Chillicothe Dive Bar Guide

Finding an attractive dive bar nestled into a corner of a big city is one thing, but the real dive bar purity is often found a bit off the beaten path in towns like Chillicothe, just southeast of Columbus. Chillicothe in particular specializes in hybrid dive bar-diner hybrids, classic local spots to grab a meal and a beer with a stable set of regulars.

Just south of Chillicothe’s downtown strip, Paint Grill is perhaps the perfect example of this phenomenon, a diner counter nestled in the center of a cinder block-lined building. Across town, Cozy Inn tips the scales a little toward the dive bar side of the spectrum, but the presence of a Friday potato soup special underscores the bar’s dual nature.

Of course, the further out into the more rural parts of Ohio, the more rustic the dive bar drinking options become. The list below features a sprinkling of options in and around Chillicothe for those visiting or just passing through.