Entry No. 17 — the Columbus file — filed under: speakeasy
Switch
Tucked underneath the Railhouse Bar in the East Market—a beautifully restored historic trolley barn—this cozy, brick-lined speakeasy requires a password to enter. The intimate space pays homage to Columbus' transit history with vintage maps and trolley memorabilia.
The story
You don't just walk into Switch; you print your way in. The bar sits beneath the East Market at 212 Kelton Avenue, tucked inside a restored historic trolley barn in Olde Town East. To get downstairs, you first have to visit The Railhouse on the main hall floor. Order a drink, take your paper receipt, and check the bottom of the slip—that's where you'll find the printed password for the night.
Take the stairs down to the lower level, whisper the code to the door keeper, and step into a dark, brick-lined cellar. The walls are decked out with vintage transit maps and historic trolley memorabilia that nod to the building's streetcar-yard past. Inside, the focus shifts from rail transit to high-proof spirits: flights of top-shelf bourbon, craft cocktails, and late-night Manhattans served tucked away from the crowds upstairs.
What it's like
Arriving feels like stepping out of a bustling food hall and into subterranean transit history. Once you clear the door keeper with your receipt code, you enter an intimate, brick-walled space that can fill up quickly on weekend nights. Grab a spot near the old maps, order a bourbon flight or a Manhattan, and settle in. Check current hours before heading out, as schedules can vary.
The move: Grab a drink at the Railhouse Bar upstairs to receive a receipt with the secret code word printed on the bottom, then head downstairs, whisper the password to the door keeper, and enjoy a flight of top-shelf bourbon.
- 📍 Olde Town East
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 212 Kelton Ave, Columbus, OH 43205
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Afterlife Oddities & Tattoos — Pair your subterranean bourbon flight with a browse through real taxidermy and oddities less than a mile away on the Near East Side.
- The Sacred Palm — Compare Columbus speakeasies by trading trolley barn cellar vibes for a secret tiki lounge hidden behind a pizza parlor's walk-in freezer door.
- Sotto Terra at The Sanctuary — Keep the underground drinking theme going by moving from a former trolley barn basement to a gothic lounge underneath a historic church.
Good to know
How do I get the password to get into Switch?
Buy a drink at The Railhouse bar upstairs in the East Market. The password for Switch is printed at the bottom of your itemized paper receipt.
Where is Switch located?
It is on the lower level directly underneath The Railhouse at 212 Kelton Ave in Columbus's Olde Town East neighborhood.
What drinks does Switch serve?
Switch focuses on top-shelf bourbons, whiskey flights, craft cocktails, and classic drinks like Manhattans.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: eastmarketcolumbus.com · breakfastwithnick.com · columbusunderground.com · experiencecolumbus.com · Instagram · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21