Guidebook for Athens
Parks & Nature
Great hiking very close to town. When you get to the top, there are some huge rocks you can climb around on. Not as dramatic as Hocking Hills but very pretty, and very convenient!
16 locals recommend
Sells Park
Avon PlaceGreat hiking very close to town. When you get to the top, there are some huge rocks you can climb around on. Not as dramatic as Hocking Hills but very pretty, and very convenient!
Good hiking around the lake, plus boating, fishing, hunting, and swimming. Recently added a graded trail accessible to people with mobility issues, including those in wheelchairs. Very close to Athens, too.
46 locals recommend
Strouds Run State Park
11661 State Park RdGood hiking around the lake, plus boating, fishing, hunting, and swimming. Recently added a graded trail accessible to people with mobility issues, including those in wheelchairs. Very close to Athens, too.
The second-largest state forest in Ohio, with a working sawmill, trails, Native American mounds, a horse camp, and much more.
10 locals recommend
Zaleski State Forest
Ohio 278The second-largest state forest in Ohio, with a working sawmill, trails, Native American mounds, a horse camp, and much more.
This place is great for hiking and recreational activities like kayaking and paddle boarding.
56 locals recommend
Lake Hope State Park
27331 Ohio 278This place is great for hiking and recreational activities like kayaking and paddle boarding.
Arts & Culture
Music + art + nature. Technically in Meigs County but quintessentially Athens!
13 locals recommend
Fur Peace Ranch
39495 St Clair RdMusic + art + nature. Technically in Meigs County but quintessentially Athens!
Entertainment & Activities
This historic theater is where the "good" movies are shown. Frequent special features include series focused on science, food, sustainability, and more. The annual Athens Film Festival is held here each April.
10 locals recommend
The Athena Cinema
20 S Court StThis historic theater is where the "good" movies are shown. Frequent special features include series focused on science, food, sustainability, and more. The annual Athens Film Festival is held here each April.
Food Scene
Athens' very best pizza. Voted Best Pizza *every single year since they opened* 15 years ago. Several surprisingly good wacky specialty pizzas on the menu, but the best kept secret is their three pizza deal. Gluten free pizza & subs available, among many other treats. Delivery or to go, no seating.
20 locals recommend
Avalanche Pizza
329 E State StAthens' very best pizza. Voted Best Pizza *every single year since they opened* 15 years ago. Several surprisingly good wacky specialty pizzas on the menu, but the best kept secret is their three pizza deal. Gluten free pizza & subs available, among many other treats. Delivery or to go, no seating.
The restaurant half of Athens' beloved Casa. A worker-owned co-op featuring Mexican-inspired food with vegan & gluten-free options. Can get very busy at times, call/plan ahead!
64 locals recommend
Casa Nueva
4 W State StThe restaurant half of Athens' beloved Casa. A worker-owned co-op featuring Mexican-inspired food with vegan & gluten-free options. Can get very busy at times, call/plan ahead!
One of Athens' few 24 restaurants, and the only one that isn't a chain. Popular with students & alumni, huge menu.
7 locals recommend
Union Street Diner
70 W Union StOne of Athens' few 24 restaurants, and the only one that isn't a chain. Popular with students & alumni, huge menu.
Great Thai food at killer prices. Outdoor seating available. A personal favorite of our booking agent, Stacie.
8 locals recommend
Thai Paradise
102 W Union StGreat Thai food at killer prices. Outdoor seating available. A personal favorite of our booking agent, Stacie.
Old-fashioned fried chicken, eat-in or to go. Order by the piece or get a meal with classic sides. Fried fish and breakfast, too. Locals love it and visitors are never disappointed. You can even get hearts, livers, and gizzards, if you're into that.
10 locals recommend
Miller's Chicken
235 W State StOld-fashioned fried chicken, eat-in or to go. Order by the piece or get a meal with classic sides. Fried fish and breakfast, too. Locals love it and visitors are never disappointed. You can even get hearts, livers, and gizzards, if you're into that.
Great healthy food and top-notch baked goods sold by the piece, including vegan options. A good place to buy yourself a treat or a good bottle of wine. The students go to Donkey, but the profs go to the Bakery!
26 locals recommend
Village Bakery & Café
268 E State StGreat healthy food and top-notch baked goods sold by the piece, including vegan options. A good place to buy yourself a treat or a good bottle of wine. The students go to Donkey, but the profs go to the Bakery!
