As Midwesterners, we love a good patio and will gather on it almost any time of the year. So it makes sense that rooftop patios are popular for hanging out, meeting for drinks, and enjoying good food in Columbus. We’ve been seeing more and more additions in recent years, so I’ve rounded up 12 of the best rooftop patios in Columbus!
The new Hilton Tower not only changed Columbus’ skyline, but gave us the tallest restaurant. On the 28th floor is Stories on High, a cocktail bar and tapas joint helmed by chef Sebastian la Rocca (who also runs the kitchen at Fyr on the main floor). A pair of outdoor patios face north and west, while the indoor dining rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to look out over downtown Columbus, the Arena District and the Short North.
Read more: Cocktails, sushi and small dishes at Columbus’ highest rooftop bar
Brass Eye is the restaurant on the eighth floor of the Hotel Junto on the Scioto Peninsula. It has an indoor bar and dining area, with patios that wrap around the north and west sides. It offers some of the best views of downtown Columbus, COSI and the riverfront. The patio wraps around the back with a fire pit, garden lights and views of Franklinton. Brass Eye has a small menu of appetizers and small plates, plus a list of libations named after various drunken terms. Don’t miss their Sunday brunch either!
Read more: Brunch at Brass Eye at Hotel Junto and 6 things to do at New Junto Hotel
I sense a theme of new hotels with elevated restaurants! Goodale Station sits atop the Canopy By Hilton in the Arena District, with a small patio, glass walls and a curved glass ceiling. Executive Chef Jonathan Olson and his team create a dynamic food and beverage menu that goes above and beyond what a hotel restaurant should be. Find them for happy hour, dinner and weekend brunch.
Read more: Drinks and dining on the 12th floor of Goodale Station
Antiques on High is a subsidiary brewery of Seventh Son. The sour-focused brewery and cocktail bar features a cool mid-century modern feel on the main floor, with an open patio layout on the second floor. It’s the perfect place to sip one of their drinks overlooking South High Street and the growing neighborhood that includes Law Bird, Agni and other hotspots.
Read more: Antiques on high
We’ve lived in Columbus long enough to wander around the Short North and point out what occupied various places. So the first time we set foot on the Lincoln Social Rooftop, we exclaimed, “That was a parking lot!” We think a rooftop bar and restaurant is a much better option. Lincoln Social is a Cameron Mitchell eatery offering a menu of small dishes, shared dishes and a full bar with cool views of the Short North and downtown. Take a photo in front of the Instagrammable green wall or lounge by the outdoor fireplaces.
Read more: Lincoln Social Rooftop
VASO was the first of a new wave of hotel rooftop dining. It’s the highlight (literally) of Dublin’s new Bridge Park development, set nine floors above the AC Hotel. The large, curved space features large windows and a west-facing patio. They have affordable heated igloos in the winter and cabanas in the summer. VASO’s creative cocktail game is on point; it is paired with a menu of internationally inspired tapas.
Read more: VASO Rooftop Lounge
Lumin is the next entry in the rooftop hotel restaurant game! Located atop the AC Hotel in downtown Columbus, right next to North Market. Their view of the market and downtown will change as the Merchant Tower rises over the next few years. In addition to a full bar program with signature cocktails, beer, wine and spirits, Lumin offers an evening menu of tapas, main courses such as burgers and paella and desserts – plus weekend brunch!
Read more: Lumin Sky Bar & Kitchen
Image courtesy of facebook.com/novakstavern
Novak’s is one of OG’s rooftop patios, doing its thing from its Short North space next to Barley’s and North Market. It’s a favorite spot to gather for cheap drinks and catch up on the latest games via the huge banks of TVs. They don’t have their own kitchen, but you can order food from Barley next door and have it delivered.
Read more: Novak’s Tavern and Patio
Seventh Son Brewing was one of the first in a new wave of microbreweries in the early 2010s. and they went from their beloved front yard to an enclosed roof yard when they added a massive extension behind the building. The second floor features a full bar, lots of windows and views of the production space. It is also a popular venue for events.
Read more: Seventh Son Brewing
When BrewDog expanded into Columbus with its first bars, it wisely built a large patio on its Franklinton rooftop. It’s a great neighborhood spot with views of the surrounding area and downtown, where you can sip a Punk IPA or Elvis Juice Grapefruit IPA and enjoy their well-rounded pub menu.
Read more: BrewDog Franklinton
Budd Dairy Food Hall in Italian Village has a nice, large rooftop patio – called Rooftop @ Budd – with a combination of seating and its own separate bar. It expands on the already huge dining hall and offers an outdoor space to have a drink (I’m a fan of the lemon shakes) and enjoy food from one of the 10 chef partners.
Read more: Budd Dairy Food Hall
Photo courtesy of RH Rooftop Restaurant
RH Rooftop is an elegant lounge and restaurant on the third floor of Restoration Hardware in Easton. It is designed to offer high-end lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
Read more: RH Rooftop Restaurant
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