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Skyscrapers rising from flat fertile fields recall the cover of a sixth-grade civics textbook. But this classic American city surprises with its modern attitudes, and the city has been rated as one of the best places in the country for gays and lesbians to live.

Diversity has a long history in Columbus, composed as it is, of many ethnic neighborhoods. The city is also home to Ohio State University. With 60,000 students, this small city within the larger one has helped encourage a certain tolerant live-and-let-live ambience here, and in surrounding areas. Small wonder Columbus has the third highest per-capita population of gays and lesbians in the United States.

 

Getting here

John Glenn Columbus International Airport is six miles east of Columbus. A cab from the airport to downtown is the easiest way into town but there are also shuttles, buses and limo services. The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) public bus service can take you almost anywhere in the city.

Getting around

If traveling beyond downtown, you’ll need a car to get around. Within the city, there's a useful bus running along Main Street between German Village and the Short North. Fares are $2 per trip, or buy a day pass for $4.50; a week for $25. A ticket vending machine is open 24 hours a day at their central office at 33 North High St, taking cash or credit cards. Find schedule information at the COTA website.

 

Neighborhoods

German Village. The oldest gay neighborhood has narrow brick paved streets shaded by vast spreading elms and lined by graceful houses that are more than a century old. Its architectural treasures were threatened by the wrecking ball in the 1960s, but were saved with the help of outraged locals. It still has a sizable gay population, and lots of gay-friendly cafes and bars.

Short North. In recent years, gays have spread out across the city, and with many settling in the Short North neighborhood. Old traditions, such as the farmers market, mix with the more recent art galleries and boutique shops. A good time to visit is the first Saturday of the month, when 40 galleries spotlight new and established artists.

The Arena District has developed into a mainstream nightlife area downtown, home to bars, clubs, restaurants, cinemas, the Express Live! music concert venue, and Nationwide Arena, with concerts and sports events.

 

Local media and resources

Look around town for OutLook monthly magazine with news, events and local listings. Experience Columbus has general dining, arts and entertainment info online, with an LGBT section.

Columbus Gay Bars does a good job keeping up with the LGBT scene; also with an archive of old/ now closed bars of years past.

For general news and listings see the Columbus Dispatch. For alternative coverage check Columbus Alive! and Columbus Underground.

CAPA, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, operates a number of theaters around town, presenting a variety of stage entertainments. See the link for details.

Stonewall Columbus is the LGBT community center, with services, films, theater, social activities and advocacy programs. They also organize Pride Columbus, with a mid-June Saturday parade down High Street, a festival in Goodale Park, plus other events during the first half of June.

Network Columbus is a chamber of commerce for LGBT-owned and allied companies and professionals.

See our listings tab for map locations and website links to gay Columbus area businesses.

 

Accommodations

Local B&Bs include the Harrison House (313 W 5th; 800 827-4203), with 4 unique rooms and breakfast. The Neil Avenue (1237 Neil) has closed, and is looking for new owners.

Good Downtown general-public hotel options include the Courtyard Marriott Downtown (35 W Spring St), serving hot buffet breakfasts, and the Red Roof Inn (111 E Nationwide Blvd; 614-224-6539), with budget-conscious rates.

For more luxurious indulgences at city center, try the Sheraton Columbus Capitol Square (75 E State; 614 -365-4500) near the Capitol Building, The Westin Columbus (310 High; 614 228-3800), once the 19th-century classic Great Southern Hotel, or the newer Hyatt Regency Columbus (350 N High; 614-463-1234).

The Wayfaring Buckeye Hostel (2407 Indiana Ave) won't set you back as much, at $25-50 for dorm beds or private rooms. Gay-friendly, they're happy to help you get around with tips on local festivals, art exhibits, concerts and sports events.

See more Columbus downtown hotels and guesthouses at our map & listings pages. For less expensive motel options check the areas around exits off the major interstate highways, just outside the I-270 beltway, 20-30 minutes drive from Downtown.

 

Bars & clubs: German Village & Merion Village

Cavan Irish Pub (1409 S High St), friendly neighborhood bar, covered patio, karaoke, TV sports, Wednesday strippers, Sunday bingo, go-go boys, drag shows.

Club Diversity (863 S High St), piano and martini karaoke bar with gay and mixed crowd.

Toolbox Saloon (744 Frebis Ave), gay party bar, male strippers, drag and variety shows, karaoke, undies nights, TV sports, pizza/bugers.

Tremont (708 S High St) neighborhood gay bar, food, older friendly diverse crowd welcomes all; jukebox, stripper nights, karaoke, patio.

CLOSED: Columbus Fuel Bar (1312 S High St), neighborhood bar, drag & male strippers.

 

Bars & clubs: Short North & Downtown
The Short North has long been one of the gayest neighborhoods in Columbus, with many shops, cafes, and bars on High Street between downtown and Ohio State University, each an easy walk from the next. Many gay-only businesses are gone now, but folks of all kinds still mix comfortably at most places along the strip. South of the tracks separating Short North from downtown there's now but one gay establishment.

Axis (775 N High), weekend dance club with internationally known DJs, 18-plus college nights, jocks in the showers, sometimes erotic video stars and live performers, Saturday drag shows, plus Friday and Sunday all-male reviews.

