Any discussion of Myrtle Beach nightlife must begin with a nod to The Bowery (110 9th Ave. N., 843/626-3445, www.thebowerybar.com, 11 a.m.–2 a.m. daily), a country/western and Southern rock spot right off the beach, which has survived several hurricanes since opening in 1944.

Its roadhouse-style decor hasn’t changed a whole lot since then, other than some cheesy marketing to play up its role in history as the place where the country band Alabama got its start playing for tips in 1973, under the name Wildcountry. They were still playing gigs there when their first hit, “Tennessee River,” hit the charts in 1980.

Bands usually crank up here around 9 p.m., with a nominal cover charge. There’s only one type of draft beer served at The Bowery, at $2.50 a mug, and no real dance floor to speak of. If the proud display of Confederate flags doesn’t bother you, it’s usually a lot of fun.

Right next door is The Bowery’s “sister bar,” Duffy’s (110 9th Ave. N.) owned by the same folks and with a similarly down-home vibe, except without the live music.

For a more upscale, if definitely less personal and unique experience, Broadway at the Beach hosts the high-profile (some say overrated) national clubs Planet Hollywood (2915 Hollywood Dr., 843/448-7827, www.planethollywood.com, seasonal hours) and the Hard Rock Cafe (1322 Celebrity Cir., 843/946-0007, www.hardrock.com, Mon.–Sun. 11 a.m.–midnight).

You don’t have to be a Parrothead to enjoy Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville (1114 Celebrity Cir., 843/448-5455, www.margaritaville.com, daily 11 a.m.–midnight) at Broadway at the Beach, actually a pretty enjoyable experience considering it’s a national chain. The eponymous Margaritas are of course the beverage highlight, but they also serve Jimmy’s signature LandShark Lager on tap for the beer-lovers.

Nearby is the techno and house music oriented Club Kryptonite (2925 Hollywood Dr., 843/839-9200, www.club-kryptonite.com), which is more of a full-on nightclub with DJs in both the main room and in the more intimate Cherry Martini Lounge. Their hours can be erratic during the off-season.

In addition to its attached live performance space, the House of Blues (4640 Hwy. 17, 843/272-3000, www.hob.com) at Barefoot Landing features a hoppin’ bar in its dining area, situated amidst a plethora of folk art reminiscent of the Mississippi Delta. Most nights feature live entertainment on a small stage starting at about 10 p.m. or so.