I've always steered clear of Long Island Iced Teas, for many reasons. And I usually think that the people that order them don't know what a good cocktail is. But this place.... God to they make a MEAN Long Island Iced Tea. My boyfriend had me try one a while ago, and now i'm hooked. They really do them right. Other than that, the bartenders are super friendly, and there is a lot of space in the back to spread out and have a small group of people congregate. If you like dive bars, you're gonna love this place. read more

Was in Columbus for OSU game and stumbled upon this bar after dinner - late on Friday night. Bartenders were super nice and attentive for a very busy night. Known for their Long Island Ice Teas which I didn't have but I watched them make an obscene amount in the 2+ hours I was there. Definitely will be back! read more

If you're staying downtown, you really need to visit this place. From the Rolling Stones pin ball machine to the creepy basement bathroom...this place is classic. Is it a dive bar...ehhh...not really. It's not trying to be anything other than a place to drink. You are even likely to see some cheese ball Nationwide Insurance Agents in town for a conference trying to hit on some co-eds. Go here - order the Long Island, heck order a 2nd one. Walk back to your hotel and write up a Yelp review of the place! read more

A great little dive bar in the heart of the Arena District long before the Arena District existed. 'Chateau le Char' during the week is a favorite hangout for many in the service industry, and on the weekend anything goes. The building itself is OLD. This becomes very evident when you need to hit the restroom and descend down the stairway into the super-spooky basement where those are located. It certainly has an underground railroad feel to it, as if you have to smuggle your pee across the Mason-Dixon. The staff in there is alright. Micheal Jenkins won best bartender in Columbus in this years Columbus Alive contest, (congrats, Mike!). The old guy in standing in the corner with the white hair is Chuck; he owns the place and is in there just about every night. Chuck doesn't hear so well anymore so you kinda gotta shout at him if you're going to say HI. Great dude. Just be forewarned... at 2:15am Chuck is going to take your drink and at 2:30 he is going to kick you out. OH, I almost forgot... the Long Island Iced teas!... I wasn't aware that anyone over the age of 18 actually drank these things until I went to the Char. They hand mix their L.I.I.T.'s in a hurricane glass with 5 full shots and they taste FANTASTIC. But beware... after one I forgot my girlfriend's name and after two I no longer had a girlfriend. read more

Yes it's a hole in the wall which is totally cool and can be charming. There are two major turnoffs we experienced at this place last night. The first is that the guy bartender acted like he wanted to be somewhere else. Not an once of friendliness or charm. If you don't like people, bartending may not be the best profession for you. Secondly the bathrooms are in the basement and it smells like absolute disgustingness down there. Gross! read more

If you are looking for a classic dive bar, this is the place! They are known for their Long Island Ice Teas, get two and you'll be feeling no pain. The prices are great. Fairly typical dive bar they have: Bar, table seating, Jukebox, pool table, darts, and bathrooms in the haunted basement... I used to come here while I was a student at The Ohio State University and recently stopped back many moons since I graduated. Nothing has changed, in a good way. read more

It's funny how similar all these reviews are. I like the Char Bar because it's everything the nearby, trendy bars aren't. Go here if you're not interested in clubbing like you're in an Axe Body Spray commercial. The basement is only kind of creepy. I don't know if the broken-down piano is still down there, but I always imagined a ghost played them bones after everyone else has left for the evening. Also, the gal bartender always reminded me of Amélie. read more

This place is fun for watching a game on a Saturday night! I had a lot of fun with my friends the evening I went. Being that it is downtown, you have to Uber from campus if you're living near or on campus, but due to the fact that it's relatively hidden, it's not going to be insanely busy and you'll get served really quickly on busy game days. The bathroom is located in an odd place and makes for an interesting journey down the stairs and into an empty space. Feels a little scary as a woman because it's not like a "private" bathroom area. Other than that, it's a fun laid back place. There's a pool table and dart board and all around pretty fun. read more

I understand the concept behind dive bars but this place smelled like your grandma's nasty old couch. Not only that but if you pay for a song in the jukebox, the bartender and regulars had better like it. I paid $2 to play a rather popular country song and the bartender came over and turned it off after the first verse. Bottom line, I would rather go somewhere else and pay another $1 for a beer. read more

