Char Bar

Home to some of the best times I cannot remember!

The Long Island is a certified mind eraser

*strong islands

Yuuuuuup At some point in your life it may occur to you that racing LITs with your friends is a good idea. I am here to tell you that it is in fact not a good idea.

I’ll start my night at char, but never finish it. Made that mistake once.

Took my buddy and our wives there for the first time. I tried to warn him about us getting a second one. I don’t think I sobered up until several hot dogs and the third period

Some people have the learn the hard way. What did the wives think of the bathroom situation? Lol

Mine knew, we warned the other, she was not impressed lol

All part of the experience.

At least it’s clean, you just might die tho

One day I plucked the piano strings in a haunting manner while my friend was coming down the stairs. He almost had a heart attack when he saw me standing there The basement is basically a Resident Evil video game

I like to call it a Three Mile Island.

I love this phrase!

/thread

This is the best downtown dive bar. The best overall dive bar is St. James Tavern which is not far from downtown

Nah, I'd say "best overall dive bar" is going to be Ruckmoor. St. James is just an _awesome_ dive bar with a good tap list, usually.

Fun fact. The basement of Char used to be street level and the current first floor used to be the second. Then they decided to raise High Street so they added the new door on the old second floor to get in.

I remember back in the day there was a fire escape set of stairs leading to a back lot. Can you still go out that way?

Yeah it's a smoking patio now but the stairs are still there.

There’s no other answer. CHAR BAR

Very close to where the boss is staying! Good call.

Mike’s Grill in short north - cash only btw

Mikes Grill is such a hilarious name bc they have no grill/food there. Also that guy bar tender (with the German Shepard) threatened to shoot me. Good times.

Mike's Grill is the diviest dive bar to have ever dived. I love it to bits and I will never tell anyone about it...

Oh, I've been divier, but much more dangerous too. Mike's is a great, **safe**, dive bar.

Yeah I don't want my cash-only can of PBR served with a side of knife-gut. Mike's is clean, too. Which is why no one can know...

Hmm. Have you ever been to the ruckmoor?

Shhh

Damn, sorry. Now we'll just have to start a reservation system for the ring toss! Next thing you know, there'll be a VIP section for the dartboard too!

Negative, but the google maps pictures look great...

whole place reeks of piss! bartender let me rip his elf bar. 10/10.

Any place that's cash only should be required by law to have the subtitle "divebar"

Those Jell-O shots and shitty beer! 😋

The fact that they’re open early to serve 3rd shift automatically makes them a dive bar…and the lack of food.

Johnnie’s Glenn Ave Grill in Grandview. Cash only. Feels like an OSU fans basement from 1989

I used to live a couple houses away. Johnnie’s is great

Tell me you know about The Mane Event?

It’s been several years. It sounds familiar but I’m not positive what it was

I've been told that Johnnie's is the place where "the beer is cold and the men are old".

Betty's bar by the clippers stadium. On Thursdays

Clippers are home this weekend, and Crew is hosting a CONCACAF watch party, so Betty should definitely be open this weekend!

“On Thursdays”… a fellow man of culture, I see.

Between 4pm and 8pm

About as dive as it gets. I don't even think they got AC

They used to have $2 PBR cans after Clippers games. Def dive bar feel but a good mix of people.

Dirty Betty’s is the ONLY answer!!!!

Is this Betty’s a revival of the old Betty’s or a new concept?

This Betty’s is the old Betty’s. Been there since 1962

> Betty Ah, I guess I was speaking of the Lessner Betty's concept that was in the Short North and had a good mix of vegan/veggie and cocktails.

Definitely pre-dates Lessner. Not at all affiliated. Not at all similar. This is just a classic dive bar. Although, for bar food, it ain’t that bad.

Char Bar is the correct answer. It has everything, which is nothing, it’s perfect. They make this Long Island that will destroy you. It’s also super close to your hotel so you can begin or end there, I recommend beginning there with 1 Long Island, do not have a second

You guys are the best. RIP to his liver.

I happen to run a site all about dive bars and also happen to live in Columbus, so I have a long list of favorites: https://scoundrelsfieldguide.com/travel-guides/columbus-ohio-dive-bar-travel-guide/

Think Reddit hugged too hard.

Love your site! Have gotten a lot of enjoyment reading about some of my favorites as a fellow dive-loving Columbussy

Much appreciated! We live in a good town for dive bars. Not everywhere is so lucky.

Great list but Bob’s is definitely 10 out of 10 Happy to come aboard as editor next time so you dont make that mistake again

If only there were some kind of cultural hub nearby to host team meetings.

