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Most of the time, when you go out, it’s clustered into one of three scenarios: restaurant, bar, or other. With the ‘other’ being bowling, mini golf, movies, or something along those lines — often too pricey to do on the regular, and featuring pretty sub-par food (if any at all), so you usually fall back on food, booze, or some combination of the two.
Recently, though, there’s been a rise in more mixed-purpose hangouts that blur the lines between eatery and well, thing to do. They’re a place you can go and get a little bit of everything — and all done surprisingly well. Sometimes, they’re kitschy and thematic (which, admittedly, I’m a sucker for). Sometimes, they’re high-end and bougie. Find the vibe that’s right for you. Here are some I’ve seen and loved:
Pinewood Social, Nashville, TN
Bar + Restaurant + Coffee Shop + Bowling Alley + Bocce Courts
Vibe: Laid-back, a little retro, a little hipster-yuppie
Perfect for: The crew that can’t get consensus on anything — or just wants to sample a little of everything.
Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club, Brooklyn, NY
Shuffleboard + Bar + DJs + Food Truck
Vibe: Fun, vintage FL kitsch, very hipster
Perfect for: Anyone stuck in the city (or 20-degree weather), looking for a summery getaway
Oxford Exchange, Tampa, FL
Bookstore + Cafe + Restaurant + Curiosity Shop
Vibe: Sophisticated, scholarly, chill
Perfect for: Design addicts (or coffee fiends) looking for a lazy Sunday away from the house
Betty Danger’s Country Club, Minneapolis, MN
Ferris Wheel + Mini-Golf Course + Restaurant + Bar
Vibe: Heathers-meets-amusement-park that revels in all things camp
Perfect for: Anyone looking for an escape from the ordinary, mixing a great cocktail with some delightfully tacky fun (and also, anyone who could easily quote the ’80s Winona Ryder flick)
Fat Cat, New York, NY
Ping Pong + Pool + Bar + Board Games + Jazz
Vibe: Dive bar with everything you’d want in your (wo)man cave
Perfect for: People who can’t stand pretentious bars or pricey drinks; who’d rather just grab a beer and get their game on than sip specialty cocktails