This is the definition of a TRUE speakeasy. Grad Center Bar originated as a beer bar and expanded to cocktails, wines, and more. I cannot tell you how much I love this place. Entry is $10, or $35 annual memberships (start September every year). The prices of the cocktails are so reasonable and rare to see in Providence at $10 to $12. The beer offerings vary from cans or draft, with impressive offerings such as Bissell Brothers from Portland, Maine. As someone in their 30s, I do give warning this is more an undergrad/grad place so late hours are usually crowded with students (after 9pm). I usually drink there earlier in the evening as a pre game spot lol I will always recommend Grad Center Bar. read more

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Came back to Brown for my 5th year reunion, and what better way to re-experience college life than to visit the good ole GCB! We visited around 8pm on a Saturday, and there was a line of about 15 people in the stairwell. We waited about 20 minutes to get in, with $5 entry fee per person. And it was well worth it all because - honestly, you just gotta experience it! It is a typical dive bar with affordable drinks, but it's not shitty drinks either! We got a green tea shot to get our night started - Jameson whiskey, peach schnapps, sour mix, sprite. Very refreshing and goes down pretty easily, can't even taste the alcohol but it's definitely there! Such a chill place to wind down and catch up with buddies! Maybe play a game of pool while you're at it! read more

Grad Center Bar - menus on the wall - Lounges Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Pretty good spot. Instead of being a wide open bar like most places it is made up of a couple different rooms. The bar is open to the public if you are willing to pay a cover or if you buy a yearly membership. I believe it was $5 cover or $25 membership. The beer selection is both surprisingly both good and affordable. read more

I love this place! So many good times here. Great selection, decent prices. I really feel like I came of age in this basement bar.

Advisory: this is a student establishment. The Grad Center bar is one of the best advantages of being a student at Brown. My friends and I visit weekly and the bartenders here are absolutely top-notch professionals. My two personal favorites are Ray and Jesse! I typically either order a few shots of Jameson or a glass of Narragansett off tap. I've never had a bad experience here and would recommend it to anyone. There are a few Providence locals who visit the GCB. I'm unaware of the charge for entry for non-Brown students but I was told that one does exist. Nonetheless, the prices at the GCB are unmatched in all of Providence. It's a greatly ran establishment and their service is premiere. I would also caution that the GCB can become somewhat overwhelming on Thursday and Saturday nights. The bar is usually packed during the school year. read more

Grad Center Bar - Inside - Lounges Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Much nicer place than I expected, though it gets crowded on weekends. $5 cover for non-members or $35 to join for the year. Fair prices. Great selection of beers and surprisingly well-rounded assortment of liquors with knowledgeable bartenders and a casual atmosphere. Clearly frequented by the college students which makes the atmosphere more communal and laid-back. read more

Grad Center Bar - Bar interior, menu lit up by black lights. - Lounges Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Great "speak easy" atmosphere as there are no signs outside. Super chill ~ we both loved the vibe + Bill the bartender. Had a cheese board, 2 warsteiner hefeweizens & a green tea shot. Great art on the walls, dark ambiance, what's NOT to love! read more

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I went there the night of my 21st birthday with some friends. The bouncer was quite nice and let me in for free since it was my birthday. Since it was my first time legally in a bar in the US, I went up to the bartender and asked for a drink. The bartender ignored me and later yelled at me "you don't talk to me, I come to you!". I then waited for a long time before getting my drink. I also apologized profusely to the bartender and tipped him 50% since I didn't know what the etiquette was in GCB and thought I did something very wrong. Now I've been to many bars and clubs and I realized the bartender was just extremely rude, aggressive, and miserable. read more

Cute ambiance for brown students and their friends. Small speakeasy you need your Brown Grad Student ID to get in for free and with it you can bring I believe 6 friends for free. read more

The drinks are good as well as the ambience. However, the owner was unprofessional and unethical .We came as a group of 5 and spent $10 each for entry, $170 on the bill and gave a $15 tip. The owner came up to us, sat herself on our table and said "in our culture we usually give at least a 20% tip". While we understood her concern, we asked what a proper tip amount would be and she mentioned at least $35 to $40. We said that we are not affording to tip such a large amount in addition to our entry fee+ bill and the owner went on to say that since we spent $170 on drinks, giving a hefty tip should be within our budget. Forcing a group of customers (who are young working professionals) to give a heavier tip, telling us to leave while we were trying to finish our drink because we did not tip enough, judging what we spent and asking us to conform to the tipping culture was extremely unprofessional and rude. It's a sad plight to have the owner come up to youngsters and ask them to tip more instead of paying her employees a sufficient wage. read more

