The Most Scrumptious Dive Bars in Arlington

The Chat Room

★★★★☆ 3.7 (66) • $

"Cool dive bar with a friendly atmosphere and dope staff. Happy hour was nicely priced and they have a June box. Outdoor and indoor seating too!"

J J Dakota's Billiards Establishment

★★★★☆ 3.9 (14) • $$

"Fun place to drink beer and play pool. They have a full bar but good beer selection as well. Lots of pool tables and reasonable prices. Also have darts and a jukebox to play music. Some little arcade games as well. Very laid back kind of place."

Deuce's Bar

★★★★★ 4.7 (13)

"This bar is one of our very favorites! Best bartenders around, Amy and Angie make you feel welcome from the second you walk in the door and are so attentive throughout your visit! TRY THE MAC & CHEESE!! You won't be disappointed! The spinach and artichoke dip is ON POINT as well! If you stop by during the holiday season, getcha a Christmas in a Glass Shot -- F'n AMAZING!!! Taste like a Cinnabon with a happy littlekick!"

Pearl's Cherokee Lounge

★★★★☆ 4.1 (13) • $

"I don't know if I can be friends with someone that doesn't like Pearl's. I'm a connoisseur of Texas dive bars and this one is mine. Most days I spend my time in some of the finest restaurants in the Metroplex. Inner shitbag Jack has to get let out into his natural habitat sometimes. If you've ever had a desire to bend an elbow with me, I'm probably not turning down an invite to go drink at Pearl's.For the last fifteen years I have driven from Fort Worth to Dallas and back on 30. When the traffic backs up at Fielder, I exit, hang a left and a right on Division, and have a beer and a shot at Pearl's. It's the closest bar to my house (that doesn't feel like Deliverance) and Uber is $5 - that's happened.The older crowd of regulars (65+) really likes it when younger people come in. Marie is a riot. She invited me in for Christmas dinner when I told her I wasn't going to visit my family last year. I know I've aged since I started frequenting Pearl's but she hasn't.The name is weird: Marie's Pearl's Cherokee Lounge. Think of it as the dive bar version of Ruth's Chris. Marie's the owner of Pearl's, like Ruth Fertel buying Chris Steak House.Your reviewer has gotten extremely sloppy at Pearl's. It's easy to do, especially in the brutal summer. Very dark, good music, and a little cold, with a heavy hand on the bottle of choice. Shots come in 3 oz rocks glasses. The poor ladies behind the bar have heard me sing "Baba O'Riley" a little too loud a couple of times.Pearl's used to have the oldest bartender in Arlington, and she said she started working there when she was 18. I'd guess Slick is 85 at this point and I haven't seen her the last few times I've dropped in. Perhaps its a coincidence. I hope Slick's doing okay - she has some great stories and is the only octogenarian in history to cut me off.The motley crew of older folks at Pearl's is a riot. I've sat next to attorneys, truckers, teachers, bikers, shady characters, and a ton of retirees from every walk of life you can think of. Almost everyone is friendly as hell. Marie brings in free food from home on the weekends. I don't attend Pearl's much on Saturday and Sunday, but when I have, I enjoyed her cooking.For us degenerates that like to have a cigarette while they drink, this is our dive bar. Pearl's is an experience not to be missed. One day soon, we're going to have a very sterile service industry, and this is a throwback to when bars were fun.TLDR - I love this little slice of heaven, where my 40+ ass can get shlabombered cheap and everyone is cool, including the staff."

