No college experience would be complete without a killer nightlife.
Luckily, there are a ton of places open late near ISU for tasty food, live music, and of course, your favorite drinks!
1. Maggie Miley’s
Maggie Miley’s has offered authentic Irish food and drinks for more than 12 years in the Bloomington-Normal area.
In fact, Business Insider listed it as one of the best Irish pubs in America!
Maggie Miley’s is open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
2. Pub II
Celebrate a Redbird win with Pub II’s famous cheese balls and a cold one!
The sports bar has welcomed students and locals since 1974.
It features a ton of sports memorabilia and even the khaki pants of a bartender who acted in a State Farm commercial.
Pub II is open Sunday through Thursday until 1 a.m., and Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m.
3. 8 Bit Arcade Bar
Open until 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 8 Bit Beer Arcade is pretty simple: drink beer and play games!
Vintage arcade games include Rampage, NBA Jam, WrestleWar, Mortal Kombat, and Blitz ‘99.
Plus, if you find yourself in Peoria for the night, you can find a second location there!
4. The Bistro
The Bistro is an alternative bar and live performance venue that features regular shows and events nearly every week, which include drag performances, live bands, and cages to dance in.
A staple of Bloomington for more than 20 years, the Bistro is open until 1 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday through Tuesday.
5. The Castle Theatre
Looking for a live concert? The Castle Theatre can host up to 700 people for incredible performances.
First opened in 1916, the Castle has hosted a variety of acts of all styles and sounds, including:
- The Record Company
- Jackyl
- Aaron Lewis
- Frank Turner
- The Misfits
- Tokyo Police Club
- Snoop Dogg
There’s not a bad seat in the Castle!
6. Six Strings
See live country music at Six Strings Club!
Six Strings also hosts karaoke and open mic nights, in addition to tasty drinks.
The club is open Wednesday and Thursday until 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m., and is closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Next time you’re looking for a place to go have a fun night, head to one of these iconic ISU spots.
