Here’s what to do in Columbus between the NCAA tournament March Madness games

| March 16, 2023 | World Cuisine | No Comments

Columbus will host the first and second round games of the 2023 men’s NCAA Tournament at the Nationwide Arena on Friday and Sunday.

Columbus will also host the Top Four, first-round, and second-round games of the 2023 women’s NCAA Tournament at the Schottenstein Center on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays.

The city last hosted NCAA Tournament games in 2019.

After watching the games and cheering for your favorite team, there are many more exciting things to experience here. Whether you’re visiting Columbus during all the craziness or wanting to support Columbus area players while the tournament is in town, here’s what to do when March Madness ends:

Dine at Fyr, Harvest Pizzeria or South Village Grille

March 8, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Diners fill the FYR venue on the ground floor of the Hilton Columbus Downtown. Mandatory Credit: Doral Chenoweth-The Columbus Dispatch

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At the Women’s NCAA Tournament Thursday night’s First Four match, Purdue’s St. Fyr, 404 N. High St. at the new Hilton tower in Downtown. Or choose from a variety of Columbus restaurants that Dispatch readers have rated as the best restaurants in Columbus.

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Grab a coffee at Upper Cup and have breakfast at Fox in the Snow or Freedom a la Cart

Before kick-off at 12:15 for the Men’s NCAA Tournament between Michigan State and USC at Nationwide, grab a cup of coffee and a cup of coffee at the Upper Cup if you want to spend a little more time, or grab pastries and breakfast sandwiches at Fox in the Snow. , multiple locations, and Freedom a la Cart, 123 E. Spring St.

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Experience Columbus nightlife with R Bar, Pins or Seventh Son

After Florida Atlantic takes over Memphis at 9:20pm on Friday, spend the rest of the night at Pins Mechanical; The closest is Downtown at 141 N. 4th St. Duck pin bowling, giant Jenga, table football, table tennis, beer and cocktails at the bar.

For a more casual bar spot, consider R Bar, 415 N. Front St., a popular spot for sports fans, or Seventh Son Brewing, 1101 N. 4th St., a great spot for beer lovers.

Visit the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

May 13, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Blooms at Pacific Island Water Garden & Butterflies at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio on May 13, 2022. The Blooms & Butterflies exhibition started at the end of February and will close at the end of May.

May 13, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Over 25 different butterflies fly for Blooms & Butterflies at the Pacific Island Water Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, on May 13, 2022. The Blooms & Butterflies exhibition started at the end of February and will close at the end of May.

Saturday has a lighter schedule, so during the day, Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E. Broad St. Take a trip to freely and enjoy the flora, fauna and even your head.

Check out the Columbus Museum of Art

Artist Malcolm Morley’s “The Floating Ship with Blue Whales and Viking Ships” greets customers as they enter a gallery on the second floor of the Columbus Museum of Art.

480 E. Broad St. Visit the Columbus Museum of Art at and view the recently expanded “Wild Things Are Happening” exhibit featuring his original work. Where are the wild things writer Maurice Sendak before his international tour. The museum’s collection also includes modern American and European art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as the world’s largest collections of works by Columbus artists Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, Elijah Pierce, and George Bellows.

See Otherworld or the National Veterans Memorial and Museum

Otherworld founder Jordan Renda walks through a room filled with mirrors and lights in his 32,000-square-foot interactive art installation. [ADAM CAIRNS/DISPATCH]

Otherworld founder Jordan Renda walks through a room filled with mirrors and lights in his 32,000-square-foot interactive art installation. [ADAM CAIRNS/DISPATCH]

Sunday and Monday will be lighter game days for the men’s and women’s tournaments, meaning more time to experience Columbus. Check out the National Veterans Memorial and Museum, 300 W. Broad St., for a tribute to those who have served our country through interactive exhibits, personal stories, and powerful displays.

Meanwhile, 5819 Chantry Dr. Otherworld is an interactive and immersive art installation featuring dozens of rooms filled with creative and surreal scenes, including a forest of neon trees, extraterrestrial laboratories and a retro video game room. country.

Taste Columbus at North Market

Whether it’s Jeni’s first place or local food like Hoyo’s Kitchen and Momo Ghar, the historic North Market covers all the basics. 59 Spruce St. The public market at the Downtown address has more than 30 vendors and offers everything from vegan soul food, ramen and barbecue to Mexican cuisine.

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This article was originally published in The Columbus Dispatch: March Madness in Columbus: Where to eat and what to do between games