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LGBTQ GUIDE

Explore boutiques, bars, restaurants and attractions in Columbus – declared one of 10 under the “gaydar” LGBTQ cities by Trivago

(June 2017).

Columbus takes pride in the wealth of locally owned businesses, restaurants, shops and attractions across the city. Enjoy our top-rated distilleries, our artfully roasted coffee and some of the best ice cream you’ll taste anywhere from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Our dining scene shines with independent restaurants ranging from stick-to-your-ribs to haute cuisine.

Columbus’ craft beer scene keeps growing and changing, boasting 37 local craft breweries ranging from highly regarded production breweries to neighborhood nano breweries. One fun way to explore the beer scene is through the Columbus Ale Trail! Pick up a Brew Book and use it to guide you through a great beer experience.

Explore one of the best coffee scenes in the Midwest with the Columbus Coffee Trail. Pick up a coffee trail passport for a self-guided tour and taste what happens when quality and collaboration come first.

Pick up any of the Columbus Trail books at participating locations or an Experience Columbus visitor center.

Show your love of the city using #outincbus when posting about your experiences on social media

Columbus is home to one of the largest Pride festivals in the Midwest, attracting more than 500,000 people every June. The weekend includes a downtown parade along with more than 180 vendors, two music stages and a family area.

Welcome TO COLUMBUS

Columbus is full of unique neighborhoods, many of them with a significant LGBTQ population. For a modern and trendy picture of LGBTQ life in Columbus, head to the Short North Arts District. As a business district surrounded by a collection of residential neighborhoods, the Short North is one of the city’s most active spots for gay nightlife. The first Saturday of every month is Gallery Hop, where visitors celebrate art with new gallery exhibitions, street performers, special events and food and drink specials throughout the district. The nearby neighborhoods sport many Pride flags flying from historic porches.

A few miles south, German Village ranks highly for partnered gay couples in Columbus. The South High Street corridor is home to several LGBTQ establishments, some of which offer a glimpse into the dive-bar scene of previous decades.

Seeking someplace more subdued? Live the suburban dream and head up to Clintonville—or, more specifically, Beechwold. From the unique architecture and charming Cape Cod cottages to the independent stores and beautiful parks, the neighborhood offers a unique slice of the city’s LGBTQ culture.

Neighborhoods

BLACK BRICK BAR

The Short North Arts District offers some of the most well-known gay nightlife in the city. Union Café is a bustling LGBTQ-friendly bar/restaurant and a great weekend brunch spot, while Axis Nightclub features Columbus’ largest dance club, cabaret (with all male revues) and the best in drag entertainment, including Columbus’ favorite drag queen, Nina West.

AWOL, in the historic Olde Towne East neighborhood, is a laid back, local bar with a great selection of drinks and an excellent outdoor patio. Thursday-Saturday, The Barracks at AWOL transforms into a large dance club, more than doubling the capacity of the bar.

For a true throwback, head to Tremont Lounge in German Village – one of the city’s oldest gay bars where diverse clientele gather for cheap drinks and fun shows. Slammers, in the heart of downtown, is a popular lesbian bar featuring unique drink concoctions, pool tables, a patio and delicious pizza. Club Diversity is an offbeat gathering place in a circa-1880 house featuring live music and themed nights.

Just a little south of German Village, Boscoe’s is a new bar offering darts, drag shows and karaoke. Southbend Tavern features drag shows, open mic night, karaoke and more. Cavan’s Irish Pub is a convenient walk from German and Merion Village, providing a relaxing and LGBTQ-friendly place to enjoy traditional Irish beer.

Nightlife

AXIS NIGHTCLUB

UNION CAFE

GERMAN VILLAGE

LGBTQ BARS AND NIGHTCLUBSColumbus’ reputation for being an open and smart city is highlighted by its vast array of LGBTQ bars and nightclubs throughout the city. Find live music, karaoke, local drinks and more at any of these spots in the downtown neighborhoods. Take the free CBUS circulator up and down High Street to visit many of these places.

= COTA CBus Route= Approximately10-min. walk

= Parking Garage = Entrance/Exit Ramp

Hot Spots

Union Cafécolumbusnightlife.com782 N. High St., 614-421-2233

Axis Nightclubfacebook.com/AxisNightClub775 N. High St., 614-291-4008

Slammersslammerspizza.com202 E. Long St., 614-221-8880

AWOL Barawolbar.com49 Parsons Ave., 614-621-8779

Tremont Loungefacebook.com/TremontColumbus708 S. High St., 614-444-2041

Club Diversityclubdiversity.com863 S. High St., 614-224-4050

Boscoe’sfacebook.com/boscoes.bar1224 S. High St., 614-826-3758

Southbend Tavernfacebook.com/SouthBendTavern126 E. Moler St., 614-444-3386

Cavan’s Irish Pubcavansirishpub.com1409 S. High St., 614-725-5502

Pride Festival (COSI)columbuspride.com333 W. Broad St., 614-299-7764

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Pride LocationJune 15-17

As headquarters to popular brands like L Brands, Express, DSW and Abercrombie & Fitch, Columbus is rising as a fashion mecca and is widely considered fashion’s best kept secret.

