I love visiting the village idiot, it's a great campus bar vibe and the drinks are cheap and the people are great. There really isn't much else to say, the vibes are always great a the bartenders make good drinks, they have pool and darts. Bring a friend and have a good time! read more

Village Idiot - The Bar - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Got called slurs by another bar patron and when I told the bartender twice she kicked me out

We love this place. It's super quirky atmosphere and eccentric art keep you amused while you wait for your food. It's a little unusual to have to walk up to a window to order your food and then go to the bar to order a drink, but we have always been able to get our selections in quickly, even when they are busy. Seating is sometimes at a premium...last visit one of the staff mentioned that sometimes people have to stand and eat their pizza. Lol I greatly appreciate that they offer a cauliflower crust. We will make a point to come back next time we are in town read more

This is kind of a hidden spot near OSU's campus. My friend said she typically never sees undergrads here, mostly graduate students and other adults. They don't seem to get sloppy here either. It kind of has a divey vibe which I liked and it was very chill. I came around 6 on a Friday. We were about to eat at Eden Burger next door, but the space was super cramped and every table was filled, so we came to Village Idiot which thankfully has an order window so you can still get Eden Burger! I got the Hawaiian burger which was really good! It was falling part a little bit but sometimes that happens. It had pineapple, a vegan type of bacon, and teriyaki. It was $9 but very filling! Didn't need to order fries or anything! Some of my other friends got fries, the Eden Burger ( which was a typical burger with Eden sauce), the California burger (pepper jack cheese, guac, lettuce, tomato), and loaded fries (half an Eden burger patty, tomato, pickle, onion). The fries got a little too salty after a while and I couldn't eat more than 5. It was sad...it was just over seasoned. Otherwise, everyone liked the burgers! Lots of others ordered from the window so it looks like this is the best way to go. I'm glad they have Eden burger though! Great healthy food option for being at a bar! Village Idiot wasn't a super huge space but they had a pool table and a few high tables. My friend had no problem ordering a drink at the bar. It wasn't busy so he walked right up and got his beer pretty quick! Parking isn't bad! You can find parallel parking in front of it or across the street easily if it's not too busy. read more

I came to this bar while my phone was being worked on across the street at CPR phone repairs. (5 out 5 great place) and it was their Long Island Night, where a Long Island alcohol drink is given at a cheaper price, my kind of night. I had my service dong Bear with me and he's an 107 pound American Akita, he can be intimidating and on average most bars won't let him in, which I respect. They had no problem with him and I felt very welcomed in a bar I have never been. I don't go out often, this was just something to do while my phone was worked on. I very much appreciate their customer service and though I don't remember the bartenders name she made an amazing long island better than most I've had. This place had the right amount of mood setting and vibe than the average bar on High street. I look forward to the next time I'm walking up and down the street looking for a place to sit and have drink after a long week of school and work, and to reiterate they are service animal friendly but still professional and clean. read more

I love the Village Idiot - and I'm not referring to my "+1" either, wocka wocka! The Idiot has one of the best happy hours in town, very comparable to Woodland Tavern. Great craft brew selection, decent cocktails. Great happy hour pricing. The bar tenders know their brews as well and can help point you in the right direction. It's really clean inside and the restrooms are quite nice - yes, in a bar, the restrooms are quite nice! The ladies room has louvered doors and has always been immaculate when I've been there. Commonwealth sandwiches is next door, but only open till 9 pm. CW's fries are the perfect accompaniment to the Idiot's bevy of beers. Pool, darts, plenty of tables and a NEW patio make this place a keeper. It's pretty empty until after happy hour. Makes me wish to be able to give it a 6 star review! It's a dive bar only by location and general lighting dimness. read more

