Grandview South - Columbus, OH Area Guide

Grandview Heights was originally part of the Marble Cliff hamlet, one of Columbus’ first suburbs. It became its own village in 1906, but wasn’t fully annexed until 1912. Grandview, which includes Grandview Heights and Grandview South, officially became a city in 1931.

Grandview South spans such a small area that its nonexistent art scene doesn't come as a surprise. Fortunately, Grandview Heights and downtown Columbus provide residents with plenty of options. Grandview Heights houses the Museum of Biological Diversity, located at Ohio State University, and the Ohio Craft Museum on West Fifth Avenue. The Central Ohio Fire Museum features a play area for children. The Columbus Museum of Art, the Cultural Arts Center and COSI, a hands-on science museum, all reside in downtown Columbus. The downtown area also hosts several annual events, including the Columbus Winter Beerfest, the Korean Food Festival, the Asian Festival and the Columbus Arts Festival.

A handful of fast-food and locally-owned restaurants sit along U.S. Route 33, providing residents with several dining options. Grandview Heights, located directly north of Grandview South, features a slew of restaurants and bars that add even more variety to the mix.

Rancho Alegre on Dublin Road prides itself in serving authentic Mexican cuisine. The restaurant uses fresh ingredients prepared in traditional Mexican fashion to ensure you have an outstanding meal. It features daily lunch specials, and you don’t want to miss Rancho Alegre’s happy hour because the restaurant serves the best margaritas in town. When famished, order the super burrito. Big enough for two, it comes filled with beef, chicken and beans and topped with lettuce, tomato and sour cream. Regulars recommend the chiles rellenos and the taco and burrito lunch special.

Visit Smokehouse Brewing Company on Dublin Road to dig into some amazing barbecue while you sip on a smooth Scottish ale. Locals visit the restaurant to watch the game with friends, and recommend the blackened bleu burger, the mussels and the chicken wings.

Red Hook Grill, a bar and grill with a touch of Caribbean influence, sits on Goodale Boulevard in Grandview Heights. The restaurant has a reputation for serving dishes that fuse together amazing and unique flavors. Try the south-western pad Thai, veggie tempura and Malaysian string beans with pork.

Nightlife options in Grandview South don’t extend past Rancho Alegre and the Smokehouse Brewing Company. However, nearby Grandview Heights houses plenty of evening entertainment venues. For a casual evening visit Mickey’s Bar on West Fifth Avenue. The popular neighborhood dive bar attracts crowds of karaoke-loving college students from Thursday through Saturday that make everyone feel right at home. Make sure to bring cash — Mickey’s doesn't accept credit cards. Other popular options include: Glenn Avenue Grill, which features great happy-hour prices, the Tree Bar, known for its extensive list of craft beers, and Winking Lizard Tavern, which features hundreds of beer options.

The majority of Grandview South residents depend on their own vehicles for transportation, because the neighborhood’s direct access to U.S. Route 33 and Interstate 670 make it easy for commuters to navigate throughout the city. Also, you have to travel outside of the neighborhood to complete most errands, which makes driving the most convenient transportation option. Parking in Grandview South remains free. However, be prepared to pay for parking in downtown Columbus and around The Ohio State University. Both areas have ample parking garages with decent daily rates and metered parking options.

For the most part, Grandview South residents reserve walking and bike riding for leisurely activities or exercise because the hilly land makes it difficult to walk or bike to their destinations. However, Grandview South has designated bike lanes that run along the banks of the Scioto River and along Route 315 that lead you into Grandview Heights and downtown Columbus. The bike lanes continue along the main streets of Grandview Heights and downtown Columbus, making it easy for commuters to ride their bikes to work if needed.

You can’t hail a cab in Grandview South. However, most local taxi companies service the area when you arrange rides via the phone. Also, Uber services the area, making it easy to get a ride in a hurry. The majority of Grandview South residents who don’t drive, take the bus. The Central Ohio Transit Authority operates numerous bus routes that transport passengers from the neighborhood to other parts of Columbus and its suburbs.

Grandview South doesn't house any parks, but Grandview Heights has several options. Parents bring their children to Wyman Woods Park, McKinley Field and C Ray Buck Park for fun-filled afternoons. All three parks sit along Goodale Boulevard and feature playground equipment and sports fields. None of the parks allow dogs, but C Ray Buck Park features a paved walking trail ideal for walkers and joggers. In the winter, families visit Wyman Woods Park to go sledding.

Dog owners exercise their furry friends at the Wallace Garden lawn areas, the green space just south of Urlin Tennis Courts on Goodale Boulevard and Parkway Park on Tremont Road, which allows dogs to roam off leash before 8 a.m. and in the evenings, which begin at 5 p.m. during the winter months and at 8 p.m. during the summer months.

Grandview South residents head into the downtown area to visit Battelle Riverfront Park and Bicentennial Park. Both parks feature amphitheaters that host live music events and theatrical performances in the summer months. Bicentennial Park on Civic Center Drive also features a splash fountain to entertain kids on hot summer days and access to the Greenway Trails, part of Ohio’s regional bike trail system.

The cost of living in Grandview South averages approximately 8 percent higher than the average cost of living in Columbus because of the area’s higher housing costs. Expect to pay approximately $794 per month to rent a one-bedroom apartment. Other necessities remain on par with the rest of Columbus. A beer at a local bar costs between $5 and $7, and one-way bus fare costs $2. Gas prices hover around 7 percent lower than the national average.

Several stores that sell basic home necessities and auto parts dot the streets of Grandview South, but you won't find any upscale retail establishments in the area. While the neighborhood doesn't have one major shopping area, U.S. Route 33 houses a slew of retail locations.

For knitting and crochet supplies, shop at Yarn It & Haberdashery on West First Avenue. The shop features a wide selection of yarn, needles and other craft supplies. It also offers knitting, crocheting, fiber dyeing and spindle spinning classes.

Just north of the neighborhood, in Grandview Heights, are a variety of grocery options. Residents complete most of their grocery shopping at Kroger on Chambers Road or Giant Eagle on West Third Avenue. The Oilerie Columbus on Grandview Avenue sells everything you need to create the perfect Italian meal, and Krema Nut Co. on Goodale Boulevard specializes in natural foods. Drive downtown to purchase fresh produce, locally raised meats and international favorites at one of the area's year-round farmers' markets, such as North Market on Spruce Street and the Hills Market Downtown on North Grant Avenue.