Definitely check out Bombers. There is also an awesome sports bar but I forgot the name of it. Music is basically alternative and indie rock. I would say the chick to dude ratio is about even. My friends have an apartment down there so we spend a lot of time on Lark.
Personally I like Lark alot better than downtown. Downtown was a good time over the summer when they had the bands outside and shit, but since it has sucked a fat cock. I like Lark just because I think its a lot more relaxing and I am not running into assholes I went to High School with every time I turn around. There are a bunch of cool places on Lark. Legends, Justins, Lark Tavern, Lionheart…thats just the one corner. If you wanna get laid take a girl to the wine bar at the other end of the street past McGuire’s…not over priced but a cool place to bring a girl…especially during summer when the patio is open.
You can go wrong on Lark generally. I go to Lionheart and Hollywood with my buddies. If you are going to venture downtown, i’d say Blue 82 and The Bayou are places you can’t really go wrong either.
Unfortunately, the UFC tough guys are everywhere. Bombers is usually way too packed but it’s good times if you are there early. We used to go to Lionheart or Hollywood. I prefer Lionheart for the Law School students who are a bit older.
Palais Royale might be the greatest place on earth, bartenders hate the tight shirt boyz. First time we were in there, the knockout bartender sang a Tom Waits song and backed it with Run DMC. Win.
i hate dwntwn cause every friggin place you gotta drop like 5-10 bucks just to get in,so you can buy $8 drinks. lark n toga seem alot better. toga in summer ya nice!
toga…togA…toGA…tOGA…TOGA! Has every type of place for every type of person, generally good crowd, prices are reasonable depending on what atmosphere you want. If I’m out in Albany I do like to goto the Lionheart for pool/darts/drinks. Justin’s is okay for a brew or 2 and the food is decent. Bombers is always too full now and I don’t love Hollywood. Downtown Albany can be cool given the right night. More variety than Lark, Jillian’s is a good setup because you have 3 options in one location. Pearl/Skyline (or whatever it’s called now), and Bayou all offer their own unique setup also.
Toga’s never bad, better in summer but even now it’s worthwhile just because of the variety in a 4 block radius…I’ve been going there long enough to age out of places. From tit-doggin at the City Tavern and picking off easy marks at the Bullpen, now that I’m old the girl and I end up at some old person place like 1 Caroline or It’s Confidential.