Preppy college towns are so dystopian bro-- 27 years on this earth and never been denied entry from a place until the night of my MASTER'S graduation cause bro didn't buy that my R-E-A-L ID (which costs extra, mind you) was real and wouldn't scan it/get anyone else to check. How are you gonna refuse to let a whole adult with a 401k in because you don't feel like verifying a verifiable ID :/ the group after me asked why, and apparently "the edges were peeling", so they showed their peeling IDs and said "well we definitely won't get in then" BUT THEY DID :/ Bless their hearts, they tried to say something, but she just got angrier and snapped at me to have a good night in a way which suggested that she very much did NOT want me to have a good night. My siblings flew out from Philly and NYC for one night together, so needless to say this was a damper, but apparently not uncommon -- you'd think a place with that reputation would have a little employee oversight :/ read more

For a place that calls itself a liberal bar they are very prejudicial and they showed it on Halloween night when I tried to bring in my service dog they asked me questions that were illegal to ask like where is your psychiatrist letter which I do have one but I don't have to show it nor do I have to show any evidence whatsoever that my dog is a service dog in all 50 states of the United States and under federal law that is not required once you identify your dog as a service dog that is all that's necessary really in most places but not for Orange County Orange County believes that they are above the law and very soon that will change for them. Do not recommend this place and probably will never go back. read more

I've been here for about two months now and stay completely away from this bar as much as possible. The bartender made me quickly realize they are not very open, friendly, and excited to meet new customers. I just moved to Carrboro and wanted to check out some local bars. Mallory was our bartender. When she asked me and my friend if we wanted to buy a membership card, i laughed, telling her I didn't know where I was. I thought it would turn into a light conversation about just moving here, not knowing the fun local spots, and possible having the bartender give you some quick tips. Instead Mallory told me that was a "stupid thing to say" and how could I "not know where I am.." Ehh, okay, well that quickly made a left. The conversation then turned into a weird argument defending myself... explaining it was just a joke and I'm not sure where this bar is in location to my apartment.. again, weird argument started, by Mallory. Mallory then got an customer at the bar to also get involved and tell me that was a "stupid thing to say." Mallory made it very known she didn't want me at the bar as I watched her tell the manager. She also told me she could "throw me out whenever" i was more than happy to leave but wanted to let my buddy enjoy his night so we went out to the patio. read more

This bar has a great atmosphere and the habañero mango cider they currently have on tap is DELICIOUS! The only reason I'm not giving five stars is that they turned my sister (who was an adult, but under 21) away on Halloween. She has IBS and was in tears because she urgently had to use the restroom. While I understand that Halloween is a busy day for them and letting under 21s in is a liability issue for them, I still think they should consider making exceptions for people with medical issues. There were certainly enough bouncers at the door that someone could have walked her to the bathroom and back. read more

OCSC is a lot of fun. With its nice chill atmosphere, it's the perfect place to grab a beer and just hang out. They have nice couches, pinball machines, bathrooms with pictures of dogs drinking Yuengling, a decent beer selection (from good stuff to cheap PBRs/High Life), and a nice cocktail menu for those of you who want something slightly harder. They also have a nice outdoor area, perfect for a nice brisk spring evening. So if you want to grab a beer and hang out, it's a nice chill place to do that, and across the street from Spotted Dog to boot! read more

The OCSC just has a great vibe. That sort of neighborhood, locals, regulars, nothing-bad-can-happen-here kind of vibe that makes newcomers want to keep returning until they're another familiar face. Since the smoking ban, looks can be deceiving... from the sidewalk you might be surprised to see that place more empty than full on a warm Friday or Saturday night. But if you wind your way out the back, you'll find its standing room only on the small back patio. I find the drink selection to be average... better off heading down a few doors to Tylers if you want to sample a wide range of beers. As for the PBR option, I think the only reason to swill it is if your goal is getting drunk... and if that's your goal then liquor is quicker. IMHO, I think you should save retro ironic kitsch for whatever fasion trend you're into, ignore the PBR and support your local NC brewmasters. read more

