Jenni and Jacob's Columbus Guidebook
Neighborhoods
A beautiful historic neighborhood boasting parks, gorgeous houses with special holiday light displays, restaurants, cafés, and quirky shops. Park nearby and enjoy a leisurely walk around this neighborhood.
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German Village
A beautiful historic neighborhood boasting parks, gorgeous houses with special holiday light displays, restaurants, cafés, and quirky shops. Park nearby and enjoy a leisurely walk around this neighborhood.
Food scene
No reservations at this popular brunch spot with a rotating menu — arrive early to put your name in. The restaurant will call you when the table is ready so feel free to take a nice walk around German Village if the wait is long.
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Skillet
410 E Whittier StNo reservations at this popular brunch spot with a rotating menu — arrive early to put your name in. The restaurant will call you when the table is ready so feel free to take a nice walk around German Village if the wait is long.
Best for omnivores with few (but some!) vegetarian dishes, we take all our visiting family or friends to this historic German restaurant. Must try the giant cream puffs! Close to nice shops to walk off your meal.
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Schmidt’s Sausage Haus und Restaurant
240 E Kossuth StBest for omnivores with few (but some!) vegetarian dishes, we take all our visiting family or friends to this historic German restaurant. Must try the giant cream puffs! Close to nice shops to walk off your meal.
An eclectic book shop and café with food offerings covering you from breakfast to late night. This is walkable from your stay at our place.
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Two Dollar Radio Headquarters
1124 Parsons AveAn eclectic book shop and café with food offerings covering you from breakfast to late night. This is walkable from your stay at our place.
A personal (and popular) brunch fave with tons of options for bacon lovers and vegetarians alike.
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Katalina's
1105 Pennsylvania AveA personal (and popular) brunch fave with tons of options for bacon lovers and vegetarians alike.
Northstar Café at Easton Town Center
4015 Townsfair WayStauf's Coffee Roasters
627 S 3rd StMy current favorite for Indian food — all vegetarian offerings that please omnivores too.
Dosa Corner
1077 Old Henderson RdMy current favorite for Indian food — all vegetarian offerings that please omnivores too.
An indoor market with a mishmash of local favorite eateries and rotating options. Enjoy some shopping for local goods as well.
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North Market Downtown
59 Spruce StAn indoor market with a mishmash of local favorite eateries and rotating options. Enjoy some shopping for local goods as well.
Imagine Chipotle but fancy and Mediterranean. I love the falafel pita topped with eggplant (and ALL the sauces!)
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Brassica in Bexley
2212 E Main StImagine Chipotle but fancy and Mediterranean. I love the falafel pita topped with eggplant (and ALL the sauces!)
A nice spot downtown and perfect for takeout or delivery too. The dishes have a good deal of spice to them so enjoy with a cooling bubble tea to mellow it out~
Tiger + Lily
19 E Gay StA nice spot downtown and perfect for takeout or delivery too. The dishes have a good deal of spice to them so enjoy with a cooling bubble tea to mellow it out~
A favorite for brunch, but great for any meal of the day. Our personal faves are the plantains and French toast.
3 Brothers Diner
3090 Southwest BlvdA favorite for brunch, but great for any meal of the day. Our personal faves are the plantains and French toast.
Buckeye Donuts
1363 S High StCheap and tasty local doughnut place.
This is a small walk-up version of a local favorite ice cream place, located right off Schiller Park. They offer fewer options than the brick and mortar shops, but have great rotating selections of the classics and seasonal flavors. It’s also great to grab a scoop (or three) after a nice long walk in the park.
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Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
714 N High StThis is a small walk-up version of a local favorite ice cream place, located right off Schiller Park. They offer fewer options than the brick and mortar shops, but have great rotating selections of the classics and seasonal flavors. It’s also great to grab a scoop (or three) after a nice long walk in the park.
There are many locals who prefer Graeter’s to the flashier Jeni’s. You just might have to decide for yourselves. Graeter’s does have more flavors, mix-ins, and offerings like milkshakes and sundaes.
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Graeter's Ice Cream
2136 Bethel RdThere are many locals who prefer Graeter’s to the flashier Jeni’s. You just might have to decide for yourselves. Graeter’s does have more flavors, mix-ins, and offerings like milkshakes and sundaes.
