A night on the town: Nightlife in Capital City/ Lake Murray Country
July 27, 2022
Lake Murray Country offers many exciting daytime activities for its visitors, however, the fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down.
The Midlands offers many excellent nightlife venues for visitors seeking live music and performances. There are two prominent nightlife districts in the Capital City, Five Points, and the Vista. With a variety of venues, it is easy to find the right atmosphere and music to match your taste. Five Points is known for its college bar scene, tailoring to students from the University of South Carolina, Allen University, Benedict College, and Columbia College. While the Vista caters to adults and families.
In Columbia
Live country music can often be found at Carolina Western Pub located in the heart of the Vista. Carolina Western Pub or C.W.P is located at 920 Lady Street and opened in 2018. The venue has hosted many local country artists throughout its four years of operation. C.W.P offers a fine selection of dining as well. Some menu items include fried shrimp, fried pickles, and nachos.
The Senate at 1022 Senate St Columbia S.C is another popular live music venue in Columbia. Since 2014 The Senate has had its fair share of live performances from local musicians as well as national recording artists. The venue’s schedule typically offers performances in rock, jazz, hip hop, and other music genres. Notable artists to have played The Senate include Luke Combs, Loud Luxury, Riley Green, and Cody Jinks. The Senate is a 1200-seat music venue that also offers food and drinks with a full-service bar.
In Lexington
Just across the river in the town of Lexington, there are also plenty of nightlife options. The Ice House Amphitheater located at 107 West Main St Lexington S.C is an outdoor event venue in the heart of downtown Lexington. Events at the amphitheater include plays as well as musical acts. There are many food options around the venue to ease any appetite. For a fancy night out, one might go to Allodia’s Cucina Italiana on the corner of Main and N Church St, or for a traditional Irish pub experience, Ohara’s Public House offers just that, located at 131 E Main St.Opposite the amphitheater sits the Keg Cowboy. The Keg Cowboy is a restaurant and bar on Main Street in Lexington that offers excellent food, drinks, and live music. The Keg Cowboy also features many specialty beers and wine options to go with your meal.
In Newberry
Newberry Opera House is one of the most distinguishable music venues in the Midlands. Built in 1882 and restored in 1998, the Newberry Opera House offers a truly historical live performance experience. Located at 1201 McKibben St in Newberry S.C, you can’t miss this staple of the downtown Newberry skyline. Upcoming events at the Opera House include performances by legendary Southern rock band Atlanta Rhythm Section and Abba tribute band Dancing Dream on September 11th and September 10th respectively.
Just steps away from the Newberry Opera House sits Bar Figaro, a live music venue and cocktail bar. A staple in downtown Newberry, Bar Figaro offers crafted cocktails, a variety of menu items, and an extensive drink menu. Bar Figaro is located at 944 Main St Newberry S.C.
In Irmo
1995, Hemingway’s Sports and Music Pub opened in Irmo offering live music, great food, and great drinks. Since then, Hemingway’s has continued serving the Irmo area’s nightlife and entertainment. Hemingway’s is located at 7467 St Andrews Rd Columbia S.C. The venue offers an extensive drink menu and food such as hamburgers and sandwiches.
With 2/3rds of the ownership hailing from Liverpool the British Bulldog Pub offers a unique British pub experience in the Harbison-Irmo area. Located close to the Columbiana Mall at 1220 Bower Parkway Columbia S.C, The British Bulldog Pub is in the prime Columbia shopping district. The pub offers a variety of craft beers as well as domestics and a wide food menu of British cuisine. Live entertainment can also be found here with performances from local artists. Stop by for a pint.
In Saluda
Located at 207 South Main St in Saluda S.C, Saluda Sports Bar & Grill is one of the premier bars offering nightlife in Saluda County. Saluda Sports Bar & Grill has many TVs playing all kinds of sports. The bar offers a variety of different drinks and food options with live entertainment as well.
Next Level Bar & Lounge provides live entertainment, drinks, and food to the Saluda area. Next Level is located at 103 Bonham Rd Saluda S.C. There is a daily happy hour from 5-8 p.m.
Ready For Your Night Out?
To find more nightlife and daytime events visit our website at Capital City/Lake Murray Country events page. The Midlands boasts a wide variety of things to do, from food festivals to art and entertainment to cultural, historical, and contemporary sites. Stop by the Lake Murray Country Visitors Center in the historic Lorick Plantation House to discover hidden gems and more trip ideas or, contact the Lake Murray Country staff at [email protected] for personalized service.
By: Jonathan Cochran