Really and truly, if you're a Carrboro/Chapel Hill social climber, this is the place where you want to be seen with your cigarette and PBR. They have other drinks, but don't fall for that. It's a trap. Not enjoying a cheap PBR (like there's any other kind?) will immediately put a sign over your head indicating that you do not belong there. This will not always be looked upon as a negative by the folks hanging out there, to be fair, but it will be harder to weasel your way into the hipster elite. On the plus side, they do actually have the best juke box ever. If you're like me and have fallen waaay out of what's new and good in music, you'll get a few ideas of what to go shopping for at your next trip to wherever you pick up your tunes these days. Whether that's worth the membership fee and the guilt trip for wanting a beer that tastes like beer is a question I'll leave to you. read more

My last review was pretty incomplete and somewhat incorrect. Aside from 1.50 PBRs, which are a revelation, their micro selection is great (and cheap - Victory Prima Pils for $4), their mixed drinks are strong and also pretty cheap (big ass Wild Turkey on the rocks for $5). We went on a weekend night (the Sunday before Memorial Day but still) and there was plenty of seating and space to hang out. The jukebox is seriously fucking great - Archers of Loaf, Husker Du, Minor Threat, Guided by Voices. Basically, I'd kill to have this be my local. read more

When I moved to Carrboro, I heard so much about this place, how cool it is, how friendly it is, how Social the patrons are. How AMAZING the juke box is. I don't really agree with any of those assessments. Orange County Social Club is the kind of place that is cool to go to with friends, and a big bummer to go to by yourself, trying to make friends. In other words, it has a very cliquey feel. Everyone there seems to be with a big group of people. I think part of the reason for this is that the place is just so dark that you can't see more than a foot in front of you. Not ideal for someone out trying to socialize. Orange County Social Club is the epitome of "Gritty Chic." They put up the kind of decorations and have the accoutrements of a bar that would be gritty. But if you ever see the place with the lights on, everything is sparkling clean. It's just such a strange thing, to put a veneer of grit on the place. I guess you need to do that to attract the hipsters, and the people that don't fit in with the Golden Children of UNC. The back porch area looks really pretty at night, with all their bright pink lights lending a fairy-tale kind of feel. They have a rotating menu of special cocktails, some of which are interesting and really good. As for the vaunted juke box. Both times I 've tried to use it, the stupid thing, it malfunctioned. When I asked for my money back, I was denied. Bad customer service there. In terms of hipster bars, I prefer Bowbar, down the street. Verdict: Fun place to go get hammered with a group of friends, not so good to go to just as a neighborhood bar. read more

This is easily the greatest dive bar in Carrboro. Drink prices are cheap and they usually play an eclectic mix of music. The crowd is interesting, but welcoming. I've particularly enjoyed coming here to watch UNC basketball games. They also have a great roofed-in patio that makes for pleasant sitting during the summer time. Be forewarned: it gets pretty smokey out there. read more

There is not a better bar for my money. Great bartenders, cheap (& strong) drinks, lots of regulars, smoky and damp on the inside, like your cool uncle's patio outside. Your out of town friends will think you are the absolute coolest dude around when you take them here. Meet for $1.50 PBRs after work or after a show, and tell Lee and MattI said what up. read more

Stopped here after the Cat's Cradle show for some drinks and it was a great spot. The patio's where it's at....mix some brown with the local ginger ale. KILLING! ~Dave "Herremannen" Heilman read more

