There are dive bars… and then there are dive bars that feel like they actively chose you.
Johnnie’s Glenn Avenue Grill is the latter.
This place is hiding smack in the middle of a Grandview neighborhood on Glenn Avenue, and unless you already know about it, you’re probably driving past it without a second thought. Which is exactly how the regulars like it.
Because if you know, you freakin’ KNOW.
A True Neighborhood Dive Bar
Johnnie’s is cozy in a way that can’t be faked. Pool table. Jukebox. A few bar seats. A covered and fenced-in patio for when the weather cooperates. A neon sign glowing like a beacon for people who understand the assignment.
It feels less like a bar and more like hanging out at your friend’s great uncle’s house after his wife passed away. And I mean that lovingly. Warm. Familiar. Slightly unhinged. Immediately comforting.
And yes… the snacks are free. And here’s a legitimate warning if you’re addicted to snacking: the cheeseballs go down way too easily
Plus there are free pretzels, sometimes even free pizza. You can expect salty little temptations that absolutely will ruin any sense of self control you thought you had.
The Coldest, Cheapest Beer in Columbus (I’m Not Joking)
Let’s get to the real reason people whisper about this place.
You will not find colder or cheaper beer anywhere else in Columbus. Period. Full stop.
Bring a $20 bill and we genuinely guarantee you’ll be needing a ride home. This is not a challenge. This is a warning.
My go-to order?
A Bud Diesel for two dollars.
Yes. TWO. DOLLARS.
And it is served colder than the freezing point of water. It’s actually standard practice among my friends to tap the bottles on the table and see whose beer turns into slush first. That’s not a gimmick. That’s just how cold they serve them.
Johnnie’s is cash only (as it should be), but there is an ATM if you forget. Consider that part of the experience.
Cold Beer, Cold Nights, Perfect Vibes
You might think crushing ice-cold beers on a freezing winter night sounds unpleasant.
You would be wrong.
Something about the warmth and coziness of this place makes that first sip hit even harder. The colder the beer, the better it feels inside those walls. It just works. Don’t question it.
You settle in. You talk to strangers. You become friends. You snack irresponsibly. You order “just one more” and immediately regret saying that out loud.
The Kind of Place You Don’t Find by Accident (But Maybe You Do)
The neon light outside Johnnie’s attracts some of the coolest people in the city. If you find yourself wandering in one evening, just know this…
It was fate.
Johnnie’s Glenn Avenue Grill isn’t trying to be trendy. It’s not chasing Instagram fame. It doesn’t need to. Hell, I don’t think they want this article to come out. But here’s the truth: It’s one of the best dive bars in Columbus because it’s exactly what a dive bar is supposed to be.
If you know, you know.
And now… you know.
Underrated Finds
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