Have been here many times, most recently Friday. Love: Reasonable prices, specials that get you drunk (We serve hard drinks in here, for men who want to get drunk fast), darts, pool, jukebox, creepy basement. Good: location in stumbling distance from lots of things, and never so crowded you have to wait forever. Bad: Douchey red-headed bartender. This guy has been a prick to me on more than one occasion, and I've never done anything to deserve it. All the other bartenders are normal/friendly. read more

Char Bar is a little dingy, a little sticky but we all love it. Its always busy, but you can always find a place to sit or at least hover. I think most people (including me!) know and love Char Bar for its Long Islands, served in the pretty curvy glass with enough alcohol to knock you on your butt for the rest of the night. The waiters are always friendly and the music is usually good. The bathrooms are in the basement and are a super creepy trip (Seriously, what is with the broken down piano?) but its all part of the fun. Its located almost in the Short North, which makes it a really great place to start a night out in my opinion. read more

Yes, it is a dive bar. A dive bar of AWESOME! In town for work and the final night after getting kicked out everywhere else we ended up here, and man, it was great. The staff are just what you expect, the beer selection was above average and the pricing was more than fair. They pour a generous whiskey and the juke box is solid. I would absolutely return to this place in a heartbeat. If you are attending a convention or in the Hyatt/Hilton/whatever chain nearby, and if you like dive bars, do yourself a favor and stop in. You will be glad you did. read more

Started at Martinis....had steak at Mitchell's....and finished at The Char Bar! I highly recommend that gauntlet because I canceled my next day appointments and didn't get out of bed until noon! Pretty good beer selection, they burn their drinks, and a jukebox! I think me and my girl dropped a Benjamin here on tunes alone and it was worth it. read more

Great bar! A nice dive bar hole in the wall right in the heart of pretentious Rich Columbus. The bartenders will talk with you, but they don't try to be your bestie, which is nice. The only downfall I see here is that sometimes patrons yell and shout too much. But they are having a good time and that's what this bar is for! You want quiet? Go pay 11 for a martini up the road a block. One of my absolute favorite things about this place is that it weeds out the pretentious Rich annoying people. And you can tell who they are by the ones who have negatively reviewed this place. read more

The Crème de la crème of Columbus dive bars in my opinion. I really love this bar. While it doesn't always follow the dive bar rules it makes up for it in other ways. For example, the place has far too many windows for a typical dive but makes up for it with a broken piano in the basement. Another example, they feature Guinness on tap but make up for it by featuring Guinness on tap! The well worn tables, Jukebox, old bar, elderly staff, and general aura of the place make it a dive bar for all occasions. The rear patio means that during the summer months you can enjoy the weather along with your libations (and watch the drunk residents stumble up the stairs to their apartments). Le pièce de résistance though is their Long Island Iced Tea. I know, I know. A Long Island is a bar staple which is repeated everywhere but no one does it as well as Char Bar. 5 full shots in a hurricane glass with sour mix and coke for color. I am pretty sure they sub in Brandy for something which really makes it pop. These are truly the best Long Islands in the city. As long as I live in Columbus I will go to Char Bar making it, truly, one of my goto locations! read more

If you are looking for a good old fashioned Dive Bar, Char Bar is it. The bartenders are friendly and make sure that your glass is always full, the locals are friendly as well. If you can convince your work associates, this is actually a great place to hoist a few cold ones and talk work as well! This is on my short list of Must Visit when in Cbus. read more

Nice dive bar with a hella' good (and cheap) Long Island! For being practically in the heart of the arena district, this place is nice and chill. There is a pretty good amount of space, considerably cheap drinks, fast service and low key atmosphere. I'd say if you're not big into the whole downtown Cantina-style bar-hopping, this would be a good place for you to squat...or if you like cheap drinks and dive bars of course : ) Definitely worth a visit...or two...or three! read more

