The best bars & nightlife in Boone County

Founded by four seasoned bartenders, 9th pairs a full-service bar and rotating craft cocktail menus with a wide selection of draft beers. It’s a welcoming Columbia spot for a good drink, live sports, and the sort of conversation that can turn “one quick stop” into a whole evening. Check it out.

From the Columbia newsletter, November 3, 2026

Plug into The Tokyo Club, a cyberpunk arcade packed with 30+ pinball and arcade classics, canned drinks at the bar, and Comedy Nights that spill into the 21+ Afterlife Lounge where DJs and comics share the stage. Perfect this week when you need laughs, lights, and a new high score.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 31, 2026

Family-owned vineyard with a tasting room & terrace restaurant overlooking the Missouri River.

Since 1998, Tellers Gallery & Bar has been the spot for creative comfort, from baked brie and jerk wings to steak frites and blackened salmon wraps, with craft cocktails to match. Call it your midweek reset, or the place you bring friends when indecision strikes.

From the Columbia newsletter, September 29, 2026

Tucked inside The Tiger Hotel, Vault is an inviting speakeasy lounge pouring award-winning cocktails. It’s the kind of spot locals claim as a go-to for date nights, post-dinner nightcaps, or showing off Columbia’s cocktail game without the fuss... just skillfully made drinks and relaxed, grown-up energy.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 17, 2026

Since 1977, FieldHouse has been the iconic spot on historic Broadway where locals catch up over great food, great drinks, and that lively mix of students, alumni, and townies. Swing by this week for reliably fun nights right by campus, with attentive staff that keeps the good vibes rolling.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 12, 2026

Slide into Son of a Gun for an easygoing neighborhood hang where classic cocktails meet cold beer, the lighting forgives long days, and the conversation comes easy. It’s the kind of spot that turns a quick catch-up into a proper evening without trying too hard.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 5, 2026

McGinty's Pub is that laid-back bar where 24 beers on tap and several dozen whiskeys make choosing the hardest part. Grab a stool, trade a round over pool or darts, and settle in... it’s the kind of low-key local hang that quietly becomes your default meetup.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 23, 2026

Broadway Brewery keeps things Columbia-casual with house beers that range from crisp German lagers to juicy DDH hazies and fruited sours, plus a legit farm-to-table menu. Watch for rotating taps, monthly Columbia Jazz Orchestra sets, and charity trivia, then call it a night well spent.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 16, 2026

Worts and All stocks the ingredients, equipment, and supplies for brewing beer, wine, mead, and kombucha, with plenty for both curious beginners and longtime homebrewers. The locally owned shop is run by a longtime brewer, so it’s a handy place to get set up or find that one ingredient your next batch is missing.

From the Columbia newsletter, September 26, 2026

Waves Cider Co. is quietly turning Columbia’s heirloom apples into crisp, bottle-conditioned ciders that taste like fall met geology in a glass. Try the Alspaugh Orchard Blend, a limited-run mix of 30 varieties with a dry, grippy finish, subtle lemon notes and a minerally snap, poured in their laid-back tasting room.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 24, 2026

Columbia’s only locally owned wine shop, Top Ten Wines, is where you go when you want a real selection, from everyday sippers to those hard-to-find bottles. Pull up at the bar for a glass and a few bites, then snag a bottle to bring home.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 26, 2026

Broadway Brewery Taproom on 9th pours 14 house drafts alongside craft cocktails, with a 16-foot garage door that opens to the sidewalk and TVs ready for game days. It doubles as a laid-back private event spot, perfect when your friend group somehow becomes an actual crowd.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 20, 2026

When only a classic pub fix will do, Campus Bar & Grill nails it with a flagship Campus burger on a brioche bun, wings in sauces from Mild to Unbearable, and plenty of wraps and prime-rib sandwiches... basically your easy, no-fuss hang this week.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 4, 2026

Logboat Brewing Company nails that after-work reset with house beers poured in an industrial space warmed by reclaimed wood and a long pine bar. It’s the kind of spot where neighbors mingle, new releases keep things interesting, and the merch table somehow talks you into a hat.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 30, 2026

Flat Branch Pub & Brewing has been a Columbia staple since 1994, pouring house beers brewed right here and backing them up with fabulous food that actually hits the spot after a long day. It’s the kind of reliably good, no-drama stop that makes Tuesday feel like a treat.

From the Columbia newsletter, October 2, 2026