The Best Hotels in Columbus, Ohio

Enjoy a view of the dramatic skyline from your downtown hotel in Columbus
Enjoy a view of the dramatic skyline from your downtown hotel in Columbus | © MIHAI ANDRITOIU / Alamy Stock Photo
Nick Dauk

It’s dubbed the biggest small town in America, and the story of Columbus is echoed in many of its hotels. The state capital of Ohio offers plenty of attractions for kids – from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to the Center of Science and Industry. Meanwhile, Highbanks Metro Park is a great city park with dozens of well-marked hiking trails. With renovated, historic hotels and bed and breakfasts in the heart of the city, travelers have many fantastic options to choose from. Here’s our guide to the best places to stay in Columbus.

1. Hilton Columbus at Easton

Chain Hotel

The grand red brick exterior and landscaped walkway of the Hilton Columbus at Easton.
Courtesy of Hilton Columbus at Easton / Expedia

Hilton Columbus at Easton is connected to the Easton Town Center, so you can roll out of your suite and into more than 200 stores and eateries. You can get a workout at the fitness center then pack those calories back on with slices and sips at Pies & Pints. Grab a few laughs at the Funny Bone Comedy Club then lug your tired arms full of shopping bags back to the pool at this Columbus hotel for a relaxing swim.

2. Aloft Columbus Westerville

Chain Hotel

The chic, contemporary bar and lounge area at Aloft Columbus Westerville with a gray patterned couch, two gray chairs, wooden coffee tables and modern light fixtures
Courtesy of Aloft Columbus Westerville / Expedia

As easy as it is to brew coffee in your stylish suite and spend every day in the city, take advantage of Aloft’s northern location, 15 minutes from downtown Columbus, to see another side of the city. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also contains a water park and amusement park, which should convince the whole family that you have enough time to squeeze in a quick 18 holes at the golf course while the kids run wild.

3. DogHouse Hotel and Brewery

Independent Hotel

A Chesterfield couch sits under a neon sign reading Humulus Lupulus Columbus in the DogHouse Hotel and Brewery, Columbus.
Courtesy of DogHouse Hotel and Brewery / Expedia

Trust us – this is one doghouse you’ll want to find yourself in. DogHouse Hotel and Brewery is the first craft beer hotel in Columbus and on the planet. And what will you find in the hoppiest place on earth? Beer. Everywhere. You’ll smell and see the brewing foeders around every corner. It goes without saying that there’s a bar in the lobby, but you don’t need to leave your room to grab a brew. An in-room tap, bedroom mini-fridge, and a shower beer fridge make for the world’s most comfortable bar crawl.

5. Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

A glamorous double twin room with gold velvet cocktail chair and gilt-framed mirrors hanging above each bed.
Courtesy of Hotel LeVeque, Autograph Collection / Expedia

Graceful and refined, Hotel LeVeque is an exceptional boutique hotel in downtown Columbus. You’ll love the classy VIP turndown service, marble bathrooms, and tea service in your room. Fancy a little star gazing? A telescope in every suite will surely catch your eye. Though there is a wet bar in your suite, we recommend having at least one signature LeVeque cocktail downstairs at the Keep.

6. AC Hotel by Marriott Columbus Dublin

Hotel

Firepits and dining tables and chairs arranged on a rooftop overlooking the city at dusk at AC Hotel by Marriott Columbus Dublin
Courtesy of AC Hotel by Marriott Columbus Dublin / Expedia

AC Hotel by Marriott Columbus Dublin’s European-influenced design and service will make you feel like you’re far from Columbus. Tasty tapas and cocktails await you on the rooftop bar Vaso, while a Spanish-style breakfast greets you every morning at AC Kitchen. Spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows let you admire the city as you plan your night out in Bridge Park. Shops, restaurants, and the Exchange event center are only steps away, offering you the best of Dublin, no passport required.

7. Graduate Columbus

Hotel

A sumptuous hotel room with plaid walls, a large bed with leather headboard and Ohio state paraphernalia at Graduate Columbus.
Courtesy of Graduate Columbus / Expedia

Examine the higher level of hospitality at Graduate Columbus. The Buckeye’s bold colors surround you in the lobby and pieces of Ohio’s history adorn every room at this Columbus Hotel. Only a short drive from campus, the Poindexter cafe-by-day, bar-by-night is the perfect place to fuel up on coffee or wind down with a beer on game day. While they are accepting of all schools of thought, we recommend leaving your Wolverines jersey at home.

