SFG State Guide
California Dive Bar Guide
From mega-metropolis to windswept outpost, a state of incredible dive bar variety
Diverse State, Diverse Dives
California Dive Bar Map
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California Neighborhood Guides
California Dive Bar Reviews
Recommended California Dive Bars
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All Dive Bar State Guides
California Cities With Guides
Death Valley
Top Rated Dives
5 Dive Bars
Los Angeles
Top Rated Dives
51 Dive Bars
Sacramento
Top Rated Dives
34 Dive Bars
San Diego
Top Rated Dives
46 Dive Bars
San Francisco
Top Rated Dives
49 Dive Bars
San Jose
Top Rated Dives
18 Dive Bars
California Neighborhood Guides
Los Angeles
Los Angeles to Las Vegas
2 Dive Bars
Sacramento
Downtown Sacramento
2 Dive Bars
Sacramento
East Sacramento
4 Dive Bars
Sacramento
Midtown Sacramento
3 Dive Bars
All Reviewed California Dive Bars
SFG Rating
10
Hinano Cafe
As perfect as a beach-adjacent dive bar can be.
SFG Rating
10
Mother Lode Bar & Deli
No promises on your own home-baked goodie provided by a regular.
SFG Rating
10
Tiki-Ti
Tiki perfection from one of the original kings of tiki drinking.
SFG Rating
10
The Trap
Here's to another 100+ years of rickety dive bar drinking.
SFG Rating
9
Swiss Buda
A sum total above and beyond its amazing parts.
SFG Rating
10
La Cita Bar
The michelada at La Cita Bar is a must-have, destination drink.
SFG Rating
10
Los Angeles to Las Vegas
Lee’s Tavern
Del Taco is great and all, but this is must-see Yermo attraction.
SFG Rating
9
East Sacramento
Club 2 Me
Where the vibe inside pays off the promise of the neon out front.
SFG Rating
9
Midtown Sacramento
Round Corner
As purely neighborhood dive bar as it gets with tacos on top.
SFG Rating
9
Downtown Sacramento
Chambers Room
The reigning dive bar king of downtown Sacramento.
SFG Rating
9
Frolic Room
Finding the word "Nina" in the mural after a few drinks provides a nice challenge.
SFG Rating
9
Los Angeles to Las Vegas
Screaming Sally’s Saloon
If you can get to the ceiling, you can staple a dollar bill up there.
SFG Rating
8
Prince O’ Whales
Why not sample a beverage in each of the bar's five drinking areas?
SFG Rating
8
Harbor Room
Find a stool, one of maybe a dozen in the whole place.
SFG Rating
7
HMS Bounty
Like a bit of vintage drinking in the hull of a ship.
SFG Rating
8
Pineapple Hill Saloon & Grill
Any dive bar that classifies a pork chop as a side has our vote.
SFG Rating
8
Ye Rustic Inn
There's some kind of antler-based drinking game to be had here.
SFG Rating
8
Ernie’s Interlude Cocktail Lounge
Because there's something special about a lightless, mirrored lounge.
SFG Rating
8
Downtown Sacramento
Back Door Lounge
Soak in the classic red carpet, red brick, red awning vibe.
SFG Rating
8
The Prince
Rare is the dive bar where pushing a button for service is an accepted practice.
SFG Rating
8
Cinema Bar
Nothing like an open-air fish tank to set the mood.
SFG Rating
8
East Sacramento
Socal’s Tavern
Vintage neon, corner pub vibes.
SFG Rating
8
Backstage Bar
Don't sleep on the non-karaoke nights and the fire pit in back.
SFG Rating
8
Happy Bar
The classic dive bar along a dusty road.
SFG Rating
7
Fox Fire Room
About as cozy as the Valley can be.
SFG Rating
7
East Sacramento
Cheaters Sports Bar
Rare is the sports dive bar somehow immune to the California sun.
SFG Rating
7
Al’s Cocktails
Affordability and Los Angeles go together maybe only at Al's Cocktails.
SFG Rating
7
East Sacramento
Bonn Lair
The snug so nice you can drink there twice. Probably more.
SFG Rating
7
Drawing Room
Hit the one-two punch with the laundromat across the street.
SFG Rating
7
Cozy Inn
Securing a shuffleboard spot might take a 6 AM wake up.
SFG Rating
7
Midtown Sacramento
Flame Club
A neon sign hard to miss and everything dive bar signage should be.
SFG Rating
7
Chimneysweep Lounge
It goes without saying The Scarn may be frowned upon.
SFG Rating
6
Midtown Sacramento
Q Street Bar & Grill
Late night fried food and a taqueria next door is a potent combo.
SFG Rating
6
Crawfords
Maybe not a dive, but there are worse things than a frosty mug.
SFG Rating
6
The Roost
The Guiness & a shot paired with Yellow Curry can't be wrong.
SFG Rating
6
Mushroom Lounge
Revamped and renovated but no less a California corner dive.
SFG Rating
5
Zebra Club
Reformed dive bar transformed into corner bar & grill.
Recommended But Not Reviewed California Dive Bars
We have not had the great pleasure of getting to every possible dive bar (life goals), so inevitably there are great bars that we simply haven't been able to get to yet. The list below includes noteworthy dive bars that by all accounts look amazing but do not have a review associated with them just yet.
Apple Jack's
La Honda, California
Beefy's Cabin
Sunnyvale, California
Bender's Bar & Grill
San Francisco, California
Black Horse London Pub
San Francisco, California
Black Watch
Los Gatos, California
Buddha Lounge
San Francisco, California
Butter
San Francisco, California
Caravan Lounge
San Jose, California
Catalina Lounge
San Diego, California
Chee-Chee Club
San Diego, California
Cherry Bomb
San Diego, California
Chez Jay
Santa Monica, California
Clooney's Pub
San Francisco, California
Copper Bucket
Reseda, California
Dovre Club
San Francisco, California
El Rio
San Francisco, California
Ercole's 1101
Manhattan Beach, California
Hank's Bar
Los Angeles, California
Hockey Haven
San Francisco, California
Horseshoe Tavern
San Francisco, California
Joe Jost's
Long Beach, California
Li Po Cocktail Lounge
San Francisco, California
Live Wire
San Diego, California
Maui Sugar Mill Saloon
Tarzana, California
Monty's Log Cabin
Felton, California
Noc Noc
San Francisco, California
Nunu's Tavern
San Diego, California
Old Ironsides
Sacramento, California
Pacific Shores
San Diego, California
Paul & Eddie's Monta Vista Inn
Cupertino, California
Phone Booth
San Francisco, California
Spec's Twelve Adler Museum Café
San Francisco, California
The 500 Club
San Francisco, California
The Bitter End
San Francisco, California
The Casbah
San Diego, California
The Geary Club
San Francisco, California
The Lancers
San Diego, California
The Saddle Room Bar
Redwood City, California
The Saloon
San Francisco, California
The Scene
North Hollywood, California
The Silver Fox Lounge
San Diego, California
The Tower Bar
San Diego, California
Trad'r Sam
San Francisco, California
Uptown
San Francisco, California
Vesuvio Cafe
San Francisco, California
First Cabin Bar
Arcadia, California
Jake's Saloon
Lone Pine, California
Rusty's Saloon & Grill
Bishop, California
Nearby States to Explore
Arizona
Top Rated Dives
19 Dive Bars
Nevada
Top Rated Dives
24 Dive Bars
Oregon
Top Rated Dives
16 Dive Bars
Contact Us
What did we miss? Where should we go? We'd love to hear your ideas, your favorite spots, your profound disappointments and anything in between.
