A dive bar you say? Should we be offended? Well of COURSE it is, and that's just the way the folks that hang here like it. Wouldn't have it any other way, so be taking that 5 star stuff somewhere else because the patrons will have none of that. Sorry, only two-fisted drinking here and good food. No artisanal beet martinis to be found. Bar upstairs and down, though the downstairs is typically only open when there's a band, and what a great live music venue it 'tis. They've added some outdoor seating that wraps around the corner for those times you want to be out there with the smokers or if the weather is just right. Sometimes this is just the right place and it's a great joint to simply have a drink and visit with friends. Long live Eighth Street Tap. read more

They have awful bartenders - watch your bar tabs! Needs to be cleaned up! No food! I like the bands that get to play there but one night I left a tab open (for me) and the bartender decided to treat her friends to it! When I got home and saw it being used - I had to go through the bank to stop payment - bar manager never called me back - it took about two months to clear this whole mess up - never going back, use cash there if you go - everything seemed shady there. read more

Staff is rude. Unhelpful. Place has really gone down hill used to be great. Won't be back ever.

This place is absolutely crap. I tried getting in with my group as we were going as a couples date. They all got in and I was flagged for having a fake ID. I was born in 2003 and they had no way of actually being able to determine if the ID was fake. The bouncer was very rude and was insisting that I was scamming him when there was no evidence or proof to convey that I was underage. The other bouncer grabbed me and they kicked me out with no reason other than stereotyping off of looks. I will not be going back and would like to talk to the manager before suing. read more

I had a dream that we sent mice to space and they had to teach their progeny how to operate the space vehicle. Went to taproom and they totally understood. Houseless person gave me free cigarettes and it was the best night I'd had in 10 years. Great records. Cheap beer. No bullshit. Shark bar is next door. Don't go there unless you have a fake I.d. and suck. Best shows I've ever seen have been here. So much love read more

Eighth Street Tap Room - Guy - Bars Near Me - Lawrence, Kansas

It a trashy place. However, I have went for about a year for cheap liquor. I was asked to leave for apparently looking at someone from the bar next door by Sofia and Stan. My son and I have spent a lot of money there. I won't spend another dime! Cheap liquor, cheap people.. I will actively recommend that this place should not be patronized. read more

They severed me an extremely watered down drink then insulted my ID asking every question possible even though I am 49, never going back made me very uncomfortable. They also have no TVs and the vibe was terrible, would be happy if they went out if business. The sand bar was right next door and treated me with great kindness. read more

Dark lighting and empty when we showed up. Bartender did not come take orders but when we got them they were good and reasonably priced. Bartender spent all of his time playing pool and did not acknowledge our continued existence. One would think if this is how he spends his work day he would be a better pool player. He isn't. read more

You know, I don't give a fig about taps. I stick to booze in joints like this (and Eighth Street Tap Room is absolutely a "joint like this"), because my drink of choice is wine and I'm not drinking wine here! I've had some good nights at the Tap Room. The upstairs main room has never seemed too packed for my liking (unlike the surf bar next door), even if the live music and/or DJ sets wafting up from the downstairs have left a lot to be desired. It's still quiet enough to have good conversation with your friends, or cozy up with your date in a corner booth. You know what I like to do while tossing back a 2-dollar gin and tonic? I like to stare up at the dark staircase that leads up to the third floor (apartment? office?) and imagine a life for its inhabitant. It seems like someone has thrown out the contents of a suitcase all over the stairs. It seems like a positively rash act, something that happened just yesterday in fact, after she returned home from a trip to Tripoli, where she had it out with her lover from Des Moines. And now she languishes on her day bed, wearing filthy stockings with runs and a ruined slip, drinking bitter coffee from a metal stove top pot and smoking, staring at the rain stained ceiling muttering curses under her breath. Certainly not getting any relief from the strains of bad soul/funk, spun by a 21 year old DJ wearing a bandana around his neck and big white plastic sunglasses two floors below. read more

The Eighth St. Taproom is my favorite bar in the world. (full disclosure: I used to DJ here, so maybe I'm biased). The upstairs just got a snazzy new makeover and has a pool table and lots of room for people to sit in cozy booths and chit-chat, however the BASEMENT at the Taproom is where it's at. The basement is dark and hott and awash in red lighting, and on the weekends its usually the host to a sweaty dance party. The DJs at the Taproom are always top notch and I've seen some of the best local music shows in the basement. First and foremost, the Taproom is a bar and I think they have the most knowledgeable bartenders, good prices, and a great beer selection compared to other bars in Lawrence. Jeremy and Prashant always give good beer suggestions and make a mean mixed drink. All of the bartenders are hotties as well. This bar is one of the places in Lawrence that I miss the most. read more

