The Wagon Wheel

Place does not take credit cards, so pay heed. It’s strictly cash only at this joint.
Awesome place to have drinks and a slice of pizza. But it’s small and very dirty inside. It’s a haven for undergrads and alums looking to reconnect with KU in a special way.

As a Missouri Tiger it pains me to say that I really enjoy this bar. If I’m going to spend a game day is Lawrence it’s going to be at the wheel. Definitely the quintessential college bar that has cheap drinks and eats and has a very worn in interior. Just make sure you got some paper coming in because it’s cash only.

THIS BAR ROCKS! The bartenders provide excellent customer service and are quick and speedy. The Wheel truly does live up to number 3 college bar in the nation. If ever passing through Lawrence, this is the place to be. #RCJH #Beer #Fwends

I’ll admit, I didn’t frequent this bar in college like a lot of alumni did, however, their pizza was amazing after a night of drinking. Going back now, much older than other college students, it’s a lot better now than back then. One, this is one of the few places where you can go and not be the only not currently in school kid. It’s definitely on the list of places to take people that visit Lawrence!

I’ve been hearing about The Wagon Wheel for nearly four years and have been anxious to see if this dive bar lived up to expectations. As an alum of University of Arizona and huge fan of Dirtbags (our equivalent to The Wagon Wheel), I can appreciate the nostalgia that a KU graduate feels about a bar that they frequented through all the ups and downs of college. The Wagon Wheel lived up to the hype I had been hearing and I can appreciate this bar almost as much as the alumni who spent four years here.
The Wagon Wheel is divey, a little smelly, pretty crowded but filled with the character, history and charm of a truly great college bar. The walls are filled with signatures and phrases written by college students from over the years. The tables are lined with KU branding. The crowd includes everyone from drunken undergrads to alumnae that probably graduated in 40’s and every age in between. When we were there, a group of women walked in and started chanting at the top of their lungs «class of ’92!» It was a great moment both for the women and for the bar goers witnessing it. It’s filled with every walk of life and everyone is having an amazing time. The drinks are cheap but cash only so stock up at the bank before you arrive. The food is bar food but don’t expect an KU student or grad to say that the food is anything less than spectacular. It could be the alcohol or the nostalgia talking but KU folks love the Wang Burger.

This bar is a staple for KU undergrads and grads. The Wheel pizza is delicious after a long night of partying with friends. Cheap drinks too. Don’t forget to bring a sharpie to represent your sorority/​frat or just your name to be etched for years to come for fellow Jayhawks to enjoy. Also, sit in the hot tub booth.
Down side, closed when class is not in session. It is open on games days before and after the game when school is not in session, but the pizza may not be serving.

Do you ever find yourself stumped on how to explain something that means so much to you? There are so many words to describe the Wheel, but I just can’t seem to find the best words to describe it. That’s how I feel about The Wagon Wheel.
As a Jayhawk and KU graduate myself, it’s not a surprise that I have spent my fair share of alcohol soaked nights at one KU’s iconic bar. Cheap shots, $ 2 beers, jukebox sing alongs… you name it — it happened at the Wheel. So many memories are flooding my brain as I write this review. Not condoning drinking past your limit of booze, I will say this place is not for light weights. They do have a delightful lunch, too. If you roll out of bed early enough! The Kappa burger is the favorite among Lawrence residents.
Sure, it’s the most aesthetically pleasing place, but it’s where my college years happened. It’s where I played, and kicked-​ass might I add, Pac-​Man. It’s where friendships were made and then celebrated. Hell, it’s where I spent my unforgettable 21^st birthday. And, of course, there is the pizza. A simple, greasy slice of pizza for a whopping $ 1 always had your name on it around 2AM. And boy, pizza never tasted so good.

If you’re a boring college kid or nostalgic for that, then you might like this. The clientele all seem the same and this place just seems like a clichéd college bar. It’s a staple of the town but not all that great.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Go KU! Best place to visit if you are looking for the college bar in Lawrence. It is a little older more alumni crowd on game days and more of your average basic college student the rest of the days. They have a wang burger which I didn’t get but everyone was saying it was good. I thought they had surprisingly good service for as many people as were there. I also like how they had Mizzou, CU, and A&M already crossed out in their Big 12 mural.

There aren’t better college bars than the Wagon Wheel. Anywhere. Period. And yes, everyone knows your name («Cheers,» anyone?). I can’t even imagine how many nights/​evenings/​afternoons I have spent here over the years. I watched the ’08 championship here and won’t ever forget it – not just our miraculous comeback but also Knobby blasting that rock chalk rap during every commercial and then «politely removing» one of my buddies for getting champagne all over the new flat screens. The Wheel will forever be a KU institution and hold a dear place in my heart!

Hands-​down, one of the top three bars to stop at in Lawrence. Bring your markers to write your name on the wall, get a slice of pizza downstairs and dance on the tables. Oh the memories…

I’m gonna show my nostalgic-​for-​colloge-​former-​sorority-​girl card right now.
I can’t tell you how many nights I spent at the Wheel in my four glorious, glorious years in Lawrence. Post-​chapter Monday night pitchers, Thursday night Bull-​Hawk-​Wheel adventures, games days, showing up in jeans and a Northface, showing up in a fancy dress after formals.
I can only wonder how much money my friends and I spent playing Dixieland Delight, Don’t Stop Believing and other sweet tunes on the jukebox. I can only imagine how many Sharpies we went through scrawling all over the walls… and ceilings.
All in all, I miss the cheap prices, the feeling of walking in and knowing tons of people and the total, unabashed love for «College»™ that the Wheel embodies.