Every time, I make plans to meet-up with a friend, we immediately ask each other, ‘where should we go?’ As a Blogger you would think I’d be good at answering that exact question, but I struggle with it just as much as everyone else when trying to think on the fly. I’ve been trying to put together lists for different parts of town, depending on what you’re looking to do. It always amazes me how often I get asked for happy hour ideas, of an afternoon of things to do around Columbus.
I’m not really a fan of corporate chains, especially since there are so many wonderful local Columbus spots to enjoy. I try to support local businesses as much as possible and German Village is brimming with 614 originals.
German Village is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Columbus to stroll. The cobblestone streets give it an old city feel, the window baskets that line the redbrick homes busting with colorful flowers add a unique charm, found nowhere else around the city.
German Village is a historic neighborhood just south of downtown Columbus, Ohio. Initially platted in 1814 in Columbus’s South End, the German Village area primarily developed between 1840 and 1914. It was settled largely by German immigrants in the mid 1800s. German descendants at one time comprised as much as a third of the population of the entire city of Columbus.
German immigrants who arrived in the South End in the 1850s immediately felt at home: people spoke German in the stores, schools, and churches; their homes were solid yet unpretentious. After work, bakers, stonecutters, storekeepers, carpenters, tanners, bricklayers, and brewery workers relaxed in nearby bier gartens. This simple, yet distinctive working-class neighborhood was a little bit of Germany.
As the neighborhood faced the possibility of total demolition, Frank Fetch defied common wisdom. In 1959, he and his father-in-law bought and restored a small cottage on Wall Street. The following year, Fetch and a group of like-minded people created the German Village Society, to promote the preservation and rehabilitation of the “Old South End.”
Today, German Village is a model of urban neighborhood preservation and revitalization – a nationally recognized success story. The average home price in the neighborhood is $377,450 and several are well over $1 million. The Village has a single commercially zoned strip along Livingston Avenue, and the rest of the neighborhood is mixed use. There is some concentration of businesses along Third Street, Mohawk Street and Whittier Avenue, too. The Village is mostly a residential neighborhood of sturdy, red-brick homes with wrought iron fences along tree-lined, brick-paved streets.
I’ve put together a list of three locations in German Village that would be the perfect places to catch-up with a friend.
Pistacia Vera
Known for their Macarons, Croissants, Confections and Desserts, Pistacia Vera is German Village’s premier spot to stop and grab a mouth-watering pastry. On a warm day their outdoor seating allows for the perfect people watching.
I’m here for all the carbs.
For each and every Pistacia Vera creation, there is…
A PROCESS.
Meticulous technique. It’s the secret ingredient in all of our desserts and confections.
A BEAUTY.
A hand-crafted pastry is its own work of art. With our passion for quality and detail, our kitchen is just as much patisserie as art studio.
A MOMENT TO SAVOR.
We think dessert should be fun. We think it should be inspiring. We think even the smallest enjoyments can make life immeasurably better.
Back in 2004, siblings Spencer Budros and Anne Fletcher embarked on a shared endeavor, aiming to create a creative dessert destination in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
Their collaboration has proven to be a continued source of inspiration and deliciousness. Their team of professionals shares their passion for the classic pastry technique. Their stores reflect their keen eye for design and comfort.
And every Pistacia Vera creation highlights Anne and Spencer’s constant commitment to bringing something special to Columbus.
Locations & Hours
GERMAN VILLAGE
541 South Third Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.220.9070
OPEN DAILY: 7AM – 5PM
NORTH MARKET
59 Spruce Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614.221.1001
OPEN DAILY:
Sunday – Monday: 10AM – 5PM
Tuesday – Saturday: 9AM – 7PM
I have not found a better macaron in Columbus!
Connect with Pistacia Vera
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
@EATPLAYCBUS abs are #goals
Stauf’s Coffee
Stauf’s Coffee began as the first coffee roasters in Columbus in 1988. Since then they have continued to roast their coffee beans with the care and attention to bring you the best cup of coffee they can provide.
Which is why their slogan is:
The proof is in the cup!
