@ Night

A selective listing of the city's finer pubs. Please call for hours.

Alexander Michael’s This quintessential neighborhood pub brings lively conversation and quality food to this former Fourth Ward grocery store. 401 W. Ninth St. 704-332-6789.

Bar 1221 This baby is so hot that Morton's restaurants nationwide are retrofitting to match it. Inside the SouthPark Morton's is this luxe bar space space, with leather seating and a swanky bar where classic cocktails are poured. SouthPark mall, Barclay Downs side. 704-365-1330

Cedar Street Tavern A hip joint with a cosmic ceiling, this place is popular with the Johnson & Wales and Gateway Village crowd. 120 N. Cedar St. 704-333-3448

Coach’s A classic 1990s sports bar, this Pineville standby contains lots of televisions and lost of people to watch them. 10403 Park Rd. 704-544-0607.

The Comet Grill A cardboard John Wayne oversees this little bar. Microbrews are on tap, but you can get PBR in a bottle. Live Americana music some weekend nights. 2224 Park Rd. 704-371-4300.

Connolly’s on Fifth This cozy Irish-style pub has a hole-in-the-wall feel to it, which is rare downtown. Afterwork drinkers congregate downstairs, while more of a late-night crowd heads upstairs. And Guinness all around. 115 E. Fifth St. 704-358-9070.

Corner Pub A low-key Fourth Ward hangout popular with the work hard/play hard crowd. 335 N. Graham St. 704-376-2020

Dean & DeLuca’s Wine Room The SouthPark crowd absolutely loves this place, which serves California wine only. There is a constant energy here amid contemporary surroundings. Phillips Place. 704-552-5283.

Fox and Hound These English-style sports bars draw great crowds for their eats, pool tables, and giant televisions. The downtown location draws a younger, happening crowd; the Ballantyne draws a, well, more Ballantyne crowd. 330 N. Tryon St. 704-333-4113/ 15235 John J. Delaney Dr. 704-541-0708.

Galway Hooker Don’t even go there; a hooker is a boat. And this place is a fair replica of an Irish pub not far from the shores of Lake Norman. The food is a notch above most bars, and the crowd is a casual mix of locals. 17044 Kenton Dr. 704-895-1782.

The Gin Mill Known as a “Yankee hangout,” it’s actually home to all types. Fresh look on the inside and great bar games. A rooftop patio offers a great spot for open-air imbibing and checking out the skyline and/or passing trolley. 1411 S. Tryon St. 704-373-0782.

The Graduate Locally owned, several locations. Good times. 8334 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-543-4020 (Pineville)/ 123 W. Trade St. 704-358-3024 (Downtown)/ 2014 Sharon Forest Rd. 704-532-2562/ 911 E. Morehead St. 704-377-3808 (Midtown).

Midtown Sundries These places are scattered across the city, but all have similar themes: good food and good fun. Wide age range. Arrive by boat at Lake Norman. Live music at Hwy. 51. 618 Kenilworth Ave. 704-358-3933 (Midtown)/ 3425 David Cox Rd. 704-597-7413 (University)/ 18626 Harborside Dr. 704-896-9013 (Lake Norman)/ 7715 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-541-8117.

Moosehead Grill A fun mix of blue and white collars, young and old hang out here. Strong drinks, plenty of beer, and possibly the best bar food in town (try the Donni’s Blackened Wings), which is served lunches and late. 1807 Montford Dr. 704-525-4088.

Picasso’s Sports Café This classic sports bar consistently fills up for the big game—and many smaller games as well. Inside, televisions are plentiful and well placed, and there is just the right amount of sports paraphernalia. Plenty of beers, good wings and sandwiches, and decent pizza. There’s a newer location in a strip center near UNC-Charlotte. 1301 East Blvd., 704-331-0133. 230 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., 704-595-9553.

Providence Road Sundries Casual atmosphere, good food, Bass and Guinness on tap, young and friendly crowd. Opened in 1933 and worth a semi-regular visit. 1522 Providence Rd. 704-366-4467.

Ri Ra The Irish Pub This place is as Irish as you’re going to get in North Carolina. All the Emerald Isle staples on tap, Irish food ‘til late, and vintage Eire collectibles on the wall. A new patio overlooks Hearst Plaza. 208 N. Tryon St. 704-333-5554.

Selwyn Avenue Pub Exceedingly popular Myers Park hangout, with good reason. Wood floors, comfortable patio, good beer selection, and the hardest working bartenders in town. 2801 Selwyn Ave. 704-333-3443.

Therapy A fun, funky, and slightly risqué martini list draws a crowd to this hip little joint, which looks right out onto Tryon Street. Edgy art dots the walls. Occasional music, good appetizers, and specialty coffee drinks and milk shakes round out the scene. Fine lunch spot, too. 401 North Tryon Street. 704-333-1353.

Thomas Street Tavern A rotating cast of characters, from blue-collar to the hipster, occupy the bar stools in this former post office. Good food and occasional live music. Ping-Pong tables out back. 1218 Thomas Ave. 704-376-1622.

Tutto Mondo A TriBeCa loft-style lounge offering caviar, martinis, and old-fashioned cocktails. A full-time DJ spins LPs, which you can listen to on sofas and oversized chairs. 1820 South Blvd. 704-332-5142.

Tyber Creek Pub Just what SouthEnd needs, a little Irish pub hangout where $3 gets you a beer, not a valet. Downstairs is more pub-like, while DJs and bands do their thing upstairs. Traditional Irish music on Wednesday nights. 1933 South Blvd. 704-343-2727.