If you’re looking for the best places to get cheap drinks in Columbus and Central Ohio, you’re in the right place
Whether you’re ballin’ on a budget, just trying to stretch your night out, or chasing the sweet high of ordering a round without financial anxiety, we rounded up the best bars where cheap drinks still reign supreme.
These aren’t gimmicky “half-off martinis” at a rooftop bar.
These are real-deal, cash-in-your-pocket, “Wait, my tab was how much?!” kind of places. Dive bars, hidden gems, and local legends that actually keep your buzz going without breaking the bank.
Let’s drink (cheaply) to that.
Did we miss one? Did one of these places close? Send us a note!
Johnnie’s Glenn Avenue Grill
📍 1491 Glenn Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
The phrase hidden gem gets thrown around way too often (hand up, we do it A LOT), but we REALLY mean it when we’re talking about Johnnie’s on Glenn.
This spot is tucked away on a quiet residential street in Grandview — blink and you’ll miss it — but inside you’ll find a cash-only dive bar with THE coldest beers you’ll ever have. Seriously.
They don’t even bother with a menu online, but the last time I was there, I snagged Bud Diesels (aka Budweiser) for just $2 a pop.
I’m not sure how much inflation has crept in, but you definitely won’t be forking anything close to a $5 bill for a single domestic.
Bonus points:
- Free snacks like pretzels and cheeseballs
- Occasional pizza parties courtesy of regulars
- Pool table, TouchTunes, heated patio, and vibes for days
A true dive bar in every glorious sense of the word.
St. James Tavern
📍 1057 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201
One of the true OGs of Italian Village, St. James Tavern feels like a time capsule in the best way possible.
No trendy cocktail menus. No 47 flat-screens blasting TikTok compilations. Just cheap draft beer, pool tables, and a chill, intimate vibe.
Their motto is “No Crap on Tap,” and they mean it — you can grab a pint of Bell’s Two Hearted or Guinness for just $3.50.
Even better? Well drinks are only $2.50.
Don’t come here expecting to anxiously watch and cash out on your 12-leg parlay. Come here to drink great beer for stupidly good prices.
Mike’s Grill
📍 724 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215
Mike’s Grill is a Short North unicorn — a place where you can actually get buzzed for under $10.
(Yes, even today. No, you’re not dreaming.)
This cash-only oasis slings domestics like PBR for cheap enough that you could knock back four without even breaking an Alexander Hamilton out of your wallet.
(That’s a $10 bill, for the record. Don’t worry, I had to Google it too while writing this.)
It’s no frills, no BS, and a reminder that you don’t have to pay $14 for a canned cocktail just because you’re in the Short North.
Meister’s Bar
📍 1168 Chambers Rd, Columbus, OH 43212
We’ve already sung the praises of Meister’s — mostly because of their incredible deep dish pizza (full write-up here) — but their drink deals are just as legendary.
Highlights:
- Solid draft and canned beer selection
- Pool tables, pinball machines, TouchTunes
- Thursday deal: $1 cans all night. (Yes, seriously.)
There’s nothing quite like housing a Natty Light while shoving deep dish pizza into your face and remembering that, oh right, I’m not 19 anymore. Hangovers are real.
Meister’s is a Grandview classic that keeps the good times (and cheap beers) rolling.
Beck Tavern
📍 284 E Beck St, Columbus, OH 43206
German Village might be known for its gorgeous historic homes and upscale restaurants… but Beck Tavern is here to keep you grounded.
And by grounded, I mean $10 to get drunk while loving life.
This cozy dive feels like a glorious glitch in the matrix of German Village — it’s casual, a little dingy (in a good way), and wonderfully welcoming.
They accept cards and Apple Pay, but drinks are still ridiculously affordable, with plenty of local beers on tap and just enough TVs to keep your sports addiction satisfied.
Pro tip: Bring your darts, just in case there’s a board free.
Did we miss one? Did one of these places close? Send us a note!