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Axis Nightclub
Category: Nightlife Dance Clubs Dance Clubs [Edit]
775 N High StColumbus, OH 43215
Neighborhood: Short North
(614) 291-4008
- Hours:
Fri-Sat 10 pm - 2:30 am
- Music:
- DJ
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ages Allowed:
- 18+
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Axis Nightclub
Review Highlights
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"...I have been complimented on my dancing skillz by gay men." In 3 reviews -
"If you get too hot you can walk around to cool off." In 3 reviews -
"...go to the address and walk into what looks like a driveway." In 3 reviews
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Sammy T.
1/7/2012
I am hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars. Mainly because I think I am too old (28). I came on New Year's with some friends and this place was jumping. Not jumping like you would expect on New Years but like a typical Saturday night. It was super hot and moist in here, like "damn am I in a sauna?" hot. The crowd was mixed with ages, races and social styles. I felt old because there were definitely 18 year olds in there partying. My vodka 7 was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. Although, a 6'5 terribly drunk kid did lay on me for a few seconds. I'd come back again with friends especially for a drag show.
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Review from Liz H.
Florence, KY
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
What an experience!
$5 cover, $2 coat check-rip off!
We had a fun time though! -
Review from Brad S.
9/13/2011
Axis is OK. Definitely not what I expected, based on all the hyperventilating that people do about the place. It's a dance club, slightly on the not-upscale side, with a big bar area, a decent-sized dance floor, and an upstairs balcony area that encircles the dance floor. Not much else to say about it. I think the bathrooms are unisex now, because everyone was in there making out, male and female alike.
What's funny is that I didn't notice many gay men at Axis last weekend, which is quite odd for what is known as the gayest gay dance club in Columbus. I saw a lot of college girls dancing in a circle and some juggalo-type dudes in wife beaters on the stage. There were the usual middle-aged queens and bears sitting by the bar just staring passively at the dance floor, but nothing outrageous by any stretch of the imagination. (Andy Dick really partied 'til he got arrested here? Really??)
The bartenders were kind of assholes, and at certain spots on the dance floor, there was a very strong odor of pure human shit. I mean, not just like sewer gas or a lingering fart or something, but like somebody took a dump right there in the middle of the dance floor. You would move further away, and the smell would dissipate. Then at a different spot, the smell would creep back. It was like playing the "hot/cold" game, but with the scent of human excrement. Very strange.
Anyway, go and dance to the sweet sounds of Columbus' best club DJ, Patrick Finn, and have a good time, but keep your expectations tempered.Listed in: Do the D.A.N.C.E, 1, 2, 3, 4…
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Review from Keith R.
10/25/2011
Axis isn't one of my normal hangouts. It just doesn't have my type of clientele, but I do go there on occasion when a few of my gay friends decide to drag me out. There are two sides to Axis: the normal club, headache pounding music atmosphere and then the nights when it is set up for a stage show for the Columbus drag queen posse.
I absolutely hate going here on a regular club night. The music is too loud, it's usually way too hot, and I feel very on guard. Now take a night when the drag queen posse is present and I LOVE this place. Maybe it's because it's a fun atmosphere, maybe since one of my friends is in the show and it's a group of us from work, or maybe because it's the effect of alcohol from my friends buying round after round of drinks in a 2 hour window.
Speaking of alcohol, this place can make drinks and make them strong. There have been many occassions I have crawled instead of walking out of Axis...if you are going to try mixed drinks, I would suggest limit yourself to two. Their prices are reasonable too, just this past weekend I spent $30 for a round and that was for 3 beers, 3 jello shots, and 2 mixed drinks.
Overall, Axis isn't bad for the occasional night out. Even if you are a straight man who is in touch with his metro side. -
Review from David F.
2/22/2011
A fun club. Reasonably priced drinks (for a dance club), cheap cover, and plenty of people having a fun time.
