Columbus Dive bars Crowned Among Nation’s Best
Columbus, OH - November 7, 2025 - Two Columbus establishments – Threes Above High and Zeno’s Bar & Restaurant – have earned recognition as standout dive bars in the United States, according to a recent report. The bars offer a nostalgic glimpse into a pre-renovation Columbus, harkening back to a time before upscale apartments, delivery robots, and trendy matcha lattes dominated the Ohio State University area.
These local favorites represent a specific type of bar experiance-unpretentious, affordable, and steeped in local history. Threes Above High, known for its $1 well drinks and $2 Jägerbombs, also features the infamous ”Tidal Wave” shot, a blue raspberry concoction served with a splash of water…to the face. ”They keep the floors clean,” owner Ellsworth told the Columbus Dispatch.
Zeno’s, located in Harrison West, distinguishes itself with a surprisingly robust food menu, offering pizza, wings, burgers, and a variety of fried favorites. Below Zeno’s lies “Dick’s dive,” a smaller, even more affordable space named in honor of the bar’s late founder, Dick Allen, now run by his sons. One fan described Zeno’s as “an amalgam of all the best college bars from the ’80s.”
The recognition highlights the enduring appeal of dive bars in a rapidly changing city.
Bob Vitale can be reached at rvitale@dispatch.com or at @dispatchdining on the Instagram social platform.
[image of patrons signing the wall at Threes Above High on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. Credit: Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch]
