The 25 Best College Campus Bars

Falling in love with a bar and falling in love with a person are two very similar experiences. You will defend their flaws, even if deep down you know that the criticisms are valid. You might overrate them if you first see them in low light. And you fall more in love with them the drunker you get. There is one big difference between falling in love with a bar and falling for that special someone though. With loved ones, absence makes the heart grow fonder. With bars, you'll always fall hardest for that spot just around the corner.

The best college bars are those nestled on-campus. The place is always packed for a big game. Alumni flock there to try to sleep with drunk co-eds during Homecoming. You can always grab a drink between classes, and then decide that the walk across the quad to your bio lab is just too far, so you'd better stay put for another pint. We wanted to take a moment to salute those bars that lure students out of their dorms and shoddy apartments and become their second homes. These are the The 25 Best College Campus Bars.

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City: New Brunswick, NJ
School: Rutgers
Address: 108 Easton Ave.
Website: oldequeenstavern.com

If you are hitting the Olde Queens Tavern over the weekend, get there early, because it's going to get packed. Whether the clientele are coming to dance on beer soaked floors or to watch some Rutgers sports, this is the place to be in New Brunswick. If you want some food to go with your dollar Coors drafts, Blitzburger, an attached burger restaurant, offers thirty different types of burgers. We didn't even know there were that many. If you are more into poultry, come to Thursday night's happy hour for free wings. And if gambling's your vice, then Wednesday poker night is probably a good fit for you. Lust, gluttony, and gambling: the Olde Queen has it all.

City: Morgantown, WV
School: West Virginia University
Address: 485 High St.
Website: thebackdoorwv.com

The first thing you should know about The Back Door is that they set a Jägerbomb world record: they made 1,700 bombs a few years back. Don't worry if you've broken up with Jäger after years of bad decision making, there are plenty of other drink specials that'll get you plastered on a budget. Come early on Friday night for the all you can eat buffet. That should help you endure more Jäger.

City: Pittsburgh
School: University of Pittsburgh
Address: 3911 Forbes Ave.
Website: hemingways-cafe.com

This bar is directly under the Towers, the freshmen dorms at Pitt. It is as though Hems was put on Earth to tempt underage students into ponying up for fake IDs. With a rotating cast of $2 drafts, you can find Magic Hat, Blue Moon, or a Sam Adams Seasonal on the cheap depending on the day. No matter what day it is, there is likely some Pittsburgh sport for you to watch as you down cheap booze: this spot is fiercely loyal to all Yinzer teams. But, as any real Pittsburgher knows, the Steelers come first.

City: Columbus, OH
School: Ohio State University
Address: 12 15th Ave.
Website: theopatio.com

Serving cheap keg beer and "liquid dope," a sweet "alcoholic mess of drink," the O Patio is where students on this massive campus cultivate massive hangovers. Though there are reports that there are a few craft beers behind the counter, this is the kind of place that serves PBR in mason jars and has been shut down and re-opened several times. Our point is, don't tell us you didn't know exactly what you were getting into when you wake in a strange place after a night at the O Patio.

There are also over 20 TVs, in case you can still see straight once the game comes on.

City: Chapel Hill, NC
School: University of North Carolina
Address: 120 East Franklin St.
Website: libraryrocks.com

120-inch projection screens and beer pong are just some of the distractions this bar offers if you don't want to dance. But, really, you come to the Library for DJs and drink specials. Tequila Tuesdays give you access to all the $1 tequila shots your body can handle (which makes you particularly grateful your dorm is just out the back door) and Wednesday is 1-2-3 night: $1 domestic bottles; $2 bartender's choice shots; and $3 well drinks. That's the only math you'll need to do in this library.

City: Madison, WI
School: University of Wisconsin
Address: 603 State St.
Website: statestreetbrats.com

State Street Brats is where diets come to die. Bratwursts, cheese curds, beer, and the Badgers are all you're going to get here. Who could want anything else? If somehow, this isn't quite enough to lure you in, you should come by on a Tuesday for "flip night." Win a coin flip and get 75% off of your order.

City: Burlington, VT
School: University of Vermont
Address: 185 Pearl St.
Website: Three Needs on Facebook

If you've never been to Burlington, Vermont, be prepared to witness groups of long-haired collegians trudging down the cobblestone streets after a weekend of camping and toking. After the students have a hearty breakfast at one of the cozy local diners, many of them find their way over to Three Needs. Pool and craft brews are your distractions of choice inside this rustic gem, known for its beer selection and The Simpsons viewing parties.

