Give me a good old all-American Dive Bar at the Jersey Shore, and you have a happy man.
You can have your fancy martini bars. You can keep your loud sports bars. Heck, I’ve even been known to walk out of a live music bar if the band sucks in favor of a kick-ass dive bar jukebox. A great dive bar will keep me coming back for more.
(Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Bud Light)
The biggest misconception about dive bars is that they are dirty. Not so…
The great John Taffer of Bar Rescue fame said it best in an episode I watched recently. John said, “Folks think a dive bar is a dirty or unkept bar. A dive bar should be warm, friendly, and welcoming.” I agree. No matter if your bar is new or old. Whether you call it a bar, tavern, or pub. If it’s no frills, and welcoming to all, you just may be sitting in your favorite dive bar and not even know it!
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Dive bars seem to be a dying breed.
Decades ago, a simple no-frills dive bar was easy to find, not just here at the Jersey Shore, but all over America. However, these days with the cost of goods, and technology, and many of the younger generation wanting more of an “experience” in their nightlife, dive bars have seemed to fall out of favor somewhat. Thankfully there is a resurgence in the interest in owning a dive, and that has kept the jewels we still have up and running. Be it handed down through the family or some guy having a midlife crisis and wanting to own one, you can still find a good old dive at the Jersey Shore when you need it.
Dive bars have character… And characters!
The food may be basic, but it’s probably the best damn bar food you ever had. The barmaids might be sassy, but she’ll make you the best Old Fashioned you’ve ever tasted. The decor may seem dated, but it will feel like home when you leave. Most of all the people you spend time with at your local dive bar might just turn out to be some of the most interesting characters you’ve ever met.
(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, here is a list of some of the most historic Dive Bars in the USA!
So pull up a stool, grab a pickled egg, order a Pabst on tap, and let’s check out, in no particular order, some of the best Dive Bars the Jersey Shore has to offer. Oh and don’t forget to tip!
