Ah Snug, it sure is a happening place on Thursdays! There seems to be a theme about every Thursday which I dig and the cover, what cover? Yeah I like that, I'm tired of paying to get into a place to pay for the drinks!
When I end up here, there's peoples dancing on the stage, peoples dancing on the floor, and everyone's having a good time and no one is really trying to act too cool to talk to you, that's how you know a place is cool! There's a giant patio out back, and you can get into some interesting conversations out there then join your new friend on the dance floor or stage inside! The best part of this place is the awesome mix of people you'll find here. Hipsters mingle with preppy looking bankers, and I even met a guy in government, awesomeness.
I wish I had more to say about this but I generally have a hard time remembering nights here. In the end isn't that a sign of a good night? When you don't even remember much but you know it was a spectacularly fun evening adventure?
Hipster haven all the way. Snug is one of a kind. You don't find many venues like this in a bank town like Charlotte.
Snug is as much a place to catch a show as it is a local dive-y hangout. Catch a quick show and enjoy the smokey and loud atmosphere. Put on your favorite pair of skinny jeans a TOMS and slip right into the sea of hipsters.
The decor is hilarious. Tons of nautical, pirate and sea baring type items. There's even an skiff outside of the venue for your drunky pleasure.
Seriously, I'm pretty sure this place has $1 24oz PBR tall boys on a nightly basis. If you're looking for the place to grab some of that fine, Plaza Midwood Champagne, this is the spot.
Lots of great local bands play here. Check out the schedule and hit up Snug for a fun night with some hipsters in the ghetto.
Faux hipsters...Oh faux hispsters. Â In a weird way, these people are quite similar to the douchey fratboys that inhabit previously reviewed establishments such as Angry Ale's. Â I see it as analogous to political extremities, like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann. Â Glenn and Keith are actually much more similar than one might think at first glance. Â Both represent the extremity of their respective ideologies. Â Both fail to represent the average American. Â Both appeal only to a niche audience. Â Both will do any and everything they can to adhere to the stringent personality of which they've evolved and developed into. Â And both are sheer, unmitigated tools that no one really wants to be around, or take seriously. Â If you haven't discerned as much by now, allow me to elucidate. Â Glenn is the douchey fratboys, and Keith is faux hipsters. Â So you see, the two groups are really vile forms of humanity spawned from the very same ilk.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way...Snug Harbor is indeed a Keith Olbermann...err, faux hipster bar. Â You'll see more flannel, PBR, and handlebar moustaches than at a Foster the People concert held in honor of Occupy Wall Street. Â That hasn't actually happened...yet. Â But when it does, you'll still see less of it than at Snug. Â That said, much like Angry Ale's, Snug does provide for phenomenal people watching. Â The decor is very kitsch, and I actually find it rather unique (ironic given the polar antithesis of the patrons). Â The bar has a solid selection of beer and alcohol (if I recall correctly, they even have my favorite drink, Drambuie!) Â You'll find somewhat unique beers (at least for the region) like Negra Modelo. Â However, I'm not a fan of the bartenders themselves. Â They tend to come off as rather ornery. Â Moreover, they're very poor at service. Â If the bar is crowded, they're quickly overwhelmed. Â Naturally, that happens. Â The problem is, a good bartender will take mental notes on who is where, etc. Â These bartenders have no clue. Â They'll serve some bozo who just walked up while neglecting the patron who's been trying to order a drink for 15 minutes. Â And I know this ain't Bar 89 (google it), but they make really poor mixed drinks. Â How do you fuck up a ginger and bourbon? Â I don't know, ask my bartender at Snug, she'll tell you. Â The live music is hit and miss. Â You'll get faux hipster music that sounds like cats drowning, and you'll get faux hipster music that doesn't sound like cats drowning. Â If you're there for the music, I'd recommend looking up who's playing and youtubing them beforehand. Â They also have an outdoor area that is pretty nice for getting some fresh air and people watching. Â If you go with a friend, you can play fun games like "Guess that Hipster's drink!" Â It's pretty easy...if you say PBR, you win. Â One big negative about Snug is the 5 dollar cover. Â I know they have live music, but I'd rather spend that 5 on another poorly mixed bourbon & ginger.