Many of Columbus’ neighborhoods offer chic boutiques from independent fashion retailers and designers. The Short North Arts District is full of one-of-a-kind shops for men and women alike. Make sure to check out:

• Pursuit - slim suit styles, thoughtfully curated accessories.

• TORSO - popular men’s clothing store, known for their huge selection of guys’ underwear and swimwear.

• Manhood + Home - men’s underwear and home accent store.

• Homage – the softest shirts, screened with vintage sports and civic logos from around the nation.

• The Candle Lab - hand-poured candles in more than 120 fragrances (other locations in Grandview Heights and Worthington).

• Rowe Boutique - hip, trendy women’s apparel.

Stroll the shops along Grandview Avenue in Grandview Heights to find women’s clothing stores like THREAD or Vernacular, or check out State of Devotion for all your Ohio-themed gift needs. For a fun way to check out a slew of our local shops, try the Made in CBUS trail.

Easton has stores like Tiffany’s, Nordstrom and Louis Vuitton and is just 15 minutes east of downtown. The unique village setting of this indoor/outdoor mall offers a broad assortment of restaurants, entertainment and retailers making it a fashion guru’s dream.

Shopping

HOMAGE

True food cities are always full of hidden gems, and Columbus is no exception. Every neighborhood features coffee shops, diners, bakeries and eateries tucked down back streets or hidden just out of sight.

Get a taste of the city with our tried-and-true favorites such as Katalina’s famous pancake balls or Donatos’ Columbus-style pizza. Connected to the pizza joint’s Short North location is Black Brick Bar, where you can enjoy its full menu along with craft cocktails and live music. Barcelona, in German Village, features Spanish cuisine with a menu that changes weekly. Here you’ll find live music and one of the best patios in Columbus, with their Pride flag flying proudly out front. Visit the North Market, downtown’s historic public market, for a variety of prepared foods from independent merchants. You’ll find everything from ethnic food specialties, coffee, pastries and more.

If you’re looking for upscale dining, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, which started in Columbus, are always a good option. From The Avenue Steak Tavern, an all-occasion steakhouse in Grandview Heights, to The Pearl, a restaurant, tavern and oyster room serving made-from-scratch comfort food in the Short North Arts District.

DiningLINDEY’S

KATALINA’S

THREAD

Columbus is home to many LGBTQ family-friendly attractions. COSI continues to be a top-rated science center thanks to its more than 300 interactive exhibits, including the brand-new American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery featuring a life-sized cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex! The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium boasts the Heart of Africa exhibit where you can hand-feed a giraffe and then head next door and splash in the wave pool at Zoombezi Bay during the summer months. Family activities and crafts are offered every weekend to enhance your experience at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and coming May 2018, the 2-acre Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden will feature 16 different interactive experiences.

Attractions

ONE LINE COFFEE

No matter the season, there is always a sporting event taking place in Columbus. Cheer on the baseball stars of tomorrow, the Columbus Clippers, at Huntington Park, repeatedly voted best Triple-A ballpark by Ballpark Digest. Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew SC play at MAPFRE Stadium, the first major league stadium built specifically for soccer in the United States. During the winter months, the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets are sure to get you pumped up with the firing of the cannon every time they score! Many host LGBTQ nights each year.

Stroll along the Scioto Mile to enjoy miles of multi-use trails or take in free concerts on summer weekends at Bicentennial Park or the Columbus Commons. Scioto Audubon Metropark adds excitement with the largest free outdoor climbing wall in the country.

Sports and Recreation

SCHILLER PARK

COGO BIKE SHARE

This is just a start for exploring the LGBTQ scene in Columbus. To see more and to sign up for our Out in Columbus e-newsletter, visit outincbus.com.

Annual EventsPlan your next trip around one of our events. Check experiencecolumbus.com/events for the full calendar and dates.

Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and AquariumChinese Lantern FestivalN

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Buckeye Softball ClassicHighBall HalloweenFashion Week ColumbusO

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Greek FestivalOktoberfest

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Dublin Irish FestivalColumbus Food Truck FestivalLabor of Love (NAGVA event)A

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Columbus Arts FestivalColumbus Pride FestivalComFestJU

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Asian Festivalthe Memorial Tournament, presented by NationwideM

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Columbus Clippers Opening (thru Sept)Comic Bowling Tournament (IGBO event)A

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Arnold Sports FestivalColumbus Crew SC Opening (thru Oct)M

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Red, White and BOOM!Jazz & Rib FestOhio State FairPicnic with the PopsJU

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