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I'm on a quest to find the divyest bar in Toronto. When I lived in Montreal, I used to frequent this shitty old bar filled with prostitutes and drug dealers, where the beer was cheap and was served in glasses that might or might not have been washed after their last use. I dunno what it is, but I feel more comfortable in dingy bars than in upscale pubs and whatnot. I'm usually the guy in the corner booth drinking whiskey and reading a book, not talking to too many ppl and just observing the interactions in the place. Last night, I went to this ritzy bar, where there was a $13 cover to see a (decent) cover band, which I thought was ridiculous. I've paid $13-$15 to see Kid Koala, DJ Shadow, Mudhoney and some other big name groups/bands in the past... who charges $13 to see a cover band??!

Anyway, how do you guys feel about dive bars vs. ritzy joints?

I dont know man, I can't stand the upper scale places.
I'm the guy that showed up to dinner with family at a 4star, coat and tie restaurant not having showered in 4-5 days, wearing a dirty hoodie and jacket and jeans that'd been torn up after years of use....
but I'm also the guy that drives a decent car and worries when parking in sleazy places lol
I like the "beer is just expensive enough to not be a total dive but you're likely to find drunken homeless guys passed out on the sidewalk outside" type places

I'm pretty into the solid middle: I don't usually dig on the ritzy places, but always think I'm about to get my ass kicked at the serious dives. I remember this one place I played in Providence that was pretty damn divey, and there was this one guy who looked kinda like Robert DiNero drinking at the bar. He was there when we loaded in around 5, he was still there after soundcheck at 7, and then around 8:30, he stood up (unsteadily) and said in a loud drunky voice (to nobody in particular) "Whaddayoulookin at? I'm ROBERT GODDAMN DINERO and I'm gonna KILL EVERY GODDAMN ONE A' YOUSE!!!!" Then he sat down and ordered another drink.

Later that night, I saw the owner kick an extra-drunk patron out onto the street. When the guy wouldn't stand up and walk away, the owner kicked him in the head until he got up and stumbled off.

I definitely prefer dive bars when it comes to atmosphere, but unfortunately I usually end up at the nicer places. The main reason is that most dive bars have shit for beer. I hate the fact that most places in America consider it manly to drink pisswater, and consider good beer to be all foofy and yuppy. The only exception to this is some really shitty awesome irish dive pubs in Boston, which at least usually gives you the option to get either murphys, smithwicks or belhaven.

bigchiefbc wrote:I definitely prefer dive bars when it comes to atmosphere, but unfortunately I usually end up at the nicer places. The main reason is that most dive bars have shit for beer. I hate the fact that most places in America consider it manly to drink pisswater, and consider good beer to be all foofy and yuppy. The only exception to this is some really shitty awesome irish dive pubs in Boston, which at least usually gives you the option to get either murphys, smithwicks or belhaven.

Smithwicks is what I started drinking last night, before I switched to Guiness and then Rye. It's a damn good beer.

Somewhere inbetween is what I prefer. I definately do not like going to really classy bars or clubs, I don't want to deal with expensive drinks, dress codes and the sorts of assholes those places draw in. But on the other hand, I don't want to go to some filthy skid row bar where I'm worried about getting stabbed. A somewhat rundown pub right in the middle is perfect for me.

no thanks to biker bars

but super rich bars classy joints over this way are like fight clubs
every guy thinks your staring at his girlfriend and wants to fight u
such as the ivy and scruffy murphys and candys apartment

but theres some good places in sydney starfuckers,oxford art fagtory,spectrum

i realise im getting old even though im 21 cause all i do at bars and clubs is complain about youngins fresh out of highschool

Now Thats Class
Europe Gyro
House of Swing

my favorite dive bars

both have their places...

super upscale can be pretty rad if you go to a cool, modern place rather than a fucktard brodown club - there tend to be more arty people, fashionistas, etc. a good example would be the hudson hotel bar in NYC. drinks are WAY overpriced but a slick spot to go blazed and get ONE drink if you're in the area...



on the other hand, dives are rad for their weird old men and cheap as shit drinks. a good dive where they have some pretty damn good beer but you can also get a round of 4 whiskey gingers for like $10 is dirty frank's in philadelphia.



super shitty awesome bar in nyc to go late late night is mars bar. no fucking lights on in the bar usually and small and dirty as shit. look at it this way - this is a "nice" picture of the place.

ONE drink

a tenner for 4 drinks is a date for sure

My favorite bar in DC was like that.
Gun totin’ Super Fly looking guys, moderately attractive women and cheap drinks.

No business other than buying/selling drinks was conducted in the place and the 300 lb bartender made sure of it.

Second favorite was a now defunct strip club with live bands.
Met one of my girl friends there.

Third was a biker bar. Great bands and drunk everybody. Biker chicks always made me dance with them.

MM