The Best Dive Bar in Bay Area

2am Club

A pure dive bar without the stigma that usually comes with the name. A true neighborhood watering hole that everyone can enjoy. more

Located on the corner of Guerrero and 17th Street, the 500 is an oasis from the trendiness of Valencia Street. Locals mix with resident hipsters, weekend slummers, and skate kids. Drinks and tunes from the stellar jukebox both flow all night long. Th... more

540 Rogues

With a nearly bottomless Internet jukebox that's received kudos from the SF Weekly as the "Best Jukebox in SF", free WiFi access, cover-charge free DJ nights, and late night drink specials, it's no wonder the 540 Rogues is the bar of choice for Richm... more

7 Bamboo Karaoke Lounge

Every night is karaoke night at 7 Bamboo. This Japantown hot spot wins every year for best karaoke because it dedicates itself to the art and awesomeness that is karaoke. Lovers of singing in public flock to this place to belt out classics from Tom J... more

Alex's 49er Inn

About as old school as a San Jose neighborhood bar can get, Alex’s 49er Inn in the Burbank District packs the regulars into its strip mall confines for some heavy handed cocktails that would snap any well pickled sot’s head back. As far a... more

Antone's Cocktail Lounge

Antone's has been a family run business for years, continuing to be the greatest local dive bar in San Mateo. more

Back Bar

Happy Hour Everyday 5-9p!  Come join us for a coctail and a cigar on our massive outdoor patio!  Comfy seating, very friendly environment and the best bartenders in town!  Reggae Thursdays (Reggae and 90s rock), $2 2sdays ($2 wells!!),... more

Bears Cocktail Lounge

The Bears is the typical homey bar with 2 Pool tables, pool tournaments, dive bar.  The bar features a good selection of beers at neighborhood prices ,a full bar and three big-screen TVs to catch the game. The bar hosts nine-ball tour... more

Bitters Bock & Rye

Bitters Bock & Rye is a unique BBQ restaurant and bar where you can enjoy everything from southern-style fried okra, house-smoked BBQ brisket, southern-style BBQ ribs, jalapeno margaritas (with house-smoked jalapeno-infused tequila), we brew b... more

Black Watch

Sure, downtown Los Gatos may be home to a Lamborghini dealership, a J. Crew, and more clothing boutiques than you can shake a stick at, but it’s also where The Black Watch lives. Escape all the shiny-happy people by ducking into this no-frills... more

Blind Cat

A neighborhood dive that has a jukebox, pinball & good selection of beer & whiskey. more

Bloodhound

WWII inspired neighborhood bar, serving up seasonal cocktails, craft beer and pool table. SF's Best Happy Hour. more

Blue Lagoon

We are a daytime bar, and a nighttime Dance Club and Live Music Venue. Happy Hour: 4-9pm $4 Well Drinks and Pints of Anchor Steam NIGHTLY SCHEDULE: Tuesday - 90's Night Wednesday - Live Bands Thursday - 80's Night Friday - Live Bands & DJ's Sat... more

Bow Bow Cocktail Lounge

A small little dive bar that features Karaoke if you ask the bartender -- songs in Mandarin are also available.  more

Butter

Butter's bar was created from the ground up, with a constant eye on providing the perfect complimentary beverage pairings to our unique cuisine. We serve only the freshest Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap and a wide selection of 16 oz. tallboy canned beers.... more

1 Upcoming events

Callahan's

Callahan's is the place to be around Market Street after going for a long motorcycle ride down Highway 9 back into Santa Cruz. Free pool and great happy hour prices also make it a nice break from the craziness of downtown on a Friday or Saturday nigh... more

Cinnabar

A sports bar and lounge. SF TL Locals #Alchemist owned and operated. Open 3pm-2am daily. Happy hour from 3pm - 9pm. more

Clooney's Pub

A kitchy neighborhood dive bar in a great area on Valencia. more

Columbus Cafe

Welcome to the original Columbus Cafe, a historic parlor located in the center of San Francisco's North Beach District at 562 Green Street. Established in 1936 to serve the waterfront’s Longshoremen the Columbus Café has been a long stan... more

Court's Lounge

This spacious bar serves up big frosty mugs of beer at prices that are easy to swallow. Pool tables, arcade games, a wall of dart boards and a back patio for relaxing on hot summer days. Plenty of TVs to watch the game. It also makes for a great pit... more

