Venues in State College, Pennsylvania

A truly authentic place with delicious made-to-order homemade comfort food and exceptional service matching the ultimate dining experience! As the Penn State’s international student of an European and Western / Central Asian background, I go there for food and have teas and coffees you cannot find anywhere in town. It is BYOB-friendly too. Although I am a non-smoker, this hookah eatery’s vent system is so well designed it effectively protects me from exposure let alone any smoke odor!

I grew up in the area; many years ago I used to frequent the Hookah lounge that previously was established in this space with my friends. Formally known as Chronic Town, I am here to say that Chill Out Hookah Lounge has improved upon quality and service tremendously. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable; the staff were friendly and helpful. They allowed me to smell the different Shisha Tobacco blends before deciding on which one I wanted to smoke. They gave me and my friend free water to sip on as well. Most importantly, the hookah experience was fantastic. The units they have are all very nicely taken care of and of high quality. We purchased ice for our hookah and we got a freeze hose along with it. The staff routinely replaced our coals, brought us a fresh cold hose every so often and we didn’t have to ask. It’s BYOB, there are games to play, multiple TVs to watch and they have a pretty extensive menu to order food from. I had a great experience, thank you for the great service!

This is a really nice pool hall with an amazing atmosphere. As a first timer, I was unsure of how it worked but I just walked up to the bartender, asked to play for 2 people ($6/hr.) They allow smoking while playing, as long as you're not actively shooting.

Tables were not taken care of . One table was so off level. Seemed like a joke. Is this place really serious about billiards. Lazy is all I have to say

What an awesome little pub! The food that my group got was wonderful. I got the double stack burger and it was delicious! I only had water but my group all loved the libations and the bartender was the absolute best and went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of. Great live music too!

Iconic beer bar serving up a curated list of the best the world has to offer for… decades now. Great staff, cozy place, great place to get great beer from central PA and across the world. And they have hand pumps! Cask ale is something to be celebrated whenever found outside the UK.

Unique spot. I was totally apprehensive as soon as we noticed this restaurant was located in a strip mall but thank goodness we gave it a shot anyway. As soon as you walk through the door you are wrapped in a warm and welcoming interior with smiles to boot. The menu is a happy step away from what you find at your usual establishment. There are many specialties and tons of options I wouldn’t mind trying! We decided to go for two of the schnitzel options. No disappointment! Everything was delish! The portions were more than generous. Wait staff—very attentive and pleasant. In fact she was sweet enough to pitch in when we were having trouble taking a selfie. More than that she showed us where to get the best shot and snapped it herself! Would return anytime!

Olde New York is an excellent place for a meal out! They also have a full bar, tempting desserts and appetizers to please every palate! They have the best beef stew I’ve ever had at a restaurant (it’s Ghoulash on the menu). The steaks are great! Bonus for serving mashed potatoes straight up, without garlic. Salads are fresh, with lots of mixed greens. The customer service is excellent, and the atmosphere is great too. It can get a bit loud, definitely not a place to go for a subdued dining experience. If you’re in State College and trying to experience some of the local flavors, it’s a must-try!

This whiskey bar is an absolute gem! The decor is stunningly beautiful, creating a warm and inviting ambiance that's perfect for unwinding. And their margaritas? Absolutely awesomeEach sip is a blend of expertly crafted flavors. Plus Lobster Roll was delicious, a fantastic food pairing to complement their top-notch drinks. Whether you're a whiskey connoisseur or just looking for a great drink and bite in a gorgeous setting, this bar ticks all the boxes. The combination of standout food, amazing drinks, and breathtaking decor makes it a must-visit spot!

Great location, great interior aesthetic, great fries, and great drinks! That’s about where the “greats” end. Server was not the happiest but I’ll let it slide cause it was Easter. Ordered “Steak Frites” which I know is technically “steak n fries” but it didn’t even come cut, was too fatty, and raw. Cannot justify the $37 price in the slightest. I’m sure the other food is good from what I saw other patrons eating but I don’t think I can justify the price. Drinks were great!

