Aggieville is famous for its crowded bars, late-night food runs and constant stream of locals. But while thousands of people walk its streets every week, others call the buildings above them home. 

Tucked above restaurants, bars and shops like Kites, Nico’s Little Italy, Smoke Zone and Fat Shack, apartments offer Manhattan locals and K-State students a different perspective on the local bar district. For them, the rush of Aggieville isn’t just a place to visit — it’s right outside their windows.

Living above the bars means a front-row seat to Manhattan’s nightlife without having to leave home. For Bryant Siemens, junior in athletic training and physical therapy who lives above Kite’s, the experience has been full of entertainment and chaos.

“Well, it can be chaotic at times, but, you know, we love it,” Siemens said. “We love to people watch.”

To Siemens, one of the biggest advantages is being within walking distance of the nightlife. Living above the bars means avoiding dangerous situations, like drunk driving. The location still has drawbacks, though, which Siemens said include late-night noise and inconvenient parking. 

“Parking definitely sucks, having to walk all the way down to the parking garage,” Siemens said.

Although the parking situation and high volume at night can be frustrating, Siemens said he and his roommates were expecting worse and can easily tolerate it.

Still, living above the bars has given Siemens and his roommates a close-up view of some of Aggiville’s more unpredictable moments, from being flashed without warning to watching people get arrested for DUIs. 

Despite the occasional chaos, Siemens said he enjoys the experience and would recommend it to people considering a similar living arrangement. 

In another hotspot location — just a block away — Jack Francis, junior in Spanish and biology, and Hadyn Thatcher, junior in psychology, both live above Smoke Zone, with their windows and balcony overlooking Varsity Truck. 

Francis and Thatcher find their location the perfect people-watching vantage point, noting how even from the third floor, people in line at Varsity interact with them.

“I feel like that’s the main thing for me … people-watching down there, especially on a busy night,” Thatcher said. “People always walk by [and say] ‘Have a great night up there.’ … It’s nice, I like it.” 

Not only does their apartment offer an eagle-eye view, but it also ingrains them deeper into the Manhattan community.

“I transferred to K-State … this is my first year here,” Thatcher said. “I wanted to find … more community in my life, and I think this place specifically has helped me.”

For Jensen Anderson, who works at Express Employment and lives above Nico’s Little Italy, the appeal is less about the nightlife itself and more about the atmosphere and community surrounding it. 

“I love my apartment specifically,” Anderson said. “It’s just super nice. I like living in Aggieville because, I mean, just the vibe is really good and it’s a good atmosphere.”

Living above the bars has given Anderson a unique vantage point for local events. She said she particularly enjoyed watching the recent Homecoming parade. 

Although Anderson likes the environment, she acknowledged that the neighborhood can get rowdy at night. 

“Actually, my car is dented in the front because there was a fight … in the parking lot,” Anderson said. “We don’t know who did it, though. The police came and tried to figure it out, but they didn’t really figure much out. So things get a little bit rowdy, but other than that, it’s pretty nice.”

Aggieville is a place most known for its bars, bookstores and great food. But for the people living just above it, the community looks a little different. Sometimes, all it takes is looking up.