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The Toolbox Saloon

3.7 (29 reviews)
InexpensiveGay Bars, Karaoke
Open • 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

THE TOOLBOX SALOON · YELP ASSISTANT

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THE TOOLBOX SALOON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
DJ
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Bryant M.

I've been going to the Toolbox for almost a year now on a semi-regular basis... and it definitely deserves an updated review. Let's get a few things out of the way first: -The area is a little sketchy, but I've never been scared. There's a lot of street lighting, and there's plenty of parking. -Look, this is the diviest of dives. It's not Level or Union, and I mean that in the best way possible. Now that we got that out of the way, here's what I'm loving about the Toolbox: -It's a dive; I think that's worth mentioning again. When you just want a place that's a littleore low-key and casual, this is the spot for you. -The bartenders are super friendly, and the drinks are strong and cheap. -They have strippers! (Scandalous, I know) -They are active on Facebook and update often. It's not fair to compare the Toolbox to bigger gay bars and clubs in town, but as for dive bars - it's a winner for sure.

Drag show fun
Carl F.

It's a gay dive bar with carpeting throughout, $3 drinks (even craft beer & ciders), free drag and strip show, shirts and pants are completely optional, and everyone who works/MCs here will refer to all the patrons as 'bitches', and it's 100% acceptable and hilarious. Honestly, I've never enjoyed being a called a 'b*tch' more. I don't know why I found it so funny, but I did and I would have been willing to pay up to $15 for cover to come drink, be referenced as one of said 'bitches', and see this absolutely hilarious show, but to my surprise, they charged nothing for literal butt-loads of entertainment. I never saw Magic Mike and I really only like to see people naked for scientific purposes, so this was a pretty different experience for me and I had an absolute blast. Please note that if you're male, shirts (and pants) are entirely optional but underoos gotta stay on. The drag show kicked things off and the ladies/ alter she-gos here really put on a damn fine show. So.Much.Beyonce, countless high kicks, even a back flip in stilettos into a split. Truly ridic and even I was willing to part with a single dollar bills in the name of a grand drag queen with metallic leotard and probably 9ft wing span. Betwixt the drag performances are male strip shows to all your favorite hits, with 'Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy' being particularly popular. Before today, I thought it was the most annoying song I'd ever been forced to listen to, but with a gay spin on it the song was practically tolerable. As far as the performances go, my group of regulars did a great job of preparing me for what I was about to see and answering my many questions regarding the things I did see. The dancers will go around after the show and have friendly chit chat with everyone in the bar. To my knowledge, this was the first full-ish conversation I've had with a person who had an erect penis in public. What do you talk about with someone with an erect peener? Essentially, traffic and weather. Same thing you'd talk to someone in an elevator about. So there's that. To be fair, I didn't do much talking, or have much eye contact (I don't even like bodies but it's really hard to look away), but I didn't feel uncomfortable at any point... probably because I was invisible to everyone else in here, and I think I kind of like that. As touchy, feely, grabby as everyone else was/is, it's a pretty safe place for females. You're basically kryptonite. I left impressed and honestly could've stayed all night just listening to the drag queen banter and hilarity. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

It's a cleaned up better lighted Bowow

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

Fun drag shows and have a fun time I can't wait to be on the stage and they have karaoke nights

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3 years ago

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12 years ago

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6 years ago

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12 years ago

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12 years ago

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7 years ago

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10 years ago

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10 years ago

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6 years ago

A favorite of mine. Folks at the bar our friendly. Bartenders always sweet. Immaculately clean. Not too crowded. An underrated place.

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8 years ago

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13 years ago

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12 years ago

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13 years ago

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10 years ago

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10 years ago

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

Best place in columbus, love the bartenders they make you feel like family. Cheap drinks and the performers never disappoint.

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10 years ago

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14 years ago

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14 years ago

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14 years ago

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11 years ago

Small, batenders are hit or miss. Prices for shots are outrageously expensive, not in a great area dont go alone.

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14 years ago

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12 years ago

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10 years ago

His dick was inside of me. OOOOOO IT FELT SO GOOD! I ordered his balls in my mouth. It was a

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Ask the Community - The Toolbox Saloon

Can you go in at 19?

No must be 21

WhT about transgenders going to the toolbox saloon?

Everyone is welcome at the Toolbox

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Review Highlights - The Toolbox Saloon

“I had heard things as you tend to hear, but hey, strippers and cheap drinks were at stake, and who am I to pass on that?”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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Southbend Tavern

Southbend Tavern

3.8(22 reviews)
0.9 mi•Merion Village
•$

It's a small bar. Watching the drag show was fine. The bartender was friendly. The people in the…read morebar wasn't terribly friendly or unfriendly. My partner and I were just strangers. I would come back again since it wasn't too crowded. Beer price was just right.

