Sweet Boy's Neighborhood Bar

I’d give fewer stars if I hadn’t had good experiences previously. Went in last night. Everything was fine until my boyfriend went to check if he had a tab so we could close out and leave. While waiting, he attempted to make small talk with a guy by us who we later found out was the bouncer. Bouncer was being extremely rude, probably just didn’t want to talk but didn’t verbally express that he wanted left alone. My boyfriend unfortunately made a sarcastic comment in response to the guys attitude saying “you have a pretty smile” well then the bartender insults my boyfriend’s appearance. I finally step in and say it wasn’t necessary and the bouncers excuse was that he was drunk and I said he didn’t have to be a drunk asshole. They stop talking for the most part other than side comments to no one. I’m trying to quicken the process of checking out so we can leave due to the tension that’s clearly building. During this process my sister ordered 2 white teas and gave my boyfriend her card which causes confusion later. My boyfriend hands the bartender the card and the tender asks if there’s a tab to close to which my boyfriend says yes because that was his original mission until my sister placed an order. I overstep and tell the bartender we don’t have a tab but my boyfriend wants to double check and that the card is to pay for my sisters shots. The tender does not listen to me at all and just walks away mid me explaining. They of course do not find a tab. I’m still trying to explain what the card is for and no one is listening to me still. Only my boyfriend who is drunk which I told them multiple times. I start getting louder so they can hear me which they perceived as attitude. I really was just stressed because of the tension already present and them not listening to me at all. I didn’t hear what my boyfriend said after they claimed I had an attitude but the tender then came around and tried fighting my boyfriend. We literally just wanted to pay and leave to go home. I’m standing between them. The tender keeps telling me to move out of the way. The bouncer is by us just watching and clearly thinks it’s funny. At this point my sister had gotten her card back and had paid for the drinks. I’m now trying to get my boyfriend out of the bar because of the possible fight I’m standing in between and the tender also starts saying we need to leave. As my boyfriend starts leaving that’s when a bouncer or employee grabs him and tries getting him out even though I was already clearly doing that. It was not necessary to physically escort him at this point. All of this was completely avoidable. The employees responsible for maintaining a safe environment did the exact opposite and I had to step up. How is the bouncer supposed to do his job properly when he’s claiming he’s drunk and being rude to customers just trying to make small talk as expected at a bar. Why is the bartender trying to fight someone who’s clearly drunk and VERBALLY defending their girlfriend that you just said had attitude when she’s just trying to sort out the checkout process. My boyfriend used to be a regular and was quite confused and upset by the experience because we enjoy going there when we occasionally go out. Idk that we will ever go there again after last night and am really disappointed. The only thing that was handled well is the bouncer at the beginning of the story let me back in to go get my sister which I’m thankful for as she had been avoiding some creep that wouldn’t leave her alone which is why we were trying to leave to begin with. Granted she bought last minute shots to take while we checked for a tab.

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 2

I had a great margarita and had fun playing the arcade games! 👾

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

so to the security guard that wants to brag every time I walk by your bar and not even trying to walk in and yells at me I'm banned for an event that never even happened at sweet boy and playing politics. This is why a group of 60 to 80 people stopped going to sweet boys.This is why last winter I packed out the bar and not this year. I promoted every downtown bar in 2012 to 2015. Employees like this are what destroys bars slowly next time you come out to the public street to tell me keep walking without even talking to you or looking at you or even trying to come in. i promise I'll do my best to affect the customer base every single weekend for the holidays I'll even have a group of promoters stand on the public sidewalk offering free bar tabs with bars across the street.

I’m from Wisconsin and we went to a few bars in the area of sweet boys and this bar was my favorite of all we ended up going in there three different times in one night. I think we had at least two different bartenders and both of them were awesome. The atmosphere was great and the drinks were reasonable. definitely going in there again when we go back to Springfield

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Wish they had more pinball! They did have (5-Sep-25) one machine with the sound turned off, or too low to hear. Terminator T3, cost $1/game, which is pricy for a 2003 pin. Cool hang out, had a DJ, they serve to non alcohol beer, and I saw some dudes doing push ups…pretty sure their beer was the alcohol variety 🤣

Definitely a grunge bar not for me. The bar tender cursed like a sailor and seemed to have a bipolar behavior

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 2

Well it was my first time there I'm really like it is big I mean it's long and back to the back is a cool little room as a coucher and some game tables and stuff So yeah it's a really cool place to go it's it was I think Friday night and I was pouring down rain so we set that front window just watched everybody walk by in the rain but yeah I really like the place cuz it wasn't bad full of people and that's probably cuz it was Friday night earlier and it was raining cuz I had to drive back to Joplin Missouri me and my buddies two of them But yeah it's a great place oh yes in the bartender he was such a sweet boy He made the best Greyhound I have ever had I have been drinking Greyhound since the early '80s in the bars So stopping that queer bar you'll enjoy it and get a Greyhound baby.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

What happened to all the awesome pinball machines?! There is now a tired tiki bar of some sort with no life. Bring back pinball! Springfield needs more pinball. That's all. Love the place otherwise.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

I will be contacting management. We are on vacation and looking to move to MO. One 6 the places considered was close to Springfield. We found this bar on our adventures today and the bartendars were friendly and made excellent drinks. Iyv"was" our favorite. We go to exit and the "gatekeepers", two males at the entrance told my husband to enjoy his DUI. First of all, we are responsible drinkers and always Uber. Second of all, that absolutely ruined our evening and was uncalled for. I spoke with them and they denied their behavior. Its inexcusable. Not only is that disrespectful, but if you own an establishment and your employees know that you are over serving and the normal outcome is a DUI, there is definitely a problem in multiple levels of your business. Where we thought might be a regular stop in the future, will never be on our stop again.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Awesome day time bartender. We asked for tequila drinks and he went to work.

Chill place to relax during the day. Great music. People coming and going. And ghosts everywhere.

Don’t go in the bathroom. There’s no mirror and that may shock you, woman, man, other, whatever.

And don’t wear silver. Vampires.

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

Good selection of whiskey and bourbon.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Pretty sure the employees were dealing

Atmosphere: 3

Service: 4

pinball is free, beers are cheap, conversation is entertaining, staff is direct and generous, would recommend

Chill vibes, great drinks

This bar is not for everyone. It is very dark, lots of graffiti, and holes in the walls. The bartender was very nice and he is the only reason I gave this bar two stars instead of one. I wouldn't recommend this bar unless all the surrounding bats were closed and you needed booze. This bar reminds me of a college bar basement. Good luck to the Sweet Boy's.

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 4