Columbus Ohio Foodie Getaway: A 2-Day Eating Tour of the Short North & German Village
Two days of North Market bites, Short North strolls, German Village sausage halls, and the ice cream that made Columbus famous.
2 days in Columbus
Columbus has quietly become one of the Midwest's most exciting places to eat. Long a test market for national chains (which is why so many food concepts launch here first), the city has grown a genuine, homegrown dining culture built around a huge student population, a deep bench of immigrant kitchens, and a farm belt right outside the city limits.
The eating happens in walkable, characterful neighborhoods. The Short North Arts District strings galleries, patios, and buzzy restaurants along High Street under its signature lit arches; German Village, just south of downtown, is a National Register historic district of red-brick cottages, cobblestones, and beer halls; and the North Market downtown is the century-plus-old public market where Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams got its start.
Getting around is easy: the free CBUS downtown circulator connects the Short North, downtown, and the Brewery District, and most of this itinerary is walkable within each neighborhood, with a short rideshare between them. Summer means patio weather and Sunday's Short North Gallery Hop crowds; come hungry, wear comfortable shoes, and pace your appetite, because two days here fills up fast.
Arrival, North Market, and the Short North
North Market · North Market / CC BY-SA 4.0Drop your bags and head straight for North Market, the downtown public market operating since the 1870s and the best single introduction to how Columbus eats. Graze your way through the stalls, then finish with the scoop that started a national brand.
A two-level historic public market with 30-plus independent vendors, from Nepalese momos at Momo Ghar to pierogi, tacos, poke, and fresh pasta. Come hungry and split a few things across stalls; most vendors run roughly $8-15 a plate. Open daily, generally around 10am-5pm on weekdays with slightly longer weekend hours.
Jeni Britton launched her now-famous ice cream from this very market in the early 2000s. Order a scoop of Brambleberry Crisp or Brown Butter Almond Brittle; a single scoop runs about $6. Even lifelong locals still make the pilgrimage.
Walk or take the free CBUS circulator north into the Short North Arts District, where lit metal arches span High Street. Settle onto a patio for a local beer or a cocktail and watch the neighborhood come alive.
A well-regarded brewery and taproom where the beer program is matched by a genuinely serious kitchen. Grab a flight in the taproom before dinner; the IPAs and barrel-aged offerings are consistently strong.
An inventive, seasonally driven cocktail bar just off the main drag near German Village, beloved for creative low-proof and zero-proof options alongside sharp classics. A great spot for a pre-dinner drink if you want craft over crowds.
The Short North is where Columbus shows off. Pick one of these standouts, all within a few blocks of High Street.
A stylish, upscale New American room from the Cameron Mitchell group, strong on seasonal plates, house pastas, and a polished bar. Ideal for a special first night; entrees run roughly $30-45. Reserve ahead on weekends.
A plant-forward restaurant that even committed carnivores rave about, turning vegetables into the star with bright, creative small and large plates. Relaxed but buzzy; great for sharing.
If you want something casual and iconic, this Columbus-born Nashville hot chicken spot delivers juicy, spice-graded birds with pimento mac and greens for well under $20. A local favorite with a great origin story.
Cap the night with dessert or a nightcap along High Street.
The neighborhood scoop shop stays open late enough for a post-dinner cone. Try a seasonal flavor you didn't get at North Market.
A moody upstairs cocktail lounge on High Street with a deep drink list and occasional live jazz, perfect for a low-key nightcap.
German Village Breakfast, Sausage Halls, and a Farewell Bite
German Village · User:Postdlf / CC BY-SA 3.0Start in German Village, the red-brick historic district just south of downtown, with a proper Columbus coffee-and-pastry morning. Both options below are local institutions.
A converted-garage cafe famous for its egg sandwich, cinnamon rolls, and expertly pulled espresso. There's often a short line; it moves fast and it's worth it. Cash-friendly and cash-priced, most items under $10.
A long-running Columbus roaster with a relaxed neighborhood cafe feel, great for a straightforward pour-over or latte if you prefer coffee-first over a big breakfast.