This isn't the type of gay club I'm used to though really. I normally go to Ramrod/Machine in Boston near Fenway, and this is a much *much* younger crowd overall. No daddies or bears here. No/few fetish types overall. Just young guys dancing and having a good time.
There's no "back room" (or that I was able to find), which was a little bit of a letdown. There's a dark balcony though that I'm sure people use to their advantage however. Multiple bars make finding a drink easy. They had bathrooms marked for men and women, which was honestly a bit of a shock to me as at Machine its all unisex.
Everyone seemed really friendly. I'm a straight guy, and I don't know what the deal is with people bashing straight guys going to a gay bar. I danced with more guys than I did with girls when I went and didn't protest when one made out with me briefly on his way out. Maybe some of the straight guys who come here are too close minded, or don't know how to take cues, but everyone I danced with very much wanted to dance with me.
Even though I'm 28 I did feel a bit like the oldest guy there, which was weird since I'm used to going to a gay bar and being the young guy there, and having 50 year old guys buy me drinks. But people of all ages need to get out and have fun, so whatever.
The people here were some of the best looking I've seen in Columbus yet, guys and girls alike. This isn't the bar to wear a button up shirt. Just black/grey t-shirt and tight jeans. -
Review from Holly K.
5/19/2011
Oh Axis... :) You make me smile.
Oddly enough, being a gay gal you wouldn't expect to get hit on much in a predominately gay male-oriented club. However, there are always exceptions to the rule and Axis...you've made the cut in being one of them.
I always have a story from a night of when I go here and always funny in some regard. Music is solid, shows are fun, reasonably priced cover and strong drinks. I've had a cactus bowl take me to my limit of "ehh gads I'm drunk" pretty quick (and I'm a whiskey drinker, neat...if that gives you any idea of it's potency). Staff is friendly even when they are slammed.
More women have hit on me here than at Wall. A girl who didn't even speak a lick (no pun intended) of English danced with me one night here. One time the only semi-straight-horny-drunk man hit on me on stage which resulted in me turning around saying "honey you don't have the right equipment". Another night I was on a podium pedestal shower-thing dancing my face off (yes clothes were on you pervs).
Overall great times and, of course, unlike Arnold now... "I'll be back" :) -
Review from Melanie B.
Brooklyn, NY
11/20/2010
I don't go to Axis much... and I really don't know why not. After finding the funk/soul night at Circus tonight slightly lame (white people/hipsters, you can't dance!!), I dragged my friend down High Street to Axis hoping for some proper dance music and sexy moves by gay men on blocks. And, even though I haven't been to Axis for at least three years - it did not let me down!
Drinks here are fairly expensive. Cover is standard (five bucks). Coat check is super cheap (a buck a coat! AND they put my purse with my coat for no charge). Music is AWESOME and the crowd is fantastic. If you ever dreamed of being at Babylon (Queer as Folk!), this is as close as you will get in Columbus.
Every time I have been to Axis, I have been complimented on my dancing skillz by gay men. And this alone is enough to keep me comin' back. I love the music here, so it's easy to let go and shake my bootay for all it's worth (not that I don't do so regularly anyway...). One thing I really enjoy about Axis is the fact that everyone here, gay men, straight guys and girls, gay girls, everyone shakes it and gets super sexy and usually topless or nearly so. Now, this is the whole point of dancing, people! I wish my job could be dancing at Axis. I really do.
I definitely recommend checking out Axis if you love to dance to techno/pop/top 40 remixes. Yes, Axis is a gay bar... but unless you're a homophoic a-hole... HELLO. Where else do you expect to go for the sexiest time ever? LOVE IT.
PS: Tonight was the first time I have ever been hit on my a straight man here. Weird.Listed in: Just Dance, Cbus!
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Review from Khalood A.
Columbus, OH
7/2/2011
I really don't go much to Axis, but when it seems like an average club, in comparison to the ones I have been to. Cheap cover, and friendly public for the most part.
