8 things to know about the Hilton's new tower in downtown Columbus

Taijuan Moorman, The Columbus Dispatch

October 15, 2022 at 4:13 AM·4 min read

After three years, Hilton Columbus Downtown has finally opened the doors to its second tower, officially becoming the largest hotel in Ohio and the tallest new building in Columbus in more than 30 years.

Despite some delays, the hotel at 402 N. High St., began booking guests last month. Hilton debuted the hotel to local media Thursday and on Friday will open its signature restaurant, FYR.

Here are eight things you should know about the much-anticipated new tower:

The inside of a two-room suite inside the second tower of the Hilton Columbus Downtown on North High Street.

1. It's the largest hotel in Ohio

The tower adds an additional 468 rooms to the hotel's existing 532 rooms, making it Ohio's first 1,000-room hotel. That also includes sections of the upper floors, which be closed off to form clusters of hotel rooms for large families or sports teams, and 85 suites ranging from junior to corner one-bedroom units, some with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking High Street.

Hilton Columbus Downtown debuted its new second tower on North High Street Thursday. The 28-story tower includes a new restaurant and bar, meeting spaces and an additional 532 new rooms, putting the hotel's total at 1,000 rooms, making Hilton Columbus Downtown the largest in Ohio.

2. It's the tallest new building in Columbus, for now

The new Hilton tower is 28 stories high, and is the tallest new building opened in Columbus since the William Green office tower opened in 1990 at 30 W. Spring St. The Hilton may soon be overtaken, however, with the proposed 32-story Merchant Building planned just up the street at the North Market redevelopment.

Oct. 13, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Fyr Short North is the restaurant and bar inside the second tower of the Hilton Columbus Downtown on North High Street. Mandatory Credit: Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

3. The tower features four new dining concepts, three led by a Michelin-recognized chef

The new tower includes three new restaurant concepts — FYR, Spark and Stories on High, and a grab-and-go concept, The Market.

Michelin-recognized executive chef Sebastian La Rocca, who relocated to Ohio from Costa Rica, will lead the three restaurant concepts.

Set to be the tallest rooftop bar in Columbus, according to Hilton, Stories on High will include two outdoor terraces, a "cocktail-forward" food and drink menu, and a 360-degree view of the city 28 stories above High Street. The bar is expected to open early next year, after the holidays, said Hilton Columbus Downtown general manager Chris Coffin.

Located on the tower's lobby level, Spark will feature a Midwest-driven menu with classic cocktails and locally sourced brews, and The Market will be a grab-and-go option also connected to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

4. The hotel's signature restaurant, FYR, opens Friday

Hilton's street-level signature restaurant, FYR, is set to open Friday.

The restaurant features a menu of American fare with Latin influence cooked over a wood-burning grill. The restaurant's breakfast menu includes dishes like avocado toast, Belgian waffles, a smoked salmon breakfast bowl and fried chicken and waffles, while the dinner menu includes cured duck breast, ember cooked shrimp, filet mignon, roasted cauliflower and wild mushroom pizza.

The restaurant also has wine, beer and cocktail programs. The menu includes seasonal and locally sourced meat and produce, including charcuterie from North Country Charcuterie and sourdough from Buckeye Bread.

Ossobuco empanadas from Fyr Short North, the restaurant and bar inside the second tower of the Hilton Columbus Downtown on North High Street.

A meeting space inside the second tower of the Hilton Columbus Downtown on North High Street.

5. It has one of the largest hotel ballrooms in Columbus

The hotel now contains 75,000 square feet of meeting space including three ballrooms. Officials said the Hilton now has one of the largest ballrooms in Columbus, at 15,000 square feet, on top of a second ballroom that is 10,000 square feet. 9. Both are connected by an enclosed pedestrian bridge to the previously built ballroom in Hilton's first tower.

Other large ballrooms include the 25,000-square-foot Union Station Ballroom and the 74,000-square-foot Battelle Grand Ballroom at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

6. Works from Columbus-area artists adds to total $2.5M collection

Hilton's new tower will add nearly 200 pieces of original art by Columbus-area artists, bringing the hotel's collection to nearly 400 pieces across both towers worth a total $2.5 million. Hilton also worked with the Columbus Fashion Alliance on new uniforms for Hilton's front desk, restaurant and bar staff.

The lobby of the Hilton Columbus Downtown on North High Street.

7. The hotel will grow its own vegetables

The new LEED Gold Certified tower has a few features focused on sustainability, including a full recycling program, "bulk" amenities to reduce single-use plastics by 50%, and boasts energy-efficient mechanical systems, water fixtures, lighting and construction. The hotel also has a green roof on its seventh floor, which includes a rainwater runoff and space to grow its own vegetables and herbs, Coffin said, and eventually will host honeybees.

A two-room suite inside the second tower of the Hilton Columbus Downtown on North High Street.

8. New tower to have 'huge impact' on local economy, hotel GM says

Sitting next to the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the new Hilton tower will be a major selling point for national conventions, major events and tourism, Officials with the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, which operates the convention center and Nationwide Arena, have previously said they expect the addition of the second tower to the Hilton hotel to attract bigger conventions that will provide a boost to Columbus' economy.

"We've created a great hotel package that provides different price points, but can consolidate a large, citywide group into one area," said Coffin. "It allows us to bring bigger groups and more groups to the city, to experience everything the city has to offer."