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So many nostalgic moments in this dim, somewhat seedy bar. Since they added the large windows and patio a few years ago, it is not quite as gloomy, but this small, 2-story bar is a haven in downtown Lawrence. Great music is often available downstairs, and the bar tenders are very knowledgeable. Hit it for a dance night with some great local DJs, and spend the night with some cool kids, in a tiny little corner of Lawrence. The drawbacks include very sketchy bathrooms (which add to the ambiance) and plastic cups for draft beer--stick with cans or, tempt fate, and get some wonderful liquor concoction--I recommend the whiskey daisy ( and I don't even like whiskey). read more

Meh, that's the word. I've been around enough douchey hipsters already, but guess they're still new enough to be interesting in Kansas. So come get your fill of vinyl and PBR here, and don't dare order an Irish car bomb. They have all the fixings in plain sight but are too pretentious to pour you one. Then they'll give you helpful advice like, "don't ever try to order one in Ireland" because I'm sure the hipster boy grew up there but migrated to Kansas to be ironic... One last thing, if you put "taproom" in the name, people assume you have more than 5 or 6 taps like an average bar. read more

Drinks were good, but we had to pay a cover for what we thought would be a full bar/party. We went in, there was no one there. Went downstairs to go dance, the DJ had bad music and didn't notice that no one was dancing and didn't change the music. Also it was 70 and 80s night, they didn't have Whitney Houston. Would not go back, very disappointed. read more

The Taproom was one of my homes away from home. No matter what mood I was in, I always enjoyed myself. The bartenders are the coolest in town, the DJ's rarely disappoint, only the best local bands play here, and you can always see some great fashion. The upstairs has booths and a pool table. Decently lit and seems more like a typical dive bar. Love it. The downstairs is red lit and sexy. There was always a joke that you never pick up on someone downstairs at the taproom. Chances are they won't look as good the next day! I love you taproom. Always will. read more

The Tap Room used to be on my go-to list of bars. It had a good atmosphere, friendly barkeeps, and a decent (if incredibly sweaty) soul night. Then they took Leffe off tap, thus breaking my beer-loving heart. The G&T I ordered as a replacement was depressingly weak. In the same week, I was in with some friends and we were accosted by some would-be scam artists. Haven't been back since. My three stars are for the good times which are apparently now relegated to nostalgia. read more

I don't wear bike caps, have any tats, or own many cliche hipster graphic tees, but hell, I really enjoy this place! Just something about the divey cool factor got me hooked. Oh, and the fact that the bartender made this lovely concoction of strawberry lemonade and beer. Anyway, it's a fun place. On the first floor, you'd be lucky to play billiards because #1 there's just one table and #2 the place could only fit one table. ha-ha. But who needs to play when you got good loud music and fun people all around. The downstairs is fun too but is slightly creepy. It's basically a dark basement with a bar and red lights. Great to hear a rap battle or have a full on dance party. I've witnessed both. Good times at Eighth Street Tap Room... Probably one of favorite bars in Lawrence. Tip: Be Prepared; No Credit Cards. Just Cash! read more

Tap is definitely my favorite spot to cut a rug in Lawrence. It's awesome that the crowd seems to span age groups and social scenes, at least more so than other bars in the neighborhood. Also, if I had known about the ginger smash cocktail when I was in school, my odds of graduating would have diminished by a SIGNIFICANT margin. Holy shit that drink is good. All cocktails are like $2 - $5. God bless you Lawrence, KS. I know a lot of people gripe about cover charges, but with drinks so cheap and awesome DJs/bands... it's pretty understandable. The music at Tap Room is real diverse. My personal favorite is Soul Night every Saturday, but the bands of all different genres play here during the rest of the week. My one gripe: I wish they would do away with the pool table. The layout is just not conducive to playing pool. I can't even tell you how many times I took a cue in the hip between 2008 and 2011. read more