I have made it a goal to eat here each time I am in State College. The vibe is great - upbeat, with outdoor, indoor and bar seating. The staff is so friendly and the food is delicious. The prices are OK, a bit on the high side, but you get quality food with a great ambiance, and with the way everything costs today, it's expected. We ordered the Lobster Roll, Burrata Appetizer and the Shrimp Cocktail this time. The lobster roll was divine - my kiddo love it. The Burrata was OK - it could have used a little more balsamic but the shrimp cocktail was too spicy for me. I only had 1 shrimp and couldn't enjoy the rest of it. I specifically told our waitress I didn't want it if it was too spicy and she assured me it wasn't, so when she saw I didn't finish it and asked my why, I told her it was due to the heat level. I did not ask her to remove it off the check, but honestly, at the prices they charge and the "high end" atmosphere they want to exude, it would have been good customer service to have removed it off the check even if I didn't ask. I still paid for it and will visit again because overall the food is delicious, but I will be more mindful to not take the server's advice when it comes to spice levels. I am Mediterranean and can handle spicy, but not when I'm traveling so it was kind of a bummer that I paid $18 for a 5 shrimps that I didn't even get to eat and enjoy. I still recommend that you visit when you get a chance. Wait times can be long depending on day but if you plan correctly, it will be a pleasant experience. We were a party of 2 and had 0 wait time on Friday evening at 6:30 pm.

Our server was a tall redhead I unfortunately forgot her name, but she was wonderful! Burgers are delicious! Fries are phenomenal! Mocktails available for the non-drinkers such as myself. I had a non-alcoholic pineapple mojito!🍍✨️ and we got a coconut cupcake to go.

Absolutely, enjoyed this place. I've been back and forth to state college for many years since I was in college. My siblings go here now and my mom and I took a trip down here. There is never a bar we all agree on down here but we went to this one and we all loved it. Rocky is a cool person!

The grilled pb&j was delicious, so was the Sriracha slaw and chili. Thank you for a great meal.

My wife and I have been trying to get to Central Res for about 6 years but the stars never seemed to line up. We decided to do dinner and a movie and after a short wait to order drinks we informed our waitress we were trying to catch a movie showing at 9. All our food came out perfectly timed and the presentation was on point. I’m not a big fan of pork belly but this had me convinced otherwise! The sangria was perfect and my burger was like a high class Five Guys. Portion sizes were perfect and we made the movie without rushing and 5 minutes to spare.

Good cocktails, and relatively small but great seasonally rotating menu. The beet burger was a fantastic flavorful vegetarian option. Creme brulee was also tasty.

Averagely good food. No objections, but I wasn't blown away. Our favorite thing was the spinach artichoke dip, I just wish it came with more bread, there was probably 2x more dip than needed for the 6 tiny pieces of beer bread. For the price they should have tripped the amount of bread. I got the "hoginator" pizza the toppings were good, but the crust wasn't able to support the toppings. My wife went with a basic burger, and the beer battered fries were probably the second best thing there, they were definitely gone. Our friend got a Salmon Cesar that looked really good, but noone was blown away. Its 100% a safe place to take friends & family, just nothing to write home or brag about.

We came for lunch and craft beers. My husband had the Streamside IPA and I had the Apricot Ale. Both were cold and refreshing. He had the Chicken Wing Mac & Cheese. I had the Chicken Wing Salad. I had the wings done in the sweet chili sauce, excellent choice! Jeremy was our server, he was attentive without being overbearing and we did not feel rushed.

The chicken ravioli was phenomenal! Such a great server, he was on it the entire time! I got dessert to go, will update once I'm not so full, I did post my completed pic to show how much I loved this meal! Very low key atmosphere

Surprisingly great food for a hotel pub. I ordered the steak salad and it came with very generous portions of salad and fries. The dressing was delicious - if I had to be nit picky, perhaps a little too much dressing was on the salad so I’d get it on the side next time. The fries are delicious, highly recommend! Great service. The atmosphere was pretty quiet because not many people were staying at the hotel at that time. But it was nice considering if I wanted something busier, I’d go into town.

It was really good and convenient to walk to. It’s right outside of the Penn state campus. Highly recommend.

The most iconic restaurant in State College. Food is always delicious and the staff is courteous and extremely professional. If you've never been, it's a must.

We had a great time at Brothers! We were visiting the campus for our son who is interested in Penn State and catching a game too. We decided to get some appetizers and drinks to hold us over for game time and we were very happy with everything here! Glad we stopped in and we wouldn't hesitate to go again, if we are back in town.