So, all and all, Snug is a solid enough bar for people watching. Â I give it one more star than Angry Ales because of the better alcohol selection, more eclectic decor, and hey, lets face it...Keith is funnier to to watch make a fool of himself than Glenn.
Snug Harbor should get its own category of bar. Â If I had to choose I guess it has to go into the Dive category. Â All you really need to know is that it's incredible--a hole in the wall with people from every corner of Charlotte. Â I won't be a broken record, you can read everyone else's reviews... but just know that if you are looking for a low key kind of night, some good music & heavy pours, this is the place to go.
Last time we were there to see a friend's band play we talked to the bartender who had gotten back from Thailand at 3pm (it was 9pm!). Â Drinks were cheap and the service was quick. Â The inside of the bar is really the place to see - crazy artwork, personal touches, random crap - all wonderful. Â Outside there are park benches and tiki torches where you can hangout, smoke, & probably make some new friends.
If you are looking for the opposite of uptown bars, this is probably a good spot for you!
Great spot to grab a pop and hear some live music. Â
They have $3 24oz PBRs, you can't beat that! Â
It's a dark bar with pirate decor and velvet paintings which I totally dig! Â Arrr! And there is plenty of room for movin' and groovin' Â in front of the band. Â But the sweet spot at this joint is the patio out back with colored energy efficient lights strung up - major props for the being earth friendly and fun!
I love edgy........Charlotte is not edgy. Â I love loud.........Charlotte is not loud. Â I love emerging bands and the music they play.......Charlotte is not an up and coming music scene........
What Charlotte does have is Snug Harbor. Â Though I haven't a clue about what the names means.........I'm sure all the hipsters out there reading this are happy I don't know because I'm an old geezer that just doesn't........nor shouldn't........get it, but the place rocks. Â I mean literally.
I come to this place because a band from my hometown (Asheville) plays here a few times a year and the experience just cannot be beat. Â Forget the music, the people watching alone is worth a cover.
It is funny as I know some folks that just live a block away and they NEVER come here, so where these folks come from I haven't a clue but they make the place.
I mean you have your bearded hipsters with the tight skinny jeans, flannel cowboy shirts and ski skull caps (even in summer) and chuck Taylors........then you have your Goth girls with jet black hair and enough make up to still get them kick out of their parents house.......even at 29...wearing tight skinny jeans, flannel cowboy shirts and ski skull caps (even in summer) and chuck Taylors...then you have the long hair hippies with the tight skinny jeans, flannel cowboy shirts and ski skull caps (even in summer) and chuck Taylors and the ol' school artist with the snow white hair ,tight skinny jeans, flannel cowboy shirts and ski skull caps (even in summer) and chuck Taylors. Â I mean the place is as diverse as it gets.
24 oz BPRs (that must be a silent shout out to Todd somehow) and a nice beer selection, plus they pour liquor faster than you can say "quicker!"
The space is small, so if you do want to see a show I recommend getting there early as there is very little seating either at the bar or at the few booths.
Bathrooms......well, I'll just leave that up to you to find out about
In all seriousness, I have some great memories of this place and feel this is a true gem of a bar in this town.
I'll go ahead and admit that I pre-judged Snug Harbor and figured that I'd never set foot in their door. Â The crowd outside seemed reminiscent of driving down fraternity and sorority rows whenever I'd drive by on my way to other places in Plaza Midwood. Â Thanks to Charlotte Craft Beer week twisting my arm and forcing me to go in for an event I've decided that I may just cut my hair, get the Bieber/fratty cut, wear a visor and put my sunglasses on a string around my neck because Snug Harbor is badass! Â A) the beer selection is pretty damn good B) the bar area itself kinda reminds me of an old man bar like Tommy's Pub (which I frequent) C) they bring in some really good bands (ummm...the Fleshtones WITH Lenny Kaye??? Â How freakin awesome is that?) Â and D) the vibe rocks. Â Really, Snug Harbor is the total package. Â Momma always said not to judge a book by its cover. Â You were right, Ma...
