Bar and Pub are often confused by people. But there are slight differences between them. Both bars and pubs are licensed establishments that serve alcoholic beverages and food for consumption.
These kinds of places are more loved by people who love to have fun, hang out with their partners or friends, or have fun themselves. People go to such kinds of places to have a good time.
Key Takeaways
- Bars primarily focus on serving alcoholic beverages, while pubs often serve food alongside drinks.
- Pubs offer a more relaxed, casual atmosphere, while bars can have various vibes from casual to upscale.
- Pubs often feature traditional, cozy decor, while bars can have diverse styles and themes.
Bar vs Pub
A bar is an establishment that sells alcohol and plays loud music, and has a dance floor, while a pub serves alcoholic drinks in a serene environment, plays soft music, and sells snacks. You will find a younger crowd at bars and a more mature crowd at a pub. The meals served in pubs are more filling.

A bar is an establishment of alcohol where people buy drinks and have fun. A bar is all about alcohol. The main importance is given to alcohol, as people go to enjoy drinks.
It has minimal food items, mostly fall under the category of appetizers and snacks. Different kinds of alcoholic drinks are served in the bar. A bar is full of entertainment.
On the other hand, a pub is an establishment where we can find not only alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks but also heavy full-filling meals.
It is not only concentrated on drinking or does give any specific importance to alcohol but also gives importance to the food menu. A pub is an establishment where people go to chill and relax.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Bar | Pub |
---|---|---|
Definition | A bar is a place where we can have alcohol, along with some minimal foods like appetizers and snacks | A pub is a place where we can have alcohol along with full-filling meals |
Food | Concentrates more on appetizers and snacks | Concentrates on full-filling food or meals, along with appetizers and snacks |
Cocktails | Serves cocktail | Donโt serve cocktail |
Ambiance | The ambiance of a bar is of a fun environment | The ambiance of a pub is quiet |
Age Limit | A bar has an age of 18-21, which varies from country to country | A pub does not have any specific age limit, since it is a duo of a bar and a restaurant |
Entertainment | A bar is a place where the entertainment factor is high. It is more of a vibe of fun, music, dance, drink, etc | A pub is not a place where we can have a lot of fun, as it mostly concentrates on the relaxation and chill vibe |
What is Bar?
A bar is a space where they sell alcohol along with some minimal food items, i.e. appetizers and snacks. It is a retail business that sells alcohol with a license. It is a place where people go to have fun and entertain themselves.
In a bar, thereโs a huge concentration of loud music, dance floors, alcohol, etc. Bars are often part of larger establishments like hotels, casinos, airports, etc.
A bar attracts more of the young crowd, where they come to have drinks and to have a good time with their partners or friends. Bars offer entertainment, such as music, live bands, solo singers, DJs, etc, to keep the audience entertained.
Since the crowd is more of the younger generation, an age limit has been set up, i.e. 18-21, which differs from country to country. This age limit has been set up because alcoholic drinks are served, which are restricted to children in many countries.

What is Pub?
A pub is a space where people gather to have a relaxed and chill time with their partners and friends. A pub is a short form for a public house. It serves full-filling meals, appetizers, and snacks.
There are different kinds of pubs like a gastropubs, country pubs, roadhouses, theme pubs, micropubs, etc. Usually, pubs are individual establishments, i.e. they are not part of another place. It does not have the power to a larger extent.
Pubs have a quiet ambience with minimal light and music. It is a combination of a bar and a restaurant. People come and relax here, play indoor games, to have drinks and food.
There are no restrictions for children in a pub since it is a combination of a bar and a restaurant. Generally, pubs are situated in remote areas, but with the change in time, nowadays it can be seen in towns.

Main Differences Between Bar and Pub
- A bar is a place where we can have alcohol along with some minimal food items like appetizers and snacks. In contrast, a pub is a place where we can have alcohol along with some full-filling meals.
- The food items in a bar are concentrated only on appetizers and snacks. In contrast, the items in a pub are fulling meals, along with appetizers and snacks.
- The bar serves cocktails. In contrast, pubs do not serve cocktails.
- The ambience of a bar is more fun, with loud music, bright lights, etc. In contrast, the ambience of a pub is quieter as compared to a bar.
- There is an age limit in a bar. In contrast, there is no age limit in a pub.
- A bar is full of entertainment factors like loud music, a dance floor, etc. In contrast, a pub is a place where people can chill and relax.

- https://asa.scitation.org/doi/abs/10.1121/1.5014065
- https://search.proquest.com/openview/629777e1d9c78b47ab10a44e01061b15/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1819044
Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.