Defining a dive bar is a pretty elusive endeavor because it means something different to every person you ask. To help get a better grip on the very important task,I asked the internetto weigh in on the criteria of what makes a place a “dive” and there’s no real consensus.
Some folks believe it’s just the sheer existence of a keno machine and others feel like food service disqualifies a bar from being authentically dive-y. The universal components, however, are fairly simple: cheap booze and laid back vibes.
These “hole-in-the-wall,” dive bars have been around since the discovery of alcohol, probably and they come in all sorts of variations…