Delirium Bar

2022 marks our notorious dive bar's 20th anniversary! We open at 10am and also have fun events every night of the week except for Tuesdays. We boast the cheapest drinks in the area with fun specials such as our "Flavor of the Week Jell-O Shot." We us... more

35 Upcoming events

Dimples

Just head down the stairs and enter this cool, slightly pricey, Korean dive bar.   Just across from Japan Center. more

Dive Bar

Dive Bar features a full bar, including an extensive list of premium vodkas , gin and whiskey. We have all the classic spririts, as well as the latest labels, and are always adding a new brand or flavor to compliment our selection.  We also fe... more

Eli's Mile High Club

Gotta love the ticker on their website - A Garbage Bar for Losers. Eli's Mile High Club is a kitchy 80s, 90s punk themed bar and music venue.  There are also picnic tables in the patio. more

Ernie's Tin Bar

A divey little roadside bar where you can enjoy a cold one.  Great selection of beer, from PBR to artsy fartsy.  Good no-phone policy tries to keep it real in that way, where it's the beer and your buddies just hanging out. more

Fireside Bar

A classic dive bar, conveniently located right on the N line.    Cheap drinks.  Dogs are welcome. more

Gilroy Sports Tavern

Glen Park Station

If you're not from Glen Park, the Station is a cool little dive to stop in if you're ever exploring the Glen Park Canyon area. Mostly friendly locals catching up. Warriors, 49ers and Giants games shown. more

Gold Cane Cocktail Lounge

Long-standing casual bar with a back patio, pool, multiple televisions & a lounge area. more

Grant & Green -- closed

* The classic bar / saloon that operated for over 50 years, Grant & Green, closed in 2023. The Grant & Green is a favorite local venue for up-and-coming music acts. They feature live music most nights, and cold beer. Really, what more could you wa... more

Hawaii West

This is only a halfhearted attempt at a tiki bar, with a small handful of tiki-god statuettes and a flimsy palm tree reflecting its entire efforts. The froufrou, tropical-themed drinks normally associated with the motif are missing, replaced by a han... more

Hi-Lo Club

The Hi-Lo Club is your neighborhood bar, where the Hi-Brow meets the Lo-Brow. We offer affordable Specialty Cocktails, an extensive Spirits Menu, a large Beer Bottle list, local wines, as well as 12 California Beers on Tap. more

High Tide

High Tide is a super divey bar in the TL where you'll find a decent beer & maybe a shot, funky art on the walls, a pool table, and a jukebox.   Cash only. more

Hyde Park Cocktail Lounge

A low-maintenance sanctuary for folks who plan on drinking 'til they die, Hyde Park Cocktail Lounge is where one can wile away the hours downing brews and avoiding the hype of the nightlife scene. Old-school photos of dead celebrities from the 50s an... more

iL Pirata

iL Pirata consists of two large indoor spaces, a large dance area, plus an open-air side patio... besides that, it's a pretty cozy little bar in a no-man's land between Potrero Ave and the 101. more

Jack's Bar & Lounge

A clean, friendly, and cozy neighborhood bar to meet with friends, catch a game, play some beer pong, and of course have a few drinks and a great time. A neighborhood dive bar with some improvements, like real bathrooms, flat-panel HDTVs and a sleek... more

JJ's Salon

Back in the day, JJ's gave away matchbooks emblazoned with that great old saw: "You're only a stranger once." In fact, settling in for a couple of cocktails here generally means making some friends. Still a classic neighborhood sports bar, JJ's has c... more

Jury Room

The tiny central Santa Cruz bar earns its name from its close proximity to the Courthouse, but it's doubtful you'll see any lawmen there having drinks. Tailored to a younger crowd of boisterous partiers, the Jury Room is also home to the local punk r... more

Kilowatt

Kilowatt made its name when it used to feature alternative rock, college, grunge, and punk music. But nowadays it's just a dive bar that caters to locals. It's a great stop on your bar-hopping adventures along 16th Street. more

Kingfish Pub & Cafe

The Kingfish is one of the few remaining old bars in North Oakland's Temescal District. Originally opened as a bait shop in 1922, The Kingfish is a truly unique bar and very cool place to get a drink. more

UPCOMING EVENTS