Dive Bars
Map Key
Gold Listings
All Reviewed Dive Bars (click for link)
Red Listings
Must Visit Dive Bars (not yet reviewed)
Blue Listings
Other Dive Options (not yet reviewed)
Midwestern USA
Chicago
Olde Towne Inn
Vintage 1927 BBQ hub.
Rite Liquors
Classic Chicago slashie.
Inner Town Pub
Perfect Ukrainian Village dive.
The Corner Bar
Ex-ice cream parlor speakeasy.
Punky’s Pub
Post-train porch beer.
Celtic Corner
Elmwood Park corner pub.
Carol’s Pub
Ex-dive Chicago honkytonk.
Zakopane
Polish Chicago enclave.
Gold Star Bar
Renovated Chicago ex-dive.
Rainbo Club
Ex-burlesque show dive.
Ola’s Liquors
Ukrainian Village Chicago hybrid.
Chipp Inn
Corner beer sign museum.
Rossi’s Liquors
Soul of River North.
Joe’s on Broadway
Wrigleyville-adjacent tiny dive.
Ricochet’s Tavern
Lincoln Square dart hub.
Whirlaway Lounge
Longshot bet turned dive.
The Cove Lounge
Under Obama’s painted gaze.
Sovereign Liquors
1940s Edgewater institution.
Nisei Lounge
Last dive in Wrigleyville.
Skylark
Classy bank lobby vibes.
Shinnick’s Pub
Three generation Irish Chicago staple.
Alice’s Lounge
Chicago karaoke past 4 AM.
Simon’s Tavern
Home to Viking fish neon.
Reed’s Local
Avondale community hub.
Rose’s Lounge
Christmas in Chicago.
L&L Tavern
Epic, deep backstory of a dive.
Delilah’s
Bourbon trailblazing dive bar.
Bob Inn
Wood paneling inside and out.
Big Joe’s
Turtles, Jeopardy and beer.
Archie’s Iowa Rockwell Tavern
Chicago liquor license 177.
Max’s Place
Try the handle to be sure.
Old Town Ale House
Naked politician portrait gallery.
Cincinnati
Pilot Inn
1937 lunch-friendly dive.
Edge Inn Tavern
Dimly lit in perfect fashion.
Dana Gardens
Signature-covered Xavier staple.
Columbus
Zeno’s
Irish-themed corner spot.
Ledo’s Tavern
Campus darts & pizza vibe.
Short North Tavern
Short North dive holdout.
Rehab Tavern
Sneaky reclaimed patio dive.
Ruby Tuesday Live
Off-campus live music hub.
Eldorado’s Food & Spirits
Debbie & Nebbie’s pride & joy.
Brew-Stirs Beechwold Tavern
Renovated ex-dive.
Johnnie’s Tavern
Low ceiling burger dive.
O’Reilly’s Pub
Sunken bar Columbus gem.
Dolphin Lounge
Grandma’s house with karaoke.
Oldfield’s North Fourth Tavern
Craft beer campus dive.
Lisska Bar & Grill
Columbus 1930s classic.
India Oak Bar & Grill
A slice of vintage Clintonville.
Mike’s Grill
Jello shots & 40’s in Columbus.
Brew-Stirs Clintonville Tavern
Clintonville’s friendly gathering place.
High Beck Tavern
Ping pong and free coneys.
Meister’s Bar
Columbus deep-dish dive.
Hey Hey Bar & Grill
Sauerkraut ball destination.
Out-R-Inn
Brick & wood plank palace.
Ruckmoor Lounge
Drunk ring game dive.
Betty’s Bar
Thursday is the day to go.
The Thirsty Scholar
Definitely try the basement.
St. James Tavern
Wood paneled purity.
The Main Bar (RIP)
All walks of all lives. Drinking.
The Library Bar
The best kind of pun.
Mickey’s Bar
Karaoke that fogs the windows.
Beck Tavern
The perfect size Columbus pub.
Bier Stube
Ohio State campus stalwart.
Byrne’s Pub
Celtic music Saturday nights.
Dick’s Den
Why not?
Char Bar
Beware the haunted basement.
Johnnie’s Glenn Avenue Grill
Perfect Midwestern dive.
Pointe Tavern
Disc golf and a strip mall made a baby.
Bob’s Bar
Cultural Hub of the Midwest.
Cleveland
Lincoln Park Pub
Casual. Neighborhood. Cleveland.
