Charleston, WV Dive Bar Guide

Old School West Virginia Drinking

Charleston, West Virginia, dive bars blend elements of small town, locals-only spots and more urban, corner bars. Drinking is universal, of course, but the inventory of options in Charleston bears a resemblance to the city itself, an area that feels both big thanks to Charleston’s status as West Virginia state capitol and small due in part to a limited footprint.

The classic Charleston, WV, dive bar is no doubt The Empty Glass, the sticker-laden live music institution nestled into a block just off the city’s downtown core. The stage itself is an attraction at The Empty Glass, a platform that has hosted bands as notable as The Avett Brothers.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum is Wild Wiley’s At The Depot, a tiny triangle of a dive bar framed by an adjacent railroad track. Gaming machines, dusty pool tables and an ancient bar create the quintessential vibe inside where newcomers are definitely given an extra glance when walking through the door. Of course, other options sit in between these two extremes, dotted throughout Charleston’s modest West Virginia sprawl.

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