City: Baton Rouge, LA
School: Lousiana State University
Address: 3357 Highland Rd.
Website: thechimes.com

Get all of the food you're expecting from Louisiana, from shrimp po' boys to blackened alligator, while sampling one of the most serious beer selections in Baton Rouge. Let's just say you'd best get there early if you want to get a seat on game day.

City: Stillwater, OK
School: Oklahoma State University
Address: 501 West Elm Ave.
Website: eskimojoes.com

Eskimo Joe's is a Stillwater favorite: they sell almost as many t-shirts as they do entrees. Booze flows into collectible plastic tumblers to accompany your Fowl Thing sandwich (chicken with pineapple) and chili cheese fries. On Thursday Night, the beers are bottomless, which should help to make your plastic tumbler collection complete.

City: Eugene, OR
School: University of Oregon
Address: 1214 Kincaid St.
Website: rennieslanding.com

When you are downing cheesy bacon fries and buffalo burgers, you get a choice between the cozy interior and the outdoor deck of this converted two-story house. Whether you prefer a nice selection of Oregon microbrews or spiked lemonade, Rennie's is the place to seek the chill environment you would expect from an Oregonian landmark.

City: Durham, NC
School: Duke
Address: 754 9th St.
Website: dainsplace.com

Any bar with a dish called "The Defibrillator" on the menu is okay by us. In case you were wondering, this signature Dain's dish is a half-pound burger with bacon, sweet chili, cheddar, coleslaw, and a hot dog. Even if this dish sounds like more labor than love, Dain's menu has a variety of dishes that many customers consider the best in Durham. Students report that Dain himself often mans the bar, and adds goodwill to the good food and good brews, cementing his establishment's place as the favored Duke bar destination.

City: Tempe, AZ
School: Arizona State University
Address: 850 South Ash Ave.
Website: caseymoores.com

Though the bar is rumored to be haunted, that shouldn't stop you from enjoying the oysters at Casey Moore's. Outdoor diners can choose between a people watching view of the street or a backyard view of a koi pond while they feast on the legendary seafood selection. Regardless of where you sit, you'll appreciate the friendly staff, renowned menu, and laid-back atmosphere of Casey Moore's. They pour quite a strong drink too, so you might just see ghosts after all.

City: West Lafayette, IN
School: Purdue University
Address: 329 W State St.
Website: harryschocolateshop.com

You feel a sense of history as soon as you step inside of Harry's, a converted old-timey soda shop. If you love the bar as much as Purdue Alumni do, you can go for "The Great Indoorsman." They'll let you in ten minutes early, but you have to drink in the bar all day. Even if you aren't putting in a full day, if you have enough rounds of their famed mixed drinks, you'll feel like you've been there since the sun came up.

City: Tuscaloosa, AL
School: Unversity of Alabama
Address: 1300 University Blvd.
Website: thehoundstoothttown.com

With over 40 televisions (including some in the bathroom), a gargantuan patio, and easy walking distance to the stadium, this is the Crimson Tide sports bar destination. Named after Alabama coaching legend Bear Bryant's penchant for houndstooth hats, this spot is half-bar, half-museum, with artifacts from the Tide's history spread throughout. The bar's capacity is 800 people, and it is often packed. You'll never feel alone here, especially on game day.

City: Ann Arbor, MI
School: University of Michigan
Address: 1204 South University
Website: brownjug-annarbor.com

Named after the historic Michigan Vs. Minnesota football trophy, the Brown Jug has been a staple in Ann Arbor since 1938. The Brown Jug has the respect for tradition you would expect from a U of M mainstay. Football is the priority here: the menu items are even named after Wolverine legends. Regulars love the sense of history, backed up by fawning alumni who have called the place a second home as far back as the 1940s. This is a college football bar for a college football town.

City: Oxford, MS
School: Ole Miss
Address: 211 South Lamar Boulevard
Website: www.proudlarrys.com

Some Ole Miss grads opened Proud Larry's back in 1993 with a mission of bringing a great music venue to Mississippi's campus. In the 20 years Proud Larry's has been in operation, the bar has attracted the kind of acts that big city music venues would envy. Modest Mouse, Drive-By Truckers, Iron and Wine, and the Meat Puppets are just a few of the bands to make their way onstage.