Do yourself a favor though and try to go with friends there; it can get packed and I do not know, but personally, I wouldn't go there unless my friends were going there.
If you're looking for a night's blast, look no further. -
Review from Rachel P.
7/6/2010 ROTD 8/17/2010
Oh Axis. I'm not sure what's happened to you, but you've changed.
I used to frequent Axis a whole lot before I was 21. I danced around with some beautiful men and never once did I get bothered or hit on or pursued. It was like straight-girl-with-a-boyfriend heaven for me.
I finally went back to Axis after a 3 year hiatus and it seems that my reasoning has caught on. I would say that the make-up of the club when I went was 50% gay men, 40% straight women and 10% creepy as hell straight guys. As for all of the women, can't quite blame you. As for the straight dudes who go to Axis trying to pick up women? SHAME ON YOU. I constantly had to pull my 18 year old friend away last night from a couple of guys saying "No, no, see how he refuses to dance with the other men? He keeps dancing with the groups of women."
Now Axis can't, and shouldn't discriminate letting anyone into the club, but here's a memo to straight guys: Do not go here to pick up chicks. We came here for some good eye candy and not to bothered by straight men trying to hump our leg. Go to Brothers.
That being said, the music was fun and inviting and the people that work there were extremely nice. Also, the price is right. $5 covers ain't nuthin. I was just a little disappointed with the experience as a whole.Listed in: Like a Fish, My ROTDs!
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Review from Stephanie B.
1/15/2009 1 photo
I think in the case of Axis, you either love it or don't come here at all. For me, it's the latter. But I've been dragged here before. Not to say that I didn't have a good time, but let's see...something about this place...I just feel like I don't...belong...
Half-naked men everywhere. That's what I remember about Axis. That and it being very hot and sweaty in there. Each time I've come here has been with a male friend of mine or group of friends who just wanted to dance. Oh, and dance they did. Because you can't come here and not dance. But I don't mean the stand back against the wall and tap your feet kind of dance. You get down and dirty here. You dance like there's no tomorrow. You dance like your life depends on it.
If you're a straight guy, you might want to steer clear of this place. It's pretty much a pick-up other guys type of place, or at least it seems like it. You can feel the raw sexuality in the air. But if you're a girl, you can dance and let loose without having to worry about some random guy coming up and grinding you from behind without even speaking to you first (really guys, it's creepy - not sexy!) and when you get all sweaty and your hair looks like crap and your makeup is running, no one cares. You'll get applauded for your hot dance moves. A very fun night if you're not looking to give a guy your phone number.
Axis is kind of mysterious. It's hidden away under a little arch back from High St. It is so close to my house, yet I didn't even know it existed for the longest time, because you never see it! It's creepy looking from the outside. And closed most nights of the week. But inside, only on weekends, it transforms! It's one big sweaty sausage fest with rapidly thumping techno music blaring. There's a $5 cover at the door, which sucks, but drinks aren't too expensive. But I swear, you come here and all you want is water. It's so hot and sweaty I can't even think about alcohol. If you're just coming to dance $5 isn't that bad. But I think they make you pay for water. Maybe sneak your own water bottle inside.
I came here once in the winter and it sucked. There was nowhere to put my coat and it was way too hot to keep it on. We had to make a coat pile in the corner on the floor and people kept tripping on them. Not sure if they had a coat check, but oh well. All in all, Axis is all about the dancing. So if you feel like letting loose, check the place out. If you can find it. -
Review from Kevin M.
8/19/2005
Axis is pretty much the only place to be in Columbus if you are a gay male under 21 and like to dance, and one of the better dance options if you're over 21, too.
It features 3 bars, a good-sized dance floor, a smallish patio that is usually clogged with smokers, and a very white, very young, gay-male-except-for-the-hags population. Free CD night, the second Friday of each month, is a popular draw, as are weekends in general. The upstairs bar, secluded from the main dance floor, has a small stage where drag queens or strippers can be found on occasion.
