Pav’s earns national attention for atmosphere, drink specials
With live music, a staff of experienced bartenders and a number of drink specials, Pavlov’s Bar — or Pav’s — has become one of the most popular watering holes for USC students and, apparently, one of the best college bars in the country.
The self-proclaimed “most glorious dive bar on the planet” was named No. 12 on USA Today’s list of college bars.
A long line extends from the bar’s door on Greene Street most nights in Columbia, waiting to take advantage of drink specials, relax on the bar’s large patio or play a few rounds of pool.
With an inside capacity of 245 and a patio capacity of 153, the bar is often packed and brimming with energy.
“I’m at Pav’s every Monday for ‘Monday Night Pav’s,’ and I’m here at least once or twice between Thursday and Sunday,” said Shannon Feher, a fourth-year broadcast journalism student. “When I’m passing through, it’s always one of the bars that I tend to hit. I may not be here all night, but I definitely come in for a drink or two.”
Bar manager Stanley Carter, a USC alumnus, attributes Pav’s success to a number of factors.
“This place has been a Greek bar for as long as I can remember. This place has been known for it forever,” Carter said. “We’ve got a lot of experienced bartenders here.”
Carter said the large crowds that the bar’s specials and popularity bring in are made more manageable due to the experienced staff.
“I’ve been doing this for 13 years. … The majority of the staff has been doing this for 10-plus years,” Carter said. “We’ve got fast bartenders. If you have to wait to get a drink around here, it’s because there’s a line going up the street.”
Students and other patrons also enjoy the many features the bar has.
“I really like that it has all the sections to it,” Feher said. “It has the pool table, it has the bar and the dance area and then it’s got the deck area. It’s just a really good social environment.”