Last week I stopped by to meet a friend during happy hour and to watch the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Parking isn't the greatest, but the neighborhood street at the intersection this bar sits on had plenty of spaces. It is a narrow dive bar with a great beer selection at okay prices. They have about 4 or 5 small TVs mounted on the backside of the bar, but they weren't on top of changing the channels to make sure all the basketball games were being shown. At one point just one of the 3 games in progress was on two of the TVs. It was St. Patrick's day, so of course the narrow little bar was a bit crowded. I wouldn't come here to watch sports, but if I just wanted to chill and try several different beers this would be a great place to do it. The bartenders were very friendly. read more

I completely understand why regulars love this bar... that is the point of being a regular after all- to feel like you belong somewhere. A lot of neighborhood bars do this with a sliight acknowledged deference to its regular clientele... putting their drink on the bar before they ask, greeting them by name, giving them happy hour prices on their drinks 15 minutes after happy hour ends, chatting them up more than less recognizable patrons. They do this while still being welcoming and attentive to new people. OR you can accomplish this by providing basic customer service to your regulars, while ignoring everyone else. Your regulars feel good about being regulars either way, but the second pretty much sucks as a business model for gaining new bar patrons. Now I have plenty of friends that love this place but they constantly apologize for the service... "It just takes some time getting used to...." Um, no. They have a good beer menu, but so do about a dozen other places without having to fight to get a drink. I am not that girl that is going to lean across the bar and frantically wave at you to get your attention (I am fairly sure the bartenders would continue to ignore me regardless). I am not going to fight you to take my money, I will leave and perhaps that is exactly what you want. And by the way, coming from a small town I know what a neighborhood bar is- and this sirs, is not it. read more

A lot of people had reviewed this place as being unkind to outsiders, but I would have to disagree completely with this statement; and although I only spent 10 minutes at Bob's Bar, my time here was great. My boyfriend wanted to take me somewhere on St. Patties Day for my first Irish Carbomb, and this place didn't disappoint. We live really close so we chose Bob's just in case I got a little too tipsy. We walked in and found a chair at the bar, the place was hoppin! There was a band playing in the back, Irish style, and people were dancing and getting on real well. The people around seemed super friendly, and the drinks were cheap and great. Everyone was talkative, even to me, a stranger, and I thought that was nice. On my way out a guy shook my hand and said thank you, because I apparently won him $5.00 by finishing my bomb first. All-in-all I have to say my first Bob's Bar trip was memorable and I am excited to check it out again! read more

I FINALLY got some people to go here with me to give me a nigbt away from being a mom. I totally LOVE this place now!! People in there are calm and friendly. If you love beer it is like heaven.....so many to choose from it is actually difficult. Only bummer was my songs didn't play on the juke box, but I blame that on myself since I was a little tipsy amd didn't select my songs intil close to 2am.... oh well. I should have known better......but the desire to hear Dead Milkmen and Liz Phair can hit at the strangest times!! read more

This is my favorite bar in all of Columbus. It's smaller, and has a great feel to it. It's a very laid-back atmosphere. The staff is great and very knowledgeable about their beer selection, so don't be intimidated by their vast amount of beer choices! Make sure you do their world tour of beers. Ask for one of the cards... they put your name on it and every time you go, just get it before you start drinking and take it up with you each time you get a beer. They punch a hole next to the beer that you drink on your list... once you clear the first list of 88 beers, you get a free Bob's Bar t-shirt, then a list of 44 beers. Once you clear the 44 beers, you get a mug with your name engraved on it, and you get 24oz of beer for the 16oz price of whatever is on tap for the rest of your life! Amazing! There's also karaoke on Sunday. read more

