What’s better than a great drink?
A great drink and a fantastic view.
Columbus has been adding rooftops fast, from a 28th-floor lounge downtown to a brewery patio with a roof that slides open, and most of the bars on this list run straight through winter. Here are the best rooftop bars in Columbus, in no particular order.
Brass Eye at The Junto
Scioto Peninsula · Rooftop patio
Brass Eye, perched above The Junto hotel on the Scioto Peninsula, became a Columbus favorite fairly quickly. The view runs across the river to downtown, and the cocktail list is built on Ben Franklin’s Drinker’s Dictionary, his collection of 200-plus ways to say someone has had a few. Brass Eye is a great place to gather with your crew or to enjoy a romantic date night. The bar stays open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Location: 77 Belle St.
Website: Brass Eye
Novak’s Tavern + Patio
Short North · Rooftop patio
Novak’s is an oldie but a goodie, and it doesn’t have the best view on the list, but it has so much character. While you don’t often hear the words “tavern” and “rooftop patio” together, there’s just something about Novak’s that works. It’s a more intimate space, but it’s got great vibes and a fantastic location for kicking off a big night in the Short North. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays the doors open at 11 a.m.
Location: 475 N. High St.
Website: Novak’s Tavern + Patio
Jackie O’s on Fourth
Downtown · Rooftop patio
Jackie O’s has been a longtime Athens favorite, and now we get to enjoy the magic right here in Columbus. The downtown taproom is massive and the rooftop patio? Absolute perfection. It’s got the kind of skyline view that makes you want to linger a little longer with a pint in hand. Their beers are top-tier (hello, Mystic Mama), and the food is pretty dang impressive, too. The whole place goes 21-and-over after 7:30 p.m.
Location: 171 N. Fourth St.
Website: Jackie O’s
VASO Rooftop Lounge
Dublin · 8th floor
Okay, so technically, this isn’t in Columbus, but VASO Rooftop Lounge is honestly one of the most amazing bars and it wouldn’t be right to leave it off the list. The bar sits atop the AC Hotel overlooking the Scioto River and Bridge Park. It’s a really magical spot, and if you’re searching for a romantic date night restaurant that will wow your partner, go to VASO. When it gets cold, the patio igloos come back, now in their eighth year, and each one seats up to eight.
Location: 6540 Riverside Dr., Dublin
Website: VASO Rooftop Lounge
Seventh Son Brewing Co.
Italian Village · Rooftop patio
The Seventh Son Brewing rooftop manages to feel like the coziest rooftop you’ve ever been on. Sure, it may not have sweeping views of the city, but it’s still got tons of character. Good vibes live here and a night on this charming rooftop will be well spent. Obviously, you’ll find a bunch of incredible beer options when drinking on the rooftop. But don’t miss out on the brewery’s cocktail and mocktail options. The roof retracts, so rain doesn’t close the upstairs patio.
Location: 1101 N. 4th St.
Website: Seventh Son Brewing Co.
Stories on High
Downtown · 28th floor
Stories on High is the place to be if your favorite things about rooftop bars are incredible heights and premium, craft cocktails. Located atop the Hilton Tower, Stories on High has amazing views of Columbus and the surrounding area that you won’t get anywhere else. Perched at 28 stories, this rooftop bar will have you feeling like you’re up in the clouds, instead of steps from North High Street! It’s 21-and-over, and it’s closed Sunday and Monday.
Location: 404 N. High St.
Website: Stories on High
Goodale Station
Arena District · Top floor
Goodale Station is one of those bars that you walk into and instantly feel like you’re the main character. Located on the top floor of the Canopy by Hilton hotel, the bar is chic and modern with interesting views of Downtown Columbus that you won’t get anywhere else. In addition to some of the best drinks in town, Goodale Station also offers a dinner menu, brunch options, and happy hour. It’s perfect for a romantic date or an intimate event and honestly, I’ve lost my train of thought because I’ve been overcome by those views.
Location: 77 E. Nationwide Blvd.
