Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

List of dive bars

While the definition of a "dive bar" varies, the following is a list of notable establishments which have been described as such. A dive bar is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and local clientele.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 5 min
Length
1,147 w
Citations
42
Source
Double Down Saloon, Las Vegas source ↗
Linda's Tavern in Seattle, Washington source ↗
Palmer's Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota source ↗
Yamhill Pub in Portland, Oregon source ↗
The Thirsty Beaver in Charlotte, North Carolina source ↗

While the definition of a "dive bar" varies, the following is a list of notable establishments which have been described as such. A dive bar is typically a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment with inexpensive drinks; it may feature dim lighting, shabby or dated decor, neon beer signs, packaged beer sales, cash-only service, and local clientele.1

Establishment Location Ref.
The 19 Bar Minneapolis, Minnesota
The 5 Point Cafe Seattle, Washington 2
Blue Moon Tavern Seattle, Washington 3
Cafe Brass Monkey Los Angeles, California 4
Edinburgh Castle Pub San Francisco, California
El Chupacabra Seattle, Washington
Clermont Lounge Atlanta, Georgia 5
The Cock New York City 6
Comet Tavern Seattle, Washington 3
Creepy's Portland, Oregon 7
Dee's Cafe Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 8
Dockside Saloon and Restaurant Portland, Oregon 9
Donnie Vegas Portland, Oregon 10
Double Down Saloon Las Vegas, Nevada 11
Dry Creek Café & Boat Dock Austin, Texas 12
Georgies Asbury Park, New Jersey 13
Frolic Room Los Angeles, California 14
Holman's Bar and Grill Portland, Oregon 15
Joe's Cellar Portland, Oregon 16
Kelly's Olympian Portland, Oregon 17
The Know Portland, Oregon 18
Linda's Tavern Seattle, Washington 19
Low Brow Lounge Portland, Oregon 20
Marie's Crisis New York City 21
The Matador Portland, Oregon 22
Mecca Cafe Seattle, Washington 23
Metropolitan New York City
My Father's Place Portland, Oregon 20
Nacho Borracho Seattle, Washington 24
Nick's Famous Coney Island Portland, Oregon 25
Nite Hawk Cafe and Lounge Portland, Oregon 26
Pal's Shanty Tavern Portland, Oregon 27
Palmer's Bar Minneapolis, Minnesota 28
Patty's Inn San Jose, California 29
Pink Feather Portland, Oregon 30
Reel M Inn Portland, Oregon 20
Shanghai Tunnel Bar Portland, Oregon 31
Ship Ahoy Tavern Portland, Oregon
Space Room Lounge and Genie's Too Portland, Oregon 32
Spare Room Restaurant and Lounge Portland, Oregon 33
Suki's Portland, Oregon
Thirsty Beaver Charlotte, North Carolina 34
Tom's Restaurant and Bar Portland, Oregon 35
Venice Tavern Baltimore, Maryland 36
Woodlawn Tap Chicago, Illinois 37
Yamhill Pub Portland, Oregon 20
Zach's Shack Portland, Oregon 38
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Vivanco, Leonor (19 December 2008). "Divers' Education". No. Red-eye Chicago Magazine. Chicago Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  2. "The best bars in Seattle right now". Time Out Seattle. 2022-10-24. Archived from the original on 2020-10-28. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  3. Joffe, Dylan (2017-03-01). "Seattle's Historic, Essential Dive Bars". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  4. Mula, Jordan (2022-12-16). "The 5 Coolest Karaoke Bars in L.A." Lamag - Culture, Food, Fashion, News & Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  5. Hunter, Marnie (2019-02-01). "Landmark Atlanta strip club meets boutique hotel". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-07-19. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  6. "The Cock | New York Magazine | The Thousand Best". New York Magazine. 2018-12-31. Archived from the original on 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  7. "Creepy's". Atlas Obscura. 2025-05-27. Retrieved 2025-05-27.
  8. Michael Machosky (2003-01-24). "Dee's Cafe". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 2025-10-23.
  9. Russell, Michael (2015-11-05). "Help name Portland's best dive bar". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  10. Centoni, Danielle (2015-03-02). "Donnie Vegas Now Slinging Hot Dogs and Tap Cocktails on NE Alberta". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  11. Bracelin, Jason (2022-11-25). "Broken toilets, bizarre videos and cheap booze: Double Down Saloon turns 30". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  12. "Dry Creek Cafe, an Old-school Dive Bar on Lake Austin, Is Closing After 68 Years". Texas Monthly. 2021-09-17. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  13. "Georgies: The gay 'Cheers' of the Jersey Shore". Asbury Park Press. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  14. Davis, Genie. "The Friendly Frolic Room | The Hollywood Partnership". hollywoodpartnership.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
