St James Tavern

I really adore St. James Tavern. The bar is totally my speed — not on the OSU student radar, a community space and no TVs. When you’re there, you’re able to just be there and enjoy the people, drinks and jukebox music to your heart’s delight. It’s pretty wonderful.
The bartenders have always been incredibly friendly and helpful, and they are always willing to help me decide on what to get.
Additionally, they have great happy hour deals, and their draught selection is changing regularly. I wish I lived a bit closer, but otherwise I’m all thumbs up!

My favorite dive in Columbus.
The door’s entrance is wisely situated behind a wall so that anybody who opens it will not shower the unsuspecting bar patrons with natural light (get it off me!) The bartenders are great, the drinks are cheap, there is always space to sit and the glowy red lighting in the side room of pool tables is reminiscent of a photographer’s dark room. In fact, the space is usually so sparsely populated I never have to worry about brushing past another person, my 3 foot radius intact. Good for the spindly hermit or mole people.

This place is just too cute. it may be my new favorite little dive bar. If you go to 7^th Son this place is right up the street and worth a try. The outside is a little odd and I will admit it turned me off from this place originally — so keep this in mind! The inside is all wood and its pretty dark. It reminds me of if you went to the bar at a lodge when you were out roughin’ it in cabins (not tents — I don’t do tents) with the fam. They have a pretty small space so if it was packed I don’t think I would enjoy it as much. There are two rooms — front = bar, back = pool tables & pinball machines. They have some really cool art hanging up in the backroom as well, and it’s all for sale.
Moving onto the drinks… They do tap take overs weekly and my boyfriend loves this! The beer selection has been great every time we have stopped in. They also have some cocktail specials, nothing super fancy but they are cheap and taste pretty good!
If you are in the area make it a point to stop in, I think this place is pretty cool :)

St. James Tavern is my bar. I would go as far to say that it’s my favorite bar in Columbus without dispute.
This is basically all I have to say about it. I actually shouldn’t brag so people stop coming in and crowding around whatever awesome craft beer they’re offering that I’m drinking and the juke box of my dreams.
Two awesome slate pool tables also and the weird art is always fun to look at.

St. James is a great little divey pub off 4^th St. in Italian Village. It’s really easy to miss, since the only sign is the lettering on the awning. Just know that it’s a block South of Seventh Son, and you can’t miss it. You’ll need to park on the street or walk.
This place is offering up fairly cheap drinks, and they often have some sort of tap takeover running. When I was there, they had all kinds of Revolution Brewing and Bell’s on tap. The bartender’s really nice, and you’ll really feel welcome no matter who you are. It’s pretty dark in there, since there’s not much in the way of windows, and you definitely get that dive bar feel while at the same time drinking great craft brews.
With the direction Italian Village appears to be heading, I hope it helps St. James and doesn’t hurt it. This establishment has been here for a long time, and I hope they’ll continue to thrive with more residences in the area.

Forget bars made out of repurposed wood and edison bulbs; drink quality $ 4 drafts over a pool table at St. James Tavern. Great bar.

I just posted an unrelated review the other day stating I don’t really bring up service unless it becomes an ongoing issue.
… it’s an issue.
the draughts are inexpensive, they have pool tables (a rarity these days), and it’s a good location. but seriously guys. two weeks ago when I was in and was told «we don’t do draught samples» (literally verbatim), my response was annoyed but «ok.» but it just kept going since. I’ve honestly never had what I can describe as a great experience here, and am usually only here at the behest of others.
I honestly don’t know if it’s an attempt at ironic hipster elitism or just genuine poor hiring, but seriously guys, cut it out. it’s ruining an otherwise rad bar.
that being said, I’m sure you’ll see me here from time to time… cheers!

St. James is the perfect example of a dive bar — a great stop for the Italian Village neighborhood. I don’t totally love it, but there is something about its dark/​minimalist atmosphere that’s charming. It’s a place where you can hide out from the usual bustling scene in the short north and grab a whiskey, play some pool, listen to music when the jukebox is on (or you pay for a song). A solid choice when you’re looking for a low-​key vibe during the week. On weekends traffic picks up and becomes a bit… touristy.

This place is so much fun. It’s low key and unassuming and has a great beer selection. The crowd is mostly mid 20s-​30s. There are pool tables and wood paneling and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the perfect place to go when you want to drink with friends but don’t want to deal with the high street scene.
P. S. you probably won’t meet a husband here

No crap on tap. For reals.
Local craft brews. Fat Heads. Flying Dog. CBC. Dogfish. Bells. Jackie O’s. $ 3 – 4.5 a pint.
My go-​to neighborhood bar where I always run into great peeps.
Great jukebox. Well curated music & drinks.
It’s a Cbus Cheers.

One of the best «dive» bars in columbus. Great jukebox. Awesome beer selections. It is a great place to get a quiet drink and avoid the huge crowds at the «hip» bars.

We started a little Dive Bar Summer group and I’m trying to get a group of fellow students to hit up some local bars every week. This was the first stop.
It was strange walking in, partially because there weren’t many people there and also because there was no music playing… so it was a bit awkward. They had a fine beer selection, but oddly they weren’t allowed to give out sample when I asked to try the Green Flash Imperial Rye.
Beers are priced fairly at 4 – 5 dollars a pint. There is no Monday mystery cans anymore.
Overall my friends and I played a game of catchup and left. If this was next door to my house I’d probably come for the convenience sake but I am not sure if I’d go out of my way to come here since the vibe is a bit lacking.

Best dive in Columbus for sure. Beer and liquor prices are very reasonable plus they have pool tables! Bar staff is really friendly here also.

