonful Records: Opened in 2010, this shop offers new and used vinyl across nearly every genre, plus LPs, 45s and audio equipment for new and veteran vinyl collectors. If you’re there on a $1 sale day, you’ve hit the music jackpot.

Used Kids Records: A longtime Columbus staple since 1986, this Old North shop has an impressive collection of vinyl records and CDs, plus a small performance space where local bands play live.

Records Per Minute: Though you may have to comb through boxes of inventory, this small but mighty store has a highly-curated selection of new, vintage and rare vinyl at reasonable prices. 

 

Explore Between Sets: Nearby Events & Attractions

 

Get a free, guided tour of Ohio Statehouse any day of the week. | Source: Ohio Statehouse

 

Go beyond the concert doors and see what Columbus has to offer. Nationwide Arena’s location puts you close to many of the destination’s most popular attractions, festivals and events.

Outdoor & Iconic Sights

Topiary Park: See a life-sized recreation of Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte crafted entirely from living topiaries. There are shrubbery shapes of 54 people, eight boats, three dogs, a monkey and a cat. Walk up the nearby hill and you'll find an easel with Seurat’s painting – comparing the two will blow your mind.

Columbus Commons: There’s always something going on at this lively green space, like concerts, outdoor movies, food truck rallies, free fitness classes and seasonal events.

Museums & Culture

Ohio Statehouse: See where Ohio laws are made when you visit Ohio’s capitol building. It’s located in the heart of downtown Columbus and offers free guided tours seven days a week.

Center of Science and Industry (COSI): Voted the best science museum in the nation five times by USA Today’s 10Best awards, COSI has over 300 exhibits, the largest planetarium in Ohio and the only high-wire unicycle in the U.S. Don’t miss the permanent dinosaur gallery; it has a true-to-size cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex, 100 million-year-old fossilized amber and an eight-foot titanosaur femur cast.

Columbus Museum of Art: It houses impressive collections of modern, contemporary and American art, photography, glass art and a sculpture garden. Go on a Sunday to get free admission.

Festivals & Major Events

From expos at the Greater Columbus Convention Center to food and cultural festivals along the Scioto Mile, Columbus’ event calendar is packed. Highlights include GalaxyCon, Animate! Columbus and Red, White & BOOM! – a July 4th celebration with the largest fireworks display in Ohio. Check our calendar of annual festivals and add one to your concert weekend plans. 

 

Make a Night of It: Where to Stay Near Nationwide Arena

 

The Sonesta Columbus Downtown is just a five-minute walk from Nationwide Arena. | Source: Sonesta via Facebook

 

Play it safe (and fun) and book a hotel near the arena These Downtown Columbus hotels are a quick Uber, Lyft or walk away.



Planning a trip to Columbus to see a concert at Nationwide Arena? Make time to explore the city’s award-winning food and drinks, popular festivals, thriving live music scene and more. Post photos of everything you do and see with the hashtag #yesColumbus and prepare to make your friends and family very jealous.