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Carabar
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Music Venues Nightlife Music Venues Nightlife Bars Dive Bars Music Venues, Dive Bars [Edit]
115 Parsons AveColumbus, OH 43215
Neighborhood: Olde Towne East
(614) 223-1010
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 4 pm - 2 am
Sun 7 pm - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
23 reviews for Carabar
Review Highlights
23 reviews in English
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Review from Craig L.
7/4/2010
Carabar is a hole in the wall type of place, despite it being a decently sized venue. They have cheap drinks, 10 or so taps, easy, accessible parking, and lots of live music.
Live bands play almost every night and they never, EVER, have a cover. This isn't some club to take your Prada wearing girlfriend, but it is the perfect place to take that cool hipster chick you want to know better/impress/take home.
So yeah, good luck with that, and I hope this helped. -
Review from Gavin D.
12/20/2011
Carabar has a bunch of great pieces that come together to create a solid bar that I would put in the "dive' category. They've got all this and more:
- lots of local music
- a free popcorn machine
- a menu that's pretty interesting for a bar, including falafel and buffalo chicken tacos (that's 2 different kinds) that are surprisingly tasty (ask if they aren't written on the chalk board)
- a TV (I caught a baseball playoff game)
- roomy pool tables
I'm not sure how frequently I'll go because, well, I'm getting older and lamer. Unfortunately, things like music that starts after 9pm sound exotic. It feels a bit grimy and punky for my taste, but to each his/her own. -
Review from becca p.
Columbus, OH
Carabar is kind of a dive-y bar which is more my type of place, not really a fan of live music at the bar but i was already drunk apon arival so it didnt bother me too much. We went on a saturday night, got there pretty late tho, maybe half hour before last call so it wasnt too busy, but still enough people to have a good time.
As for the bartenders, they were all very nice, fast, and super adorable =) And they definately knew how to make a drink which is always a HUGE plus!
Smoking section is out in front of the bar which isnt very convenient because u have to either finish your drink then go out or leave your drink unattended.
Also no cover! another HUGE plus! -
Review from Johnathan B.
Columbus, OH
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wow! I was so stoked to find a Free metal show on NewYears, The music was awesome! And they have water on tap that you don't need to talk to the bartender to access. Unfortunately there were a couple of people that had never been to a metal show and took the circle pit personally. And thought for a second that it was a real fight, and dose the venue through out the drunk idiots who instigated the confrontation, no they toss the sober metal head for enjoying an awesome show! So this is a call to all the real metal heads out there, don't be afraid to go to see your artists at Carabar! Just bring your friends and have fun stomping som idiots!
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Review from Joshua D.
Columbus, OH
7/11/2011
Carabar is cooler than you
Up the "hipsters" -
Review from Jen S.
Columbus, OH
12/22/2010
I went to Carabar last night to watch a friend's heavy metal band. I couldn't believe that this was my first time at Carabar when I've lived in Columbus for 6+ years!
Then I figured it out.
I've been to plenty of great dive bars and yeah most of them are pretty hipster'd out but, Carabar is on another level. If you're not head-to-toe hipster then you might as well be wearing a Polo and some pleated khakis, because you'll look like an alien.
But, hey, I'm not a total downer. The show was rockin and they serve your beer in a personal sized pitcher (Maybe thats not much of a selling point but, I prefer a handle when drinking alcohol). Either way, not all bad, just not my scene. -
Review from Luke T.
5/20/2009 18 Check-ins Here
This place is incredible. There is NEVER a cover. They pay all bands from bar sales, which are plentiful when a big band comes through and people don't have to pay to get in. I have been involved in the underground punk scene for over a decade, and have a handful of friends in touring bands. I'm trying to get all of them to play Carabar as their standard Columbus stop now that Bernie's has gone so downhill. Some of them still opt for house shows, but while the environment at a house show is great, the sound is generally terrible, which is my main complaint at Bernie's lately.
The food is actually delicious here. Well, the vegan and veggie food anyway, I can't speak to the meat. They have a different food special M-F during happy hour, and they have good happy hour deals as well. I haven't been as frequently since I moved out of the area, but last I was there they were serving Old Rasputin for $4/pint (it costs $2.50/bottle at grocery stores).