Update!!! Their Woodchuck Cider on tap has become my favorite drink here. You can order it by the glass or pitcher. If you want to actually find seats with whoever you come with, do NOT show up late on Thursday nights (after 9:30pm)- it's packed. Get there early! read more

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Listen, even if I weren't a broke college student I would still come here - and that says a lot. Whether you're looking to throw some darts around, play pool, or relax on some lounge chairs, the GCB has you covered. For the low price of a $35/yr membership, you can get access to cheap booze, and great company. 10/10 would come back. read more

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Super nice staff! They always make great conversation and the vibes are never bad at the GCB!

Found via regular customer/member of this joint while stomping through the PVD. Without hesitation - top 5 bars in the Northeast that I've ever stepped in. Better than any Boston bar I've been in for the 30+ years I've been of drinking age. Let's see..... Massive cocktail/beer selection. Check. 1997 prices. Check. Friendly AF staff. Check. Immaculately clean for a college city bar; well kept; maintained and it shows. NOTHING about this place reeks of "dive" Check check check so many MFKN things to love about this place. SHHHHHH don't tell anyone. read more

Drinks are super cheap here! They don't make drinks that will get mess you up, like jaeger bombs or long islands, but they make good mixed drinks. The bar is in one of the dorms on Brown's campus, so obviously the majority of patrons are college students. Cover is $5 for one time entry or $25 (I think) for the year. There is a large cabinet filled with board games that you can borrow and play. They take your I.D. as collateral so ensure they get the game back. There are also a couple of pinball machines and pool tables that take quarters and conveniently a change machine downstairs as well. read more

Such a fan! Okay, here's why (yes, yet another 'numbered' list): ONE: Totally Chill. Capital 'C' very intentional. TWO: Cheap. Great beer. Fantastic cocktails. And vino. At reasonable prices. Why? Because it is a private club. That's why you pay a membership - to help keep the prices low! THREE: No sign. If you've seen my list, you know. Any bar worth serving a decent pint does not NEED a sign. Boo-yah. Head down the sketchy driveway two blocks from the substation on Power Street - head round the dumpster and into the unmarked door - just down that hall and passed the restrooms is the GCB. FOUR: There is an iguana smoking a cigarette in the tank as you enter. Yeah, it's fake. But the entire bar is like that - random and cool. The ORIGINAL art from the dry wall transformed into a poster series: "Providence RI, where it rains 2 days out of 3, except for the rainy season when it snows like a bi*&^, where Friendship is a one-way street, the rich folks live on Power, but most of us live off Hope". My favorite PVD quote of ALL time! No idea who said it - but there it is, on the GCB wall. And then a bunch of low key room off that with a similar kitschy vibe. The cocktail napkin collage - the board games tables - the pool table - the dart boards. Yeah, pretty cool interior. FIVE: Cool bartenders. They may actually check IDs, but think of it as a compliment to how young you look! Patrick. I heart you. Great conversation, great sense of humor, great beer recommendations - take their advice! SIX (yes, I got all the way to 6): I just love it. I do. Not my scene Fri and Sat. But during the week, I proudly handed over the $30 for an academic year (not calendar year FYI) membership (Brown Grad Students have automatic membership and unlimited guests, the rest of us get 3 guests with a membership). Good to know: 'cover' aka one-day membership ($5) and academic-year (including summer) membership ($30) are cash only. For your bar tab, cards: $10 minimum. Simple menu: cheese, pizza, meat, chips. Music - can be cool and is always bartender's paylists. Expect the unexpected. Use the Shazam app on your smart phone if you want to know what you're listening to. Choose to drink real beer if you come here, otherwise the bartenders have license to heckle you - as they (will and) should. You'll be fine, and you'll love it - promise. read more

Grad Center Bar - An iguana smoking a cig. Yeah. - Lounges Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Great bar next to Brown. Cheap drinks and very casual - a classic dive. $3-$6 for a beer. Pool table, darts, games, and pinball. Know that you need to have a membership or pay a $5 (cash) cover to order. Worth it to support something local and a nonprofit not owned/run by the University. read more