Bernard's Tavern (630 N High St), the space where Union started out, now mixed but gay-friendly lounge, bar food menu of wraps, salads, burgers, pastas; beer and cocktails.

Slammers (202 E Long) popular downtown bar and restaurant, good food, great pizza, nibbles, salads, subs and wraps; welcoming women and gay male friends. Pool games, karaoke, special nights, live music.

Union Cafe (782 N High), popular, casual gay neighborhood cafe patio and cocktail lounge. Martini menu, modern American cuisine, anytime breakfast and Sunday brunch, Karaoke Mondays.

CLOSED: Exile (893 N Fourth), men's cruise bar, patio, karaoke, DJs, dancing, leather/ bears'/ sports events; amateur strip/ male strippers; Garage (40 E Long), weekend gay dance club; Wall Street (144 N Wall), dance/ show club, queer burlesque, live music.

 

Bars & clubs: Rest of Columbus

A.W.O.L. / The Barracks (49 Parsons), mostly men, leather/rubber and skin nights, bear events, karaoke and video gay party bar, big screen TV sports events, patio, dance floor.

Highball Tavern (1071 Parsons Ave), neighborhood bar, patio, karaoke, pool table, darts, Kickin Chicken food; Frisky Fridays hot male review performances, diva hostess.

South Bend (126 E Moler), mostly men, neighborhood gay drinkers' bar, drag shows.

O'Connor's Club 20 (20 E Duncan), hole-in-the wall mixed neighborhood bar, cheap drinks, jukebox, karaoke.

PromoWest operates four funky local music venues, mostly aimed at the 18-30 set; often a crush of OSU students: A&R Music Bar (391 Neil Ave), The Basement (391 Neil Ave), Express Live! (405 Neil Ave), and the Newport Music Hall (1722 North High). Their website has upcoming performance programs.

CLOSED: Back Door (1662 W Mound St, South Hilltop), gay dive bar, male strippers, drag shows, pool games, 18+ Thursdays.

 

Restaurants

German Village has good local restaurants and delis, some going back many years. These include:

G. Michael's (595 S 3rd St), restaurant and bar, memorable evenings over fine meals from seasonal menus.

Lindey's (169 E Beck St), fine American cuisine, lunch and dinner daily, in Upper East Side New York bistro-style setting.

For German fare apropos to settlers for whom the district is named, check out:

Juergen's (525 S 4th St), bakery, restaurant/cafe, import store landmark of 40 years, with finest German foods. Holidays are celebrated with time-honored style and enthusiasm.

Katzinger's Delicatessen (475 S Third St), big menu that begins in German, then ventures far and world-wide with "crazy good food." They like chocolate, and the wine selections are good, with frequent tastings.

Schmidt's Sausage Haus und Restaurant (240 E Kossuth St), good source for bratwurst, spatzel, sauerkraut, pretzels, chicken noodle soup, strudels and other traditional meals of Bavaria.

CLOSED: Juergen's (525 S 4th St), bakery, restaurant/cafe, import store landmark of 40 years.

In the Short North find:

Da Levee (765 N High St), Mardi Gras festive Cajun-Creole take-out; gumbo, meat and bean meals, po'boys and po'rritos.

Fabian's Chicago Style Pizza (691 N High St), thin-crust or deep dish pizza, stromboli, subs, wings, humus artichoke/spinach dips.

The Guild House (624 N High St), creative American/global/eclectic seasonal breakfast, lunch, and dinner, diverse wines; rustic re-purposed wood fittings.

Lemongrass Fusion Bistro (641 N High St), Pan-Asian/ European twist fusion lunch and dinner steaks, duck, chicken, seafood, Pad Thai, veggie options.

North Market (59 Spruce St), a cornucopia of fresh food stands, bakeries, cheese shops and prepared food stands of many ethnicities between downtown Short North. Eat here, or take-out to park, home or hotel. Daily until 5pm (7pm Tues).

Northstar (951 N High St), healthy, hearty breakfast from 9am, weekend brunch until 3pm. Muffins to full plates of meat and eggs or pancakes. Lunch and dinner salads, burritos, and sandwiches, meat or veggie.

Piece of Cake (772 N High St), puff pastry and soft croissant savories, tuna and chicken salads, pies, muffins, scones, cakes, cookies, coffees/beverages.

The Angry Baker (247 King Ave), breakfast and lunch wraps, sandwiches, toasts, savory puff pastries; beverages.

Union Cafe (782 N High St), popular patio, cocktails, anytime breakfast, soups, sandwiches, small plates, pizza, steaks, pastas, Mexican/Thai and veggie options.

CLOSED: Deepwood (511 N High) and Rigsby's Kitchen (698 N High).

For map locations and website links to these, plus another 30 restaurants, see our maps & listings tab.

 

Sauna

Club Columbus (795 W Fifth) modern facility whirlpool, gym, outdoor heated lap-pool, Sunday buffets, guest porn stars, steam room, dry sauna, video lounge, and rooms. Men 18-plus, always open.

CLOSED: Flex Columbus. Their Cleveland, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Phoenix facilities remain open.

 

Shopping in Short North

Piercology (190 W 2nd), professional, safe, creative and nationally recognized body-piercing, with a big selection of embellishments.

At Torso (772 N High + at Exile Bar), a dapper store with gifts and latest styles for working out, cruising, or clubbing, gay designer labels, underwear, lubes and accessories at good prices.