They feature local artists on their walls, and you can usually see some pretty interesting stuff. On my last birthday they gave me a free bottle of Three Philosophers, an expensive Quadruple Belgian Ale. Just seriously awesome folks running a seriously awesome bar.
Unfortunately, and I don't know how public this info is yet, but Columbus is expanding/rerouting the 71/70 interchange and they are using eminent domain to take over the property that Carabar sits on. The owners hope to relocate, but no plans were set in stone last I heard. The place has a few years left before the entire block is demolished. -
Review from Jonathan O.
Columbus, OH
11/3/2010
They keep this place pretty clean even though it's a "dive."
This place is pretty special cause you can see decent bands here a lot of nights, and they don't charge a cover. The drinks are fairly priced, also. Decent bar staff. -
Review from Kenley M.
Columbus, OH
12/27/2007
My impression of this place after several visits is that it's a good bar - good selection, fair prices, et al. The availability of chili dogs is a big plus, and they have a vegetarian hotdog option as well. The best way I can describe the clientele is to mention I have heard Misfits songs played every time I have been, on the jukebox and also live cover versions. If you've never heard of the Misfits, you might tend to stick out. I plan to write a fuller review at some point, but thought it worthwhile to bang this out to respond to my fellow yelpers:
First, Olde Towne East, where Carabar is located, is so not the East Side of Columbus. Whitehall is East Side. Bexley, maybe. Not Olde Towne East.
Second, I prefer this bar when it's a little more lively, so don't be afraid to go on a Friday or Saturday. You might even stumble into a great show on those nights. -
Review from Melanie B.
Brooklyn, NY
Without even looking at the date of my previous review, I knew it had been a year since I'd been to Carabar. Why, you ask? Well, one, I'm not a fan, but two, Matt K and I got his car stuck in a snowbank last year about this time in the parking lot across the street. D:
I don't care if shows are free here, I still maintain that the tragically hip yay-hoos who hang out at Carabar ruin the musical experience. There is a difference between a scene and a music scene, and there are a lot of scene kids with $100 dollar meant-to-look $5 haircuts and inappropriate-for-winter-but-oh-so-appropriately-" subculture" outfits to make any experience I've had here meaningful. The scene at Carabar is a simulacrum, a joke - a hollow replication of a music scene enacted by kids who grew up on the Internet and never had to go flyering in their lives. Ugh.
Contrary to Quenyn's review, I worry much more about these kids causing a stir than kids in a real musical subculture - at the metal show I was at last night, my friend (a very slight girl!) was pushed, deliberately and unwillingly, into the middle of the floor for no reason. Have some bloody integrity, you idiots. Now, this is a girl who can certainly hold her own, but there's no reason to try to put on airs because this is what you think you're supposed to do at a show. My friend was really annoyed, and had to grapple her way out of the floor and back to the side where she had purposefully placed herself to begin with. I guess this is my problem with this whole scene in general - irony lacks integrity. You'll notice you don't see many actual metalheads at metal shows at Carabar - just the same ole hipster mofos, and then those of us willing to take one for the team and come out to see our favourite bands when they happen to be playing at this silly, silly venue.
If you can deal with all of that, though, you might like Carabar. They have decent food (vegan and vegetarian options - of course - it would be, like, so backward if they didn't *rolls eyes*), and good beer prices. The live music sound system, however, isn't great - but the dark, twinkly lights atmosphere is sort of romantic. Now, as soon as booties for men and shag haircuts with the sides shaved for women go out of style, this place might turn into a decent music venue. But word on the street is, this whole corridor is up for being gentrified anyway. :P
I'll stick to real dive bars and music venues for my shows, thank ye.Listed in: Columbus OVERRATED., You Shook Me All Night Long
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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2/12/2010
No matter what, I just can't make myself like Carabar... and I actually DO think it's because the… Read more »
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Review from michael c.
Columbus, OH
7/26/2007
This is my local bar and I've seen it packed full and absolutely dead.
My advice? Go when it's dead..
Pick a Wednesday around 6pm or a Sunday night, grab a beer and get one of the veggie coney's (or two) or a bowl of Chili.. You'll be rewarded with some decent music from the sound system (local music natch), a good mix of friendly locals and some of the friendliest bartenders in town.