Village Idiot is an okay bar close to campus. I like that it's near some other good bars. They're also located next to Daredevil Dogs. It has a window you can order from in the bar. That's great you don't have to walk the few feet to get there. I come for the happy hour. It has some good specials. The Long Island iced teas are about $3. It's not much of a beer selection beyond Bud and Miller. The cocktails are kind of lacking too. It's a dive bar so if you aren't expecting much then you'll have a better time. The best thing going for it is the window. I would go to Village Idiot if only getting a cheap cocktail at happy hour and ordering something from the window. It's an okay place for a quick drink and then moving on. There's not much to be impressed with other than that. read more

Village Idiot - Long Island Iced Tea About $3 - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I think it's really important to note first that there is no restaurant attached like many formerly written reviews can lead you to believe. No Daredevil Dogs, no pizza, you need to go down the street and bring your food in. It's nice to have his option, so just know this in advance so you may plan accordingly. The bar is nothing fancy. I was here for trivia with friends and I didn't find anything unique or special to draw me back. It's a bar with plenty of open space and some seating. If there is an event here I am interested in, or someone I knew invited me here, I would return. There are too many other places nearby that offer more for my tastes. read more

I love that I moved, but I'm REAL bummed I can no longer walk to Village Idiot. This bar is everything I want and more. I might have a different take than others, as bf & I typically like to go earlier in the evening to have a few drinks and throw some darts, so we never really see the late night crowd. Weeknights around 7 this place is pretty dead, which is awesome for us (though I'm sure the bartender would love it if I would stop mentioning this fact). This could also be due to the fact that a lot of OSU students aren't around for the summer. Overall though, this bar is really awesome. They have some fantastic happy hour until 9pm deals and weekly all-day deals (like $2 craft bottles on Tuesdays and $3 3-Olives drinks on Saturdays -- Saturday!!!). They have a couple of dart boards, a pool table, some TVs, and it's really pretty clean for a campus area bar. Their drafts rotate with the basics and a few craftier options. There's a pretty big side patio and lots of seating if weather's nice. I'm sure we'll be back for darts sometime, but until then, somebody better keep the board warm for us! read more

Village Idiot - a dimly lit bar with tables and stools - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I freaking love this bar. Unassuming, great craft draft list, and fantastic prices - including a happy hour! You can play darts or pool, and they have weekly trivia nights. Two TVs if you want to watch a game, and usually a decent set of tunes on the speakers. The bartenders are friendly and the bathrooms are clean. Also, there is a window to the next door restaurant, and you can order to eat at the bar. Every time I come here, I wish it were in my neighborhood! read more

Village Idiot - Draft list, Aug 2017 - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Nice little bar with good prices. We came here with a friend from out of state and we ended up leaving as the village idiot. All in all it was a great time! read more

Great spot to play some darts or just start your night off with friends and get cheap but quality drinks! They had an awesome special of 2$ house whiskey (was actually a good local Columbus brand). They have specials throughout the week and you can definitely get a nice buzz going if you're on a budget. Very easy place to have conversation, was not super packed like some other bars in Short a North. Will be coming back for sure! read more

Village Idiot - 2$ whiskey cokes on a Thursday - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

A dive bar that's connected to Daredevil Dogs, where you can eat your delicious food AND drink alcohol? Yes, please. Village Idiot is chill, not super busy, and has great drink specials. The seats are all high tops, and they're a bit uncomfortable. I felt like I was slipping out of my chair the whole time. (Gosh, that makes me sound even more un-cool than I already am.) If you're here for hot dogs, they have a walk-up window inside Village Idiot! The ordering process is a little complicated, but it's totally worth it if you want some booze with your meal. This won't become my regular watering hole, but if you're close by, it's a solid choice. read more

