Main photo courtesy of worldatlas.com.

Trendy rooftop bars and patios have been on the rise in Columbus over the past couple of years. They are the perfect hangout spots for people of all kinds. Guests can get a drink with a sweeping view of the beautiful Columbus skyline.

When you think of a rooftop bar, you might think of a fancy upscale spot filled with important people, but that is no longer the case. Rooftop patios are a feature that bars and restaurants of many kinds have adopted in Columbus. They are ideal for all types of occasions. Want to grab a drink with friends after a long day? Need a place to wow some out of town business associates? This list has the spot for you!

Novak’s Tavern

Rooftop Oasis in the Heart of Columbus

Location: 475 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215

Hours:

Mon - Wed, 5 pm - 2:30 am

Thurs - Fri, 3 pm - 2:30 am

Sat - Sun, 2 pm - 2:30 am

This rooftop oasis is one of the more laid back. Don’t get me wrong it features a thrilling view of the city but the bar’s sleek and invitingly contemporary interior keeps things relaxed. Novak’s prides itself on having an inclusive vibe, providing a wide array of drink choices. They play a mixture of rock n roll and pop tunes at a low volume to keep room for the conversations to keep on rolling. TVs surround the bar for sports fans, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it is exclusively a sports bar. They offer all-day Happy Hour ending at 8 pm on weekdays and 9 pm on Fridays. Wednesday’s offer a lot of great deals like half-priced glasses of wine and $4 whiskey.

Other Information:

• Novak's features 21 flat screens TVs
• Dance the night away with live DJs every Friday and Saturday from 9p.m. - close.
  

Little Rock Bar

Rooftop Views of Columbus and Rock N Roll

Location: 944 North 4th Street Columbus, Ohio 43201

Hours:

Tues - Thurs, 4 pm – 1 am

Fri, 4 pm – 2 am

Sat, 3 pm – 2 am

Sun, 3 pm – 12 am

This bar’s motto is “everyone’s night should have a little rock”. This is your typical Rock n Roll bar. That being said, attire is casual. Check out this bar if you want great tunes and great drinks. They feature a nice selection of drinks on tap and pub food. The best part about this place is their unique events. Every Friday, a Columbus DJ takes control for the evening, showcasing their favorite music. Sundays feature a curated playlist based on a theme or year. Once a month they take a romp from the ’60s to today. Tom Butler hosts UK Yeah! , playing britpop, shoegaze, baggy, post-punk, new wave, mod, and more! They also host an anything-goes ’00s indie rock dance music night one Saturday a month. The best part? There’s no cover charge on anything!

Other Information:

• Paid parking is available on North 4th Street until 10 PM. North 4th Street is free after 10 PM.
• You can also park in the Veritas lot east of the playground on 4th Ave.

Seventh Son Brewing

Local Brewery with Patio Seating + Fun Theme Nights

Location: 1101 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201

Hours:

Tue - Thurs, 3:30 PM - 12 AM

Fri - Sat, 11 AM - 2 AM

Sun, 11 AM - 12 AM

Seventh Son Brewing has been producing exceptional beers at the intersection of 4th & 4th in Columbus’ historic Italian Village since April of 2013. This rooftop may not have sweeping views of the city, but it is still one of the coziest on the list. This brewery has an outdoor patio with food trucks that change daily. Mondays feature Two Fatt Indians, an Indian restaurant. Tuesdays are Taco Tuesday with Dos Hermanos. Wednesdays house midwestern burger joint, Preston’s Burgers. On Thursdays, Street Thyme serves gourmet burgers and fresh-cut fries. Fridays are unique with Hai Poké Hawaiian sushi bowls and Aloha Streetery serving Hawaiian & Indonesian influenced cuisine. Street thyme and Dos Hermanos visit again on Saturdays. On Sunday, Preston's burgers are there for lunch and Blu Olive serves Italian for dinner.

Other Information:

• There is a small parking lot that fills up quick.
• There is lots of street parking with minor restrictions. 3 hour parking from 8am-10pm (no restrictions after 10pm). Be sure to read the parking signs.