Edison’s Pub
Ivy-laden Cleveland pub.
Jerman’s Cafe
1908 Cleveland ex-speakeasy
McNamara’s Pub
Detroit Shoreway neighborhood dive.
Johnny’s Little Bar
Fancy-adjacent alley bar.
Tina’s Nite Club
Cleveland karaoke queen.
Major Hooples
Beer with a bridge view.
ABC The Tavern
Ohio City’s anti-bar.
Prosperity Social Club
Classic Midwestern tavern.
Dickey Lanes
Dive bar bowling alley.
Hotz Cafe
Babe Ruth drank here.
Parkview Nite Club
Classic Midwestern dive hall.
Now That’s Class
Cleveland dive bar Voltron.
Harbor Inn
Like a brick, divey barge.
B And G Tavern
Old school Cleveland pool hall
Becky’s
50% dive, 50% campus bar, 100% Cleveland.
Detroit
LJ’s Lounge
Dodge the Corktown crowd.
Bronx Bar
Cass Corridor’s safe haven.
Abick’s Bar
Six generation family dive.
Nancy Whiskey Pub
Detroit’s oldest bar, period.
The Old Miami
Live music veteran-friendly dive.
Temple Bar
Inclusive, faded, open since 1927.
Jumbo’s Bar
Detroit’s green dive bar shoebox.
Indianapolis
Chatterbox Jazz Club
Jazzy Mass Ave shoebox dive.
Dorman Street Saloon
Vintage murals, century-old history.
J Clyde’s Pub
Check the mannequin limbs.
Alley Cat Lounge
Dive bar king of Broad Ripple.
Louisville
Third Street Dive
Stick it to the metroplex man.
The Pearl of Germantown
Vintage beer signs for days.
Old Hickory Inn
Fire, vandal, time survivor.
Smyrna Inn
The divey house on the hill.
Nachbar
German dive in Germantown.
Magnolia Bar & Grill
Louisville dive bar classic.
Bambi Bar
Home of the Bambi Walk.
Minneapolis / St. Paul
Schooner Tavern
Renovated shell, Prohibition roots.
Moose Bar & Grill
Better than average sports dive.
Vegas Lounge
Your ears may never recover.
Mayslack’s
On the edge of renovation.
The 1029 Bar
Nothing like a meat raffle.
Spring Street Tavern
Early morning Bloody Mary?
Palmer’s Bar
Timeless 1906 Minneapolis classic.
Northeast Yacht Club
Been to the Port of Minneapolis?
Terminal Bar
Wood paneling inside out.
Cuzzy’s
Dollar bill game strong.
The Spot
Tribute to wood paneling.
Matt’s Bar
It’s spelled “Jucy.”
Dusty’s Bar
Home of the dago.
Tony Jaros’ River Garden
Bathed in a green glow.
The Nook
Bowling meets the juicy lucy.
Jimmy’s Bar & Lounge
The best kind of rectangle.
CC Club
Minneapolis neighborhood perfection.
Gopher Bar
Coneys, egg rolls and beer.
Northern Michigan
Keyhole Bar & Grill
Devoted to the theme.
The Inn Between
Northern Michigan indoor tiki.
Pinehurst Inn Bar & Grill
Literally everything in one dive.
Pub 27
Biker dive prototype.
Johnnie’s Bar
Pristine Great Lakes dive.
Toledo
The Attic on Adams
Rustic, second-floor dive.
Dale’s Bar & Grill
1920 corner pub divey mix.
The Village Idiot
Pizza, music, beer combo.
East Coast USA
Boston
Cantab Lounge
Live music packed tight.
Charlie’s Kitchen
Harvard double cheeseburger king.
Sligo Pub
Hidden 1937 shotgun gem.
Paddy’s Lunch
1934 living room drinking.
New York City
Sophie’s
Bay windows on a dive.
International Bar
Blended into its NYC neighborhood.
Cherry Tavern
Beautifully stark inside and out.
Blue & Gold Tavern
Ukrainian Village icon.
Billymark’s West
No frills in bright blue.
Doc Holliday’s
East Village honky tonk.
Rudy’s
Plastic pigs and free hot dogs.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
New York’s 1854 institution.
Philadelphia
McGlinchey’s Bar
Historical, smoke-filled dive.
McCusker’s Tavern
Multi-generation South Philly staple.
Locust Bar
Wings & beer corner stop.
El Bar
Dim beer under the tracks.
Dirty Frank’s
Famous Franks mural dive.
