You may have noticed that I kind of love Columbus, so I get several emails every week from people asking me what to do here. I finally decided that instead of compiling a short list of random recommendations each time I’m asked, I’d compile one mega list and just link to it. And here we are.

Here are suggestions for a full day of awesomeness in different neighborhoods:

Downtown (near Convention Center):

• Have drunk brunch at Knead
• Explore the North Market vendors and stick around for lunch. You HAVE to try Jeni’s.
• Play at COSI- FOR SCIENCE!
• Stroll by the river and see the Santa Maria
• Pick up a brownie and blondie from Sugardaddy’s
• Drink local beer at Barley’s Ale House

Short North:

• Caffeinate at Impero
• Explore the many art galleries (especially if it’s the first Saturday of the month!)
• Get lunch at Surly Girl Saloon or Betty’s Fine Food and Spirits
• Buy something unique from Homage or What The Rock?!
• Have dinner at Marcella’s or Nida’s
• Enjoy classic cocktails at Mouton
• Visit Brothers Drake Meadery (we have a freakin’ meadery!) – order a cocktail made with next-door Middle West Spirits‘ vodka or whiskey (and tour the distillery if you can)

German Village:

• Get coffee and a macaroon at Pistacia Vera
• Eat sammiches at Katzinger’s
• Lose an afternoon at the Book Loft
• Drink local beer at Columbus Brewing Co.
• Eat dinner at Lindey’s, G. Michael’s or Barcelona
• See a show at ShadowboxLive

Grandview:

• Eat donuts at DK Diner
• Drink coffee and people-watch at Stauf’s
• If you didn’t try Jeni’s at the North Market, go. If you did, go again.
• Make a candle at The Candle Lab
• Tour Watershed Distillery or grab a growler at Zauber Brewing (preferably when there are food trucks present!)
• Eat dinner at Third & Hollywood or Z Cucina
• Enjoy live music at Woodlands Tavern

Other stuff to check out:

• Columbus Food Adventures tours
• Beer, wine, spirits and mead made locally
• Columbus Zoo/Zoombezi Bay waterpark
• Columbus Art Museum
• Franklin Park Conservatory
• Various sport things – Ohio State University’s manysports, Columbus Blue Jackets professional hockey, Columbus Crew professional soccer, Columbus Clippers minor league baseball, Ohio Machine major league lacrosse

All of these recommendations are based on stuff I personally like (which is apparently mostly drinking and eating), and are limited to neighborhoods in which I think you’re likely to be spending time on a trip. There are a ton of other great things (and some seriously drool-worthy dining options) to do in the above neighborhoods, and other neighborhoods not even mentioned – this is not a “best of” or comprehensive list of anything, so please don’t yell at me and tell me I “forgot” something important or picked the “wrong” places because I will just reply with a string of expletives.

(disclosure: Woodlands, ShadowboxLive and Zauber are clients. But I only work with them because I think they’re kickass in the first place. Make of that what you will.)