The first girl bartender left and never came back to take our order. Then a guy came over and when I say he does not play about his job. He got to work. I never been somewhere where the drinks are $1 or $5 for so much. A pitcher for $10 5 stars

We sat at the bar and had a few drinks and entrees. Steaks and salmon were cooked perfectly and had nice flavor. We ate them so fast we didn’t get a picture! Kudos to the chef. Bartender Lexi was super attentive and very friendly, she makes a mean martini. Definitely will be back!

Such a nice mood restaurant! The staffs are very kind with good manners! They have somewhere limited options for lunch, so I prefer to visit here for dinner. Especially, I really enjoyed when there were special menus that may be seasonal. One of the best part is you can reserve. They have good cocktail/mocktail options.

The salmon was too die for 👏👏👏 Madison was an amazing waitress. The bonanza red wine was delicious. Dinner outside, on the second floor was a great way to take in state college.

Can't wait to come back here, it's got a lot of history I'd like to take in. The food was delicious. I ordered the pub burger medium. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a bit of a higher level sit down dinner in downtown State College.

I’ve never had such a personalized experience at a bar since I met Paulie from sharkies. Although it wasn’t necessary, Paulie came over to our table when he was bartending to see if we needed anything and ask how are night was. My friends and I love that fedora wearing man!!

place was gutted of all personality following recent changes in ownership. Another state college business eaten by the greedy landlord mafia

We were pleasantly surprised with the tasty food at this place. I ordered their chicken tacos and they were out of the world. Their Mac & Cheese and fries were also very good. During weekdays they run a special $2 per taco upto 11 pm. Definitely worth the food and drinks. Server was very nice, took time to explain the food menu and service was prompt.

This review is being edited after I fought with Champs management for over a week trying to get someone to look into my situation. I visited here on July 2nd. The following week I noticed an extra $18 added to my tab after I left a cash tip. I did not write in a tip on that receipt. The food and service was great but I dont put up with this. Spoke to Greg the following Monday. He took down my info and told him the info. Then called again that Friday to check in. He said he hadnt gotten around to it but would have someone look at it when he got help later that day. Never heard anything back. Then called the following week and spoke to maybe the owner and addressed the situation to him. Not sure who he was and said Greg would be in later. Called later and was told he wasnt there. This had been 2 weeks after and not one call back to me. So I called my bank and told them and disputed the charge. I wanted to dispute the entire thing because an establishment who allows their employees to write in tips and does nothing about it doesn't deserve a damn dime from me. My wife's family might love this place and the food is great but the management team is as trash as penn states basketball team. They definitely need some ethics training and keep an eye on their staff.

Very delicious place!! The tacos I got were very tasty, and the Alabama White sauce (as well as their other sauces) were very good as well! Definitely a good place to go to get a quick drink and enjoy some good food!

Bill Pickles Tap Room in State College is a BBQ gem! Their Fresh Smoke pulled pork is tender and smoky, paired with house-made sauces. Smoked wings are flavorful, though not crispy as preferred—still delicious! Mac ‘n’ cheese steals the show, creamy and better than most. The vibe’s laid-back with a cool outdoor deck and killer craft beers. A must-visit for BBQ fans, but crispy wing lovers might ask for a quick fry. Great spot to chill and chow down

I got kicked out for no reason? Of course a “drunk” person wouldn’t be coherent enough to review, but I got escorted out for wanting to use the bathroom? I’m so confused, no one would explain and I am a person of color. I feel like a problematic person wouldVe proved a reason to get kicked out but genuinely i ordered a slice of pizza and am so confused? Not a good look honestly. There’s nothing I did wrong tonight.

Champs is a statement in State College. This location gets busy but it's quite large. The 360 bar has a lot of seats and, besides the first floor, there is an elevated "half floor" and downstairs floor with pool tables and other fun stuff. They card at the entrance. The times we've been here we sat at the tables and at the bar and service was fast and the servers and bartenders were very very nice. They have a large selection of beers and they are cheap; you can get the 16 or 20 oz and take out crowlers. Food is good and the portions are huge. Everything you'd want from a sports bar although it gets very busy!

