American Dive Bars' photostream

Dive Bar….It is a term that is often associated with a dark, dirty bar where if you walk in, you might not walk out without a fight. But, the true American Dive Bar is a place to be celebrated, not the sort of place that you might need a tetanus shot before you enter. A true dive bar is an institution and in engrained into the very fabric of America and its history. The dive bar is a slice of true Americana and should be celebrated. It is the place where true friendships are formed and where memories are made, some good and some not so good.



The staff at AmericanDiveBars.com has spent countless hours in bars, pubs, taverns, cocktail lounges, nightclubs and other watering holes gathering data. During our extensive research, the dive bar has always been the most inviting as opposed to other venues. Dive bars come in all shapes and sizes and can be called by a variety of different names such as a pub, local tavern or cocktail lounge. The beer is cold (sometimes), the people are friendly and the surroundings are comfortable if not fancy.



A dive bar in its truest sense is a place where you can walk in as a stranger or regular patron and feel equally at home. The atmosphere is casual: other than no shirt, no shoes, no service, there is no dress code. You could wear a suit or a sleeveless t-shirt and be equally welcomed. The closest thing to a uniform the employees wear is a t-shirt with the bar’s name. Unlike many chains, you will find no “flair” on these employees!



In reality, a dive bar isn’t dirty or scary. The employees have all or at least most of their teeth and other than occasional mullet they look like everyone else. Above all, dive bars are unpretentious and welcoming. AmericanDiveBars.com was created as a resource for all who love a good or great dive bar and enjoy a sense of community. Our many years of research, and numerous hangovers, now serve the sole purpose of informing our users and preserving this great American Institution. As we build and promote this community, we move boldly to unseat the fear from our parents that we are “Wasting our Lives.” We want this site to be a fun and entertaining way to preserve, to celebrate, and more importantly, to find a good dive bar in your area. Click here to view our criteria for what qualifies as a dive bar. Chains and franchises need not apply!