Showdown

★★★★★ 4.6 (13) • $

"Ended up here because a few of us were looking for a place with a TV and a patio that was smoker friendly (yea, screw you guys) and someone mentioned Showdown. Now, I've never heard great things about Showdown, especially in years long past, especially that it had a one percenter crowd. But was told it was a cool crowd nowadays, so what the hell, I gave it a shot.I ignored the "No Motorcycle Colors" sign on the door (always a good sign) and moseyed inside. Now, I love a good dive, as long as it's not a premium price bar trying to act like a dive. If you're a dive, then show me the dive pricing. You get what you see here. This place pretty much sets the bar for what a dive should be. Furniture doesn't look like it's changed since it opened.(whenever that was, and I remember it being around in the 80's) Couple pool tables, ample bar seating, and several tables and pub chairs around. Very decent. Old and dark inside. Looking good so far.I waited till acknowledged, knowing my place on a first visit. Really amazed that they carried the borderline craft beer I drink, and super happy when it set the new low for pricing that I know about. During happy hour, it's even fifteen cents cheaper than usual. Crazy. Shots are well priced, and while maybe not overly poured, still well worth it. Service is good.The patio is a little overgrown in places, and nothing but picnic tables and some duct taped bar chairs. But the couple TV's are nice and big, and some of the patio is covered. Might not be the Ritz, but it gets the job done. I tellya, in this day in age, pretty much a smokers paradise out back.They have what I see, is a large group of regulars. Mostly middle aged but it runs the gamut. Some get a little loud when they've been there awhile (wink wink nudge nudge) but everyone is either nice or indifferent. Haven't gotten any hairy eyeball looks from anyone, and most will even come over to you on the patio and visit.One of the real values to me so far has been they serve food, and the food so far has been fantastic. I've had the burger on a couple visits, the carnitas quesadilla, and the homemade chips and "spanish sauce" and it's all really good stuff. They have other items on the menu also. I've never had anything I didn't like. This place is on regular visits with me now, and not just to watch sports and smoke on the patio. Pricing is good, people are nice, service is good. Ignore the decor and let it ride.I was going with a four star at first. But this place deserves the fifth. Probably the best dive bar I know of currently."

The Green Elephant

★★★☆☆ 3 (57) • $

"It's a getaway to appreciate local musicians and experimentalists demonstrating their craft. The staff can be "moody" at times, but overall 'Open Mic Tuesdays' is a vibe."

Sunshine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (55) • $

"Unable to quiet my mind, I sought somewhere to calm me a bit. As I drive down Division, I saw Sunshine. That name... Sunshine, holds 33 years of significance for me. This place is a much less broke down Showdown. A dark, divey but decent place to collect on the currency of a smile. To discuss the weather with a woman weathered by life serving you a delicious drink. To hear a 1970's legend on a Waffle House style jukebox, selected by a 20 something in a hooded sweatshirt.The drinks, strong. The beers, cold. The conversation, lovely. The place is full of regulars, but the best kind.I love that the chairs are mismatched office chairs. The bar is raised, but the floor is tall, leaving you with a short seat and a tall order. Comfort. Think sitting in your chair at work, but with a drink.If you are in Arlington, stop in. It's quite the unique place."

Rooster's Gathering Hole

★★★★☆ 3.9 (7)

"Wanted a snake and was headed to Taco Casa. Passed by this joint and was like. Let me check them out. Got the Frito pie. It was good too. I'll be back"

Single Wide

★★★★☆ 4.2 (144) • $

"A great bar that is well managed and executed theme well. Go for the Yoo-hoo but one too many and you will regret it. This is a comfy neighborhood style bar - make some new friends while you are there."

White Elephant Saloon

★★★★☆ 3.7 (150) • $$

"Located in the heart of the Stockyards, White Elephant Saloon almost feels like a rite of passage for nightlife seekers in this part of Fort Worth. It's got a classic Texas feel to it, complete with extensive cowboy hat decor, reminiscent of a dive bar but carry that nostalgic Stockyards theme so well. Come with good company and make it a fun evening.It doesn't look that big, but trust that the place is deceivingly spacious. My group and I had zero problems finding seating for the dozen of us and I appreciate that it was fairly well ventilated and not too crowded on a weekend night. The place definitely smelled old, which was surprisingly not an issue in the bathrooms (#2) and I loved the elephant decor pieces that were practically glowing from their display case. Bartenders are a tad slow, mainly because there isn't enough staff to handle the crowds at the bar. (#3) With enough patience the bartenders found me but I could see this being an issue if the place was more crowded. Drink prices are surprisingly affordable for an area so touristy, but I think that's part of the charm.There is also billiards and shuffleboard for anyone looking to play games and countless articles on display about the history of this place. There's apparently food as well, which I'll hopefully try during my next visit.__________(#1) Which would include me. Me and my big ol rancho cucamonga ass cowboy hat. (#2) Mainly because it smelled worse. .(#3) The story of every nightlife establishment."

