Dive Bars of Jacksonville
2015 Edition.
Playboy magazine once described a Dive bar as “A church for down-and-outers and those who romanticize them, a rare place where high and low rub elbows — bums and poets, thieves and slumming celebrities. It’s a place that wears its history proudly.”
A few of the better Dive Bars of Jacksonville, FL in no particular order.
The Wall Street Deli & Lounge, 1050 Park Street. When it comes to old school dive bar Wall Street wins hands down; it’s smoky, loud and dirty, the service is friendly and entertaining, occasionally it’s obnoxious, and or obnoxiously entertaining but for the most part it is based on your own attitude as Karma is quickly returned at The Wall Street. The drinks are reasonably priced. They have darts, TV, occasionally popcorn and or hot food is available. On Sunday’s they usually have a Bloody Mary special.
The Alibi, 1194 Edgewood Avenue South. The Alibi doesn’t have a face book page but they do have PBR, spicy boiled peanuts, video arcade bowling, darts and Hot Pockets. Yes, Hot Pockets.
Birdies , 1044 Park Street is a mostly reformed dive bar in the heart of 5 Points.
The drinks are stronger and cheaper than what you’ll find elsewhere. There’s a large covered outdoor patio where a mostly chill, laid back attitude abounds and people watching is not only readily available, but encouraged. Most nights they run $3 wells 9:00 pm until Midnight or some other decent special(s).
The Rogue, 927 King St. in Riverside.
They offer a Taco happy hour, you get a free taco of your choosing with every drink purchased most nights from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Across the Street, 948 Edgewood Ave S in Murray Hill.
They bill themselves as a concert venue but they’re basically a Dive Bar with good live music and cold beer and in a town where both are at times in short supply the new kid on the block is doing just fine.
Shantytown Pub, 22 W 6th St. in Springfield. get your art, music and beer all in one place with a great vibe, mellow staff and atmosphere galore, surprising so in a little hole in the wall, one you’ll be drawn back to, time and time again.
Dive Bar, 331 East Bay Street is Downtown Jacksonville’s self proclaimed only retro bar with a nice mix of psychedelic, lounge and almost always good music. They have a full bar, they also have “stripper poles” , a marriage made in heaven if there ever was one. The crowd is young and hip but they don’t mind if you’re not.
Monkey’s Uncle Tavern and Liquor Store, 1850 3rd St S Jacksonville Beach,
Monkey’s Uncle has been doing things right for 30 years out at the beach.
They now have a Mandarin location as well but the original is best.
A casual, laid back, neighborhood bar with friendly staff, cold drinks and something for everyone; dancing, karaoke, trivia, pool, games and darts.