Downtown Columbus is experiencing a resurgence of energy, events, and residents. It is home to many of the festivals and large public spaces in the city, beautiful historic spaces, and lots of new development.
To do:
Columbus Commons: Six acres of park space perfect for free festivals and concerts.
The Moonlight Market: Featuring pop-up shops, casual dining, and live entertainment for an evening of local fun.
The Roosevelt Coffeehouse: Good coffee, for good. Fighting injustice with every penny, this non-profit coffee shop aims to stop the harsh realities of human trafficking, unclean water, and hunger across the globe.
16-Bit Barcade: Great for reminiscing those times when you could play arcade games in the mall. Even greater if you’re 21+.
Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace: Serving up the dirtiest dogs in town, from 100% beef to 100% meat free.
The Columbus Museum of Art: Showcasing everything from Picasso to the “Creative Art of LEGO”.
The Topiary Garden: Where landscaping meets painting: the garden is created after a painting mimicking landscaping. A.K.A. inception.
El Arepazo: Dine-in or take-out at this lunch only restaurant for a feast of savory South American food.
COSI: Experiments come to life in this epic concoction of science, human history, and industry.
The Ohio Theatre: Opulent Spanish-baroque architecture and a 21-foot high chandelier make seeing any show in this theatre spectacular.
The Scioto Mile: 33 luxurious acres of greenspace with a scenic riverside view of downtown Columbus. A hotspot for biking.
Learn the history of Downtown and Franklinton in WOSU’s documentary on these neighborhoods: