There’s a Columbia bar for every mood. Here’s a guide to some favorites
If you’re like us, you’ve been spending a lot of time indoors these days, trying to escape the heat.
And, we’re not ashamed to say, those indoor spots – at least after the workday ends – are bars around town. And we’ve gotten to know them pretty well.
From hole-in-the-wall drink specials to upscale craft cocktail menus, every bar has a reputation. A nickname. A superlative, if you will. We’re sharing some of our favorite finds here.
The place to “wine” about your day: Lula Drake
It’s been less than a year since Tim Gardner opened this Main Street wine bar, and it’s garnered as much attention as any seasoned establishment. Go for the wine; the selection has been vetted by sommolier Gardner who selects his inventory based on quality, vineyard location and overall likeability. Expect to uncork a few new favorite wines here.
1635 Main St. (803) 606-1968, www.luladrake.com
The place to put a ring on it: Gervais & Vine
This Vista bar and restaurant is known as much for its ambiance as for the wine and tapas menus. The atmosphere is thick with good vibes, good food and good drinks – the perfect trifecta for romance and special relationship moments. Not to mention the Moroccan-style seating that makes it a lot easier to get down on one knee.
620 Gervais St. (803) 799-8463, www.gervine.com
Most eclectic customers: Art Bar
You want variety? That’s the kind of spice you’ll get at Art Bar. It’s the type of bar that, after being there for an hour, you begin to ask yourself, “Where did all these cool Columbians come from?” Celebrating 25 years of keeping Columbia and the Vista lively, the Art Bar is where you go for a good drink and a healthy dose of people watching.
1211 Park St. (803) 929-0198, www.artbarsc.com
Most likely to be too cool for you: The Whig
The superlative says it all. If Main Street’s The Whig were an actual person, he’d be the guy you went to school with who you thought never paid attention, only for him to go on and invent some cool app while you settled into your suburban life. The drink menu is as unexpected as the clientele, and neither are for the easily intimidated. The bar’s underground location is fitting.
1200 Main St. (803) 931-8852, www.thewhig.org
Great Post-Workout Bar: Good Life Cafe
If you prefer your cocktails with a side of kale, then you may you think you’ve died and gone to holistic heaven at Good Life Cafe. The Main Street restaurant and bar specializes in organic, raw and vegan everything, including its fresh-pressed juices and smoothies made in-house. Want a little extra octane in your fuel? No problem. The bar is well-stocked with libations pleasing to the palate – and plant-based diets.
1614 Main St. (803) 726-2310, www.goodlifecafe.net
Most likely to impress your date: Motor Supply
It’s hard to detract from the Vista’s swanky status, especially when places like Motor Supply Co. Bistro do business there. Ask anyone where to take a date or celebrate a special occasion, and Motor Supply is bound to be a contender. With a drink menu that changes at the whim of lead bartender Josh Streetman and a food menu that changes daily, there’s no telling what you’re in store for here – except an experience worth writing home about.
920 Gervais St. (803) 256-6687, www.motorsupplycobistro.com
Worth the drive from downtown: Liberty on the Lake
With all the bars we’ve covered over the years, no others have a view like Liberty on the Lake. Located in the heart of Irmo on Lake Murray, the restaurant and bar have a beachy drink menu to go with unobstructed views of the water. Sitting on the deck while enjoying a fruity, tropical cocktail and watching boats pass will make you feel like you’re on vacation.
1602 Marina Road, Irmo (803) 667-9715, www.irmo.libertytaproom.com
Bartenders dressed to impress: Speakeasy
If you’ve been here, then you know what we’re talking about. Stepping across the threshold of this Five Points bar is like walking though a portal that takes you to a bygone era – a time when Manhattans, French 75s and old-fashioneds ruled the bartop. And here, they still do. The bartenders are always dressed to the nines. Go for the drinks and stay for the live jazz and chill atmosphere.
711 Saluda Ave. (803) 255-0869, www.facebook.com/delaneysjazz
Best in Show: Jake’s Bar and Grill
Paws down, Jake’s on Devine is the most pet-friendly, come-as-you-are bar downtown. Known for Wednesday pint nights and Yappy Hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the dog-friendly bar has a great outdoor space that’s well-patroned by two- and four-legged customers. Safe to say if you come here, you’ll leave with your tail wagging.
2112 Devine St. (803) 708-4788, www.jakesofcolumbia.com
Best Brunch: State Street, West Columbia
It was really tough to decide between Cafe Strudel and 116 State for brunch drink menus, so we didn’t. Because we couldn’t. Cafe Strudel’s brunch menu is legendary, and so are its mimosa pitchers and bloody marys. And 116 State also has a popular bloody mary menu – though there’s nothing like one of the gourmet coffee drinks or one of the many white Russians (which has its own separate menu of options). These places are helpful reminders that if you don’t have cocktails with your eggs on the weekend, it’s not brunch; it’s just a late breakfast.
116 Espresso And Wine Bar: 116 State St. (803) 791-5663, www.116state.com; Cafe Strudel: 300 State St. (803) 794-6634, www.cafestrudel.com
This story was originally published July 28, 2017 at 12:23 PM with the headline "There’s a Columbia bar for every mood. Here’s a guide to some favorites."