Copious amounts of craft beer, pool tables & darts, bartenders who play favorites, a good world tour list, greasy gyro goodness next door, and the oddest and arguably most arrogant tagline in Columbus. Welcome to Bob's. Let's start with the obvious -- the beer selection is excellent. In my first half dozen trips there, I didn't even realize there was a beer menu, so drawn was I to what was visible and to my friends' long world tour cards. Fantastic thing, that (highly elusive) menu, which calls out the brews in the sealed fridge you wouldn't be able to find in a glance behind the bar. Previously I was just that jackass staring at the whiteboard tap list or peering into the stacked cooler to see what was available, getting the most awkward possible looks as I did so. The bartenders look at your crosseyed in this sort of situation but make sure to fly right by when you're ready to order something. At least that aspect of bar culture isn't unique to Bob's. I felt at one point that I'd ordered from one particular bartender enough that the guy had to start recognizing me. Didn't really happen. Turns out the recognized bartender wasn't just one guy, but a set of twins. Both of whom work at Bob's. Mother effer. General tips: - cask beer served at Bob's may not be particularly cold - the music is only as good as you make it - always remember dart & pool table etiquette even when drunkenly meandering to the bathrooms, lest you end up with a dart in your neck or a cue to the gut One of my favorite spots in the city. read more

Bob's Bar entered my radar screen last week when a long time college friend invited me to take part in a monthly happnin' called "Beer Friday". I didn't make it but two things put me and Bob's at the nexis of cocktails. One was my prep for Beer Friday. I had to look up Bob's Bar to find its location. Easy enough, just a hop, skip and jump north on High Street from Morse Road/East. Bob's sits on the west side of High. Two, friends of mine in Clintonville called me on OSU vs FAMU Saturday saying they were at Bob's for cocktails and my reply was, "Oh, Bob's? Sure I know where it is!" Be right there. The basics. Bob's Bar is local semi-dive,.... no,... dive bar (good kind) with two pool tables in the rear and a long, long bar running almost 2/3 of the room which is skinny. There's a crude outdoor patio on the front for smokin' cigs that has a cover (in case it's rainin' outside and you still need to puff up). No parking - none. You'll find ample parking on the side street and no walk is too long to have a go at Bob's Bar. The patrons on an OSU gameday were college and college+10 or +20. Again, it's a local haunt and a favorite. Loads and loads of beer selections and the bar keeper is matter-of-fact about getting you drinks. Miss his call and you'll wait .... so pay attention b'cuz he darts back and forth like a tongue on ice cream. From the outside,... you'll take a pass on Bob's Bar. I say find a parking spot and stop in for a cold brew. Bob's Bar is what it is which is A BAR! Do it. read more

Uhm, what the hell? There seriously has to be some kinda spell on this place. From outside, it looks like your basic, hole-in-the-wall bar. Small area out front for smoking, very minimal parking, nothing special. Then you go inside. Sweet crackers! TONS of craft beers, a shocking amount on draft, and a barkeep on par with that fantastic Marcus from Out-R-Inn. There's a gent with a majestic beard and the knowledge of a God about sudsy treats. Really nice and helpful, and a fan of Game of Thrones, so that's a bonus. Plentiful seating, televisioning, and a TouchTunes jukebox. And when you're done drinking, pop across the street to Tee Jayes for a well deserved Barnyard Buster! read more

I'm amazed it's taken my so long to write a review about Bob's Bar! It's in a long narrow space next to Pita Hut and it seems to be a love hate relationship. There's no parking on Pita Hut's lot; that'll get you towed. But you can walk next door and bring food in. They have an astounding beer selection and a couple of well maintained pool tables, a state of the art juke box and a dart board. All-in-all a good place to drink. read more

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It might just be all of the high-octane beers I've enjoyed here, but Bob's makes me very, very happy. It's dark, unpretentious, dive-y, clean, and awesome. I have an advantage in that I've mostly been here with friends who really know their beers. Their selection is impressive, though, and they offer a lot of bottles that you can't find easily elsewhere. I recommend first going to Pita Hut next door and then bringing your gyro over to Bob's for a guaranteed fun time. read more

Great beer selection and atmosphere, hampered by the suckiest service. FOOD None, but you are welcome to bring your own. Falafels and Kibbeh from the Pita Hut next door is a great fav of mine. The beer selection is very good indeed. SERVICE Could not be worse if they tried. Stay away, stay far away. And it really pains me to say this because I live a 10 min walk away and really want nothing more than to come here often. ATMOSPHERE I love it - hip neighbourhood pub with a healthy mix of Ohio. read more

