What is a Dive Bar? A Drinker's Guide.

The answer to the question, "What is a dive bar?" is more of a philosophical exercise than a straightforward definition. Wine bars serve wine, small plates, and upscale bar snacks. Country bars offer cheap beer and twangy live music. And sports bars mean wings and flatscreen TVs. Dive bars are elusive. They don't necessarily share drink menus and decor, but you know one when you see one.

Whether you're a certified barfly or just curious about dive bar culture, here's a guide to dive bars—from the back bar to the pork rinds and all the cheap drinks in between.

What makes dive bars different from regular bars?

What differentiates a dive bar from a neighborhood bar, or other normal bars, is subject to debate. Some think dive bars are defined by their unique authenticity and staying power; others think they need to have a dangerous edge.

Barroom historian, writer, and dive bar aficionado David Wondrich makes the distinction between dive bars and neighborhood bars on vinepair.com. A neighborhood bar draws people from the neighborhood (who may or may not contribute to the classic dive bar aesthetic, which is notoriously shabby). "A dive bar sets its own rules and draws tourists and people from all over town and all over the area that know this is a special place set aside from the world," explains Wondrich.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a dive as a "shabby and disreputable establishment." Real dive bar purists argue that "Dives reek of desperation, puke, and dust. They're called dives because they exist beneath society, where squalor and vermin reign," according to Thrillist. That side street bar with the dingy old rec room aesthetic isn't a dive bar. Dive bars feel downright dangerous.

While the "classic, low-key drinking establishments" and "exist beneath society" remain two distinct dive bar camps, there are a few qualities that dive bars tend to have in common. Smaller menus and limited food options, open early and stay open late, full of drinking locals, and a laid-back bartender.

The history of the dive bars

The term "dive bar" has murky origins. According to the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, it first appeared in an 1871 copy of the New York Herald. The term dive would describe disreputable places, often located in cellars or basements, so patrons would "dive" into the establishment. While the push for prohibition wouldn't gain momentum for another few decades, drinking, was still seen as sinful behavior for the puritanical public.

Dive bar culture became immortalized in the Beat movement of the 1950s. Beat Generation writers like Jack Kerouac frequented bars in San Francisco, Denver, New York City, and elsewhere. Such establishments weren't just places to drink; they were hotbeds of creativity and community for a certain subculture.

In the 1980s, the concept of a neighborhood bar was elevated in the public consciousness with terms like "third place," emphasizing the role bars and other establishments play in creating a thriving community and democracy.

TV shows like Cheers made dives the backdrop against which life happens, showing more than people drinking. While the divey-ness of the Cheers bar is up for debate (of course, like most dive bar lore), the show demonstrated how an ordinary bar can take on extraordinary qualities when you get to know the people inside of it.

As drinking culture shifted away from the humble neighborhood bar towards cocktail and sports bars, dive bars started to fade in popularity and close their doors. Urban neighborhoods were changing, and unruly dive bars that attracted unsavory clientele were the first to go.

Concept bars, which did the most where a dive bar did the least, competed for guest attention and dollars. Neon signs promoted "Rosé all day" and "Save water, drink tequila," mustachioed bartenders served craft beers and top-shelf Irish whiskey, and expansive kitchens offered a gourmet, fusion-inspired food menu.

While the dive bar aesthetic of weathered wood bars, hodge-podge decor, and cracked leather seating is seemingly everywhere, the sign of a true dive bar is in its authenticity. A bar's authenticity can't be bottled or framed. It is hard to maintain in the age of social media, where the neighborhood's best-kept secret can go from half capacity to packed with out-of-towners at the tap of a screen.

What's good for business isn't necessarily good for the dive bar's reputation. But patrons will come and go, whereas a dusty, creaking, beer-soaked dive bar is forever.

What makes a great dive bar?

The criteria of a good dive bar is subject to change based on age, geographical location, and drink of choice. Here's a non-exhaustive list of must-haves:

Cheap drinks

Affordable domestic beers and "house cocktails" involving simple, store-bought ingredients, and always served in plastic cups. Dives specialize in the beer-and-shot combo, which varies based on the type of liquor a dive bar stocks.

Limited food options

A dive bar doesn't need to serve food to satisfy patrons. Definitely no small plates, dishes that require silverware, or chef-inspired menus. The dive bar diet consists of popcorn, pretzels, fun-size bags of potato chips, maybe french fries, or tater tots if there's a small kitchen in the back. Some dive bars allow patrons to order takeout or delivery from a nearby restaurant, but drinking in a dive remains superior—and preferable—to eating in one.

Welcoming bartenders

A dive bar bartender in her natural habitat is catching up with regulars and cracking open domestic beers—not necessarily walking newbies through the bar offerings. They're used to repeat orders and patrons who know what they want. Be good to your local dive bartender, read the handwritten menu (or peruse the taps), and opt for something they can easily serve. As always, tip generously.

Unpretentious vibe

It's a common thread through a rarely agreed-upon topic that dives are most identifiable by a certain vibe. What is that certain vibe, you ask? Welcoming enough, deeply casual, definitely not trying to impress. Vibe encompasses the music, which is likely subject to the whims of bartenders and locals. If the bar has a TouchTunes, it's probably not an authentic dive bar—but even that is up for debate, of course.

Cash friendly

While cash payments are on the decline, dive bars adhere to the old "cash is king" adage. Since the dawn of computerized registers, many dive bars have adopted technology without chaos and things falling from the sky. Some purists may find it sacrilegious, but a bar POS system with an extremely simple menu setup can help bartenders serve guests faster and allow for card payments, though there might be a minimum required. So while cash is preferred at some dive bars, cash payments aren't essential to the dive bar experience, and neither is that risky ATM in the corner.

A dive bar definitely doesn't provide parking, display fancy signage of craft cocktails, or vie for your attention with specials and gimmicks. From door open to close, dive bars provide guests with drinks (and so much more, though good luck putting that into words).

How to find great dives in your city

When it comes to the dive bar marketing strategy, it is often the less effort, the better. For many, cheap beer and a place to sit have enough of a pull. If you're new in town and looking for your Friday night watering hole, here are some ways to find it.

1. Take a walk on the side streets

While some dive bars are centrally located in busy areas, many thrive on the side streets and in the quieter parts of the neighborhood. Look for lowkey signage, perhaps a cluster of cigarette butts, and follow that domestic beer truck to point you in the right direction.

2. Consult social media

A viral social media post can do wonders for foot traffic. At true dives, this can be a blessing and a curse, driving away their loyal, core clientele. However, checking out the Instagram and TikTok content of dive bar aficionados can give you a good idea of where to hang. Steer clear of viral, generic influencer content, and look for true barflies deep in the dive bar weeds. Some pages, like @divebarsofchicago, compose rating scales and create rankings on the hunt for the quintessential dive.

3. Ask around

To find the best dive bars, talk to industry people. Ask bartenders and servers where they like to spend their days off. There are plenty of listicles online claiming to be the definitive list of essential and legendary dive bars, but try to find a reputable source to back it up. Word-of-mouth from a trustworthy source is the best way to find an authentic dive bar.

Come for the cheap beer, stay indefinitely.

Dives play an important role in the hospitality ecosystem. They're open late, making them viable places for servers and bartenders to hang out after a shift. Plus, they cater to guests who might not feel welcome or be able to afford fancier cocktail bars and highbrow concepts. At their dusty, sticky core, they're community spaces, which is what the hospitality industry is all about. You can raise a beer, and a shot, to that.