Best bar in Columbus by a large margin. Off the (High St.) strip and far from campus thus mostly an «older» (i.e. mid-​20s-​mid-​40s) crowd of graduate students, young professionals, and neighborhood locals. Excellent jukebox, two pool tables (which are often available), intimate lighting, no television (or at least I’ve never noticed one), music at an optimal social-​but-​not-​so-​loud-​as-​to-​overwhelm-​conversatio­n volume, and an amazing selection on tap. Those looking to watch «the game,» pick up chicks/​dudes/​other, or drink anything on draft that would cost less than $ 10 bucks a six-​pack at your local grocery need not apply.

I’ve been here more than a few times. It’s your local dive bar!
I don’t live close enough to make it *my* local watering hole, but it’s closeness to Seventh Son means it could end up being one I pop into when I want to play pool. It’s a cool little joint when you want to grab a beer. The crowd can be hit and miss. One time? Crowded. Another? Empty. It’s a gamble. I also don’t pay attention to the time or day I go here. So there’s that. :D
Great beer selection, the staff is sometimes a bit… stiff? But then again, maybe it’s me!

Met a friend here for a few drinks.
Out of all the bars I had been to in Columbus, this was the one that was most my speed. It seemed like mostly neighborhood folks, the drinks were fair priced, the bar maid called me hun, the beer were slightly less than cold, and drink specials were written on poorly washed dry erase boards that looked a decade old.
My friend and I hung out for a couple hours and it was a good relaxed time.
I like the fancy selections, and pretentious bartenders at some other places just as much as the next guy. I just don’t want it all the time, you know? Some night you just don’t want to rub elbows with a bunch of hipsters racking up bar tabs more expensive than my laptop and talking about their new edgy art project. Some nights you just want a damn beer.
Get yourself a damn beer at St James Tavern.

This is a grown up place — whether you’re 21 or 51 — and not suited to those who ask to taste beers, ask for the football game on the TV (HA!) or expect bullcrap, cheeseball bubbly, fake-​arse MIXOLOGISTS! Come to drink great craft beers, real cocktails, converse — or not — and jam to some legendary tunes.
This is a bar for those that love great craft beers (NO CRAP ON TAP) excellent selections of whisky/​whiskey and the best damn juke box you’ll find just about anywhere.
Depending on the outstanding rotation of their 13 taps, you will find Founders, Avery, Ommegang, Bell’s, North Coast, Stone, Great Divide, Rogue, and many, many more; excellent local brews including Jackie O’s, Brew Kettle, Barley’s, Seventh Son and others… AND they are one of the few bars in Ohio where you can find 3Floyds from time to time! They even have a beer glass clue!
You can have a great time by yourself — which is usually how I go — or bring a friend or a few and enjoy yourselves but don’t expect the barkeeps to entertain your sorry butts if you don’t know how to entertain yourselves.
If this stuff means anything to you, you’re tired of the douches you see at the suburban meat-​market wannabe craft beer bars or neighborhood dives, then grab a friend or come by yourself and have a great beer and play a game of pool or just hang out. If you know what you like — read grown up — but don’t know craft beers and want to experience some beers (no BL on tap!) with real taste and you can describe your likes to the bartender, they will recommend a good pint to you.
I’ve been going to the James since last century and it is one of those rare pubs that can actually rejuvenate your soul when life gave you a bad time. Sit back, enjoy the outstanding vibe, jam to some kick-​ass tunes, have some ridiculously low priced beers and drinks, and learn to like life again.

St. James is a good neighborhood bar. From the outside, it looks rather uninviting, but inside, the place is friendly and down-​to-​earth. They don’t have a huge number of taps, but their rotating selection is always solid. They don’t generally have cider here — this matters to me, since I can’t drink beer made from wheat — but their mixed drinks are affordable and they don’t skimp you on alcohol (I always get a Bulleit and ginger ale).
St. James is not a place I would go to meet people, but it is a place I would go to meet up with someone. The low lighting, the organic, neighborhood feel, and the fact that a new & fancier bar just moved in right up the street (Seventh Son) make St. James a great place to go for a conversation with friends.

My first few experiences with St James took place on super busy weekend nights. When there’s no room to even stand, it colors your perception of a place. Getting served was a joke on those nights.
But on Mobile Mondays, St James is a great place to be. They team up with a local food truck and have their gloriously cheap canned beer available. You order, pay, and get your food at the truck, head inside, order a beverage, and enjoy a much more mellow and sedate evening. Lots of space to sit and stand and actually play on those pool tables. It’s definitely the night to check it out.

I am Commander Shepard, and this is my favorite bar on the whole Citadel!
Too soon for Mass Effect jokes. However, this really is my favorite dive bar in Columbus. $ 3.50 pints all the time, great drink prices other than that, two pool tables and two tiny little bathrooms! The music is always good (they have a fancy new jukebox now), the clientele is always funny, and the bartenders are great.
This is a dive bar — not a fancy place. The kind of place where you’ll become a regular if you aren’t careful… it’s far too easy to justify going to St. James when the drinks are so cheap!
Always a fun time. Can get busy on weekends, to standing room only sometimes. It generally tends to be a little cold in here, so bring a sweater or a hoodie. On Monday nights, they usually have a food truck come by, with $ 1 mystery beers. ONE DOLLAR MYSTERY BEERS. Who could resist?
Parking is on Detroit Ave, in a gravel lot right next to the bar, but it is in a very walkable location depending on where you’re living/​hanging out in the Short North area. Don’t be frightened off by the somewhat plain exterior and somewhat creepy neighborhood. It’s a great little joint.