Bundles of fun, this bar offers a plethora of fun things to do on a night out. From dancing to 60's bop to 90's hip-hop. The upstairs is entertaining with large comfy booths where a group of friends can sit and chat (if you can hear one another over the music) or play pool and sit in the vintage chairs along the wall. The basement, however, is a time-warp. You can get trapped down there for hours, be it mingling, dancing or raging. The outdoor area is a nice place to either people watch or just catch a breath of fresh air. The Eighth Street Tap Room is a fun time to be had by all it does however sometimes have a cover so come prepared. read more

This place seems to be getting a lot better. Better DJs coming through and they are keeping a good crowd. Come for some good funky times and plenty of dance. Pretty darn good drink prices and friendly bar tenders. Rumors keep surfacing that they are going to open the upstairs above the 1st level, but it just sounds like the staff and manager is lazy. I think this place could really get a good niche if they did two music scenes. Some indie/electronica/dance in the 2nd floor and then more funky/soul/hip-hop in the basement. read more

Awesome atmosphere. Upstairs really laid back with a pool table surrounded by some movie-theater chairs that are pretty cool, numerous little tables, booths, etc...I do like the bartenders quite a bit, although I'm not proud enough to say we are on a first name basis. The downstairs, to me, is where the most fun is...with low ceilings and red lights, the downstairs can get crowded when music is performing, such as local artists, punk rockers, a dj spinning soul music. The bar down there is quaint and always a nice destination when you get done busting out some dance moves. Definitely a must go. read more

This was my winter bar. When the wind got too cold for the Replay heat lamps, the taproom was the place. I was introduced to one of my favorite cocktails here--the Americano--and I remember sinking into the booths for a good gossip. I never did get good at pool, though. read more

Bumping from a 4 to a 5 due to the following: Still great tunes played by the bartender on vinyl. Still have that sweet lamp in the corner. Ginger smash! Ginger smash! Ginger smash! Still chill. Ginger smash! read more

Horrible experience. Rips me off initially. When I ordered a good top shelf Tito's with lime, in front of my eyes I watch the bartender pour one of Barton's, then deny it! Super wired. Actually, terrible. I really was wielded out by this place, and disgusted by this not so amidable bartender with the glasses! Ugh. Terrible. NEVER give this place your business. So long as they have somebody like this working after hours (they still will I'm sure) read more

8th Street is still a dark place to drink, but it's not as dark as it once was. Once you have at least decade in a town under your belt, I feel that you have fair license to play the nostalgia game of "this is how it used to be". 8th Street Taproom has received a facelift in the past couple of years but it still retains some of the charm that makes it a place on my Lawrence bar rotation. 8th Street Taproom, surprisingly enough, is on 8th Street, on the corner with New Hampshire. The immediate area has skewed upscale over the last ten years, with Pachamama's move to the building across the street to the East, the catacorner once-vacant lot adjacent to the now-vacant Borders location now features a multi-story building with condos, and the small set of shops across the street to the North is now re-vamped into the "World Headquarters" for their neighbor The Sandbar's sub shop. In one sense, 8th Street scaled-up with the times, adding large windows to the external walls and a sidewalk seating area. Inside, 8th Street retains many elements it has had for years. First, it's dark - the walls are painted black, and the lighting is fairly dim. There are some brighter lights by the pool table and a particularly aggressive beer sign near the front door, but otherwise it is dim. For a long time in the past there was an odd patch of dark paint on the ceiling that would invariably lead to speculation of whether the spot was a shadow, and the level of light didn't help to clarify. Second, the atmosphere is laid back and cozy - the area of the main floor is only a couple hundred square feet, featuring a handful of stools at the bar, a couple of booths, and some folding stadium chairs near the pool table. There is no jukebox - the bartender has a record player and a selection of quality records that provide ambiance. The bathroom is a large and unisex, but is single-serve. In the past it had featured graffiti and artwork of former Lawrence artist Travis Millard, but is now completely covered in a dark gray tile that makes it look like the Holodeck from Star Trek: The Next Generation. In addition to the main level of the bar, the Taproom has a downstairs area that is opened on weekends and when there are shows. It's a low-ceilinged area with some tables and booths, and an area that is an ersatz dancefloor. The downstairs does feature separate men's and women's bathrooms, but they are shockingly small. The downstairs has a jukebox (apparently only the upstairs bartender is worthy of the power of a turntable and record selection), and since the downstairs is below street level, the outside steps are frequently used as an intimate smoking area (but since it is no fenced, no drinks outside). I've heard the rumor that the downstairs bar used to be a minority bar in the past when segregation was an issue. Oddly, despite the name, the Taproom has ~6 taps, putting it on the lower-end of the number of taps compared to other local establishments. I'm not sure how often they change, but I did note on my last visit that they did seem to be quality selections, including a Lagunitas IPA. Beyond the taps, Taproom features a refrigerator full of cans and bottles, and has a full bar for cocktails, though you are getting the pour and fizzy-gun type instead of the big-show artisanal-type. Even with the changes in the immediate area, I still like drinking at 8th Street Taproom. ---- I misremebered the internals -- the aggressive beer sign by the door is no longer there. read more