  15. "The Beloved Dive Bar Holman's Remains in Pandemic Purgatory". Willamette Week. 2022-12-07. Archived from the original on 2023-02-08. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  16. Njus, Elliot (2013-07-18). "Joe's Cellar building in Northwest Portland sold; new owner plans to reopen shuttered tavern". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  17. Loftesness, Kate (2010-09-17). "Getting down in downtown: Portland's central city is the weekend home to late-night revelers". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-09-27. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  18. "The Know Is Closing". Willamette Week. 2016-07-01. Archived from the original on 2023-01-28. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  19. Foster, Bradley (2016-01-22). "The Absolute Best Dive Bars in Seattle". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2023-06-08. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  20. Frane, Alex (2012-11-27). "The Ultimate Guide to Portland's Iconic Dive Bars". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-12-31. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  21. Jahromi, Neima (2018-04-27). "Toasting the Tipsy Piano Choir at Marie's Crisis". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on 2023-04-02. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  22. "Once the King of West Burnside Dives, The Matador Has Sat Empty for Much of a Decade". Willamette Week. 2022-11-02. Archived from the original on 2022-11-12. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  23. "Seattle's Mecca Cafe to be sold to nightlife entrepreneur and accused sexual assaulter". KOMO. 2019-06-18. Archived from the original on 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  24. Hill, Megan (2016-08-03). "Where to Find Terrific Boozy Frozen Drinks in Seattle". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  25. Anderson, Heather Arndt (2017-05-19). "19 Old-School Portland Restaurants That Have Hung On Through the Pandemic". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  26. "Dive Bar Brunches". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  27. "28 long-gone Portland bars we wish were still around". The Oregonian. 2018-04-04. Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  28. Jones, Justine (2016-02-09). "10 Iconic Twin Cities Dive Bars". Eater Twin Cities. Archived from the original on 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  29. "Farewell to Patty's Inn, a San Jose bar with character". The Mercury News. 2021-08-01. Archived from the original on 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  30. Bamman, Mattie John (2017-10-26). "Say Goodbye to Another Stylish Southeast Dive Bar". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  31. "Desperate for a Cool, Dark Place to Ride Out This Weekend's Heat Wave? Here Are Six Currently Open Basement Bars to Hide Out In". Willamette Week. 2021-06-25. Archived from the original on 2021-07-17. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  32. Cottell, Pete (2015-10-21). "The Best Dive Bar in 25 Portland 'Hoods". Thrillist. Archived from the original on 2016-09-09. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  33. "These Happy Hours Are So Cheap—It's Unreal". Willamette Week. 2016-09-30. Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  34. Wile, Kristen (June 17, 2019). "A guide to local favorites in Plaza Midwood". Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  35. "Dinerz™ 2014: Tom's Restaurant". Willamette Week. 2014-06-17. Archived from the original on 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  36. "Baltimore's Best Dive Bars". Baltimore Magazine. 2022-12-28. Archived from the original on 2023-03-05. Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  37. "Woodlawn Tap Review - Scoundrel's Field Guide". 2025-06-07. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
  38. Hilton, Thom (2015-10-16). "16 Spots for Late-Night Dining in Portland". Eater Portland. Archived from the original on 2021-08-06. Retrieved 2023-08-08.