Living in Italian Village, Columbus

Where is Italian Village?

Italian Village is bounded by Fifth Avenue to the north, I-670 to the south, the railroad tracks to the east and High Street to the west. Across High Street is the Short North Arts District. North of Fifth Avenue is Weinland Park. East of the tracks is Milo-Grogan, and south of I-670 is Downtown.

The neighborhood’s central location puts several major Columbus destinations within a short drive. Times are approximate, outside rush hour:

• Downtown ColumbusAbout 5 min1.3 mi
• The Ohio State UniversityAbout 10 min3.8 mi
• John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)About 15 min8 mi
• Nationwide Children’s HospitalAbout 10 min3.1 mi

Victorian Village, Weinland Park and German Village are also a quick trip away.

Getting around

For many residents, a car is optional. Italian Village has a Walk Score of 90, a Bike Score of 82 and a Transit Score of 56, so dining, coffee and nights out are usually a few blocks away. Groceries are the exception. The closest full-size grocery store, Kroger on North High Street, is just under a mile away, and most residents drive.

COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) bus routes connect the neighborhood with Downtown, the university and the rest of the city. For drivers, I-670 runs along the southern edge and provides access to the city’s larger highway network.

Parking, however, is a different story. Street parking is available in the neighborhood, but availability can be limited, particularly around busier commercial areas and during evenings or weekends. Anyone moving to Italian Village with multiple vehicles should consider parking availability when comparing homes or apartments.

Housing in Italian Village

The housing stock spans more than a century, and many older homes have been restored under the historic district’s design guidelines. Converted industrial and commercial buildings add mixed-use space.

Newer apartment communities have added to that mix, most notably Jeffrey Park, which Thrive Companies built on the former Jeffrey Manufacturing site. Its properties range from walk-up buildings to five-story buildings with pools and rooftop amenities. The result is a neighborhood where a restored 1890s home can sit a block from a new apartment building.

Food and drink

Food and drink are a major part of life in Italian Village. Residents have several neighborhood options for coffee, meals, drinks and nights out, with even more choices just across High Street in the Short North.

• Budd Dairy Food Hall: a former dairy building with multiple food vendors, bars and a rooftop bar. It’s an easy pick when a group cannot agree on dinner.
• Habibi Grill: Lebanese cooking on North Fourth Street, from kebabs and wraps to hummus and fried cauliflower.
• GoreMade Pizza: wood-fired pizza made with locally sourced ingredients, plus a hidden backyard patio.
• Drunch Eatery and Bar: a brunch-focused gastropub on North Fourth Street, serving creative dishes made with locally sourced ingredients and brunch cocktails.
• Bada Bean Bada Booze: a café by day and a bar by night at Jeffrey Park, with trivia nights and neighborhood events.
• Fox in the Snow: the original location of the Columbus café, known for coffee and house-made pastries.
• Seventh Son Brewing Co.: a North Fourth Street staple with a busy patio and rotating food trucks.
• Thirsty’s Pub: a neighborhood sports bar with plenty of TVs and weekend DJs.

The Short North’s High Street strip adds even more choices a few minutes’ walk away, making Italian Village a convenient home base for people who like to try new restaurants and bars.

Parks and outdoors

Italian Village is an urban neighborhood, and residents still have several easy places to get outside.

Jeffrey Square is a 1.6-acre public park inside the Jeffrey Park community.

Italian Village Park on Hubbard Avenue is a small neighborhood park. Its size makes it more of a local gathering spot than a big destination park, and the location makes it easy for nearby residents to use.

Goodale Park is in Victorian Village, about a mile west across the Short North. It has walking paths, open lawns and a pond, and it hosts ComFest and other events throughout the year.

For longer runs and rides, the Olentangy Trail is a short bike ride west and connects to the city’s larger trail network.

Things to do

Italian Village’s location means residents have access to both neighborhood events and the larger calendar of activities happening throughout central Columbus.

Columbus Italian Festival

The Columbus Italian Festival is held each October on the grounds of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on East Lincoln Street. It celebrates the neighborhood’s Italian heritage with food, music and entertainment.

Gallery Hop and Ohio State

The Short North’s monthly Gallery Hop fills High Street with art, music and crowds, only a few blocks from home. Ohio State’s campus is also only minutes away, making Buckeye games and other university activities easy to reach.

For current events in and around Italian Village, including resident events at Jeffrey Park, see the Thrive event calendar.

Is Italian Village right for you?

Italian Village works well if you want quick access to Downtown, the Short North and Ohio State, would rather walk or bike than drive for every trip, and like having restaurants, cafés and breweries close to home. It also suits anyone who enjoys living among historic architecture with newer buildings mixed in.