Review Source:This was my first time here and I met up with a few friends. This place is the perfect combination of simple styling, cool atmosphere and not pretentious at all. There is plenty of room to stand around and gather with friends and meet new ones. The lighting is perfectly low. The bartenders know their stuff and they are quick. They even have room outside to hang out which looked cool but no one was outside because it was way too cold, but I really want to hit the outside when the weather is much warmer. The stage and music was a pleasant surprise. I will go back for sure!!
Review Source:Dropped in here on Saturday for a show. I'm definitely a fan of the atmosphere- dim lighting, booths and bar stools, lots of standing space, and the stage layout is set so almost where ever you're standing or sitting, you can see the band.
The bartenders were quick and friendly. The beer selection was pretty decent and the prices were fair.
If you have any indie tendencies, you'll probably appreciate this place. I know I do.
It's not particularly snug and I didn't really see a harbor nearby, but what do I know is that if you're keen on indie bands and good company, you could do worse than this divey pirate-themed musical haven. Snug Harbor had been recommended to me by someone I believed had knowledge of the local music scene, and my evening in this joint didn't disappoint.
There's a patio of sorts out front with a number of tables for the smoking set, and inside, they're set up to sling cold ones while the band fires up the stage in an opposite corner. This night I caught an act I didn't know, and their set was filled with some of those great moments you only find when bands or sort of discovering who they are onstage. It was an entertaining set, and cover was light, something in the neighborhood of five bucks as I recall.
I'd definitely swing back by given a thirst for live music and, well, a thirst. 'Cause when you want to settle in and catch whatever's going down onstage, your likely parched for the rawk, too.
Snug is your solid local music venue in the Wood. Â With a heavy rotation of regional punk, hardcore, and rock bands you better be prepared to have a sore neck the next day as you nod to the tunes.
Favorited by Crank County Daredevils, Bill Noonan, the Poontanglers, Sea of Cortez, and Grown Up Avenger Stuff with amazing acts like blues legend Model T Ford peppered into the schedule it is always entertaining.
Speaking of entertaining, if you have the open mind, you have to swing by for Snug Rock on Thursday nights. Â Local burlesque dancers and drag queens take the stage to make you realize just how boring your real life is.
Country Tuesday is not too bad either, but it usually is just old school country juke music.
The beer specials are the neighborhood standard with High Life and PBR tallboys in abundance and on the cheap. Â The bartenders are as colorful and capable as you would expect in Plaza-Midwood and they don't disappoint.
The front patio is what it needs to be with picnic tables to chill on, but when the back bar and patio is open, it offers a nice little getaway from the loud music to maintain a conversation.
All in all, a good time...
I have walked by Snug many days, stood at the fence and talked to some friends, I have even taken photos of strangers and stalked them on Facebook and tagged them, but it was always at an arms length distance? Â Why was I playing so hard to get? Â Last night, I finally plopped down at a picnic table, had a couple of beers with Mr. & Mrs. Berns and that young stud Bill F. Â Good times, my only regret was I didn't make a deal with the devil, he was there ( a guy dressed in red from head to toe with a tail) and for some reason, I didn't photograph him, hmmmmmm, very odd. Â Maybe he was trying to mind control me. Â I will be sure to get him next time. Â Arghhhhh!
Review Source:I've never been here for the music. Â I've only hung out at here on Sunday afternoon for the bloody mary bar. Â Its worth it, they have so many condiments, etc to add to your Bloody Mary. Â I like that I can add what I like myself so I can put as much or as little as my taste buds like.
Review Source:I keep finding myself here, for whatever reason - some band I dig playing, bored and wanting to drink on a night they've got some weird theme, Sunday cocktails to celebrate the Lord's Day, whatever.
Great indie band magnet? Yup. Rad bartenders? Yup. Kick ass space? Yup. Open, like, all the time? Yup. Lately, they've extended their hours even further. They were even open on Thanksgiving (edit: and Christmas!!). Cover ranges depending on who's playing, but I don't think I've ever seen it exceed 8$, even for bigger acts.