Char Bar is one of the scarce dive bars smack in downtown. A decent size bar with bartenders that will make you a good drink but whom could care less about making conversations as they're more concerned about getting drinks to the people - which, I'm totally fine with. Pull up a seat at the bar (if there is one) but generally folks sit on the more entertaining side complete with crowd, drunks, the good, the bad and the ugly... Darts, pool, jukebox, supposed-haunted-downstairs-creepy bathroom - they've gotcha covered! A great place to kick off an evening. Can't go wrong with a stumble to Char Bar. read more

Char Bar is a great drunk bar. If you want a fun, low energy night out... come here on Thursday night and have a few Long Islands. They're $8 but definitely worth their price in liquor content. Don't expect a great set-up, many women, or even a pleasant smell. That would just be foolish. Char Bar is essentially the Larry's of the Arena District... if you're into that kind of thing. read more

Its not bad...it was kinda crowded. ok that is a lie. it was CRAZY crowded. It may have been due to the beer fest that just ended and no one wanted to call it quits! So we went to Char Bar. I think it would be freakin awesome if they finished the basement and had maybe a mini bar down there. All in all... Not too shabby! read more

classic bar that makes it easy to drink. kind of feel like you are drinking in your dad's bar. what really sets char bar apart in my opinion are it's.... - location, easy walk from downtown - the staff, they know their shit and are efficient - stamped tile ceiling (not as common outside of larger , older cities) - the bar, a simple wooden bar that is well broken in with medium sized rail - and most of all, the bar back. such a classical design and contains all the features of a classic chicago bar. mirrors, upside down glass, cabinets, & woodwork enough hdtvs to enjoy the game, dart boards, & a fun crowd. read more

Char Bar - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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While in Columbus, OH for work last night we decided to watch the Steelers/Ravens game at a local bar and were directed to Char Bar. Compared to Martini's next door this bar was quite the change. It definitely had more of the dive, local, sports bar (I mean those in the most complimentary way possible). My friend and I had two drinks: He had Jack and Coke and I had Wild Turkey 101 on the rocks. Both were very generous with their pours and the bartender was very patient and friendly with everyone (the bar began to pick up as the night went on). I really enjoyed the small, local feel of the bar and the only reason I am giving it 3 stars is that nothing exceptionally stood out for me. Still a great bar and I would definitely go back next time I am in Columbus! read more

So first glance makes you feel like ur at a while in the Wall and bammm, that's exactly what this place is. The bartender is not friendly and the touch tones don't work needs work read more

My husband picked this bar to set up a HH to see friends while visiting from the Bay Area. It was one of his favorites when he lived in Columbus, It's a dive bar, and I love a good dive bar. Preferably, a dive bar with clean bathrooms! The bathrooms are kind of a long walk, but are clean. The Manhattans well made, and the service pleasant. As almost everything in Columbus, prices were cheap! read more

Easily my favorite bar in Columbus! From the haunted basement, to the stiff drinks and outside on the killer patio, this dive bar gets my vote every time. We used to go here after our shifts at a nearby restaurant, and now I stop when whenever my friends want to go to Park St. Usually, after paying $4 for a BudLight at Brother's, I grab a few friends and sneak in through the back alley. And watch out for those long islands - they'll sneak up on you! read more

I had fun here. I love a good dive bar. Even though the Stella I had was terribly lifeless (I'll just stick with a classic next time) the atmosphere in the place made up for it. Go down to the bathroom even if you don't have to pee. The broken down piano and exposed walls make for the perfect creepy feeling while you use the ladies. I plucked a few chords before I headed back upstairs. There was a nice little crowd of people inside, including a group of wedding goers winding down for the night. Sadly I didn't get to check out the patio, but intend to when I go back next time. read more

Loved this bar! My boyfriend and I had a great time playing darts and pool. The darts board was in great shape. Minus the Ohio State student vibe, it was a great place to hang out. The bartender was helpful and suggested good drinks based on my interests! read more

Strong islands baby. That's what you come here for. Nothing else. They will rock you. Classic dive.

