Feeling hungry and thirsty after long miles of biking the Ohio to Erie Trail? Want to browse unique shops and soak up some local history and culture? A quick exit off the Ohio to Erie Trail leads to food, drinks and fun! Satisfy your appetite — and stretch your legs —  with a stop in Uptown Westerville!

Dozens of restaurants, cafés, breweries and one-of-a-kind retailers make charming, historic Uptown a friendly oasis to spend an hour or two. Reaching Uptown by bike from the trail is quick, safe and easy.

State Street, the main artery through Uptown, runs roughly parallel to the OTET, about two blocks west of the trail. Cyclists can connect to State Street in less than 2 minutes via several low-traffic side streets and spur trails. Choose the connector that’s close to your destination, then walk your bike along State Street to one of the nearby racks. Additional racks are just off State Street. The Westerville Bike Depot, along the trail at
Hanby Park, has four free bike lockers.

Find your way around by using Visit Westerville’s cyclist-oriented interactive map. It shows you suggested connectors and has layers you can toggle on and off to show various types of Uptown businesses, bike facilities and other features. Click on the
map’s icons for details.

Now that your bike is parked and secured, it’s time to explore!

If eating and drinking is your priority, you’ve come to the right place. Use the interactive map and our Uptown dining guide to find a destination to satisfy your craving. Many have outdoor seating.

Some casual, quick-service Uptown spots popular with cyclists include:

BEER & DRINKS:

• Fattey Beer Co., - a brewery and beer store in the heart of Uptown
• North High Brewing - along the trail, just South of Uptown and on the Columbus Ale Trail
• Temperance Row/Uptown Deli - the first brewery after the city began allowing alcohol sales again in 2006. Also on the Columbus Ale Trail
• High Banks Distillery - opened in August in the historic former post office
• Good Vibes Winery or Meza Wine Shop - wine by the glass or purchase a bottle

TACOS:

• Flavor & Fire - a brand new store that sells a “walking taco” and more
• Los Altos Mexican Bar & Grill - in the former 8 State theater, has a full menu of Mexican dishes

ICE CREAM:

• Graeter’s Ice Cream
• Dairy Queen
• Whit’s Frozen Custard

DONUTS & COFFEE:

• Schneider’s Bakery - an Uptown institution since 1960, with handcrafted pastries and baked goods made fresh daily
• Espresso Air - a favorite for hot and cold beverages and baked treats
• Java Central Coffee Roasters - Uptown coffee shop with coffees, teas and breakfast items and on the Columbus Coffee Trail
• Begin Café - opening in late 2024

  

But there’s much more on the menu Uptown than food and beverages. A stroll will take you past boutiques, art galleries, and culinary-ingredient shops. And you’ll see historic buildings, public art, and dozens of plaques, sculptures, murals and monuments that document the city’s rich and colorful past. It’s a feast for the eyes!

HISTORY

Keep an eye out for the 37 beautiful, bronze historic plaques, honoring and commemorating the recognized historic value of Uptown buildings. This page tells about the plaques and has an interactive map.

SHOPPING

Read our post about “Westerville’s Eclectic Shopping: from and see a directory of Uptown shops here.

ART GALLERIES AND STUDIOS

Daylight Artist Collective (above Good Vibes Winery), David Myers Art Gallery (on W. Main Street) and Ohio Art Market sells art and handmade goods made by Ohio artists. Learn more about Arts and Culture in Westerville.

PUBLIC ART

This map shows locations of sculptures, murals and monuments.

The side trip off the OTET to Uptown is short, but the enjoyable memories you make will be long-lasting!

By Jeff Pierron

CYCLIST RESOURCES FOR UPTOWN

Check out Visit Westerville’s CYCLIST-ORIENTED INTERACTIVE MAP with layers that toggle on and off to show and hide food and drink establishments, bike repair and services, bike parking and public restrooms, parks and major landmarks, selected services and retail, OTET-to-State St. connectors, the Ohio to Erie trail, and Uptown boundaries. Click on the icons for details. Works best on a desktop computer.

OTHER HELPFUL MAPS

UPTOWN DIRECTORY AND MAP from the Westerville Uptown Merchants Assocation with listings and a map showing Uptown restaurants, shops, galleries, services, parking and more.

UPTOWN PARKING MAP including locations of bike racks.

MAP & GUIDE to Westerville’s recreational trail system.

WALKING TOUR GUIDE to “Public Art in Westerville Spaces” with a map showing sculptures, murals and monuments.

INTERACTIVE MAP showing locations of 37 historical plaques Uptown and information about sites on the National Registry of Historic Places.