Devon BrooksSpanish food is one of my ultimate favorites—but I’m not gonna lie, sometimes it can be too heavy. One serving of paella will send me into a nap right away.
That’s exactly why tapas are such a game-changer. You get a little bit of everything as you share it with your friends alongside some tasty wine or cocktails. And I love that this kind of dining has really taken off in many restaurants in Columbus.
So, if you’re in the mood for something flavorful and a little indulgent without the food coma aftermath, here are some of the best spots you can check out.
1. Barcelona Restaurant & Bar
Address: 263 E Whittier St.
Phone: +16144433699
Business Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, 11 AM–9 PM
- Friday, 11 AM–10 PM
- Saturday, 4–10 PM
- Sunday, 4–9 PM
Barcelona is one of the famous Spanish fusion spots in the city, especially in the German Village neighborhood. In fact, it’s consistently mentioned as one of the top restaurants in Columbus by food critics.
Their tapas selection is particularly the regulars’ favorite here. It occupies nearly two-thirds of the entire menu, which they regularly update to use seasonal products, so you have something new to try every time.
You can order classic small plates like croquetas, hummus, marinated olives, and more. There are also some creative dishes like seafood and meat tapas—there are vegetarian options as well.
These can be ordered individually, but if you want to try a little bit of everything without spending an outrageous amount (they’re quite expensive!), you can try their Torre de Tapas. It’s a pre-assembled tower with multiple cheeses, meats, and spreads.
Many customers also recommend pairing them with the restaurant’s multi-award-winning wine list.
Always been one of my favorite establishments
“Barcelona has always been one of my favorite establishments! The service, the food in the aesthetics are always top-notch! They handled our large group with ease! We shared tapas, wine and a few entrees. Will most definitely return! The staff and management were so attentive and treated us to dessert! Thank you so much for representing Columbus so well!”
- Doug Pope, Google Review
They were all good
“First time visiting the restaurant as we had a friend come over from Cincinnati. Happy hour menu was reasonable, especially the tapas (they only serve them at the bar, which had a very wide table). They were all good. Yana served us and she’s been a delightful person the whole time we were there, so make sure you ask for her (she’s at the bar). She made my Martini and it was so good! I tasted the sangria too and it was perfect.”
- Marco Chavez, Google Review
2. Sidebar Columbus
Address: 122 E Main St.
Phone: +16142289041
Business Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, 4–9 PM
- Friday and Saturday, 4–10 PM
The sidebar is another spot that’s famous for its Spanish and South American-inspired dishes. Local food enthusiasts praise the place not only for its food offerings, but also for its bar drinks, especially the cocktails.
The menu here features a diverse selection of tapas, split into categories: meat and poultry, seafood, and vegetables. During their Happy Hour from Tuesday to Friday between 4 PM and 6 PM, you can enjoy over 25 types of tapas at a discounted price.
Some of the crowd favorites during this time are the crispy beef empanadas, fresh cilantro hummus, and seasoned chicken skewers.
Also, they have a Tapas Tuesday special where they occasionally offer complimentary tasting plates to guests who purchase drinks at the bar.
Actually, we found the deals pretty solid here. The tapas are somewhat affordable, but the drinks are kind of pricey, so taking advantage of the specials is a great way to give them a try.
We always have a great experience
“We always have a great experience at Sidebar! If you love a tapas restaurant, this is it!! We come here a few times a year and the food is always excellent! Muscles, saffron risotto, garlic mushrooms and beef empanadas are just a few of our favorites. The poached pear and ice cream is the best dessert they have!! Highly recommend!”
- Ryan, Google Reviews
Each dish was a delight to the eyes as well as the taste buds
“Wonderful food. Each dish was a delight to the eyes as well as the taste buds. The server was just attentive enough. We would definitely want to come back. It’s a great place to celebrate a special occasion. The parking lot (we paid less than $4 since it was after 5 pm) is about a block away, and we felt safe walking in the area. My favorite tapas was the beef skewers with blue cheese on a bed of vegetables in a flavorful sauce.”
- JM Kropa, Google Review
3. Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille
Address: 515 S High St.
Phone: +16149148878
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 11 AM–2 PM, 5–9 PM
- Friday, 11 AM–2 PM, 5–9:30 PM
- Saturday, 11 AM–9:30 PM
Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille has been open for over 20 years and is a beloved local chain in the city. Compared to some fine dining restaurants, it offers a livelier and more welcoming atmosphere that many regulars appreciate.
Their tapas are all about the traditional, flavor-packed pan-Latin plates. They have a pretty diverse menu and are universally paired with their famous house cilantro sauce.
Some of their popular items are chorizo al vino, fried plantains, empanadas, and more.
Many customers noted that the tapas portions are slightly more generous than usual, which can lead to guests getting full too quickly and limiting how many dishes they can try.
