In the South, the definition of a dive bar is anything but strict, with historic dimly lit dives, breezy sand-floored tiki spots, old-school piano bars, beloved college town haunts, and almost anywhere you can find a cheap drink and live music on any given night able to make the cut. Yet, Southern dive bars also set themselves apart with unique qualities, such as food menus boasting better-than-your-grandmother’s fried chicken or eclectic annual events like a fish-tossing competitions and two-stepping tournaments. As much as fancy cocktail bars are now a dime a dozen, there are so many more authentic dive bars dotted throughout the South that we’d never be able to list them all. However, these Southern watering holes hold that something special that keeps people coming back for more.
When it’s time for a tipple, these 25 best dive bars in the South don’t disappoint.
Green Parrot Bar
Any place with a self-proclaimed slogan as a “sunny place for shady people” can safely be considered a dive bar. A favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway, Green Parrot Bar has been a Key West institution since 1890. Expect a jukebox and frequent live music, which can be anything from a 10-piece Latin-funk group to a band playing old-school hits by The Beatles. You never know what to expect, and it’s hosted every sort of gathering, including poetry slams, divorce celebrations, memorial services, and hurricane parties.
greenparrot.com; 601 Whitehead Street, Key West, FL 33040
The Griffon
The Griffon certainly doesn’t care what you think of the dollar bills on the walls or incessant classic rock playing in the background. It’s just going to be what it is, which is the Lowcountry’s favorite grungy little dive bar. For over 25 years, patrons have stapled signed dollar bills to the wall of this intimate, English-style pub that serves fish ’n’ chips, a straightforward burger, and a broad selection of craft beer…