Every once in a while, Columbus drops something so unexpected that it makes you stop and go, “Wait… how has nobody told me about this?” That’s exactly what happened when I stumbled into one of the coolest hidden hangout spots in the entire city.
It’s not a bar you find by walking past a neon sign. It’s not in an alley, behind a bookshelf, or underneath a restaurant. This place is even more sneaky than that.
You have to go upstairs.
Through a quiet hallway.
Past an unmarked door.
But the wildest part is where this whole journey starts… The Columbus Museum of Art at The Pizzuti.
You walk in thinking you’re about to see paintings and sculptures, and instead you end up inside a full Afro-Caribbean reggae bar that feels like it was teleported straight from the Bahamas.
Yes. A whole bar. Drinks. Food. Coffee. A pool table. All of it.
The Secret Bar Room
Bar Room is a permanent installation created by Bahamian-born artist Tavares Strachan, tucked away on the third floor of CMA at The Pizzuti in the Short North. But calling it an “installation” barely does it justice.
It’s not a look-but-don’t-touch art piece.
It’s not one of those rooms where you take two photos, say “wow I really feel like I’m in Nassau” and leave.
You can actually sit in it. Hang out in it. Order drinks in it. Beat a stranger in pool in it.
This is a real bar built inside a gallery.
Strachan designed Bar Room to feel like the neighborhood rum bars he grew up around in the Bahamas. It celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture, music, and community. You can feel that energy as soon as you step inside. The room is warm, colorful, and alive in a way you don’t expect from a museum.
It honestly feels like you unlocked a secret level in Columbus.
The Details
Here’s everything you need to know before you go:
HOURS
- Thursday: 2 pm to 8 pm
- Friday & Saturday: 2 pm to 10 pm
- Sunday: 10 am to 4 pm
ADMISSION
Entry to The Pizzuti (and Bar Room) is just $5.
Free for CMA members.
Season Passes are available for $25, giving you unlimited visits through December 2026 (These passes only cover the Pizzuti location).
LOCATION
CMA at The Pizzuti | 632 Park Street, Short North Arts District
FOOD & DRINK
Bar Room serves Afro-Caribbean inspired dishes, handcrafted cocktails, rum-heavy classics, coffee drinks, tea, and more. You can browse the full menu here.