4 minute read
At the Top
from (614) May | 2023
Stories on High, located on the 28th floor of the new Hilton Columbus Downtown tower, is offering an experience you can't find anywhere else in the city
By Laura Hennigan / Photos by Sarah Pfeifer / Story Design by Bryce Patterson
You’ll likely need to make reservations on OpenTable in advance, but if you’re looking to impress on your next night out, try to snag a corner table at the newly opened Stories on High. After rocketing up to the 28th floor of the new Hilton Columbus Downtown, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping, 360-degree views of Columbus from the city’s highest rooftop bar.
Situated at the very top of the Hilton’s recently constructed tower (which now makes it the largest hotel in Ohio, FYI), Stories opens daily at 4:00 p.m., inviting guests 21 and over to gather in swanky, intimate indoor and outdoor spaces. The inside lounge area offers plenty of high top tables and cushioned benches, while the two patios have an array of seating options overlooking the skyline. General Manager David Bjelovuk shared that the initial reaction to Stories has been tremendous.
“We’ve had an incredible response, and were pretty much sold out the first four weeks we were open. It’s been a great mix of people coming in, with around 75% being local and 25% hotel and out of town guests.”
Patrons are surging in for a variety of reasons, with some grabbing pre-dinner drinks and light bites, and others choosing to end their evening with a nightcap and snacks. Opening the menu makes it clear that Stories is a bar first and foremost, with over a dozen signature craft cocktails created by Beverage Director Rustun Nichols.
“We’re offering a broad spectrum,” he said. “The concept is that we’re elevating and celebrating, offering opportunities for people to take chances and try new things.”
Using fresh ingredients, unique combinations and bold flavors, the drinks are a play on some menu staples. Try the Cat Power, a rift on a Midori Sour, which features house made syrups, a candy garnish and is topped with a cat-ear headband (yes, you get to keep it). Or order a Can I Get a Vodka Soda? With a Lime. With a Lime, made with Watershed vodka and named after one of Nichols’ favorite songs. There are several NA cocktails available as well, along with wine, spirits and beer like the Connie IPA, a collaboration they designed with Sideswipe Brewery.
Drinks in hand, sunset loading, flip to the food section of the menu, where the spotlight shines on an eclectic variety of tapas-style small plates, carefully curated by renowned Chef Sebastian La Rocca.
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“My original thought was that we would have a full Asian menu, but then we decided it would be more fun to combine classic American dishes with an Asian cuisine fusion,” La Rocca said. “There’s a lot of Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Korean influence.” Items include robata skewers and sashimi, as well as appetizers like ceviche and beef sliders, along with a handful of desserts.
"With every menu, I revisit old memories and I want to create new memories for people.”
Those new memories, Nichols said, will rise from the new spot’s intimate seating and interactive experience.
“The tables here are smaller, designed for closer interaction with the small plates, sharing plates with others, tasting a little of everything,” Nichols said “We have different flavors playing with each other, interacting. It’s not a static experience - we want you to share with your friends and explore all the options.”
Above all else, Stories on High wants to share, well, stories.
“We want to be the highlight of your day,” said Nichols. “People come up here for an elevated experience, literally and figuratively. When you come up here, you’re a part of it too. We want people to feel embraced and know that this is a fun, inclusive space for everyone. We’re providing the same sense of warmth and hospitality that is at the core of Hilton values.”
To learn more visit: storiesonhigh.com
(Ad provided by 101 Beer Kitchen)