City: State College, PA
School: Penn State
Address: 108 S Pugh St.
Website: spatscafe.com

This basement bar is as much a part of the Penn State experience as [insert cliche, tasteless joke here]. Though the Skeller serves your standard burger and wings college fare, the kitchen gets more adventurous with cardiac-arrest inducing dishes like bacon-wrapped meatloaf and jambalaya. However you decide to punish your body, you can wait for the football team to rebuild with $2 Budweisers all-day, everyday.

City: Tallahassee, FL
School: Florida State
Address: 620 West Tennessee St.
Website: bullwinklessaloon.com

"I wouldn't want to be a part of any club that would have me as a member;" Groucho Marx would have likely taken back his immortal words if he would have been a member of the "Thirsty Moose Club." "Thirsty Moose" members drink free all semester long for a flat fee. Non-members can still enjoy AYCD (All You Can Drink) nights, which gets you a booze buffet for the cost of a craft beer. The bottom line is no matter what your taste, the Bullwinkle's staff will find a way to get you blackout drunk as cheaply as possible.

City: Bloomington, IN
School: Indiana
Address: 502 East Kirkwood Ave.
Website: kilroyskirkwood.com

They had us at four dollar pitchers. That being said, there is more to Kilroy's than the incredibly cheap booze. There are classic arcade games, patios, and dozens of TVs, not to mention most of the menu is two dollars on Tuesday; this spot couldn't be more of a college bar if Belushi's character from Animal House haunted the joint. Bloomington's own "Bloomingpedia" cites the most commonly heard songs as "Shook Me All Night Long," "Jessie's Girl," and "Take Me Home Tonight." Of course they are.

City: East Lansing, MI
School: Michigan State University
Address: 254 W. Grand River Ave.
Website: crunchyseastlansing.com

The surprisingly wide beer selection will tempt you into this divey-looking spot in East Lansing; Shorts, Oberon, and Fat Tire Brewery have all recently had events here. While you are downing your plastic mop bucket of beer (as in, draft beer) and cheering on the Spartans, you can have yourself a 1/2 lb. Crunchy Burger, which has been the stuff of East Lansing legend for over two decades. They also offer a "bucket of pizza nugs." It sounds strange, but it tastes delicious.

City: Lincoln, NE
School: University of Nebraska
Address: 1412 O St.
Website: duffyslincoln.com

Fishbowls of booze and live music—seems like a good combo to us. Every band you've liked since middle school has played this spot, from Nirvana to Bright Eyes. One of the only complaints we've heard about this place was that they make the drinks too strong. That's our kind of complaint.

City: Boulder
School: University of Colorado
Address: 1165 13th St.
Website: thesink.com

Come for the best burger in Boulder and stay for the Beatnik wall art. True to the green culture of Colorado, the Sink is run by 100% wind power and only serves Angus and grass-fed beef. If you aren't down with the Sink Burger, they offer a full and varied menu that includes brisket, the Cowboy Reuben, and tilapia. If you're tall, watch out for the low ceilings, but otherwise, there is absolutely nothing to complain about at The Sink.

City: New Orleans
School: Tulane University
Address: 1039 Broadway Street
Website: thebootneworleans.com

With some of the most amazing specials in the country, including 50 cent welldrinks and dollar drafts, The Boot has been a centerpiece of Tulane college life since 1967. Locals say this is the spot for dancing on tables, dining on crawfish, and getting the drunkest they've ever been. If you want to use the bathroom though, we recommend you walk down the street to the campus library. As every great college bar does, this spot walks that line between beautiful and grotesque. As Tulane's campus newspaper put it, "It is disgusting, filthy, and magical all at the same time."

City: College Station, TX
School: Texas A&M
Address: 307 University Dr.
Website: dixiechicken.com

Dixie Chicken has the swinging doors and Texas-style menu you would expect from an Aggie institution. This spot is as real as they come, from the seniors who come in to dunk their school rings in the Aggie tradition to the live rattlesnake mascot, this bar is everything Texas Roadhouse tries to fabricate for the rest of the country. Depending on how discriminating your tastes are, you can opt for Dollar Natty Light drafts or four dollar Shiner: both are great deals, it just depends how bad of a day you had and how little your workstudy pays.