There’s nothing quite like the anticipation of a live show, big or small. Dressing up, hitting the town, and grabbing some dinner before the lights dim: it’s all part of the experience. We’ve got your full guide to seeing a show in Downtown Columbus, so you can stress less about logistics and fully embrace your night Downtown.
The Theatres
Ohio Theatre
39 E State St
A visually stunning, 2,791-seat iconic historic landmark hosting national tours, the Columbus Symphony, BalletMet, and more.
Palace Theatre
34 W Broad St
At the base of Leveque Tower, grandiosely decorated with red and gold and holding 2,695 seats.
Southern Theatre
21 E Main St
The oldest surviving theatre in central Ohio hosting Opera Columbus, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and more.
Riffe Center Theatre Complex
77 S High St
Home to a smaller, ~900-seat space on the third floor of the Riffe Center along with intimate studio-style theatres hosting The Contemporary Theater and more.
Getting There + Parking
- By car: For both convenience and cost, our favorite place to park is in the Columbus Commons Underground Garage, located at 191 S Third St. Parking is just $5 for Ohio Theatre shows, and $6 for 5 hours of parking on other days. The garage offers an entrance directly up to the Ohio Theatre entrance on State St, and is just an 8 minute walk from the Palace Theatre, a 6-minute walk from the Southern Theatre, and 6-minute walk from the Riffe Center.
- By bike: Bike racks are plentiful Downtown if you’re taking a personal bike.
- By bus: Both the 1 and 2 COTA buses travel Downtown via High St. Get off the bus at either High & State or High & Town.
Food
There are lots of local restaurants to choose from within walking distance of our theatres downtown. Our top choices for a pre-show meal or post-show bite are below.
Casual + local
- Hydeout Kitchen + Bar, 201 S High St – Small plates, adventurous salads and almost everything else you could crave with an expansive happy hour, open Wednesday-Sunday.
- The Woodbury, 215 E Town St – Offering “a twist on traditional classics” (chicken hotcakes tacos and PB&J fried wings, to give you an idea) in an elevated-yet-casual setting.
- Aracri Pizzeria on Gay, 51 E Gay St – A full bar, pizza, pasta, and garlic knots — sometimes that’s exactly what you need, and Aracri does it right.
- Barroluco, 47 N Pearl St – Tucked into Pearl Alley offering up Argentinian comfort food (empanadas, anyone?).
- Tiger + Lily, 19 E Gay St – Casual, quality Asian-inspired fare including ramen, Korean BBQ and curry.
- 4th and State, 152 E State St – Totally-vegan diner offering a plant-based twist to American classics.
Elevated yet relaxed
- Due Amici, 67 E Gay St – Casual fine dining with Italian fare, with happy hour til 6:30pm.
- Speck Italian, 89 N High St – Upscale Italian food in a colorful environment.
- Sidebar Columbus, 122 E Main St – Wine and tapas — is there a better pair? South-American inspired cuisine in a laid-back setting.
Open late
Hungry after the performance? We’ve got you covered. Here are our picks for late-night eats Downtown:
- Tip-Top Kitchen and Cocktails, 73 E Gay St (open til 2am) – Dimly lit, spacious tavern offering a wide variety of affordable comfort meals like pot roast, patty melts and fried green beans, plus creative cocktails.
- The Walrus, 143 E Main St (open til 2:30am Fri-Sat, other days 12am) – Lowkey industrial spot with a wide variety of American food and 30 drafts, open til 2:30am daily for your post-show cravings.
- Mikey’s Late Night Slice, 268 S 4th St (open til 2:30am every day) – A shameless Columbus classic serving a variety of pizzas by the slice.
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