Sports bars in Columbus

There's a specific kind of joy in watching a big game shoulder to shoulder with strangers who instantly become friends when your team scores. Columbus has 40 sports bars where you can do exactly that. Below are the real spots — names, addresses, what kind of place each one is — plus how to pick the right one for game day. Names you'll see below include Boston's Restaurant & Sports Bar, Gallo's Tap Room, Roosters, and 37 more across town.

The sports bars scene in Columbus

We indexed 40 sports bars in Columbus. The scene leans American Restaurant, Wings Joint and Pizzeria. You'll find them in Hilliard, Westerville, Grove City. Boston's Restaurant & Sports Bar (Pizzeria, Sports Bar) on 191 Nationwide Blvd (at West St). Gallo's Tap Room (Sports Bar) on 5019 Olentangy River Rd. Roosters (Sports Bar, Wings Joint) on 3370 Olentangy River Rd.

Sports bars in Columbus

Boston's Restaurant & Sports Bar

191 Nationwide Blvd (at West St), Columbus, OH 43215 · Pizzeria, Sports Bar · 1.1 km from central Columbus

A pizzeria spot 1.1 km from central Columbus.

Gallo's Tap Room

5019 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43214 · Sports Bar · 11.6 km from central Columbus

A sports bar 11.6 km from central Columbus.

Roosters

3370 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43202 · Sports Bar, Wings Joint · 7.8 km from central Columbus

A wings joint spot 7.8 km from central Columbus.

Old Skool

2941 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202 · Sports Bar · 6.9 km from central Columbus

A sports bar 6.9 km from central Columbus.

Classic Pizza

742 N State St (Maxtown Rd), Westerville, OH 43082 · Sports Bar, Pizzeria · 21.4 km from central Columbus

A pizzeria spot 21.4 km from central Columbus.

R Bar Arena

413 N Front St (at Vine St.), Columbus, OH 43215 · Sports Bar · 1.1 km from central Columbus

A sports bar 1.1 km from central Columbus.

Plank's on Broadway

4022 Broadway, Grove City, OH 43123 · Sports Bar, Diner · 11.9 km from central Columbus

A diner and pizzeria spot 11.9 km from central Columbus.

Dave & Buster's

3665 Park Mill Run Dr, Hilliard, OH 43026 · Sports Bar, Arcade · 12.8 km from central Columbus

A arcade and american restaurant spot 12.8 km from central Columbus.

Chumley's

1516 N High St (9th Ave), Columbus, OH 43201 · Sports Bar, American Restaurant · 3.6 km from central Columbus

A american restaurant spot 3.6 km from central Columbus.

Robey's Pub & Patio

9327 Columbia Rd SW (Historic Route 40 | Pike St SW | 43018), Etna, OH 43062 · Sports Bar, Pub · 26.0 km from central Columbus

A pub spot 26.0 km from central Columbus.

Suzi-Cue Pool Hall

1950 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201 · Sports Bar · 4.6 km from central Columbus

A sports bar 4.6 km from central Columbus.

Nasty's Sports Bar & Restaurant

4561 Scioto Darby Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026 · Sports Bar · 13.4 km from central Columbus

A sports bar 13.4 km from central Columbus.

Joe's Pub & Grill

9890 Brewster Ln (Sawmill Pkwy), Powell, OH 43065 · Sports Bar · 23.0 km from central Columbus

A sports bar 23.0 km from central Columbus.

Yogi's Bar & Grill

5857 Karric Square Dr (Karric Plazza), Dublin, OH 43016 · Sports Bar, American Restaurant · 16.3 km from central Columbus

A american restaurant spot 16.3 km from central Columbus.

The Grumpy Troll Tavern

5213 Bethel Center Mall, Columbus, OH 43220 · Sports Bar · 12.6 km from central Columbus

A sports bar 12.6 km from central Columbus.

How to pick a sports bar in Columbus

Screens beat everything.

Count the TVs before you count the taps. A good sports bar has sightlines from every seat — if you have to crane your neck, keep walking.

Sound matters for big games.

Playoff games and finals deserve a bar that turns the sound on. Call ahead if the game matters to you; the best bars advertise which matches they're showing.

Arrive early for the big ones.

Championship games, derbies and rivalry matches fill sports bars an hour before kickoff. The regulars know this. Now you do too.

Food is part of the deal.

Wings, nachos, burgers — sports-bar food is its own cuisine. Kitchens get slammed at halftime, so order before the break.

Common questions

What is the best sports bar in Columbus?

The honest answer depends on your team and your vibe — some bars are built for football crowds, others for hockey or basketball nights. The listings above show you every option with its address so you can pick by neighborhood and style.

Do sports bars in Columbus show live games with sound?

Most do for major matches, but policies vary by venue and by game. If sound matters, call the bar ahead of time — especially for finals and rivalry games.

Are sports bars in Columbus family-friendly?

Many are restaurants first and bars second, especially earlier in the day. Evenings and big fight nights skew adult. When in doubt, go before 7pm.

Photos: Prairie Creek, Jake Blucker jakeblucker, Matese Fields tesecreates, Jacob Rank jacobaustinrank via Wikimedia Commons. Venue listings by Foursquare.