Upstairs Pub

Great location and vibe, however service can be horrible on even a slightly busy day. Long straight bar with a couple seats at each end. Several high top tables opposite the front bar in the main room, that also has a great balcony that overlooks kirkwood. If you turn right, or south, into the back rooms, first one has dartboards then pool tables, there’s another small bar and another rooms with booths.
The bar is the star here. Wood bar with large wood rail, but the bar top is wood recycled from the IU basketball floor. Mix of stools. Nothing special about the bar back, but lots of HDTVs over the bar.
It’s a college bar so you can guess the crowd and atmosphere but it can be chill. It’s a great place to watch the game, especially on fall days when the patio doors can be opened. Open late so come here after nicks closes. As for the AMF, if it’s $ 2, why not.

Miles friendlier than their nightlife neighbor. Famous for their bright blue AMF drinks, but are also quick to serve other drinks that are requested. Bartenders may be busy, but never rude. Even when customers are rude, they still keep their cool. Love that they switched the men and women’s bathrooms to give the ladies some more room!

Chris the bouncer tried to pill off my passport ID photo and denied it. Is it even legal?

I graduated from IU in Spring 2009 and during my senior year (when I finally hit 21 years old), the Upstairs was a staple in my final year of school. After that, I moved to New York City (where you can surprising find AMFs at IU themed bars) and then to Tel Aviv.
With my boyfriend, who is not a US citizen (actually from the Holy Land), decided to take a vacation in Bloomington (since we met here when I was student), among two other states.
When we decided on Upstairs, we were met with a bouncer unlike any other I have ever met named Chris. He took my boyfriends passport and tried pealing his photo away to see if it would come off (which is actually considered a felony because it’s considered government property) and then told my boyfriend he would need to show a state ID, which he doesn’t have since he isn’t an American, only a visitor.
When I tried to assure the bouncer that it was real and showed him my passport (as I am a duel citizen), he called me an asshole.
Is this how you treat your guests? Honestly, I really had nothing against the bar and still don’t. I’ve had awesome memories at this bar, but my friends who were hosting me this weekend are super embarrassed this happened. I feel like there should be some apology, particularly almost destroying my boyfriends passport and potentially causing legal issues for him when trying to leave.

Upstairs was awesome as usual. I accidentally walked into the women’s room. I don’t know if I should blame the recent remodeling or the beautiful blue full liter of lighter fluid I’d recently ingested. AMF is a hell of a drug.

I owe this place a debt of sincere gratitude for the AMF. Everyday that I remeber that I am not in college anymore I cry a little. Everyday I am not basking in the B-​town sun or cover of night without and AMF in my hand, I die a little bit more. This is a true love story of lovers torn apart. However, i will reuinte with u twice in the next month alone. I’ll just have to cherish the time we have oh tasty AMF

Eh. I’ve been here a few times. While it’s a super convenient location for me, I just don’t get the hype. So you have tits on the wall and bras on the ceiling? There’s usually a fight that breaks out when I go there too…
Don’t get me wrong, I like tits and bras and fights and I get the appeal of non classy college bars. But, I somehow feel less dirty when I just go to Sports instead.
It also always smells like pee when I’m there.

These AMFs are awesome, can easily get me drunk enough to beat my girlfriend.

Scored a spot up front at the bar and had a great time watching people enjoy their AMF’s. Row after row of shots were going out to girls who probably didn’t even bring a wallet with them. Spent a hell of a lot of time worrying about what music was playing, and what was coming on next. Some squadron of probably sorority sisters had a lock on the jukebox… they even let me pick a song, wewp! I chose Cee Lo Green (FU!) and when they got too drunk they tried to get me to assist with the AMF’s they were drinking all night. Place was packed with people milling around, playing darts & pool, etc. Smoking takes place outside on the patio. Mens room, not even sure why it had a door on it.
Loud, messy, crowded, long waits for drinks,… super fun!
ProTip: Leave the worries about your social status and who is/isn’t in business school or in a fraternity at home. Go down early, stay late, meet someone different than you, maximize the fun.

Here is the secret to the Upstairs Pub, «AMF no blue».
The bartender will try and tell you that you’re just getting less alcohol but the blue Curaçao is what makes the AMF taste like a bucket of liquid sweet-​tarts. And honestly, you’re ordering a drink with almost 6 shots of alcohol in it, do you really need that little bit of blue dye? Ordering no blue makes it taste pretty close to lemonade, something you could drink all night.
The dirtiness is part of the appeal to the Upstairs Pub. It’s just clean enough that you’d bring your mom but you’d divert her eyes from the hundreds of bras and underwear hanging from the ceiling and tell her not to sit down in the bathroom.
I’ve never heard anyone say they don’t like this bar.

The summer drink specials make you want to go back to college. It was unbearable hot there, so the only thing I was drinking was water. I would go back when the AC is fixed or when fall begins.
Quick Tip:
Try the AMF!

An honest rating is 3 stars, but the extra star comes from a Key to having an affordable Bloomington Nightlife–
On the weekends it’s so packed and crazy, and everyone orders the same drink — AMF… While the smokers are forced to step outside to smoke, you should step over to the ledge by the door and help yourself to the array of almost full AMF’s.
It’s not the most sanitary, but neither is the bathroom and you still have 7 dollars in your pocket for Jimmy Johns downstairs after you’re drunk from the free AMF.

Upstairs Pub is where I really perfected my pub-​style (drink in hand) dart throwing skills. With several dart boards and three pool tables, there is plenty to keep you occupied. They don’t have much space though, so it can get packed in a hurry. Back when I frequented Upstairs, it was big with the law school crowd, but don’t let that scare you away.
Upstairs Pub’s specialty, the «Adiós Mother Fucker» (4 shots of gin, 4 shots of vodka, Sprite, sweet and sour, and a splash of blue Curaçao), is on par with a Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane for addictive sweetness and sheer kick.

This place is fantastic for locals and regulars. For the newcomers, beware, it is SO TINY, and gets so hot and sticky later on in the night. Get their early and camp out at the bar. What is Upstairs Pub best known for — the A.M.F. Greatest blue drink ever. Pool tables in the back as well.