Connected by a network of brick-laid streets, German Village is Columbus’ most scenic urban neighborhood, a patchwork of parks, restaurants, shops and some amazingly expensive homes. The area, just south of downtown Columbus, dates back to 1814, with German immigrants growing the area considerably during the mid-1800s. Luckily for us, on the back of that considerable history, German Village also hosts some of the city’s best places to grab a beer.

And the area is not without its dichotomy, with one of the city’s most expensive restaurants, Lindey’s, just a handful of blocks away and on the same street as one the city’s finest dive bars, Beck Tavern. Parsons Avenue, the eastern edge of the area, is the current gentrification corridor du jour in Columbus, with new development extending the reach of German Village’s amenities into new territory.

The Short North may grab a higher share of tourist and weekend traffic thanks to its more compact layout, but German Village is the classic and enduring soul of the city, with more than enough food, alcohol, books and bars to fuel a lengthy night out.