Sometimes the best outings aren't part of some massive, structured itinerary. A new coffee shop, interesting drinks, delicious food and time to catch up can be more than enough to make a trip memorable.
My youngest daughter and I recently stopped at Matari Coffee in Columbus, Ohio, a Yemeni coffee shop near The Ohio State University. We spend quite a bit of time in the Columbus area and love finding new restaurants, coffee shops and unique little stops to fit into our visits.
If you're looking for a distinctive coffee shop to add to a Columbus day trip—or just somewhere different to meet for coffee near Ohio State—Matari is an easy stop to work into your plans.
Quick Trip Details
Where: Columbus, Ohio, near The Ohio State University
What: Yemeni coffee shop with specialty coffee, tea and desserts
Parking: Free parking lot
Best For: Coffee dates, casual meet-ups, studying or a Columbus day trip stop
Good to Know: Matari stays open later than many traditional coffee shops
Why We Chose Matari Coffee in Columbus
My daughter's daily schedule is pretty packed, so finding time to meet can be tough. Coffee shops are often our go-to option. We can grab a quick breakfast or meet for an afternoon stop between activities. Luckily, the Columbus area has no shortage of coffee spots—the hard part is usually choosing just one!
She had gone to Matari Coffee several weeks earlier with a friend and was excited to share it with me during one of our planned morning coffee get-togethers.
Matari Coffee seemed especially interesting because it offered several drink and flavor combinations we don't normally see at our usual coffee shops. While my daughter had tried Yemeni flavors and drinks before, I hadn't, so I was excited to try something new.
Our First Impression of Matari Coffee
Matari Coffee is located in a strip mall along Olentangy River Road, a short drive from The Ohio State University area. We visited on a football game day—and if you know Buckeye football, you know that brings a little extra chaos to campus—but it was still early in the day, so the area was pretty calm.
We were met with smiles from the moment we entered. The staff was friendly, welcoming and seemed genuinely excited to share the shop and the menu with us.
Matari Coffee has a relaxing, modern and polished feel, with plenty of seating and an atmosphere that seems designed for people who want to stay awhile rather than rush in, grab a drink and leave.
The dessert and pastry case, filled with beautiful options, draws you in immediately and definitely pulls your attention away from the menu board!
While ordering decisions may be difficult, the actual ordering process is simple. You place your order at the counter and receive a buzzer that alerts you when it's time to pick it up. No shouting through the shop, no need to listen for your name or wonder how many "Maddy" orders are in the works!
The shop wasn't very busy during our early visit, but the dining area is spacious and comfortable, quiet enough to talk and relaxing with soothing music playing in the background. My daughter definitely has plans to return to study in the future.
What We Ordered at Matari Coffee—and What We Thought
With so many specialty choices on the menu, this did not feel like the place to order our usual go-to drinks automatically.
My Drink
I ordered the Matari Tea, a hot green tea with Himalayan pink salt, milk and spices, topped with roasted pistachios. It was beautifully presented, and I would definitely order it again. But I also want to try so many of the other drinks on their menu!
My Daughter's Drink
My daughter chose a simple latte.
She planned to try one of the other options, but ultimately settled on the same drink she ordered during her last visit because she enjoyed it so much. Her latte was also beautifully presented.
What We Ate
We ordered the Honey Cake, a beautifully presented dessert with layers of moist pastry and a sweet, creamy filling.
We shared the slice of cake—and we would order it again. And again.
Several other things on the menu caught our attention, so even before we left, we already had a few ideas for what we might try on a future visit.
We enjoyed the flavors, and the pricing seemed pretty typical for many coffee shops in the campus area.
What Made Matari Coffee Memorable
What stood out most to me was the variety of food and drink offerings. There really seems to be something for everyone.
Whether you want a more familiar coffee-shop drink or you want to explore Yemeni-style coffee, tea and flavors, Matari offers a nice mix for friends and families gathering around the same table.
The staff was wonderful. They were excited to share with us and welcome us into their shop. Their care and attention to the details of the drinks were apparent. They wanted to excite us—to please us and give us a great experience.
And that kind of personal interaction matters. A beautiful drink is one thing, but feeling genuinely welcomed can be what turns a simple coffee stop into a place you remember.
What to Know Before You Go to Matari Coffee
Location
Matari Coffee is located at:
The shop is close to The Ohio State University area, which makes it fairly easy to work into a larger Columbus outing or day trip.
Parking
While this is a busy area of Columbus, Matari's strip-mall location has its own parking lot, which made parking easy and free during our visit.
That's always a bonus—especially near the busy Ohio State campus.
Hours
One thing that makes Matari a little different from many coffee shops is that it stays open later in the evening. Matari is currently listed as open from 7 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Because hours can change, check before making a special trip.
Atmosphere
I loved the music, the décor, and the space between the tables.
It felt like the perfect spot for a calm, soothing start to the day—or a place to work or study, relax and enjoy the surroundings.
It also worked really well for what we wanted: a comfortable place where my daughter and I could sit, talk and enjoy our drinks without feeling rushed.
Ease of Ordering
The menu is fairly large, especially if it is your first visit.
In addition to familiar espresso drinks, you'll find Yemeni coffee selections—some that you may want to Google to learn more about—along with chai, matcha, refreshers and several specialty drinks and desserts.
If you like to study a menu before ordering, this might be one worth looking at ahead of time.
The pastry case desserts don't all seem to be listed online, though, so you will definitely want to give yourself a few extra minutes to look through the case and choose something when you arrive!
Restrooms
I didn't visit the restrooms—which is rare for me!—but I did notice they were available and were not locked or keypad-locked. That's one of those little practical details that may not matter until it suddenly does, especially when you're planning a day trip.
Nearby Activities to Note
The shop is close to the OSU campus, shopping in Grandview and Upper Arlington, and an easy drive into Columbus for outings at the Arena District, the Short North, and more.
Would We Make the Stop at Matari Coffee Again?
Our Verdict
Yes, we would make the stop again.
We wouldn't build an entire Columbus itinerary around one cup of coffee, but we would happily make Matari part of a larger outing in the area.
Matari Coffee gave us more than a convenient place to have coffee. It gave my daughter and me a chance to sit down together and try new drinks and flavors.
On a future visit, we plan to try something different from the menu (like a Jubani coffee with honeycomb bread or specialty cheesecake) and visit with enough time to enjoy the atmosphere without watching the clock.
I would recommend Matari Coffee in Columbus to coffee drinkers who want something beyond a familiar café order, as well as anyone looking for a distinctive coffee stop to add to a Columbus day trip.
I probably wouldn't build an entire Columbus itinerary around one cup of coffee, but I would happily make Matari part of a larger outing in the area.
That's our firsthand experience, the practical details—and whether we would make the stop again.
