The Dive bars Las Vegas offers are one of the most underrated ways to get away from touristy areas and experience the raw, real version of Sin City. If you want a casual ambiance and affordable drinks, the answer is simple, dive bars! Las Vegas has several great bars hiding in plain sight.
While the exterior of these bars might not be flashy enough to warrant a second glance, there are never-ending good times and a little bit of magic hiding inside.
Dive Bars in Downtown Las Vegas
Atomic Liquors
Atomic Liquors have been serving Vegas since 1952, making it the oldest free-standing bar in Las Vegas! The bar is super laid-back, and you feel comfortable instantly when you walk in. Their beer and cocktail selection is slightly better than what most dive bars offer. The patio with outdoor seating is one of the best in downtown too!
Atomic Liquors has that classic, no-nonsense vibe that locals and tourists both enjoy.
ReBAR
If you love browsing the racks of antique shops and thrift stores, you have to visit ReBAR at least once! This dive bar has an interesting twist – you can buy (almost) anything inside. It sounds strange, but it’s true! From neon signage in the front window to one-of-a-kind bar stools and antique bar glasses, anything can be yours for a price.
If you don’t want to shop, the cheap cocktails, beer, and wine will keep you entertained. Order some delicious bar food at incredibly low prices too!
The Griffin
The Griffin isn’t a dive bar by definition, but they still captured the dive bar vibe. You’ll find a diverse crowd, cheap drinks, and friendly bartenders who make you feel at home. Dim bar lighting is accompanied by a jukebox which certainly adds to the dive bar feel of the place.
Electric fireplaces and a weekend DJ feels a little too fancy for most dive bars, but The Griffin makes it work.
Hogs N Heifers
Hogs n Heifers is a dive bar that isn’t for the faint of heart. This bar is a Vegas outpost of the original that started in NYC and inspired Coyote Ugly, but it fits right in with rowdy Las Vegas patrons. Bartenders have bold personalities and don’t hesitate to berate customers with a microphone; that is when they aren’t inviting female patrons to dance on the bar top.
Donate your bra if you’re feeling really brave, and it’ll be hung from the ceiling!
Dive Bars off the Strip
Saddle N Spurs Saloon
If you’re as interested in country bars in Las Vegas as you are in dive bars, Saddle n Spurs Saloon is the best of both worlds! It is a honky tonk bar in every way. Watch live country music performances, sing your favorite country hits on karaoke night, or hit the dance floor in your favorite cowboy boots.
The bar is open 24 hours a day because there’s never a bad time for a dive bar! They have a strict cash-only policy, which can be annoying, but it does seem super on-brand for a bare-bones dive bar, so we’ll let it slide.
Frankie’s Tiki Room
Frankie’s Tiki Room is a tiki-themed bar that’s known for its super-strong, cheap drinks. The potent drinks are accompanied by all the tiki props you can imagine and then some. There’s a good selection of bartop gaming and an even better selection of rum on the menu!
Frankie’s Tiki Room is a go-to spot if you want cheap booze with a lively, fun crowd.
Tap House
Tap House is one of the dive bars in Las Vegas with die-hard regulars. The interior has Cleveland Browns decor around every corner, so it’s not surprising that many of those regulars are sports fans too.
The Italian American bar & grill is open with its full menu 24 hours a day, including its legendary pizza and hot wings! Catch live music from locals on Open Mic Monday, or try your luck at video poker.
Champagnes Cafe
If you love Old Las Vegas, Champagnes Cafe will be a hit. There’s Rat Pack in the jukebox, Marylin Monroe photos throughout, and dim bar lighting. You add a little smoke in the air, red vinyl booths, and velvet-draped walls, and you’re left with a dive bar that’s undeniably charming.
Champagnes Cafe is certainly set in their dive bar ways too. The bar was featured on Bar Rescue, where they underwent changes to bring the bar into modern times, but things went back to normal shortly after filming ended. Luckily, the show did a great job at bringing more foot traffic into Champagnes Cafe by patrons who can’t get enough of a good dive bar like this!
Griff’s Las Vegas
Never waste time waiting for your turn at the pool table at Griff’s Las Vegas. This dive bar and pool hall combination has 26 pool tables, delicious food, and a welcoming crowd of regulars. The menu here includes a better selection of craft beers than others, which we love!
Griff’s Las Vegas doesn’t look like anything special, but there’s a reason it’s such a popular watering hole for pool-loving locals. This bar is non-smoking, which is another thing that sets it apart from other pool halls and dive bars in Las Vegas.
Fun Hog Ranch
We can’t talk about the best dive bars in Vegas without mentioning Fun Hog Ranch. Break out your finest leather or fetish wear, and get ready to have a blast at this rustic gay bar! This is a cash-only bar. While most of the customers are gay men, anyone with an open mind is welcome!
This is a nice change of pace from other gay bars in Las Vegas because it’s simple, casual, and affordable.
The Dive Bar
If the simplistic name of this bar doesn’t set reasonable expectations, we don’t know what will! It sits in an unassuming strip mall, but there’s lots of fun to be had inside. The Dive Bar hosts local, edgy bands and welcomes all your best graffiti art in the bathroom.
Loud music and a dance floor that’s overdue for a good cleaning live up to the name of the bar.
