Ah, yes... when all else fails, you hit the bars (for those of us 21 and over, that is...). Sacramento has a bunch of bars in the area; too numerous to count all of them, but for those of you who have not experienced all that Sacramento has to offer, we suggest you try hitting some of these quality establishments. Most, if not all, are very popular to the college crowd.
Stinger's 7890 La Riviera Drive
- Made Playboy's top 100 college bars, and for good reason. Located right by campus (next to Gordito Burrito, Book Depot), it's easy stumbling distance to any La Riviera apartment complex. They have shuffleboard, darts, pool, everything.
- Bleachers University Ave.
- Great place to hang out and have a brew or two. Big-time supporters of Hornet Athletics. Bleachers has a great dance floor, as well as drink specials all the time. This is the best place to go after any Sac State football game - it's always packed.
- The Pub (on campus)
- Finals over? Cram in and let the good times roll. The Pub has a ton of great beer always on tap, however when it comes finals time, beggars can't be choosers. When finals rolls around, the kegs go dry as stress and anxiety get released. Come to the Pub for those times you feel the need to relax, celebrate, or just hang out.
- Zebra Club 1900 P St.
- The best dive in Sacramento. It's small, cramped, overcrowded, smelly, and the bartender's an asshole. But that's what makes this place so great. It's one of the most popular bars in all of Sacramento for Sac State students.
- Firedance 8704 La Riviera Drive
- If you're Greek, this is the place to be on a Thursday night. On the outside, and during normal business hours, this place looks like only a local watering hole for businessmen trying to get away from their wives. But it really picks up at night, and often is hard to find a seat.
- The Pine Cove 502 29th St
- Low on money? Pabst Blue Ribbon coming up! You'll walk in and quickly notice all of the popcorn all over the floor - this is because it's free. A beer drinker's dream. Pine Cove always has great drink specials, like $1 Kamikazes on Wednesday nights. But Pabst is always on tap and always cheap - $5 a pitcher.
- El Torito Howe Ave
- very cheap happy hour (can you say grande margarita?) es muy bueno. El To is best during happy hour, because they have cheap food, cheap drinks, and free chips and salsa. What's not to like? Cruise by when you're looking for a good place to pre-party.
- Monkey Bar 2730 Capitol Ave
- Monkey Bar is located in the heart of all the midtown bars, and is definitely a hot spot for Sac State students. It's been known for its unusual crowds at times, but they've always got some kind of deal going on. It doubles as a popular breakfast place in the mornings - great for the morning after.
- Sudwerk's 1375 Exposition Blvd.
- Best place to get trashed before/after a Cal Expo event.Sudwerk's has huge beers and an excellent choic of microbrews and fine German beer. Try their best appetizers, the onion rings or the seasoned fries; you won't find any place that has better appetizers.
- Fox & Goose Midtown
- Great place to grab a beer and a band. Very European atmosphere. It's a very eclectic place, and is more of a tavern than a bar. Not exactly a meat market, but a great place to hang out in the afternoon.
- 815 L 815 L Street
- Cigar bar upstairs! Swing dancing every Wednesday Night. 815 L is always packed, although not many would want to be caught in the downtown area late at night. Be prepared to pay a bit of a cover at times.
- River City Brewing Company 545 Downtown Plaza
- Hang out before the movies and enjoy a brew or two. River City is a great place to unwind after a long day of Christmas shopping or whatever. It's more of a restaraunt than a bar, but it still is a pleasant atmosphere. Hang out in the patio if the weather's nice enough.
- Classic Jukebox 8200 Sierra College Blvd, Roseville
- Out in Roseville, but worth the drive. Show up early on college night - this place always fills up. Be prepared to drop a few duckets on a cover charge and have your best lines ready - this place is a big meat market.
- The Press Club 21st & P
- This place may be a sh*thole, but it's always been the best live music bar in Sacramento. You can catch local to national acts here on a regular basis. Wonderfully clean restroom facilities. Walking distance to Zebra Club and Old Tavern for those interested in bar-hopping.
- Club 2Me 4738 J St.
- Damn big crowds on the weekend, older crowd (late 20s). If you're an ungergrad in your early 20's, you might feel a little left out here. This is where your older brother goes on Saturday night.
- Harlow's 27th & J
- Great place to see live swing music almost every night. Those not interested in dancing might
- be interested in the cigar bar upstairs. Harlow's usually has a pretty stiff cover ($7-$10), so be prepared to spend the night here and get your money's worth. NBA players are known to stop by here after Kings games.
- In Cahoots 1696 Arden Way
- Yee-ha! get on your shi*-kickers and make your way over to Sac's best country bar. Chances are, if you're into country music, you're a fan of In Cahoots. We city folk haven't been there, but we keep hearing about it.
- Rubicon Brewing Company 2004 Capitol Ave.
- Grab a Rubi-Cube and you've got yourself a party. Another bar in the thick of Midtown, Rubicon offers a variety of microbrews, as well as their Rubicubes, popular "to-go" versions of their famous beer.
- The Mushroom Lounge 3637 South Port Dr
- Another bar qualified as a dive, but it's a great watering hole for those who live in the Kiefer/Tallyho Area. When your weekend is shot, chances are you can cruise over here and have a good time.
- The Powerhouse Sutter Street, Folsom
- Yes, we know it's way out in Folsom. But if you find yourself out in this neck of the woods like after going boating for the day, stop by for a drink or two. They have 16 TV's and bands playing on a regular basis. Pretty cool place.
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