Here’s to the lowbrow watering hole. These practical establishments don’t need bells and whistles like house-made tinctures and custom light fixtures. No, they’ve given us enough as it is, from that Cheers-like hospitality to that vintage dive bar smell.
Here’s to the dive bar. The temple for regulars where a jukebox is preferred to a playlist, a sticker-covered bathroom is the norm, and a regular spoon, not a bar spoon, will do just fine for mixing drinks. Oh, and the drinks tend to be strong.
It’s not a competition. We love it all. Some bars tout maximalist cocktails and so-called elevated cocktail programs. That’s swell. But sometimes, you just want to the place with the regulars — the one with not a whole lot of natural light, where cash is still king, and drink specials are shockingly cheap.
Here are some of the very best dive bars in America.
Reel M Inn Tavern
Portland’s ultimate low brow sports bar features stiff drinks, giant joe-joe’s, and a cult-like bar fly crowd. The fried chicken is delicious and far from healthy and the scene during weekend sporting events is energetic. It’s a down to earth spot in a part of Portland that’s very much been polished up. In that sense, ducking in Reel M Inn for a round feels like going back to when the Rose City had some real grit on Division Street. Don’t forget to try the fried pickle chips. Honorable mentions in Portland go to Kenton Club and The Slammer.
Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge
We’re not sure what’s better about this wonderful bar, the name or the experience. Set in NOLA, Snake and Jake’s is beloved and bursting with simple bayou charm. I mean, it checks all of the dive bar boxes, from a bar pets milling about to the same owner more than three decades. There’s even a little patio for enjoying those steamy Louisiana evenings, preferably with a tall boy of ice cold beer in hand. Christmas comes every day at this gem of a dive bar. One of the hallmarks of a great dive is intimacy and this bar is all about having small size but a huge heart.
Drawing Room
What’s another calling card of a great dive? No website. That’s the case with Drawing Room, an L.A. institution known for massive pours, a legendary juke box, and cash only. The lighting is red-tinged, the menu often involves staples like popcorn and Spam, and karaoke nights are loud, as they should be. It’s set in a great part of town, in Los Feliz on the edge of Silver Lake near great stops like Griffith Park and the famed Capitol Records building.
169 Bar
More than 100 years old, this dive features a leopard-print pool table and a nice dark hideaway from the bustle of Manhattan above. The place was once known as the Bloody Bucket and is open every day until the wee hours. Weekends, you’ll likely encounter DJs in the mix at 169 Bar and guests flock in to sip on pickle Martinis. Try a cocktail like a Hurricane or opt for a local pint of beer. There are screaming happy hour deals, priced like you’re very much not in New York City, and patrons can even order dumplings and empanadas.
Round Table Sports Bar and Lounge
This castle-like dive in Miami features karaoke and the big game on the screen. It’s a sports dive, like your grandfather’s man cave. But it’s better because of the castle facade, which is barebones and dated to utter perfection. You’d never expect a place like this in Miami and that’s one of the many positives of the place. If you don’t like to sit still, you can play Golden Tee or shuffleboard in between bites of mac ‘n cheese egg rolls and wings. Unpretentious is the name of the game at this bar located off an interstate essentially in between a church and a supermarket.
Specs
San Francisco is home to so many great dive bars so it was admittedly quite tricky to focus on just one. But there’s something familiar and peculiar about Specs that’s stolen our hears. Maybe it’s the oddities on the wall, maybe it’s the intimate space filled with stiff drinks. Formally known Specs’ Twelve Adler Museum Cafe, the place has been around since the late 60s and hasn’t changed much since, including its prices. It’s still home to lots of live music, eye-catching knick knacks on the wall, and serves as a great gathering place for Bay Area artists and bar flies alike. Here’s to the gem of North Beach.
Stay in the know in terms of food and drink at The Manual. Be sure to check out our best American bars piece and see if you’ve been to any that made the grade. Here’s to something good in your glass.
