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Food Northwest Columbus, Downtown & the Short North

The Refectory

A place to eat in Northwest Columbus, Downtown & the Short North, a splurge ($$$$) and worth about 2.5 hours. Best time to go: Dec 31 early seating.

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Why go

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

It is one of 9 curated places we feature in Downtown & the Short North, alongside 3 activities, 2 bars & cafés and 1 place to eat. The closest of our other picks is Short North Arts District, 6.2 mi away as the crow flies.

Type
Food
Neighborhood
Northwest Columbus
Price
$$$$
Time needed
2.5 hr
Best time
Dec 31 early seating

Nearby

The 6 closest curated picks in Downtown & the Short North, measured as straight-line distance.

  1. 1
    Short North Arts District

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

    Activity · 6.2 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    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.

    Food · 6.8 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Stories on High

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

    Drinks · 6.9 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Nationwide Arena

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

    Activity · 6.9 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Hotel LeVeque

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

    Stay · 7.4 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Brass Eye

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

    Drinks · 7.5 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

The Refectory is a stop on our Columbus New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More to do in Downtown & the Short North

The Refectory is our only food pick in Downtown & the Short North; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Downtown & the Short North guide.

When to go: weather by month, based on German Village

Our climate figures for Downtown & the Short North come from nearby German Village. Average daily highs in German Village run from 35°F in January to 85°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For The Refectory itself, we suggest: Dec 31 early seating.

Modelled monthly averages for German Village from NASA POWER, not a forecast. German Village weather by month (covers Downtown & the Short North).

Getting there

Map links open a live search for The Refectory, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
40.06370, -83.04822
Destination
Downtown & the Short North, Ohio

The Refectory: quick answers

How much time do you need at The Refectory?

Plan on about 2.5 hours at The Refectory. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit The Refectory?

Our pick: Dec 31 early seating. Insider tip: It is a 15-minute drive north of downtown; book an early seating and rideshare back for the countdown.

Which TripsCircle routes include The Refectory?

The Refectory appears on Columbus New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add The Refectory to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Downtown & the Short North.

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Lists & regions

Also in Downtown & the Short North

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.