Looking for a casual dinner, night out with friends or a spot for after work drinks? Check out VASO Rooftop Lounge. With endless views of the Scioto River and historic Dublin, you’ll come for the views and stay for the food.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Diamond PR to cover the grand opening of the AC Hotel Columbus Dublin. All opinions are 100% mine.
VASO Rooftop Lounge
Perched at the top of the AC Hotel Columbus Dublin, the VASO Rooftop Lounge is a Spanish-inspired rooftop restaurant and bar.
If you’re thinking, “Oh, but I don’t like Spanish food.” You haven’t had Spanish food until you’ve eaten at VASO. Every bite is perfectly seasoned. Every ingredient is thoughtfully chosen. Your taste buds will thank you.
Overlooking the Scioto River and historic Dublin, VASO Rooftop Lounge offers shareable tapas in a casually elegant setting. From gorgeous wood tables to leather chairs and suede couches, no detail has gone unnoticed. There are even purse hooks and outlets with USB ports at the bar!
Inside seating facing Bridge Park Area
Cozy seating for sharing tapas
Moscow Mule anyone?
Outside Patio
The views begin the moment you step into the glass elevator. And they don’t end once you reach the top. You’ll enjoy endless views inside or on the patio.
Pro-tip: The glass elevator is on the Northwest side of the building past the AC Lobby Lounge.
Enjoy tapas and drinks in a private cabana
Had a long day? Stretch out on one of the private cabanas.
All you need are s’mores
Or cozy up to a fire pit.
Private Dining Room
VASO’s private dining room
Want a more intimate setting for dinner? VASO Rooftop Lounge offers a private dining room that seats 25.
A Little Bit of Spain
As you step off the glass elevator you’re greeted by the hostess standing behind a gorgeous desk.
With its leather etching, metal rings, and boot rail, the desk looks like it belongs in Vaquero bar (cowboy bar).
Relax while waiting for a table
If you use the lobby elevator to get to VASO, you’re greeted with a podium hostess stand and this large leather and wood chair.
During the Grand Opening event, the artist was working on her painting.
You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy the food, drinks or views at VASO Rooftop Lounge. But you may want after reading my review of the AC Hotel Columbus Dublin.
The Food
I was fortunate to eat at VASO twice during my 2-night stay. As part of the hotel’s grand opening, servers brought tray after tray of delicious food and drinks. I worked my way down the menu, one item at a time.
Croquetas Con Salsa Picante
The vegetarian croquetas bombas are a delightful Spanish version of a hushpuppy filled with potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and some other vegetables.
Empanadas De Chorizo
The chorizo empanadas are a tiny slice of comfort food.
Tabla De Queso Y Charcuteria
Now that’s a charcuterie plate
For the Grand Opening, they laid out an entire Charcuterie table complete with freshly sliced Jamon Serrano (Serrano Ham), chorizo, Manchego Cheese, Arzula Cheese, Mahon Cheese, Crostini, grapes, nuts, olives, and toasted breads.
I love a good charcuterie plate and this did not disappoint. I couldn’t identify the orange cheese but that cheese. OMG. I would have smuggled a wheel in my suitcase if I could.
Fresh sliced Serrano Ham, does it get any better?
And who can resist fresh ham?
Flan Mousse
A special treat for the Grand Opening
The Flan Mousse isn’t on VASO’s dessert menu but it should be. Light, fluffy, airy, all the goodness of a mousse with the flavor of flan in two perfect spoonfuls.
After a fun day exploring Dublin on a food tour, we returned to VASO for dinner.
Sopa De Calabaza
butternut squash soup
We started our meal with a cup of Sopa De Calabaza (roasted butternut squash bisque) with crispy pepitas. I love everything butternut. After being outside all day, a hot cup of soup was just the ticket.
Alcachofas Rostizadas
Flavorful and light
I don’t normally like arugula salad. Because it’s usually bitter. But this roasted artichoke salad with hearts of palm and sun-dried tomatoes and lots of arugula was sublime. Instead of letting the arugula mature too long which causes the bitter taste, these arugula leaves were harvested on time.
Pan Con Ajo
a healthy snack
I’ve never been a fan of olives until I had Pan Con Ajo at VASO Rooftop Lounge. Toasted bread with garlic and grilled Manzanilla olives never tasted so good.
Salty and with some crunch and a sprinkle of cheese, I could eat Pan Con Ajo for a snack every day. Even better because olives contain oleic acid, a healthy monounsaturated fat.
Pan Con Tomate
The combination of the soft tomatoes with the toasted bread and manchego cheese created a good balance of texture with just a hint of garlic to give it flavor.
Queso A La Parilla
Grilled cheese topped with honey
Think Spanish styled grilled cheese for adults! This was AMAZING! You have not had a grilled cheese until you’ve had a queso a la Parilla. Made from super thick bread and sprinkled with Honeyrun local honey, this tapa was sweet, savory, and carb loaded. And comes with a small garnish of arugula salad.
Pollo Rostizado Con Salsa Romesco
A roasted chicken nugget for grownups
These bite-sized pieces of roasted chicken in romesco sauce with onions, piqullo peppers, and local squash is a nice choice if you want mean but don’t want to order the steak or pork.
Gambas Al Ajillo
Yum
Garlic chili peppered sauteed shrimp, do I need to say anything else? We had these on both the Grand Opening and the next night.