Oh, the Tap Room. I fell in love with The Tap Room when I was the ripe age of 21 while I was a KU student. I was tipsy, dressed, and looking for a place to get down. The Tap Room offers a classy grit feel to Lawrence nightlife, with the bar upstairs lending itself to those calmly enjoying a brew and the saucy downstairs offering itself to wonderful sweaty nights of dancin' bliss. The DJs here are maginificent, favorites having been Sadie Soul for her wonderful taste in rare soul. The DJs here are fabulous in general, providing dancers with a variety of tunes to get down to. A Saturday night here is never ill-spent. Though I must say: the space is small so you do get a few overenthusiastic dancers who like to flail. Be careful. :) Warnings: it gets really hot, so be sure to layer because you will sweat. Praises: the bartenders tend to be kind of cute. Tip them and the drinks will be poured stronger. read more

Hipsters unite! Enjoy a bar where the jeans are skinny, the people are indie and the hipster basement dance party goes on even after the bar closes. Big comfy booths upstairs, great bartenders(willing to make any drink once), pool table, graffiti bathrooms. Full dance floor downstairs-not for sketchy grinding, for funky techno dancing! Fun for a day drink on the little people watching patio or a easy going night out. read more

Don't know what the guy's name was who bar tended on 6/2/2015 at 10:21 PM, but seriously had something up his man cooch and was a total prick. Will not go here again so long as he is pouring drinks. How do you expect to get tips, buddy?? read more

Absolutely the shittiest service I've ever had at a bar. Both bartenders were complete jerks. I can't stress this enough. Sound system in the downstairs was terrible. All around worst bar I've ever been to. read more

Not a lot of places open for an after concert drink...at least on Mondays. I wish they had a drink menu because I don't always know what I want & that helps me decide (pssst, you can up sale with that). Ok, I kind of think it's funny that it's called "Taproom" but only had 5 taps. Way more bottles available. Think about getting some sours in, it's getting big. What I did like was the bartender. He was great, made me a great mixed drink when I had no idea what to order. Very polite & quick. We also loved that you play background music off vinyl, very cool. Get a short seasonal drink list & I will think about stopping by the next time I'm in town. read more

This place is my second favorite bar in Lawrence and the best place for a great dance party. The red lighting is awesome and some of the best bartenders in Lawrence serve there (Prashant!). When I lived at 8th and Ohio, I was at the taproom nearly 4 days a week. My two complaints are that the basement can get extremely hot during the summer, and recently the sound system has been way too loud. But I adore the Taproom and I miss it very much. read more

I love the fact that this place has free pool until 10pm. Even though I cannot play pool, I feel a lot better about learning when I don't have to pay for it. The beer selection is pretty great (and cheap), plus I like the vibe, chill and kind of dive bar-esque. The bartender was very friendly, gave us lots of great tips about where to go in Lawrence. My only beef was the "angry music"; I wasn't feeling angry. If they changed the music up a little, I'd want to come here every day during my stay here. read more

Live Music, two levels, & two bars. Decent little spot, I'd go back. The bar downstairs has more alc than upstairs, just FYI.

This is bar is interesting, as they aggressively do what they can to keep the attendance low, which is a creative strategy. They must think it makes the establishment in some way cooler? read more

I saw a poor poor little bird get attacked by the bars falconry expert. He sicked the falcon on the poor unexpecting bird. The falcons wings clipped two people on the patio and almost knocked them out. The poor finch was just trying to have some leftover popcorn from sandbar and was murdered because of it. It's a shame what this block has turned into. On the other hand... what a freaking show. Love the drinks!!!!! read more

Taproom - I love it. If you don't know what you want to drink, ask the bartenders to mix you up something special. They'll give you some amazing cocktail you've never had before and will never have again. Then go dance your pants off :) read more

Laid back place with good service and chill crowd. Nice alternative to college student dominated bars in Lawrence.