The Ultimate Guide to Living in Downtown Columbia, MO

Do You Live in an Apartment or Student Housing in Downtown Columbia, MO? Learn How To Make the Most of Your Experience With Our Guide to Living Downtown

Living in Downtown Columbia, MO Is About More Than Just the Amenities. It’s About Shopping, Dining & Enjoying Everything the District Has to Offer!


So you’re living in an apartment or student housing in downtown Columbia, MO. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time living here or you’ve been enjoying downtown life for years; there’s always something new to learn about The District. From new restaurants to iconic stores to world-renowned festivals and events, downtown Columbia has something for everyone, and if you’re just scraping the surface, you’re missing out! 


Lucky for you, The Lofts of Columbia is here to help you discover all the magic living downtown can bring to your life. Dive in, find something new, and don’t forget to show some love to old favorites. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about living in a loft in downtown Columbia, MO. 

The best thing about living in a downtown Columbia, MO apartment is the close proximity to all the amazing restaurants, cafes & bars 


If there’s one thing downtown Columbia is known for, it’s the countless amazing restaurants, cafes, and bars sprinkled across the downtown area. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between is covered when you live here. You can start your morning at a cafe or by grabbing brunch with a friend, fill up at lunch with a variety of sit-down, quick service, or carry-out spots, enjoy an out-of-this-world meal for dinner, and polish off the evening with something sweet, all within a few blocks. 


You can also enjoy all kinds of flavors, including American diner classics, creative vegan dishes, pizza, wings, upscale fusion, and international favorites including Chinese, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Polish, Thai, and so much more. There’s something from every corner of the world in downtown Columbia, so you know there’s a spot that everyone in your party will like.

The best thing about eating downtown is that so many of the restaurants offer rotating menus that change as the seasonal ingredients do. You’ll never get bored, and you’ll never run out of new things to enjoy thanks to the growing number of restaurants calling downtown their home. 


Find a new favorite restaurant, return to a classic, or entertain out-of-town guests with the best restaurants Columbia has to offer when you step outside of your downtown apartment and walk just a few steps to great food and drinks.

Downtown Restaurants
Two people talking at a café table, smiling with shopping bags beside them

Shop ‘til you drop in downtown Columbia, MO. Living in a downtown loft makes all your shopping a breeze 

It doesn’t matter if you’re a shopaholic or a smart spender. When you live downtown, there are endless shops where you can find the perfect gift, home essentials, or even a little something for you. Are you looking for something handcrafted or locally made? Downtown Columbia has it. Do you need a new outfit for an upcoming event? Downtown Columbia has it. Are you just craving your favorite snack? Downtown Columbia has it. Stroll around, stop somewhere you’ve never been before, and enjoy all the locally owned shops that call downtown home. 


For locally made options, you can find art, pottery, home essentials, sweets, baked goods, clothing, stationery, and more! 9th Street and the North Village Arts District have shops and curated emporiums all featuring locally made, handcrafted goods that make great gifts for friends, family, or yourself. Even better? You’re supporting a local artisan and local retailer. 


Downtown is also home to several vintage stores that specialize in well-curated clothing. This means you’ll never have to dig through racks of tops, bottoms, jackets, or dresses to find something good. These stores tailor their collection to a specific style, making it simple to find your next closet staple.


For those who want something new, you can find tons of clothing and shoe stores just a few steps or blocks away from your downtown loft. You can shop from high-end goods and trendy fashions, making it easy to outfit your wardrobe with everything you need to look good as you strut down Broadway.  

Are you just looking to shop for a few necessary home goods? Stop by one of the many bodegas or convenience stores downtown. When you need more than just the basics, you can find a full grocery store at the intersection of Broadway and Providence or Lee’s Market, which specializes in Asian cuisine, at 7th and Cherry. For Halal foods, stop by Kabul Market on Broadway and 5th.


Shopping is easy when you live in an apartment in downtown Columbia, MO, so make the move and start living better today!

Shop Downtown

From entertainment to activism, there’s an event for everyone in downtown Columbia, MO

Downtown Columbia, MO hosts a ton of events, big and small, every month. From intimate concerts to humongous film festivals, there’s something for everyone when you live downtown. The biggest and most recognizable is the True/False Film Festival. This huge weekend-long event takes place annually during the first weekend of March and brings big names to Columbia. From famous directors and actors to up-and-coming creators from the heart of Missouri, the crowd is varied, and the energy is great. Catch a film, see a concert, and see who you can spot walking around downtown. 


Every spring, you can enjoy downtown’s Earth Day Festival. Learn more about how you can make a positive impact on your local environment and shop from local artisans at their booths. In December, downtown Columbia celebrates the start of the Christmas season with Living Windows, a truly theatrical event. The storefronts downtown feature performing arts in their windows, making downtown really come alive. The best part? Because you live downtown, you don’t have to compete with everyone for parking! 

To find more to do downtown, check out The District’s event calendar and plan your next outing!

Find Events Downtown

From entertainment to activism, there’s an event for everyone in downtown Columbia, MO

Downtown Columbia, MO hosts a ton of events, big and small, every month. From intimate concerts to humongous film festivals, there’s something for everyone when you live downtown. The biggest and most recognizable is the True/False Film Festival. This huge weekend-long event takes place annually during the first weekend of March and brings big names to Columbia. From famous directors and actors to up-and-coming creators from the heart of Missouri, the crowd is varied, and the energy is great. Catch a film, see a concert, and see who you can spot walking around downtown. 


Every spring, you can enjoy downtown’s Earth Day Festival. Learn more about how you can make a positive impact on your local environment and shop from local artisans at their booths. In December, downtown Columbia celebrates the start of the Christmas season with Living Windows, a truly theatrical event. The storefronts downtown feature performing arts in their windows, making downtown really come alive. The best part? Because you live downtown, you don’t have to compete with everyone for parking! 


To find more to do downtown, check out The District’s event calendar and plan your next outing!

Find Events Downtown

 Take care of all your errands & find reliable professional services when you live in an apartment in downtown Columbia, MO 


Between all that eating, shopping, and fun, you’ll still need to have your oil changed, get a haircut, or mail something. Luckily, you are within walking distance to everything you need to keep your life running smoothly. Downtown Columbia, MO is home to multiple auto care centers, hair salons and barber shops, estheticians, counseling centers, lawyers, a post office, photographers, real estate agents, government offices, and almost anything you’ll need. 


Running errands is simple, because you can drop your car off for maintenance and walk down the street to send that package you’ve been putting off mailing, and stop in for a manicure while you wait for your car to be taken care of. If you get a parking ticket (oops, it happens to us all), you can pay your ticket and treat yourself to lunch for checking that task off your to-do list. 


Downtown living is easy in Columbia, MO, and you can make the most of it–even the boring parts–in just a few minutes. 

Find Services Downtown

The Lofts offers conveniently located student housing & downtown apartments for young professionals in Columbia, MO 


Does living downtown sound fun? We thought so. To make the move, explore everything The Lofts of Columbia has to offer. Our two downtown apartments are perfect for student living or young professionals, and each location has its own exciting pros. Live close to Mizzou’s campus when you choose our 9th Street apartment building. Be close to everything when you live at our Broadway location. No matter what apartment you choose, you’ll be happy you chose to live downtown.