Some say it's the best coffee in town. Some say those folks are wrong - it's the best in the STATE! Funky, welcoming atmosphere and late hours make Donkey a college-town favorite.
24 locals recommend
Donkey Coffee
17 W Washington StSome say it's the best coffee in town. Some say those folks are wrong - it's the best in the STATE! Funky, welcoming atmosphere and late hours make Donkey a college-town favorite.
Catalyst Café
540 W Union StGreat coffee with view of the Hocking River. Closes kind of early.
Essentials
Athens' favorite health food store, with groceries, vitamins, and a deli serving smoothies, sandwiches, and vegan cake by the slice.
10 locals recommend
The Farmacy
28 W Stimson AveAthens' favorite health food store, with groceries, vitamins, and a deli serving smoothies, sandwiches, and vegan cake by the slice.
Unique independent grocery known for their meat counter. If you want a good steak to throw on the grill, this is the place.
8 locals recommend
Seaman's Cardinal Super Market
305 W Union StUnique independent grocery known for their meat counter. If you want a good steak to throw on the grill, this is the place.
Walmart Supercenter
929 E State StThe only 24 hour grocery.
Kroger
919 E State StOpens at 6 AM, closes at 1 AM.
Drinks & Nightlife
The townie/rock bar. Basically two bars, really: downstairs, and upstairs, where the stage is. Books some KILLER shows! Lots of great beers, of course, and spacious rear patio with outdoor seating added in 2017.
The Union
18 W Union StThe townie/rock bar. Basically two bars, really: downstairs, and upstairs, where the stage is. Books some KILLER shows! Lots of great beers, of course, and spacious rear patio with outdoor seating added in 2017.
More chill than the uptown location, serving their famous craft brews. Growlers available.
32 locals recommend
Jackie O's Taproom & Production Brewery
25 Campbell StMore chill than the uptown location, serving their famous craft brews. Growlers available.
Craft cocktails made from locally brewed spirits, plus mead, craft beer, and house-brewed cider. Relaxed atmosphere with indoor & outdoor seating. The perfect escape from rowdy student bars, this is a townie favorite.
17 locals recommend
West End Cider House
234 W Washington StCraft cocktails made from locally brewed spirits, plus mead, craft beer, and house-brewed cider. Relaxed atmosphere with indoor & outdoor seating. The perfect escape from rowdy student bars, this is a townie favorite.
Great craft beer brewed from locally sourced ingredients. Fond of saisons & sours, with a family-friendly beer garden and convenient proximity to the bike path. Live music sometimes, and events that include jam sessions, yoga, kids' days, and even an owl night once.
51 locals recommend
Little Fish Brewing Co.
8675 Armitage RdGreat craft beer brewed from locally sourced ingredients. Fond of saisons & sours, with a family-friendly beer garden and convenient proximity to the bike path. Live music sometimes, and events that include jam sessions, yoga, kids' days, and even an owl night once.
Shade Winery
401 Gilkey Ridge RdBeautiful place to have a glass of locally-produced wine.
Delicious beer, including a variety brewed with hops from our own Morning Dew Hop Farm, where our other cabin is located. They also serve homemade root beer and ginger ale.
21 locals recommend
Devil's Kettle Brewing
97 Columbus RdDelicious beer, including a variety brewed with hops from our own Morning Dew Hop Farm, where our other cabin is located. They also serve homemade root beer and ginger ale.
This is a great place to grab a craft beer and some food! Excellent pizza, too, and great drink specials.
41 locals recommend
Jackie O's Public House & Brewpub
22 W Union StThis is a great place to grab a craft beer and some food! Excellent pizza, too, and great drink specials.
Sightseeing
Easier to find and busier than King's Hollow, but just as worthwhile. This historic brick train tunnel is rumored to be haunted... but haunted or not, the scenery is beautiful. The focus of an annual festival held each October.
18 locals recommend
Moonville Tunnel
Hope-Moonville RoadEasier to find and busier than King's Hollow, but just as worthwhile. This historic brick train tunnel is rumored to be haunted... but haunted or not, the scenery is beautiful. The focus of an annual festival held each October.
Disused 1855 train tunnel built of massive timbers, once part of the B&O rail line. Located on the eventually-to-be-paved Moonville Rail Trail, it is hard to find but well worth the effort. Flashlights a must at night.
King's Hollow Tunnel
Township Highway 21Disused 1855 train tunnel built of massive timbers, once part of the B&O rail line. Located on the eventually-to-be-paved Moonville Rail Trail, it is hard to find but well worth the effort. Flashlights a must at night.