Greetings, from the Fountain City! Columbus is a mid-sized city on the Chattahoochee River. Below you’ll find a guide to the area, everything from where to live, where to eat, and what to do.
Where to live
The Columbus area offers something for everyone, from urban walkability to horse farms, from historic shaded neighborhoods to gated luxury apartments, and all for a pretty decent price. Where to start looking? Find Wynnton Road on a map, follow it east until it turns into Macon Road and keep following it E-NE until you get to US-80. You probably want to keep your search to the north of these roads. Neighborhoods to the north tend to be safer than to the south, where high poverty rates bring crime issues related to gang activity, but that is not an absolute rule.
Columbus can be divided into 6 general areas;
Downtown - People from Columbus will generally call this Downtown while those who live there or who are not native will probably call it Uptown. Regardless of what you call it, this is the historic heart of the city, where historic homes and renovated lofts rub elbows with a large number of businesses, local bars, restaurants, recreational areas, event venues, the downtown portion of Columbus State University, and the mass majority of the city's government. If you want an urban feel with high walkability, look here first.
Midtown - At the center of Midtown is Weracoba Park, surrounded by early 20th c. homes, it is made up of over 20 neighborhoods, some full of stately mansions, others somewhat dilapidated cottages, and lots of nice homes in between. Plenty of leafy parks and several commercial areas. Here you'll find the Columbus Museum, Aflac's Headquarters, and the Columbus Country Club.
North Columbus - The Northside can be divided into two parts. The southern half which is a mix of commercial, industrial, and middle-class residential. It was mostly built out between the 1950s-1980s. And then there is the northern half which is somewhat newer, more suburban, and has more upper-middle-class neighborhoods and apartment complexes. A good rule of thumb is that this area is just around and north of US-80. Here you'll find Columbus Park Crossing (locally known as the "Strip Mall") as well as most of the entertainment venues that are not located in Downtown.
Midland and Upatoi - Sometimes called the Panhandle, this is the far eastern section of the city and until recently was pretty rural, it is mostly large lot subdivisions. The area is rapidly growing and anchored by new commercial development around the US-80/Manchester Expressway intersection.
East Columbus - This diverse area includes Columbus State University’s main campus and plenty of middle-class neighborhoods. Keep in mind the Macon Road Rule when looking at houses here, it's not immediate, for example Willow Bend and the neighborhoods along Woodruff Farm Road and Forrest Roads are fine. The eastern part tends to be a bit more chill than the part to the southwest.
Whisperwood Apartments Caveat - they are north of Macon Road, but it’s got a very bad rep on this sub. Avoid unless you get a first and last months free rent deal on a two month lease, and even then consider your other options.
South Columbus - There are some decent working and middle class neighborhoods here. There are also the most dangerous streets in the city here. If you pay attention to local news, you will start to know certain streets by name. If you are restricted by budget and security minded, you could find a great deal in this part of town, but try and see the neighborhood in person before committing.
Elsewhere in the Chattahoochee Valley
To the north is Harris County, which has experienced a lot of growth over the last 25 years from people looking for a more rural option than North Columbus provides as well as those looking to escape Columbus in general. In doing so they’ve helped create a pretty large bedroom community that isn’t very rural anymore. You'll also find it difficult to find lots less than 2 acres due to local residential ordinances. New development is beginning in earnest nearer to the I-185 exits throughout the county. Here you will find towns such as Ellerslie, Cataula, Hamilton, Waverly Hall, and Pine Mountain. The most well known entity in Harris County is Callaway Gardens located in Pine Mountain.
Across the river is Phenix City, AL. It mirrors Columbus in a lot of ways. There are rundown, low-income neighborhoods to the south, older middle-class neighborhoods to the north, and new subdivision growth outside of the city into formerly rural Smiths Station and Ladonia. Phenix City, Russell County, AL, and as well as much of southern Lee County, AL are on Eastern Time despite being located in Central Time. This primarily changes about halfway to Auburn/Opelika. We highly suggest you check an unfamiliar business’ hours of operation if outside of Smiths Station to be sure of their hours of operation.
