Novak’s Tavern & Patio

Just your average hole in the wall fun place to meet friends. It’s near OSU so the crowd is young, but it was a great place to go while I was a student.

Called to dispute a credit charge and really enjoyed the way it was handled

This place is in the Arena District. The best bar tenders in town work here. They are friendly nice and awesome. Management at this establishment couldn’t be more awesome. The two bartenders that I go to see will be leaving soon so I will deeply miss them. They are the best no questions asked.
If you come to Columbus check this place out even without them this place will be a great hangout. There patio is awesome!

Too crowded on weekends. Always. I do like the bar, but it’s just and only that — a bar. Not worth grinding my way through herds of drunk people and scrounging for a place to stand out of the flow of traffic. The place is one long narrow corridor with a dance floor on the end, and it’s a mess trying to maneuver in any direction. The upstairs patio is the only perk of the new Novaks. It’s a nice way to get air and snap a pic with a view of North Market in the background. Again though, any Thurs-​Saturday don’t even bother trying to squeeze up there. You’re better off staying at home and having a huge rager in your upstairs hallway.

Rooftop bar with patio overlooking the North Market-​yep, we can deal with that!
Just had drinks here, no food (which is delivered from local restaurant Barley’s). Process for ordering food seemed easy enough; call, tell them where you’re sitting and bam… food is delivered to you!
Drinks were cold and view was great!
We’ll be sure to make this a stop anytime we’re in the Short North!

Great atmosphere, great staff, great fun. Problem is that parking is tough but that’s with all the bars downtown and in that area. Enjoy the fact you can bring in outside food and can now order insomnia cookies. Always a plus.

Bars ok, nothing great, nothing terrible. Just your basic bar with bar and TVs. Would get four stars but had an issue with my tab that I believe was deliberate and the bar has not helped reverse the charge. I started a tap with a girl who name starts with S. Then on the second beer a different guy claimed he could not find my tab so he needs to swipe my card again. Then at the end of the evening I cashed out and paid correct tab of 17 bucks plus left tip. Strange how it had all the correct beers, even the first one the guy claimed was lost with first tab… Then after looking at my bank account they charged me not only my correct tab, but an additional charge for 81 dollars. I suspect the second bartender was buying drinks for his friends on my card. Bar acts helpful but doesn’t ever follow up or do anything. Luckily the bank will reverse the charge… no point chasing the bar for a refund, they can deal with a chargeback instead.
If I do go back, which I won’t unless a group decides to go, I’ll be paying cash and will never trust them with a card again. Bars shouldn’t steal your money and when they do, they should actually fix it and not just pretend they will.

Awesome happy hour and great selection choices. Not stuck with a beer or certain drink

I had a great time at Novak’s this past weekend for a birthday celebration and to watch the Buckeye game. This place has pretty mixed reviews, and have mixed reviews on it as well depending on when I’ve come here. The earlier you get there to claim a spot, the better, because it’s not a big bar at all. Getting between the front and the back of the place becomes a real pain, since it’s so narrow, and I wonder why they even have the two tops there, since they don’t serve food.
They have a good $ 15 bucket of beer for OSU games special, and this past Saturday they have out boxes of Donatos to everyone there. I really do like the patio they put in after the remodel, and the place has plenty of TVs to watch any game you’d like. Overall, it’s usually a fun time there.

Novaks Tavern was recommended to my co-​worker and I by our fine waitress downstairs in the Barleys Brewing Company. She was right on when she said that the place was loud, fun, and had good drinks with exceptional service.
We went upstairs and really wanted to sit outside on the patio, however it was pretty much packed to the brim (we arrived late, so no surprise). I have read reviews where people have complained about outside areas not being big enough or they need to add more room… disagree. I feel that if you are one of the people that A) go early enough to get an outside seat or B) get lucky and fall into one… then you have earned that. I think that outside areas need to stay small and exceptional. If they continued to grow it would be like Indiana Jones retrieving the golden idol and instead of being chased out of the cave by a boulder and nearly being crushed, it would be like him being chased by a basketball. Earn that outside spot, kid!
However, we were able to find a small booth inside and I had the Peach Manhattan. It was extremely flavorful and very well made. However, I had to switch to beer after because the sugar (which is to be expected with that drink).
I have to say that what stood out to me were bartenders. All of the bar backs, bartenders, managers, etc. were all smiling and having a good time! Normally, in a loud, busy college bar you are lucky if you get a second glance, let alone a smile or a conversation. So, hands off to the EVERYONE working at Novaks last night. We also never had an empty drink or had to wait on our check.

This is the default happy hour location for some of my team members, so I’ve had the chance to visit at least 3 – 4 times over the last year during happy hour (s). Previously, I hadn’t been since they remodeled, and the interior is much nicer now. TV’s galore, and they are always playing every ESPN channel imaginable. They have a good amount of seating, and a small outdoor patio/​bar area that fills up quickly. Proceed with caution towards the patio on a super hot summer day, as you might end up souring your experience with the smell of the open dumpsters wafting up from the alley below.
They used to have $ 2 for all bottles during happy hour, but that has since changed to $ 2 domestics and $ 3 craft bottles. Not terrible, but nothing to write home about. One discovery I had previously overlooked is that during happy hour their specialty drinks are half off! Why spend $ 5 – 6 on a craft draft (because I refuse to pay $ 3 for a craft bottle) when you can spend $ 4 on a signature cocktail? You can also order food from Barley’s, so get some of their delicious wings to go with your drink.
Overall, this place isn’t my scene, but at least it won’t clean out your bank account during happy hour.

