The Top Three Bars in Akron, Ohio

Whereas Akron may have many bars, there are only a handful that I feel even remotely comfortable visiting. This may be due to my upbringing, age, and "crowd," but really it has more to do with the clientele, and the atmosphere than anything. Some of the downtown bars are too stuffed with mindless drunks that have nothing better to do than get rowdy and spill beer all over the person sitting next to them. I'm certainly not presuming that these bars are the only good bars in Akron either-but I wanted to cover a few different types of atmosphere and clientele.

1. Thursday's Lounge: I must admit that even as I write this I feel the rage of many crashing down on me. Though it is a hipster haven (and trust me, I get just as annoyed at times by these scenesters as I do the frat guys that slur and fall all over themselves at some of the popular downtown bars), it is one of the only Akron bars that play music that can be danced to without encouraging "bumping," "grinding," or any of those other ridiculous terms we picked up in the 90's. The music can get repetitive, but all in all, they play some of the best music, offer a decent selection of imports and microbrews, and are conveniently close to campus. Visit: http://www.thursdayslounge.com/

2. 69 Taps: Quite the polar opposite of Thursday's is 69 Taps. This is probably the only downtown bar that I can stomach to be at for longer than 15 minutes (or as long as it takes for the scantily clad girls to anger me into leaving). It has a few really great features-the obvious being an extensive selection of import and microbrewed beers, all on tap. The other great thing about 69 Taps is the patio, which is excellent not only for smokers (not that I am), but fabulous during the warmer months. The central downtown location is also really nice. Visit: http://www.69taps.com/

3. Novo: Many people reading this article probably have never heard of Novo, but it's one of Akron's best kept secrets. This Akron bar is located in the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls. As a bar in general, it's exactly what you would consider from an upscale, classy place that thrives on customers who order scotch or martinis. It's a great place to go if you want to get dressed up, possibly impress a date, or the best-listen to a great jazz band. The Piatto Novo restaurant is great upscale dining, and there is a smaller menu in the bar that doesn't look half bad either. It may be a bit pricier than these other two, but is certainly worth a once in a while visit for those on a budget. Visit: http://www.opentable.com/piatto-novo

So again, this Akron bar list may not be comprehensive, but you can be sure to find a great time (or brew) at any one of these fantastic locations.