Char Bar is where you go when you want a drink (or ten) with a few people. There's no food, there's a good jukebox, there's darts, there's a couple of TVs. The bartenders are friendly without being fake. It's one of my friend's favorite low-key hangout spots, and they never mind us bringing in larger groups on the patio or inside as long as we keep ordering pitchers. Don't come in expecting crazy fancy cocktails - these guys make the classics, and will make them well, but it's much more of a Beer and a Shot atmosphere. One warning - while the bar itself is handicap accessible, the bathrooms in the basement really aren't. read more

I knew this was my type of bar when I walked in and saw the National Beer of Texas, Lone Star, sitting in the cooler waiting for me. Add in the fact that Char-Bar is in what used to be a circa 1800 saloon, has ghosts in the basement, and a great selection on the jukebox and you have the perfect bar to drink in. I spent my time drunkenly trying to solve the damn puzzles that Lone Star puts on their bottle caps, but Char-Bar also allegedly serves a mean long island iced tea. read more

Dive bar. Not much more I can say. Service was good, drinks were cheap, and the jukebox had whatever you needed. read more

Something cool about this place, it used to be part of the old train station. Downstairs there is a secret underground tunnel (Yes, can you believe it? ) that hasn't been used probably since Way back when and yes, it does feel haunted, especially in the basement. It's a historic place. Cool tin ceilings too! Dive Bar/reasonable priced drinks/pool tables and darts. read more

I don't really consider this a dive bar. At least not in the context of Mike's down the street. Maybe the room with the darts and pool tables is pretty divey, but the bar itself feels pretty good to me. The liquor and beer selection are great, and the bartenders are excellent. I wouldn't go to Char Bar as the focus of my night. It's a great place to stop for a drink after dinner though. read more

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A great place to start the evening. Attentive bartenders, excellent beer selection and a Long Island Iced Tea that will bring your night to an early end if you're not too careful. The restrooms are located in a dimly lit basement that looks like it may double as the set of a low-budget horror film, so you might want to use the buddy system. read more

Char Bar - Another successful evening at the Char Bar in downtown Columbus, OH. Cheers mates! - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Was out on a Friday night and the bartended was blatantly rude to both me and my girlfriend. Accused of stealing another customer's drink while the customer was next to us with his drink in front of him. Customer confirmed that there was no issue but the bartender made a concerted effort to make a scene out of nothing and threaten to kick us out and force us to pay for the customer's round. Disrespectful staff all around and overpriced drinks. Also a violent fight outside behind the bar read more

Been here a few times, they're famous for their long island iced tea. Get one and party down. Cool old bar, fun crowd normally. read more

Char Bar - Long Island like a fishbowl? Yep. - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This spot has all the goods. Jukebox, pool table, darts, cigarette machine, fully stocked bar, spacious patio. It's hard to call it a "dive", especially when to me, a dive is a place like Junker's Tavern in Cincinnati. However, by "sports bar standards" you could call it a dive. Service is fast, even when the place is jammed. It's a tight fit, but the patio makes up for that. Great view of the rest of the Arena District and downtown Columbus. The basement is one of the coolest parts of this bar, and you have to see it if you're going to be using the pisser. Old, original stone walls, and a blocked off door that used to exit out onto Old High Street (now it's been paved over and goes to nothing). There's also an old piano down there... you can make it make a sound... sort of. All around great bar, and a good place to kick off your night if you're gonna crawl up High Street and get pleasantly hammered. read more

Check your ego at the door. This spot is super laid back and the perfect place to start or end the evening. It's what bars used to be before all of the glitz and superficial flare. I hit Car-Bar up a few time a year. The long Island Ice teas are no joke, were are talking a splash of coke and about 6oz of liquor! They won't sneake up on you...they will bite you!! read more

Char Bar - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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One of the best bars in the Arena District area. It's a dive-bar, and one of the only in the area. Decent back patio, good drink specials (Long Island that will punch you in the face), and decently fair prices. The down side is that it can definitely get too crowded in the front area room w/ the bar being so close to the door, but if it's a good night, it's a great place to hang out for a few drinks with friends. read more

This bar went above and beyond to provide great service and let us have unfiltered fun after a long day of work without hope of an open bar on Sunday. Will return without question on my next trip. Great prices, great service, close to Hyatt and Hilton downtown. Highly recommend. read more