Up to date on July 6, 2022
We love brewery taprooms. Give us a well-lit area, a financial institution of stainless-steel faucets, and a meals truck, and we’re pleased campers. Nevertheless, generally nothing beats bellying as much as a scuffed picket bar, ordering a boilermaker, and placing again a shot and a can of Hamm’s underneath the decades-old glow of Christmas lights and neon Coors indicators. And the place can you will have this unimaginable expertise? At any one of many nation’s finest dive bars.
We revere dive bars. Native lore (and cigarette smoke) drip from the partitions. The ripped vinyl cubicles and bar stools reek of spilled beer and nostalgia, and the alternatives on the jukeboxes method holiness.
These off-the-radar neighborhood joints are the locations we go after we can’t abdomen one other milkshake IPA. Don’t get us fallacious—we nonetheless love these beers, however they’ve their time and place. And with Nationwide Dive Bar Day celebrating our nation’s most iconic hideaways on July seventh, we needed to indicate some love to those nineteen memorable saloons.
What Makes A Nice Dive Bar?
The traits of a terrific dive bar may be as much as interpretation. However typically, should you requested us to make an inventory of attributes, we’d write one thing like:
– Low cost drinks
– Seasoned bar—i.e. scuffed, unpolished, or nicked
– Paint jobs relationship again a number of many years
– Ripped bar stools and/or vinyl cubicles
– Dart board or different bar video games
– Chatty, largely native clientele
– Low lighting, Christmas lights, neon indicators
– Dirty loos with unimaginable, outrageous writing and graffiti on the partitions
After all, the fantastic thing about a dive bar is within the eye of the drinker. However everybody has their favourite. Ask your colleagues to offer you their prime selections and also you’ll in all probability have ten to fifteen ideas inside minutes. And that’s humorous as a result of that’s precisely what we did right here final yr.
We cherished this train a lot that we determined to run it again for the second yr in a row. And the very best half?
A bunch of latest of us joined the workforce, so we now have a complete new slew of their favourite dive bar picks together with all of our favorites from final yr.
From a steak sandwich-slinging, acid trip-esque joint in Buffalo to a haunted subterranean bar in Wilmington, from a tiny pub defying gentrification in Oakland to a retro tiki-themed waterfront lounge in Minneapolis, and in every single place in between, listed below are the Hop Tradition and Subsequent Glass workforce’s prime picks for the very best dive bars throughout America.
Hop Tradition’s Picks for the 19 Greatest Dive Bars in America
Kelly’s Bar & Lounge
Pittsburgh, PA
Ask Hop Tradition Founder Kenny Gould to call his favourite dive bar in Pittsburgh and he’ll say Kelly’s. This dive bar is a Pittsburgh basic with all of the tell-tale indicators of a neighborhood watering gap: of us which have been consuming there for thirty-plus years, a neon signal that appears nice at evening and like junk within the gentle of day, and issues written in everlasting marker on the toilet stalls. For a few bucks, you’ll be able to stroll throughout the checkered ground, snuggle into one of many ripped vinyl black and white cubicles, and order fried pickles (a favourite right here) with an I.C. Mild or Yuengling. And don’t overlook a Leona’s Ice Cream Sandwich, one other native favourite.
Bonus Factors: Take a look at Gooski’s on Polish Hill, one other workforce favourite.
Zeno’s Pub
State School, PA
Subsequent Glass’ new Social Media Supervisor Christie Clancy has spent a little bit of time in State School. After attending Penn State for undergrad, she additionally spent seven years operating all the Massive Ten college’s social media channels.
Which gave her ample time to discover many a dive bar within the space. Her favourite? Zeno’s Pub.
Actually underground, Zeno’s has been a stalwart within the city for years. With a terrific music scene, record of craft beers on faucet, and laid again vibe, Clancy singled out Zeno’s as her go-to dive bar.