Double Down Saloon
Double Down Saloon is universally hailed as one of the last true dive bars in Las Vegas. Maybe it’s because of their infamous Ass Juice Shot, or maybe it’s the rowdy punk rock crowd, but either way, we love it!
The interior of Double Down Saloon includes hand-drawn art, hilarious NSFW stickers, and a stage that hosts live music acts. Their bacon martini is surprisingly delicious, but we haven’t been brave enough to try an Ass Juice Shot. If you’re curious, the shot is rumored to be made of all the bartop spillage from making other drinks, but you’ll have to try it to find out!
Dispensary Lounge
Dispensary Lounge was once known as one of the best dive bars in the USA. While it probably isn’t good enough to hold that title anymore, it is still one of our favorite dive bar locations in Vegas. If you want casual, you’ll find it here!
The 1970’s style lounge has living-room seating for ultimate comfort, although the cleanliness of that upholstered furniture is questionable at best. The Dispensary is famous for its half-pound burger that costs just $7.95.
Hard Hat Lounge
Hard Hat Lounge is the perfect spot for hard-working locals to unwind with a drink after a long day. This dive is popular on game days thanks to their unbeatable drink specials and tasty Guerilla Pizza. Ownership has changed hands over the years, but there is a bit of history behind this bar.
Inside, there’s a large mural on the wall. Allegedly, that mural was painted by Frank Bowers to pay off a hefty bar tab. Whether it’s true or not, it’s fun to look at the mural and wonder!
The Sand Dollar Lounge
The Sand Dollar Lounge has been a popular Las Vegas dive bar for more than 40 years. In addition to great drinks, this bar is a fantastic music venue! Live performers are booked regularly, with a focus on blues bands.
The bar has a pool and shuffleboard with a laid-back crowd of regulars and many tourists in the mix too.
Huntridge Tavern
Celebrity author, chef, and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain made his love for Huntridge Tavern known. We must say, he has good taste! Huntridge Tavern has lots of TVs, super-cheap alcohol, and charming decor. The tavern thrives on its regular customers and even has a Jameson Century Club for people who have ordered 100 shots of Jameson Whiskey.
Las Vegas Strip Dive Bars
Dino’s Lounge
If you didn’t already know, we love Dino’s! This timeless dive bar has been operating since 1962, and even in 2023, they’ve stayed true to their dive roots. The drink selection is limited, but the prices are cheap, and the patrons are some of the best in the city. Dino’s is LGBTQIA+ friendly, has a late-night happy hour for people working the graveyard shift, and offers 50-cent pool games!
We highly recommend checking out Dino’s Lounge on karaoke night when it’s the busiest and most fun.
Fuel Bar Las Vegas
Fuel Bar at Grand Bazaar Shops is not a dive bar in the traditional sense, but we had to include it in this list for a few reasons. First, the atmosphere! The patrons are friendly, and although it’s primarily tourists, this bar doesn’t attract an uppity, judgmental crowd. Talking to the bartenders and mingling with other customers will make you feel like you’re in a dive bar, even if you aren’t really.
Secondly, the prices! Getting great drinks at a reasonable price on the Las Vegas Strip is no small task. Fuel Bar offers drink specials, including buy one get one free craft cocktails, putting prices close to other dive bars in Las Vegas. Finally, live entertainment. Entertainers at Fuel Bar have that grungy, authentic sound that belongs in a dive bar.
Stage Door
Stage Door might sound like the name of a Strip Club, but it’s actually a dive bar with slots at every seat. This bar is technically on Linq Lane, but it’s just a few steps off the main Strip. The 24-hour bar has a no-nonsense design with drink prices to match.
$1 Bud Light bottles and $9.99 Smirnoff liters are hard to pass up!
FAQ
Why are dive bars called dive bars?
Dive bars originally got their name when bars were hidden in cellars and basements. Regulars to the u003ca class=u0022wpil_keyword_linku0022 href=u0022https://vegasfoodandfun.com/hidden-bars-in-las-vegas/u0022 title=u0022hidden barsu0022 data-wpil-keyword-link=u0022linkedu0022u003ehidden barsu003c/au003e could “dive” in for a drink undetected. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThe term was meant to be negative, implying poor cleanliness and cheap drinks, but it’s now seen as a badge of honor for bars that keep things simple and authentic with no frills.
What’s the difference between a dive bar and a regular bar?
Dive bars are simple, no-nonsense establishments. They keep prices low by maintaining a casual bar where minimal effort is put into drink-making. Most dive bars have a regular crowd, unlike other bars that attract new customers frequently.
What bars do Vegas locals go to?
Vegas locals tend to avoid bars on the Las Vegas Strip. Instead, they go downtown or off the Strip to casual bars that could be labeled as dive bars.
Key Takeaways
- Las Vegas has plenty of dive bars; you just have to know where to look for the hidden gems!
- Downtown Las Vegas and other parts of Las Vegas Valley have more dive bars than the Strip.
- When you go to a dive bar in Las Vegas, have reasonable expectations. It’s called a dive bar for a reason! Most have limited drink selections and less-than-fancy interiors. The trade-off is cheap drinks and a great, casual crowd.
- A lot of dive bars have something they’re known for, like a theme or signature drink. Embrace it! Try the drink, listen to the music that fits the theme, and experience a dive bar how it’s meant to be.
