Tertulia Bakery & Café in the Short North, Columbus, Ohio
Step inside and the pastry case makes its pitch before you ever read a menu. Burnt Basque cheesecake shares space with tarta de Santiago and glossy macarons, and the room leans warm and moody with deep blues and wood tones. My go-to is a café bombón for the condensed-milk sweetness, plus a slice of that Basque cheesecake when I want dessert with my coffee.
Tertulia blends Spanish café traditions with a modern Columbus coffeehouse. The team highlights small-batch baking through its in‑house partner, LEH Bakery, so the sweets feel more patisserie than mass‑produced. You’ll see Spanish staples alongside pan‑European and Latin American favorites, from tres leches and tarta de Santiago to pastel de nata and classic French‑style macarons. If you prefer a lighter start, the menu also includes breakfast bowls, overnight oats, and wheat‑free options.
The coffee side favors bold, barista‑made espresso drinks. That café bombón sits next to cortados, lattes, and signatures that skew aromatic or floral. Tea drinkers and matcha fans aren’t left out, with flavored matcha and loose‑leaf blends on offer. It reads like a specialty café menu built for lingering or for a quick treat on a gallery walk through the Short North.
Beyond food and drink, Tertulia presents itself as a community space. The Short North Arts District listing notes rotating artwork on the walls, which fits the cafe‑as‑gathering‑place idea suggested by the name. Online ordering is available for pickup, useful if you want to skip the line and take your coffee and cake to go.
- Neighborhood: Short North Arts District
- General location: N High St near galleries and shops
- Phone: (220) 219‑6071
- Hours: vary by day, generally mornings into late afternoon; check ahead
- Ordering: online ordering for pickup available
- Price: specialty‑café range for espresso drinks and house‑made pastries
- Known for: Spanish‑inspired pastries like Burnt Basque cheesecake and tarta de Santiago, plus the sweet café bombón
If you’re looking for a cafe stop in the Short North with serious pastry and a few Spanish classics, this is a straightforward pick.
Published: September 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the Whats Up Columbus editorial team