May 24, 2026, 6:01 a.m. ET
- Columbus’ Short North neighborhood is evolving from a late-night district to an all-day destination.
- Two new breakfast spots, Rooh and Maison Skalli, have recently opened, increasing morning activity.
- The area now offers a variety of sit-down breakfast and brunch locations, from upscale to casual.
Come morning, the Short North is an entirely different place.
There’s no bass thumping during the first light of day, and there’s no shouting from stragglers trying to catch up with their group. No one is dressed to the nines at 9 a.m., just fives or sixes, tops, if it’s a workday.
And you can find parking – on the street, often right in front of where you’re going.
Increasingly, though, there’s more demand in the morning for the neighborhood’s precious parking spots. Two new breakfast destinations in the area that made its name as Columbus’ late-night party district have added to the Short North’s more recent image as a neighborhood that never sleeps.
Or at least wakes up a lot earlier than it used to.
New breakfast spots in ‘ever-evolving’ Short North
“It’s ever-evolving. We really are an 18-hour-a-day neighborhood,” said Betsy Pandora, president and CEO of the Short North Alliance, an organization of neighborhood businesses. “People love their breakfast in the Short North. They love their brunch even more.”
In April, breakfast options expanded when Indian restaurant Rooh added a breakfast lineup of sandwiches and savory croissants, pastries, coffee, specialty drinks, and cocktails that are as modern, creative and elegant as its nighttime menu.
The next day, Maison Skalli, a French-Moroccan bakery and cafe that opened in Dublin in 2024, added a Short North location across from Rooh on North High Street. Its menu includes breakfast dishes such as smoked salmon and poached eggs with hollandaise sauce on a split croissant, sautéed mushrooms on toast, and a variety of pastries and filled croissants.
Although sofas, coffee tables and muted décor in both restaurants invite long visits, customers so far have been drawn in more for food, drink and morning catch-ups than the comfortable spaces to open the laptop and do some work.
Rooh co-owner Yash Kishinchand said he welcomes both remote workers and in-real-time socializers. Although Mornings by Rooh is modeled after a cafe called Swadesi that he co-owns in Chicago, the Columbus version melds better with the host restaurant’s calm vibe.
It’s a pop-up, Kishinchand said, meaning he’s seeing how it goes before committing to the idea long-term.
Mornings by Rooh is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to early afternoon. Maison Skalli is open seven days a week.
5 places to start your day in the Short North
Here are five places in the Short North where you can sit down and enjoy a good breakfast.
The Guild House: The restaurant at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph hotel offers a big brunch menu on weekends, but it certainly doesn’t skimp Mondays through Fridays. Dishes such as a Benedict-like lobster on toast and a hash that includes pork cheek and mornay sauce raise the bar. Details: 624 N. High St.; 614-280-9780; theguildhousecolumbus.com
The Lox Bagel Shop: Praised by Bon Appétit and Food & Wine magazines as some of the best bagels in America, Lox uses its specialty (a mix of New York’s soft and Montreal’s crusty styles) for top-notch schmears and both breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Whether you like fish or eat vegan, try The Lox; it comes in two versions. Details: 772 N. High St.; 614-824-4005; theloxbagelshop.com
Mornings by Rooh: Pastry is Kishinchand’s specialty, and it’s front and and center on Rooh’s breakfast menu. Try one of the croissants – the lobster yuzu option is super-indulgent (and pricey at $30) – but don’t skip the equally delicious drinks. If you’re up for a morning cocktail, try the matcha martini. Details: 685 N. High St.; 614-972-8678; roohcolumbus.com
Maison Skalli: From mint tea and flatbreads served with honey cream cheese and black olives to lattes and pain perdu, owner Chouaib Eskalli’s menu includes lots of Moroccan and French influences. There’s a bit of Instagram culture, as well, with photogenic (and delicious) crepes, coffees and croissants. Details: 662 N. High St.; 614-376-0155; instagram.com/maisonskalli
Northstar: Looking for healthy? Northstar has a green smoothie with organic kale, pineapple, orange juice, and banana. But if you’d rather have biscuits and sausage gravy, ricotta pancakes or cookies as big as a dinner plate, we won’t tell. Details: 951 N. High St.; 614-298-9999; thenorthstarcafe.com
Places to grab a coffee in the Short North
If you just have time for a coffee and a quick bite, here are some options for you.
Follow Dispatch dining reporter Bob Vitale on Instagram at @dispatchdining. You can reach him directly at rvitale@dispatch.com.
