GERMAN VILLAGE. You can come for the extensive menu of tapas and the equally lengthy list of wines to pair with your selections. You can also come to people watch, as this well established favorite draws a crowd of trendy locals for both lunch and dinner. Then there's the live music, happening several nights a week. If you're lucky enough to grab a table on the second Friday of any given month, you're in for a real treat. Live jazz, specialty mixed drinks and a late night bar menu make Barcelona a top-notch way to cap off a day spent exploring the German Village.

DOWNTOWN. Barley's relaxed atmosphere makes everyone feel at home whether it is their first visit or their fiftieth. One of Columbus' premier brewing spots located in the arts capital of the Short North neighborhood, Barley's serves a full lunch and dinner menu, complete with creative daily specials. The real star is the terrific handcrafted beer selection. Their own quality ales are served with as much care and pride as befits their time-honored brewing process.

DOWNTOWN. Casual digs populated with friendly staff and amiable patrons, this is the kind of spot where coming alone or in a group is equally guaranteed to be fun. A most popular gathering place for Buckeye fans, you'll also find those who come for an absorbing game of darts or pool while tunes crank on the jukebox.

DOWNTOWN. Great bar that serves up delicious chicken wings and drumsticks spun in 14 signature sauces ranging from sweet and spicy to "blazin." Pool tables draw heated competition, and large-screen televisions play the biggest sports events of the day. A massive bulletin board at the entrance announces upcoming sports events being showcased.

GERMAN VILLAGE. There are institutions and then there is Club 185. A bar that has been around since the mid-50s, plenty of its patrons remember it as their dads' hangout after the neighborhood softball games and a great place to get an authentic Nathan's Coney Island hot dog. Today, the crowd gets a little bit younger in the happy hour zone (don't ask for specials, the prices are already plenty reasonable) but they still come in droves for the nostalgic atmosphere and the equally quaint fare. Where else can you get pigs in blankets and fried bologna sandwiches?