A great "dive" bar with a solid beer selection with cool music to boot. I was in town to see Wilco but saw a lot of great acts had played there/we're coming up on their calendar. A great spot to hang out at, I hope to catch a show there in the future. read more

The Union Is back, back from the fire from a few years ago & they have new upstairs bar, with neon lights - really, yes really & new stage to hear great music & the pole is gone - from back in the day there was pole in the middle of the stage hard for musicians to play around & for fans to have good view of the band & now they have windows, yes can you believe windows facing Union street. The downstairs bar is well lit, very different from the old days, but they still have the best prices on beer in town. A visit to the Union is a must for Athens visit if you love good cold beer & indie music! read more

Love this place. Incredible toilet paper quality. Love the drinks and the people. But it's the TP for me

Hands down as facking good as live music gets in Athens--especially since the Blue Gator closed it's doors. Served with equal aplomb is the indie goodness at the downstairs bar. Hankering for a solid American Lager..you're damn right it better be a PBR (Sponsoring Local Music All Summer Long). read more

You will know within the first fifteen minutes in the Union if you like it. My rating will mean nothing to you, because you will most likely give it an immediate five star, or try to set it on fire and burn it down like it's the goddamn murder house. If you like obscure odd music, or old punk, or the random jazz fusion hip hop surf experimental band, the upstairs always has something neat and different going on. The local LFC (a sort of theater group for those of you not from OU) puts on an incredible live Rocky Horror Picture Show every fall (they sell rice and stuff there. wear underpants only and be prepared for make up). Are you starting to get it? If not, just go next door to Jackie O's where it's nice, safe, and full of craft beers. Want to drink cheap PBRs and make new friends over art music? Then stay at the Union. read more

The Union is the definition of a dive bar. Period. Fantastic music, great beer selection and wicked cheap prices, made it a staple bar in my OU rotation. $1.50 PBRs? Yes please! read more

Absolutely the best place to eat in Columbus. Staff is amazing and food is incredible. The experience I had here made my entire trip to Columbus. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an amazing atmosphere and great dining experience!! read more

I went back to The Union for Dance or Die, the monthly dance party held upstairs. The crowd was young and, as a result, very energetic. Pretty much everyone was dancing, no matter what the DJ played. Granted, it was hot as a sauna and I couldn't seem to catch a buzz despite spending $30 at The Union's really inexpensive bar ($2.50 rum and Cokes; $1 Blatz!), but I really had a great time. read more

Love this place, friendly bar tenders and an eclectic crowd. No shortage of good memories to be had here! read more

Best Sunday brunch in town, hands down! The bartenders here are friendly and the drinks are great (and strong)! My favorite hangout!

By far my favorite bar in Athens. Eclectic mix of college kids, locals, and regulars. They book the best shows in Athens. The bar remained true to its dive bar nature even after the renovation earlier this year. Living in Athens would be a lot worst if the Union wasn't around. read more

This place will be sorely missed. So many great memories here. I hope to see it return someday...it's just too good to be defeated.

The Union is the mother of all dive bars. If you don't like sticky seats, grimy bathrooms, and rubbing elbows with bearded/tattooed people, then this is not your joint. But for me, the atmosphere of the Union screams authentic more than just about any other business I have been to. This is a real good bar for real cheap drinks, and real loud music. read more

One of the better bars in town. The downstairs tends to be more townie focused, but the upstairs has some great must see Athens shows. Be sure to check out Dave Rave and/or Dysfunctional Family if you get a chance. read more

Showed up here for a Screaming Females concert last night and it was great. The show stage is upstairs so downstairs can keep operating as a normal bar, and the space up there is intimate without being crowded. I was always able to get a drink quickly with 3 bartenders zipping around, and the 2nd floor patio was huge with lots of seating. Having driven 2.5 hrs from out of town, this was a very cool spot to see a band play and I'd say the night was very much worth the trip. read more

The only really good solid bar in Athens to go to if you hate jam bands and love dive bars.

The resurrected Union has managed to pull off the impossible. It's retained its oddball "Island of Misfit Toys" vibe, essential look and unique style after nearly being destroyed by a fire. The "new" Union has also added a large and fantastic patio and improved its upstairs concert space. Though it was almost rebuilt, the brick walls, basic layout and iconic tin ceiling were preserved and should feel quite cozy and familiar to regulars from anywhere from two to more than 20 years ago. A great place has come back stronger for its second act. read more

The Union is epitome of a college dive bar. The newly remodeled upstairs is one of the best places to experience live music in Athens. If you like electronic music and dancing, check out Dave Rave events at The Union - Athens' only big city style nightclub experience read more

Amazing place and an Athens staple. You may not know, but there was a fire here in November of 2014 and this landmark is going to be closed for a while, but don't worry because like a phoenix The Union will rise again and be better than ever. read more

Although Athenians and Ohio University students have more than their fair share of places to imbibe, the Union, in my opinion, is the best bar in town. In fact, it's the only bar in town that I will give five stars, simply because it stands out so much. The bar itself has two levels, the main bar downstairs and a stage area/dance bar upstairs. This is my favorite scene in Athens for many reasons: -- The events. Scott Winland/Blackout Booking does one hell of a job booking shows. Upstairs Union, just in the past year, has been home to several great local and traveling bands, a couple drag shows, a burlesque show, and the monthly Dave Rave and Dance or Die parties, two of the hottest and most well-attended dance parties in Athens. Dave Rave is complete with smoke, flashing lights, and great house and electronic music. Dance or Die draws an eclectic crowd and DJs Barticus and Self-Help know how throw a great party and keep the crowd dancing all night long. I'm partial to Dance or Die, but Upstairs Union is the perfect venue for all of these great shows: the room is dark; the music, loud; and there are more than a few spaces where you can do whatever you want with whoever you want. -- The crowd. Not a place where you'll find the typical Ohio University student, the Union is home to a more local, relaxed, eclectic crowd. Regular patrons downstairs, but a more mixed scene upstairs depending on the night. The Union is located on Union Street, home to one of the most colorful crowds in Athens. I've seen people with snakes and goats, people with green and pink hair, old tricycles, and much more on this street. I kinda like it! -- The staff. Friendliest bar staff in town because they don't have a bunch of students running the place. Lou has left but the new owner Eric, of Haffa's Records, is great. The Union staff really delivers when it comes to customer service. -- The drink selection. Tap beer tastes better here than anywhere else, for some reason. Prices are on par with the rest of Athens bars-- maybe a little more expensive, but seriously, $2 for a PBR on tap is pretty cheap, even if you can get it for a $1 down the road at some other slimy bar filled with obnoxious college students. Happy hour specials are great, too, and the Union has a theme night, such as Whiskey Wednesday, for just about every night of the week. Is this place perfect? It's pretty damn close, IMO. I mean, maybe the bathrooms could be updated, and it would be great if the upstairs wasn't just a cash bar. But all in all, it's a great place if you're into a more alternative scene in Athens. I've yet to have a bad night here! read more

It's grimy, it's a little offensive, it's your quintessential dirty rock and roll bar. If you like fantastic live music, a good beer, and always interesting company- you should make The Union your home. read more

The Union, this place has been around for decades.I went there regularity in the 60s and 70s with a break for Vietnam. When I return to Athens for OU homecoming we have to go visit. This place had the best hot dogs with chili sauce. There are many times my friends and I were at the Union when it opened and stayed until it closed. read more