The Commodore
Brooklyn, NY
You won’t have guessed that you just’d discover a high quality dive bar in considered one of Brooklyn’s trendiest neighborhoods. Though it’s situated in Williamsburg and nonetheless fairly new in dive bar years, The Commodore ticks a variety of these dingy bar containers. Dirty loos? Yup. Pulp Fiction or The Shining taking part in on the TV? Most likely, or a movie alongside these traces. Low cost beer? Positively. Cubicles get packed early within the night with Millennials on the lookout for a bottle of Excessive Life and shot of Jim Beam rye, or the ever present Commodore cocktail, a frozen pina colada with Amaretto float. And on each desk (and we imply each desk) you’ll most definitely discover a plate of fried rooster or fried rooster sandwich. Right here, you’ll coat your abdomen in grease and your Vans in grime, which is how you realize you’ve had a terrific evening out.
RJ’s Pub and Grill
Philipsburg, PA
That is your basic old-school, small-town bar, however with a twist. Right here you’ll discover surprises corresponding to the good bar meals menu and a surprisingly strong craft beer record. They even often host faucet takeovers from cool native craft breweries. However make no mistake, it is a dive bar via and thru. From the wooden paneling to the Pittsburgh Steelers tin tackers and the plastic picnic baskets this hole-in-the-wall makes use of to serve meals, RJ’s has dive bar written throughout it.
Kingfish Pub
Oakland, CA
Have you ever ever learn The Little Home by Virginia Lee Burton? It’s a narrative advised from the angle of a small home constructed on a little bit, idyllic hill within the nation. Because the years go, the home consistently worries as the massive lights of the far-off metropolis draw nearer. Finally, a street is inbuilt entrance of the home. And all hell breaks free. Fuel stations, flats, and ultimately railroads encroach on this tiny piece of paradise.
Kingfish can be the little home on this story.
Nevertheless, in contrast to the e-book, this story has a contented ending. As an increasing number of fashionable condominium complexes threatened to destroy Kingfish, the Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board stepped in, actually placing the Kingfish onto a trailer and shifting it down the road. At present, Kingfish survives as a low-ceilinged, shuffleboard-slinging ode to Oakland’s previous. It’s a tiny bar that appears up on the excessive and mighty condos round it and laughs of their faces saying, I’ve been right here for years and I’ll be right here for a lot of extra years to return. You possibly can’t steal my tiny piece of paradise.
Bonus Factors: Take a look at the Missouri Lounge in Berkeley, one other workforce favourite.
Dino’s
Nashville, TN
East Nashville’s oldest dive bar made the record per the advice of our new Content material Author, Sarah Buckholz. This can be a watering gap in its purest kind. What you gained’t discover right here: fancy meals and loopy craft beers. What you will discover right here: down and soiled cheeseburgers and hamburgers (really, Bon Appetit Journal rated Dino’s a High 3 Burger within the nation) and blue collar beer like Coors Banquet and Miller Excessive Life for $2 (sure you learn that proper).
Plus, Anthony Bourdain visited Dino’s for his “Components Unknown” present in 2016.
As Buckholtz says, “If it’s adequate for Anthony Bourdain, it’s adequate for y’all.”
Delux Cafe
Boston, MA
One other dive bar that has stood in opposition to time and gentrification, Delux Cafe has defied all odds within the South Finish neighborhood of Boston. As chain eating places and bougie eating teams moved in, driving up rents and the worth of consuming and consuming, South Finish’s small companies began being pushed out. However not Delux Cafe. Positioned at 100 Chandler Avenue, the dive bar has remained for over 5 many years as a spot to seize an affordable can of ‘Gansett. Whereas the hole-in-the-wall has modified arms and names just a few instances throughout its historic run, it’s all the time been a spot for locals to wash within the glow of Christmas lights, revel on the assortment of album covers on the wall, and luxuriate in an affordable pint or two.
Santa’s Pub
Nashville, TN
A few of what we love a lot about dive bars is the kitsch, locations that take one thing so esoteric or nostalgic and make it into their very own schtick.
That’s precisely the vibe at Santa’s Pub in Nashville, TN.
Serving up chilly beer and karaoke for ten years, Santa’s Pub options twinkling lights and an appropriately painted purple and inexperienced deck.
Apparently there may be additionally a roaming santa, who if he hears you curse will ask you to pay a high quality.
C’mon, if that isn’t a dive bar at its most interesting, we don’t know what’s.
