This is (un)official dive bar thread. I love dive bars. Is Ernie’s tin bar still in existence near Petaluma
I’ve found this to be a great resource:
Hot Damn …nicely done! I’m trying I’m having trouble editing my original post/pic…
Had a couple of High Life’s last night and was dreaming again of opening my bar. one day lol
Let’s get the discussion going!
Ok …
A real dive bar doesn’t know it’s a dive bar.
I hate hipster dive bars, where the old time alcoholics are gentrified out by the neckbeard PBR crowd.
A real dive bar doesn’t have a jukebox or an IG account.
A real dive bar is eerily quiet in the late afternoon.
Spectacular dive bar in San Clemente
This was the ultimate dive bar. The tenders seemed to have a competition to see who could pour the least amount of mix during the week. There was a line out the door at 8am for the overnight crew.
If you asked for water, you would be greeted with a stiff drink with a single ice cube in it. After all, what difference would the water actually make? At this bar, you drank the way you were told to and you liked it.
In our town there is a place with the official name as The Riverside, everyone knows it as the Dive. Simple place with drinks are bar food.
Isn’t that from a Sheryl Crow song?
In Montréal, we had L’Inspecteur Épingle and Les Verres Stérilisés. Sadly, L’inspecteur closed a few years ago. You could tell they were dive bars from the overfilled outdoor ashtrays, the regulars showing up at 3:00PM and the fact that nobody dared eat the pretzels.
I’ve lived here 37 years and I’ve never been to the Dive.
Check out the Oxford in Missoula, MT (aka the Ox). Supposedly opened in 1883, moved to current location in 1955. No keys for the front door because it never closes (bar required to stop serving at 2:00 am, but kitchen stays open for those in need). Apparently was closed for 15 hours at the start of 2020 when something triggered their fire suppression system, also don’t know whether there were Covid closures. No longer serves brains and eggs (mad cow scare).
-Al
The Bayway Tavern is down the hill from where I live. It’s definitely a local’s joint. I ordered a Manhattan there once only to be told they don’t generally get orders for fancy drinks like that so they don’t have vermouth on hand. This is a pretty typical post on their Facebook page (no website).
I love it.
I used to like Tobacco road in Miami when I worked there.
Old Town Ale House
and L&L Tavern
in Chicago
While not a dive bar, by any stretch, it is the oldest tavern in America. Had a couple drinks at the bar with the Warden.
In the town of Bodega ( not Bodega Bay) is The Casino Bar and Grill. Ancient dive bar that rivals New Jersey’s best.
You will get stares from the regulars but that is part of being accepted. 2 pool tables, juke box and old wood everywhere.
Great atmosphere and crazy bonus is that Friday-Sunday a Michelin star chef cooks up some awesome dinners at excellent prices.
Very well known within Sonoma County.
Tom
If you’re totally ok walking into a dive bar, you are not walking into a dive bar.
My old haunts, no pun intended.
I’d love to know the name of the place in Seattle that has (or had) happy hour at 9 am. It was on a Bourdain episode.