Art Bar — Restaurant in Columbia

A VERY unique type bar thats a Columbia icon..... I like the bar and being a "people watcher" this is a great place to see all types (kinda like going to the Circus). Service is fair at best on a good day however, some bartenders are worse than others and give you the feeling they are ignoring you and just dont care. It tends to get very busy.... but even when the bar is slow you'll still be ignores sometimes a LOT of patience is needed while waiting (again some bartenders are much worse than others) SOME of them can often times be seen on their cell ph even when the bar is busy and with customers waiting; Come on..... are they not there to be working ????? As for the food.... I've heard its good but I dont eat bar food or even restaurant food as I have to see how its cooked/prepared. With that said, I also dislike people who rudely plop themselves down right next to you without politely asking (thats a common courtesy) and as the stools are so close together (and chained to the floor) they're so close they're almost in your pocket. To make matters worse, they order food so I have to smell it while I'm drinking (being so close, I can almost taste it). They have a back room with tables, I think they should expand that and only allow dinning back in that back area. I should also mention that if you get up for any reason (restroom ect) you will most likely loose your seat even if you leave your drink at the bar covered with a napkin.

They have a very large drink selection (and printed) but prices are high in comparison to other area bars. They have a "Happy Hour' but several bartenders dont offer it (as they should) and you have to ask for it or you'll pay full price. After happy hour a Bud Light is $5.00 and THEN.... they expect a tip!

Their website also shows a calendar with bands that they have on weekends (typically charge a cover) and Fri & Sat nights are VERY busy and crowded (* see my edit*).

With all this said, I enjoyed it for many years but I prefered going on a less crowded night and I had to be in a particular "mood" for this kind of vibe.

In closing, I suggest you check out their website, read the other reviews and look at the posted pics. You'll find a lot of reviews both good and a LOT of bad, so YOU decide.

EDIT 11-11-2024 My last visit I was told by one of their bouncers that me having playing cards in a bar is against the law in SC. The law he's referring to was written to prohibit "Betting & Gambling" and while it does mention cards, dice, dominoes and gaming machines..... the law was written to prohibit GAMBLING! I'm a Magician and I'm NOT gambling. Most all of the bartenders know what I'm doing (even one of the owners knows). I'm there simply to enjoy entertaining customers and having fun! NOT GAMBLING and in fact I made a point to tell EVERYONE who would approach me that I wasn't gambling and everyone who approached me did so because they wanted to see more. I even have a business card that says I'm a Magician, "Bar Illusions 4 FUN". This bouncer who doesn't know law...... has taken the fun out of me going and I wont be going back. Shame as I "used" to love going to the Art Bar. With that said, I've since found another venue for my place of entertainment. Another one of my passions is to boil P-Nuts and bag em and take them to clubs I go to and GIVE THEM AWAY (NO CHARGE). I've taken plenty to the Art Bar..... again, owners enjoy it as they are FREE, customers love it because they're free (and also helpful with beer sales) and I enjoy simply watching fellow customers eating / enjoying them. Kind of a "Win Win Win" for us all; BUT NO MORE.

I do wish Clark (one of owners) the best..... seems like a really nice guy, but I no longer enjoy or will support his bar & its nonchalant staff.

THEY ALSO ALLOW DOGS IN THE BAR THAT AREN'T SERVICE ANIMALS; TOO BAD THE STATE'S HEALTH INSPECTORS WONT SEE THIS (the dog only comes out at night).

i'll be glad when it goes out...

So my luck in finding somewhere as awesome as this being a traveling artist was perfect. The people working were so friendly accepting and down to earth. Usually a place that appears cool is full of scenesters and want to bes. NOT THE CASE! It really was a huge surprise to stumble upon. But I don't think coincidences really hapoen... I believe we are guided to exactly where we need to be. I'm going to quote Phish when I say when we surrender to the flow things work out so much better than we had planned. I ran out of gas on my way back to folly beach and sat around depressed and painted for a whole day because I had no money. Then a light bulb went off....so I drove to the campus area looking for exactly what I found. How awesome! I even parked a block away not knowing where I was going They let me set up my paintings (hence the name) the people working helped me out of the kindness of their hearts. I'm so blown away that a place so great exists in South Carolina (oh did I say awesome-full-of-robot-art AND they share a building with a tattoo studio) UM....ART, ART, INK AND GENUINE COOL PEOPLE...STAFF AND CLIENTS. So being from Chicago I may not be hip on the southern states, but 2 of my favorite new places are in this state. Here and Folly Beach. SC is doing alright in my book. Thanks Art Bar for being a little magical place to gain some inspiration and have...

DISCRIMINATORY Not only was my friend taunted by another patron for the way that she looked, we were also kicked out of the establishment for it. A party of eight including myself, went to the art bar on Saturday April 30th and had ordered drinks from the bar and entered the establishment with no problem. After two hours of being there, another patron mocked my friend commenting that she looked like, “a little baby” and that we must be too young to be there. My friend simply does not have the stereo typical and commonly excepted body type of a full grown woman. We are all over the age of 21 and we all were forced out of the bar because someone had an “anonymous tip” that we all had fake IDs, all eight of us. The staff didn’t even bother to let us talk with their management nor did they make the effort to scan any of our real IDs. This simply is not a place for people who don’t fit the status quo. We were extremely disappointed with the lack of respect from both the staff and the other patrons that mocked my friend. The staff forced us out with out verifying the authenticity of the claim against us. Even though the claim against us was from someone bullying my friend. If I could give them a...