Grad Center Bar - people sitting at the bar - Lounges Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Open to everyone. Location- can be tough to find. From Thayer and Charlesfield, walk west up Charlesfield (toward Brown Street) until you reach a ramp. Go up the ramp and you'll see several buildings. The first building to the right will have a door on the level of the ramp- this is the entry point. Go down the stairs and you'll find the mystical, magical GCB. Annual membership is fairly priced (30-40 dollars?), otherwise a $5 cover that's well worth it. Chill vibes- several rooms to hang out and has everything you'd want. Pool tables, pinball machines, cheese boards, board games, cheap high quality (and generously poured) drinks. There's a main room that upon entering and three others that come off of it with different kinds of seating/ambiance to suit your mood. Whether you come with one other person or your entire friend group, it'll be a good time. Can get a bit packed on the weekends with somewhat longer waits, but still one of the best bars around. read more

I love this place. The bar is located down a delivery ramp and most people I tell about usually can never find it. I would suggest going with someone who has been before. It is literally in a side door and down a hallway and finally you enter into the bar. It is certainly a dive bar. The bar fluctuates from being packed to no one being in here. It is usually five dollars to get in, however this is no big deal because the drinks are so cheap! The bar is a not for profit so the drinks remain very low in price, but are very strong as well. They have a large selection of beers and drinks as well. The bar has no food besides popcorn they randomly make. The bar also has two pool tables that are always taken so it is very difficult to get on to the table. They have a good amount of tables, a back room, and a side room with a pinball machine and a dart board. The back room has a few couches and is nice for larger groups. The bar has games like Battleship, scrabble, and a large assortment of board games.You just have to leave your ID in order to get the games. read more

Best place ever- Great, cheap drinks Pool, pinball, darts, & board games Couches, booths, tables Fantastic staff read more

The GCB, lovingly called amongst my friends as "The Secret Bar," because it is so tucked away. You head down the stairs, round a bend, and you're there. $5 cover to get in, but worry-not, imbibers! This is some top-notch subsidized alcohol. That's right. Subsidized, meaning drinks are less expensive. Glory be! It can get a little obnoxious in here, but the cool-as-you-will bartender, Pat, makes up for it. He's a champ and unfailingly polite. If you don't know what to drink, he'll make a great recommendation. So, take a chance on something new, it won't cost you that much, maybe just a hangover. read more

Grad Center Bar - Lagavulin for two. - Lounges Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

My favorite place for drinks in town. I haven't found a place with better drink prices in Providence. They have a phenomenal selection of beer on tap and a full bar. Also, you despite the name you don't have to be a Brown student to be a member. Here is how it works: $5 for a one time membership (i.e. a cover - its not the best deal but if you are going to have a few drinks it all evens out) $30 for a one year membership (best option, if you plan on going several times, and I highly recommend that you do, this is the best option) $0 if you are the guest of someone (normal members can get in 3 free guests and grad student members can bring in unlimited free guests) They do have a $10 minimum for cards so be warned. The atmosphere is a bit divey but the selection is great. During the summer you can always find a table. They have darts, pool, board games, and generally play good music without blasting it. WARNING: During the school year undergrads like to end up there at the end of the night on Friday and Saturday mostly (a little on Thurs but not bad). If you show up at 8 or 9pm there are plenty of tables but by 10 or 11pm there can be a line out the door. I recommend summertime. Also the only person that has given this place a 3 mentions that they were really anal about checking ID. As I understand it, since it is a private club associated with the University they have to check everyone's ID, no exceptions. read more

I am so incredibly happy that the GCB exists. So happy that I cannot distill my writing into coherent paragraphs, so I'm gonna list the pros and cons below. Cons (first): - Hard to find, in the basement of a dorm, oh noes, etc. PROS: - But when you get down there, it is actually a bar. And then you're like, how funny that I am IN A DORM. But if you were blindfolded and nose-clothespinned (English? Not sure.)on the way there...you wouldn't know. - Lots of space to sit, even when crowded. Comfy booths? Long fun conversations. - Lots and lots of character, from the intensely long "About Us" pamphlets to the christmas lights...and board games. - Cheap drinks. A not-for-profit bar means that your fancy drink is probably below $4. Like a Tanqueray and tonic for $3.75. Or a Heineken for $3. Amazing specials, too, on both fancy and non-fancy beers. (Hoegaarden was $2 LOLWUT.) - Hilarious and friendly staff, most notably the bartenders. I asked if there was Henieken Light, to which the bartender said, "No, but I can drink half of it." Any Corona Light? No. But he can drink half of it. I like the sense of humor they have. - This is hardly unusual for Providence, but this bar has a great selection of local beers and such. They also just have a great selection of...everything. - I was unsure which beer to get, since I'm usually not a "beer person." Without me saying much, the bartender said I might like this one variety of peach beer, and before I could think about it for a second, he had poured a sample for me. It's that kind of place! It's rare to see a university-owned bar these days, and it's really cool to see one that doesn't just coast on any sort of novelty. Go here now. I'm kind of in love with this place...oops? read more

