Main image courtesy of Columbus Navigator. 

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!

475 N High Street | Short North | novaktavern.com

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.

“The best part of Novak's is the DJ and affordable beers. I paid for two beers for roughly the price I would have paid for one beer at a bar in Short North.” - Yelp Review 

Little Rock Bar

Rooftop views of Columbus and rock n’ roll!

944 North 4th Street | Italian Village | littlerockcolumbus.com

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!

“Little Rock is another good bar. It's located in the Italian Village neighborhood. This place is pretty hip but relaxed. It fits in with the 4th Street area.” - Yelp Review 

Seventh Son Brewing

Local brewery with patio seating + fun theme nights!

1101 N 4th Street | Italian Village | seventhstreetbrewing.com

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.

“Always a great time here. The energy from the bartenders are always great and the beers are always flowing. They also do cocktails!” - Yelp Review

Vaso

Upscale rooftop bar in nearby Dublin, Ohio!

6540 Riverside Drive | Dublin | vasodublin.com

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.

“Wow.  I'm surprised it took me so long to visit, but I finally did tonight. This place is great. The atmosphere is fun and hip, the view is beautiful and the food is incredible.” - Yelp Review 

Brew Dog

Old mechanic shop = cool new bar with rooftop terrace!

463 W Town Street | Franklinton | brewdog.com

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.

“Really enjoyed my experience at BrewDog! We went on a weekend and were able to get a seat on the rooftop” - Yelp Review 

Antiques on High

Cozy place to chill above Columbus!

714 S High Street | Brewery District | antiquesonhigh.com

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.

“Yesssss I think this is my favorite bar in Columbus. Awesome beer, sour, cocktail and wine options with plenty of seating.” - Yelp Review 

Lincoln Social Rooftop

The urban rooftop lounge experience!

711 N High Street | Short North | lincolnsocialrooftop.com

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.

“Stumbled upon this location while I was on a layover in Columbus. It's on the 9th floor very cute and a great view. Happy hour here is great! The Sangria is very delicious.” - Yelp Review

Lumin

Drinks and tapas are served here and you will love it!

517 Park Street | Short North | luminskybar.com

If you are interested in a skybar with some of the best drinks in Columbus then you need to stop by Lumin as soon as you can! Lumin is one of the best sky bars in Columbus that serves not only drinks, but food as well, which is perfect if you get a little peckish while drinking some of the best cocktails in town.

Lumin has everything from charcuterie boards, burratas, avocado toast, heirloom tomato salads, patatas, and so much more. They also have drinks such as the classic old fashioned, the scarlet mule, espresso martinis, irish coffee, house wines, local craft beers, and more. Don’t pass up Lumin, a fun hip skybar in Columbus you will love!

“Stopped in for a quick drink on an early Saturday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the view! The bartenders were so kind and helpful.” - Yelp Review 

Callahan’s Columbus

A two-story offering pizzas, sandwiches, and amazing drinks too!

520 Park Street | Short North | callahanscolumbus.com

Are you interested in some amazing food and drinks at a rooftop bar in Columbus? Make sure you check out Callahan’s Columbus right now if you’re looking for only the best in the area! Callahan’s Columbus has everything you need when it comes to beautiful city views, tasty food, boozy drinks, and a whole lot more.

At Callahan’s Columbus, you can try out everything from chips and salsa, BBQ chicken ranch salads, pizza with a wide selection of toppings to choose from, Italian sandwiches, meatball sandwiches, BLTs, pulled pork, and so much more. You can also get any drink that you want as well to make the experience even better, so come to Callahan’s Columbus today!

“Attended a surprise 30th birthday party for my best friend where her family reserved the rooftop. The service was great and the food was excellent. It was a great atmosphere and a lot of fun.” - Yelp Review 

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!