Sarah's Place

★★★★☆ 4 (51) • $

"Went for the first time for husband's birthday. It is VERY small and gets really crowded so go early if you want somewhere to sit. Karaoke is good which is why we went. Bartenders are outstanding. They keep everything organized and move orders quickly. If we are back in the neighborhood we would stop again."

Double Wide

★★★★☆ 4 (208) • $

"This is my 2nd time going to this place. It's a hilarious place to check out. There signature Cocktails are fun. Yoo Hoo yehaw is the definitly my favorite. Please have have your expectations of what you are going here for. This is a trailer park dive bar. They do have karaoke during the day. I definitely recommend checking this place out. Enjoy yourself as it's a gem."

Basement Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (87) • $

"We always stop here every time we come to the stockyards. Disclaimer: This bar is nothing fancy..you've been warned. They have great prices.Went last night and for 2 old fashioned and a High noon we paid about $25...that's usually the price of one drink when we hang out in Dallas. Emma, the bartender, is always really nice. I think it's definitely a Stockyard must stop."

Cowboy Saloon Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (16) • $

"The worst most terrible place to ever go. Dallas has too much to offer than this joint. I was with a bachelorette party with 12 of her girls and we stopped in for a quick drink. There are clearly, crazy, toothless regulars here that live at the bar and they don't want anyone intruding on their fabulous mold-infested territory (no pun intended). This review is about 4 years overdue but another bad review showed up and reminded me of how awful this place is. Word to the wise...stay away."

The Grapevine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (342) • $

"Having moved back to Dallas from living in Austin for many years, I had always missed going to a quirky, cozy divey-feeling bar or restaurant. The moment we walked in the decor really catches your eye and there is a small stage on the right. The bar has cute light fixtures over it and there are coin pool tables with pink and purple felt. The seating varies from sofas to chairs to bar stools inside. Outside they have a patio that extends beyond what you might expect. In other words it is massive! There is also another stage out there and the ambience is very cool. It almost feels like a brewery with tons of picnic table seating and open air for the smokers who want to smoke and socialize. The service was great, the drink selection was good, and the inside/outside hang out space was really just the best. The only downside that I can think of for this place is maybe that they don't have that much parking space? I mean that's me trying hard to come up with some flaw about this place! Come check them out, period. You won't regret it!"

The Peppermill Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.9 (8) • $

"This place is a total dive and time warp into the 70s. It's more of a place where locals like to go, however they do have live music every now and then and are trying to incorporate it more. The bartender has a smile on her face the entire night I was there and I was in one of the bands playing this particular night. They have a small stage setup and some house speakers that point in one direction, so if you're along the side of the bar, you probably wont be able to hear the vocals very well. The parking lot seems a little sketch, but they do have security cameras around the bar which you can monitor from the inside. One thing that does suck is, this place is "cash only" however when you start a tab, they still take your credit card, I guess as a place holder(?) but it can be confusing to think they they do. Make sure if you do come here you got some money on your or else I heard there's an ATM. When I first got here earlier in the night, it seemed like mainly a place for the locals to go in this super smokey bar, so just another thing to keep in mind when you come here. However they did have a free spread of hotdogs and other miscellaneous food things."