A great, cozy spot with professional courteous staff to enjoy time with friends or unwind on your own, this establishment has been a staple of the State College bar and restaurant scene for years! Their bottled beer 🍻 selection includes imported options you won’t find anywhere else in town. The wine 🍷 list is equally impressive, and the food menu, featuring house-made dishes 🍲 prepared to order, is updated weekly on their social media pages.

A very welcomed safe haven with fabulous drinks. Was back in town over Christmas and was delighted by the full Christmas cocktail menu. All the cocktails I tried were great. You can tell there is a passion for combination and flavors there. The interior is wonderful and boy did they ever decorate for Christmas. I would love to see what they do for other holidays. I will be back and definitely recommend stopping in for a visit and supporting local gay bars like this.

The food was decent but way too much bread to meat ratio. Coleslaw was good in its own way but not great. Service was outstanding. With these prices, it's a good value and worth going back.

Embarrassed that this location has any affiliation with Pittsburgh. Service was Slow, disorganized and lazy. The only food that was decent was the onion rings and they didn’t come out until after the meal. We will not be back. What a shame. There are too many other options to come here. TV volume was over the top. Way too loud.

Busy spot with tons of beer on tap. It was a 2 hour wait but we found a spot to eat at the bar. Had the steak which was good but not great. Overall a good meal though.

Excellent food, super friendly staff and nice open, clean atmosphere! Can get a little loud with such a large open plan and all the hard surfaces. We would definitely recommend it to friends! A little difficult to find the front door, as no outside signage.

great experience but ordered from a brunette woman in striped overalls on the night of Aug 30th and got nothing but attitude and improperly made drinks. genuinely a waste of money and time. she seemed too preoccupied flirting with all the men in the section and skipped me on several occasions to serve men first when I had waited patiently with my friends, not causing a commotion. then when we got our drinks they were poured way too heavy to the point where they tasted horrible, and the shots were nothing like what we ordered. this had happened to my friends on other nights here as well with the same bartender. seemed like she was all over the place and had no clue what she was doing. then when we asked for a drink with a regular single shot in it instead, we got dirty looks and attitude from her. that is not the experience a paying customer should have. will never be returning to that bartender again and, as someone who used to work as a server, i would hate to be a coworker who splits my tips with her. besides that, great atmosphere and loved the live music. my favorite part is the courtyard especially during football weekends, so it was so nice to be back and see everyone! always a great start and end of the night

We were visiting our son who attends PSU and after a few hours of shopping we decided to grab a bite. We had eaten the night before at the Tavern, excellent meal but wanted some pizza and maybe a beer. We asked a few shop owners and got a couple of different responses but in searching Google, Doggie's Pub was well reviewed and only a few blocks away. We could not have picked any better. This place was exactly what we were looking for. The pub is actually below grade (fka the Rathskeller). You are greeted at the door and have to produce ID. If you're not 21 or with an adult don't bother, you can't get in. There is no table service but if you're here that doesn't matter. The vibe is awesome, the employees were great, friendly and helpful and the pizza...really good pie! It's a thin crust the way I like it. The bar is of course a full bar. It was the first Saturday afternoon of spring break so the pub was relatively quiet. We were able to sit at a booth and enjoy all the "carvings" in the table and writing on the walls. There is of course multiple photos of doggies hanging up! I'm sure this place is a lot of fun during the school year. If you're in town and want a really good pizza and a beer, this is the place!

Went there Nov 2024 and since the new menu..... downhill! The turkey bacon sandwich I got was so hard to eat! I told them fresh bread not toasted. Well I guess they don't know what toasted is... so blackened that it was hard to eat. I didn't really care at the time because I was starving but now I'm regretting because my mouth is sore from being scratched from the "toasted bread "..... so was my friend that ordered a sandwich..... and the fries are smashed and are like potato skins.

Food is all over the map. Sometimes fine, sometimes terrible and never great. Tables are always dirty. Music is wrong for the environment and usually super loud. Could be so much better with a touch more effort.

Great college bar with live entertainment. Visited early on a Friday afternoon was was please to see live entertainment. Plenty of drink specials and super friendly employees. Love the layout of party tables. Beer was cold and shots were flowing. Didn’t eat here but they had a lot of food specials. Any they still do the 21st birthday hats!

