Every year our readers and editors narrow down their favorite places to drink, and then share the results with the general public to help highlight the best spots in town to find some local flavor. This year, the top 10 skews pretty heavily toward Downtown Columbus (5 out of 10), and Fourth Street specifically (7 out of 10). That being said, there’s still quite a bit of variety represented in the styles of the venues in the top of list, ranging from no-frills corner bars to upscale mixology havens and all things in between.
In first place you’ll find a spot that landed the distinction of Best New Bar last year, Pins Mechanical Company. This large and active space goes above and beyond in providing people more to do with their hands than just drink, including duckpin bowling, pinball, foosball, jumbo jenga, ping pong and more. The concept has already proven wildly successful, with a miniature location opened inside Nationwide Arena back in September, and a second full location that opened just a few days ago at Bridge Park in Dublin. A third full location is slated to open in Nashville in late 2018, and we wouldn’t be surprised if other cities aren’t announced in the coming months. Keep ’em coming!
For more information, visit www.pinsbar.com.
The Top 10 Columbus Bars of 2017:
10. Denmark on High
463 N. High St. — Downtown
9. Land Grant Brewing
424 W. Town St. — Franklinton
8. Little Rock Bar
944 N. Fourth St. — Italian Village
7. St. James Tavern
1057 N. Fourth St. — Italian Village
6. Blind Lady Tavern
22 E. Mound St. — Downtown
5. Curio at Harvest
491 S. Fourth St. — German Village
4. Seventh Son Brewing Co.
1101 N. Fourth St. — Italian Village
3. 16-Bit Bar+Arcade
254 S. Fourth St. — Downtown
2. Wolf’s Ridge Brewing
215 N. Fourth St. — Downtown
1. PINS Mechanical Co.
141 N. Fourth St. — Downtown
6558 Riverside Drive — Bridge Park Dublin
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TOP #11 to #20 BARS OF 2017
Flashback: Best Bar of 2016 — Curio at Harvest
Flashback: Best Bar of 2015 — The Pint House
Flashback: Best Bar of 2014 — 16-Bit Bar+Arcade
Flashback: Best Bar of 2013 — St. James Tavern
Flashback: Best Bar of 2012 — St. James Tavern
Flashback: Best Bar of 2011 – St. James Tavern
Flashback: Best Bar of 2010 – St. James Tavern
Flashback: Best Bar of 2009 – Surly Girl Saloon
Flashback: Best Bar of 2008 – Bodega
Note: Our “Best of 2017″ lists are published as the combined results of our annual Reader Nomination Survey and Editor’s Choice picks.