31 Best Bars in Columbia

“I never leave reviews, but this place is just too good to not share. The drinks are unique and delicious (My favorite is the Island Boi, or the Orange Creamsicle one, or maybe the Coco Loco one 😂😂). And the food is incredible! I’ve never had anything there that I didn’t love. My favorites are the hush puppies, hummus, Veg Fil A sandwich, and the rice and beans bowl. This time when we went, the chef added protein crumbles, nacho cheese, and green onions on top and it was even better. My son loves the Hoot sandwich and he’s 10 years old and usually non-vegan….so that’s a huge compliment to the flavor of that sandwich. On top of all this, the place is just cool. The atmosphere is so comfortable and inviting, like I could stay all night if I didn’t have to put my kid to bed! 🤣 I just really love this place and I’m so glad to see it added to our neighborhood!!“

“Chill atmosphere, great people, AMAZING food, fun games... what more could you ask for?! My husband and I went for the first time today and we've already made plans to go back! Perfect find for a nostalgic, fun date. ❤️“

“This is one of my favorite spots in Columbia! They have an amazing rooftop with great energy. You can get food up there too although the menu is slightly limited and more geared towards small plates-- which makes sense for a rooftop anyway! In the main dining area service is excellent. I could eat the mushroom toast every day- it's that good! As a wine professional I appreciate their thoughtful selections, there's something for everyone. Much love!“

“It was a very intimate show and the atmosphere was great. The show was awesome and we had a great experience. Plenty of free or meter parking around (meter parking us also free after a certain time). Would love to come back here again soon.“

“I very rarely give 5 stars do I put 5 stars in any category but Backstreet deserves it! They're staff were very friendly and attentive. Each waitress and was professional and a pleasure to talk to. As a Veteran with PTSD it can be hard going out and finding seat accommodations. They not only found me great seat accommodations but also checked in on my table a little extra which was very appreciated. The food was packed with flavor and the sizes matched the price for me and my group no one seemed unhappy with anything served.

My only gripe was that they left the doors open on a hot day which lead to flies and which I do get since they have a outdoor seating sections but it would have been great to keep the inside cool and the outside hot. Beside this very small gripe this place is a must comeback to when I visit South carolina again!“

“I’ve been going to 929 for years! It’s one of the best moderate Korean restaurants in Columbia.“

“Hands down my favorite place in Columbia SC to eat chill and party. Great food and atmosphere. Matty was my server and she's awesome..Ladies and laid back super chill vibes until 2am on a Tuesdayyyyy. Erybodys chillin at the bar getting tipsy. No J. Coles....“

“Pam is, without a doubt, the best person ya ever wanna meet! highly recommend!“

“Amazing food and service…Nia is the best!!“

“Grass roots artists-driven exhibition at it's best! No middle-man. Pure art.“

“This neighborhood bar is small, no taps, but big outdoor music stage and great service by staff!!!“

“I really enjoy Envee! The atmosphere is great, and I love that it draws a 30+ crowd. The food, drinks, and music are all good. I typically go on Sunday nights when they have a live band—it’s so much fun! Definitely a spot I’d recommend for anyone looking for a more mature, lively environment.“

“CJ’s is a really really underrated spot in Five Points! Unlike so many of the other bars in the area, the bouncers were pretty cool, and the bartenders did a great job. While I wish that they might have had a larger selection of beers on draft, they at least had one IPA on tap, and another in a can.

The ambiance was cool as well - it was definitely a dive bar, but not in a way that means it was run down or nasty. They had a cool, vintage Pac-Man machine, and the pool area was nice and spacious as well. Although I didn’t use the outdoor patio, it seemed like the perfect spot to people watch or hang out with a large group of people, and you had a bird’s eye view of the Five Points Fountain.

All-in-all, CJ’s was a lot of fun, and I definitely see myself coming back in the near future!“

“Well I was invited to this club and it seemed like a pretty cool place. I didn't get to stay long because I wasnt feeling too good but overall I'd say it's worth stopping by. About it being members only...🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾🤷🏾“

“I love this venue for any occasion. It's spacious and elegant for a small or medium size event. I love the fact that the kitchen and counter space are separated by a wall and two double swinging doors to hide the workings of the kitchen.“

“It's a very nice atmosphere for grown people with no drama“

“Salsa had great flavor. everything we ordered was amazing.“

“Y y’all let lul cuz get jumped like that 😭😭😭“

“Megan Marsh is the best. So friendly and she knows what she is doing.. Will come again.“

“Wednesday night ...dj Low goes hard...love it..Am from Louisiana and he plays all of our music...thanks“

“Great atmosphere. And the drinks were phenomenal!! Just a great place to relax & talk & enjoy an evening.“

“I went for brunch today and had the most amazing time! The atmosphere was wonderful and the staff was on point!“

“Great entertainment top notch.. and friendly environment. See ya next time“

“My waitress was Corey a slim light skinned guy with dreads. He was rude the whole night. We first entered the restaurant there was hardly nobody there he told us it will be a 15min wait. So we sat down and waited in about 10mins 3 people passed us and went and sat down so I got up and told him then he rudely seated us. As we ordered he was looking at the game on the television and gave us no eye contact. I asked for 2 unsweet teas 1 with no ice I got two sweet teas, I told him that it was sweet an I wanted unsweetened but my husband said that he would keep his sweet tea. So the waitress picked it up and brought me a sweet tea again this time with ice when I asked for no ice. So the second time I decided to just let it sit there because he seemed upset. I placed my order and asked for an extra side of potatoes, he said they come in 3 so I said ok I want it. Then my husband asked do potatoes come with his order and the waiter said “yes do you want to add extra” my husband said “naw I’m good” when the order came I had only 3 potatoes which is what comes with the order, my husband had four potatoes that’s three that come with the order and one extra. I looked at the receipt and saw that he charged both of us for an extra order of potatoes. I told him that I don’t have an extra order in mine, and that my husband didn’t order an extra side but if he did, he should have gotten three potatoes, not one extra . He said “yes he did ask for extra” we both said no he didn’t. and he ran to the back talking loud i can hear him say “bro I swear they ordered extra potatoes. We don’t say anything else. We know what we ordered he was too busy watching the TV while we were ordering . He brought the ticket to the table and told us we can pay up front. He didn’t say thank you, have a good night or nothing he never looked back our way. he never even apologized for bringing me sweet tea both times with ice. We left him a $10 tip although he didn’t deserve a dime but he could have gotten more. I’m just not the type to leave nothing. His attitude was so nasty I will not go there again!“

“Best bar in town, hands down, 10 stars forever. Friendly bartenders, delicious bar food that comes out fast, decent prices for drinks, true dive atmosphere, great lighting, they have sports TVs if you’re into that, clean bathrooms, music is always good when Sam’s on but don’t tell him that. 5 pts bar so it can get very busy when the students are in town but if you squeeze in on a Friday night you’ll still get great service bc they are grateful you made it in too. You can tell this place has meant a lot to a lot of people over the years just by looking at all the framed pics and fan art. Used to be a late night spot too but have always felt safe and protected any time. Only bar I go to, can’t wait to go back. Whateva!“

“Amazing People & Services. Had A Blast.“

“Always the perfect stop to make.“

“We so enjoyed this establishment both nights we stayed in Cola. We loved the fresh oysters, old bay shrimp and crab legs. Had the pleasure of meeting the one and only Mother Shucker. Such a lovely lady! Can’t wait to share our bottle of cocktail sauce with the bestie on our next oyster night at home. Much love to you all! 🫶 We will be back soon!“