Axis can definitely be fun if you're in the mood for dancing with and/or cruising Barely Legal Boys, though there are better options for more mature age ranges or a more relaxed evening.Listed in: Not-Restaurant Outings (In…
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Review from Stephanie T.
Wooster, OH
10/10/2011
My girls took me here on Saturday night for my bachelorette party....and it was FANTASTIC! The Queen's were really fun to watch and at the end of the show the pulled all of us "bachelorette's" on stage..I think there were 5 of us there that night!
The place itself isn't anything spectacular, there's a nice raised bar in the middle of the club - but no draft beer. But honestly, when you're dancing the night away why does it matter what the place looks like? There were TONS of people there and I didn't notice any catty fights going on. Everyone danced with everyone and the lighting and music was great :)
All of us are straight...but seriously it doesn't matter. I thought this club was one of the funnest I've been too and all us girls had a wonderful time.
A BIG THANKS to Axis and all the people who were there that night! It was the BEST Bachelorette Party of all time. -
Review from Kent K.
San Francisco, CA
7/3/2009
I found this to be the largest gay dance club in Columbus. So if you want a big place for dancing, drinking and fun this is it. $5 to get in. The entry staff wasn't the nicest people but then again you can tell this was some twinks' part time job.
The drinks was a good price but the well alcohol taste pretty bad. So pay a few more dollars and get the top shelf. I had well drinks before but I couldn't finish this one. The floor gets packed much later on. Then it become hot and sweaty. The only bad thing is the men's room. Oh have mercy!!!! The place was flooded. 1 garbage bag of one of the toilet. The sinks were filthy and one was overflowing with a wheel of toilet paper soaked in it. There's no paper towels to dry your hands.
The crowd is much younger because it's 18 and over. Which I don't mind cuz some of them are really cute. If you get too hot you can walk around to cool off. I was enjoying a drag and stripper show in the upstair lounge then came down to dance. Mostly dance songs and only 1 hip hop song. I only come here cuz there's so many people here. So I try to enjoy the energy before they turn on the lights and kick everyone out.
Oh yeah it may be hard to find. You have to go to the address and walk into what looks like a driveway. It's the first big building to your left! -
Review from Christina X.
Somerville, MA
12/27/2008
I don't understand how I STILL have not managed to turn 21 (I mean, how long could it take? Like 21 actual years?), but this sad fact means that I am left with few options for booty-shaking in my hometown.
Hi Axis!
So, first of all, I still managed to get hit on at Axis by a crew of guys who were definitely doin it wrong. That said, I had a pretty decent time! It wasn't packed but it was lively, the people-watching was hilari-tastic, and it was a pretty great place to dance with my friends. My major complaint is simply a matter of taste: I know that gay bars and house music go together like fat kids and cake but would it KILL to play something with a little bit more beat variance? I don't know, some reggaeton just to prevent me from having a seizure?
Oh well, under-21-kids can't be choosers, I guess...
Pro-tip: Axis is cash-only, and their ATM charges a mean fee. Get some cash beforehand--it's $5 cover (when I went anyway) and $1 for each cup of water and probably more for drinks but I wouldn't know about that =P -
Review from Andy T.
Wooster, OH
2/2/2010
Axis is loud and big and fun. If you're looking for a big gay club for dancing, strangers, and Lady Gaga mash-ups, it's got to be the best club in the state. It feels like a midwestern version of something in West Hollywood, except the people inside aren't all on their iPhones.
The crowd is mixed, the shows are fun, the bathrooms are filthy-- I mean, what do you want? It's a big gay dance club, no apologies. I always have fun there. If you're looking for meaningful conversation or a perfect appletini, no. But if you just want to dance and let loose and hear some loud music with a ton of guys, you can't beat it. If you're in the mood, it's a blast. -
Review from Sara M.
