Zeno’s

Great beer selection. They almost have as much as Z-​Bar. But they do rotate their draft beers more often I think. You also get slightly more rare ones. Pricewise is not too shabby either. If you want food, I think they serve the same food as the corner room, which is just alright in my opinion. I did enjoy the pierogies tho!

Good beer selection. This bar has an eclectic mix of patrons. There was a decent band playing, and the cover was $ 2. They were a little picky at the door, only letting 2 of our party in at a time… the place was not packed.

Five star review from me.
I’ve been coming here for so long the bias will show but the fact is I keep coming back.
Below the iconic Corner Room Restaurant Zeno’s has been slugging away at fulfilling the beer needs of undergraduates, profs & professionals since as long as I can remember.
Getting a Zenos Passport for drinking Around the World in Eighty beers was the shit, especially because the craft beer culture had barely begun.
I finished my first passport sometime around ’92. Great introduction to different styles of beer but more importantly, the staff can describe & recommend beers. Something usually lacking in places with a large beer selection other than a brewpub & they usually only know their own brews.
They have basic pub grub & a late night menu with a peanut butter hot wing sauce that will make you want to get sloppy.
The bathroom graffiti was even an inspiration for a book.
Bands play most nights & there is a small cover charge which amounts to about a $ 1 per band member, so I’m ok with helping the local economy.
Open Thanksgiving & Christmas too for all of the stranded in State College people like me.
Staff friendly but not going to wipe your butt for you.
Basically, they know beer, like beer, & like their jobs.
If you need more kowtowing to you, grab a girlfriend, ask her to hold your hair while you puke in the the bathrooms of Pickles or Indigo.
Also they have pool, pinball & darts.

Visited Zenos postgame, surprised after the experience that its rated as high as it is. Server was reaching right in front of companions’s faces as we talked, to pull empty glasses and dishes from table, chicken cheese steak was mehhh and fries served cold. Beer was somewhat more pricey by pitcher for brands served from tap.
Saw where they put 2 charges on debit card for same meal with my bank account. After getting back home and checking account, nasty surprise I have to take additional time to straighten out.
Had better chicken cheese steak at Rathskellar, fries served hot and beer $ 2 less per pitcher. Should’ve gone back there, but companions’ wanted to tour another bar.

The staff is very rude and inconsiderate to anyone who doesn’t order a beer. I asked for a simple cranberry vodka and the man bartending patronized me for it. When I was walking away from the bar back to my seat, I heard the bartender whisper obscene language to himself about me. I never felt more insulted in my life. Not to mention, the cranberry and vodka tasted more like vodka and vodka. After I got my drink me and my friends went to a room that had a pool table (as we are all avid pool players) and a man with a pony tail told us that we weren’t allowed to play because we aren’t regulars. I was very offended by this but the man looked as though he was going to strike me, so me and my friends decided to just leave because violence is never the answer. I give this place a 1 star and would not suggest that anyone go to this establishment. Lots of other good bars in the area!

There’s a great beer selection and the staff and evironment are really cool. However, it’s an underground establishment that’s impossible to find and they have a small cover charge, which apparently is the norm in State College. The night we were here they had a jazz band playing and it was a fun time. Overall I endorse it and think the drink selection is great.

Frat-​Boy farm. Smells like piss and b-​o.

Dive bar. I had had 2 beers and asked for 2 pitchers of yuengling and 1 pitcher of water at the request of the sober drivers of the group.
The bartender gave me the pitcher of water and 3 glasses and said «lets just have water». Seriously condescending. 9 of is were there and we just left. We had already waited in line for 10 minutes and been «interviewed» by the doorman. I’ve never been to a bar that treats ALL of the their customers like wasted hobos. No respect. As an out of towner, fuck this place. We came here for the good reviews. Here’s a bad one.

This place was fantastic! I was a part of a bar tour for my friend’s wedding and we got turned away by Skellar, Café 210, and Bar Bleu simply because we were wearing matching t-​shirts. This place took us in, spoke to us like adults, and gave us free soft pretzels for our troubles. I can’t believe the way other bars treated us based on the fact we wore matching shirts, but Zeno’s treated us like true patrons and friends– I couldn’t ask for more. Come here for a chill time and a good beer with friends.

Usually when people mention that a bar has an «underground» feel, they just mean that it’s dark, might be a little dingy, and isn’t known by two many people. Zeno’s takes it to the next level by actually being below street level, so keep an eye out for the sign.
Once you’re in, the low ceilings and stone (?) floor contribute to a «dark tavern» feel. Grab a high-​top with some friends and proceed to drink very good beer for very low prices (a pint of Founder’s was only about $ 4 and the rest of the craft brews were similarly priced).
Our bartender was competent and experienced at handling crowds, so none of us ever had to wait for service. A cool bonus was the bar games room in the back and around a corner on the way to the bathroom.

Good ol’ Zeno’s is one hell of a beer bar. Dirt cheap, nearly dirt floors, and quite the dive. I believe I counted 20+ taps and a wealth of bottles. They offer some dandy food options as well, and some great service. Just don’t mind bumping elbows with a stranger and mind the low ceilings!
PROTIP: If you appear to be even an ounce drunk forget about getting in.