The least approachable best beer bar in this town. My dad has been frequenting this bar since I was in diapers. What used to be (and still is) a local neighborhood dive, has spent the last decade transforming into the self proclaimed cultural hub of the midwest. The complete cast of characters can be found there on any given weekday, and the place is packed with a slew of different crowds on the weekends. The best part of this bar is the beer. They have at least 20 draught lines, and you are almost assured to find a beer that you have never had. They tend to go for the uber rare draft selection. They have countless bottles as well, if you don't fancy a draught beer. They have liquor as well, but with all that fine beer, why waste your time? Parking is very limited so you may find yourself parking a few blocks down on Leeland. There have been car break in's on this street in the past, so don't leave any valuables in the car. This place is packed on the weekends, so I would not show up with a ton of people on a Saturday at midnight and expect snappy service. If you are in on any of the off hours, or happy hour you should be able to get one of the 20 or so seats at the bar. 2 pool tables, 2 dart boards, and a solid jukebox, and the colorful characters should keep you entertained. While the neighborhood may not be as exciting as the short north, this bar has the grit, the history and the delicious craft beer to make this one of the unique spots in this fare city. read more

I love this place, and I've been going here for years. Parking can be difficult sometimes, and you should be mindful if you park in the neighborhood. The beer selection has been getting better and better as the years go by. read more

Great beer selection, but if you want something normal to drink, be prepared to feel like a loser. Sometimes I just want a nice, light pilsner and that is just not okay with the bartenders. If you're a lover of beer, you will love this place. I, however, always end up walking away feeling stupid, or way more drunk than I wanted to be because I succumbed to peer pressure and got some hoppy beer that I didn't really like. I almost feel like I need to study beers and breweries before I come here so I know what to order, because asking questions about what they carry usually just annoys whoever is working. Crowded on the weekends, darts and pool are cool, but as previous posts said some of the staff is not always the friendliest. A good mixed crowd. It is, after all, the cultural hub of the Midwest. I'm sure I'll be back when I want a microbrew and need to walk home... oh, and parking is a huge pain too. read more

Oh cultural hub of the Midwest, whatever would I do without you? There are so many beers to try and so many locals to shoulder up to. Alright, seriously, there may be a few too many locals to get cozy with. Last time I was there a woman fell onto me and then her friend came, put his arm around me, and attempted to apologize... At least my delicious brew made up for what he lacked in couth. I'll admit that I get more adventurous with my beer selection when I visit Bob's, who knew that hoppy beers could be so delicious? There is always a good selection of beers on draft and if you are really adventurous, check out their world tour. You only have to drink 88 beers to get a free shirt! And hey, if you make it that far, what is the next 44 beers until you get a mug engraved with your name?! If you love a wide variety of beer and want to check out the delicious Pita Hut next door, I definitely suggest giving Bob's a chance . On the other hand, if you don't want to accidentally brush up against a significant number of strangers, avoid Bob's on weekends. read more

I had passed by this bar quite a bit before finally deciding to stop in for happy hour drinks-- it's in a strip mall, and has a bit of a vibe (a no-outdoor-lighting, blank-white-building-face vibe). Also, the parking is horrible, awful, and very bad, as other reviews have noted at some length. But the tag line intrigued. Bob's... is not actually a dive, at all. Which is a bit strange, because that's clearly what they're going for to some extent. It's just kind of a bar, and it's really pretty excellent at that. The ambiance feels a bit generic, it's medium-sized, the people super mellow, the service is quick and pleasant but also somewhat impersonal-- the overall impression is that it's a supremely comfortable place to just kick back with a couple beers. The selection on tap is extensive and interesting, and the prices reasonable... but more to the point, I felt at home here after about fifteen minutes. Something about this place is soothing, I don't think I can explain it. But I'll be coming back. read more

Bob's Bar says it is the Cultural Hub of the Midwest and I agree. If you like going to a local watering hole this is your spot. It is the opposite of hipster. It is a dimly lit hole in the wall that serves up a great selection of both local and hard to find beers. The bartender is quick to serve you up a cold pint of your choice of suds. You will never wait long on that pint. They understand you work hard and you need a beer. I appreciate that. You will always experience a sight to see when there. This last trip the two gentleman sidled up next to me at the bar brought in their own assortment of gourmet cheese, cheese balls, and crackers to make their own cheese tray while enjoying a cold draft beer. Bob's offers up an extensive draft beer list that is definitely local beer focused. They also have a truly phenomenal bottled beer list. I saw that they had both Dieu du Ciel (from Montreal) and Maine Beer Company (self explanatory from Maine) in a bottle. I love taking time to relax in a seat at the bar in Bob's with a delicious cold beer. Try it out for yourself. read more

