Southbend Tavern
Karaoke · Columbus, OH
About
A friendly blue-collar dive bar with the greatest mix of ages, races, classes, and types in Columbus. Southbend Tavern's hallmark is its remarkable drag shows, where the queens are older and not particularly polished, but that's part of the offbeat appeal. Come with no expectations and you'll have a good time.
All drinks are bottled or canned (no draft beer, and skip the mixed cocktails). Besides drag shows, there's karaoke, pool tournaments, darts, and bingo spread through the week. The crowd skews local and low-maintenance, so expect a laid-back, no-frills vibe. If you want a quick stop before a bigger night, Union Cafe Bar is a few minutes away.
Features
- ✓Mixed crowd of all ages, races, and classes
- ✓Offbeat drag shows with older queens
- ✓Bottled beer and canned cocktails only
- ✓Karaoke, pool, darts, and bingo on rotation
Good for
What people say
Rated from 21 reviews. 44 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
“Great family bar”
The atmosphere is very welcoming.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“a must for the South Side tour”
This is a friendly, blue-collar dive bar that's pretty filthy and attracts a wonderfully diverse crowd of all ages, races, classes, and types in the city. They don't serve draft beer, and you should skip the mixed drinks. The main draw is the drag shows, which are remarkable mostly because the queens are older and not especially talented, but that's exactly what makes them so fun. Show up without any expectations and you'll have a great time.
A guest · Over a year ago
“new to area”
I had a nice time and most people were friendly. The drag shows could be improved, but it's fine if you're just looking to have fun.
A recent visitor · Over a year ago
“hustler friendly”
I'm upset that they allow people into the bar who use others for drinks and whatever else they can get. I come to have a good time, not to be bothered by guys who want to take advantage of me. I don't appreciate being harassed like that. I won't hang out there much until they deal with this issue. A certain regular knows who I'm talking about.
A local visitor · Over a year ago
“DUMP”
The owner is an alcoholic and a cocaine addict. The bar is filthy. The customers are very unattractive, and the drag performers are all over 50. It's hideous!
A visitor · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Southbend Tavern have drag shows? +
Yes, drag shows are a regular feature. The performances are known for being raw and unpolished, which adds to the bar's character.
Does Southbend Tavern serve food? +
We don't have confirmed food offerings. Claim this listing to add details.
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