I've been here a few times over the years. It's a fun place especially when I was here during "drunk powerpoint" 2 years ago, lol. P.S. the pronunciation for this place is "care-o-wack". I didn't know that until I heard an employee answer the phone and give out the name. read more

Kafé Kerouac - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Came in yesterday and today. A guy yesterday gave me attitude for bringing my bike inside even though the bartender on shift gave me permission. Returned today and the dude with an attitude was working and he was extremely condescending and mean spirited at the thought of be bringing my bike inside. I asked if it was against the cafe's policy and he said it was just 'common sense.' Whether or not the cafe has an official position on bringing your own bike inside is not the picture i'm painting, I'm just really disturbed by the condescending attitude and self righteousness for wanting to bring my own bike inside for safe keeping. I was honestly shocked by the treatment. Incidentally, the guy has an accent and long hair. read more

They have very fun speciality drink options and I appreciate the ambiance of this place. I have spent many days studying here and am very grateful for all of the caffeine they have provided me read more

Comedy show was AMAZINGGGG I also got an iced Jane Austen that was perfectttttt The barista with the insane amount of eye tattoos was cool as hell! Will definitely be returning :) read more

This is a nice little homegrown coffee shop/bookstore/pub on the Northside of town. It is inexpensive and basic. But basic in a good way. read more

Coolest place ever. Peak. Low prices, sick diy feel. Makes me so happy to just be there. Usually busy so heads up if ur going at peak hours. Lots of students. Unique, wonderful, I love kafe Kerouac. Great for studying or to hang with friends. wonderful!!!! read more

Kafe Kerouac has to be one of my favorite coffee shops in Columbus. It's small and understated in the North campus area, with low ceilings and a cozy inside. The parking situation can be a little tough, but I usually find street parking within a block or two. There are books, art, and records for sale inside, as well as a super cool coffee bar. All of the drinks have author themed names, and they have a ton of unique coffee cocktails. I recently went in and ordered a iced Scott Woods, (maple cinnamon latte with spiced rum), which is one of many options on their rotating seasonal menu. I loved my drink. Not too sweet with the perfect amount of coffee/milk for my tastes. My coffee date went for a classic Irish coffee and it was also tasty, but beware-- it was a little strong! They also have some little baked goods for sale, which I haven't tried yet. I was eyeing a giant sugar cookie but decided to be good and didn't go for it. Maybe next time. I can't wait to go back to KK soon and try more of their seasonal drinks! read more

Kafé Kerouac - Scott Woods seasonal drink - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We had a mini-Columbus getaway and visited Kafe Kerouac while exploring the OSU campus and visiting its museums. The combination of espresso/cocktail drinks, comics, books, and vinyl was a big draw, plus the casual artsy atmosphere reminiscent of our favorite college cafes and literary-themed menu options. The cafe was fairly busy on the Saturday afternoon we visited, with patrons conversing, studying, playing chess, and otherwise enjoying themselves. My partner ordered the Ayn Rand latte, which creatively mixed hazelnut and fresh strawberry flavor; fantastic-tasting latte (albeit a horrid author). I chose the special Bel Hooks cocktail, with coffee-flavored whiskey, averna amaro, espresso and milk. The cocktail was well-balanced, not too sweet, and the $6 price point was a crazy good deal. We sat at the bar to rest and relax after a long walk with our drinks, and enjoyed the atmosphere and friendly staff. We'd definitely revisit if staying near OSU and Short North areas. read more

Kafé Kerouac - a display of comic books - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Cool little place with lots of character. Stopped here while I was on tour with my band. Grabbed a coffee while it was a madhouse at the OU game. I liked the ambiance of the place. read more

Love the ambiance of this place and that it's open super late. Always a nice place to grab a cup of coffee if I'm feeling tired before the drive out of Columbus. There's a small vinyl shop inside and a few different seating areas. Coffee is pretty good. read more

