Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? - LocalApple

lauren · 09-05-2007, 10:43 AM

So I have heard the term "Dive Bar" but what is it exactly and how is it different from a regular 'bar'?? I always hear talk amongst friends about local dive bars in Manhattan that they go to but I am curious as to what they are talking about, im embarrassed to ask them so I figured I would ask here? Thanks!! sorry if this is a silly question....

CityGuy · 09-05-2007, 11:00 AM

A dive bar is like your local bar. Its not a fancy place at all and usually has the same crowd every single day. A dive bar is a place where people who really like to drink go to REALLY drink. As for cleanliness, a dive bar is going to be filthy. I guess a Dive Bar is pretty much a place where:
1 - you will see the same old weird guy whose their every single night without fail. He will look scummy and may appear weird but he chooses this life of simplicity.
2 - you should be able to get a bottle of Bud, if you CANT its NOT a dive bar
3 -a Dive bar is NOT new its old and has years of filth accumulated under its belt. A dive bar is made up of its community of people who are there everyday, so there is no such thing as a NEW dive bar.
4 - People at a dive bar ARE NOT JUDGEMENTAL...if you feel like drinking slowly or can drink booze like water no one there will give a rats ass....your alcoholic intake will NOT be judged!
5 - And lastly if your parents knew you hung out there and they got pissed or worried sick OR you were scared to take your parents there....its a DIVE BAR!!

CityGuy · 09-05-2007, 11:05 AM

Historically speaking, Dive bars are part of the 'OLD' New York. These aging, filthy relics are a reminder of classic New York, a place where grit and dirt were a sign of character. Hence, thats why I mentioned filthy a lot in the previous post. If I were you I would check out a local Dive Bar just to see what bars in the 'OLD' New York were like. You never know, you may enjoy it and the people there are real, there is nothing trendy about a dive bar!

lauren · 09-05-2007, 01:17 PM

haha doesnt seem like my kind of scene but i will def try to check it out...do all dive bars have to be totally unsanitary? and what are some of the most popular dive bars in the area??

CityGuy · 09-05-2007, 01:32 PM

well coyote ugly is popular but dont confuse it with the movie...i guess coyote ugly, the MOVIE could have been a dive bar, but most dive bars i have been to pple are not really dancing...actually i dont think i have ever seen anyone dance at the dive bars i have been to. This coyote ugly has coyotes that do the dance thing and you can check out their pics here if your interested!

Doc Hollidays on Avenue A and 9th street is also pretty popular that you may have been to. Its a great place to hang with friends and every once in a while, just like at coyote ugly the girls will get up on the bar and dance.

latenite77 · 09-05-2007, 01:39 PM

Dive bars are good places to go when you dont want to get all dressed up or you dont have any plans. You throw on a pair of jeans and just head to your local dive bar where no one is judgemental and you dont feel like your at a fashion show. I usually go with friends and I have a couple drinks but for some reason I never spend more then 2 or 3 hours at a dive bar. To me its a place to mingle with friends because you wouldnt have space to mingle in your tiny apartment....sorry im young and dont have the funds to afford a big place...i think thats the biggest reason i go to dive bars!!

PaullyInNYC · 09-20-2007, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by latenite77

sorry im young and dont have the funds to afford a big place...i think thats the biggest reason i go to dive bars!!

its understandable latenite....although there are some dive bars out there that may be smaller then your apartment...

manhattanbars · 12-06-2007, 10:26 PM

You wanna NYC dive bar?? Try Odessa on Avenue A in Manhattan, NYC I posted my review here: http://www.manhattanbars.com/showthread.php?t=204

It was worse 20 years ago, but I still love it!!!

PaullyInNYC · 04-08-2008, 04:42 PM

Best Dive Bar in my opinion is McSorleys on East 7th street

RussellF · 06-28-2008, 02:57 PM

Sometimes, when a day of NY Limos is over , I love to get a drink at the new Boutique Bars that are popping up all over the city. Mostly in the W Hotels in NYC. They are all dimly lit with candles scattered about. All the Barmaids wear short black dresses, and are hot. And the music. Deep, rich, rhythms and lofty spa like tunes like something out of Miami Vice. Drink prices are ridiculous, of course (so I have a few on the way over), but I go for the atmosphere and the feeling of the moment. For a few minutes, I feel like I’m cool, part of something, like I got past the ban of the velvet rope. The same way I try to make people feel in my New York City Car Service.

