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Out in
CBUS
LGBTQ
GUIDE
Explore shopping, dining and nightlife in Columbus - long known
for its rich history of activism and LGBT-friendly attitude.
OUTINCBUS.COM
TALL JAMES
PHOTOGRAPHY
Local
Columbus takes pride in the wealth
of locally owned businesses,
restaurants, shops and attractions
across the city. Enjoy our top-rated
distilleries, our artfully roasted coffee and some of the best
ice cream you'll taste anywhere. Our dining scene shines with
independent restaurants ranging from stick-to-your-ribs to
haute cuisine.
Columbus' craft beer scene keeps
growing and changing, boasting
28 local craft breweries ranging
from highly regarded production
breweries to neighborhood nano
breweries. One fun way to explore
the beer scene is through the
Columbus Ale Trail! Pick up a
Brew Book and use it to guide you
through a great beer experience.
Explore one of the best coffee scenes in the Midwest on the
Columbus Coffee Trail. Pick up a coffee trail card and taste
what happens when quality and collaboration come first.
Nightlife
Some of the most
well-known gay spots
in Columbus - Union
Café, Axis Nightclub
and Level Dining
Lounge, all offer great nightlife in the Short North Arts District.
Union Café is a bustling LGBT-friendly bar/restaurant and a
great weekend brunch spot, while Axis Nightclub features
Columbus’ largest dance club, cabaret with all male revues and
the best in drag entertainment including Columbus’ favorite
drag queen, Nina West.
AWOL, in the historic Olde Towne East neighborhood, is a laid
back, local bar with a great selection of drinks and an excellent
outdoor patio. Thursday-Saturday, The Barracks at AWOL
transforms into a large dance club, more than doubling the
capacity of the bar.
For a true throwback, head to Tremont Lounge in German
Village – one of the city’s oldest gay bars where a diverse
clientele gather for cheap drinks and fun shows. Slammers, in
the heart of downtown, is a popular lesbian bar featuring drink
concoctions, pool tables, a patio and delicious pizza!
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Columbus is home to one of the largest Pride festivals in the
Midwest, attracting more than 500,000 people every June.
The weekend includes a downtown parade along with more
than 180 vendors, two music stages and a family area.
Dining
True food cities are always full of hidden gems, and Columbus
is no exception. Every neighborhood features coffee shops,
diners, bakeries and eateries tucked down back streets or
hidden just out of sight.
Get a taste of the city with our tried-and-true favorites such as
Katalina's famous pancake balls or Harvest Pizzeria’s woodfired pizza. While at Harvest, be sure to get a delicious cocktail
from Curio, the very definition of the modern speakeasy.
Barcelona in German Village features Spanish cuisine with
a menu that changes weekly. Here you’ll find live music and
one of the best patios in Columbus, with their Pride flag flying
proudly out front. Visit the North Market, downtown’s public
market, for a variety of prepared foods from independent
merchants. You’ll find everything from ethnic food specialties,
coffee, pastries and more.
If you’re looking for upscale dining, Cameron Mitchell
Restaurants, started in Columbus, are always a good option.
From The Avenue Steak Tavern, an all-occasion steakhouse in
Grandview, to The Pearl, a restaurant, tavern and oyster room
serving made-from-scratch comfort food in the Short North
Arts District, Columbus is making its mark as a foodie city.
WENDY
PRAMIK
EASTON
Shopping
Columbus is rising as
a fashion mecca and
has become fashion’s
best kept secret. As
headquarters to retail
giants like L Brands, Express, DSW and Abercrombie & Fitch,
Columbus also has the third highest concentration of fashion
designers behind only New York and Los Angeles.
Many of Columbus’ neighborhoods offer chic boutiques from
independent fashion retailers and designers. The Short North
Arts District is full of one-of-a-kind shops for men and women
alike. Pursuit has a selection of slim suit styles, combined with
thoughtfully curated accessories like ties and pocket squares.
Robert Mason Co. features an inspiring and unexpected
collection of thousands of beautifully designed, fashionforward lifestyle supplies, handmade goods and unique gifts.
Manhood + Home is a men’s underwear and home accent
store. Screened with vintage sports and civic logos from
around the nation, Homage carries only the best and softest
t-shirts. Peruse the selection at zer0z wallets, a local startup
brand in downtown Columbus. zer0z wallets are super slim,
cool and hug your cards just right. The Candle Lab, in the
Short North Arts District and Worthington, offers hand-poured
candles in more than 120 fragrances, pour-your-own custom
scented candles, customizable home fragrance products and
small-batch natural bath and body products.
Easton has stores like Tiffany’s, Nordstrom and Louis Vuitton
and is just 15 minutes east of downtown. This indoor/outdoor
mall with its unique village setting and broad assortment
of restaurants, entertainment and retailers is a fashion
guru’s dream.
Neighborhoods
Columbus has hundreds of neighborhoods, depending on
how you define the term, many of them with a significant
LGBT population. For a modern and trendy picture of LGBT
life in Columbus, head to the Short North Arts District. As
a business district surrounded by a collection of residential
neighborhoods, the Short North is one of the city’s most active
spots for gay nightlife. The first Saturday of every month is
Gallery Hop, where visitors celebrate art with new gallery
exhibitions, street performers, special events, food and drinks
throughout the district. The nearby neighborhoods sport many
pride flags flying from historic porches.
A few miles south, German Village ranks highly for partnered
gay couples in Columbus. The South High Street corridor is
home to several LGBT establishments, some of which offer a
glimpse into the dive-bar scene of previous decades.
Seeking someplace more subdued? Live the suburban dream
and head up to Clintonville—or, more specifically, Beechwold.
From the unique architecture and leafy tree canopy of the
historic district on the west side of High Street to the charming
Cape-Cod cottages on the east side, the neighborhood offers
a unique slice of LGBT culture in Columbus.
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COSI continues to be a top-rated science center thanks to its
more than 300 interactive exhibits. The Columbus Zoo and
Aquarium boasts the Heart of Africa exhibit where you can
hand-feed a giraffe and then head next door and splash in
the wave pool at Zoombezi Bay during the summer months.
Family activities and crafts are offered every weekend to
enhance your experience at Franklin Park Conservatory and
Botanical Gardens.
No matter the season, there is always a sporting event
taking place in Columbus. From the Columbus Clippers,
Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and Major League
Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC, to the National Hockey League’s
Columbus Blue Jackets, you will always find something fun
for your family.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Stroll along the Scioto Mile to enjoy miles of multi-use trails
or take in free concerts on summer weekends at Bicentennial
Park. Stellar parks like Columbus Commons and Scioto
Audubon Metropark add excitement, while a slew of
family-friendly restaurants make Columbus a great getaway
for families.
SEPT
Independents’ Day Festival
Oktoberfest
OCT
Highball Halloween
Fashion Week Columbus
This is just a start for exploring
the LGBT scene in Columbus.
To see all dining options,
attractions and events
available in our open and
smart city, visit outincbus.com.
OHIO STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY
RAINER ZIEHM
JULY
Red, White and BOOM!
Jazz & Rib Fest | Ohio State Fair
Picnic with the Pops
KEN CLAUSSEN
JUNE
Columbus Pride Festival
Columbus Arts Festival
ComFest | Clippers Baseball
INDEPENDENTS’ DAY
FESTIVAL
Annual Events
Check experiencecolumbus.com/events for the full calendar and dates
JENNI KEY
Plan your trip to Columbus around one of these