But if we talk about the prices at Arepazo, it’s quite a great value for the amount of food you get. Their dishes start at $7, while large sharing platters are priced around $27.
We would go again
“Neat Tapas restaurant in the Brewery district in Columbus. The restaurant is quite huge with lots of space to eat and spread out. The bar area looked nice, and the whole restaurant was very well decorated. The food was excellent. We had the arepitas and chilaquiles. Both were excellent, although both of us had a slight preference for the chilaquiles. The coriander sauce that comes with both had a wonderful zesty taste. The restaurant is slightly on the expensive side, but we would go again.”
- Raj Mehta, Google Review
Wonderful spot if you love Latin American food
“Delicious!! The patacon with sweet plantain on the bottom, covered in shredded beef or chicken with lettuce and avocado and scrumptious spicy cilantro sauce is big enough for two. The crab cakes are great to split for two. The bandeja paisa is all meat and beans; my husband ate every bite. La gringa was a winner for the granddaughter. Tres leches was the best ever, not too sweet with a sprinkling of cinnamon and granulated sugar. Flan is good, but the new chocolate cake is too intense, sweet and American for me. Outdoor dining was perfect. Service is friendly, helpful and relaxed. Next time we will order a tapas appetizer and share a dinner. Wonderful spot if you love Latin American food.”
- Elise Moore, Google Review
4. Lupo
Address: 2124 Arlington Ave
Phone: +16149146134
Business Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday, 5–9 PM
- Friday and Saturday, 5–10 PM
If you’re thinking of a more upscale experience, Lupo in Arlington could be a great choice. The restaurant is somewhat Mediterranean and Spanish-inspired, though its menu is more global fusion.
Their tapas menu, in particular, varies depending on the available seasonal ingredients, but they have everything from a variety of meats to traditional starters and charcuterie.
Some of their bestsellers are the slow-braised octopus, bacon-wrapped dates, and lamb meatballs. But they’re not just all meats here; we also appreciate that the restaurant is very accommodating for vegetarian and gluten-free requests.
Prices range from $10 to $30. Some customers feel that it’s quite expensive for their small-plate sizes. They do offer a Tuesday special where, for $45, you can order a 4-course tasting menu featuring the kitchen’s favorites.
Aside from tapas, Lupo also gets a lot of praise for its cocktails, decadent desserts, and unique entrees.
Great place
“One of my new favorite restaurants in Columbus. Great place for those who can never decide on one thing to eat. Tapas style allows you to try a bunch of different things. Each small plate is perfect for 2-3 people to have a taste of the dish. Service was excellent as well.”
- Michael Royer, Google Review
Everything was great
“Came here with friends for dinner, everything was great, go on a Tuesday for all-night happy hour and tapas tasting menu. The bacon-wrapped dates were really good and the sandwich special was a Cuban that I would put right up with the ones I had in Little Havana. The cumin and other spices on the pork were wonderful.”
- Seth Swayne, Google Review
5. VASO
Address: 6540 Riverside Dr, Dublin
Phone: +16146982525
Business Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, 4 PM–12 AM
- Friday, 4 PM–1 AM
- Saturday, 2 PM–1 AM
- Sunday, 4–10 PM
VASO is one of the popular upscale rooftop bars in Columbus. Many people come here for date nights, private celebrations, and chill night outs.
The concept of the place is all about the Spanish tradition of shared dining, featuring tapas plates with creative modern twists. You’ll find everything here from simple charcuterie boards to deviled eggs and stuffed pastries.
Their tapa menu ranges from $6 bar bites to $58 premium meat platters. It’s not the cheapest option, but we like that the selection is quite wide, with varying price points, so you won’t get stuck with only expensive items.
Not to mention their Happy Hour deal (Monday to Friday, 4 PM to 6 PM) drop select plates to $5 to $12. Besides tapas, their truffled smashed potatoes and Korean fried chicken are heavy favorites of many regulars.
One thing to note, though, is that the service can be slow. We heard that orders can take at least 30 to 40 minutes to be completed.
Well done
“All staff were professional, friendly and accommodating as well as knowledgeable about the menu. It was our first time and we ordered the charcuterie board, Brussels Cesar salad, truffle potatoes and lamb lollipops with a couple (beautiful) cocktails. The rooftop views or igloo, especially, are good for dates. Though Tapas, portions are larger than I expected—we shared everything but the salad. Well done VASO!”
- Kate Gibbons, Google Review
Wonderful experience
“Wonderful experience. Don’t be intimidated that you think it might be too Fancy. It’s laid back, comfortable. casual to dressed up, food is creative and beautiful, tapas–style small plates, indoor and outdoor seating with views all around. Perfect for date night or special occasion, or casual after work. Eat the grilled cheese! You will put it on your list of best things you have ever eaten!”
- Tara Hill, Google Review
