It can be easy to forget that there’s a city outside of campus. Here are a few of students’ most popular destinations for Raleigh night life.

The Flying Saucer

With 81 beers on tap and more than 200 in the bottle, Flying Saucer Draught Emporium is a favorite among local beer enthusiasts like Travis Varner. Although it lacks a dance floor, the senior in extension education said this feature is more positive than negative.

“If I want to go dancing I can go to Buckhead. The Flying Saucer is a great atmosphere to grab some drinks and meet new people,” Varner, a senior in agriculture, said. “They have this area of lounge chairs where you can hang out and have actual conversations. A lot of places don’t have that.”

It’s this personal and relaxed atmosphere that attracts many locals. Varner describes how he has partied in various hotspots in Raleigh and said he has never had a confrontation at the Saucer. It is this intimate environment that continues to draw students like him to the Flying Saucer.

Hours:Opens Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. Sunday at noon

Friday — Hummingbird Water $2.75Saturday — Lunch and sports on the new flat-panel TV.Sunday –Brunch Noon to 3 p.m. All North Carolina brewed beers $2.75 a pint

Lilly’s PizzaVoted number three on AOL’s city’s best pizza list, Lilly’s Pizza offers a unique twist on a classic favorite. Everything from broccoli to black bean salsa is fair game in this multi-cultural hangout.

“It’s a great place because of its unique environment and fantastic pizza,” Chris Perrin, a sophomore in fisheries and wildlife sciences, said. “It’s perfect for a date or just to meet up with friends.”

One aspect that makes Lilly’s different from other pizza joints is its support of local art and music. Lilly’s displays the work of Raleigh-area artists and a variety of musical stylings.

Hours:Sunday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.Friday to Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight

Sushi BluesThere are plenty of sushi places in Raleigh, according to Logan Mintz, a sophomore in political science. But Sushi Blues is one of the cheapest, she said.

“I’ve been to a lot of different sushi places,” she said. “But at Sushi Blues they give you a lot more to eat.”

For $5, she said she gets a dinner that consists of a california roll, noodles and a side.

“They’re really quick with service,” she said.

The sushi bar, which overlooks Glenwood Avenue, has a “really relaxed atmosphere.”

“I feel like it could be really romantic,” she said. “It’s really calm, it’s what you would expect from a sushi bar.”

And she’s never had to wait for a table, either. Mintz said she goes about once a month with her fellow N.C. State gymnastics team members, who, she said, “are all big fans.”

Specials:Half-price sushi rolls every Tuesday, 10 p.m. to midnight, and Thursday, 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Half-price nights are usually crowded — arriving early can cut the wait for a table.

Hours:Lunch: Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Dinner: Sunday to Monday, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m. Wednesday 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Buckhead SaloonThere’s a reason it’s called Buckhead.

The saloon takes on the feel of a hunting lounge. And with its wood panels, dark atmosphere and four bars, the building, for some patrons, has a feeling of masculinity.

For Travis Varner, Buckhead is an outlet for boisterous attitudes.

“Buckhead is my favorite when I want to get rowdy,” Varner, a senior in extension education, said. “It’s where I go when I want to go dancing.”

He mentions a bartender who mans one of the bars.

“They have the best bartender I’ve ever seen in my life,” Varner said. “He can mix drinks behind his back, and it makes for great entertainment.”

Ricky Webb, a junior in sports management, said that although he prefers house parties, he goes to Buckhead when he wants to go out with his friends.

What’s stopping him going more often, he said, is the price.

“I’ll end up spending $60 a night,” Webb said. “Then you’ve got the cab ride back. It adds up.”

He racks up such a tab by buying himself and his friends beers — which, he said, costs much more than their liquor mixes.

He anticipates going more often in the spring, when his friends, who will be turning 21, will want to go out more, he said.

Specials:

College night, every Wednesday Live music, Thursday through Saturday Ladies’ night, every Thursday