Website: Goodale Station
RH Rooftop Restaurant
Easton · 3rd floor
Ready for a glass of wine and a fine dining experience? RH Rooftop Restaurant sits on the third floor of RH Columbus, a massive design gallery. The food menu pairs perfectly with the craft beer and an extensive wine list, with bottles from around the world that guests can enjoy in this stunning rooftop area. This place brings the glitz and the glam, so get fancy and enjoy the sparkling chandeliers and the trickling fountains.
Location: 4120 Worth Ave.
Website: RH Rooftop Restaurant
Astra Rooftop
Short North · 8th floor
Astra took over the 8th floor of the AC Hotel near Goodale Park in the summer of 2025, in the spot where Lumin Skybar used to be. It comes from One Hospitality, the group behind Forno and Standard Hall. The menu is Spanish-inspired, from small plates to steaks. Happy hour runs weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. with half-priced cocktails, wine, draft beer, starters and flatbreads. The windows still frame the downtown skyline, and there’s an outdoor terrace.
Location: 517 Park St.
Website: Astra Rooftop
Antiques on High
Brewery District · 2nd floor
This is one of my favorite little rooftops in Columbus. Grab a perfectly crafted cocktail or sour beer from the bar and take it up to the roof. Antiques on High specializes in sour beer, which can be a bit of an adventure if you’ve never had it before. They also have some pretty incredible cocktails on the menu. The rooftop patio has heat lamps, casual lighting, and a wonderful environment for throwing a few back with your pals. It’s partially enclosed, so the rooftop stays open all year.
Location: 714 S. High St.
Website: Antiques on High
Lincoln Social
Short North · 9th floor
Lincoln Social is a fantastic addition to the rooftop bar scene here in Columbus. It has some seriously impressive views of the city and a great, central location in the Short North. While they don’t have a massive food menu at Lincoln Social, they’ve got more than enough options to feed even the hungriest of bar patrons. The menu includes sushi, pizza, and small desserts. They’ve got a great wine selection, in addition to craft cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks as well. The bar is glamorous yet accessible and it’s quickly become the place I take my friends who are visiting Columbus from out of town to impress them. It’s closed Mondays, and happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.
Location: 711 N. High St.
Website: Lincoln Social
Budd Dairy Food Hall
Italian Village · Rooftop patio
If you’re looking for a laid-back rooftop with tons of food options and a strong community feel, Budd Dairy is where it’s at. The rooftop bar is a great hangout spot and an ideal place to try bites from multiple local vendors, sip a cocktail, and enjoy the skyline. There’s often live music or events, so it’s easy to turn a casual happy hour into a whole night out. Happy hour is Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., and like Lincoln Social, the bar is closed Mondays.
Location: 1086 N. 4th St.
Website: Budd Dairy Food Hall
Columbus Rooftop Bar FAQs
What is the tallest rooftop bar in Columbus?
Stories on High takes it, and it isn’t close. Perched 28 stories up on top of the Hilton Columbus Downtown tower, it’s the highest rooftop bar in the city, with 360-degree views to match.
What is the newest rooftop bar on this list?
That would be Astra Rooftop. It opened in the summer of 2025 in the former Lumin Sky Bar space on the 8th floor of the AC Hotel near Goodale Park, with an indoor lounge and an outdoor terrace.
Which Columbus rooftop bars are open in winter?
Plenty of them are built for the cold. Stories on High and Goodale Station both have indoor lounges, so you keep the view without the wind chill. Astra has one too. Antiques on High runs its partially covered rooftop year-round with heat lamps, and Seventh Son’s roof retracts. VASO puts heated igloos on the patio every winter. Budd Dairy’s rooftop is the one to save for warm months.
Which rooftop bar has the best view for a date night?
For a skyline that makes people gasp, it’s hard to beat Stories on High or Lincoln Social in the Short North. If you’d rather trade downtown for Dublin, VASO overlooks the Scioto River and Bridge Park. In winter the igloos make it the easiest date on this list to book ahead.