Today on Mythbusters, we'll be putting to the test the urban legends and folklore surrounding the Orange County Social Club. MYTH #1: OCSC is only for stuck-up hipsters and indie kids. OK, I can understand why some people would label OCSC as a hipster bar - it IS in Carrboro, after all. But in the times I've been, I've never once gotten a 'better-than-you' vibe from anyone. Not to mention, they have $1.50 PBR...that's so anti-hip it just might be hip after all. VERDICT: OCSC may be a frequent hangout for the tragically hip crowd and the indie scene, but even a local yokel like myself can feel right at home. MYTH #2: Only heavy smokers and astronauts can survive in OCSC's atmosphere. I smoke, so I'm probably not the best judge. Most of my friends, though, don't. Of all the people who've accompanied me to OCSC, not one has ever even mentioned the air being smoky. VERDICT: Rumors of the smoke-laden air may have been greatly exaggerated, but you'll just have to try it for yourself and determine your comfort level. MYTH #3: OCSC is the best bar in town/the Triangle/the state/recorded history. I really like the OCSC for its cheap beer, friendly bartenders, great music selection, and mad comfy seating arrangements. I gave it a 5-star rating for that reason. But there are definitely other bars in the area I like more... VERDICT; OCSC is a great place to drink, relax, and enjoy an evening at what might be the most aptly-named bar I've seen in a long time. read more

This is my favorite bar in Carrboro. It's super laid-back and casual, albeit a bit smoky. The bartenders are friendly and accommodating, and the clientele is chill and sometimes pretentious. But in a friendly hipster kind of way. And there's buck fifty PBRs. What's not to love?! read more

The coolness of OCSC escaped me. Some of my friends make this their favorite hang-out. And while I thought it was decent -- decent, if not a little shabby-chic, atmosphere; decent beer selection; decent service -- I just didn't find it to be all that alluring. It's clear that this is a place for regulars, really cool regulars plus the occasional Carrboro wacky persona. I do hear that it's a good place to go for a game -- since Franklin Street gets overrun and people turn to sports bars for that kind of thing, OCSC is like the silent player for a game night. They have a big, descending screen and a projector that make their way out for UNC fanfare. read more

Orange County Social Club - people sitting at the bar - Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Dark and Stormy! That's all I got to say. And a couple of more things. But the Dark and Stormy is just too good at this hipster bar with an oh-so-cool name: OCSC. What's not to love, right?! When I first moved to Carrboro in 2006, I immediately became a member once I had gone there with a friend of mine and we stayed until closing. Everyone is friendly, the service is fast and they mix drinks well. There are always some local beer choices on tap and the bar is nicely stocked, including my favorite gin - Hendricks. Grab a couple of friends and enjoy either the spacious but intimate patio or the funky bar area inside. read more

Orange County Social Club - Truly the best dark and stormy in town! By far!!! - Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

A great divy bar with cool vinyl records playing. Comfy couches, pool table and an attractive bar tender. Tables outside if you smoke. Loved it!! read more

Orange County Social Club - Cozy. Nice couches. Pool Table. Weird groovy music - Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

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Definitely a cool spot--it oozes hipster, but in a way I'm completely ok with. It's a private club (a silly North Carolina loophole in their ALE laws where they can serve alcohol and no food), so you need to pay 5.00 for a membership, but the price was worth it. They've got a good selection of interesting looking mixed drinks, as well as quite a few very reasonably priced cans of common domestics. There is also spacious, comfortable seating and a pool table at the back. Awesome little spot--if you're up for a bit of bar hopping, it pairs very well with Bowbarr a block up the road too. read more

Love the laid back vibe. This is as hipster as bars get. Gold fish instead of nuts at the bar! Talk about allergen friendly ;)

lowkey hipster bar with cheap drinks and a pool table. you'll need a "membership" for a lifetime fee of $5, which covers any other people in your group if you have it (they're working around state liquor laws). definitely an older crowd compared some of the other nearby bars, as you would expect from carrboro read more

This place must have been transformed by the smoking ban, I feel like my jacket smelled like smoke if I just walked by. I can see how it's not for everyone, but I just love this place. Feel like a $1.50 PBR? Check. Feel like a proper cocktail? Check. Also the jukebox kicks ass. The bartenders are AWESOME. Without telling the long story, let me just say one of them stopped a fight from breaking out just by grabbing another chair. One night I stumbled in for a "private" party where this dude got roasted for his 40th birthday. I didn't know any of the people or any of their inside jokes but it was still funny as hell, they had slides and videos from out of towners who couldn't make it and sh--. read more

