Dive bar

Description

Once considered a pejorative term, "dive bar" has more recently become a badge of distinction from patrons who seek authenticity in such establishments. Devotees may describe a bar as "very divey" or "not divey" and compose rating scales of "divey-ness". One such devotee is Steve Vensen, founder of a California group called the DBC (Dive Bar Conoisseurs) who says, "Every dive bar is like a snowflake: diverse and unique. . . you always get local subculture and every time is an adventure." Author Todd Dayton offers the following: "Dives [dive bars] are like pornography: hard to define but you know it when you see it". As to what distinguishes a dive bar from an ordinary bar, Dayton stated in 2004:

Dive bars traditionally only adhered to the minimal effort needed to provide guests with drinks; i.e., they typically do not advertise, provide parking, or have fancy signage. Dive bars are not known for their food. They often do not serve food beyond pretzels and snacks. For example, in 2018 a visitor to a well-known [Nashville dive bar reported seeing a hand-written menu taped to the refrigerator, listing only pork rinds, popcorn, peanuts, and microwaved corn dogs (US $1). Bathrooms in dive bars are notoriously shabby and may have a shower curtain instead of a door on the toilet stall. Authentic dive bars are usually "cash only" establishments, and may not feature computerized registers. The owner or a family member of theirs is often working the bar. Dive bars usually have a clientele from all walks of life, including some locals who have been drinking there for decades.

During the COVID-19 pandemic of the early 2020s, U.S. cities closed down bars and food service establishments, and many dive bar owners made repairs and cleaned up while they were closed down. Rick Dobbs, author of the 2019 book Local Spirit: Neighborhood Bars of Orleans Parish, said, "A dive can absolutely be cleaned up but still be a dive... it's the character and spirit of the space that counts". The news website SFGate recently covered the ongoing discussion over the definition of a "dive bar", whether it is the character or decor that make a "dive bar", and whether or not the image of the Merrimaker featured in this article still qualifies due to an extensive remodel in 2019.

References

References

1. (19 December 2008). "Divers' Education". [[Chicago Tribune]].
2. (23 October 2014). "What We Talk About When We Talk About Dive Bars". Vox Media.
3. (July 20, 2020). "Beer and a Shot of Hand Sanitizer: Dive Bars Try Cleaning Up". Wall Street Journal.
4. Nordbø, Harald. (2022-02-11). "Ut på byen? Her er din guide til 20 av Oslos bruneste puber".
5. Lindbaek, Gudmund. (2014-04-06). "Brun bar med grønne miks-varianter".
6. Isdal, Helge Tollan. (2023-02-26). "Jakten på Trondheims bruneste pub".
7. (24 November 2009). "Dive Bar Connoisseurs". The Herald (Dubois County, Indiana.
8. (2003). "New York City's Best Dive Bars:Drinking and Diving in the Five Boroughs". Ig.
9. (2004). "San Francisco's Best Dive Bars". Ig Pub.
10. (10 December 2018). "Fran's Eastside Is the Best Dive Bar in Nashville". Vice edai.
11. (24 July 2025). "Wikipedia's favorite dive bar is hiding in a sleepy California beach town". SFGate.