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Bob's is great. They have a huge selection of beer at good prices and the bartenders know their beer. What else do you want? The place gets pretty busy on weekends after 8:00 PM. It is a cool, fun place to drink great beer. read more

My favorite local bar. Fantastic beer list, delicious spicy fries next door at the Pita Hut, darts, pool, fun. Love it. It can take a while to get service on busy weekend nights, but at least while you're waiting, you're surrounded by decent locals and moderately mature young adults rather than college frat boys reeking of cologne like you would be at some other bars in Columbus. Don't drink the sausage-infused vodka. read more

C'mon, guys. Their slogan alone will make you want to go. This is the self-proclaimed "Cultural Hub of the Midwest." A recent transplant to Columbus, I came here with my brother, sister-in-law and some friends after a Crew game to celebrate their win. Upon entering, I rendered it a very chillax, "old man"-hipstery bar, and in fact, I was right and then some! Rows of beer options. Shots made to order. Darts. Pool table. Only gripe is the Bartender skipped the annoying pop song I cued on the jukebox. Really!? It was my birthday, dude. read more

Great place! Amazing beer selection and knowledgeable bartenders. We went in quite late on a Saturday, and honestly, I wish we would have ended up there much sooner. Friendly people and a great jukebox made this place pretty much perfect. I have no idea what Kiara E was talking about with the too loud music. It's a bar. And I can't stand super loud music, so perhaps she hit it on an off night, or perhaps she has bat hearing! It happens. I wish I lived closer to Bobs, because it would be my neighborhood bar for sure. Unfortunately a 2.5 hour drive from Cleveland just isn't possible every weekend! read more

Gross. Horrible staff. Slow service (even when they're not busy!).

Best beer selection in town without pompous, crap service you see at two other establishments with large beer offerings. If you can think of it, they probably have it. They have close to 30 drafts and somewhere near 200 types of bottled beers at reasonable prices. I joined their tour of beers which is around 85 beers. Once I'm through, I actually get a 22 oz mug and get to pay 16 oz prices for all drafts. Patio for smoking, lots of TVs and an online juke box. They also had a great selection of whiskies. We've got a very diverse group of doctors, lawyers, electricians, customer service, etc and this is our favorite place to meet. read more

For my birthday in 2009, I had but one wish. To be thrown on a bar, dragged across it and then thrown off at the end, 80's movie style. While I got my wish (sadly without being able to knock over people's drinks and smash beer bottles on my way across), I feel like Bob's is one of those places where that scene might have been all too common. Bob's has great ambience. It toes the line between chilled out dive complete with those lanterns in the middle of tables that light your face up too much if you lean in and sports bar with upwards of five TV's adorning the walls. Of course this great quality isn't all that makes it. The beer geeks will keep arguing, but Bob's definitely belongs in the discussion when it comes to talking the best beer bar in Columbus. Beyond the charm this place has a great selection of draught beer including (when I was there) Founders Breakfast Stout, Founders Porter, Bell's two hearted and amber, New Holland Dragon's Milk, Kentucky Bourbon Ale and Ommegang rare vos. While not an "amazing' tap list it's certainly enough to keep me entertained for a few hours. Additionally the bottle selections are somewhat interesting and well priced. Would definitely be one of my hangouts if I lived in the area. read more

I will say Bob's Bar really rocks....Every time I go into this place I always come out with more Facebook friends,white friends,black friends,hipster friends,and any type of person you can imagine . Bob's Bar draws a cross section of America and then some.Its a must visit on a Friday or Saturday night if your ever in Columbus because the beer list is very good. read more

Bob's Bar - You get a mug if you drink all of these beers - Bars Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Not sure how to rate this place...they've had an awesome beer selection since before having a wide draft selection was even cool. Hipster before the term was coined. Yet the crowd is a little questionable...the clientele is a mix of day laborers, drifters, and seniors waiting for the axe to drop. And the bathroom doors don't lock, leaving your #2 situations highly risky and extremely open to the public. read more

