3 Best Bars in Columbia, The Midlands and Upstate

This palace of fun combines a bowling alley, a restaurant, a taproom, an outdoor patio, and a game area into one establishment. There's live music most days. Eat an upscale Southern entrée like shrimp and grits or espresso-rubbed rib eye before rolling for a turkey.

This venerable local beer hall opened in 1995 as the city's first microbrewery and serves an excellent selection of beer and a menu of elevated pub fare and pizza. It also hosts occasional live bands. There's a second, larger location 3 miles south of town in a restored airplane hangar.

In the hopping Vista neighborhood, this funky spot has neon-painted walls, colorful string lights, an adjacent tattoo parlor, and a lively crowd, making it the perfect setting for karaoke and dancing to live bands.