Only drawback - if it's pouring and crowded, there's really nowhere to go. The back porch leaks profusely and there's little to no awning out front.
Also - parking in the paint shop's lot can lead to missing car stereos and such. Park either across the street in CVS's lot, or the shared lot down the alley a piece (on Thomas st.).
Snug Harbor filled such an important need in Plaza Midwood - a great bar/music venue.
If you're always looking to discover new bands, Snug is your place. They've got live music (including local bands and touring groups) almost every night. It's not a huge place, and the intimacy can be great for shows. It can also be insanely loud. Fortunately, there is an awesome back patio. It seems like every time I go back, they've made another improvement to the spacious patio.
There is generally a $5 cover to get in, but I think it's worth it since you're also getting live music when you're at Snug. As Joy mentioned, it's nice to go somewhere that's just a bar - a rare find in most non-Uptown neighborhoods.
The spot was barely occupied with stragglers from the long weekend, but I heard some stringed instruments wailing from the street as I drove past. Â I thought about it for a minute and whipped it back around, I had seen a concert the night before and I was itching for a little more live music. Â
The cover was five, which wasn't bad for an out of town band. Â The inside is painted red and decorated with paintings of ships, skull ornaments and pirate pictures. Â The bar is a 180 turn of a stool to see the quaint stage in the corner. Â
I loved the acoustics and the intimacy of the venue. Â This may have been that it was a Sunday and an out of town band. Â The bartender looked like he may have been a pirate himself in a past life with long hair and beard. Â He was soft and friendly though. Â
I came here alone and I felt welcomed, I wanna check it out again, they have a lot of live music here all week long.
A good friend kidnapped me from the Penguin and walked me over to Snug Harbor to check it out when it first opened, and I found it to be a great venue. From the frequent live, local music to the low-key atmosphere, it's a great spot to hang out.
Snug Harbor is a good place to go to see the people you went to the Penguin to see...without fighting the Penguin crowd. The outdoor area is fun, and the pirate theme is pretty kickass.
I've also got to agree with Pop'n F. that it's refreshing to go to a bar that's a BAR, and a BAR ONLY, for the love of God! No kids in sight, no one slanging jalapeno poppers...it's just a place to get together with friends, drink, smoke, and enjoy the music.
This is a house converted into a live venue by night and pub by day. Â I stopped in for a drink on a Sunday afternoon and there were ten or fifteen people just hanging out on the patio out back. Â On a nice day you can definitely take advantage of that. Â Drinks are a little high. Â Their lowest-end scotch was $5 but hey, party on the patio!
Snug's definitely found their niche, in spite of only being open a few months, with their pirate motifs and low key bartenders. Â The vibe indoors would completely depend on time of day and who was playing. Â When there's no live band, you could go here with a group of friends and have a mellow time or by yourself and remain completely unnoticed and check out the juke box. Â There's no dance floor to speak of unless you're referencing the ten square feet in front of the tiny stage, but this is a live venue. Â So if a band you love is playing here you'll be able to see every dent in their gear which is kinda cool.
I was stuck in Charlotte for work, and the prospects of finding culture in this banking town were slim. Finding a bar that wasn't full of frat boys or Bank of America employees was a top priority. I stumbled across the EXCELLENT Penguin Drive-in for some great diner food, rockin' jukebox, and heavily tattooed crowd. After one of the best soy hot dogs I've ever had, I was handed a flyer for a show around the corner at Snug Harbor.
I'm always a little skeptical when some random person hands you a random flyer for a random concert with some random bands, and his best sales pitch is "It's only $3!". While we didn't make it to the show, the venue was Snug Harbor, right around the corner from Penguin.
It's a dive bar if only because of the hipster/rock/punk crowd, the lack of draft beers, and the incredible pirate motif adorning the walls. But it's actually fairly nice - big outdoor patios in front and back, dance floor and little corner stage, friendly folks, cheap drinks, and pretty clean.
I think this and Penguin are definitely the shining spots of Charlotte - we made it back to these two spots several times that trip.
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