Get Your Drink On

Bars in Carbondale cater to everyone

For arriving students, it may take a while to find an appropriate niche in the Carbondale scene. There are many different bars in Carbondale that cater to individual tastes.

Mugsy McGuire’s Bar & Grill, 1620 W. Main St.

Hours:Bar open everyday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Kitchen service runs Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Age:19 and older during bar hours/ all-ages during restaurant hours

Cover:$1 on Thursday for Karaoke night

Food:Chicken strips and burgers

Extras:The game room features six pool tables, video games, air hockey and shuffleboard. Mugsy’s is in the process of expanding and in August plans to open a new addition. The new addition is slated to have live DJs and bands.

Tres Hombres Mexican Restaurant & Lounge, 119 N. Washington

Hours:Open everyday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The restaurant operates Sunday through Thursday from 11a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Food:Mexican entres, burgers, soups and salads

Music:Live Jazz band every Monday night and a different band every Thursday night

Extras:Tres Hombres is a neighborhood bar, open to students and community alike and has been operating in Carbondale for over 20 years.

Stix, 517 S. Illinois Ave.

Hours:Opens at 11 a.m. everyday except Sunday at 1 p.m., closes at 2 a.m.

Music:Live DJ on Friday and Saturday nights

Extras:Stix might be bringing back live bands

Sidetracks Bar & Grill, 101 W. College

Hours:12:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Food:Sidetracks grill offers burgers, chicken wings, fries, and side sandwiches. The grill’s tentative hours for the fall are 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Music:Live DJ’s and bands

Extras:One of the three outdoor bars in Carbondale, Sidetracks offers live music by the tracks, provided by DJ’s and bands

Hangar 9, 511 S. Illinois Ave

Hours:Open 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mon. through Sat.; noon on Sunday

Cover:$1 to $4, no cover on Monday

Music:Live Bands/ Open acoustic mic. on Monday

Extras:Hangar 9 has rocked the strip for more than 24 years. They offer free pool daily from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and all night on Monday. Long known for an eclectic variety of live music, local and regional bands play the Hangar regularly. New this fall is a 9 foot screen for sporting events and The Simpsons. Visit their website at www.thehangar9.com for drink specials and band schedule.

Gatsby’s II Bar & Billiards, 610 S. Illinois Ave.

Hours:1 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily

Music:DJ during the school year/radio

Extras:Gatsby’s II is a fully equipped billiards hall with 10 full-size tables. Pool is free on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. During the day it’s $1.50 per person to play per hour and after 8 p.m. it’s $2.50. Gatsby’s also offers air hockey, foosball, pinball and a golf game.

Pinch Penny Pub (P3), 700 E. Grand Ave.

Hours:Open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, Sundays open at 4 p.m. The outdoor beer garden opens daily at 6 p.m. and on Wednesday and Sunday it opens at 3 p.m.

Cover:$1 on Wednesday/ up to $5 all other days, depending on bands

Food:Pizza, fries and burgers/ Kitchen closes at midnight

Music:Live bands and DJ’s

Extras:The newly remodeled beer garden has been open one year and will soon have an express bar. This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pinch Penny Pub.

Boo Jr. & Co., 827 E. Main St.

Hours:10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Cover:varies during band performances

Extras:It’s the bar behind the Sunset Motel. Look for the dancing Deady Bears.

Copper Dragon Brewing Co., 700 E. Grand Ave.

Hours:Opens at 8 or 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Cover:Varies from no cover to a $25 ticket for larger acts

Food:Just Booze and Music

Music:All the way from local to Nationally popular groups

Extras:Copper features bigger acts to come through the area. Ben Folds, Bad Ronald, and Local H have all rocked out on the stage at the Dragon. Copper also plays host to regular acts like, The Brat Pack, an 80’s cover band. Copper Dragon also brews its’ own beer, available on Draft or by bottles.

Carboz, 760 E. Grand Ave.

Hours:9p.m. to 2 a.m./usually on Wednesday through Friday

Food:Just Booze and Dancing

Music:Live DJ/prepared dance mix

Extras:Carboz has been open for 4 years and is planning to have a Karaoke night on Wednesdays.

Booby’s Bar & Submarine Sandwiches, 406 S. Illinois Ave.

Hours:Restaurants opens at 11 a.m. everyday and closes at 10 p.m., except on Sundays when they close at 9 p.m. The outdoor beer garden usually opens every night at 7 p.m. and closes at 2 a.m.

Cover:Depending on bands, up to $3

Food:Submarine sandwiches, bagels, salads, soups and fried foods

Extras:Along with Sidetracks, and Pinch’s beer garden, Booby’s is the only other outdoor bar in Carbondale. Booby’s features punk, metal, and alternative bands weekly.

The Upside Down Town (formally Club Traz), 213 E. Main St.

Hours:Wed. through Sunday 9p.m. to 2 a.m.

Cover:$5 for minors/$3 for 21+/Wednesdays are $3 for all

Music:Blues on Tuesdays/ Live DJ, playing R&B, Techno, and dance mixes

Extras:Formally Club Traz, The Upside Downtown has been operating in Carbondale for more than 20 years. Everything is $1 on Friday nights. The Upside Downtown is also host to live drag shows throughout the week. Visit their website at www.upside-downtown.com

Hours:1 p.m. to 2 a.m./opens at 11 a.m. for football season and other televised sporting events.

Food:Italian beef, shrimp cocktail, nachos, etc. The kitchen is open regular hours but closes at 1 a.m.

Extras:The Cellar is Carbondale’s premier sports bar. They have 14 TV’s, 2 pool tables, bumper pool, arcade games and shuffleboard. They also have a reputation for the best Bloody Mary in town. The Cellar has been in Carbondale for 27 years.