Turning 21 and being able to go to Penn State bars is probably the most looked forward to event of each student’s four(ish) years at University Park. The transition from apartment parties and frats to the bars, from asking for beer to being able to choose what you drink, is life changing to say the least.
Whether you are turning 21 or you’re coming to visit, your night out can be vastly different based on where you go. Here is a run down of my Penn State bar rankings to make sure you have the best night out.
Bottom Tier Bars, in no particular order:
Lion’s Den
Better known just as “The Den” is the number one spot to go if you are a freshman with a decent fake ID. It’s normally packed to the brim with a sticky floor and little room to move or dance. The back patio is slightly better with some space to get around and talk to new people. It’s right next to El Jefe’s, one of the best food/drunk food places in town which is the best part. There is always chaos going on outside between the patio and El Jefe’s on a normal night. If you want to hang out with some 18 year olds, this is the place for you!
Stage West
If a sorority is having a formal, there’s a high likelihood that it’s here. This bar, like The Den, also is known to let 18 year olds in, but until The Den is not a normal stop on a night out for anyone. Stage West is a place you’ll go for a club formal or for one of their themed nights; they had a Taylor vs Harry Styles night, Shrek night, Emo night, you get the gist! Here you can get a $1 shot that consists of all of the leftover liquor from the bartenders pouring mat, delicious right? Stage West on occasion is fun, but not very often.
Sharkies
On one side it’s a liquor store, the other side it’s a dingy bar. Sharkies is not a frequent stop for most. There are pool tables and a few random locals, but it’s not the kind of place to get packed. If it’s a busy night and the lines are crowded elsewhere, you might end up here. I haven’t ever stepped inside the bar half of the building. I’m sure I’m not the only one especially with the caliber of the other Penn State bars and what they offer.
Chumley’s
This is a tiny and steaming hot (literally – it feels like it’s 100 degrees in there all the time) bar to the left of The Basement. It’s the local gay or LGBTQ+ friendly bar, but it doesn’t have a ton of seating. For this reason, most people haven’t been there and won’t go during the duration of the four years here.
Mid Tier Bars:
Shandygaff
The Gaff is the ice-cream looking building you see on the alleyway (East Calder) on the way down to Doggies, Champs, Pickles, etc. The best night to go is on Wednesdays when they have karaoke night. If you want to sing, get there early to add your name to the list, then hang out for probably a few hours until your name is called. Here at Gaff, there is tons of seating, one bar, and a small dance floor. The music is decent and they offer decently priced pitchers. A decent stop on a night out.
The Phyrst
If you are a student at Penn State, this most likely will be the first bar you go to. It’s a long standing tradition to go to The Phyrst on your first night being 21. Most people stand in line minutes before they turn 21, then go in, get a green birthday hat, and take a blow job shot. The Phyrst is pretty small. I would best describe it as a small slytherin looking dungeon, but it’s fun. There is live music often and has a fun vibe,
Primanti Bros
Known better as Pmans to PSU students and as a sandwich shop to PA residents, this bar is located next to Chipotle. It has a small porch and new small upstairs with a decently sized main floor. This bar is populated with mostly people from Greek life. In my personal opinion, (and as a person who was in Greek life) it’s filled with the most boring basic people to exist. I know people who love this bar to death and others who despise it like me. They do have a cute bath drink, which tastes god awful, that comes with a little rubber duck. Up to you whether you stop here or not.
Pickles
The full name is Bill Pickle’s Tap Room, and it’s a staple for many people. Tuesday are country night, where people start lining up at 5pm to get inside. I’ve never been to a country night, but I’ve been to many a normal night and they’re always interesting. I always have the strangest encounters here. A man taught me to square dance. A different man on a different night salsa danced with me. There are always funny strangers and out of town people to talk to. This is a fun stop to make, especially if you are out with a chaotic group of friends.
Top Tier Bars:
Doggies Pub
Doggies, as you see in its name, is a pub. I personally feel like I’m transported into some small town in the UK when I’m inside. There are huge booths to sit in and enjoy Doggies special $6 drinks, spiked coffee and raspberry lemonade. There’s also an outdoor section with lots of seating, corn hole, and a pizza shop. The pizza here is unmatched, only two bucks for a slice with a ton of other affordable food. Doggies is one of most popular bars, for a good reason, but with lines around the block on a normal night.
Champs
Champs is thee Penn State Bar. It has two floor, one with a dance floor and a sports watching area, and downstairs has another bar with pool tables and arcade games. Champs is a great time, with something for everyone to do, the iconic purple sprite (that’s $2 during happy hour), and hosts some of the best artists. The Jonas Brother, Waka Flaka, Logic, T-Pain, DJ Pauly D, and more have performed here. The daily DJs they have are some of the best in town, all together making Champs arguably the best bar at Penn State.
The Basement
This is the last bar, probably better described as a night club, and my personal favorite spot at Penn State. For people who love to dance, this is where you should go. During happy hour you can get a long island iced tea for $2, and they are decently strong – they also have $3 jello shots that come in huge syringes to shoot in your or a friend’s mouth. They’ve just updated the dance floor with more lights and effects which are a huge upgrade. The Basement is a place to go a little crazy and dance so hard that you’re tired and a little sore afterwards. This is also the home to Latin Night, where once a month they only play Spanish music all day. The Basement is absolutely my go to spot on a night out.
Best Place To Take Your Parents:
Central Reservation
This bar isn’t one that students go to that often. Central Res is a nice bar and restaurant with a new speakeasy downstairs, that most college kids don’t want to spend their own money at, when they could get $2 dirty sprites from Champs. If you have a full time job or want to go out to a nice dinner with your parents, take them to hang out in the chic and fun-ly decorated Central Reservation.
Lineleap
If you aren’t a fan of long lines, which happen often on a game day or holiday, you might want to consider downloading Lineleap. It’s an app where you can purchase access to a shorter line, so you don’t have to wait as long. You can also buy drinks on here, see what drinks your friends have bought, and probably much more.
Everyone has a different image when they imagine the best night out. That could be just sitting with friends and a drink, playing pool, or dancing like me. For the best night on the town, visit whichever of the bars fit your vibe the most!
