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1. Esso Club
129 Old Greenville Hwy, Clemson, SC 29631 · 864-654-5120
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| Music: |
Acoustic
Bluegrass
Country
Rock |
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CC: Casual
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Across from campus, this old service station has been serving beer "cents" before WWII. Once upon a time, it was the only place in town that sold beer, and its ingenious owners decided to build a bar area so regulars could stay and hang out. After several years, they closed down the pumps and started popping tops full time, and the Esso would go on to become one of sportscaster Brent Musburger's favorite college town bars. The Esso Club's changed little over the years (they have added a full and moved the bar to create more space), but its concrete floors, old piano and old school Clemson mementos are still there. NB They frequently have live music on their stage outside, and during peak times it's often a well-known regional act like the Blue Dogs, Jupiter Coyote, or the Zac Brown Band.
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DOWNTOWN. One of Clemson's longest running and most popular bars, Tiger Town Tavern has been a College Avenue staple since 1977, when it took over the spot once occupied by the Red Carpet Lounge. For several years, TTT got by as a beer-only pool hall, but remodeling in 1991 and again in 1994 resulted in more square footage and a full-service kitchen. These days, the place stays as packed as ever, with students, locals, alumni, and curious tourists stopping in, especially on game days, to tip a glass, bottle, or can and soak in the atmosphere of this very well known college town watering hole. NB Top of the Tavern, located upstairs, is a private bar that's licensed to serve on Sundays.
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DOWNTOWN. Coming from central campus to downtown, TD's is the first bar you see because it occupies one of the most visible pieces of real estate in town. That said, TD's has been a popular gathering place for students since George I held office thanks to the always-successful combination of good eye-candy, full bar, tasty eats, and solid entertainment (ranging from live bands and karaoke to disco nights). In the afternoon, TD's kitchen serves up burgers, sandwiches, and meat-n-three plates that are the popular lunch choices for students and staff alike.
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| Cover Charge: |
No Cover
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| Music: |
Acoustic
Alternative Rock
Bluegrass
Rock |
| Dress: |
CC: Casual
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DOWNTOWN. Located less than a block from College Avenue, Backstreets has always sported a rough-around-the-edges vibe that's made (and kept) it a popular gathering spot for Clemson's non-Greeks. Indeed, on any given night, you might find yourself shooting eight-ball with a rugby winger, tossing darts with a English adjunct, or listening to live music along side the Forestry Club. Far more than just a beer bar, Backstreet also serves up pizza, sandwiches and other tasty pub bites.
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DOWNTOWN. There's been a bar at this Sloan Street spot since the earliest days of disco, and for grad students, faculty, and over three decades of graduates, this is the closest thing to neighborhood pub Clemson has. The walls are a veritable treasure trove of Clemson history and memorabilia, and the staff is one of the more eclectic in town. Best of all for connoisseurs of brew, Nick's normally features more than a dozen varieties of beer on-tap. And here's a secret that only regs know: the kitchen makes a jalapeno-pimento cheese dip (served with a basket of pretzels) that is nothing short of perfection.
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6. 356
366 College Ave, Clemson, SC 29631 · 864-654-1356
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DOWNTOWN. Artsy and eclectic on the inside, this downtown bar offers cozy, upscale digs that are perfect for a date or gathering with a small group of friends. If a bite to eat is in order, their kitchen serves up a decent assortment of appetizers and mains, and their sushi has been a popular choice for quite some time. As for the discrepency between the name and address, don't let it worry you too much – 356 College was actually the address of a dearly departed sister establishment.
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| Music: |
Acoustic
Rock |
| Dress: |
CC: Casual
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| Food Served: |
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DOWNTOWN. A relative newcomer to the downtown bar scene (it took over and renovated the corner spot the Acropolis occupied for so many years), Griffin's gives Clemson students a fun, relaxed place where they can gather and watch the games on the tube. The menu lists a number of tasty morsels, including a handful of home-style mains, and Griffin's also boasts an attractive patio that's a great place to watch game-day traffic roll by. NB On Thursdays and Fridays they usually feature live music.
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DOWNTOWN. Just when town and gown thought Clemson'd lost all its good wing joints, Wingin' It swept in like fearsome fowl to ply downtown appetites with half and pound-size portions of superb specialty wings. From Carolina BBQ and Jamaican jerk to teriyaki or Bourbon Street, all your favorite flavors are here. To sweeten the pot, they also serve up a few cleverly-named daiquiris (the Tiger Stripe with wild berry and mango, for example) and a whole caboodle of domestic and imported brews. During basketball season, Wingin' It is where the basketball pre-game show is broadcasted, and football Saturdays, they open as early 10am.
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DOWNTOWN. If you're looking for a bar with a pedigree, the Sloan Street Tap-Room may be right up your alley – after all, the owner's dad is none is other than the Legend himself, Coach Frank Howard, and another coaching icon, Danny Ford, has been known to stop in a time or two for a drink. Easy-going and very rarely crowded, Sloan Street is a great place to catch your breath and get away from the more high-traffic spots downtown. As for the decor – well, it "ain't much. That is, until you find out that some of the pieces, like the old jailhouse toilet and stadium seats, probably belong in a museum.
About 10Best's recommendations for Clemson's Best Nightlife:
10Best's editors and local contacts have searched all over Clemson for the best places to find yourself once the sun goes down and have decided that these businesses represent the best Clemson, South Carolina has to offer. Want to relax and unwind in Clemson? Let us show you the best places in town to do it!
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