Wander German Village's cobblestone streets on foot, then dip into one of the most beloved bookstores in the country. This is the day's most photogenic stretch, all restored 1800s cottages and iron fences.
A rambling 32-room independent bookstore inside a pre-Civil War building, with a different playlist in every room and a garden path entrance. Free to browse and endlessly charming; budget at least 30-45 minutes.
A guided stroll through the historic neighborhood that pairs its architecture and history with tastings at local favorites, an efficient way to eat and learn at once. Runs a couple of hours; book ahead as departures are limited.
Send yourself off with a classic Columbus meal before heading to the airport. German Village is the right place for it.
The quintessential German Village institution, serving Bahama Mama sausages, schnitzel, and the legendary half-pound cream puffs since the 1960s. Hearty and fun; plan on roughly $15-25 a person. Go early to beat the lunch rush.
If you want something lighter and brunch-leaning before you fly, this beloved corner cafe is known for its pancake balls and original Mexican-inspired breakfast tacos. Casual, quick, and a longtime local favorite.
For a big final splurge, this German Village tavern serves the towering, nationally famous Thurmanator burger. Come with an appetite and expect a wait; it's a rite of passage for Columbus eaters.
Pick your base
Base yourself in the Short North Arts District or just south in downtown near North Market. The Short North puts you on foot to the best concentration of restaurants, bars, and coffee, while downtown hotels sit steps from North Market and a quick ride from German Village. Both areas are served by the free CBUS circulator.
A polished, reliable downtown base connected to the convention center and a short walk from North Market. Its ground-floor restaurants (including a strong steakhouse and bakery) are destinations in their own right.
Well-placed at the southern edge of the Short North, putting you within a walk of both High Street's restaurants and North Market. Modern rooms and a good-value pick for a food-focused weekend.
A playful, affordable choice right on High Street in the heart of the Short North, ideal if you want to roll out of bed into the restaurant and bar scene without a car.
The Short North's design-forward splurge, filled with contemporary art and home to Michael Symon-lineage dining downstairs. Worth it if you want one memorable, upscale night.
For groups or families who want a kitchen and the cobblestone-street charm of a historic German Village cottage within walking distance of Schmidt's and The Book Loft.
Good to know
Is two days enough for a Columbus food trip?
Two days is enough to cover the essential trio of North Market, the Short North Arts District, and German Village at a comfortable pace. You'll eat very well, though a third day would let you add outer neighborhoods like Clintonville or the international restaurants along Cleveland Avenue and Bethel Road.
What is the best neighborhood to stay in for a first-time Columbus visit?
The Short North Arts District is the best base for first-timers, putting you on foot to the highest concentration of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops along High Street. Downtown near North Market is a close second and slightly cheaper, with the free CBUS circulator connecting both to German Village.
What food is Columbus, Ohio known for?
Columbus is the birthplace of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and a hub for Nashville-style hot chicken, German-American fare like Schmidt's sausages and cream puffs, and a strong independent coffee scene. As a longtime restaurant test market, it also has an unusually adventurous, diverse dining culture for its size.
How do you get around Columbus without a car?
Downtown, the Short North, and the Brewery District are linked by the free CBUS circulator bus, and each neighborhood is very walkable on its own. For hops to German Village or the airport, rideshares are cheap and quick, typically under $15 within the core.
When is the best time to visit Columbus for food and events?
Late spring through early fall brings patio weather, farmers markets, and festivals, with the Short North's monthly first-Saturday Gallery Hop being a lively time to visit. Summer is ideal for this itinerary, though restaurants are busiest on weekend evenings, so book ahead.
Is Columbus expensive for a food-focused weekend?
Columbus is affordable by big-city standards. Market stalls and casual spots run roughly $8-15 a plate, sit-down dinners at nicer Short North restaurants land around $30-45 for entrees, and hotels are generally cheaper than in Chicago or the coasts.
Two days is just enough to taste why Columbus keeps landing on national food lists: a historic market, a restaurant-packed arts district, and a beer-hall neighborhood you can eat your way across on foot. Come hungry, pace yourself, and save room for one more scoop of Jeni's on the way out.