Date night
Date Night in Downtown Columbus: Trade the Usual Dinner for Tiki Vibes
By Huli Huli Downtown
Sometimes the best way to change up date night is to change the setting. Huli Huli Downtown puts tropical drinks, a distinctive tiki interior, and a full food menu into a downtown Columbus evening. Treat this as a flexible itinerary, not a schedule you have to rush through.
Begin with something downtown
Choose a nearby downtown activity that fits the weather and your interests, then make Huli Huli your food-and-drink stop. The Ohio Theatre at 39 E. State St is an option for a scheduled performance. In suitable weather, the Scioto Mile Promenade offers river overlooks and skyline views, while Columbus Commons is another downtown stop for a stroll or a scheduled park event. Confirm opening hours, ticket availability, and travel time directly with the destination; a nearby activity is not necessarily open late.
Choose two different flavor directions
For cocktails for two in Columbus, the menu makes it easy to order contrasting flavors. The Mai Tai leans on rum, lime, curaçao, and almond orgeat. Aloha Aina brings pineapple, lime, macadamia liqueur, and taro/ube coconut cream into a different tropical direction. Both include nut ingredients, so discuss allergies before ordering.
The menu also lists a Boodle Bowl intended to serve two to four, with rums, vodka, Japanese falernum, kalamansi, lime, ube syrup, and prosecco. Sharing a presentation is optional, not a requirement for a good date. Individual drinks—or non-alcoholic selections—work just as well.
Make food part of the conversation
Start with something easy to divide, such as six veggie potstickers, eight coconut shrimp, or edamame. Then decide whether to continue with bao buns or order Hawaiian plates, which include rice and mac salad. Check the current menu together rather than guessing what the kitchen has.
An unusual setting can be its own conversation starter: look for bamboo, tiki carvings, and the glowing fireplace. Sound levels and seating can vary, so if a quieter table is important, ask the team what is possible that evening.
Leave room to linger—and get home safely
Monday is closed. Sunday and Tuesday–Thursday close at 10 PM; Friday and Saturday close at midnight. All open days start at 11:30 AM. Plan your activity and meal around those hours, not around an assumed late kitchen service.
For unique date ideas in Columbus, the goal is not a packed checklist. One activity, a shared meal, and time together can be enough. Arrange transportation before drinking, and call (614) 910-2225 with questions about your visit.