8. The Blackwell Inn

Hotel

A luxurious cream-toned hotel room with city views at The Blackwell Inn. The double bed sits against a large wooden headboard, there are hardwood floors, a gray chair and a writing desk.
Courtesy of The Blackwell Inn / Expedia

You can’t take a trip to Columbus without visiting Ohio State University (OSU) and you won’t find a better place to stay near the famed university’s campus than the Blackwell Inn. Start the day with your complimentary USA Today and local newspaper in your terrycloth bathrobe and gaze out at the stadium from your suite’s window. Get a workout at the 24-hour fitness center or take advantage of discounted passes to OSU’s recreational facility and train with the next generation of pro athletes. Before heading out for the night, mingle with other alumni at the weeknight happy hour and reminisce about your glory days on campus.

9. Le Méridien Columbus, the Joseph

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

Wrought iron arches cross the street outside The Guild House in Columbus at dusk as the city lights start to shine.
Courtesy of Le Méridien Columbus, the Joseph / Expedia

Embrace your artistic side at Le Meridien Columbus, the Joseph, one of the city’s finest boutique hotels. The vibrant shops, galleries, and restaurants of the Short North Arts District will inspire you to spend the night on the town after pampering yourself in your personal spa suite. As you venture downstairs to check out the farm-to-table cuisine at the Guild House, you’ll be invited to visit the masterfully curated Pizzuti Collection at the Columbus Museum of Art, free of charge.

10. Moxy Columbus Short North

Hotel

A simple, Scandinavian-inspired hotel room wit a fold-down desk and king bed at Moxy Columbus Short North.
Courtesy of Moxy Columbus Short North / Expedia

At Moxy Columbus Short North, you check in at the bar and immediately receive a token for a free drink. Do you require more convincing to stay here? Then perhaps the state-of-the-art gym, lightning-fast wifi, and sixth-floor terrace will seal the deal. As for the staff, they’re ready to play pool or other games and will even read you a bedtime story, if that’s a non-negotiable part of your night-time routine.

11. 50 Lincoln Short North Bed & Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast, Hotel

A simple hotel room in traditional style at 50 Lincoln Short North Bed and Breakfast, Columbus.
Courtesy of 50 Lincoln Short North Bed and Breakfast / Expedia
Situated in the trendy Short North neighborhood, 50 Lincoln Short North Bed & Breakfast in Columbus is a newly renovated Italianate-style B&B in one of the most attractive parts of town. Once a duplex during the neighborhood’s transitional period, the owners installed elegant hardwood floors, added crown molding and comfortable furniture to complement the 21st-century amenities.

12. Bexley Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast

A simple hotel room with large bed and button-tufted leather headboard at Bexley Bed and Breakfast.
Courtesy of Bexley Bed and Breakfast / Expedia

You won’t have much trouble finding Bexley Bed and Breakfast in Columbus as it just so happens to be the only B&B in Bexley. Still, they deliver the highest-quality hospitality possible to earn their reputation as one of the best places to stay in Columbus. Small touches – like heated bathroom floors in all five guest rooms, complimentary fresh-baked goods, and French press coffee by the fireplace, plus electronic keyless entry – give Bexley Bed and Breakfast a luxury feel. Only a short drive from Columbus and an even shorter walk from downtown Bexley, this is one bed and breakfast you’ll want to call home.

13. The Timbrook Guesthouse

Bed and Breakfast

The exterior of The Timbrook Guesthouse with its green window shutters, balconies and neat lawn bordered by bushes.
Courtesy of The Timbrook Guesthouse
The Timbrook Guesthouse is one of the Columbus area’s most historic bed and breakfasts. Once known as the Old Jack Antrim Farmhouse, this southern colonial mansion has stood since 1875, first through ownership of the Antrim family, Timmons family, and now the Doles, who have recently converted a portion of the mansion into the guesthouse itself. Enjoy the delicious continental breakfast and this B&Bs scenic placement near one of Columbus’s best parks.

This is an updated version of an article originally written by Benjamin M Smith.

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