University of Virginia - Nightlife

Hours: Friday–Saturday 10 p.m.–5 a.m. This is Charlottesville’s only gay and lesbian bar/dance club (and its only club, period). It is really very fun, but unfortunately, you need to be a member or know a member to get in. Occasionally, there will be open Saturdays where anyone can get in for $12.

This is a great little restaurant/café (see the off-campus dining section)—very hip and trendy. Late night, it turns into somewhat of a club scene. There are raves, discos, and dancing Thursdays and some weekends. Door admission.

This is more of a live-music club than a dancing club, located right across from the train station, between the Corner and the Downtown Mall. Supposedly owned by William Faulkner’s grandsons, Star Hill has somewhat replaced an old town favorite, Traxx, where the likes of incredible musicians (Tim Reynolds, Dave Matthews, and Elliot Smith) used to play. Norah Jones and Dispatch, among many other talented artists, have played here in the last year. Buy tickets in advance or at the door.

This is an old Charlottesville fixture, a well-known blues and jazz venue. Famous for a little-known struggling artist named Dave Matthews who used to bartend there to make rent. A very popular, laid-back bar that is almost always crowded and smoky. Thursday nights are jazz nights, featuring the area’s brilliant jazz musicians like John D’Earth and company. There is door admission of $3–$5.

One of the few great-quality restaurants along the Corner, Michael’s Bistro is also a fun bar that features some good live music, ranging from jazz, blues, funk, and folk. Most shows are free.

Recently re-modeled and re-named, this old favorite now features a lot of live music all week long. Very dark, very smokey, very loud, and mostly very crowded, this atmosphere can sometimes get too stifling. Generally, this scene adopts a particular, loyal following among students.

An old fixture of the UVA/Charlottesville community—though very cramped and noisy, students still love to come here. There’s a drink special almost every night.

Students who want to just sit around in a booth, eat cheese fries late at night, and drink exotic (often dirty-sounding) drinks that they’ve never heard of before love to come to St. Marteen’s.

Known fondly to UVA students simply at Coupe's, this is another location to get your drink and mingle on. Typically known as a "first year bar" because they are notoriously easy on ID, many students come back through their four years at school. There is awesome live music, late night burger's that they serve up fresh for $1 each, and great drink specials every night of the week.

Boylan Heights, more commonly called Norbitz by it's frequenters, is a huge (for Charlottesville), 2 story bar that features regular live music and DJs. They are harder on ID than some other bars on the Corner, but if you can get in it is worth it; ask for the Tsunami/Tidal Wave shooter at the bar.

Even if you’re not 21, it is very easy to get a hold of some alcohol—either at frat parties or organization parties. Sometimes, there is even a bit of drinking in the dorms, though this is strictly prohibited. Of course, there are plenty of other things to do, as well: movies, ice-skating, bowling, concerts, eating, and hanging out with friends. Also check out:

Features folk, bluegrass, and international acts and music on tour. Eccentric, cozy, old, white house stuck in the middle of frat row. It’s closed during the summer months.