Fort Benning (nee Moore) is to the direct south and actually occupies 40% of Muscogee County. All that banging you hear at all hours of the day and night? That’s probably Fort Benning. You’ll find many in Columbus struggle with the name of this military base as it was recently renamed from Fort Moore several years ago following the back and forth renaming of military bases in southeast. If you are in the military, this is where you are working or likely staying. If you are a civilian, you’ll likely spend very little time here. Regardless, you’ll need to check in at the main gate for any business done there without a military ID. The annual July 4th celebration at Fort Benning is open to all and is generally a good time.
Chattahoochee County and Fort Mitchell, AL are to the south and west. Rural subdivisions which mostly cater to military families who want convenience getting to Fort Benning and want to completely avoid the moderate amount of traffic issues Columbus has.
Marion County and Talbot County are to the east and if you are looking for land but still need to get to Columbus, then the western parts of these two counties could be just right for you. Be forewarned: This area is extremely rural with very poor access to emergency services such as fire departments, ambulances, and law enforcement.
Got kids, thinking about schools?
Muscogee County School District has a handful of the best schools in the state. Columbus High and Britt David Elementary are routinely top 3 public schools in Georgia. But, they are magnet schools, meaning admittance is highly competitive.
Most of the other schools are more average and below-average, but rankings like that can be superficial. Most every school has magnet programs and honors classes where students with a desire for a quality education are provided for.
A school like Wynnton Elementary scores below average, but it's magnet arts program has students in some of the most creative learning environments available in the state and the students in the program have test scores much higher than the rest of the school.
Schools each have themed magnet programs, ranging from STEM to IB to Mass Communication to Fine Arts, there’s something for every interest.
What this also means is that a parent does not have to worry as much about where their house is located in the city, because getting their student into almost any school is relatively easy.
Outside of public schools, Columbus has a few religious private schools and a secular prep school, Brookstone.
Want more info?
We highly suggest that you use the search option to find the latest. r/ColumbusGA regularly entertains questions about specific neighborhoods/apartments and all sorts of other questions. It is highly likely that your question has been answered.
Where to eat and drink
Don’t let anyone tell you that there’s nowhere good to eat here or that it’s all national chains. Yes, there are a bunch of chains, especially in North Columbus, and they cater to nearly every taste. We all know about them and what to expect from them, so you won’t find those in the following lists. These lists were made by polling of over 100 members of r/ColumbusGA. We appreciate their assistance in helping create this.
This list is not meant to be comprehensive. It is this subreddit’s collective “Best Of” rankings for each category. Most categories are a top 5 or top 10. There are hidden gems all over the city and we encourage people to post new restaurants and reviews.
Best Overall Restaurants
If you have one meal in the city, try and make it to one of these 10 restaurants.
- Mabella's Italian Steakhouse
- Mark’s City Grill
- Animal Farm
- Nonic
- Cannon Brew Pub
- 11th and Bay
- Black Cow
- Charred Oak
- Morten's at Old Town
- Cafe Amici
Best Burger Joint
- Black Cow
- Animal Farm
- Cannon Brew Pub
- Mark’s City Grill
- Charred Oak
Best Hot Dogs
- Frank's Alley
- Dinglewood Pharmacy
- World Famous
- Jordan Girls
- 13th Street BBQ
Best High-end/Fancy/Fine Dining
- Mabella's
- Salt Cellar
- 11th and Bay
- EPIC
- Trevioli’s
Best Breakfast
- Plucked Up
- Ruth Ann's
- Bodega 1205
- Toasted
- Iron Bank
Best Brunch Spots
- Animal Farm
- Bodega 1205
- Plucked Up
- The Office
- Hudson’s
Best Coffee/Pastry Shops
- Fountain City Coffee
- Golden Donuts
- Veri Best Donuts
- Midtown Coffee
- My Boulange
Best Steak Joints
- Mabella's
- Burt's Butcher Shop
- Hunter's Pub - Hamilton, GA
- Salt Cellar
- Black Cow
Best Sandwiches
- Speakeasy
- Parker’s Pantry
- Bodega 1205
- Cannon Brew Pub
- Food Mill
Best Pizza
- Cerrone's Pizza
- Deorio's
- Peluso's
- Mr. Pizza
Best Italian
- Mabella's
- Cafe Amici
- Trevioli's
- Peluso's
Best Southern Food
- Minnie's
- Miles to Go
- Country's BBQ - Despite the name, don't get the BBQ
- The Farmhouse - Waverly Hall
- Lily’s Restaurant
Best BBQ
Nearly every BBQ joint in Columbus is "[Restaurant Name] BBQ". We all just refer to them by the first name.