LOVE. low key, great drinks, boardgames, pool, darts and great vibes. The drinks are strong and cheap. I had no idea how to find this place and thought I was trespassing at first, but stumbled down a flight of stairs and smelled the familiar faint wisp of beer and liquor. We were there at 9:30 and it was crickets outside. Inside had a fair amount of people already and we were able to snag the big table next to the board games. By the time we left (around 11:30-12), the line was up the stairs and out the door. THAT would've been a lot easier for us to find if it was our first time visiting. Overall, a great spot for some drinks and good times with friends! I am not from Brown, but expect a lot of brown students and alumni here. read more

I went to Brown, and I practically lived in the GCB my senior year, so I'm totally biased. The atmosphere is great for a university bar. A strict no 21-year old policy and a cover/membership fee keeps out the younglings and the riff-raff. Decor and lighting does a good job of hiding that you're in the heart of a 60s-era riot-proof dorm. Drink prices are extremely reasonable -- bottles are $3 and pints are $4-5. Bartenders are friendly, but are hard to access on crowded nights. On a related note, the space is small and capacity is very strictly enforced. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area. It's a surprisingly enjoyable bar on the Brown campus. read more

As a Brown Undergrad, after hearing hype about the GCB for years, this was one of the first bars I hit up once I turned 21. I totally get its appeal - really cheap beer, laid-back and fun atmosphere, and you're bound to run into familiar faces. It felt like this was a lot of people's "go-to" bar, and I can see why. It's not-for-profit, so the drinks are actualllyyy cheap, they have a great beer selection, and I think I even saw someone order a cheese plate! I love cheese! read more

Walk down the flight of stairs and take a deep breath. What's that smell? No idea. You probably just passed the bathroom. But walk a little further and you will be greeted by the dim lighting of one of Brown's best bars. Gone are the typical New England douches (well, at least most of them), blasting Irish music, and pitchers of Crap Light. This bar has a fantastic beer selection and all for a very low price. How do they make money? Maybe they harvest organs on the side. I don't know and I don't care. The bartenders are pleasant to talk to and are always willing to help you pick the perfect drink (*cough* Bengali Tiger IPA *cough*). Introduce yourself, make sure they remember your name, and the next time the place is packed they'll watch out for you (even if you don't have boobs). Peace. read more

Great selection of beers and it's partially subsidized so the prices are great. But if your not a Brown student or married to one (it has it's perks!), you have to pay a cover or for a membership so keep that in mind if you're planning to just waltz in there. Lots of tables and seating as well as pool tables and darts. Fun yet (mostly)educated crowd and there's always some high level mathematics conversation to listen in on. No food, save for popcorn, but it's totally chill to bring takeout or even have a pizza delivered there. read more

I spent many lovely afternoons at the GCB as a Brown grad student. Just went back recently and was glad to see it hasn't changed much. It's still dark and kind of dingy with the iconic Mad Peck Providence painting in the center of the room, and comics plastered on the walls of the ladies room. They still play Weezer on constant repeat. You can still get an amazing deal on a pitcher of Narragansett (the preferred beer of poor Rhode Island grad students). If anything the GCB has gotten better over the years, what with their expanded selection of beers and wines. Allagash White on tap? Yes, please! The only problem with the GCB is the undergrads. They turn a chill scene into a quasi frat party. So if you're over 23, definitely best to come here before 9 pm on Thursday/Friday/Saturday (unless it's the summer). read more

The atmosphere: dark, divey, hipster: where, after a long day of research; experiments; poring over literature; or whatever it is that grad students do in their never-ending quest to gain eternal knowledge; one can relax, calmed by the hazy twinkle of Christmas lights, or the blacklit chalkboard of beers galore. Comfy seats are accompanied by bar stools, and on a busy night are hard to come by. The bathrooms are lined with comics (a great way to pass time in the john). The aforementioned beer selection is one of the best I have seen in any bar, let alone in Providence. Perhaps it's due to the membership fee, but prices are considerably lower here than most places I've been to. Feeling overwhelmed? The bartenders are usually willing to give some pointers. I am oh so fortune to be dating a Brown grad student! That way, I can be granted guest access to the exclusive GCB. (And not exclusive, as in, "we're too good for the rest of the world," "what label are you wearing," etc.) It has recently come to my attention that a membership can be purchased for the average joe; I may need to take advantage of this. read more

