Smith College
- Nightlife

Skyplex

This three-story building houses three different clubs: the Skybar Lounge, an outdoor rooftop bar that plays dance and Top 40 selections; Pure, a multi-level nightclub with an “LA and Las Vegas nightlife” vibe; and Vivid, which offers wall-to-floor video screens playing interactive dance videos. SkyPlex hosts an 18-and-over College Night on Thursdays, 21-and-over Friday Latin dance nights with free lessons, and 18-and-over Saturday nights playing Top 40 and dance hits. This collection of clubs presents a “classier” vibe than your average college hangout, and the dress code is strictly enforced.

Diva’s Nightclub

This is the only club in Northampton, and it reflects NoHo’s thriving gay culture. Each night it’s open has a specific theme. Saturday is a 21-and-over dance party and is the only night Diva’s is 21-and-over only. All the other nights are 18-and-over, but if you’re under 21, there’s a cover charge. Diva’s is great for a night out when you want to get dressed up and go out dancing!

Toasted Owl Tavern

There's lots of TVs here, so it's a fun place to check out a game. It's also next door to Fitzwilly's.

Packard’s

Packard’s is the bar most Smith students frequent. It’s a casual place to hang out and have a beer. It also offers typical pub fare, like potato skins, wings, and build-your-own burgers, as well as darts and pool for the full pub experience.

World War II Club

Often described as the best-kept secret of Northampton, the World War II Club is a hot underground spot on Friday nights, when it’s teeming with people young and old clamoring to sing karaoke, dance, or just socialize. As one of the few places to dance in Northampton, “The Deuce” attracts an eclectic group. It’s also inexpensive, making it a favorite of college students.

The Tunnel Bar

The Tunnel Bar, a classy establishment located in—you guessed it—a renovated tunnel, features overstuffed leather chairs, a swanky atmosphere, and gigantic dessert martinis. Smithies often find that they can flirt their way into free drinks, given the abundance of older men here.

Bishop’s Lounge

Bishop’s is one of the few establishments in Northampton to offer live entertainment seven nights a week with no cover. The bands—local rock groups that add to Bishop’s casual, fun atmosphere—are usually decent.

Amherst Brewing Company (The ABC)

The Amherst Brewing Company serves traditional pub-style fare and a dozen choices of beer and ale brewed on the premises. There is seating available at the large bar, in the separate dining area, or outside. Upstairs, where it is 21-and-over only, there is another bar and several pool tables. Friday and Saturday nights have live entertainment.

Monkey Bar

This Mediterranean-style is open for lunch and dinner, and there is also a separate bar where most of the college students congregate on the weekends. There is a DJ Wednesday through Friday that plays hip-hop, reggae, or club music. There is also a hot-body contest on Friday.

Hangar Pub & Grill

The Hangar, like most bars, serves wings. However, the Hangar takes particular pride in offering a wide range in spiciness from Wimpy to Afterburner. Their special on pints of Guinness add to the atmosphere of the Hangar as a college pub.

Pearl Street Nightclub

Pearl Street Nightclub has long been a haven for rockers in the Valley. The club has two venues in one building: the ballroom, which can hold 700 people, and the club room, which holds around 250 people. Performers at Pearl Street range from big-name rockers to local indie-rockers. Pearl Street also pays homage to other genres of music such as rap and reggae. There are also great music shows like “Burn Down the Disco,” a night of indie and punk music, or “Battle of the Bands,” which features competitions between local bands. On Saturdays, the night’s theme is “The Latin Zone,” featuring Latin music and salsa dancing. Generally, the music is pretty good and there are a lot of people dancing. It’s also a good place to get away from the Smith scene for a night. Depending on the night, tickets can range from $6–$22.

Iron Horse

The Iron Horse is a concert hall that hosts eclectic musicians and performers, most are independent rock groups. It can be pricey for college students ($10–$40 depending on the show), and many students only go there occasionally, but it's a good alternative to going out.

Calvin Theatre

The Calvin Theatre is known in Northampton for the varied and well-known acts that it brings to the city, which have included comedians like Bill Cosby and musical acts like Spearhead and Ziggy Marley. The performances have also included movie shows (like the original Dracula set to a Philip Glass soundtrack) and dance performances. The wide range of events here ensures that every Smith student makes it to the Calvin Theatre at least once.