Entrana Con Salsa Vizcaina
for the meat and potato crowd
Looking for a meat and potato dish? The flavorful Entrana Con Salsa Vizcaina (hanger steak with a sweet red choricero pepper sauce) with roasted potatoes is sure to please meat lovers.
Flan
The flan at VASO was perfect! The custard was baked to perfection, not too jiggly, not too rigid. I could easily eat several orders of flan.
Churros Con Chocolate
These mini churros are dusted with espresso and sugar. Dip into the thick pudding-like spicy chocolate sauce for a kick. The VASO Rooftop Lounge churros were more like Mexican churros vs the churros I’ve had in Madrid, Spain. It was a bit hard to dip the churros in the sauce. It might be easier to spoon the chocolate on your churro.
As you can see we tried almost everything off the menu. And yes, we were completely stuffed. But not in that I can’t move. I feel a food coma coming way. But in the I’m stuffed but very satisfied. And my clothes still fit way.
Check out VASO Rooftop Lounge’s dinner menu.
The Drinks
As with their food, VASO takes great pride in their drinks. VASO partnered with Columbus based Watershed Distillery to create a custom gin for their G&T. The result, Four Peels Gin.
A peek behind the bar
Copper shakers
Copper shakers remove any impurities in the alcohol. And they get your drinks colder faster.
VASO designed a drip irrigation system for their Garden Stroll cocktail. The process steeps the citrus rinds and basil leaves with alcohol to enhance the flavor of the drinks.
Calimocho
Made with Tempranillo, house-made cola syrup, and carbonation, a Calimocho (also known as a Kalimotxo) is a popular drink in Spain. This Calimocho is easily drinkable with flavors that don’t clash with any of VASO’s delightful tapas. It reminded me of vermouth.
The VASO Sangria
VASO Sangria with a slice of lemon and fresh blueberries
If you only have time for one drink, choose the VASO Sangria.
The VASO Sangria (red, white, or sparkling) is the VASO’s signature drink. Having only had red sangria, the VASO Sangria was a pleasant surprise. Perfectly blended, not too sweet, and like the Calimocho pairs well with everyone on the menu. If you like Cava, you’ll love the sparkling version.
While I didn’t try drinking it by Porron but I received a small Porron as a collectible and the VASO Sangria recipe.
Porron of VASO Sangria
Fill ‘er up
Pro-tip: A glass of VASO Sangria is $8. But a Parron (at least 4 glasses) is only $25.
G&T
General Manager Orcun Turkay presenting a G&T
You haven’t had a gin and tonic until you’ve had the G&T at VASO. The G&T at VASO uses custom-made Four Peels gin from Columbus’ own Watershed Distillery, a spray of baby’s breath, tonic syrup, soda, and some bitters. It’s an experience not to be missed.
Just a little dab of baby’s breath will do ya
Although sometimes, the spray of baby’s breath is corsage sized…
Gin and tonic
Someone got a little heavy handed with the baby’s breath
Garden Stroll
Basil, it’s not just for food
The Garden Stroll was an intriguing drink made with Titos vodka, basil, eau de vie, apricot brandy, and lime. To get the right flavor the basil steeps in the vodka for days using a special beaker system.
Check out VASO’s drink menu.
Conclusion
From internationally inspired food to handcrafted inventive cocktails, VASO Rooftop Lounge is a great location for any event.
With endless views of the Scioto River, historic downtown Dublin, be sure to arrive early to enjoy the sunset. Or stake out your claim to a firepit or cabana.
Plan on sharing because tapa portions are generous and meant to be shared. If it’s chilly or you need some comfort food start with the Queso A La Parilla or the Empanadas de Chorizo. Be sure to save room for some flan or churros con chocolate.
Park in the AC Hotel Columbus Dublin‘s parking structure for free or on the street.
VASO Rooftop Lounge
6540 Riverside Drive, Dublin, OH 43017
614-698-2525
4pm to midnight daily
Bar closes late.
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Siddhartha Joshi
Wednesday 13th of December 2017
Well, I already love Spanish food so I won't need any convincing to go up there! The views are gorgeous and the food looks delicious...but dinner is certainly the drinks here :)
Anita Hendrieka
Wednesday 13th of December 2017
I will definitely have to have dinner here next time I'm in the area. I love the look of the vegetarian croquetas. Actually, I love the look of all the food and drinks! Seems like a great place to chill out and get a great view of the sunset
Jennifer Melroy
Tuesday 12th of December 2017
With all those copper mugs, I want to know how the mule's are?
I love all the creative drinks. That one with the flowers look amazing.
The lounge has very nice city views. I would love to do a sunset time lapse here.
Hazel Tolentino
Tuesday 12th of December 2017
Rooftop bars, restos, or lounges, I love them. They make you see the world from a different perspective. And may I just say that after reading the post, I had to go back and look at the photos, again? Haha. Your shots are great! And the place is so beautiful. My favorite is the Moscow Mule!
Suruchi
Tuesday 12th of December 2017
Rooftop lounge with views always makes up your day and Vaso is a perfect example of it. The Lounge has a perfect setting and in particular, I liked that wooden desk with rings. The food and drinks too have good presentation and look quite yummy. Thanks for sharing the wonderful review.