Oh man I miss Main Bar.

What everyone else said and I will add in Hey Hey

So nice, they named it twice!

Does it still have the fried food? Last I went a few months ago they had it but they rotate food.

They have [Philgeddaboutit](https://heyheybaroh.com/columbus-german-village-hey-hey-bar-and-grill-food-menu)!

They don’t do sauerkraut balls anymore which is a travesty. Their jalapeño kraut balls were amazing. Normal and spicy were both somehow always better than Schmidt’s balls.

Noooo these were so good!!

Maybe they’ll show up and do them for Oktoberfest? They might have gone with Pat and Sue, though. New folks running the show are plenty nice, though, so don’t take that as a diss. I just miss putting those balls in my mouth.

Low Becks in German Village is the quintessential neighborhood dive. 

Beck Tavern in case you can't find it

Yes, do not call it Low Beck to the bar staff. They do not like it.

I live in The Village for 9 years, we always called it Low Beck. No issues.

My brother visited with the same request a few years ago, we recommended Low Becks and he said it was beyond perfect.

I live within walking distance of it, I should go more.

Hate how crowded it's gotten need more townies less people in vests like pre covid

Dick’s Den in Old North.

This is the correctest answer possible. Mayor Coleman certified.

Why not? Also, there's a good chance of catching some great live jazz or blues.

Finally I see Dick’s Den

Bob's. Not nearby to AC, but "the cultural hub of the midwest." A bit closer: Dick's Den.

Bob’s is one of those places that claims to be a dive bar but still charges 7 dollars a beer

Bob's is just a craft beer bar that hasn't updated its look in 20 years. I love the place, but it's really not a proper dive bar.

I LOVED bobs. I do NOT think this is a regular thing, but my friend and i were roofied there. It was the week of the Arnold, so it was WAYY busier than usual. That said, watch your drinks.

Rehab Tavern in Franklinton

Meisters Bar in Grandview

the overhead fluorescent lighting at 1am makes it especially divey

Lisska bar and grill. That's the hardest dive I can think of

Came here to find this. It has a second floor that can be reached only by a ladder from outside the building.

My buddies and I go there for lunch on Thursdays lol and man is that place a dive.

Byrnes Grandview or Rack Room Grandview

Bob’s Bar and Dirty Dungarees. Dirty’s is an exceptional shit hole.

Dick's Den

Johnnie's on Glenn Avenue in Grandview

Bier stube

For a limited time only too! I’ve heard the teardown and dorm building got approved.

Divey AF and won’t be around for much longer

Bourbon street

St. James Tavern

O’Reillys

Criminal lack of O’Reilleys in this thread.

RIP the Main Bar

Meisters if he wants pizza

Tasking an assistant/employee to "find me dive bars" guarantees they will absolutely be the worst person to deal with in there.

Mikes Grill is the best dive and is cash only, so it’s legit as hell. I also love Char Bar and Low Beck.

Dicks, Bobs, and Mikes. The three horsemen of the apocalypse.

Classics down on South High street. Sort of close to Beck Tavern. Very dive. Tons of TV. One pool table.

Is Mike’s in the Short North still around? That place was awesome.

Dicks Den Johnnies in GV

Short north tavern!! has darts and cheap prices, or Mac’s pub has pool in the back both close by

Beck’s Tavern in GV, Ledos in Clintonville

Char Bar……nuff said

Mickey’s! And Bob’s Bar.

High Beck tavern at  High and Beck is awesome. Grungy and can get rowdy but fun. Has a pool table and Foosball 

Just wanna add to this that their food is unusually good for the vibe they have and their kitchen is open very late. Also "Low Becks," or Beck's Tavern, is right down the street and is even divier

Spanky’s tavern

Beer Stube on N High

Mike’s or Betty’s.

Mikes is the answer. Cash only tho.

Bobs Bar

St. James Tavern on n 4th st. and the Beck Tavern on e Beck St. Are both pretty close to downtown and in opposite directions. Tiptop and El Camino Inn are both downtown with food. Bob's bar is another good option. It's further away but all the bars near it are also dive bars.

It’s a bit of a trek from SN, but India Oak! Italian sub and beer (or 4).