Barcelona
263 E Whittier StA local favorite for special occasions.
If you can think of it as a hot dog, I’m sure they have it. Including vegan dog options.
Buns & Brews
5200 Parsons AveIf you can think of it as a hot dog, I’m sure they have it. Including vegan dog options.
Don’t forget the sides! This deli knows their way around a sandwich.
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The Brown Bag Delicatessen
898 Mohawk StDon’t forget the sides! This deli knows their way around a sandwich.
Lindey's
169 E Beck StUpscale dining with a patio option tucked away in German Village.
Yummy pastries and coffee — love the other location as well but this one is closest to our stay.
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Fox in the Snow Cafe
1031 N 4th StYummy pastries and coffee — love the other location as well but this one is closest to our stay.
So close for takeout or delivery. Great Indian food, but for something different they also have wraps and even burgers with Indian and Mediterranean twists.
Jasmine Fusion Grill
5833 Sawmill RoadSo close for takeout or delivery. Great Indian food, but for something different they also have wraps and even burgers with Indian and Mediterranean twists.
Great Mexican food truck that’s open late, fairly close to OSU campus. Inexpensive and spicy!
El Sabor de la Vida
445 East 17th AvenueGreat Mexican food truck that’s open late, fairly close to OSU campus. Inexpensive and spicy!
A 5 minute walk away, this coffee shop has so many unique options, like a housemade lavender syrup for lattes. Inclusive for people with restricted diets or allergies -- oat, soy, almond milk available and many vegan treats. This a wonderful part of the neighborhood that gives back to locals. You have the option to "suspend" a drink or food for a future patron without the ability to pay. They recently added a little gift shop adjoining the coffee shop with local made goods.
Community Grounds: Coffee & Meeting House
1134 Parsons AveA 5 minute walk away, this coffee shop has so many unique options, like a housemade lavender syrup for lattes. Inclusive for people with restricted diets or allergies -- oat, soy, almond milk available and many vegan treats. This a wonderful part of the neighborhood that gives back to locals. You have the option to "suspend" a drink or food for a future patron without the ability to pay. They recently added a little gift shop adjoining the coffee shop with local made goods.
A great option for largely portioned Mexican food 6 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from our place. Options for vegetarians!
Mi Tradicion
111 N Stygler RdA great option for largely portioned Mexican food 6 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from our place. Options for vegetarians!
German restaurant a short walk from Schiller Park in German Village. Earned a special place in my heart/stomach when they made me an off-menu vegetarian dish and made fresh pierogi without the meat for us! Obviously great for omnivores too with sausage and lots of other options.
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Valters at the Maennerchor
976 S High StGerman restaurant a short walk from Schiller Park in German Village. Earned a special place in my heart/stomach when they made me an off-menu vegetarian dish and made fresh pierogi without the meat for us! Obviously great for omnivores too with sausage and lots of other options.
Relatively inexpensive (two people can eat for under 15-20$) spot for Greek food near the OSU medical campus. Love the different sauce and topping combinations! The falafel in a rice/salad bowl is my fave!
Shawerma Bite
12 East 16th AvenueRelatively inexpensive (two people can eat for under 15-20$) spot for Greek food near the OSU medical campus. Love the different sauce and topping combinations! The falafel in a rice/salad bowl is my fave!
This is my favorite ice cream place, though it’s actually frozen custard. I’d describe this place as Ohio’s Dairy Queen-like local ice cream place. There are more limited flavor options total but there are flavors of the day, week, and month so it’s great for something a little different each time. Their FB page has the rotating flavors. If you like DQ Blizzards then you need to try the Whitser! We also like the Whittie, frozen custard sandwiched between two cookies.
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Whit's Frozen Custard
841 N High StThis is my favorite ice cream place, though it’s actually frozen custard. I’d describe this place as Ohio’s Dairy Queen-like local ice cream place. There are more limited flavor options total but there are flavors of the day, week, and month so it’s great for something a little different each time. Their FB page has the rotating flavors. If you like DQ Blizzards then you need to try the Whitser! We also like the Whittie, frozen custard sandwiched between two cookies.
