Emporia, Kansas Barhopping Guide: Town Royal

Emporia may be small, but it is also a college town, which means there are a variety of places to party and drink with friends. I've been out with quite a few people, and I have found that the types of places people like to drink are amazingly diverse. A bar that I would find to be over-crowded is often the perfect place for some of my friends, and a bar that I find to be exceptionally comfortable is often too seedy for other people. That being said, it can be difficult to find the right bar for your own, personal, drinking experience. That is where this series of articles comes in. I will evaluate a variety of elements of a many bars in Emporia so you want have to search the town yourself.

Town Royal is located at 405 commercial st. about 8 blocks from the Emporia State University campus. This small bar is often overlooked as it looks like one of many other shops and businesses on commercial street. This little bar, however, should not be ignored.

Atmosphere

If you are looking for a high-class, elaborately decorated bar, Town Royal may not be the place for you. Town Royal's decorations are simple and the bar resembles a large meeting room. There are several tables dispersed around the back of the room and a three-sided wood counter dominates the front. Decorations are sparse and random. Further, the bar is definitely not designed for a vast amount of people; it is small and homey.

The plus side of this little bar's atmosphere is the limited amount of people that are usually present. On most nights, the bar has a few regulars and that is about it. This means that those of you that prefer a quieter atmosphere to drink and converse may be at home here.

Entertainment

Town Royal may be small, but it does have a few amenities for its patrons. There is a digital jukebox at the front of the bar that provides stored music at a reasonable price and can download a variety of other music for more money. (It is not really economical to download songs because they can be pretty pricey) At the back of the bar there is a pool table and cues. The table is a bit old and can send your pool balls off in some strange directions, but it is playable. Finally, there is an electronic dartboard that you and your friends can enjoy. It plays a variety of games from 301 to cricket.

Drinks and Prices

The drinks at town royal aren't incredibly noteworthy. There is no staple drink, and there are rarely deals on the alcohol. The prices, however, are not bad as some mixed drinks run right around $3. Try the windex or the fuzzy leprechaun if you want a nice interesting drink. Most of the time the bar tenders are fairly generous with the alcohol and have a decent understanding of how to mix.

Clientele

As mentioned early, the majority of the clientele in this bar is made up by regulars. Generally, these regulars are a bit older than your standard college faire. Most of the time, the clientele is friendly but reserved and the noise level from shouting is kept at a minimum. It is rare for a group of hardcore partiers to stumble in and ramp up the volume.

Summary

If you like a small bar with a quiet atmosphere, reserved people, and a decent reputation for well-mixed drinks at reasonable prices, Town Royal may be for you. However, if a slightly run-down atmosphere with cheap decorations offends you, choose another locale for your partying.