This should be one of your go-to bars for quality beer. The ambience is strange, and the crowd is as eclectic as it gets. They've got a TON of great beer. Please don't think Guinness or Sam Adams great... more like barrel-aged verions of regional craft beers that will blow you away. The staff KNOWS beer, and most of them will help you pick something. (The stocky bearded guy is a little impatient, but the rest are pretty good.) Extra bonus for a jukebox stocked with a spectacular selection. Everything from old-school rap favorites to Slayer to Weezer to Johnny Cash. They don't serve food, but the Pita Hut next door is delicious and you can carry it over to eat with a world-class beer. So what if you have to park at Graceland. It's literally a 2 minute walk and the parking lot is well-lit. If you need to park right in front, get a hip replacement and apply for a handicapped thingy to hang from your mirror. So soak up the weirdness and enjoy what you're there for. Hell, if nothing else it's fun to people-watch while sipping your beer, eating shwarma carry-out, and rockin' out to Social Distortion. There's no debating that Bob's is hands-down one of the top 3 beer bars in central Ohio. read more

I've never had a bad experience at Bob's bar UNTIL...12/16/17. Hosting an Annual Christmas Trolley Bar Crawl, Bob's Bar has always been on the list. I love the neighborhood, great beer on tap and NORMALLY friendly staff. Although this isn't a book here's the preface: This was not a bar crawl of belligerent college kids, I myself am 37 years old and SIX MONTHS PREGNANT, it was also 2:30pm and only our second stop. We walk in, and again being SIX MONTHS PREGNANT hosting a bar crawl my power of perception was probably above anyone else's at the bar...the bartender was immediately rude...rolling his eyes...complaining to his two friends sitting at the bar about us coming in...saying he needed to "call someone because he was done working". I was so blown away by the comments he made about the group to his friends (of course without knowing I was completely sober and listening) I actually felt sorry for him. I am SORRY you hate Christmas. I am sorry you don't want to triple the amount of respectful patrons in your bar for one short hour and probably in turn triple your tips that hour. I'm also sorry that for some reason you felt like you needed to be rude to a group of adults just having a good time. Working in a hospital, if I treated my customers (patients) like you do...id be fired...or arrested. Merry Christmas. read more

great beer, terrible music. Walked in and there were 2 people at the bar wearing non-ironic cowboy hats. I thought C-bus was no longer Cowtown? Maybe not so much here. Definitely a different group of patrons than your downtown/short north hipster yuppie crowd. That said, the locals were drinking bottles of Bud light. Really? Why are you here then? I like that there's a jukebox, but I also wish that the default music wasn't country and Metallica. I don't know who paid for those, and it's great that there's a choice, but there wasn't any musical crap break (ie, bartender iPod) when the jukebox wasn't playing. The service was great. There was only one guy working a pretty crowded bar, and he did an upstanding job, even taking time to help us figure out a good beer while (literally) juggling 3 other customers' pints. I wish it wasn't so damn far out of the way, because I'm never going to get more than 2 drinks somewhere if I have to drive. Some sort of food, or at least popcorn, would be nice. They do let you bring in your own food, and Pita Hut is right next door. read more

Bob's Bar is pretty awesome. They really know what they are doing when they pick their beers and they get top notch beers in from time to time as KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout). In fact, when I went to Pies and Pints for KBS it tapped out in 21 minutes, the entire keg, I got two pours. At 101 Beer Kitchen the keg tapped out in 7 minutes. At Bob's Bar, after having two pours I went to pay my bill and they still had a bunch and asked if I wanted another, F-yea!! I probably could have had a fourth pour, but anything past two is unheard of anywhere around here and the three I had plus the couple while waiting for them to tap KBS...well, I was pretty drunk. Service is excellent, the bartenders know their beers and they know what they are doing. It's not too hard to get a table either and there is outdoor seating. The crowd is unique in that it has everyone from 21 year old college kids up to old men in their 60's and 70's and they all get along. Some Napolean Dynamite type movie had a scene filmed in the bar and they have it playing on a constant loop up on the wall above the liquor. Sometimes one of the movie stars comes in and wears the same shirt that he has on in the movie. read more

