What is the Difference Between a Pub and Bar?
For many night owls, the terms “pub” and “bar” are interchangeable. They just mean a place you can go to enjoy drinks with friends, right?
In actuality, the two words may be related, but they’re somewhat synonymous. We won’t get technical here, as you deserve more than just dictionary definitions. But read on, and you may be surprised to learn how these two gathering places differ and are similar.
Read on to learn the answer to the question only the nerdiest of us have asked: what does “pub” mean?
Pub Origins
The traditional pub as we know it today is a British concept, dating back hundreds of years. Of course, some might argue the concept was originally taken from Italian wine bars much earlier, but let’s not split hairs. You’ll know exactly what you’re looking at when you see the real thing—a classic British pub.
Many classic British pubs were meeting places and communal spaces. The term is even short for “public house.”
They served beers and meads, sure, but they also provided comfort for community members out of their homes. Taverns were an extension of this concept, with boarding rooms being available upstairs from the communal pub space.
Bar Origins
The “bar” is a slightly more American concept. Modern bars as we know them in the U.S. have their roots in saloons from the mid-19th century. These are often drinking establishments anchored by a long plank of wood separating the staff from the patrons. It is, perhaps, from this plank of wood—the bar counter—that the modern term rose to popularity.
Ambiance
When comparing the two concepts, it’s important to think about what a pub means to the community in which it operates.
A bar, in American culture, sometimes has the connotation of being purely a place to go and get drunk. But a pub? This was a place to enjoy beverages, sure. But it was also a place that evoked a sense of warmth and invitation.
Pubs often offered a warm, roaring fire and comfortable nooks and crannies to lounge in. They were where thinkers gathered to discuss ideas. They were a music venue. They were places that welcomed women and children (something the “bar” concept in its heyday did not).
Compare that with the more transactional nature of a bar.
However, bars are adopting more features which encourage customers to stay for longer, such as a board game bar. Bars today also feature lots of different seating styles. You may even find theme bars to inspire you to stick around past your first glass.
You’ll typically know a pub from the people who spend hours there claiming a little piece of it for themselves.
Music
Pubs are more likely to feature live music than bars are. But the way the music is incorporated into the space also plays a factor.
In a bar, music often blends into the background. In pubs, the performance almost becomes communal, with patrons commonly singing along with the band.
In comparing the difference between a pub and bar and club, the atmosphere is key. But it’s not everything.
Drink Styles
Given the British roots of the pub, you can imagine the kinds of drinks you are likely to find therein:
- Beers
- Lagers
- Ciders
- Meads
- Gins
- Etc.
More fluid pubs in America likely offer limited selections of cocktails, but don’t expect complicated mixology to be on the menu at your local pub. If you’re looking for something rare, highbrow, or complex, a bar is the place to find it.
More Than Just Drinks
As they were hospitality spaces, pubs also have a long history of serving food alongside a modest drink menu. Traditional British, Irish, or Scottish pubs are often celebrated for having delicious food available all day for patrons.
The key here is hearty, slow-cooked comfort food that can be enjoyed all day long. Think stews or fish and chips. Pubs are about the slow life (and about slow food to accompany it).
Compare that with a modern bar menu, which can go one of two ways. Many modern bars either:
- Only serves drinks.
- Offer a glorified appetizer menu with small, fancy plates
- Offer a wide range of dining options on a diverse menu that makes the establishment more of a restaurant.
What’s Better?
Deciding between a pub and a bar for your next destination really depends on what you’re looking for, but here in America, we think both have their charms and attractions!
If you’re looking for a fun drinking experience, a bar crawl is what you need. Again, in America, pubs and bars do have similarities, so whether it's a ‘pub’ crawl or a ‘bar’ crawl, you’re bound to have a great time!
Great Pubs Are Just a Crawl Away
We think the best experience of a crawl is definitely one with festivities – if you agree, check out all our themed bar crawls coming up this year on big holidays! They’re designed to help you discover the very best of what your city has to offer. Find Bar Crawls Near Me!