Kafé Kerouac - Hot mocha outside store - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place is most dope in a nutshell - a great place to work or simply enjoy. Employees are always friendly. Melissa should wear a cape with her level of heroism in making delicious drinks and supplying clean dihydrogen monoxide for customers. I only pray her mercy for the average human being does not want, as disaster would surely ensue. I clearly had too much coffee, but that only serves as an additional testament to their excellence. read more

Kafé Kerouac - Locally superior latte - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

So this small, unassuming coffee place really blew me away. Its on a quiet corner in North Campus. Not tucked away as its right on High but doesn't seem to get nearly as much traffic as a little gem like this should. If you're driving here, there is hourly street parking which isn't too difficult to grab. However, I'm sure paying for parking isn't the most attractive prospect for grabbing coffee. I haven't figured out if there's any free lots close by but those who live near campus can definitely walk over! Walking in and looking at the latte menu honestly threw me for a loop. I have never seen so many various flavor combinations and just wanted to try everything. I ended up going for the Ayn Rand which was a hazelnut and strawberry latte. I just imagined it would taste like my favorite crepe combo from the streets of Paris. It did not disappoint, I never would have thought to put those flavors together in a latte but hey, if it works it works! All the house specials are named after famous authors, so if that gives any hint for the vibe! Now, its not just a coffee place but also a bar. So yes, wanna stay and study then have a chill place to drink? This is it. You can get a shot in your coffee or tea, if that's your jam. Haven't yet been here for the bar part but I'll definitely be returning to check it out! read more

I really liked the vibe of this coffee shop! It felt a little bit like a divey bar except with more couches and a ton of books. The barista was super friendly and seemed to know some of the customers. They must get a lot of regulars here. I just ordered hot coffee which got me free refills! I believe it was about $2.50? Not bad. It tasted like somewhere in between light to medium roast. It was decent though. Not something to go out of my way for. My friend got a strawberry smoothie. I don't think she was fond of it. My sister got some sort of iced latte which was light on the flavor and was a little watery. Still, I liked the atmosphere. It was pretty chill for a Sunday afternoon around 7. They don't have a private parking lot but you can find parallel parking around here easily. I'll bet it's busier during the school year though. It was a much bigger space than I thought. There are two rooms to sit in. One room, which we sat in, had a stage. I'm guessing they do performances here. There were a good number of people flowing in and out of here. Some were studying, some were playing board games, and some came in to chat. I wouldn't mind coming again if it weren't so out of the way for me. read more

See all

The coolest coffee shop ever!!! The fancy coffees are all named after famous authors. My latte was great. Awesome experience!! read more

Kafé Kerouac - a man behind a coffee machine - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

coffee was just ok, man making coffee with accent was rude and seemed very unhappy. it was more of a coffee shop in a library feel. cute vibe though. read more

I love Kafe Kerouac...mostly because it's a spot that hits a really nice in-between spot between a bar nd a coffee shop. It's a good spot to go study if I'm having trouble focusing in my house, but it's also a really nice social space where a girl can go have a drink and find decent conversation with people without fear of being sexually harrased. The clientele is a pretty diverse mix of nerds, hipsters, oddballs, college students, and some older people, and It's a really good space to be chismosa and listen in on peoples conversations. honestly- I can't reccomend the coffee as anything other than cheap-the snacks are limited, and for the love of god, don't get the smoothies- but let's be rea, I'm not going for the food. I'm going because its a really good place where you can exist without having to spend a lot of money- a type of community living room. The lattes are pretty good. Beer and alcoholic drinks are cheap too. read more

If you are looking for a cozy atmosphere with an authentic cup of coffee, Kafe Kerouac is the place. Small space to stay around and socialize with friends, study, or read a good book. Items on the menu are named after famous authors. I would personally recommend the Ayn Rand (hot or iced). The only reason I did not give this place a 5-star rating is due to limited snack options. Other than that, I would recommend this little coffee shop to anyone! read more