A definite, unique, awesomsauce neighborhood bar! Lots of "regulars" frequent here. Sometimes I think they need to expand. But then again, the homey vibes this joint gives off totally solidifies why it should always and forever stay small! This establishment has a HUGE, and I really mean BIG, beer selection. Lots of locals, and the not. I personally like how they seem to always have at least one or two fruity wheat beers or ciders - better chance that I'll find something that meets my likings. The staff knows their schtiff. Polite, friendly personalities. The few pool tables and jukebox hales back to the 80s! Not a lot of parking; drive down the side street and you'll usually have no problem. Also, since there's no food here, Pita Hut (right next door) is always a good option to bring over! read more

For Columbus, it had a pretty amazing beer selection. For it being possibly the best in town however, I am disappointed with Columbus overall. (I miss you Sunset in Allston, MA with your 115 taps and 400 bottles!). The menu here is wide in selection, but not deep. There aren't 10 lambics on tap or 6 milk stouts to compare. Had a few really good beers here, some of which I hadn't tried before. There's no food, but they let you bring in stuff from the outside. Unlike Bodega, it is not flooded with hipsters, but rather more blue-collar locals seemingly and its a bit of an older crowd than somewhere like Bodega. The music being played was downright awful, but that was the fault of the jukebox I suppose. I feel music is far too essential to be left to chance and I wish the bartender had an iPod going instead at least with some better selections. I do wish they had some solid bar food there, and unfortunately they only had one bartender on staff for the entire (pretty much full) bar. He did a pretty damn good job that being the case however (much better than 3 bartenders would have done at Bodega with the same crowd). read more

Great local bar, good drink selection, darts, pool, good music, what else could you ask for in a dive.

Back again at Bobs. Spent about 4 hours here on a friday night and it was crowded already at 8:30. Oddly enough, both pool tables were open so we made that our spot. The music was not as loud as last time, but I still couldn't hold a conversation unless I was right next to the person and listening carefully. Someone else mentioned the bathrooms, and they are pretty bad. Apparently the guys restroom can take 2 at a time, and the door is always open. The woman's restroom is only 1 person and the door is closed. Since I was right by the restroom I saw countless times when girls tried the door, thought it was locked, and tried again 3 minutes later realizing it was open. There was almost always several girls waiting to use the restroom. I also saw girls go in the boy's restroom and shut the door, further creating more lines. So that was all just a mess. I think the layout of Bob's bar is just too narrow. You simply can't get past the people playing darts, and the pool tables are too close together. It probably wouldn't be a bad bar with a better layout/more space and better restrooms. read more

Bob's. What can I say! Pretty much the place to be. Great beer list and variety and the bartenders know what they are doing.

Real cool place on the north side on Morse road. Great beer selection of drafts & bottles. Bartenders knowledgeable about their beers. Can be hard to get a seat sometimes and no real good place to stand. The major down fall is the prices are super $$$ expensive. The bar is making a killing, but guess they can get away with it. Lol read more

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Hands down, my favorite dive bar in Columbus. Bob's has one of the best beer selections in town, and, if beer isn't you're thing, the bartenders made a damn good cocktail too. The pours are generous, and a double is definitely a double. Head down on a night when Pauly is behind the bar and you're guaranteed a good time, or at the very least, a few laughs. There are a few parking spots out front, but if they're full there's always parking down the street adjacent to the bar. Pool is $1.25 a game, with a change machine handy inside the bar, which accepts dollar bills. No ones on you? Just tell the bartender to add a dollar to your tab and he'll hand you one. read more

A double is a DOUBLE in this place! You definitely get all the bang for your buck here. TouchTone has some good songs on it, free darts and a couple pool tables in the back. Plan ahead, the parking is mostly on the street just south of the building. read more

Car suffered damage from scaffolding blowing off the building while I was enjoying a pint here. If the overpriced beers weren't enough of a burden, they refuse to return calls regarding insurance coverage. This was over a month ago! Shady management for sure. read more

Had a beer there on Father's Day - Aluminum shingles came off their building and hit my car. It's been two weeks and not a call from them. All I get is the run around. You know who I am - call me. read more