It's not the biggest bar around, doesn't have the best televisions around, nor the best selection of draft or bottled beer around, but Village Idiot is completely decent in all of these categories. The bartop itself is pretty nice. It is rather large and has a nice texture and a metallic look. My only complaint there would be that I think it sits a little high, or maybe the stools sit a little low. Either way, it was slightly uncomfortable to rest my arms on the bar. There is a partitioned door that opens into Commonwealth Sandwich Shop so you can order some delicious sandwiches from right inside the bar. This is a big plus. There are some couches and a table up front that form a somewhat out-of-place faux living room. I'm sure they're comfortable, but not quite what I want out of a bar. Village Idiot's real highlight is the beer prices. Everything here is CHEAP. Even cheaper during happy hour. I think I paid $2 or $3 for my microbrew last time I was here. It was a Christmas or winter ale, can't recall. edit: Oh, this is also totally not a dive bar. It's just a bar, maybe a sports bar if anything. In fact, I'll be editing the category in a minute. Pending Yelp approval, it won't misinform users anymore. read more

Stopped in here on a Thursday night. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised at the complete lack of bros, given its vicinity to south campus. Was even more pleasantly surprised to find out that vodka drinks were all $2 and PBR was $1 on tap. Score. On top of that, the bartender was hella friendly and helpful, even suggesting to mix up special drinks when some of us couldn't decide what we wanted. AND the bathrooms were super clean for a bar, especially a campus area one. Overall, I'd say this is a solid place to go get your drink on. read more

When you think of an Ohio State campus bar, what comes to mind? Usually, I assume that I'll be paying a little too much for Natty Light, be bombarded by extraordinarily loud music, and will be surrounded by hordes of bros and sorority sisters. Village Idiot doesn't possess any of these undesirable qualities, which is why I love it so much. Perhaps the best thing about Village Idiot is their Happy Hour. From 7-9, you can get ANY beer for $2. As someone who is not exactly a beer connoisseur it's great to be able to try something new from their vast selection. In addition, there always seems to some sort of special, making a trip to Village Idiot extremely affordable. PBR is always $1, so you know this bar is hipster friendly! If the prices and selection haven't convinced you enough, the bartenders at Village Idiot are great. Nicky is one of my favorite bartenders around and will be sure to make you something tasty (and strong!) Overall, I'm glad that there are bars like Village Idiot around. They are an excellent reprieve from the crowded lackluster bars that one can find occupying most of High St. If you're looking for a great time and don't mind venturing south, make sure to hit up Village Idiot. read more

The best way to classify the Village Idiot is a pleasant surprise. This might be my favorite non-dive dive bar in Columbus. We went on a Saturday to find all bottles were $2 with margaritas (but I understand it's a different mixed drink each time) for $3 ALL NIGHT LONG. And you know what else? The bar staff was so efficient, you could be back to your table within minutes. MINUTES. I KNOW. I would think I was making stuff up if I hadn't been there myself. The place has no food, but it's almost better that way. Commonwealth sandwich bar shares their awesome sandwiches from next door and you're allowed to bring food in from the outside. A group of us monopolized the three black leather couches in the front with some take-out/bring-in and were happy as clams for the rest of the night. I couldn't get behind the blaring music-not only am I too old, but I would like my days of hearing System of a Down blasting through speakers to be over. However, I will definitely be back due to what a great experience I had. Add in darts (which isn't really my thing, but I hang with a crowd that is into it) and a teetering-on-cute bathroom, and you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised by your Village Idiot experience. I know I was. read more

A friend's 21st birthday gave me the perfect excuse to visit The Village Idiot, which is a new establishment in a growing section of South Campus. I suspected it was connected to the tattoo parlor next door, what with that awesome Cheers Font on the front of the building (seriously, dig the font). The inside must have also been decorated by an artist from the tattoo parlor. It's colorful and bright, a really nice bar! We went out on a Friday night and paid no cover even though there was a live band playing. I hope that's going to be a standard. The music was loud, but not terrible! It was tough to converse during songs, and I would like to visit on a night when I can load up the jukebox. The bartenders were good looking (both male and female) and moderately friendly, some more so than others. We were buying shots for our newly legal friend and needed to find some that tasted sweet and not as alcoholic - so we were really testing the bartenders taste and patience. The drinks were cheap, cold, tasty and stiff. I don't go out as often as I used to, because I haven't had a favorite bar since Larry's closed. This might work, this might work. read more

