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Wake Forest University - Nightlife - Nightlife - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Nightlife

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Nightlife rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

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Quick Stats

Primary Areas with Nightlife
  • Burke Street
  • Deacon Boulevard
  • Fourth Street
  • Trade Street
  • University Parkway
Student Favorites
  • Burke Street Pub
  • Freddie B’s
  • Ziggy’s
Other Places to Check Out
  • Brew Nerds Coffee House
  • Deac 'N Dive
  • First Street Draught House
  • Sixth & Vine
  • West End Tap House
Local Specialties
  • Foothills Sexual Chocolate : This beer has its own release event in February each year when Foothills releases it for a limited time. This chocolate stout packs a punch but is well worth it.
  • Red Oak Beer: Red Oak Beer is a local beer, and it is delicious. The brewery is about 45 minutes east on Interstate 40, but it's well worth the trip.
Favorite Drinking Games
  • Beer pong
  • Flip cup
  • Kings
  • Quarters
Useful Resources for Nightlife
  • www.dwsp.org
  • www.smittysnotes.com
  • www.triadnightlife.com
  • www.wakestudent.com
  • www.yelp.com
  • www.yesweekly.com

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

For freshmen and sophomores, Greek life dominates the nightlife, but once students turn 21, the options expand. Winston-Salem has made great strides in the past few years and has a decent downtown scene. Wake Forest has certainly helped by instituting downtown shuttles that go from campus to popular downtown bars. Aside from the bar and frat scene, there are some great art galleries and coffee shops to visit also. If you include all of the different activities and events on campus (as well as studying), you will be hard-pressed to be bored.

Probably the biggest complaint among students is that downtown Winston-Salem is not within walking distance. In fact, there is very little to walk to once you leave Wake's campus. Shuttles and the opening of Shorty's on campus has helped to improve the nightlife even with the absence of a true college town atmosphere like Chapel Hill or Charlottesville.

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Wake Forest Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Nightlife at Wake Forest University

reevec0

Advertising '12

2.3
C

OK Bars, Clubs Nearby

Downtown Winston-Salem has plenty of pubs and bars that are available to students that are 21 years of age or older. The bars, however, are pretty laid back and the dress code is casual. There are a couple of random things, like strip clubs, gay clubs and even a night club--but most people that are interested in those types of things usually go to Greensboro, which is about a 30 minute drive. Personally, I enjoyed Wake's nightlife because I don't like to drink heavily or dance a lot--however, if I wanted to go to a nightclub for a special occasion, there were lots of options, only 30 minutes away.

May 16, 2012

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Nightlife at Wake Forest University

hkemeny

Music Performance '16

2.7
C+

Stay on Campus

There is far much more to do on campus and with your friends.

Mar 17, 2012

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Nightlife at Wake Forest University

songdm11

Pre-Medicine Studies '15

3.5
B

Go Greek

There isn't really a nightlife off-campus; people don't go to bars or clubs because there aren't any. Frats have parties on Wednesdays and the weekends, and a lot of them are on-campus at their lounges or in houses near campus. Age isn't really a problem, since no one really checks for that at the frat parties. Transportation is lacking for off-campus parties, but there's probably an on-campus alternative. Some people go to the neighboring colleges like Winston-Salem State for parties as well, but that requires transportation.

Jan 10, 2012

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Page 1 of 7
User rating for Wake Forest University - Nightlife is 3.5 out of 5 based on 21 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

Winston-Salem isn’t known for a club scene. You’ll have to drive to another, bigger city to get any clubbing in.

Closing Time

2 a.m.

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

West End Opera House

Organization Parties

Organizations will sometimes rent out a bar or restaurant for a social event. This will be much easier with the creation of "the Barn" which will be an venue, on campus, to host events. Wake Forest also hosts different social events throughout the year. Some of the most popular ones are Shag on the Mag, Seize the Quad, and aWake All Night. Every two years, there is the President's Ball, which is hosted at LJVM Coliseum.