River Bottoms Pub

★★★★☆ 4.2 (26) • $

"Honestly, it's a real live "neighborhood" dive bar. Cocktails and shots in plastic cups, or bottle/can beer. Don't think I saw any draft, but pretty sure I remember seeing the unused taps still behind the bar.Old inside, pool table, digital jukebox is nice, booze and beer company advertising signs are most of the interior decor. Little on the edge, but still inviting. Crowd was fine when I was there, but I was there with a couple of regulars, so I'm sure that helped some. People were friendly enough. Bartender was friendly, but put up with no grief whatsoever. Little bit too familiar with a couple of obvious regulars, who were getting bitched at, loudly, for doing stuff the bartender didn't think they should be doing. I have no idea what that was about. However, that's pretty much a dive bar thing, and no big surprise.Pretty good sized place. Bar top along side wall. Pub tables scattered around. Plenty of parking, large backyard area with stage and tables. Great for bands but not sure if they have any playing anytime. It's a nice enough place, I guess, just not what I would go for in a dive bar. If I was closer to it, might would be visiting from time to time. It's an OK place. For a certain type it might be a great place."

Dusty's Bar & Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (44) • $

"I saw this pop up on Door Dash the other day, and while it sounded familiar, I didn't exactly order because I had the highest expectations of food from a bar and grill. I ordered because if we want our local businesses to survive this pandemic and this cursed year, then we all have to do our part to support local and order when we can.Damn, that's a great burger!! I'm so glad I ordered from here. My husband and I both liked it so much, we ordered again the next day! Hell, I'm trying to behave myself, which is why we didn't order a third day in a row, lol. However, I found a great place to put in my order rotation and it definitely earned its place.Our first order we just got two cheeseburgers with fries. $10 each is the going rate, so I didn't bat an eye at the total, especially since that included a side with the burger. My husband was bummed they only had singles as he was craving a double meat burger. The burger selection is simple in it's choices and I believe there was a beyond option as well. When I opened the container, I thought it seemed a little small, until I looked at the side- that's a pretty thick patty! Let's talk about the details, I love the details. The cheese was perfectly melted around the patty, the patty was juicy and well seasoned and that brioche bun was perfectly grilled with crispy edges. This is everything I love in a cheeseburger, sooooo good!!! Thank you, Dusty's, for putting the veggies on the side. This prevents anything from getting soggy and allows you to have the toppings of your choice. The best part is that it was perfectly consistent when we ordered again the next day, same perfect burger! Even my husband, with his double meat burger preferences, found their portions satisfactory- I could only eat 2/3 before I was too full.The waffle fries from our first order needed some work, they were incredibly dry and were getting super hard as we were eating them. They were a bit light on flavor too, I got the distinct impression that someone was trying to prevent them from being too greasy and went a little too far.Like I said, the burger was so good that I wasn't too concerned with the fries. So we ordered again the next day and my husband, a creature of habit, got the fries again and I got the chips, thinking they would be house made. They weren't, I was kind of disappointed to see a bag of Lays there. So their alternate sides are Lays, Doritos and chips and salsa. I think I saw you could get onion strings and something else for an up charge, so not exactly a wide variety of side options. However, I'm so glad that my husband got the fries again because these were really, really good! They were hot, crispy and the perfect amount of salty. There was enough for us to share from his side portion and I'm glad I got to see the fries are good too.Things aren't normal right now, but when you're craving a good burger and fries, this is the place to order from. It almost makes you feel normal. :) 4 1/2 stars!"

Diamond Jim's Saloon

★★★★☆ 4.2 (22) • $$

"If you're asking yourself is Kristie really reviewing another place in Arlington, the answer is yes. Yes I am.My cousin had her birthday party at Diamond Jim's this past Friday because there was a Led Zeppelin cover band playing. So once again I found myself rolling down I-30 to the 817.This bar was complete fun. It's your average dive bar with a mix of interesting characters. It would definitely be a place I would check out again...if it were in DALLAS.I'd give this place 5 stars for the building itself. It's huge (TWSS). They have a stage, dance floor, pool tables in a back room, an upstairs area and I think a make shift patio out front. Plus the drinks were pretty cheap. There was a 5 minute window where we all got to order any shot for $2. That was super awesome.The reason I'm sticking with 4 stars is mostly for the cigarette smoke. Effin A people. I forgot how much I like the smoking ban in Dallas. Also, ordering drinks was kind of confusing because we didn't have a set waitress. It was kind of flag down whomever, or just order when someone showed up.Otherwise this was a good time! Good times indeed."