The Village Idiot is a bar that I can hang out and really be myself at. It sports a decent selection of beers and liquors at good prices. It also shares a wall with Commonwealth Sandwich Bar, meaning you can order sandwiches from the bar and eat them out on the beautiful patio, if you are so inclined. The bartenders are super chill and offer great service. Facilities are nice and very clean. Jessica H. mentioned the clean restrooms, which holds true even for the men's room. Seriously, a clean men's room in a bar is dang impressive. The thing that I like best about The Village Idiot is that it does not try to be something that it's not. I know this probably doesn't really make any sense, but The Village Idiot is simply a "real" place -- near the top of my list of great places to hang out in the Short North! read more

The Village Idiot is the closest bar to my house, so sometimes I go there. Usually it's because I'm getting home from the LC late and I can't buy beer at the store. I park at home and walk over for a splash of burbon and a dollar PBR then it's straight to bed. It's also handy for a cheap drink on the way to the Newport because I go see shows at the Newport now. I don't know, it's really loud because everything is concrete. Most of the light comes from the giant tv. The staff is friendly. It's not a bad default location when what you need is a reasonably priced cocktail before collapsing from your sixteen hour day in the sun. It's a regular bar for regular folks. Affordable and unpretentious. Three stars. read more

Don't let the "dive bar" classification sway you. This is a fun place. It has a couple big screens to watch the game, a pool table and good seating. Plenty of standing room as well. Overall, it's a very clean place, the owner is cool, and the Happy Hour is excellent... everything in the cooler is $2 except Strongbow and Young's Double Chocolate Stout. And the beers that are in there are no slackers, either -- you've got the Sam Adams, Magic Hat and Sierra Nevada stuff there. Drafts are $3 for Happy Hour, too. read more

Village idiot is easily one of my favorite bars in Columbus. Its very low key, has a great patio outside, and fabulous drink specials all the time! They don't have a kitchen, but feel free to bring your food in which is really nice. There's always a good mix of people there, the jukebox is always on, and theres a good beer selection too. The staff is very nice and while often incredibly busy, always attentive. The owner, Scott, is awesome to talk to and is always happy to help with events in the community. read more

This is a pretty decent bar. In fact, I was really surprised how nice it was inside - given its name I thought it would be another campus bar, but it doesn't come off like that at all. They have a nice selection of drafts available, including some interesting ones you don't see around town often. A random selection of said drafts will be on happy hours at any given time for $3, and they also have $3 bottles during most, if not all happy hours. Their bottle selection is also pretty good considering they don't have a huge cooler. The bartenders are also consistently really nice, and allow you to bring in sandwiches from commonwealth next door. It's become a habit for me to come for the $5 sandwiches on Wednesdays and bring them over to Village Idiot to enjoy with a nice cold craft beer. One thing that's a bit awkward for me at this bar is that the bar itself is super tall compared to the seats, and since I'm already vertically challenged I feel like I need a booster seat at the bar. Get some taller chairs please! read more

When I am in the area, this is bar that I prefer to go to. Good service, good prices (all but a few select bottled beers are $2-3), and they know how to make a stiff drink. I like their jukebox. It's no Stube, but I'm there for the music so it'll do. It's bathrooms are also clean. As a frequenter of many narsty Columbus bars, this is good. This is still a very new bar, so please frequent it. A lot. I would hate for it to suffer the consequences of the last business that was there. read more

Great selection of craft bottles with no bad selection on tap, either. Where PBR always costs what it should, $2. I think Monday or Tuesday all craft bottles are $3 all night, but I could be wrong. Either way, I don't mind paying a little more to drink here. Village Idiot is clean, well-priced, and has a nice, low key atmosphere. I think the floor-to-ceiling windows in front help open it up as well with some natural light. Amenities include a pool table, TVs with the game on, Commonwealth sandwiches, and decent bathrooms. Thankfully, there tends to be a well-adjusted clientele here since the Gateway crowd won't go this far south for fear of robbery or whatever. I'm really glad this area is getting nicer every few months, but I fear that could change what I love about this underrated stretch of High. read more