Very cheap, very chill, with good music. I sat at a table decorated with ikea lamp covered in a crochet. Thats the type of vibe you'll get here, and it's a good one. $4 whiskey sodas makes me miss NC. Members only, but definitely get a membership. read more

I've only been here once, with a friend who was a member, and I have yet to find the need within myself to go back. The smoke is problem for me, which means that I'm usually relegated to the outside, bollox. The inside is very angry chic, if such a thing could be said to exist, which more often than not works pretty well as a theme for them. The regulars are absolutely devoted to this place, so you've got an instant sense of comraderie for making new friends, always a plus. The beers are pretty cheap, though the selection isn't the best... I can enjoy PBR as much as the next guy, but I don't usually go out to bars for it. read more

If I have to choose one and only bar I get to go for the rest of my life, it's going to be OCSC. No question. When people asks me about life in Carrboro, I can't not talk about this place, my favorite bar in the entire universe. Best $5 I've ever spent. (Thanks to NC's outdated private club law...) Friendly bartenders who will befriend you if you become a regular. Cheap and generously poured drinks. Great outdoor back-patio area with awesome ambiance in the night time. With couple bottles of $2 PBR and $1 pool games, you will be in a good place. It's THE place that makes me miss Carrboro dearly. If you have a chance, don't miss it! read more

I enjoyed trivia night recently here at OCSC. I normally am not a fan of bars- loud music, uncomfortable/awkward seating, crowded, sometimes smoke-filled- but OCSC was different. Lots of comfortable seating, the music wasn't too loud, and it's a nice location. I'd also recommend their trivia nights- lots of fun. The music between rounds was still loud enough to prevent this review from being 5 stars, but still pretty good all-around. read more

Now with richard working here throwing in some misfits tunes and no smoking, it's hard to beat. Plus I can walk home! Sweet! read more

Orange County Social Club - Table deco during Halloween - Bars Near Me - Carrboro, North Carolina

The times that I've gone to OCSC I've gone with friends who are members already-- which works out too! They have a huge 51" TV in there and it was so much fun watching a basketball game with all of my friends and other people. There isn't a a lot of space on the inside for sitting especially once folks start rolling in. They do have additional seating outside-- it's lovely on a warm summer night. The owners are phenomenal-- they both work behind the bar a good portion of the time-- always with a smile and doing everything they can to make their clientele happy. read more

Oh Social Club, how I miss thee. It's been 2 months since I moved away, but my pangs of desire for some OCSC are still going strong. OCSC is a membership bar, but the process is a breeze, and the $10 membership is for a lifetime. What you get is a chill, down-home bar environment, strong drinks and cheap beer poured with love by the best bartenders in the Triangle, and a gorgeous back patio perfect for whiling away long afternoons or late nights. Also, the jukebox is stacked, you can bring in food from local eateries to munch on, and they show EVERY Tar Heel basketball game of the season, projected onto the wall (get there early - diehard Tar Heel fans abound here). Downsides include its smokiness, even when it's not that crowded, and it can get very packed on weekend nights, especially after a show at Cat's Cradle. The overall awesomeness of the place far outweighs these minor details. read more

The membership was $5 which is know is because of silly NC liquor laws but everywhere else I've been it's $1. I don't know why the mark up for a dive bar in Carrboro. Just because they can i guess. I liked the fun decorations and design inside. It has a lot of personality and was easy to talk and relax. There is a pool table but not a huge liquor selection. Everyone was nice. Seems like the kind of place a lot of local regulars go for a chill night. read more

