Lifestyle: Around Town - Neighborhoods in Columbus

AROUND TOWN

Each of Columbus’ dozens of neighborhoods brings its own unique flavor to the city. Here are some of the most popular, in alphabetical order.

BEECHWOLD/CLINTONVILLE

This area is beloved by locals who like their neighborhood one part crunchy granola, one part modern urban oasis. Here, you’ll find cozy homes and expansive gardens filled by urban homesteaders, artists, young families and professionals, university professors and students. It’s the kind of place where you can get your hair cut by an independently owned vegan salon, have one of the best brunches of your life, and make a Target run in a single morning. Whatever your taste, you’ll find it here as you peruse the locally owned boutiques, antique shops, cafés and restaurants along High Street before walking through the 13-acre Whetstone Park of Roses, located behind the local library.

BERWICK/EASTMOOR

Eastmoor, sandwiched between Bexley and Whitehall, was constructed around a polo field in the 1920s and now is recognized by the city of Columbus as a historic neighborhood, while Berwick, southeast of Bexley, was built about 20 years later around a golf course. While neither recreational facility still exists, what has endured and thrived are these racially and religiously diverse communities on Columbus’ east side, full of community pride and affordable housing; so much so that both former Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Buckeye football legend Archie Griffin have called this area home.

DOWNTOWN/ARENA DISTRICT/ DISCOVERY DISTRICT

After more than a decade of dedicated urban revival projects, it’s easy to see why new residents are flocking to downtown: Surrounding the centerpiece of it all—the Ohio Statehouse—are industrial lofts, upscale apartments and charming bungalows, many adjacent to the scenic Columbus Commons park. A wide variety of restaurants are scattered amid state office towers and hubs for major employers.

Flanking downtown to the east is the Discovery District, so named for its numerous institutions for art and learning, including the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus College of Art & Design and the Main Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

FRANKLINTON

Just west of downtown, this neighborhood once decimated by a 1913 flood sat dilapidated and largely empty until about a decade ago, when an influential young arts and entrepreneurial community (and apartment and condo developers) began to breathe new life into its repurposed warehouses. Today, Franklinton is a favorite hip haunt for artists and makers, and home to the top-rated, family favorite science center, COSI (pictured below).

GERMAN VILLAGE/BREWERY DISTRICT

Immediately south of downtown, settlers put down their roots in the mid-1800s in what became known as German Village and the adjacent Brewery District, so named for pre-Prohibition beer-making establishments that once called it home. German Village is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the meticulously looked-after brick streets and Italianate architecture are lined with well-curated, independent shops and impeccably decorated historic homes with even more charm than Schmidt’s Sausage Haus’ Cream Puffs, if possible. Just to the west, the Brewery District is still going strong with hip cocktail bars and eateries, entertainment options like resident theater troupe Shadowbox Live and boho loft living.

HILLTOP

West of Franklinton and south of Hilliard, this large neighborhood is backed by an active, 90-year-old business association, which works to bring fresh faces and talent to the area. Though the community has struggled with crime and poverty over the years, residents are passionate about drawing new homeowners looking for affordable urban living to the area. A number of community street fairs and festivals bring family-friendly entertainment options close to home.

KING-LINCOLN BRONZEVILLE/OLDE TOWNE EAST

These storied neighborhoods sit side by side just east of downtown. Olde Towne East is a visual feast, lined with stately mansions in various states of remodel, Greek Revival and Italianate homes, and brownstone-esque condos and houses leftover from its 19th-century heyday as the upscale neighborhood du jour. King-Lincoln Bronzeville was a Black business hub in the 1930s, with a rich legacy of arts, culture and jazz. Those traditions are being carried on today by performances and events at the Lincoln Theatre, a historic art deco-style stage where musical groups like the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus play throughout the year, and the King Arts Complex, a genre-spanning hub of cultural art.

LINDEN/NORTHLAND

Running along Cleveland Avenue east of Clintonville and the University District, Linden is bisected into North and South Linden by Hudson Street. North Linden is home to a number of restaurants featuring a variety of international cuisines, with Somali and Caribbean standouts in particular. Continuing farther north into Northland along Morse Road, a wealth of bargains await, including several furniture warehouse stores, as you head east toward the seemingly limitless retail and entertainment of the alwaysexpanding Easton (these days, a whole district unto itself—see page 100). Crime has historically been an issue in these neighborhoods, but attention from civic leaders, residents and local organizations are working together to change that.

NORTHWEST COLUMBUS

Sandwiched between Upper Arlington, Dublin and Worthington, this residential neighborhood features a number of busy strip malls and tasty Asian eateries. If you’re looking for some of the city’s best and most authentic Vietnamese, Japanese and Korean fare, look no further; some of the international groceries sprinkled throughout the area also serve prepared foods, plus ingredients to cook at home.

SHORT NORTH ARTS DISTRICT

The Short North has long been known as an arts district, and certainly its many worthwhile galleries and extensive outdoor public art murals and sculptures earn that distinction. Its 17 steel arches pay homage to the wooden versions first installed in 1888, which gave Columbus its nickname of “Arch City.” In recent years, the Short North has become a vibrant strip of High Street that’s densely populated with local businesses. You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to hip boutiques, in-demand local and national restaurants, and an increasing amount of lively, Instagram-perfect rooftop bars and nightlife.

VICTORIAN VILLAGE/ ITALIAN VILLAGE

The two historical neighborhoods hugging the Short North’s east and west flanks—Italian Village and Victorian Village, respectively—are rich with eclectic housing options and cool community vibes. Popular for their walkability to the dining and entertainment of the Short North, but prized for their quiet, treelined streets and pocket parks, these neighborhoods are popular for young professionals, families and retirees alike. Italian Village in particular has seen a number of apartment and condo buildings go up in recent years, attracting even more young blood. Hidden gems abound when it comes to neighborhood dining and local watering holes, including the restaurant incubator Budd Dairy Food Hall (see page 108).

UNIVERSITY DISTRICT/SOHUD

Yell “O-H” in this part of town, any time of day or night, and you’ll hear back a resounding “I-O!” That’s because this 3-mile stretch of High Street is home to what its fans love to refer to as THE Ohio State University, the campus of which is situated between High Street and the Olentangy River. Packed with students, bars and businesses, it’s the most densely populated area of the city. Critics decry the turnover of gritty local student haunts to increasingly homogeneous corporate entities (think: fewer dive bars, more Target), while others have welcomed the overdue modernization and increase in dining and convenience. (And all sides agree that Buckeye Donuts is the sweetest enduring holdover.) Buckeye fandom aside, this area is home to an important artistic attraction: the Wexner Center for the Arts, around which the university is facilitating a major facelift to create a walkable district-within-the-district.