It's an utterly average watering hole. It's got decent happy hour deals, but those aren't uncommon in Columbus, and the alcohol is competent, but it's not as though you're going to walk in here and be blown away by the offerings they present you with. It looks about like what you'd expect, which is fine if you're expecting a dive. I've never been in when there's a crowd, but I'm assuming I would hate it. What saves it from a 2-star rating is its immediate proximity to Daredevil Dogs, with a window built into Village Idiot to order from. Taken together, this is a solid institution, because good hot dogs and beer are a worthwhile combination. read more

You have to love this place. All the staff is friendly and down to earth, the specials are great for both liquor and beer. Many of their liquor specials are 3.00 shots. Check the board out to let you know what shots they have on special. There is a sandwich shop that is opened next door, unless they have the top part of the door open then you can order from within the bar. It's a great atmosphere, and with the awesome new patio they put in, you can't go wrong at Village Idiot. read more

Best neighborhood bar hands down. Super chill and quiet, nice break from the loud and obnoxious bars on campus. Dart boards and easy access to Eden burgers is definitely a plus. read more

Read about the VI here on Yelp. No one there but enjoyed it none the less. Highlights of the visit: *Miller Genuine Draft bottle *Pool table. Put in the required 4 quarters. One ball came out. The beertender (also one of the owners) lifted the table and voila all the balls appeared. *Great conversation on the recent OSU football problems. *Great conversation on college football overall. *Asked if beertender/owner had ever met Terrel Pryor and he had. he noted that the listed 6 foot 6 inch Pryor was no more than 6 foot 2 inches and probably 210 at the most. Wow..........hard to believe but I believe what he said. read more

So this is a dive bar, right? But not of the shoddy variety. It's clean, the bartenders are attractive, the "jukebox" plays tons of modern music, and there is a trendy sandwich joint attached to give you food options other than your standard pizza and chili dogs. There's also a brand new patio with a lovely view of High Street and the dank alley between the bar and the metropolitan library. Who needs a view when you're having a good time? Their drink specials are legit. If you're craving a dive that doesn't suck, get yourself over to Village Idiot! read more

Last night at Village Idiot, there was an incident. Myself and two of my friends were sitting at the bar deep in conversation, trying to enjoy the three day weekend, when an older man came up and tried to talk to us. We asked him politely many times to leave us alone and he refused. We asked the bartender to help us, considering the man would not leave. The bartender came out from behind the bar explaining to us that the man was his friends and that he could calm him down. Even after his attempts, the man would not leave. He continued to harass me and my friends and yelled at us. Again, I asked the bartender to intervene, and he told me to shut up. We asked another bartender to intervene but the other bartender told us that the man was too big and there was nothing he could do. A third person, a woman, who identified herself as one of the staff started laughing at us and told us we were "ruining her night". After 45 minutes of being harassed by this man, nothing was done, and my friends and I were frightened because he would not leave us alone. The management here is complete trash and does not care about the safety of women or their customers in general. read more

Admittedly, I've only been to Village Idiot to have beer with my Daredevil Dogs...there is a window between VI and DD where you can order DD and have them bring it to you in VI. Um, hello! Of course I'm hanging around. Decent space, cool murals and local art on the walls. Pool tables, etc. Like, a real bar. Local taps and cheap beer, like any south campus bar would be proud to serve. Glad Village Idiot is here to serve our needs. read more

