Editor’s note: The Official Visit is a series that explores the best places to eat, drink and congregate at college football locales across the country. In Year 1, we visited five campuses.
The month of August was hectic, but it’s one that won’t be soon forgotten.
My colleague Max Olson and I traveled to five different college campuses with one mission: give people a guide of what to do when going to games this fall. The place to eat? We found it. The place to drink? We tried it. Campus traditions? We lived them.
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That’s what separates college athletics from pro sports. It’s about the people, the traditions and the places that make each one of these colleges — and the fans that support them — unique.
Next up is University of North Carolina
Carolina Coffee Shop
The oldest continually running restaurant in North Carolina, the Carolina Coffee Shop is located in the heart of downtown Chapel Hill. Though you may think it is just a great place to grab a cup of joe, there is a full breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner menu. It’s a great place to experience a modern take on Southern cuisine while also feeling the history that oozes off of the walls. Have yourself a nice meal while picturing where Michael Jordan may have sat while in college. We went for breakfast, and I got a corned beef hash that knocked my socks off. Everyone has to try the fresh biscuits.
The Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower
Built in 1932, the Bell Tower rises 172 feet and is surrounded by a hedge and lawn that was designed by William C. Coker, a botany professor and creator of the campus arboretum. The Bell Tower’s carillon can be heard every 15 minutes and goes off after UNC football games and other special campus events. The Bell Tower is lit Carolina blue at the beginning of the fall semester, after football wins and national championship victories. It’s home to the Senior Bell Tower Climb, a Carolina tradition where the senior class climbs the 128 steps to the top. It’s located adjacent to the football stadium, so it’s certainly worth a stop for anyone in Chapel Hill for a game.
Sutton’s Drug Store
The store’s facade looks like a neighborhood pharmacy from the 1950s, so who would have known it’s where you can get some of the best burgers and milkshakes found in the entire state? Sutton’s walls are covered with North Carolina memorabilia and pictures of the community. A neighborhood place with a friendly feel, Sutton’s offers a variety of food and sundries, but it feels like the essence of North Carolina when you sit in one of the booths and take in the vibes.
Kenan Stadium
Located at the center of North Carolina’s campus, Kenan Stadium is the home of Tar Heels football. With a capacity of 50,000, it provides an intimate — yet intense — atmosphere for big games. Surrounded by trees and underneath a Carolina Blue water tower, Kenan offers one of the more picturesque settings in the sport. North Carolina’s football facilities, attached to the stadium, are some of the best in the country. And that’s specifically highlighted in the Air Jordan room, where Max and I were able to sit down with quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Drake Maye.
Sup Dogs
Sup Dogs has mastered the hot dog. Founded in 2008 by Derek Oliverio, Sup Dogs is as much about the food as it is about the drinks and simply being a great college bar. It provides creative takes on classic hot dogs, and the specialty drinks are out of this world. Inside, there are painted murals of North Carolina basketball success, which really brings the vibe together for one of the coolest college bars in the country. Pick out the hot dog that sounds best to you and make sure to get the tater tots and one of their refreshing, ice-cold alcoholic beverages.
He’s Not Here
The quintessential college bar, He’s Not Here on Village Green opened in 1972 and has been a North Carolina staple ever since. It’s the home of the Blue Cup, which is a large, plastic cup that holds multiple beers and can be purchased for a reasonable price for college students. It’s an old bar with lots of open space for people to congregate around beers and loud music. This is a must-go for anyone in Chapel Hill, especially for people pre-gaming before North Carolina hits the gridiron.
Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery
A functioning brewery since opening its doors in 1996, Top Of The Hill has more than 75 varieties of beer. Located at the intersection of Franklin Street and N. Columbia Street, this brewery is at the epicenter of all the action on North Carolina’s campus. When UNC wins a national title, students and fans head to this iconic intersection. Not only does it have a great beer selection and an incredible view, but it also has a diverse and tasty menu for everyone.
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