In such a small town, it can be difficult to find things to do on weekends. While the campus provides many activities, it’s always nice to experience things outside of the bubble of the hill.

For many in the 21+ crowd, going to bars is a big part of nightlife. And luckily, St. Peter has a pretty solid bar scene. The Weekly has been hard at work profiling the top bars in town, in hopes that students can make a more educated choice when deciding what to do for the night.

Patrick’s on Third

As the largest bar in St. Peter, Patrick’s is often the busiest. Patrick’s is a frequent hangout for students, faculty and townspeople both weekdays and on weekends. The bar food is excellent and reasonably priced.

“I feel that Patty’s on a weekend evening has segments of all parts of [the]Gustavus community represented. There is a definite air of camaraderie,” Senior Environmental Sciences Major Lucas Neher said.

Tuesday is one of Patrick’s busier nights, as it hosts Trivia. Trivia Night is popular with students of all ages, as it is not required to be of drinking age to play. Bar tabs are awarded to the top three teams each night. There is also League Play, with cumulative scores from week to week. The top team in each cumulative series of play wins a trip to the Schell’s Brewery.

Patrick’s has daily drink specials, appetizers of the month and monthly coupons for deals on food and drink. It also hasdollar tap Miller High Life all day every day.

“I like going to Patrick’s because it’s got a great atmosphere and the food is delicious,” Neher said.

The Flame

Located on 225 Nassau St., the Flame has been around for a long time. Before Patty’s came around it was the place to be for college students on a weekend. Nowadays its patrons are mainly townspeople and sports teams or Greek organizations from the College. The building is narrowly shaped, mimicking the shape of the bar. Cheap drink specials are offered almost every night of the week, as well as some delicious popcorn.

“The Flame is the happiest place on Earth. It’s like Disneyland, but better,” Junior Biology Major and Flame Bartender Jon Wunderlich said.

Willy’s Tavern

Willy’s is the only bar in town with its own dance floor. This bar is equipped with a pool table, dart board, arcade games and an old fashioned popcorn maker. Willy’s is located on the right side of Minnesota Avenue when headed South.

“I went to Willy’s a few times last year when they had the dance floor. It was a good time and a lot more physical than just sitting at the bar. And not everyone wants to go to Patty’s all the time. It’s a nice change,” Senior Biology and Dance Major Jordan Klitzke said.

Richard’s

Recently opened, Richard’s is the newest addition to the St. Peter bar scene. It is located in the old Konsbruck Hotel on South Third Street. The fully renovated 1901 building has both a main dining room and a bar. Richard’s is an upscale bar with steeper prices and a very fancy atmosphere.

Every Tuesday night is Steak Night followed by Wednesday Pasta Night.

“I ate there with my parents once. It was really fancy, and I felt underdressed. The food was good, though,” Senior English Major Matt Beachey said.

The Embassy

Situated right in the middle of St. Peter’s main drag, the Embassy isn’t usually frequented by students. The Embassy has a quiet and darker atmosphere than the other bars in town. The food choice is limited, and it isn’t anything outstanding. It seems both the locals and the students who choose to spend their evenings at the Embassy do so to get away from the crowded college bars. Most students only go to this bar during the Bar Crawl of Senior Week.

The Legion

Located next to The Flame on Nassau St., The Legion caters mostly to St. Peter locals. Much like The Embassy, this bar is generally only frequented by students during the Senior Week Bar Crawl.

If you’re looking for a more mature crowd on a Friday night, The Legion is the place to be. Like many other Legions, its focus seems to be more on food and community than partying on the weekend.

The bars in Minnesota close at 1:00 a.m.. You don’t have to go home, but you do have to get the heck out of the bar.

For those who choose not to drink, the bars have plenty of non-alcoholic options and provide a great social atmosphere for all to enjoy.