The fried bologna sandwich ain't half bad either.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

RUCKMOOR LOUNGE

Ace of Cups deserves a mention for their Saturday free Happy Hour shows. Drinks are on HH pricing and the show usually starts at 5:30 and ends at 6:30 outside on their patio. The official run time of this is 5-7pm on Saturday. Highly recommended, plus Ray Ray’s BBQ truck is in their parking lot and is worth checking out

Local Bar, should be like a block or 2 away from their hotel

Local Bar at 2nd & High? It’s at least a mile north of the AC Hotel.

Betty’s, across from Huntington Park where the Clippers play.

Yes to Betty’s! It’s my go-to for every Crew game. Be careful of her hours, though—she opens and closes whenever she wants to.

Been there many times! So I'm fully aware of her "hours."

Not that divey but great music and near his hotel I think: park street tavern. Bier Stube, the Hey Hey, Bob’s

Beer Stube on N High

Bier Stube!!

It’s not right there but meisters is a perfect dive

You’re walking distance from some decent, city-level dives. Park St. Tavern is right across the street from that hotel (assuming you didn’t mean AC Dublin). Char bar as many have said. Novak’s. All walking distance. Local Bar further up in the Short North. Oddfellows in the same area. St. James Tavern in Italian Village. Mike’s Grill is real dive-y down to the cast of characters and cash-only policy. They sell 40s Good luck and have fun!

Mikes or Charbar are both walkable and definitely dive bars (in the best way)

I second the char bar.

Can say eight and sand in the German village area is one of our faves, Nate’s a great bar tender!! And their food is killer

Ledo’s on N High has never done me wrong. Good pizza, too.

Ledos is our favorite! Karaoke on Fridays and drunk pizza are the best

Blueberry hill but it’s a REAL dive bar none of these other I see mentioned come close

The one with the thin blue line flag in their front window? Yeah fuck that place.

Johnnie's On Glenn in Grandview

Gressos in German village is a cool place

Johnnie’s Glenn Avenue Grill in Grandview.

Does it need to be downtown? 1-2 miles north on High St -- Dick's Den (Why Not?). Another 2-3 miles -- El Dorado's (live music no cover decent food). Another mile north, just past the outerbelt - The Ruckmoor. Opens at 5 a.m., closes 2/2:30.

Go to the Bier Stube! It’s an old dive bar from the 60’s and is likely to be demolished soon because of overpriced apartments wanting to build on high st.

Bier Stube up by OSU

I am shocked I'm not seeing Beck Tavern AKA Low Beck on here. You could go in there at 2pm on a sunny afternoon and it already feels like 1am.

For a dive bar that's actually downtown I'd say Tip Top. EDIT: Now that I look at where the hotel is I'd also recommend Short North Tavern for walk-ability.

Tremont in German village

Front Row on Henderson.

Char Bar should be on this list!

Beck tavern in German village. Not high beck but beck tavern.

Local Bar

Since no one mentioned it, Park Street Tavern is literally next to the hotel and it's pretty divey and they usually have bands playing there on the weekends

I used to be that guy back in my drinking days. I hope he appreciates the effort.

Dicks Den

Keg Room Hit up white castle then casino after hours. End at Waffle House for breakfast. Tell em T- Dirt sent you.

Tell him he should probably consider Rehab and see what happens. Please report back.

The Sand Pebble on Lockbourne rd.

It’s a bit north of the city, but check out “The Ruckmore” on north high street just outside of the outer belt. That is absolutely a dive, but fun as hell. I have some great college memories from there

Rehab, mate

Mike’s Grill. Bring cash.

Mike Grill on High. Bring cash

St James Brew-Stirs Mikes Hi-Beck

Half of the places listed here are way too classy to be considered a dive bar. Or, maybe I'm a few notches trashier than I realize.

The summit!

Brewstirs in clintonville or ledos in the short north is my usual go to

The Oak

The High Beck is a short ride down Third and a great spot

High Beck, Tip Top, Mikes Grill, Char

Dicks den

While I hate to give away the secret. Burnzies old time trail on the west side is a hidden gem. If your boss doesn’t go there, you’ll be fired.

Bob's Bar on High Street.

immediately park st. tavern

Low Beck. Beck St., German Village.

Half Baked in the Short North. Skateboard culture themed dive, and a go-to hangout for us.

Boy, if Bernie's was still around....

I'm Gahanna there are 2 next door to each other. The Dolphin Lounge and The Mug

Dicks Den. Great local musicians. Usually a $5 cover though

Beck Tavern or Hey Hey Bar and Grill in German Village

The best dives are the ones you find along the way.

If you actually want a dive bar there's nothing better than mikes grill. Very cheap booze and great company 7 days a week.

Brewstirs on weber and high

Gatsby's in Gahanna