Brekkie Shack
1060 Yard Street
Brekkie Shack
1060 Yard StreetSuper tasty gluten-free nostalgic goodies and coffee. My personal fave is the oatmeal cookie sandwich with cream filling. They have vegan options too.
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Bake Me Happy
500 E Moler StSuper tasty gluten-free nostalgic goodies and coffee. My personal fave is the oatmeal cookie sandwich with cream filling. They have vegan options too.
Shops
A maze of books and gift options next to a coffee shop. A neighborhood and visitor favorite!
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The Book Loft of German Village
631 S 3rd StA maze of books and gift options next to a coffee shop. A neighborhood and visitor favorite!
Schmidt's Fudge Haus
220 E Kossuth StEaston Town Center
160 Easton Town CenterA deceptively giant antique store a mile away from our place, near Schiller Park. This place is a treasure hunt and a good indoor place to walk off some calories from the nearby German restaurant.
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Greater Columbus Antique Mall
1045 S High StA deceptively giant antique store a mile away from our place, near Schiller Park. This place is a treasure hunt and a good indoor place to walk off some calories from the nearby German restaurant.
A great little shop with souvenirs and gifts, a lot of which are locally made. Right across the street from the Fudge Haus in German Village!
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The Red Stable
223 E Kossuth StA great little shop with souvenirs and gifts, a lot of which are locally made. Right across the street from the Fudge Haus in German Village!
Parks & Outdoor Spaces
Schiller Park
1069 Jaeger StColumbus Park of Roses
3901 N High StVisit the Scioto Mile for a jog, walk, or picnic. Reach via German Village or Downtown. Enjoy the Columbus skyline from your riverside stroll.
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Scioto Audubon Metro Park
400 W Whittier StVisit the Scioto Mile for a jog, walk, or picnic. Reach via German Village or Downtown. Enjoy the Columbus skyline from your riverside stroll.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
1777 E Broad StBeautiful setting with topiaries depicting the scene in Georges Seurat’s painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.
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Topiary Garden
480 E Town StBeautiful setting with topiaries depicting the scene in Georges Seurat’s painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.
Activities
Visit the Commons downtown for food trucks, free yoga or other exercise classes, and more events happening on the regular.
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John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons
160 S High StVisit the Commons downtown for food trucks, free yoga or other exercise classes, and more events happening on the regular.
This art gallery plays host to several rotating fun events. A friend of mine hosts a monthly event called Speakeasy — a storytelling event on the first Thursday of the month. Arrive early to sign up to tell a true story fitting with the monthly theme or just come to listen. BYOB!
Wild Goose Creative
188 Mc Dowell StreetThis art gallery plays host to several rotating fun events. A friend of mine hosts a monthly event called Speakeasy — a storytelling event on the first Thursday of the month. Arrive early to sign up to tell a true story fitting with the monthly theme or just come to listen. BYOB!
A unique indoor, immersive art exhibit with puzzles. You sort of just have to see it for yourself.
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Otherworld
5819 Chantry DrA unique indoor, immersive art exhibit with puzzles. You sort of just have to see it for yourself.
Galleries and performances on the regular at OSU’s contemporary arts center.
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Wexner Center for the Arts
1871 N High StGalleries and performances on the regular at OSU’s contemporary arts center.
Pedal Wagon Columbus
848 North Pearl StreetA pub crawl on wheels throughout the short north neighborhood
Sightseeing
Gavel Sculpture
145 S Front StIf you’re walking downtown, be sure to view the world’s largest gavel!
Center of Science and Industry
333 W Broad StOhio Stadium
411 Woody Hayes DrWe are close to OSU!
A great blend of contemporary and classics along with rotating special exhibits. When I went, there was a special exhibit entitled “Cats”. There are also a lot of interactive things for adults and kids throughout the museum, with a special section just for kids to climb on things and make noise and expend their energy.
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Columbus Museum of Art
480 E Broad StA great blend of contemporary and classics along with rotating special exhibits. When I went, there was a special exhibit entitled “Cats”. There are also a lot of interactive things for adults and kids throughout the museum, with a special section just for kids to climb on things and make noise and expend their energy.
Groceries/Necessities
Kroger
2474 Stringtown RdA convenient grocery store right across the street (walking distance)