There are a lot of things to enjoy in Peoria before being 21 years old, but the scope of entertainment gets even larger once you turn 21 years old. However, it can be stressful to try and navigate the bar world if you aren’t friends with people who are older than you. Even if you have someone you can turn to for guidance, everyone has different preferences in their bars. Therefore, I compiled a short list of my three favorites, and the three most popular bars for Bradley students once they turn 21 years old.
Jimmy’s Bar
If you’re under 21 years old, I guarantee that you’ve heard of Jimmy’s since it’s the one bar that everyone goes that you have to be 21 years old. It is completely worth the wait in my opinion, but it can feel a bit underwhelming once you get there. That’s because it’s a real bar instead of a bar-club hybrid like most of the bars on this list. However, if you get a group of people together to go, and bring something to do if you don’t just want to talk the entire time that you’re there. It’s open until 1 am, so it’s also one of the only bars in Peoria that’s closed at the time, so it leaves time to go somewhere else or get to bed at a reasonable time on the weekends. One thing that is a true word of caution prior to going, however, is that they do pour their drinks on the heavy side. You can always ask your bartender the include more mixers if you have an issue with it, or you can even ask them to remake it entirely if you don’t like it. You just have to remember to be mindful that they are working and be polite when asking for the drink to be updated. This is my favorite bar in all of Peoria because of the cozy atmosphere where you can just hang out and drink with your friends.
Crusens
Something that I feel is not talked about a lot is the Wing Ding deal at Crusens on Wednesdays. It’s a great deal where you get a pitcher of beer and then you get free wings. The cheapest option available is going to be $6 for Busch Light and wings, and you get a decent amount of wings and beer. More times than not, the Wing Ding deal is enough for me to walk out on the brink of being drunk, and it’s only $6 for a meal and drinks. Outside of the wings and beer deals, they have a great deal on Sundays if you need a fun start to the week where most of their menu – drinks and food – are going to be half off. On top of that, they offer a mimosa tower for $10, and it’s split evenly between everyone at the table. It’s a lot of fun to go there for brunch where you get lunch food and mix it with the mimosa tower, especially if you get a lot of people to go. Then you’re paying half price for food, and between $1-$5 a person. During the warmer time of the year, they have an outdoor area that fits a lot of people and also has a bar so you don’t have to keep going inside when you’re drinking. It’s another bar where you can sit around and talk with the people you’re with and have a fun time. Overall, they have great deals most days of the week, with there being great deals on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Martini’s On the Water
This is one of the higher-end bars that you can go to in a certain sense. It doesn’t have to be, but it’s targeted towards being a nicer place to go. The inside of the bar is set up in a way that reminds me of an old-fashioned train station almost. The bar is raised up a bit so it’s the focal point of the room, but there is also a stage for live entertainment, a pool table, and tons of comfortable seating. The martinis there are also really delicious and their menu is tens of pages long of options that are divided by flavor group. For example, they have a ton of sweet and desert options, as well as a lot of savory options as well. They will frequently have live performances and they are great since it’s never anything overwhelming and adds a lot to the experience. Along with that, there is a great view of the river while sitting outside in their large outdoor seating. If you’re outside and feel like you’re missing a live performance, you can turn on music through their TouchTunes speakers. When I go, I like to dress a bit nicer and sometimes my friends and I will get fully dressed up to go and drink some martinis. It’s a great time to feel like an adult while still being sophisticated.
Overall, Peoria bars can be fun if you know what you’re going into. There are so many other options in downtown Peoria and the Heights. Make sure to go out to explore the town around you and allow yourself to be open to new experiences. Always be safe when doing so as well!