Saltwater Hippie Seashore Bar
Madeira Seashore, FL
A spot the place summer time by no means ends appears like a spot we wish to be. The Saltwater Hippie simply oozes seashore bum paradise. Inside, you’ll discover high-top tables with black bar stools and varied greenback payments taped to the ceiling. There may even be a parrot or rooster or two that casually squawks or walks into the bar. This can be a tropical hidden gem the place you’ll in all probability discover grains of sand on the ground and the fixed aroma of suntan lotion welcoming you to drink your subsequent Corona.
Heinhold’s: First and Final Probability Saloon
Oakland, CA
One other true image of a dive bar are the great ol’ results of Mom Nature and Father Time. Heinhold’s: First and Final Probability Saloon appears to be a advantage of each, actually nonetheless standing as a beacon of the previous amidst a rush of development and modernization on the Oakland waterfront.
This tiny bar is so outdated (over a century) that it actually leans to the aspect and nonetheless has troughs on the bottom subsequent to the bar for lazy, inebriated sailors. They describe themselves as being “a(n) (il)literary landmark” with “tastefully abrasive ambiance.”
So should you’re okay forgoing white-glove service for nitty gritty consuming, you’re in the fitting place. That is only a dive bar filled with historical past with a terrific spot to take a seat on the patio, sip on a beer, look out over the water, and other people watch.
Though, you in all probability gained’t see any drunk sailors in right now’s day and age, it is going to nonetheless be hilarious to observe hipster Millennials rollerblading down the waterfront.
Abe’s on Lincoln
Savannah, GA
Overlook about writing your telephone quantity or your subsequent huge concept on a serviette. At Abe’s on Lincoln on Lincoln Avenue in Savannah’s Nationwide Historic District, serviette after serviette with hand-drawn Abraham Lincoln illustrations tattoo the bar’s picket beams and centuries-old ceiling. We’re speaking depictions of Sincere Abe as a zombie, driving a motorbike, and whilst SpongeBob Squarepants. If you happen to’re wanting so as to add your personal masterpiece to the partitions of this off-the-radar pub devoted to America’s sixteenth president, order a drink and ask the bartender for a set of napkins and pens.
Capturing Star Saloon
Huntsville, UT
Initially inbuilt 1850 as this fledgling city’s mercantile, Capturing Star Saloon grew to become a bar in 1879. And by no means regarded again. Working as a bar for 143 years, Capturing Star Saloon oozes historical past of the Wild Wild West. Afterall, they declare to be the oldest constantly working saloon west of the Mississippi. If these partitions may discuss, proper?
They could whisper to you concerning the husband and spouse duo who owned the bar and have been arrested for illegally promoting beer.
Or they may inform you concerning the $3 beers and $5 Star burgers.
Maybe Subsequent Glass’ Graphic Designer Jake Hill says it finest: “If you happen to’re on the lookout for a salad, you gained’t discover one right here.”
The Previous Pink
Buffalo, NY
Known as The Pink by locals, this bar is tough to overlook. The black and purple home with inexperienced painted flames capturing out of the bottom may’ve been a hideout for all of Disney’s villains (Maleficent, anybody?) earlier than changing into one of many nation’s most famed dive bars. Actually, 4 years in the past, The Nationwide Belief for Historic Preservation partnered with Seagram’s 7 Whiskey to focus on among the nation’s most historic watering holes. Guess who made the record? The Pink!
Inside, you’ll discover graffitied partitions, an virtually utterly scuffed bar, and a whole lot of stickers touting issues like “Combat Prime Time… Learn A E book” and “Dissent is the best type of patriotism.” Oh, and naturally a string of Christmas lights. Stroll throughout the checkerboard tiles and also you’ll be handled to the slight pull of an eternally sticky ground. However you gained’t care as a result of at 2 am, as you stumble in to order the well-known steak sandwich (a 12-oz.center-cut steak with provolone, peppers, and grilled onions on a costanzo roll), you gained’t discover. You’ll be past pleased to order a PBR, stuff your face, and go house pleased after an evening out.
Jack’s Bar
Pittsburgh, PA
We are able to’t 100% affirm this, however Subsequent Glass Digital Advertising and marketing Supervisor Tyler Kairys, who picked this spot, thinks the slogan for this dive bar might have as soon as been one thing alongside the traces of, “Everybody winds up at Jack’s.”