Being close to downtown and CCAD brings in a heavy art school crowd, add to this the cheap beer and 0 cover for good bands and you have a place that gets packed. Not a scene for everyone, but If you do wanna see good local bands, this is the place.. It's kinda reminds me a little of Stache's in the old old days except cleaner.
I've not really had a problem with 'tude from anyone, but it's not really my scene, and I'm not into crowds, so i just tend to show up for random shows or to see friends play.
People watching here is a lot of fun day or night.Listed in: My Neighborhood, The Places I Go Out
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Review from Quentyn D.
Columbus, OH
5/26/2009
I am a big fan of Carabar. As mentioned before, one of the best thing about the bar is they have no cover. Their food is good, and they have reasonable drink prices.
The best thing about Carabar is their happy hour specials: $1 well drinks and $1 coneys on Wednesday, everything except the coneys every other day.
People complain about the "scene" there, all I can say about that is chill out. I would rather hang out with a bunch of hipsters and emo-ish kids than worry about the slightest brush against the arm causing a fight.
You can/will have a good time there, and will not bust the wallet. -
Review from Lisa S.
6/26/2007
Don't believe what you've read, especially if you've read it in The Other Paper. Yes, you will probably see some tragically hip people at Carabar, contrary to popular belief they will not eat you or suck out your soul.
Carabar isn't that bad of a place, though located on the East Side of Columbus, I don't travel there that often. However, the free cover makes up for having to get in the car and drive over instead of walking anywhere on campus. And we're talking always free. No matter what band plays that night, you'll be getting in for free. That's always a plus in my book.
The layout isn't anything special, the stage is separated from the bar area and the walls are painted communist red. Some how this fits perfectly with all the scene kids flooding the bar. Nothing stands out too much, though you get an overwhelming feeling that you're in a hip place. Maybe it's the really nice art hanging up on the walls. Maybe it's that really good band you just heard perform. Maybe it's all those really hip people surrounding you drinking their Pabst.
Either way, Carabar is ranked average on my list of bars and music venues in Columbus. If your favorite band plays at the Carabar, it's worth going. Ignore The Other Paper, and if hip people offend you, ignore them too.Listed in: Olde Towne East Guide
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Review from Aaron B.
Columbus, OH
6/3/2011
I had to wait about an hour and a half after the stated show time before music began. This is apparently a trend. The band I went to see was just awful - spent too much time trying to look the part and not enough time practicing - to the point that it was just awkward hearing them. I would agree with one of the other reviewers - it's a "scene", not a real music scene. I think stuff like this actually hurts the Columbus music scene...
The bartender mishandled my credit card. He got my drink order wrong. Also, the "pitcher" is really tiny - so don't be fooled into thinking its a great deal. He was friendly but really clumsy. I don't want to hear that you're sorry - I just want to be served. The other staff were.... chilly... it was a little unpleasant interacting with them.
To be fair - I hear that there are some good rappers that go through there - and I did not meet the entire staff. This was just the staff that was working on that day. Some of the clientele seem nice (they were there to see a rapper who was going to perform later on that night).
The food was okay - i can definitely say that it wasn't bad. Maybe another night i would give it a better review - but I can only judge it based on my experience this time. Just no service. -
Review from Matthew B.
Columbus, OH
8/9/2008 2 photos
Carabar is an interesting venue to see shows at. It's a very basic setup: bar, stage, some tables in the back. It's also got food, though, which is a neat touch for a bar; unfortunately I've never tried it.
There's also local art on the walls, which is a tiny detail in the scheme of things but adds a nice flavor to the atmosphere. The real draw of Carabar, of course, is the lack of a cover charge: it's a bar where you can take a gamble on any band and be out nothing but time if you leave in disgust.
A lot of ballyhoo has been raised about the scene at this bar but I've never had a problem with it. It's not my "crowd" as the saying goes, but they are not hostile or even rude. It's a far more heterogeneous crowd than it gets credit for sometimes (as any place that doesn't charge at the door will be) and in general, like any other venue, the crowd is a reflection of the band playing. It's the nature of the beast.
