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Ohio, United States

Downtown & the Short North

Rooftop and hotel countdowns along High Street; 2 nights downtown. We have mapped 1 sight, 3 activities and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Downtown & the Short North with friendsBrowse 9 places
Downtown & the Short North, Ohio, United States
Places
9

1 See · 3 Do · 2 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Columbus New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
August

29°C / 85°F avg high

Coolest month
January

2°C / 35°F avg high

Wettest month
May

about 105 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for German Village, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in Downtown & the Short North

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

1 sight worth building a day around in Downtown.

  • Scioto Mile in Downtown & the Short NorthPhoto: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain
    See

    Scioto Mile

    Riverfront parks and promenade along the Scioto River with the best ground-level view of the downtown skyline.

    Tip Stand on the Main Street Bridge for the classic skyline and river reflection after dark.

    • Downtown
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • After dark

Do

3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Short North, Arena District and Franklinton.

  • Short North Arts District in Downtown & the Short NorthPhoto: Jsjessee · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Do

    Short North Arts District

    Mile of High Street north of downtown lined with galleries, bars and restaurants under lit steel arches.

    Tip The Joseph hotel here hosted its own NYE toast in 2025 if you want to stay close to the bars.

    • Short North
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Evening
  • Nationwide Arena in Downtown & the Short NorthPhoto: Eric · CC BY-SA 2.0
    Do

    Nationwide Arena

    Home of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, who played a Dec 31 home game in 2025.

    Tip When there is an NYE game, the Arena District bars fill right after the final horn.

    • Arena District
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • Evening
  • Do

    COSI Noon Year's Eve

    The science museum's family countdown to noon in its atrium on Dec 31, held 10 am to noon in 2025.

    Tip Included with admission; arrive by 10 am to get a spot in the atrium.

    • Franklinton
    • $$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Dec 31 morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Downtown & the Short North across Short North and Northwest Columbus.

  • North Market in Downtown & the Short NorthPhoto: North Market · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    North Market

    Public market at the edge of the Short North since 1876, with stalls for Ohio cheese, pierogi, Jeni's ice cream and more.

    Tip Good for a late lunch on Dec 30 or 31; holiday hours are shorter.

    • Short North
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Lunch
  • Eat

    The Refectory

    French restaurant in a 19th-century church building on Bethel Road, open since 1976 and known for its wine cellar.

    Tip It is a 15-minute drive north of downtown; book an early seating and rideshare back for the countdown.

    • Northwest Columbus
    • $$$$
    • 2.5 hr
    • Dec 31 early seating

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Downtown & the Short North across Scioto Peninsula and Downtown.

  • Drink

    Brass Eye

    Rooftop bar on The Junto hotel across the river from downtown, facing the skyline; its NYE party ran in 2024 and 2025.

    Tip The NYE ticket covers a welcome drink, passed bites and a midnight balloon drop; buy it in early December.

    • Scioto Peninsula
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • 9 pm – 1 am
  • Drink

    Stories on High

    Rooftop bar on the 28-story Hilton Columbus Downtown tower, which threw a ticketed NYE party in 2025.

    Tip The hotel sells NYE packages that bundle a room with party access.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 3 hr
    • 9 pm – 1 am

Stay

1 place to stay we would book in Downtown.

  • Hotel LeVeque in Downtown & the Short NorthPhoto: Jud McCranie · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Stay

    Hotel LeVeque

    Hotel inside the 1927 Art Deco LeVeque Tower, the city's landmark skyscraper, two blocks from the Scioto Mile.

    Tip Its NYE package in 2025 included a champagne toast and a lobby party with live music.

    • Downtown
    • $$$

How to fit Downtown & the Short North into a trip

Downtown & the Short North is stop 1 of 2 on our Columbus New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Downtown & the Short North into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on German Village

Our climate figures for Downtown & the Short North come from German Village, about 2 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 2°C / 35°F in January to 29°C / 85°F in August. May is the wettest month, with about 105 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for German Village. German Village weather (covers Downtown & the Short North) →

Near Downtown & the Short North

8 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Downtown & the Short North questions, answered

How many days do you need in Downtown & the Short North?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Downtown & the Short North. On our Columbus New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 19 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Downtown & the Short North best known for?

Rooftop and hotel countdowns along High Street; 2 nights downtown. Standouts on our list: Scioto Mile (Riverfront parks and promenade along the Scioto River with the best ground-level view of the downtown skyline); Short North Arts District (Mile of High Street north of downtown lined with galleries, bars and restaurants under lit steel arches); Nationwide Arena (Home of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, who played a Dec 31 home game in 2025).

When is the best time to visit Downtown & the Short North?

Our Columbus New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby German Village put the warmest highs in August (29°C / 85°F), the coolest in January (2°C / 35°F) and the most rain in May (about 105 mm).

What are the best things to do in Downtown & the Short North?

Start with Scioto Mile, Short North Arts District, Nationwide Arena and COSI Noon Year's Eve. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 1 sight, 3 activities, 2 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Downtown & the Short North?

Our picks: North Market (Short North); The Refectory (Northwest Columbus). Good for a late lunch on Dec 30 or 31; holiday hours are shorter (North Market).

What is near Downtown & the Short North?

The closest destinations in our guides are German Village (about 2 km / 1 mi), Downtown Cincinnati (about 162 km / 100 mi) and Covington (about 163 km / 101 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Downtown & the Short North with your crew

Open the Columbus New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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