Zenos Pub

I've been doing training for work in State College and Zeno's has made me feel right at home. Such a nice place and filled with great people. The staff couldn't be nicer and even the regulars have been generous in welcoming me. If I lived nearby I'd be a regular. As it is, I'll visit every time I'm in town!

Given my experiences in other State College bars, Zeno’s has my glowing praise and approval. Drinks (mixed, tap, etc) will never run you back hard on pricing like a lot of venues will. Granted, there’s a balance of price at most places. At Zeno’s, the quality is there without an inflated tag. Drinks come fast and the bartenders don’t look at you like they want you to leave (an apparent rarity in State College). The trivia nights are a great time and typically come with a very personable host. The crowd they gather is the type you’d be able to walk table to table and talk to on most occasions, and the bar’s setup itself is both unique and consistent. It suffers from the typical bar bathroom fallout, but that’s more from vandalism than it is from quality control. Cocktail menus bring variety and experimental choices, which covers appeals across the board. This is THE bar experience if you plan on sitting down/standing for a drink in good company with a setting you can actually talk in during the week. There’s a class about it that barriers Zeno’s from a lot of the party bars. Party bars are enjoyable, but typically more “party” than “bar” in State College. Zeno’s has the quality to justify for second trip as much as the first. Given some of the harsh experiences I’ve had at other State College bars, this venue is one of my redeemers for the PSU nightlife .

My review is based on experiences at Zeno's over 30 years. I spent many evenings, nights, and early mornings at Zeno's in the early to mid-90s as a student at Penn State and have returned quite n a few times over the years. Zeno's provides a great pub experience. There's always been a great beer selection. The bar staff has always been no nonsense, but friendly. The usually dim lightning and wood interior give any visit a unique and mysterious feel.

Dive bar with a lot of charm. One of my favorites in State college! Tasty beer and fun drinks. Great live music!