During its heyday in the nineties, The Brewery District was known as a raucous nightlife district that attracted imbibing visitors to a dozen bars crowded on South Front Street in an environment not unlike the Park Street area today. While the nightlife has moved on, the neighborhood has been reborn as more of a multipurpose area, home to employers like Grange Insurance and the corporate offices of Red Roof Inn, as well as a wide variety of apartments, condos and historic homes close to Downtown.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the fun aspect of The Brewery District is dead. In fact, the area is now home to a wider assortment of nightlife as well as daytime entertainment. In no particular order, here are ten of our top suggestions on ways to have fun when visiting The Brewery District:
1. Take in a Show at Shadowbox Live
For over 25 years, Shadowbox Live has been entertaining locals and visitors with their signature blend of sketch comedy and rock and roll (and a whole lot of other stuff too) and since 2011, the group has called the Brewery District home. Check their calendar for upcoming shows and swing by for a night of unique home-grown entertainment. For more info, visit www.shadowboxlive.org.
2. Watch Indie Bands at Double Happiness
Brewery District Bar Double Happiness has become one of the city’s top destinations for under-the-radar indie bands that travel through Columbus on tour. Go for the music, stay for the drinks and occassional pop-up restaurants. For more info, visit www.doublehappinessohio.com.
3. Stomp Grapes at Via Vecchia
While wineries can be found all over the State of Ohio, urban wineries are a little harder to find. The Brewery District proudly boasts one in Via Vecchia, a hidden gem where you can take part in traditional grape stomping, or rent out the facility for special events. For more info, visit viavecchiawinery.wordpress.com.
4. Laugh at Backstage Bistro
Technically speaking, the Backstage Bistro is in the front of the building while Shadobox Live is in the back, but it’s best not to think about it too hard. The Backstage Bistro hosts its own smaller stage events, largely focused on stand-up comedy, improv and live talk shows. For more info, visit www.sbxbackstagebistro.com.
5. Groove at Notes
Notes is a newer entry into the local music and entertainment scene, launched in the basement under restaurant Copious in 2015. The live music venue features a wide range of styles from jazz to blues to funk to classical. For more information, visit www.copiouscolumbus.com/nts/.
6. Explore the Scioto Audubon
The 120-acre Scioto Audubon Metro Park is located along the riverfront of the Brewery District, offering residents and visitors a lush wildlife escape, right at the edge of Downtown. The park features wetland boardwalks, bike trails, a boat launch, climbing walls, an obstacle coarse and the Audubon Center building as well. For more information, visit www.metroparks.net.
7. Mingle at Local Cantina
After Local Cantina opened on the south end of the Brewery District in 2015, it quickly became a hot spot for the neighborhood. Taco fans and German Village residents alike regularly flock to the indoor/outdoor space, especially during warm weather when the garage doors roll up to the patio. For more information, visit www.localcantina.com.
8. Rock Out at the Big Room Bar
Speaking of 2015, the Big Room Bar is another new neighborhood addition that has quickly become a fan favorite. Local radio station CD102.5 launched the venue out of the building that contains their offices, and regularly hosts live music to accompany their drink and food selections. For more information, visit www.bigroombar.com.
9. Watch Some Soccer at Claddaugh
If you’re a soccer/fútbol fan in Columbus, then you’ve got a couple of solid options for watching the Crew’s away games and international matches. The Brewery District includes one of the top options at Claddagh Irish Pub, where sports fans flock. For more information, visit www.claddaghirishpubs.com.
10. Get Lost in Antiques
Interested in antiquing? The far south end of the Brewery District has one of the top options in the Greater Columbus Antique Mall. This large facility has plenty of rooms across multiple floors, and approximately 70 individual dealers. For more information, visit greatercolumbusantiquemall.blogspot.com.
For more information about The Brewery District, visit www.columbusbrewerydistrict.com.
Do you have other favorite things to do in The Brewery District? Leave a comment below to share your ideas with us!