Needed a late night spot to go to, alone, and just get some hw done. This spot was perfect, maybe people were they studying or hanging out in small groups, everyone was nice. It was also cozy and quiet enough to relax and get work done or honestly get your mind off stuff, and enjoy some really good zucchini bread read more

I'm giving Kafé Kerouac 5 stars because they don't try to be anything they are not. This Kafé is the epitome of "college coffee shop" and for that reason, I LOVE it. This dive-bar-styled cafe feels like a gritty burger joint mixed with a quiet coffee shop. As I walked through the doors, my first thought was "this feels super untidy". However, as I sat down and enjoyed their free WiFi, I realized that that is exactly what they are going for. Kafé Kerouac's bookshelf-lined walls, vinyl collection, mismatched chairs, tables, and coffee mugs all scream "home". Their style is hipster enough to attract the typical college kid while still feeling inviting to an older crowd (a group of 40-somethings were collaborating in the couch area). As for the coffee, I have only tried one cup and it was OUTSTANDING. The house specials are all named after famous authors and feature a fun twist on a normal cup of joe. Not to mention, they have a solid beer list featuring local craft breweries. There is a stage in the back where live music plays certain days of the week, allowing college kids' "studying" to quickly turn to a fun night out. The quiet environment is perfect for productivity or small chat with friends during the day. Being just a few minute walk from my house, I'm kicking myself for just stumbling across this gem. It is sure to become my favorite study/work spot. Recommendations... *Jane Austen *Back room tends to be quieter if you are more productive in quiet settings. read more

See all

Kafé Kerouac, I love your light-filled space, quirky decor, and collaged bathrooms. This is my favorite coffee shop near OSU's campus. They've got lots of fun signature drinks and will have various events including spoken word nights and live music. I love how much light Kafé Kerouac gets, it really helps when you have to be inside doing work or it's chilly outside. Kafe Kerouac also has board games available to play if you just want to hang out. My favorite part is truly their bathrooms where people hang post cards and leave notes. The only drawback that keeps me from coming here more often is that the seating is pretty limited, and it's often full, but this is true of many coffee shops. I would recommend coming, eating a cookie, and leaving (or taking) a postcard :). read more

See all

This is just a great place to sit in period. The coffee is good and the art on the walls is amazing

Excellent! Two bathroom options for different levels of deuce laying ambience. Also the coffee and staff are great too. An all around win.

Quirky coffee shop that's really convenient if you're biking or on foot. There's minimal parking provided in the surrounding area, so it's mostly local people who are there. The iced and hot drinks were both of good quality, and selection of cookies and muffins exactly met my expectations! I love the vibe of this place because it was relaxed and laid back while I was there. The two rooms were not at all crowded or noisy and the other patrons at the bar seemed to know the barista personally. It definitely beats the overcrowded Starbucks down the street in that respect. The records are a nice touch too! read more

Kafé Kerouac - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

I like Kafe Kerouac a lot more than any other coffee shop I've been to around here. It's an independent and locally owned business. The atmosphere is really nice in there. It's a good place for reading or doing some work. They have lots of drinks named after famous authors and lots of books you can buy or read. I had the Kurt Vonnegut my last time there. It's made with orange and raspberry flavoring. The coffee is named after famous authors. It's about $3 for a regular. They also have alcohol made with coffee liquor here. It's about $5 for these. There's a happy hour but it's still more of a coffeehouse. It's more of a place to wind down after a long night for me. They also have good vegan treats from Pattycake Bakery. It's got a collection of books and records. There's a few interesting finds, mostly coming from Kerouac and his contemporaries. It also has an area for acoustic performances or poetry readings. They usually will have pleasant people at the counter. I like coming here and supporting the local businesses. The coffee is really good and it's a nice place to converse or to read. You should also be able to find a book to buy or read. read more

