As Midwesterners, we love a good patio, and will gather on them almost any time of the year. So it stands to reason that rooftop patios would be popular for hanging out, meeting up for drinks, and savoring a good meal in Columbus. We’ve seen more and more added in recent years, so I rounded up 12 of the best rooftop patios in Columbus!
The new Hilton Tower not only changed the Columbus skyline, it gave us our tallest restaurant. Sitting on the 28th floor is Stories on High, a cocktail bar and tapas-focused eatery led by chef Sebastian la Rocca (who also runs the kitchen at Fyr on the main floor). A pair of outdoor patios look north and west, while the indoor dining rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows that let you look out over downtown Columbus, the Arena District, and the Short North.
Read more: Cocktails, Sushi, and Small Plates at Columbus’ Highest Rooftop Bar
Brass Eye is the eighth floor eatery of The Junto Hotel on the Scioto Peninsula. It features an indoor bar and dining room, with patios that wrap around the northern and western portions. It offers some of the best views of downtown Columbus, COSI, and the riverfront. The patio wraps around to the back with a firepit, garden lights, and views into Franklinton. Brass Eye features a small menu of appetizers and small plates, plus a list of libations named after different terms for drunkenness. Don’t miss out on their Sunday brunch as well!
Read more: Brunch at the Brass Eye at The Junto Hotel and The 6 Things To Do at the New Junto Hotel
I’m sensing 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 curving glass ceiling. Chef Jonathan Olson and his team craft a dynamic food and drink menu that goes above and beyond what a hotel restaurant needs to be. Find them for happy hour, dinner, and weekend brunch.
Read more: Drinks and Dinner on the 12th Floor at Goodale Station
Antiques on High is a sister brewery to Seventh Son. The sour-focused brewery and cocktail bar features a cool mid-century modern feel on the main floor, with an open layout on the second-story patio. It’s the perfect place to sip one of their drinks with views of South High Street and the growing district that includes Law Bird, Agni, and other hotspots.
Read more: Antiques on High
We’ve lived in Columbus long enough that we wander Short North and point out what used to occupy various spots. So the first time we stepped foot in Lincoln Social Rooftop, we exclaimed, “This used to be a parking lot!” We think a rooftop bar and restaurant is a much better option. Lincoln Social is a Cameron Mitchell joint, offering a menu of small plates, shareables, and a full bar with cool views of Short North and downtown. Get a photo in front of the made-for-Instagram greenery wall or lounge by the firepits in the open air.
Read more: Lincoln Social Rooftop
VASO was the first of the new wave of rooftop hotel eateries. It’s the high point (literally) of the new Bridge Park development in Dublin, sitting nine stories up on the AC Hotel. The large, curving space features big windows and a west-facing patio. They feature rentable heated igloos in the winter and cabanas in the summer. VASO’s creative cocktail game is on-point; it’s paired with a menu of internationally inspired tapas.
Read more: VASO Rooftop Lounge
Lumin is the next entry in the rooftop hotel restaurant game! It’s atop the AC Hotel in downtown Columbus, right next to the North Market. Their view of the market and downtown will be changing as the Merchant Tower rises over the next couple years. In addition to a full bar program with signature cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits, Lumin offers a dinner menu of tapas, mains like burgers and paella, and desserts – plus weekend brunch!
Read more: Lumin Sky Bar & Kitchen
Image courtesy facebook.com/novakstavern
Novak’s is one of the OG rooftop patios, doing its thing from its space in the Short North next to Barley’s and the North Market. It’s a favorite gathering spot for inexpensive drinks and for catching up on the latest games through their massive banks of TVs. They don’t have their own kitchen, but you can order food from Barley’s next door and have it brought up.
Read more: Novak’s Tavern & Patio
Seventh Son Brewing was one of the first in the new wave of microbreweries in the early 2010s, and they graduated from their beloved front patio to an enclosed rooftop patio when they added a massive expansion behind the building. The second floor features a full bar, lots of windows, and views into the production space. It’s a popular space for events as well.
Read more: Seventh Son Brewing
When BrewDog expanded into Columbus proper with its first bars, it wisely built out a large rooftop patio at its Franklinton location. It’s a great neighborhood hangout with views of the surrounding area and downtown, where you can sip a Punk IPA or Elvis Juice grapefruit IPA and enjoy their well-executed pub menu.
Read more: BrewDog Franklinton
Budd Dairy Food Hall in Italian Village features a nice, big rooftop patio – dubbed the Rooftop @ Budd – with a mix of seating and its own separate bar. It expands on the already size-able food hall, and offers an al fresco spot for a drink (I’m a fan of the spiked lemon shake-ups) and to enjoy fare from one of 10 chef partners.
Read more: Budd Dairy Food Hall
Image courtesy RH Rooftop Restaurant
The RH Rooftop is a swanky third floor lounge and restaurant on the Restoration Hardware at Easton. It’s designed to offer a high-end lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
Read more: RH Rooftop Restaurant
Want to keep up with more? Follow me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, read my guide to Columbus, search for travel inspiration, or…
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