Vaso

Upscale Rooftop Bar in Nearby Dublin, OH

Location: 6540 Riverside Dr Dublin, OH 43017

Hours:

Sun, 4 pm – 10 pm

Mon - Thurs, 4 pm – 12 am

Fri - Sat 4 pm – 1 am

Although technically not on in Columbus, this rooftop bar is too amazing not to include. You will find the bar resting atop the AC Hotel. This is the part of the list where we start to get fancy. VASO offers a unique Spanish-style tapas menu and panoramic views of the Scioto River and Historic Downtown Dublin. I mean, you ride to the restaurant in an express glass elevator. How cool is that? The lounge features two unique bars, indoors and outdoors, with signature cocktails, boutique-style wines, and craft beers. Choose to relax by the fire or enjoy a private cabana.

Other Information:

• This one is technically not in Columbus, but it is 23 minutes away from downtown Columbus.

Juniper

Enjoy Gorgeous Views of the Columbus Skyline

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Location: 580 North Fourth Street Columbus, Ohio 43215

Hours:

Tues – Thurs, 5 pm – 10:30 pm

Fri, 5 pm – 12 am

Sunday Brunch Buffet 11 am - 2:30 pm

This bar has an unrivaled by any other experience of the Columbus skyline. Juniper has a menu unlike any other bar on the list. They offer bloody marys, mimosas, and a full bar with the city's largest selection of gin. Not to mention all the delicious food items. They are also the only place in Columbus that has a rooftop brunch buffet. For $21.95/person you can get a stellar meal.

Other Information:

• This bar also hosts private events so make sure they’re open when you decide to go.

Brew Dog

Old Mechanic Shop = Cool New Bar with Rooftop Terrace

Location: 463 W Town St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA

Hours:

Mon - Thurs, 11 AM - 12 AM

Fri - Sat, 11 AM - 2 AM

Sun, 11 AM - 11 PM

This bar is in a fantastic refurb of an old car mechanics shop featuring super high ceilings, street level patio as well as an epic roof terrace. BrewDog Franklinton has 48 taps across two bars of epic craft beer from themselves and curated guests from the Columbus area. The bar also features a full kitchen serving up freshly-cooked-to-order burgers, salads, pizzas, awesome bar bites, and sharing boards.

Other Information:

• Check out their website to see a live extensive and descriptive list of everything they have on tap.

Antiques on High

Cozy Place to Chill Above the Columbus

Location: 714 S. High St. Columbus, OH

Hours:

Mon - Thurs, 4 pm - 12 am

Fri, 4 pm - 2 am

Sat, 11 am - 2 am

Sun, 11 am - 12 am

As the sister brewery to Seventh Son Brewing, Antiques on High focuses on the production of sour and wild beers as well as hazy hop-forward IPAs and pale ales. The rooftop has a fireplace and casual lighting making it a chill place to kick it with your friends. Just like Seventh Son, they feature a schedule of cool food trucks every day.

Other Information:

• Antiques on High is surrounded by non-metered street parking. Make sure to read the signs carefully for parking restrictions.
• Dogs are allowed on their front and rear patios. Dogs are not permitted inside or on the rooftop.

Lincoln Social Rooftop

The Urban Rooftop Lounge Experience

Location: 9th Floor, 711 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215

Hours:

Tues - Thur, 4 pm - 12 am

Fri, 4 pm - 1 am

Sat, 1 pm - 1 am

Sun, 1 pm - 10 pm

Closed Mondays

Lincoln Social is an urban rooftop lounge located atop the Lincoln building which makes it the perfect spot to see the beautiful Columbus skyline. This rooftop oasis is the ideal spot for guests to sip, savor, and surround themselves within the cityscape. Take in all of the stellar sights with a cocktail in hand, crafted by an expert mixologist and enjoy a fabulous bite to eat from their award-winning culinary team.

Other Information:

• This rooftop is 21+ only.
• It is available to book private events.

With so many fun and fantastic rooftop bars to choose from, there's no reason to remain grounded in Columbus. Are there other amazing rooftop bars in the Columbus area we missed? Let us know your favorite places to sip and enjoy the Columbus skyline in the comments!