Bob & Barbara’s
Philly shrine to PBR.
Oscar’s Tavern
Red brick, white trim, cheesesteaks
Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar
Free birthday drink of course.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House
Classic Philly alley tavern.
Southern USA
Asheville
Burger Bar
Asheville dive bar king.
The Lazy Diamond
Tinsel roof dive drinking.
Asheville Yacht Club
Potent downtown tiki drinking.
The Double Crown
Bathe in the red divey glow.
Atlanta
Moe’s & Joe’s
PBR king of the country.
Jack’s Pizza & Wings
Pizza truck dive bar.
Euclid Avenue Yacht Club
Nautical theme done right.
Five Paces Inn
Buckhead wooden hallway dive.
The Rusty Nail
Follow the smoking barrel.
Northside Tavern
Perfectly pictured dive bar.
Elliott Street Deli & Pub
Around the Benz bend.
Charlotte
The Thirsty Beaver Saloon
A dive bar oasis in Charlotte.
Jacksonville
World Famous Bull Tavern
Urban country dive bar.
The Jug Saloon
Jacksonville garage bar.
Shantytown Pub
Indoor outdoor mural explosion.
Pete’s Bar
White-washed 1933 beach dive.
Ginger’s Place
Home of the mermaid ghost.
Harbor Tavern
Florida underpass classic.
New Orleans
Vaughan’s Lounge
Faded paint, rusted roof.
The Abbey
Blot out the sun.
Redd’s Uptilly Tavern
Brick-laden Tulane dive.
R Bar & Royal Street Inn
Dive bar hotel mashup.
Port Of Call
Tiki drinks and hamburgers.
Pirate’s Alley Cafe
Hidden cobblestone dive outpost.
Parasol’s
Po boys and cold beer.
Out In The Cold
Buzz in for beer.
Ms. Mae’s The Club
Renovated in purple.
Molly’s At The Market
Beignet-adjacent dive bar.
Mayfair Lounge
Hidden New Orleans gem.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
Low lights, smuggler vibes.
J&J’s Sports Lounge
Updated Bywater corner spot.
Igor’s Lounge & Gameroom
Red awning neon palace.
Corporation Bar
Cinder block New Orleans dive.
Cooter Brown’s
Riverbend New Orleans classic.
Chart Room
French Quarter oasis.
Buffa’s Bar & Restaurant
Less danger these days.
Black Penny
Dressed up, renovated dive.
BJ’s Lounge
Faded paint, green trim.
Bar Redux
Dive at the end of the world.
Aunt Tiki’s
Everything on every wall.
3rd Rock Tavern
May the sun never shine.
Brothers III Lounge
Canary yellow beckons.
Snake & Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge
Red-tinted dive shanty
Vic’s Kangaroo Cafe
Australian dive in New Orleans.
Le Bon Temps Roule
The perfect New Orleans neighborhood dive bar.
Tampa / St. Petersberg
Hole In The Wall
Small package, big experience.
Dead Bob’s
A bar with backstory.
Sunset Grille
Sprawling back patio pub.
Boardwalk Tavern
Dive bar on the cusp.
The Hub
Tampa’s downtown dive.
Anchor Bar
One-room beer schoolhouse.
Elmer’s Sports Cafe
More sports bar than dive.
Barefoot Billy’s Friendly Tavern
Semi-dive beach vibe.
Tiny Tap Tavern
Gas station turned dive.
The Blue Parrot
Under the overpass.
Swigwam Beach Bar
Relocated beach hut.
The Drunken Clam
Florida beach dive template.
Shadracks
The inside out dive hut.
Smugglers Tavern
Island dive liquor store.
Mahuffer’s
The best dive in America. Really.
The Shipwreck Grill
Nicely nautical dive.
Pro Shop Pub
Clearwater gay bar stopover.
Wilmington / Carolina Beach
The Fat Pelican
Flea market-flavored beach dive.
Winston-Salem
Silver Moon Saloon
Skinny, shotgun Carolina dive
Western USA
Amarillo
The GoldenLight Cafe
Route 66’s Amarillo classic.
Broken Spoke Lounge
Route 66 birthed a dive bar.
House Bar
It’s a house. And a bar.
Austin
Ego’s
Parking garage karaoke.
Casino South Side
Dim slice of 6th Street.
Giddy Ups
Austin Old West music hub.
Sam’s Town Point
South Austin’s honkytonk.
The Hole In The Wall
Austin’s live music hub.
