Three Great Bars in the Greater Sringfield, Illinois Area

In the greater Springfield, Illinois area there is no shortage of bars for your drinking enjoyment. However, I feel that there are three standouts. I know people may argue my choices, but I chose bars that are closest to Athens where I live. There are certainly more fine bars out there if you wanted to range out a bit.

I mentioned the Boar's Nest (Athens, Illinois) in my article about places to grab a great burger. The Boar's Nest is also a great bar. The building itself is a repurposed service station. The bar is where the garage would be. As such, it's a touch on the intimate side. There is a big patio out back if things get a bit too claustrophobic for you. Drinks are average priced, with a bottle of domestic running about two bucks. There are usually specials if you buy buckets, so bring a friend to share with. The main draw of The Boar's Nest is the live entertainment. There is always live music every weekend and you can expect to hear classic rock and country regularly. There is also a sand volleyball court on the side where you can join a league!

Also making it in from my burger article is J&B Sports Bar and Grill (Petersburg, Illinois). This is a nice roomy bar with plenty of seating and big screen televisions. There is air hockey, darts, video slots and a couple video games and pinball machines. Their selection of bar food is tremendous. Gird your loins and try the Wing Challenge. Eat 16 wings in their special Hell's Fury sauce in fifteen minutes without taking a drink or dying and get your picture on the wall! Then enjoy a cold beer! Drinks run about $2-4 for a beer depending on type and draft or bottle. There are usually drink specials.

No bar list would be complete without an Irish pub. Celtic Mist Pub (Springfield, Illinois) has that old world Irish pub feel. Tall wood stools and tables and lots of warm wood are accented by a selection of photos and knick-knacks that give a wonderfully comfortable feel. Music is a big part of the Celtic Mist Pub, with every Tuesday featuring a Celtic Music Jam session. The first Saturday of every month features a live band, with special events sprinkled in throughout the calendar year. The bar has a wonderful selection with eighteen beers on tap and a grand selection of spirits to choose from. As this is in downtown Springfield, expect prices to run a bit higher, especially if you're having microbrews or top shelf whiskeys. Drinks can easily run into $4 and up each. It's worth the money as the atmosphere at the Celtic Mist Pub is great.