September has rolled in and frosh week is upon us once again. Students are back in Waterloo with plenty of time to explore new bars and venues.
As a fourth-year student at Wilfrid Laurier University, I have had my fair share of great and not-so- great nights spent at various places around Waterloo.
With the help of my personal experiences and some input from other members of the Kitchen- er-Waterloo community, I have compiled a list of the best bars and venues that incoming or returning students should make a part of their semester.
Midnight Run Cafe
At first glance, Midnight Run looks like your average indie coffee shop. It is a great place to grab a latte and dive into the books during the day, however, I want to highlight the duality of the café.
Some nights throughout the month, Midnight Run is open late and converts to a venue that hosts comedians, poetry nights, live music and open mics.
The café’s interior is charming, aesthetically pleasing and fairly small, offering a close-knit feel to their events.
Nate Savoy, the event manager at Midnight Run, said the café started hosting events in January, 2023. At the time, they only hosted live music and open mics.
“We try to create a collaborative space for creatives and any ways people want to express themselves,” said Savoy.
Information on upcoming events and ticketing can be found on Midnight Run’s Instagram and website.
Pin Up Arcade Bar
If you are looking for a place that diverges from the traditional bar scene, Pin Up Arcade Bar is worth the visit.
For $8 you have free play of all the arcade games Pin Up has to offer.
You can find classics like foosball, skeeball and pinball as well as Mortal Kombat, racing games and Dance Dance Revolution. Every Sunday the arcade hosts karaoke.
“I just think [Pin Up] is a fun alternative to the bar scene. It’s somewhere that’s fun and interac- tive,” said Che Curnew, the owner of the Pin Up Arcade Bar. “It’s a bar with something to do, rather than a bar just to go and drink.”
Curnew added that Pin Up is family friendly until 10 p.m. The bar then becomes 17 plus, offering alcoholic drinks for purchase for those 19 and older.
Abe Erb
It does not take long to notice that bars in Waterloo tend to become quite rowdy on weekends. Abe Erb offers an alternative while still being located on King Street.
Named after Waterloo’s founder Abraham Erb, Abe Erb has craft beers, cocktails and a delicious menu that features local suppliers.
The Waterloo location has a rustic interior with a sizable amount of seating. Tony Theodosiou, the general manager of Abe Erb Uptown Waterloo,said the bar has happy hour every day from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
He also added that Abe Erb hosts trivia every Thursday night as well as live music on occasion.
“It’s worth highlighting the fact that [all Abe Erb locations] have beer shops, so people can come in and take beer to go,” said Theodosiou.
Information on events can be found on Abe Erb’s Instagram and website.
The Pub on King
While it has become a Laurier tradition to frequent The Pub on King on Tuesdays and Thursdays for cheap beer, there are other aspects of the pub that put it on this list.
During patio season, The Pub on King has a secluded seating area that comes with a special menu. From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., all food is $7.95 and cocktails are $6.75.
The dance floor can get very cramped on a busy night, but the music is always reliable, you can expect to hear a bit of every genre.