09-05-2007, 10:43 AM	#1
lauren Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 173	Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? So I have heard the term "Dive Bar" but what is it exactly and how is it different from a regular 'bar'?? I always hear talk amongst friends about local dive bars in Manhattan that they go to but I am curious as to what they are talking about, im embarrassed to ask them so I figured I would ask here? Thanks!! sorry if this is a silly question....

09-05-2007, 11:00 AM	#2
CityGuy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Manhatten Posts: 1,040	Re: Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? A dive bar is like your local bar. Its not a fancy place at all and usually has the same crowd every single day. A dive bar is a place where people who really like to drink go to REALLY drink. As for cleanliness, a dive bar is going to be filthy. I guess a Dive Bar is pretty much a place where: 1 - you will see the same old weird guy whose their every single night without fail. He will look scummy and may appear weird but he chooses this life of simplicity. 2 - you should be able to get a bottle of Bud, if you CANT its NOT a dive bar 3 -a Dive bar is NOT new its old and has years of filth accumulated under its belt. A dive bar is made up of its community of people who are there everyday, so there is no such thing as a NEW dive bar. 4 - People at a dive bar ARE NOT JUDGEMENTAL...if you feel like drinking slowly or can drink booze like water no one there will give a rats ass....your alcoholic intake will NOT be judged! 5 - And lastly if your parents knew you hung out there and they got pissed or worried sick OR you were scared to take your parents there....its a DIVE BAR!!

09-05-2007, 11:05 AM	#3
CityGuy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Manhatten Posts: 1,040	Re: Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? Historically speaking, Dive bars are part of the 'OLD' New York. These aging, filthy relics are a reminder of classic New York, a place where grit and dirt were a sign of character. Hence, thats why I mentioned filthy a lot in the previous post. If I were you I would check out a local Dive Bar just to see what bars in the 'OLD' New York were like. You never know, you may enjoy it and the people there are real, there is nothing trendy about a dive bar!

09-05-2007, 01:17 PM	#4
lauren Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 173	Re: Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? haha doesnt seem like my kind of scene but i will def try to check it out...do all dive bars have to be totally unsanitary? and what are some of the most popular dive bars in the area??

09-05-2007, 01:32 PM	#5
CityGuy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Manhatten Posts: 1,040	Re: Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? well coyote ugly is popular but dont confuse it with the movie...i guess coyote ugly, the MOVIE could have been a dive bar, but most dive bars i have been to pple are not really dancing...actually i dont think i have ever seen anyone dance at the dive bars i have been to. This coyote ugly has coyotes that do the dance thing and you can check out their pics here if your interested! Doc Hollidays on Avenue A and 9th street is also pretty popular that you may have been to. Its a great place to hang with friends and every once in a while, just like at coyote ugly the girls will get up on the bar and dance.

09-05-2007, 01:39 PM	#6
latenite77 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 62	Re: Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? Dive bars are good places to go when you dont want to get all dressed up or you dont have any plans. You throw on a pair of jeans and just head to your local dive bar where no one is judgemental and you dont feel like your at a fashion show. I usually go with friends and I have a couple drinks but for some reason I never spend more then 2 or 3 hours at a dive bar. To me its a place to mingle with friends because you wouldnt have space to mingle in your tiny apartment....sorry im young and dont have the funds to afford a big place...i think thats the biggest reason i go to dive bars!!

12-06-2007, 10:26 PM	#8
manhattanbars Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2	You wanna dive bar do yas?? You wanna NYC dive bar?? Try Odessa on Avenue A in Manhattan, NYC I posted my review here: http://www.manhattanbars.com/showthread.php?t=204 It was worse 20 years ago, but I still love it!!!

04-08-2008, 04:42 PM	#9
PaullyInNYC Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 1,297	Re: Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? Best Dive Bar in my opinion is McSorleys on East 7th street

06-28-2008, 02:57 PM	#10
RussellF Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 38	BAR BANS Dive Bar? and which ones are best in NYC? Sometimes, when a day of NY Limos is over , I love to get a drink at the new Boutique Bars that are popping up all over the city. Mostly in the W Hotels in NYC. They are all dimly lit with candles scattered about. All the Barmaids wear short black dresses, and are hot. And the music. Deep, rich, rhythms and lofty spa like tunes like something out of Miami Vice. Drink prices are ridiculous, of course (so I have a few on the way over), but I go for the atmosphere and the feeling of the moment. For a few minutes, I feel like I’m cool, part of something, like I got past the ban of the velvet rope. The same way I try to make people feel in my New York City Car Service. __________________ Russell Figaredo NYC LIMO SERVICE NYC CONCIERGE SERVICE

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