Kafé Kerouac - Kurt Vonnegut Coffee And Soymilk - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I felt compelled to try this place, having grown up in Berkeley and at City Lights SF in the 60s and 70s. My mistake here was thinking I could shop for a book. I guess I'm glad that there were far too many people camped out with laptops to get to a bookshelf; that there is still something like cachet left over from my days should be gratifying. The residual, however, seems to be hip-for-the-sake-of-hip, leveraging an image, which misses the point for me. All fine, but not my jam. read more

I have been excited to go to Kafe Karouac for a while and I'm largely underwhelmed by what I found there. I arrived and could not find parking which was quite frustrating; but, not an immediate deal breaker. The atmosphere seems like it could be cozy if the walls were not jam packed with people who wanted to gossip with the bar tender. I was not greeted nor was I addressed before waiting at the counter for 4 minutes. The server was "experimenting" as she stated when I was finally spoken to. I indicated it was my first time and was made a very sub-par iced mocha. I was really hoping I would like this place. Supposedly Monday night is the best time to come for someone, like me, who is seeking a more relaxed social atmosphere. I hope I have a better time another night. read more

One of the sickest coffee shops I've ever seen. It's right off campus and it's real lowkey. It should be obvious enough from the name that this place is goated, anyone rolling with my homie Kerouac is valid. They got vinyls and books just sitting around to check out, and I believe you can even purchase if that's your thing. On top of all of this they got stuff on tap, so that's pretty sick for a top tier coffee shop. read more

This is the college hipster's favorite place. I absolutely love the atmosphere. Whether you want to get some work done, grab a drink (nonalcoholic OR alcoholic), or buy some books/vinyl, there's a little bit of everything here. They even have live shows every so often, and they're just so fun. read more

Favorite place in town. The staff is wholesome & keeps it real. The owner the most humble person you'll ever meet. The coffee is cheap & interesting people always show up. read more

Coffee is mid but ambiance, employees, and 5 dollar wine is so good I don't care. here literally every day

It's so cute. I really like the old cozy vibes in here. So many options and a great place for studying if your a student at OSU

Great local spot for coffee and drinks. Eclectic environment that begs you to come and Check our the albums and comics. Friendly staff.

Very casual, relaxed atmosphere. Half coffee shop, half bar. I'm here on a Friday night and there's a comedy show in the other room. Not sure how that's going though, I'm at the main bar. The noise level here is reasonable, music not too loud and lots of chattering (I also prefer this for studying rather than silence). Both of my drinks have been seriously weak. And yes, I tipped. I started with the Ayn Rand 12oz latte. Like another reviewer said, I could barely taste any flavor (hazelnut and strawberry), mostly milk with a hint of espresso. Now I went for an alcoholic drink, Dante's Inferno. This has chocolate liqueur, amaretto, espresso, and coffee. It tastes like espresso coffee and nothing else. I also heard another girl who appeared to be a regular be "hopeful" about extra liquor in her margarita.. probably because these drinks are totally weak. If I do decide to come here again, I'll only get beer, because at least that's worth the money than paying $3.25 for milk and $5.25 for espresso coffee. Plus tips. Also I've sat in a few different seats and there are a few flies bugging about. Last but not least, parking sucks. Come past 10PM so the meters are no longer enforced, otherwise, bring $1 per hour. read more

Very hip! Cozy atmosphere at nice selection of both coffee and alcohol to get that creative spirit flowing. The open mic nights on Wednesday are an absolute highlight to me. If they held things like that more frequently this review would have a 5/5 rating! My nephew likes coming here on the open mic nights and I love coming out to see him! The employees seem knowledgeable and friendly and there's all sorts of old books and vinyl records to browse through to pass the time. The diversity among the clientele is a testament to the wide reaching appeal of this sort of place! Certainly worth a stop if you're in the area, and definitely a great place to bring a date if you're on the younger side of things read more

