The Westin Great Southern Columbus

Nicknamed the Biggest Small Town in America, the story of Columbus’s many hotels tells a similar tale. Within the state capital of Ohio, there are 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 chose from. Read Culture Trip’s guide to the best hotels in Columbus, Ohio.
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.
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.
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. Only a short drive from campus, the Poindexter café-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.
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.
Embrace your artistic side at le Meridien Columbus, the Joseph. 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.
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 nighttime routine.
You won’t have much trouble finding Bexley Bed and Breakfast 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.
This is an updated version of an article originally written by Benjamin M. Smith.