Donn’s Depot
Regular-driven Austin icon.
Deep Eddy Cabaret
Frosted mug perfection.
Buddy’s Place
Because John Wayne said so.
Lala’s Little Nugget
All Christmas all the time.
Dallas
Lee Harvey’s
Vintage beer sign museum
Charlie’s Star Lounge
Former drive-in Dallas dive.
Fireplace Lounge
Highway fireplace perfection.
Grapevine Bar
Melting pot patio drinking.
Lakewood Landing
Vintage steakhouse dive bar vibes.
Mike’s Gemini Twin
Dallas cocktail sipping paradise.
Reno’s Chop Shop Saloon
Bras, dollars and black paint.
Ships Lounge
Submarine deep sea drinking.
Single Wide
Yoo-Hoo slush stop.
The Goat
Blues bar dive bar ambiance.
Wits End
Graffiti and sticker explosion.
Adair’s Saloon
Cold beer & colorful graffiti.
Death Valley
Happy Burro Chili & Beer
Death Valley meets dive bar.
Denver
Nob Hill Inn
Storied dive bar, historic street.
Bucksnort Saloon
Dollar-laden mountain dive.
Lubbock
Texas Cafe & Bar
Texas roadhouse meets dive.
Flippers Tavern
Because pinballs and brats, duh.
The Silver Bullet
Industrial strip mall karaoke.
Lone Star Oyster Bar
34th Street only, of course.
Robbins Nest
Lubbock’s brick box.
Sacramento
Zebra Club
Ex-dive upscale diner.
Mother Lode Bar & Deli
Sacramento’s karaoke-fueled king.
The Trap
1860s rickety dive bar icon.
Swiss Buda
Layer upon epic layer.
Socal’s Tavern
Tri-color corner dive bar.
Round Corner
As literal as a name gets.
Q Street Bar & Grill
One with the neighborhood.
The Mushroom Lounge
California strip mall dive.
Happy Bar
Dusty roadside dive.
Flame Club
Perfect Sacramento dive neon.
Ernie’s Interlude Cocktail Lounge
Windowless mirror lounge.
Club 2 Me
Looping Shamrock neon.
Cheaters Sports Bar
Neighborhood sun immune dive.
Chambers Room
Downtown Sacramento dive.
Bonn Lair
Snug-filled British pub.
Back Door Lounge
Classic red carpeted lounge.
San Antonio
Texas T Pub
San Antonio’s downtown dive.
Sisterdale Saloon
Revived century-old staple.
Cocky Rooster Bar
Divey Comfort outpost.
Longbranch Saloon
Smoky Hill Country dive.
The Friendly Spot Ice House
Outdoor craft beer mashup.
El Luchador Bar
Lucha libre-themed dive.
Cartoon Saloon
Divey roadside Texas icon.
VFW Post 76
Oldest VFW in Texas.
Faust Tavern
Strong metal vibe dive.
Hanging Tree Saloon
Perfect Texas roadhouse dive.
Bang Bang Bar
Every vintage couch ever.
Happy Cow Bar & Grill
Home of the Train Shot.
Hoity Toit Beer Joint
Home of the asshole section.
Riley’s Tavern
The first dive bar in Texas.
Devil’s Backbone Tavern
Dollar bill dive bar cave
VFW Post 8573
Affordable patriotic drinking.
Spechts Texas
1887 Texas classic.
Shade Tree Saloon & Grill
Texas music & beer compound.
Europe
Copenhagen
Cafe Woodstock Christiania
Dive drinking on a commune.
Norre Bodega
Coffehouse-looking dive.
McKluud
Old West meets Copenhagen.
Kanal Bodega
Copenhagen’s canal dive.
Jernbanecafeen
Literally a train cafe.
Eiffel Bar
Like Paris but drunker.
Charlie’s Bar
Respite from shopping crowds.
Cafe Staerkodder
Christiania corner dive.
Cafe Aegir
Hang with the locals.
Bodega Det Lille Oresund
Drinking in a ship’s hull.
The Moose
Nothing like moose murals.
Andy’s Bar
Fringe Copenhagen basement dive.
Ireland
Foxy John’s
Irish hardware store & pub
Murphy’s Bar
Oasis among Galway tourists.
London
The Blackfriar
Absurdly beautiful London pub
The Nags Head
London’s horse-signed snug.
Bank of Friendship
With a fire at your feet.
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
London’s labyrinth pub