- 13th Street
- Smokey Pig
- Macon Road
- Peppers
Best Mexican
- El Carrizo
- Guadalajara
- El Vaquero
- La Nacional
- Super Mercado
Best Latin American/Caribbean Cuisine
- Bodega 1205
- Mercy's
- Taste of Jamaica
- Roses Caribbean
Best Asian
Sorry. For the most part, we don’t have a large enough Indian, Korean, Japanese, etc scene to include specific categories for each. We have instead included a representation of 10 top entries from our poll to help show a more variety of Asian restaurants. This list is not in any particular order.
- Dishoom Bistro
- Chili Thai
- Golden Chopsticks
- Koreana
- Filberto’s
- Chef Viet’s
- Shangri La
- Fuji
- Thai Orchid
Best Seafood
- Saltcellar
- Ezell's
- King Claw
- Shark's
- 11th and Bay
Best Chicken Wings
- B. Merrell's
- Mr. Wing
- Country Wings 1 & 2
- Wing Master
- JBs Dream Deli
Best Desserts/Sweets
- Golden Donuts
- Veri Best Donuts
- Iron Bank
- Custom Cake Studio
- Snacks Chabelita
Best Bars
Columbus’ main bar district is Downtown, on Broadway. Below is a selection of bars Downtown and spread across town. A lot of bars here have regular live music on the weekends and tend to have things like trivia one night a week, so check their upcoming events.
- The Loft Upstairs
- Pour Decisions
- Stirrup Trouble
Best Liquor Store
- The Bottleshop
- Columbus Beverage Superstore
- Uptown Wine and Spirits
- Mr. B’s
- Roosters
Best Nearby Brewery
- Scofflaw Brewing - Atlanta, GA
- Wild Leap - LaGrange, GA
- Chattabrewchee
- Omaha Brewing - Omaha, GA
- Red Clay - Opelika, AL
- John Emerald - Opelika, AL
- Beacon - LaGrange, GA
Best Nearby Distillery/Winery
- Warm Springs Winery at the Shed - Woodbury, GA
- Nutwood - LaGrange, GA
- 13th Colony - Americus, GA
- Nutwood - LaGrange, GA
- Richland - Richland, GA
- Swampfox - Buena Vista, GA
What to do
There’s a lot going on in the Chattahoochee Valley, but finding out about it can sometimes be difficult. Here are a few places to check in with to see what’s coming.
Visit Columbus Events - up to date with area events
The Local Magazine - look for free copies around area restaurants and stores
Electric City Life - Better presence on social media but their events page tends to help a little when looking for local happenings.
The Columbusite - It doesn't have a monthly calendar, but they keep up to date about upcoming events and goings-on around town and highlight them frequently.
Uptown Columbus - there’s always things happening Downtown, every summer there are free outdoor concerts every Friday night
Museums, Arts, and Culture
- National Infantry Museum - one of the best military museums in the country and admittance is free (donations always appreciated)
- The U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Collection - a very large collection of over 100 pieces of armor from World War 1 to today’s battlefield all located on Fort Moore. It’s free to visit but open houses are only a few times a year so check the calendar. Donations are also welcome.
