Dining & Drinking
Though she may be a bit biased, Maddy recommends the Sycamore, a revived version of the Sycamore Café, an old German Village institution that opened in 1936. "Regulars of the old Sycamore will tell stories of what it used to be like," Maddy says. "Everything [in German Village] has so much history because it's been here so long." They source as much locally as possible, and whatever they can't get in Ohio they keep domestic. "We're trying to keep it local and crafty," which includes their four craft beers on tap. Owner Chris Crader also owns Harvest Pizzeria in German Village, an exceptional artisan pizzeria that also uses locally-sourced ingredients, and Curio, the craft cocktail bar attached to Harvest. Lindey's Restaurant & Bar is another German Village favorite, great for happy hour cocktails, late night bites, and Sunday brunches.
 
Brown Bag Deli is a popular locals spot that has been around for 50 years. Be prepared to wait, because they're almost always busy. Jewish deli Katzinger's Delicatessen has also been around for decades, another German Village iconic institution. They source meats and cheeses from all over the United States and the world, and they make their sandwiches on fresh bread from a local baker. They have a huge menu of sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts, so you can try something new every time. For a classic burger joint and hangout bar, check out Club 185, yet another place that "has been there forever."
 
The Great Outdoors
The centerpiece of German Village is Schiller Park, a beautifully landscaped park with tennis courts that is very dog-friendly. "It's such a dog-friendly neighborhood; there are dogs everywhere," Maddy says. She says that people have picnics in the park and on beautiful days in the summer and fall, the park is packed full of people.
 
People in German Village are very physically active. There are a lot of cyclists and runners, with trails all along the Olentangy River for running and biking. "It's a nice place to hang out and a nice place to run. It's very beautiful." There are also 5k events regularly held through the Village. The city of Columbus also has a bike sharing program called CoGo; there are over 80 computerized bike rental kiosks located throughout the city, including in German Village.
 
German Village is also known for its stunning gardens, frequently appearing in national publications and attracting tourists from around the country.
 
Annual Events
Take a tour of the famous gardens of German Village at the annual Haus und Garten tours held every June. Other annual events worth checking out are the Art Crawl in July, the Monster Bash in October, and Village Lights every December.
 
Retail Therapy
The Book Loft is one of the highlights of German Village. It's a 36-room bookstore and each nook has a different theme. There's a Cup o Joe next door and a Starbucks across the street, so you can grab a copy and enjoy one of the countless books inside.