Columbus, OH
12/7/2008
Hypothetical situation: You're under 21 and have (kill me for using this phrase, please) ants in your pants. A need to wiggle your bodiggle. To get yo groove on. To cut a rug. To hop, to jive, to boogie. (I swear, I have more of these...) AH! To get down wit' cho bad self.
Okay. Serious face now.
The under 21 dance crowd is sorely limited in its potential locations in this city. The top of this very short list sits Axis. Although you more often hear its name whispered in a negative context, the reputation is very inflated. The dance floor is small in a cozy kind of way. More 'quaint' than anything.
There are four bars (including one outside reserved for the smokers). The music is.... decent... if you're a fan of the remixed top 40 kind of thing. The mood is friendly. The place might try a bit too hard to be trendy, but manages to also be fairly safe.
Pay a dollar for your cup of water, you under 21-ers and scope out the night from the walkway above the dance floor. Have fun. -
Review from Marissa M.
Columbus, OH
10/2/2008 1 photo
Ahhh, Axis. So much fun, so many half dressed men, so not batting for my team. If you love to dance, are a lady, and hate the meat market vibe of Spice and Sugar you have found your mecca at Axis.
Axis feels dirty in a naughty way. Men in the ladies room, ladies in the mens, small upstairs area where anything goes.The whole place feels like a warehouse overtaken and now ruled by lots and lots of sweaty men. Axis feels like a midsummer's eve party all year long.
I go for the music. Axis plays house music in a town where house music is a rare find. At least good house music. I also go to dance. At Axis you can rock it out all night long, get sweaty, smear make-up and nobody cares. Everybody is dancing right there with you and doing the same thing. If you are a girl you can dance and know with conviction that none of these guys are going to grab your butt or grind you. If you are a guy this will probably not apply. I love watching from the balcony upstairs the frenzied movements below. I dare you to come here and stand still.
The bartenders are fast and furious and usually bopping along. Drinks are reasonable, but you are going to need some water with all that heat. -
Review from Emily A.
Columbus, OH
6/13/2008
I have a confession to make: I'm 30 years old, female, and queer, and I LOVE Axis! Not every weekend, or even once a month, but a few times a year, when the dancing mood strikes, and I want to dress up and drink and then get all sweaty on the dance floor with some beautiful people, Axis is the best place in town for it. There's a very debaucherous vibe to the place; it's dark and loud and hot and sexy, but if that's what you want, it is great fun!
Listed in: The Places I Go Out
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Review from Steven H.
Columbus, OH
9/6/2007
Axis is a popular nightclub that hosts monthly CD giveaway nights, theme parties, drag shows and caters to the 18-24 crowd. It's hit or miss depending on when you go...only open Fridays and Saturdays.
Listed in: Columbus Gay Bars
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Review from Matthew D.
Columbus, OH
11/29/2009
I added a star because the boys are pretty, the shows are great, and the bar staff works their butts off. I subtracted three stars because of everything else.
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Review from Chanelle S.
Columbus, OH
3/1/2008
I went to this club with two other straight female friends and we had a great time. This is definitely the place to go if you want to dance ALL night long.
The dance floor is pretty small and crowded, and there is very minimal seating. The primary population is college-age males, but there were a few small groups of girls and a couple of older gay men too.
The cover charge is $5, and they take your ID at the door. If you're under 21, they mark both hands with Xs and put a bracelet on each wrist. You get your ID back at the end of the night and they make you take off the bracelets.
EDIT: A few years later and I came back with a friend on a Friday night. To our delight, it was a show night! A drag queen performed first, followed by 3 male strippers (gay, really hot, trust me). It was so fun. -
Review from Stephano R.
Philadelphia, PA
10/27/2010
I came here back in 2007 and it was so much fun on random week days, but I cam back on Oct 2010 and it was closed. I guess everyone now goes to Union Cafe.