Did You Know?
  • Students who are under 21 can stay and participate in trivia at Foothills Brewing if they arrive before 9 p.m. and eat dinner.
  • If you are interested in artwork, Winston-Salem hosts many gallery hops. It is the North Carolina City of the Arts after all.

Club ListingsWhat's This?

Therapy

411 N. Cherry St.

Winston-Salem

(336) 725.8818

therapyws.com

Platinum Nightlife

Platinum is a club that is gaining popularity and offers a refreshing departure from the bars that are popular with Wake students.

875 W. Northwest Blvd.

Winston-Salem

(336) 722-9023

www.platinumnc.net

Noma

Noma is a departure from other bars in Winston-Salem as it features a more trendy and modern decor. On the weekends, there is a DJ and offers one of the more "club-like" atmospheres in Winston-Salem.

321 W. Fourth St.

Winston-Salem

(336) 703-5112

www.noma-ws.com

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

Recreation Billiards

Rec Billiards is a solid bar with (as its name implies) billiards. They have a good selection of beer on tap as well as a pretty cool "basement" area.

412 W. Fourth St.

Winston-Salem

(336) 725-6006

www.recreationbilliards.com

The Last Resort

The Last Resort is located on Deacon Boulevard near Wake's campus. It is a beach-themed bar and is a popular venue for student/Greek groups to host parties.

513 Deacon Blvd.

Winston-Salem

(336) 682-6332

www.thelastresortnc.com

West End Opera House

West End Opera House makes up for its shoddy appearance with strong, cheap drinks. On Thursday nights, Opera House is usually filled with Wake Forest students looking to start their weekend earlier. However, the crowd is usually an interesting mix of Wake Forest students and townies. They also have several dart boards and pool tables available.

853 Reynolda Road NW

Winston-Salem

(336) 721-0083

Shorty's Restaurant

Shorty's is a great place to get a beer (they have local beer and wine) or some food with friends after class. They have a great outdoor patio, which is great when the weather warms up in the spring.

Benson University Center (WFU)

Winston-Salem

(336) 758-4141

Finnegan's Wake

Finnegan's Wake is a favorite of Wake Forest students. Located on North Trade Street, Finnegan's offers a cozy bar, with a really nice patio in the back. The patio is great in the summer where you can grab a drink outside with friends.

620 N. Trade St.

Winston-Salem

(336) 723-0322

finniganswake.net

Burke Street Pub

Burke Street Pub is another popular bar with Wake Forest students. They have some pretty decent drink specials and an outdoor bar. Best of all, it is located right next to Burke Street Pizza where you can grab a great late-night bite to eat.

110 Burke St.

Winston-Salem

(336) 750-0097

Fox & Hound

Fox and Hound has $2 "pint night" on Tuesdays, but it is more of a generic sports bar that is not frequented by many Wake students.

367 Lower Mall Drive

Winston-Salem

(336) 722-6000

www.foxandhound.com

Foothills Brewing

Foothills Brewing, which is also a restaurant, is a popular spot for its Trivia Nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Be warned: While their local beers are delicious, the restaurant and drinks are quite expensive. Foothills can also be great for under-21 students who can participate in Trivia Night.

638 W. Fourth St.

Winston-Salem

(336) 777-3348

www.foothillsbrewing.com

What to Do if You're Not 21What's This?

Krankies Coffee

Krankies is a really interesting independent coffee house located downtown. It is a great place to study or hang out with free Wi-Fi and amazing coffee.

211 E. Third St.

Winston-Salem

(336) 722-3016

www.krankiescoffee.com

Grand Theatre 18

"The Grand" is the best movie theater in Winston-Salem. It has a wide array of movie offerings and really comfy seats. They do have student prices, so make sure to have your Wake ID.

5601 University Parkway

Winston-Salem

(336) 767-1310

www.thegrandtheatre.com

Carmike 10

Carmike is not as nice as The Grand, but is plenty affordable. They have special deals on Tuesdays, which can be great for a study break!

3640 Reynolda Road

Winston-Salem

(336) 922-1301

www.carmike.com

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Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Will Geiger
Hometown
Brielle, NJ
Major
History

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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