I've been here several times now, and I'm a huge fan. I'm a HUGE fan of all the local brews they constantly have on tap, especially Rivertown! Drinks are not super expensive, and the bartenders are very attentive. Plenty of TV's, darts, and pool. They also have a ton of seating. They are also really cool about letting you bring outside food in. We've ordered pizza from the Hungry Howie's across the street and they were super awesome about letting us eat it at the bar. I've also seen a lot of people order from Commonwealth sandwich shop (which is literally right next door) and bring it over to the Village Idiot. They have a really chill atmosphere - the walls are adorned with local art that is all for sale. This is definitely a great place to come hang out and talk with friends. read more

Updated review after discovering the amazing food at the attached restaurant Commonwealth: this bar is actually kind of great. Good prices. Respectable selection of beer (though they've run out of gluten-free beer on me before, but you can still get mixed drinks, so all is not lost). Specials that make the prices even better. Nice patio space, which feels less "campus-y" than the interior of the bar tends to feel. The combination of the patio, Commonwealth's killer sandwiches, and the prices here mean I'm definitely adding it to my rotation. read more

The water heater in the bathroom needs to be reset. I burnt my hand BADLY on the hot water when washing my hands. I was drunk and didn't feel it until it was too late. I liked the bar and the specials but my hand and finger is swollen. I cried. The water literally scalded me when I tried to wash. That is NOT OKAY. The bathroom water cooked my hand. read more

Oh, the Village Idiot... This place has a few keys things going for it: a) location, location, location... It is located slightly south of the OSU campus and slightly north of the Short North; b) outdoor seating; c) cheap drinks and specials ($2 PBR); d) darts; e) Daredevil Dogs is right next door. Yes, that basically means they have food. Overall, this bar is nothing fancy, but has all of the essentials for a good time. read more

I love the Village Idiot. I've been coming here for the past few years. It never disappoints. If I'm out in the area, we usually end up here at the end of the night. It's cheap and laid back. Some would call it a dive bar but I've been to dive bars (Dick's Den) and the Idiot is not a dive bar. I love dive bars so I'm in no way hating on their charm. Anyway, they have a connection to DareDevil Dogs, a hot dog place next door. I believe you can walk up to their window and order right from the bar side. They have a huge patio and a fair selection of large TV's for watching Buckeye games. They also have a designated area for darts. Darts hold a soft place in my heart so I always enjoy grabbing a beer and hanging out with friends. I'm awful at darts but who cares?!? Beer selection is decent. Everything from PBR to craft brews. They usually have some kind of liquor special (probably Fireball for the college kids). So if you're near campus for whatever reason, try this place out. There aren't that many OSU students even being so close to campus. BONUS! read more

This is a bar. It's a good bar, great for drinking and talking. If you want to dance, go to a club. The Idiot plays great music, has darts and pool, and even a fire outside if you'd like to sit out on the patio. They have very good drink specials, and the bar tenders never try to take advantage of you in the various ways that bartenders sometimes do (usually by not being very informative about the price of something). These folks are great! read more

Formerly a short-lived clothing store, The Village Idiot helps bridge that dry, three block gap between Circus and Lucky's. It's only been open for about a week, but it's close by and I went a couple of times to get a feel for the place. While there is some spillover from the college bars to the north (ugh), it thankfully has a more laid-back atmosphere than you'd assume(yay). There's a bit of a mix with the clientele and until some bike racks get installed (don't worry, I'm on it), the owner just lets cyclists bring in their bikes, which is cool. The $1 PBR and short queue for the I-tune jukebox (so far) are quite compelling. For good $4 beers, I tried the Lagunitas IPA and was impressed. Already had a good random conversation here and also enjoyed coming with a friend. Right now, it's definitely better than all the other typical college bars up High past Lane Ave and I can't complain about the price. It's a welcome addition to the quirky Peach District. read more

Village Idiot - the reflection of a car in the window - Pubs Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is a pretty great bar. It has a very divey feel (which I like in a bar), but it has a surprisingly good beer list. The bartenders are friendly and the drinks are cheap. Good drink specials. Definitely worth checking out. read more