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Onward State Presents: The Best Bar Experiences Bracket

There are a million reasons to go to a State College bar.

Each bar, with various specialty drinks, theme nights, and spots around the drinking hole, presents State College residents with a plethora of options when they go out. The distinct vibe of each bar is what makes the Penn State bar scene so impressive and special.

In this year’s Onward State Penn State-themed March Madness bracket, we compiled our favorite bar experiences around the town. From Pickleback shots to decks and patios, we put together what we feel are the 36 best things about downtown bars.

Want your favorite bar to take home our incredible prize (honor)? Vote for them on this Google Form by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 31.

Hofbräuhaus Region

Leading off, we have the Hofbräuhaus region, headlined by Doggie’s beer garden. As the weather warms up, this became a clear No. 1 seed. However, this side of the bracket will face tough challenges from Doggie’s pizza and our underdog, Cafe 210 bingo. There should be lots of Doggie’s in-fighting in this region, so keep an eye on this one.

DJ Yemi Region

Of course, Champs Dollar Vodka Soda Night headlines the DJ Yemi region that includes a newcomer, the Hideaway Hawk Tuah shot, against some strong competition. Look for the Pickle’s deck to make a strong push on what could be the easier route to an Elite Eight spot.

Luke Combs Region

State College’s favorite country bar, Pickle’s, headlines the Luke Combs region with Pickle’s Country Night. Expect an uphill battle for Zeno’s to survive in this region against some heavy-hitters like Cafe teas and Champs DJs.

Daydrinking Region

The Daydrinking Region is led by No. 1 seed Cafe’s patio and deck, which are getting more use with the sun out these days. Look for Antifragile’s cheesesteaks, Uncle John’s Jawns, to start putting other competitors on upset alert.

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About the Author

Joe Lister

Joe, shockingly, was Onward State's managing editor from 2024-25. It was an honor. He's off employed doing journalism things, hopefully. If you want to complain about anything he's ever written, you can find him on Twitter (iamjoelister), email ([email protected]), or Signal (iamjoelister.93).

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