Felt unwelcome. My friend took my wife and I here to get some drinks. Fun show at first, and when…read morethey left, it pretty much emptied in there. My wife went to the restroom, and they have two unisex restrooms. Both doors have a sign, and those signs say unisex. She was at the sink, and a guy went in and said to her, "Why is there a girl in the men's restroom?" She said it's unisex. As she told him that and looked at him, he pulled out his you know what to go and kept staring at her. She felt uncomfortable and cleaned up the sink herself because she did vomit very little, but she cleaned it herself and left nothing and came up to my friend and I and told us. My friend said let's calm down and lets finish our drinks, and we'll go. Almost done, she goes to blow her nose real quick and the guy mopping said you guys need to leave if she is going to keep going in there to puke because I don't wanna clean that up. She heard that, and even she said toward him I was blowing my nose, I didn't keep going in there to puke. He said it in a really rude way and just made us feel like we need to leave. Not sure why he would say that when she stated she cleaned up the little bit of vomit herself, but we think that guy may have said something because the clean up guy was not around when it happened so how did he know?

Photos
Southbend Tavern
Southbend Tavern
Southbend Tavern - From the Southbend Tavern website

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From the Southbend Tavern website

Lindey's - Croque madame

Lindey's

4.2(1.2k reviews)
1.4 mi•German Village
•$$$

We went to Lindey's for a weekday dinner, and it was packed! After enjoying our meal, we could…read moredefinitely understand why it's such a popular spot. ATMOSPHERE: The restaurant had a lively, elegant atmosphere that made it feel like a nice evening out. There were several private events going on during our visit, but they did not interfere with our dinner at all. FOOD: Everyone at our table really enjoyed their food! I ordered the salmon, which was cooked perfectly, and my wife particularly loved the crab cakes. The creme brulee was also excellent, and the whipped cream on top was a particularly nice touch. Definitely worth saving room for dessert! SERVICE: The service was excellent throughout our dinner. Our waiter was kind, welcoming, and attentive, and we felt well taken care of despite how busy the restaurant was. PRICE/VALUE: Between the quality of the food and the excellent service, this felt like a worthwhile dinner out. It's definitely more of a "special occasion" restaurant. PARKING: Street parking was available nearby, and they also offered complimentary valet, which was a convenient option. Overall, this was an easy five-star experience, and I would gladly come back for the salmon and creme brulee!

Delicious dinner here a few weeks back. Came in for a Sunday night dinner over Labor Day weekend,…read moreand we were amazed. Definitely recommend sitting outside, the patio is so peaceful. Only downside is that we had to wait a little bit (about 30 minutes) for a patio table even though we did have a reservation. They do not take reservations for the patio. Our service was amazing though, food was delicious, and it came out quickly. If you like steak, the steak fried is a perfect size dish without being overly heavy pricey. Our waitress was very friendly and took good care of us. We were actually celebrating our recent engagement, and the restaurant gave us each a glass of champagne, which was very kind of them. Overall great experience here, one of Columbus's finest gems!

Photos
Lindey's - Seating area

Seating area

Lindey's - Watershed Vodka Martini with Blue cheese stuffed olives

Watershed Vodka Martini with Blue cheese stuffed olives

Lindey's - The Charro - spicy margarita

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The Charro - spicy margarita

Cavan Irish Pub - Front entrance

Cavan Irish Pub

3.9(35 reviews)
1.1 mi•Merion Village
•$

Could be the most interesting Irish bar that I've ever been to…read more For instance, this Saturday at nine p.m. it's a few lads calling themselves "Spankbank". Not sure, but it may be some kind of modern Riverdance? They'll also be watching RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars before karaoke on Friday. It's been years since I've seen drag racing. Big Daddy Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Don "The snake" Prudhomme! John Force! Hope I can make it back for that one! Everyone is so nice here. The bartender was very friendly and mixes a mean concoction. They have about a dozen beers on tap, a whole lotta hard liquor, tv's and darts! I don't believe they serve food, but did see some outside food coming in. BTW, on Thursday nights, the Thirst Trap Revue Show with Sexy GoGo Dancers. It may just be my old, failing eyes, but they just aren't that sexy. 08/24

his Irish pub is definitely one of a kind... specifically because it's the only gay Irish pub I've…read moreever been to or even heard of. From the outside looking in it looks like your typical dive bar, but once inside all that changes. I visited on a Saturday evening and was surprised to find that we got there just in time for their weekly Spankbank. In a nutshell it's a strip show with a DJ. It was quite entertaining and my friends and I had a blast. The drinks were strong and cheap and the bartenders were friendly and quick to serve me. I really liked that it was within walking distance of a few other bars, making it a fun stop as we bounced around.

Photos
Cavan Irish Pub - Rear patio

Rear patio

Cavan Irish Pub - Batch 19 and Darts!

Batch 19 and Darts!

Cavan Irish Pub - Head bartender Paul always has a smile waiting for you!

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Head bartender Paul always has a smile waiting for you!

The Toolbox Saloon - gaybars - Updated November 2026

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