{"id":6290,"date":"2025-10-16T06:57:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T06:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/6290\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T06:57:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T06:57:10","slug":"11-best-dive-bars-in-dallas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/6290\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Best Dive Bars in Dallas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Ciggie
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOne of the best dirty martinis in the city and a ciggie machine. Welcome home. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Lauren Drewes Daniels<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that dark quarter of the year <\/a>when family is back in town, homecoming is nigh, and that aunt or uncle has an official invite to the function. Need a strong drink\u00a0or a martini so dirty you\u2019ll blush<\/a>? Sames.<\/p>\n

Cheap drinks, low lights and sticky floors are the only way to cope these days. Here are our 11 favorite dive bars that still smell like smoke, and no matter how many times you wipe down the bar, it\u2019s still a little sticky. <\/p>\n

Lakewood Landing, East Dallas<\/p>\n

Lakewood Landing<\/a> has held steady as Dallas\u2019 \u201cone and only upscale dive\u201d for over 50 years. Upscale means one thing everywhere else, but at this dive, it means the corndogs are house-battered. You see the vision when you settle into this dimly lit bar with a lauded jukebox and worn details. If you thought the charm stopped there, wait until you see the menu. The drinks are cheap and almost all the food is under $10, including \u201cthe\u201d burger and the award-winning Philly cheesesteak. You see? 5818 Live Oak St.<\/p>\n

The Grapevine, Medical District<\/p>\n

Wine bar turned dive bar? You don\u2019t hear that every day. The Grapevine<\/a> opened as a spot for vino on Maple Avenue in 1996, but quickly evolved into a come-as-you-are dive when the regulars demanded something stronger. Despite the bar\u2019s loyal following, the land beneath it was purchased and dozed, forcing relocation. Now, two miles from the original location, most of The Grapevine\u2019s original art, nameplates and soft lights decorate this bigger space, equipped with a two-story patio, grandma couches, pool tables and outdoor courtyards. 2213 Butler St.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Lil\u2019 Kahuna Burger at Peak Inn.<\/p>\n

The Peak Inn, Old East Dallas<\/p>\n

If The Peak Inn<\/a> were your neighbor, it might be a problem. This is an easy bar, with a great juke box and a fantastic cheeseburger. Weekday happy hour runs until 10 p.m. here (20% off all alcohol), plus on Mondays, you can get a burger and fries for just nine bucks. There\u2019s pool, darts and Golden Tee, plus TVs for all the sports. It\u2019s laid-back, dark and has great food. Leaving is the hard part. 132 N. Peak St. <\/p>\n

Double Wide, Deep Ellum<\/p>\n

At Dallas\u2019 favorite little ol\u2019 trailer park, the drinks hit harder than dad, so they say. Since 2003, Double Wide<\/a> has served the coldest beer and stiff concoctions like the Yoo-Hoo Yee-Haw and HurriTANG, which could, perhaps, evoke those deeply buried childhood memories. Live music, at least every Friday and Saturday, ranges from rock to country, plus karaoke and other events from time to time. 3510 Commerce St. <\/p>\n

Lee Harvey\u2019s, The Cedars<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be afraid, just go on in. Asked about the reference to the assassin\u2019s name, the original owner, Timm Zbylut, told us, \u201cIt\u2019s just Lee Harvey\u2019s<\/a>.\u201d (No Oswald.) OK. This quirky dive bar has been making us ponder what we thought we knew for more than 20 years. There\u2019s a large outdoor space with plenty of picnic tables and often live music on the porch. The burgers and wings are great; the onion rings are epic. 1807 Gould St.<\/p>\n

Charlie\u2019s Star Lounge, Deep Ellum<\/p>\n

The outskirts of Deep Ellum is the place to be kind and unwind, as per the motto at Charlie\u2019s Star Lounge<\/a>. They host themed nights, a beloved Friday night karaoke and a colorful kitchen sink for patrons. \u201cBig Fun\u201d and crew sling libations behind the bar like the must-try Cherry-Lime-Yay, a frozen cherry limeade with vodka. The catch? The bathroom sinks are not sex-proof.<\/a> 4319 Main St. <\/p>\n

Cosmo\u2019s, East Dallas<\/p>\n

Owners Gerald and Debra always wanted to own their own retro dive bar where they could keep things interesting and old school in the Lakewood Area. Cosmo\u2019s<\/a>, with its \u201970s vintage furniture and groovy lights, does just that. Microsoft Word was definitely used to create the menu, but their\u00a0fresh, classic cocktails and eclectic variety of food prove worthy. Allegedly, this dive has some of the best pho in Dallas thanks to executive chef Jackson Tran\u2019s family recipe. Also on the menu are Stoner Wings and much more (but try the pho anyway). Party tip: this spot is within walking distance of Lakewood Landing if you want a twofer one night. 1212 Skillman St.<\/p>\n

Adair\u2019s Saloon, Downtown<\/p>\n

Sunday through Friday, happy hour, free pool on Mondays, and live country music? Yes. Adair\u2019s Saloon<\/a> has been open since 1963. Seven nights a week, Dallas\u2019 upcoming artists and other Texas talent appear on the stage. If they don\u2019t, the regulars will get the damn jukebox playing the sounds of legends like Bob Wills or Hank Williams. Graffiti and art cover about every square inch of the walls and include photo memorabilia of famous and not-famous folk who have passed through the bar, including the blown-up photo of some guy named Elvis Presley taken back in 1955. If their walls could talk, there\u2019d be unbelievable lore. 2624 Commerce St. <\/p>\n

Ships Lounge, Lower Greenville<\/p>\n

Ships<\/a> knows what it is. This small bar at the lowest of Lower Greenville has all the small but important things, like a ciggie machine, a pool table, no matter how awkwardly placed, and a padded bar front so your forearms don\u2019t get those weird indentations. You may be listing (obligatory nautical pun) by the end of the night here, but to do otherwise would be an insult to one of the oldest dark bars in Dallas. 1613 Greenville Ave.<\/p>\n

Mike\u2019s Gemini Twin Lounge, The Cedars<\/p>\n

What do bar-top hot dog rollers and stripper poles have in common? They\u2019re both conversation pieces for a night at Mike\u2019s Gemini Twin Lounge<\/a>. The standout name of this dive tucked away near Old City Park is a nod to an old drive-in theater that used to be parked along Central Expressway. Nowadays, the frozen espresso martini here is a winner, as is the free pool on Sundays, an array of board games and meal deals: Mike\u2019s Seventh Heaven gets you a Wagyu hot dog (Meats by Linz) and a martini for $15. Yum! 1906 Harwood St. <\/p>\n

Fireplace Lounge, East Dallas<\/p>\n

Fireplace Lounge<\/a> is a book you should absolutely judge by its cover. We know a gem when we see one. It\u2019s a plain white building squeezed between a golf course and I-30 in Old East Dallas, and the only way you know it\u2019s there is with the yellow-tinted \u201cFireplace Lounge\u201d sign out front that\u2019s half rusted. You know exactly who you\u2019ll find here, too. Recent divorcees, those celebrating a birthday, or anyone who was the lucky patron of pay-it-forward at the drive-thru. Sometimes they host random bonfires in the \u201cbackyard\u201d and a potluck you can spot atop the pool table. If you want to hear your favorite songs in-tune, heed the jukebox; otherwise, out-of-tune classics are courtesy of the karaoke machine. 3122 Samuell Blvd.<\/p>\n

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