The 18th Amendment’s Bootlegger’s Ball Is the Place to Be This NYE
There’s something about The 18th Amendment that separates it from every other bar in Columbus—and it’s not just the dim lighting or the polished wood or the fact that it’s a speakeasy hiding in plain sight. It’s the way the place feels when you step inside, like you’ve slipped past the noise of the world and into a pocket of time where people still talk to each other, cocktails are crafted instead of poured, and midnight actually means something.
On Wednesday, December 31, that atmosphere sharpens into something even more deliberate. Each year, The 18th Amendment (1026 Broadway) chooses a new identity for its New Year’s Eve celebration—a fresh theme, a new story, a different flavor of mischief. This year, that identity is The Bootlegger’s Ball, and if you’ve been around Columbus long enough, you already know these NYE nights have their own gravity. It’s the kind of event insiders quietly reserve early, the kind people say, “Trust me—go,” with a tone that tells you they’re not exaggerating.
If you’ve never ventured inside, you should know this place has layers. The front of the building is a full cigar shop—legit, well-stocked, and staffed by people who know their craft. It serves as both a business and the perfect cover, a nod to the hidden-room tradition that inspired the bar’s concept in the first place.
But behind that door? That’s where the real story begins.
The speakeasy itself feels like a tucked-away parlor built by someone who believes nightlife should still have character. And what surprises most first-timers is what they don’t notice: smoke. Despite the cigar lounge out front, The 18th Amendment’s air purification system is so advanced that you can spend hours inside and walk out without carrying a trace of the shop’s aroma. It’s a small miracle of engineering that allows the speakeasy to keep its identity without sending guests home smelling like they spent the evening beside a roaring fireplace.
It’s the kind of detail that tells you exactly how seriously the venue takes the guest experience—something that becomes even more pronounced on New Year’s Eve…