Maybe you just have the wrong bars in your area? I don’t go as often as I used to but for me going to a (bistro) bar or a brewpub offers a nice change of scenery. Sitting outside watching other people strolling by gives you something else to talk about. Or when the weather is crap, I’ll sit inside sipping some dark craft beer I can’t buy in the supermarket.

When we hang out someone’s home conversation tends to dry out after an hour or so and we just end up playing board games (which is fine too).