Came here last night with a friend because the place is usually pretty empty and we wanted to have a quiet conversation, and now I understand why business has tapered off. We were there less than five minutes before witnessing the bartender have what can only be described as some sort of a breakdown. After spending $18 for two drinks, the bartender sat down at a stool to have an electronic cigarette. My friend wanted a straw for her drink, so instead of disturbing the bartender on his smoke break, I reached over to get a straw from the container next to us. Had I realized that the guy would get so upset by this, I would have waited for him to get up off the stool to hand her a straw, but instead he comes over and says "Hey, guy, just so you know, in the future, don't do that." I had no idea what he was talking about so I apologized and asked him what I did wrong. He said he didn't like me touching the straws, and so I said "I'm sorry, but if you didn't want that to happen why would you leave them on middle of the bar top?" This sent the guy over the edge and he said "How would you like it if I came into your home and put my hands all over your food? I don't know where your grubby hands have been!" WTF? We both were dressed well, sober, and were initially polite in our interactions with the guy, so this was way out of left field. At this point, my friend had this shocked look on her face and I told him that was a pretty rude thing to say. He said "Well, I can say it, because I'm running this place and you're not. In fact, I think you should leave. You are disrespecting me in front of my friends." Seriously, what? I was thinking this guy was either on drugs or crazy, but we were not exactly itching to stick around, so I told him that if he gave us our money back we would leave right away. "No, I get to decide that. What I say is the law in here." He then took our drinks, which we had literally just had a single sip out of, and dumped them down the drain. The whole bar was looking at us we got up to leave, and I said "All this over a drinking straw? We're never coming back here again." The bartender says as we are walking out "Good. You're not welcome to. In fact, if I ever see you again I will kick your ass." Wow. Just wow. My friend could not believe what just happened. We walked across the street to The Station and the bartenders, upon hearing the story from her, apologized for our experience in town and took really great care of us. This has to have been the craziest, most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me. All the positive reviews must have gone to this guys head, or maybe he just forgot to take his meds this day. I don't know what type of eggshells you have to walk on at OCSC, but frankly, I don't understand why someone would bother. In short: Stay away. read more

This bar was the best part of my month in the region last summer. Great staff and dog friendly until 9 pm or so. Cannot wait to return in summer of 2020. read more

It took me 7 years of living in the area to visit this place, but what a gem! Went on a summer Saturday night when it was just crowded enough to be lively. They have a great cocktail selection and its a great atmosphere to hang out in. If you want to have some casual drinks and be able to talk to your group of friends this is a great place to go! Very eclectic decor and the service was friendly. You do have to sign up for a membership as it is a private club, but that only takes a second, and a couple of dollars. Worth it! read more

Great little bar for drinks and pool. Much better now that the smoking section is out back

My guy friends say this is the place in town to go git sum strange, to which I respond, Hey, thanks for thinking I'm not strange, but cant a girl get a hookup sometime anyways. read more

Ah the OCSC. Where the hipsters go be hip - and smoke and where the jukebox is ALWAYS better than your music collection. This was one of my favorite bars in the area. The smoke barely ever bothered me and you can't beat Stella on tap and $1.50 PBR. Great bartenders - thanks Lee. The most competetive pool in Chapel Hill. The coolest bar surface I have ever seen. I will miss this place, living in SoCal Thank you Trish, for providing a place for me and my friends to have so many great, drunken nights. Hooray for walking home. read more

I loved this place. Chill atmosphere. Cute outdoor area in the back. I'm a MEMBER, and i think it was like 10 bucks to join... maybe 15... it's a lifetime membership. Drinks are strong and cheap. They have GAMES! And ou can play them outside! Cool Carrboro atmosphere. Loved it. read more

Service is friendly, cool vibe. You have to be a member to drink. It's a little dark inside, smoky outside, but it's a nice place to grab a drink. read more

Now that I'm in smoke-free California, I don't miss going home smelling like an ashtray after a few beers on your comfy couches. However, I had many a fun night with great friends. When I go back that way, I'll be sure to pop in and see if my membership card is still good for another cheap beer. Of course, I'll go home and shower immediately afterward though. read more

Love this place. It even took me a few visits to notice that its an INTENSELY smoky bar. Still doesn't deter me though, GREAT jukebox.

Good place to meet folks with good thinking caps. Tarbenders were okay but the drinks were great. Went on a Friday night and it wasn't too crowded. read more