Appears fairly becoming for a dive bar, so we’re going to go along with it.
Enjoyable reality: Jack’s opens promptly at 7am on a regular basis of the week apart from Sunday (once they open at 9am) and doesn’t shut down till 2am.
Sounds just like the social gathering by no means stops at this Pittsburgh watering gap. That is the form of place the place you stroll inside and your sneakers squelch and stick a bit…and also you’re undecided why.
That is the form of place you’ll be able to see a mile away at evening because of its blazing namesake neon signal.
That is the form of place you’ll be able to simply go, get an affordable beer, and have a good time. Till two within the morning. Or at 7am, if that’s your factor.
Harry’s Banana Farm
Lake Price, FL
Dive bars are like [insert fingerprint or snowflake cliche here]—every one is totally different. And there’s all the time one factor that makes your private favourite the very best place to drink within the nation. For seven many years at Harry’s Banana Farm, it’s been the outside signal. Oh, and the large yellow, weathered banana positioned precariously above the inexperienced awning out entrance. Well-liked refrains mirror the instances, most not too long ago expressing normal supervisor Lou De Stout’s frustrations round COVID-19 with slogans like, “We’ve been closed so lengthy our males’s room smells good once more” and “So it’s alright to promote liquor if it comes with a aspect of fries?” Shoot down Dixie Freeway to Harry’s Banana Farm for a chuckle and a beer or two with a shot.
Bar11
Pittsburgh, PA
Pennsylvania appears to be the state plagued by dive bars. Bar11 makes this the fifth Keystone State tavern on our record and third within the Metal Metropolis. Have to be one thing within the water.
Maybe generally known as “Pittsburgh’s Authentic Celebration Bar,” though this stays unconfirmed as nicely, this tiny bar just some blocks away from finer institutions, ticks all of the dive bar containers.
Little toys/trinkets in your drinks ✅
Identify tags obtainable with glow-in-the-dark markers ✅
Summer time solstice rain events the place it’s steered you costume to get moist ✅
You get the thought.
Lula’s A Pub
Wilmington, NC
A beloved subterranean bar in Wilmington, Lula’s is adored for being an excellent informal place to drink even supposing it’s rumored to be haunted. Or, it may simply be the bar’s cave-like ambiance—it’s worthwhile to stroll via a darkish hallway simply to get to the underground bar. Regardless, the historical past makes Lula’s particular, from the ballast stones used within the unique normal retailer constructing to its paranormal tendencies. That is an intimate pub with intimate quirks you can solely discover in a spot that has withstood the check of time.
Psycho Suzi’s Motor Lounge
Minneapolis, MN
“The weary, the wild, and the bizarre are all the time welcome to clean up on our shores,” writes Psycho Suzi’s on its web site. This self-proclaimed “retro tiki bar and pizza paradise overlooking the excessive seas of the Mississippi River in Nordeast Minneapolis,” is only a loopy time.
Tiki drinks with names like “Evil Headhunter,” “One Eyed Willy,” and “Siren’s Name” rule the jungle at this waterfront lounge, making it one of many extra distinctive picks on our record.
That and the vibe.
“I am going for the wooden ground carpet and take-home ceramic drink vessels,” says Claire Nikodemus, Supervisor, Occasion Operations at Subsequent Glass.
Sounds about proper.
Lone Wolf
Bushwick, NY
When my spouse and I packed up our Volkswagen Tiguan and moved from Chicago to New York Metropolis, we ended up in a tiny condominium in Bushwick close to the Kosciusko cease on the J prepare. One block away was the Lone Wolf. For the longest time we thought the bar was closed. It simply regarded that means. However ultimately, we ventured into the wolf’s den and located all the trimmings of a terrific dive bar: pool desk, lingering scent of smoke (regardless that smoking inside is prohibited in New York Metropolis), DJ spinning on the stage, and a tiny patio crammed into the yard between condominium buildings. Plus, we have been instantly handled to a ‘pleased meal’—aka a $5 or $6 beer/shot particular. We by no means regarded again.