I went here and quickly realized I’m not 22 anymore. With some good luck, snagged a table on the rooftop-​ish patio. We were in the corner and out of the crowd.
I found myself saying we need to where 30-​something ppl go. I’ve graduated. But the views were fun and we had a great time!

Went here with a friend and decided to head upstairs for a mixed drink and a view on the patio. As soon as we arrived at 11:30 p.m. we noticed the place was fairly empty inside and had no issues getting served right away.
Since the bar staff made no mention of specials, I ordered two Manhattans with Bulleit Rye; the bartender never asked if I wanted it up or on the rocks. The pour, mixing, and overall presentation was pretty standard with sweet vermouth and a few dashes of Angostura bitters. The drink wasn’t stirred too well, but I didn’t want to be too picky and decided to venture upstairs to the patio for some fresh air.
It’s a bit of a small patio outside with a nicely lit bar, but it gets super cramped and smoky very quickly. After finishing a good part of my drink, ten minutes passed by and I couldn’t take the smell of Newport cigarettes. Chain smokers couldn’t care less which direction they blew towards. It may be a nice summer night, but I would like to enjoy the fresh air as a patron, too (and an asthmatic).
Here’s the ultimate kicker as to why I won’t be returning to Novak’s; the crazy drink prices. For two Manhattans on a Thursday night (not a weekend), the price was 17.50. But that wasn’t it. Add 5.00 upcharge for Bulleit Rye whiskey and the price totaled 22.50. For that same price, I could get a well-​mixed drink in the Big Apple or head to Curio in German Village where they make thei ownr bitters in-​house.
The rooftop patio and friendly staff are a plus, but there are less-​pricey alternatives with more open-​air spots in town that won’t leave your clothes smelling like nasty smoke. Cheers!

We were sent here as part of our EndOfTheYear celebration. It definitely wasn’t as fun as the other block parties but it was decent partially because the beers weren’t overly priced for being semi-​downtown. I wasn’t too fond of the narrow walkways and was disappointed with the patio because it was jam packed with my classmates. Perhaps if I had made it to the edge of the patio and got to experience looking down that it would have been more worth it, but we kinda ducked out after a little to find someplace new.

I’m not sure if visiting for the first time the evening on Park Street Festival was the smartest idea, but we had a good time! And the reason I say this is because, it was obviously beautiful out and we went straight to the upstairs and I think I was the middle row in the sardine can, haha!
It was so packed that you could only side step. But, the environment is the same as the other bars in that area (Loud, Busy, Young Professionals Looking to get a serious Buzz).
I didn’t encounter a lot of employees that were working throughout the experience, but everyone seemed pleasant.
I will definitely return, but maybe on an evening when it’s a bit slower, because the patio would be great to relax and have a drink!

They make a fairly decent Manhattan here, and the service is generally courteous and swift. It seems like a pretty cool place and has a nice atmosphere and an acceptable selection of beer and spirits. I also noticed they have specials each day, so perhaps I’ll have to come back and see if those are worth while.
I was here on a Monday night so it wasn’t too crowded, and I took a taxi down which meant I didn’t have to fight for parking, so I imagine that those particulars could have biased me negatively were the circumstances different. I’ll have to return in order to see because you know… science.

I love Novak’s and their updates haven’t changed that fact. It has been busier than it used to be, but that is good for them. And it still isn’t so busy that I’ve had to wait a long time for a drink.
The upstairs patio is one of the best parts. They also have friendly door guys and their music doesn’t suck. Tons of TVs and drinks are good. I will keep going back here whenever I am in town.

The roof top patio and bar are sweet, the cliental not so much my crowd. Their beer selection is decent and the staff friendly. Worth a stop if you are in the area.

I went last weekend while we were just hanging out around the Short North. I had never tried this place before but had always heard great things. We did not wait long for drinks and the prices were reasonable. After getting our drinks from the main bar, we went up to the patio. It looks like it would be a great place to hang out on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with a drink and some people watching. The night we were there, it was really really crowded, not to mention the crowd was very young (21 – 25).
I would go back again for maybe that Saturday or Sunday afternoon drink but not a place I would go to on a regular basis.

It’s Novak’s, what can I say? One of the best locations for a rooftop patio in town. I loved the old dive feeling of the previous Novak’s on High, but the renovations are growing on me.
The good: The whole inside has been gutted and redone — no more wobbly stairs, smelly bathrooms or the dreaded small walkway by the main bar! The rooftop bar (yes, a separate bar upstairs now!) is amazing and beautifully adorned with wood and quality pieces of furniture.
The bad: Somehow a little piece of the charm of this place was lost with everything looking so BRAND NEW now. The whole time I was there, rap music was playing which led to a more «clubbier» clientele.
Loved the old Novak’s and very much like the new Novak’s…just waiting for it to grow on me a bit more.