The Chuggin' Monk

★★★★☆ 3.8 (53) • $

"In Dallas for the Thanksgiving game.. found this bar on Maps, looking for a dive karaoke bar to enjoy a few drinks. Found the Chuggin Monk, chill atmosphere, nice jams on jukebox. Jacqueline and Angie behind the bar, did a great job of keeping my glass full, conversation when needed great skills here. No karaoke but it is a Wednesday and raining all in all yes this bar gets my recommendation."

Lakewood Landing

★★★★☆ 4 (212) • $

"Went again more recently for the jalapeño corn dog. What I didn't know when I walked in and took a seat in a booth on the back wall was there was no table service at that hour. Bartender happened to walk by and asked if I had ordered at the bar. No, I did t know I needed to do that. He took my order for a Guinness and a corn dog, and delivered it a while later. I noticed an older man with a woman in the booth next to me. Something about him seemed familiar. When he got up and I saw his face I recognized him as "The Old Gray Wolf" a Dallas radio personality. During his afternoon drive time show, he had a segment where he described a lounge we were entering, The Sunset Lounge, and I always imagined this place as that lounge. Anyway, the corn dog was worth the trip. I'd do it again."

A Great Notion

★★★★☆ 4 (27) • $

"This is a type of bar I would like to explore. Dive, dark, cheap drinks and just friendly atmosphere. Patrons are just having fun while sipping on their favorite libation. I would definitely come back to get to know more about the bar and their staff."

Yupp's Night Club

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (31) • $

"I should get a gold medal for sharing this gem with you people.Yupp's is wonderful. Order simple and enjoy yourself. This is the only dive I've ever been to that SMELLS NICE and still has a glorious VIBE. The low key bar you and your friends always talk about wanting to own? Don't bother-- loans are a pain, it's all already here for you on Wedgeway Dr. Yupp's for always. Yupp's forever."

Milo's Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (155) • $

"Great place to meet friends and hang out. My friends and I play pool, jinga, connect four, and ping pong. Trivia Night is on Monday. Sometimes we play the ring game. The juke box and the patio are great!"

John B's

★★★★☆ 3.6 (32) • $

"Love this place! Amazing staff, great drinks, atmosphere, clean, and best jalapeño cheese sticks of life."

Lee Harvey's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (442) • $$

"Ok.. so we have been in the area for concerts in the last few months, and going to Lee Harvey's has been one of the top places to visit. It's small inside, unassuming, great prices, and a huge patio! We have also opted to eat dinner there more than once because they have a really tasty menu that is very reasonably priced. The staff is very chill, they are very helpful and we always have a good time there."

The Dive

★★★★☆ 3.6 (165) • $$

"Another awesome lunch at The Dive! Such a sweet waitress, pretty views and great food! Today I tried the chicken tacos that were amazing with the jalapeño ranch!"

Cobra Club

★★★★☆ 4 (13) • $

"So, buddy asks me if I want to go have a drink at this bar across from Bell Helicopter one night. I'm like, "are you kidding? No!" He says it's a nice place, about as divey as where we were at the time, and after he said he'd drive, I said "sure, why not"Get there, walk in, and he's right. It's not bad at all. It's old inside and the last remodel looks like it was back in the 70's, but I never really care about that stuff. It was a weekend night and there were quite a few people there. Bartenders were quick and friendly. No draft beer, but a pretty stocked full bar so no complaints.One thing I really ended up liking best about this place, was it's a mostly older crowd. Majority of people, I'd guess, 40's and up, maybe upper 30's in the least. I'm bad with ages. Everyone was friendly. Looks like a big regular crowd, seemed everyone knew each other. People doing Karaoke in the corner. Everyone was having a good time. Didn't see any people having drama or walk in misfits making trouble. Bit of a drive for me, but might make this more of a first stop on the weekend place. Drinks were reasonable."

Blue Bayou

★★★★☆ 4.2 (59) • $

"This is a super awesome place. Outside deck is the #1 best inside is too smokey smelling for me, but outside is fun! Food selection is fun and yummy as well. But my fav =cold beer and outside deck."