I really enjoyed this little spot, especially as a Brown affiliate. If you're a Brown Grad, you can get a fairly cheap annual pass and bring as many as ?3 guests for free everytime you visit. As far as I know, this is a non-profit establishment, and the beer selection is quite impressive for a clean dive bar and very cheap. The mixed drinks are not the highest qualities in the world, but they definitely make up for it with the impressive amount of liquor to mixer ratio. There's a pool table and some board games and plenty of chairs. Depending on the season, it'll either be relatively quiet, and full to the brim with recent age-appropriate college seniors, grad students or med students after an exam. I do like this place, and I'd say it's probably the best place to meet young, intelligent people for the first time in the bar-scene. read more

The prices alone earn these 5 stars. Cheap beers for $2 and a wide variety of craft beers for $4-5. Food is limited to a cheese plate and bar snacks, but food isn't the point of a basement college bar... Service is excellent, but if you go during peak hours on a Friday/Saturday night, expect a crowd at the bar. Basically, go early, bring a couple friends, enjoy some good beer (or other drinks if you're feeling crazy), and relax! read more

You can't beat the GCB! Great prices, bartenders, and vibe. Non-members pay a $5 entry fee. I like to come during the week or earlier in the day on the weekend to avoid the college crowds. Or during summer! Drinks are strong and cheap--under $5. You can use credit cards on any amount now, which is great. I recommend coming around opening (4pm), bringing some work, and ordering a glass of wine and a cheese board (which, btw, is fantastic). Or if you come later with a group, make sure to grab a game board and/or play a game of pool. read more

We, a group of American, Indian and Chinese students visited this place. Unfortunately one of us got drunk and threw up, we were trying to clean it. Then suddenly an angry bar tender showed up and shouting "get out". You know what's funny? ONLY ASIANS GOT KICKED OUT! WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHY! Such a racist bar! read more

The smell walking down into the GCB always makes me think that I am headed towards a musky underground pool and damn do I love it. Brown graduate students have a membership by default at this bar, anyone else can pay a modest fee to join. The atmosphere is great and the drinks are kept really cheap. Great rotation on the beer and a great whiskey selection. The bartender Bill is awesome, probably one of my favorite bartenders in the world read more

One of my favorite bars. Bartenders are super nice and it's been a pleasure getting to know some of them. Great selection of beers but also a good place for a solid cocktail. Atmosphere is unique and really makes the place. Most crowded nights are Thursdays through Saturdays during the academic year. read more

Your typical college bar, like my friend said it feels like I'm in a dining hall but they're giving me alcohol instead of food. I had the amber cider which was pretty good, it was pretty strong for cider. We also ordered jerky, pistachios, hummus and chips. It was disappointing that they didn't serve the jerky or pistachios on plates but just in their packages.. Snacks a little overprice for the quantity and quality.. read more

Heh I love the GCB. Cheap drinks, fun and quirky ambience, and cool bartenders - what more could you want? Honestly, this bar is where I ordered my first drink, and it will always have a special place in my heart. The bar has a front seating area, a pool room, a loungier room with couches, and a game room with darts and a South Park pinball machine. The drinks variety is wide, with all your usual cocktails, a good selection of craft brews, and even champagne. The Moscow mule is particularly tasty, and if you like sweet drinks, try the framboise lambic - it's basically raspberry soda. The bartenders are awesome people and handle the rush hours admirably. One of them is a Brown professor! The customers are mostly undergrad and grad students, and lines start to form around 11pm, so if you want good seats, it is ideal to come a bit earlier. Overall, this is a really chill place with cheap, yummy drinks! read more

The best of Providence, urban exploring, and top notch beer on the cheap. A super chill bar nestled in the concrete jungle that is Brown's ugliest (and only riot proof) dorm. Nothing to say that hasn't already been said, so I'll preach to the choir: the GCB is the greatest! Cheap beer, great bartenders, lots of variety (rooms with tables, room with couches and TV, room with pool), super weird experience finding it in the first place, and a good mix of community members, Brown grad students, and Brown undergrads. Quirks - it's member only, but if you just want to check it out before committing you can pay $5 (think of it as a cover to get a $2.50 Newcastle - still a total deal). I recommend going on the earlier side, happy-hour ish, to avoid the undergrad rush. read more

Such a classic place to hang! If you're visiting, this place is always teeming with students. On weekends there's often a line to get in, but it's all pet of the experience! read more