Used to adore this place. Greeted one of the two counter staff with a cheerful "hello" to have her swill her beer and walk away, then greeted the guy who waited in me with the same warmth to get no return greeting, and a sigh of "what can I get for you today?" I bought coffee and tipped, but this new staff ruining the vibe. read more

Because of the name, I was a little afraid that Kafe Kerouac was going to be one of those places that tries too hard to be cool. I was, however, impressed with its vibe. Kafe Kerouac is on the north end of campus, just across the street from Cazuela's. There are 4-5 parking spaces available on the side of the building. (Yay free parking!) The inside is a bit of a hovel. There's a rack up front with used books and albums for sale. The albums are mainly obscure bands. The books are by authors like Ayn Rand, Aldous Huxley, and Nietzche. The prices aren't bad. I noticed most hovered around $1.00.The coffee shop is divided into two rooms. The second room has additional bookshelves with more used literature for sale. The tables and chairs were probably bought from a secondhand shop. There are comfy armchairs and couches along with small tables that are mostly pushed together. Two of the armchairs sit on a small stage that I'm guessing is mainly used for poetry readings. At the bar, you'll find coffee and the normal flavoring shots like Irish cream and raspberry. You'll also find a few beer selections, wine, and a scarce amount of mixed drink ingredients. Nice! To the side are accompanying bagels, muffins, and cookies. There are several drinks named for authors. I got the Mark Twain (chocolate and peanut butter). Greg got the James Joyce (Irish cream with cinnamon). Both were astoundingly good, and the neither were tongue-searingly hot. Plus, we got real coffee cups, not Styrofoam or paper throwaways. Medium, author-inspired drinks are $3.25 The place was packed when we were there. I'm guessing it's about time for OSU midterms. We ended up sharing a table with a kid we didn't know. We didn't mind, and he didn't seem to mind either. I noticed lots of students on laptops or huddled over books, a few playing games on their computers, some had headphones, some were speaking Japanese, one had taken his shoes off and was sleeping on the couch by the window. There was a group of TAs (?) behind us talking about some sort of election (non-presidential). I felt like a lot of the people around us were regulars. I noticed a bunch of old board games on a shelf and a dusty Galaga arcade game in the opposite room. The walls were lined with politically charged, amateur art, some good, some almost good. The cement floor was covered with dirty old rugs and splattered blue paint. There were two computers on the far wall marked $1 per 15 minutes. The music playing was classical, which I thought was a bit out of character, but I guess it is probably the most conducive choice for all the studying students, helps them absorb the facts. Overall, Kafe Kerouac was laid back. I felt more like I was in someone's basement than out in public. The drinks were tasty, the chairs were comfy, and the surrounding crowd was good company. read more

Kafé Kerouac - Bookstores Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Charming, quirky and eccentric. They've got coffee, adult beverages, and books, and even live music sometimes! I wasn't quite sure what to make of the diverse clientele- from students working on homework to older men playing board games to live rock-and-roll in the side room, all inside a little bookshop/cafe/bar combo. Once I settled in I found it really charming. Witty espresso dink names and friendly staff. Will certainly go again. read more

Oh my God, Kafé Kerouac is actually rather darn cool. We couldn't believe how cheap this place was. Every thing we purchased was delicious and the menu itself was to die for. The crew was very helpful and service is fantastic. Kafé Kerouac gets it right over and over again. read more

This was the best experience ever!! It is the cutest Kafe ever, such good vibes. Very mug is unique and it is so cozy. Great place to sit and chat or do work. Very extensive drink menu with a ton of options! read more

The other reviews here talk about this place being "hipster" but I don't know what they're talking about. This is just a cool, local coffeeshop that has atmosphere and style. I loved everything about it and if I lived nearby I'd be a regular. Free wifi, books and records for sale, great music playing (Dick Dale and other interesting 60's stuff), local pastries and cookies, lots of seating, plus a vintage Nintendo unit that may or may not be operational. Highly recommended. Can't wait to go back. read more

See all