Happy Armadillo

★★★★★ 4.6 (10)

"Perfect place to come wind down after work. They have the best happy hour prices around and great daily drink specials. This is mainly a local bar with the regulars but they are pleased to have anyone join in on conversations. Don't let this place fool you and wings and pizza are phenomenal!!"

Marina's

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (32) • $

"Oh, Marina's. I went here with my sister and our friend Tina at around 9:30pm on a Saturday night, and we were lucky to find a table. It was crowded when we arrived and got busier as the night went on. Karaoke every single night?? Wow. And smoking? You'll definitely smell like a smokey bar after you leave here. Not necessarily my favorite kind of atmosphere but we ended up having a good time for girls night. The girls ordered cheese fries and they looked delicious -- crisp fries covered in gooey nacho cheese and plenty of chives, served super hot. They have a pretty decent menu here, typical bar foods and sandwiches. I wouldn't recommend ordering any speciality drinks, this is really a very divey spot and it's so busy at the bar. Just grab a beer or a vodka soda and then fade away into the crowd and enjoy the music. Maybe you'll be like me and go on a night when everyone who's singing is a choir teacher or involved in the music world and they all sound really good and they're all singing Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey so you're too scared to go up and sing Jewel! Or maybe you'll go on a night when there's more amateurs in the crowd, I don't know. I haven't been often enough to know which night brings in which crowd! But all the people were friendly and you get that neighborhood bar kind of feeling."

Showdown II

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (37) • $

"A spot I probably never would have came into or known was here except for one of my Fort Worth friends. So it's Cinco de Mayo and my girl text me and says she's at the showtime or The Showdown. What the heck is this? So this is definitely my idea of a dive bar. Kind of sketchy at the entrance. Folks were kind of looking at me funny because it's a "regular" type of place. And I was the only black person that I saw the whole time I was there.I told the bartender I wasn't sure what I wanted. I was kind of worn out on the cinco de mayo drinks. Sassy bartender says well there's a list on this pole of the beers and everything you order is cheap so don't worry about it. I happen to like sassy bartenders so I smiled n wished my sweetie was there because it felt like our dive bar at home.So I got a decent IPA and reluctantly gave over my card because I was out of cash. Went and found my girls out on the back patio. Cute small and people smoke out there so wouldn't be my usual place to hang out but the inside bar area is kind of small. Probably has maybe 10 seats at the actual bar. I had two ipas. One Community Mosaic IPA and one Green Flash IPA and my tab was $7.50. Thats damn good. My friends were a little tipsy n needed to leave so I came n sat at the bar next to a good looking muscle bound guy. Friendly folks there, sassy bartenders n decent clean bathroom. The curtain in the bathroom for the first stall cracked me up and reminded me so much of this dive bar at home. I wouldn't eat anything here because it looks like microwave ish but I think I may fall in love with this place. Come get some drinks"

The Goat

★★★★☆ 3.8 (165) • $

"Dive bar. Karaoke on Sundays. Friendly service and regulars. Diverse crowds. Pool tables. Pizza available next door."

HWY BAR

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"This is a great place to hold a party or just to come in and enjoy a drink! The first time we went we were impressed with how friendly everyone is that works there. The drinks are very reasonably priced and they have lots of drink specials. Yuengling on tap is a plus! We played darts and pin ball. They also have shuffle board, ping pong, and pool. I noticed that they had a room called the Saloon that you can book for FREE! Wow! I messaged them through Facebook and got the saloon booked for my birthday. We had a small party of people but they were OK that we didn't have a huge group, which was great. We brought in pizzas, decorations and cake. There was also a group that came in and played music. No cover! Wow! We had the best time on my birthday. Thank you so much for making my birthday great."

One Eyed Penguin

★★★★☆ 3.6 (141) • $

"I stumbled upon this place. It was happy hour. Whiskey shots were $4 so I definitely enjoyed that. I do want to come back and try the pizza."