The Top 10 Restaurants In Columbus' Brewery District Ohio

Columbus, Ohio’s brewery district, is named as such for the many breweries that were located in this area of the city from the 1800s to Prohibition. Today, the Brewery District is occupied by pubs and bars that maintain the spirit of the historic district. These are the top ten restaurants Columbus’ Brewery District has to offer.

1. CBC Restaurant

Bar, Restaurant, American

CBC Restaurant is a bar and grill that serves American-style cuisine and draft beer all from Ohio breweries. Their list of local Ohio craft beers come from local breweries including Columbus Brewing Company, the restaurant’s namesake, Brewkettle, and Fat Heads. Their scratch kitchen serves comfort food made with an original twist and from the freshest local and seasonal ingredients. You can dine indoors or outside on their all-season patio that is large enough to accommodate large groups for special events.

2. Plank's Bier Garten

Bar, Pub Grub

Plank’s Bier Garten was opened as a family business in 1939, six years after the end of Prohibition. Over 50 years and three generations later, Plank’s has expanded its space and still serves its old family neighborhood. Plank’s Bier Garten’s menu is a mix of traditional pub grub, from sandwiches to pizza, and German food. The indoor dining area is spacious and features several TVs, and the pub also offers a large outdoor patio – perfect for enjoying a cold beer on a warm summer night.

3. Backstage Bistro

Bar, Bistro, Restaurant, American

Backstage Bistro is an open, exposed-brick space that offers American fare and plenty of laughs, featuring stand-up and improvisation comedy events throughout the month. Backstage is more than just a place for a quick bite before a show: it’s a full-service restaurant with a menu of delicious salads, pasta, pizza, paninis and sandwiches. There’s a full bar, a late-night menu, and a Brunch Punch menu with brunch favorites and unlimited sangria.

5. Brick An American Kitchen

Bar, Restaurant, Pub Grub, American

Brick An American Kitchen embraces the charm of the historic Brewery District by giving its historic building new life without altering the history and character of the property. Located in the area that was once Schlee’s Brewery, the venue is housed in a building that once served Schlee’s malthouse, where the barrels were stored before distribution. Brick An American Kitchen features American fare, handcrafted cocktails, live entertainment, and a shuffleboard. Downstairs is a remodeled event space called The Cellar at Brick, which has vaulted ceilings, a private bar, WiFi, and a dance floor.

6. Big Room Bar

Bar, Pub Grub

Big Room Bar is a new restaurant in the Brewery District that offers food, drinks, and live music. Located above the CD102.5 radio studio, Big Room Bar is ‘a bar with a radio problem’. CD102.5 has provided Columbus with the best alternative music for 25 years, and Big Room Bar shares the station’s passion for great music and the local community. Big Room Bar’s menu and drinks are inspired by rock ‘n’ roll music and cultural icons. Dishes include burgers, grilled cheeses, fries, and a weekend brunch. The bar has 12 beers on tap, ten of which are from Ohio.

7. Gresso's

Bar, Restaurant, Pub Grub

Gresso’s is a neighborhood bar and restaurant that warmly welcomes anyone who steps through the door. Gresso’s is a unique space that was once a former mayor’s mansion and now features a full bar, serene patio, veranda, and private rooms. Gresso’s hosts events throughout the week from live music to sporting events to wine tastings. Their menu offers bar fare including burgers, stacked sandwiches, and pizza; there’s also a late-night menu that is served until close every night.

8. Westies Gastropub

Gastropub, Pub Grub

Westies Gastropub is a sports bar that features exposed ceilings, wood and tile finishes, 80-inch televisions, and a full bar in its front room dining area. The back dining area is a four-season patio that is covered on two sides by glass-paneled garage doors and features a fireplace centerpiece and a bar. The menu at Westies features locally sourced and organic ingredients, many of which are supplied by local Amish farms. The menu offers pizza, sandwiches, and mains ranging from steak to seafood.

9. Tony's Italian Ristorante

Restaurant, Italian, Vegetarian

Tony’s Italian Ristorante serves high-quality Italian cuisine made using only the finest ingredients. The menu features signature homemade pastas, hand-cut fresh meats of veal, poultry, and beef, and fresh seafood. The upscale-casual space is warm and welcoming, and Tony’s staff are always friendly and attentive.

10. Basil Restaurant

Restaurant, Thai

Basil Restaurant is a family business that is modeled after owner Rhome Ruanphae’s mother’s restaurant in Chicago. Basil is an inviting space that showcases the wide variety that Thai food can offer. The space is an old antique store with original wood floors, distressed brick, and exposed ductwork. The menu features traditional Thai cuisine, from noodle dishes to rice dishes to various curries.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.