Carabar is a nice little bar with a pretty good batting average on putting good talent on stage. But it's also not even a very great venue in the long run, and I rarely make the somewhat long trek down there- I'd rather be lazy and pay a cover closer to home. -
Review from Jackie C.
Columbus, OH
7/29/2008
Carabar where do I begin, I really like this place, it has great specials, especially on PBR, friendly bar staff and good live bands for free.
But, perhaps I think am just not hip enough to be there, I listen/watch the music/movies that are considered hipster, possibly know more about them then most in attendence, but I just do not dress the part, so I felt out of place the entire time, well that and people even just staring at me for long periods of time like I was a cop or something. I gave Carabar 4 chances, all 4 I left feeling the same way, I would love to go back but the awkwardness is just too much. -
Review from Peter C.
Columbus, OH
7/22/2008
After doing more than my fair share of bar crawls up and down High Street and throughout the Arena district area, I always found myself wondering where all the art school hipster types go for a drink after a long hard day of trustfunding. After seeing a local show at Carabar a few weekends ago, it's now crystal clear to me: they go to Carabar.
The minute you set foot in the door, it's not hard to see why. The aesthetic of this Olde Town East dive bar feels a little bit like that of Larry's, an OSU joint that boasts a similar clientele, but everything here is put together in a more thoughtful and artistic manner. Not to say that this is an art bar- the dark walls just happen to be adorned with a collection of works from various local artists that are most likely standing a few feet away from you.
The main draw here is the free live music that can be seen a few nights a week. The sound isn't incredible, but at a price like that it's hard to go wrong. Where the money to pay the bands come from is anyone's guess. All I know is that they keep coming back and the place keeps getting packed.
The draft selection here is decent, with my favorite option being Sierra Nevada pints for under $4. There's also cheap cans of PBR if you really feel like getting in to the gutter punk spirit that's frequently lingering in the air here. The bar can get crowded at times, but I've always seen at last three bartenders on duty for busy nights where there's a handful of bands playing in the next room over.
Like I mentioned before, the crowd here can be a bit pretentious at times, but at the end of the day you just have to remind yourself that you're not in Brooklyn; you're in an average city in an average state in an average part of the country. No one is too cool to deal with at Carabar if you keep that in mind. It's worth noting that the neighborhood it's located ini can be incredibly dodgy at times, which is a huge minus due to the fact that walking here is ill-advised. Either way, it's a more than welcome change of pace from the scene around campus or downtown. -
Review from erin r.
Brooklyn, NY
9/8/2008
Probably one of my top faves in Columbus. Carabar has great bar staff, popcorn, drink prices, and shows. If I can go to a show for free and stumble upon a great band, I feel like it's been a successful night.
Plus, like I said, excellent popcorn. I just wish it were closer to me. -
Review from Matt H.
Philadelphia, PA
1/25/2011
One of my favorite places in the city for cheap, good food and drinks. Sure, it's a bar for the Midwestern hipster, but they're relatively chill. Everyone I met there was nice enough.
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Review from viv l.
3/8/2008
good beer, good performance venue. went last night for the townes van zandt tribute. good sound, nice stage.
but do yourself and your digestive system a favor: no matter the degree of your hunger, DO NOT eat a coney dog here. i did. suffice to say that i made it to the comfort of my own toilet seat in the nick of time. four star bar, but one star off for making my friends and i sick. -
Review from Jennifer K.
Dayton, OH
2/20/2008
Watched a friend's band there last year. Alright joint, I guess. They didn't throw us out after launching a full beer at our friend on stage, so it can't be all that bad, right?
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Review from Kris H.
Columbus, OH
10/11/2008
Carabar is the perfect spot to see bands. There's no cover, you can show up in a big group, or swing in by yourself to check out a band that no one else is into. By the time I hit Carabar I'm usually drinking cheap beer, and it pours pretty steadily there. And yeah, I guess a lot of hipsters go there. But as far as I can tell, that's just a class of people who don't shop at Wal-Mart. I'm not bugged.
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Review from erika s.
7/19/2010
cheap. friendly.. not pretentious. good music and better drink specials. this is the place you go to run into people you know or those you should. live music often and never over crowded. i only wish this had been there when i lived in columbus.