- Columbus Museum - recently renovated with a great mix of the area’s natural and human history along with a large arts collection, and it’s all free (donations always appreciated)
- Historic Westville - an open-air history museum depicting life in the deep south during the mid-nineteenth century. See all sorts of traditional trades and crafts of the time
- Bo Bartlett Center - CSU’s showroom, where the public is free to view a steady rotation of art produced by student, regional, and nationally acclaimed talent
- Pasaquan (Buena Vista, GA) - a unique outdoor folk art piece took over and transformed an old farm, must see in person
- Museum of Wonder (Seale, AL) - weird, wonderful, wacky, weird, are just some of the thoughts you’ll have when you drive through the Museum of Wonder, it’s unlike anything else on Earth, stop in and venture into the artist’s shop, if you dare
- Columbus Library - the main branch is great, it has most any magazine you can think of, a world class childrens’ wing, and an impressive local history/genealogical room
- Springer Opera House - Georgia’s state opera house, a great place to see a play or other performance during its year long seasons, laugh and/or cringe at the weekly free No-Shame Theater, get scared on the ghost tour, or send your kids to Childrens’ Theater
- Rivercenter - home to the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of Greater Columbus, and the Columbus Ballet, as well as the a premier facility for any type of show to see on stage. Tickets to these shows are a real big city amenity offered at very attainable prices
- National Civil War Naval Museum - The only museum in the country that focuses on both the Union and Confederate navies of the American Civil War. You can spend hours looking at all the flags, artwork, set pieces, and the remaining pieces of the CSS Jackson wreck that are on display. Yearly events include haunted tours in October and the annual RiverBlast celebration held in March where reenactments are held and the enormous cannons are fired.
- Andersonville National Historic Site (Americus, GA) - The largest nearby American Civil War site. Here you will find the site of the largest and deadliest POW camp in the Confederacy. It also shares residence with the National Prisoner of War Museum and the Andersonville National Cemetery containing many POW and veteran grave sites. Definitely a hidden reminder of war in our own backyard.
Get Outdoors
- Dragonfly Trail - Columbus’ network of over 34 miles of multi-use trails, there are another 27 miles planned, completed highlights are the Riverwalk and the Fall Line Trace
- Cooper Creek’s tennis courts, Flat Rock’s sliding rocks, Weracoba’s playgrounds, Riverfront’s splash pad, Heath’s walking trail, and Woodruff Farms’ soccer fields are just a few examples of the many park amenities around the city
- Whitewater on the Chattahoochee - a must do, raft, kayak, or watch the fun from Waveshaper Island
- Blue Heron Zipline - fly across the Chattahoochee, another must do
- Hiking at nearby Providence Canyon State Park (Stewart County, GA), Pine Mountain Trails (Pine Mountain, GA), and Chewalca State Park (Auburn, AL)
- Big Dog Running and Ride on Bikes - semi-daily group runs/jogs/walks and biking at every level, all welcome
- Oxbow Meadows - environmental learning center, guided tour on a canopy trail, and the area’s only public dog park are here
- South Commons - A large sports complex located on Victory Drive and US-82. Softball facilities, an outdoor skate park, Memorial Stadium, the Columbus Civic Center, and Synovus Park (aka Golden Park) share this large area. In the Spring, Summer, and Fall, you can catch the Columbus Clingstones baseball team (the Atlanta Braves AA affiliate) at Synovus Park. In the Fall, Winter, and Spring, you can see the Columbus River Dragons hockey team in the Civic Center. In Spring and Summer, you can catch the Columbus Lions arena football team in the Civic Center. This is also where the city fairs are held as well as other large events.
Note from the Moderation Team
Columbus has a lot to offer people and many things to do. This guide is not meant to be an all encompassing list of restaurants, places, and things to do. Just a list of what this community has voted the best and that we feel has provided enough to help get you started with some things to do or check out while you learn the area. We have done our best to highlight locally owned restaurants and unique things to our city and surrounding area. There are hidden gems all over the city and new things opening up all the time. We will attempt to keep this guide up to date but we cannot guarantee it will always be updated. If you have questions or suggestions, we encourage you to ask here or on the subreddit through a normal post.
We hope this guide is helpful for those seeking it. Our city is and can be a wonderful place to live with plenty to do. We hope this showcases some of that.