Ohio is for Coffee Lovers
“In 1988 Stauf’s Coffee Roasters began offering specialty coffee to Central Ohio. From day one we have been obsessed with the entire process of achieving the finest cup of coffee- from acquiring the best specialty grade green arabica beans available, to roasting exclusively on gas-fired drum roasters. All of the coffees that we offer are roasted by us, by hand, everyday. Our profile method of roasting coffee in small batches allows us to concentrate on the best roast and flavor profile for each varietal and origin. You will not experience coffees of higher quality, consistency, or freshness. Our coffee is fresh and shipped within 48 hours of roasting. We are Columbus’ first micro roaster and we’ll always provide you with the best coffee available.”
Did you know Columbus has a coffee trail?
Columbus’ coffee scene is one of the best in the nation, with a commitment to quality, sustainability and education. If you love coffee, this trail is for you!
Learn more about the Columbus Coffee Trail HERE
Preserve your coffee’s freshness:
- Ground coffee typically tastes best within 7 days; whole bean coffee tastes best within 2 weeks of purchase.
- We recommend buying coffee 1 – 2 weeks at a time.
- Only brew as much as you can drink in twenty minutes.
- Coffee (whole bean and ground) should be stored in a dry, airtight container at room temperature, out of direct light.
- Never refrigerate or freeze your coffee!
(Coffee will absorb flavors and aromas of other food products.)
Here are a few tips for making a great cup of coffee:
1. Use freshly-drawn, COLD filtered water. Great water makes great coffee.
2. Choose your coffee filter preference; natural brown, oxygen-whitened, or gold mesh filter for your coffee maker.
3. Use 1 heaping tablespoon of freshly ground coffee for every 6 ounces of water. Adjust the coffee for personal preference.
4. Brewed coffee should be removed from heat source and transferred to a pre-heated thermal carafe, immediately after brewing.
5. Clean all coffee equipment after each use.
Stauf’s patio is serene and the perfect place to work or catch-up with a friend.
Spring, we are more than ready for you in the 614!
Locations & Hours
Stauf’s Coffee Roasters – Grandview
1277 Grandview Ave.
Columbus, OH 43212
Hours of operation:
Mon -Fri 6:30AM- 10PM
Sat 7AM- 10PM
Sun 8AM- 10PM
614-486-4861
Stauf’s Coffee Roasters – German Village
627 S. 3rd St.
Columbus, OH 43206
Hours of operation:
Mon -Sat 7AM- 9PM
Sun 7AM- 8PM
614.221.1563
Stauf’s Coffee Roasters – North Market
59 Spruce St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Hours of operation:
Tue -Sat 9am- 7pm
Sun -Mon 10pm- 5pm
614- 456- 7685
Stauf’s Coffee Roasters – Idea Foundry
421 W. State St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Hours of operation:
Mon -Fri 8am- 5pm
Connect with Stauf’s Coffee
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
The Book Loft
Take your coffee or macarons to-go and wander down to a true Columbus treasure, The Book Loft.
Have you ever been inside of this place? It’s a city-block long and has over 30 rooms inside of it, it’s totally insane!
It’s an old-fashioned bookshop experience, with books in every nook and cranny. Step-back in time, into a labyrinth of stacks and stack of books. The Book Loft is unlike any other bookstore I have ever been in, I could get lost among the rows of books, gazing at the hundreds of sections, that hold thousands of titles.
One of the nation’s largest independent book stores, The Book Loft of German Village, is located at 631 South Third Street in Columbus, Ohio, just a few blocks South of the state capitol building.
The pre-Civil War era buildings that once were general stores, a saloon and a nickelodeon cinema, now are home to 32 rooms of Bargain Books.
Hey Dad, look what I am reading!
#IMWITHHER
My Dad’s so proud. HAHAHA.
THE BOOK LOFT
631 South Third Street
Columbus, OH 43206
(614) 464-1774
HOURS OF OPERATION
Mon – Sun: 10AM-11PM
Connect with The Book Loft
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
It’s also a great spot for a photo-shoot! Just look at all those books!
{All Photos Taken by Exact Moments Photography}
Connect with Exact Moments Photography
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