This is a bar that has been a home away from home to me for some time. This is a bar that you can hole yourself away in a corner and read or write or just watch the people flow in and out like a tide. This is a bar to plot taking over the world or overthrowing the local government or regaling the time you tripped acid with Joe Paterno (that never happened). It’s that perfect dark pocket where you can be you.
If there’s one thing you’ve heard about Zeno’s it’s that the beer selection is a treasure. It is. What you might not know is that the staff here is family (not like literally though, that would be weird). This is their place too, and more than anything they want you to have the best of times. You want a bartender to throw you around a little bit, maybe spill some beer on you, or better yet make you wait twenty minutes for their attention? Go somewhere else — anywhere else.
This isn’t the place to order your «purple trash cans» or «strong islands,» you should know that, so don’t be a jackass when you get your bill and it’s not $ 2.50. It’s called discretionary pricing and if you’re too drunk to figure that out, that’s your problem. Meanwhile, I’m drinking my totally reasonably priced Zeno’s Rye (which is probably the best rye ale I’ve ever had, not even trying to be biased here) and it’s even cheaper than usual because it’s happy hour (which for this beer in particular is all day, and the happy hour beer of choice changes each day).
So, if you feel like there’s no place for you in this town. If you feel you’re lost. If you’re tired of the same old, unoriginal cover bands and shuffling shoulder to shoulder through a crowd to order your drink. If you’re tired of losing your voice at the end of the night because the music is too loud and you have shout talk for hours at your friends who are literally standing several inches away, then Zeno’s might be the place for you. Here, the bathroom graffiti is unrivaled (I hear they hire someone from the Philosophy Department, pay them in beer, and hand them a Sharpie). Here, the $ 2.50 soft pretzels will save your life at the end of the night. Here, all things make sense — at the bar located directly above the center of the Earth.

If I lived here, This would be my oval spot. They play live music 6 days a week. The beer selection is awesome, and though the cocktail list is short, I’m sure they could make anything. Those who tend the bar are friendly and they notice when your drink is getting low. They know the regulars by name, even speaking through casual conversation. I definitely approve.

Best Beer selection in State College, the hold «beer fests» which you pay a flat fee and get dinner and 10 samples of beer that you might not try otherwise. It is a basement bar and divey, but they embrace it. The bartenders can be rough sometimes when it is busier, but you don’t have to deal with them if it is slower and there is a waiter. They have live bands and wide variety of music that comes in. This is a must visit if you are in to craft beer and want to find beer you wont be able to find anywhere else.

I just want to say I walked in this evening after 3 years of not being in this town and a Zeno’s bartender kicked me out because I apparently didn’t speak the right way to him. Seems to be a standard story here. That is ok I’ll have my story one day about how this place is a fucking trap shit hole.

If I lived in State College, I could easily see myself being a regular at Zeno’s. The atmosphere was dark, laid back and they had a killer beer selection.
My husband and I ended up at Zeno’s twice during our super short visit to State College. Both visits had live music playing, which made for the perfect background for imbibing.
We sat at the bar both times where we had easy access to the drink list and bartender. At the time of our visit they had Stone Enjoy by 12.26.14 (YAY!). We also tried the Gus IPA (Cask) and Zeno’s Rye. All three beers were new to me and awesome.
The crowd was fairly mixed, but in a good way. I was expecting to be out with 21 years, but there were people of all ages at Zeno’s. I had to chuckle when the college kids came up and ordered PBRs, but they were by no means the typical rowdy college crowd (at least not during our two visits).
During our second visit, we got a little hungry and it was a little disappointing that they were out of soft pretzels. We had enough beer at that point, so we went on our way to stake out some grub.
I would absolutely frequent Zeno’s more if I could and recommend it to any beer lover visiting State College.

If you’re a beer connoisseur looking for a variety of draft beers, or just looking for a chill place to chat with friends and get some food, Zeno’s is the place. The staff are really laid back and fun. You may have heard that Zeno’s is the hipster bar, but it’s really just a great place for anyone wanting to unwind without the crowds (and sweat) of other bars. There are tables to sit, and you can order food late! Natalie plays on Tuesday nights (love listening to her). Absolutely one of my favorite places in State College!

I can see why people love this bar! Sure it’s divey, but anytime a group of four can drink for three hours and only spend $ 40 I’m a fan!
The football team was out of town so it was a quieter night in town and that was perfect for us 30 something’s. They had a 80s/​90s cover band playing rock songs and the weren’t half bad! The bar is dark, a little seedy, and smells faintly of sex — or maybe that was just forty+ 20 something’s looking for their next conquest. I’m older and out of touch with the college dating scene, but there was a lot of lust in the air!
We checked out a few other bars in town and made our way back to Zenos. It was the best choice by far!

Apparently having allergies is enough to be denied entrance. Fortunately everybody in the line for Pickles said I was better off.

Definitely one of my favorite bars in State College! Great beer selection and they always have great music! I’ve seen Pure Cane Sugar, The Nightcrawlers and many other great local bands perform here. The sound is always great and there is usually a little dance party by the end of the night.
They have $ 3 drafts of beer from the Elk Creek Brewery in Milheim, which is cheaper than you can drink it at the Elk Creek! They have a huge selection of well-​priced drafts and also a good selection of bottles. The food is pretty good too! They have a back room with a pool table, pinball machine, arcade games and a dart board.
If you appreciate good beer and music and you dislike the Bro-​ish, Frat feel of most other bars in State College, this is the bar for you!