Locals pick best bar in Columbia for 2026 through our poll. The results weren’t even close
Last week, The State’s 2026 Best Bar poll went live on our website, and the results are finally in. A total of 22 bars were listed on the poll, and all but one bar received at least one vote.
The poll started on Tuesday, April 28, and ended on Friday, May 1. There were a total of 109 participants.
The following bar took home the most votes, and is crowned the best bar in Columbia:
The voted best bar in Columbia
Bourbon was voted the best bar in Columbia by quite a large margin. It received 21% of the votes in the poll and beat Bar None by eight votes.
Located on Main Street, steps away from the SC State House, Bourbon is an award-winning whiskey bar and Cajun-Creole restaurant that operates in the historic Brennan Building, built in 1869.
It boasts one of the largest whiskey selections in SC, with over 600 different whiskeys to try. They also specialize in bourbon, craft cocktails and the flavors of the Louisiana Bayou.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to celebrate, or just want to unwind over a savory drink, Bourbon should be one of your top choices. They don’t take reservations, and it can get very busy on weekends, so you should try to get a spot earlier in the night.
Here are the other bars that were also participants’ favorites:
Honorable mentions
While these bars weren’t voted the best bar in Columbia, they made it close to the top. From energetic dive bars to laid-back nightclubs, voters picked all sorts of bars as their favorites.
- #1. Bar None - 12 votes
- #2. Art Bar - 8 votes
- #3. Publick House - 8 votes
- #4. Jake’s on Devine - 5 votes
- #5. The Dragon Room - 5 votes
- #6. Tin Roof - 5 votes.
Thank you to everyone that participated!