America’s Top 25 College Bars, Per The Daily Meal
Every once in a while, a laughably bad list is published in order to do something. Maybe it’s just to troll the greater internet, or maybe the author really likes being verbally abused by angry 20-somethings with too much time on their hands. This is one of those lists, compiled by The Daily Meal, a site I had previously never heard of.
For reference, their scoring criteria:
Music – That includes juke boxes, DJs, and live music. – As long as the bar had some sort of method for drunk college students to fist-pump and screech at the top of their lungs to “Livin’ On A Prayer,” a point was assigned.
An outdoor area – Students need somewhere to go to cool off from the dance floor, after all.
A selection of ten beers or more on the menu
Dance floor – What bar is complete without a cesspool of bumping and grinding?
Liquor – Mixed drinks and shots get you drunk quicker, no further explanation necessary.
The ability to get a beer for $3 or less on a weekend night – Let’s face it, college students are not known for their deep pockets or refined tastes. The cheaper, the better, no matter the taste.
Beer pitcher availability – More cost-efficient than single beers, pitchers are a convenient way to buy a round of drinks, without spending a pretty penny.
Shot specials – Whether it’s a free shot with a beer or $1 jello shots, we need it all.
Drinking games – Beer pong isn’t just for the basement of a fraternity house. Although illegal in some states, public drinking games add a little something extra to your classic college bar.
Distance (less than ½ mile from campus) – No one, drunk or sober, wants to have a long trip home from the bar.
Food served after 10 p.m. on the weekends – There is something exquisite, and necessary, about that bite of food when you’re under the influence.
No cover charge – See number 6.
Some of those make sense. Some, like availability of food during prime raging hours, are a bit odd. Without further ado, here is the list:
25. 901 Bar – University of Southern California – Los Angeles
24. Rick’s American Cafe – University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Michigan
23. He’s Not Here – University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, N.C.
22. Timothy’s Bar & Grill – University of Dayton – Dayton, Ohio
21. Indigo – Pennsylvania State University – State College, Pennsylvania
20. Red Square Bar & Grill – University of Vermont – Burlington, Vt.
19. The Sink – CU Boulder – Boulder, Colo.
18. Coupe’s – University of Virginia – Charlottesville, Virginia
17. Old Stone Jug – Colgate University – Hamilton, New York
16. Hemingway’s Cafe – University of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15. Salty Dog Saloon – University of Florida – Gainesville, Fla.
14. The C.I. – Ohio University – Athens, Ohio
13. The Dizzy Rooster – University of Texas – Austin, Texas
12. Pavlov’s – University of South Carolina – Columbia, S.C.
11. Top of the Stairs – Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, Va.
10. Zuma Grill – Arizona State University – Tempe, Ariz.
9. The Tombs – Georgetown University – Washington D.C.
8. The TApp Room – Appalachian State University – Boone, N.C.
7. Brothers Bar & Grill – University of Iowa – Iowa City, Iowa
6. Kollege Klub – University of Wisconsin – Madison, Wis.
5. Bourbon Street – University of Georgia – Athens, Georgia
4. Bullwinkle’s Saloon – Florida State University – Tallahassee, Florida
3. The Wagon Wheel – University of Kansas – Lawrence, Kan.
2. Knight Library – University of Central Florida – Orlando, Florida
1. The Boot – Tulane University – New Orleans, Louisiana
This list is a trainwreck. The Tombs in Georgetown and TOTS at Virginia Tech both made the top 10. I’ve been to both these bars, and if they’re the best that America has to offer of collegiate shitshow establishments, then we’re fucking up. The amount of SEC representation is pretty underwhelming, considering SEC Greek bars are supposedly a thing of pure, debauched beauty. It’s like the list was written by someone who only ever frequented Big 10 and ACC schools. No Auburn or Alabama bars, but COLGATE makes the list? Also, University of Vermont? Really? I don’t know about the Top 5, so sound off in the comments. The Boot is supposedly the kind of bar drunk Greeks live for, but the polling on that consisted of only one drunk buddy of mine that goes there.
All this list is making me want to do is compile my own. So, if you’ve got better bar recommendations, send them my way.
[via The Daily Meal]
While im glad my bar made it…scoring criteria: room to fistbump?…fuck that
13 years ago at 12:05 pmThe fact that Bullwinkles was mentioned over Kens and Potbellys in tallahassee is surprising. The line for Pot’s friday happy hour is almost always around the block.
13 years ago at 12:06 pm^ He gets it. Ken’s and “Lazer Ken’s” AkA Redrocks gets packed. Pots has a great location to Greek housing so it draws a solid croud.
13 years ago at 5:16 pmThe thing is, the Strip, and Pots are excellent bars and obviously have a stronger Greek presence, and I myself would prefer them over Bulls. However, Bulls has a strong history and is better as far as bars themselves go: they have better specials for the general public, they have live music, are a genuine 21+ bar, with very slim chance of minors getting in, etc. If the list were for “Greek bars’ then Kens would be on it.
13 years ago at 5:33 pmDo they even wear sperrys at Bulls?
13 years ago at 5:52 pmThe Boot definitely deserves to be on this list.
13 years ago at 12:09 pmAlso…I have been to pavlovs and I regularly attend TOTS…pavlovs destroys them in comparison.
13 years ago at 12:09 pmBeen to the library. definitely deserves to be on the list idk bout number 2 tho
13 years ago at 12:11 pmThey arent bad especially for the area, the new building needs exterior upkeep though the place looks like its falling down already
13 years ago at 5:24 pmI can’t believe they put Hemingway’s instead of Peter’s Pub
13 years ago at 12:11 pmJudging by the schools and the bars on this list it screams Hipster, and yes I’ve been to a few of them and they are “Hiptastic” as a few of their patrons told me… I fucking hate Hipsters. Seriously, all those goth/emo kids have become Hipsters in an attempt to hide the fact that they are still pussies and losers. They voted for Obama because it was “cool” and “trendy.” Now our economy is shit, Obamacare fucking blows, and the younger generation is starting to think that wearing jeans tighter than their girlfriends’ is cool. Something must be done to completely crush this Hipster lifestyle before it gets any worse.
13 years ago at 12:11 pmLet it all out, big guy. Let it all out.
13 years ago at 12:28 pmWell that escalated quickly.
13 years ago at 12:30 pmThat’s what I’m fucking talkin about. I’m gonna go rail down some fuckin lines in honor of this shit. HOO RAH
13 years ago at 1:50 pm>Thread about bars
>Turns into Obamacare discussion
#RepublicanProbz
13 years ago at 2:06 pmCry me a fucking river
13 years ago at 5:05 pmShut up TKE, you’re whole organization is part of the aforementioned hipster problem that we are trying to stop.
13 years ago at 5:49 pm^^Your only claim to fame is pledging Reagan when he was still a Democrat. Shit a knife, TKE.
13 years ago at 8:09 pmTheBooZ: yes.
13 years ago at 11:45 pm^I looked it up and its your turn to pour gasoline on your head and smoke a cig.
13 years ago at 10:33 amGlad to see the Wheel made the list, and appropriately high, but I have to disagree with Coupe’s. The Virginian is easily a better bar than Coupe’s. By a mile.
13 years ago at 12:12 pm^this. Coupe’s is a boner compared to some of the others on/around the corner
13 years ago at 1:50 pmThe Boot is hands down my favorite bar. As far as best college bar, I don’t know but it’s a possibility.
13 years ago at 12:12 pmSalty Dog. Fuck yes. That place is responsible for taking most of my money every month
13 years ago at 12:12 pm