Obviously a State College staple & it is a good time, but this place stinks, is sticky & the bathrooms are beyond gross. Bartenders are great. Bouncers are rude. Food is good. Drinks are cheap.

Reliving college days, listening to live music on the back porch, drinking good cheap pitchers, and eating surprisingly good food; what’s not to love?

Awful experience from start to finish! I don't recommend going to this place! We asked the bouncer if there was a happy hour since there was a cover fee, and he said, "yes." I go inside and ask the bartender for a happy hour item, and guess what? He says there's no happy hour today. That was frustrating and misleading. Moving on, we ordered drinks, which took forever to arrive. When they finally did, they were mediocre at best. Then we ordered onion rings, and they were basically burnt. They tasted terrible, like they had been sitting in old oil for too long. The service was incredibly slow, and the staff seemed disinterested in providing a good experience. The overall atmosphere was disappointing as well; it felt more like a poorly managed dive bar than a lively café. Cafe210 really needs to step up their game to stay relevant in the State College area. Better communication, faster service, and higher quality food are essential. Right now, it’s just not worth the time or money.

Whenever I visit my brother at Penn State from my school in Florida, I always look forward to Gaffeyoke Wednesdays. After trying most of the bars in State College, The Shandygaff is definitely my favorite. The drinks are fairly priced, the layout is great, and the crowd is always friendly. It can get crowded and karaoke wait times are long, but the fun atmosphere makes it worth it. Definitely a spot I’d recommend!

Had a great time on a Friday evening. Lots of drink specials and plenty of music. They have some weird camera system when they check your ID but that wasn’t a big deal. Plenty of staff slinging drinks. Seem like the place is run by a bunch of college kids, so that may become a problem.

Oh.My.God. Okay, I have got to give this bar its props. I don’t even know where to start. I mean the atmosphere of this bar is so FUN! I used to love going out but bars just kind of fell off and are all the same in that boring way. But this bar - it literally resets everything for me. I love going here and I don’t usually leave reviews but I had to this time. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is perfect, the menu is engaging!! You’ll know what I mean when you go *wink*. I love how affordable the food is and I swear it tastes better than your typical bar food. But, let’s talk about the drinks! The bartenders know what they’re doing, that’s for sure! The drinks looked gorgeous and tasted as phenomenal as they looked. I cannot cannot cannot sing high enough praises for this bar, its atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and the staff. This bar has made me love going out again!!

We stopped in on a Thursday night after hearing about the opening. I really liked the vibe and we enjoyed chatting with the owner, who had an incredible energy and great personality! You can tell he was very passionate and excited about this place! Loved the "cheeky" menu - The funnel cake was amazing! Fresh berries and homemade sweet cream on top made this one of the best I've had. I definitely look forward to visiting and trying other menu items in the future.

Went here years ago in college. They claimed my ID was fake, snapped it, and just never compensated or apologized. I left a review years ago but felt like it was unfair that nothing happened from them illegally snapping my government issued ID so here I am! This place is so trash. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else.

Review: Absolutely terrible experience at this club, all because of an entitled and power-tripping bouncer. I paid for VIP so I could sit down, yet she saw me with my head tilted down for a second and immediately tried to kick me out. I told her I don’t drink and wasn’t falling asleep, but she kept pressing the issue. I even offered to have her check the cameras to prove I did nothing wrong and said I’d leave if they showed otherwise. Instead of handling the situation reasonably, she escalated things, threatening me with, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way.” I wasn’t fazed at all—because I was sober and knew I did nothing wrong. Then she tried to act tough, saying I could catch a trespassing charge, which, as a law student, I can confidently say was absolute nonsense. The white lady with glasses has no business working security if she can’t handle basic customer interactions professionally. If you want to actually enjoy your night out without dealing with an unhinged bouncer, go somewhere else.

We had a great time! Host was very nice and so accommodating with our time. It is bring your own everything so beware if you wanna drink. But otherwise, it was your standard karaoke spot. Private rooms are really aesthetic and clean. Would definitely come back.

I'm very reluctant to give a low rating, as the hostess provided excellent service, but the value for money is really not high. There are very few songs available to sing, and many songs couldn't be downloaded. I stayed for less than an hour, and in addition, their service fee is 20%.