The Most Delectable Dive Bars in Sacramento

Loree's Little Shack

★★★★☆ 3.8 (164) • $

"Wandered in on a lark during my 5-mile walk. Saddled up to bar and ordered the Cucumber jalapeno margarita. Very very good. Was also karaoke night so free entertainment. Definitely going for the hole in the wall vibe. I liked it. I wanted to try the bread pudding but I forgot my wallet :("

Zebra Club

★★★★☆ 3.6 (348) • $

"This is a great local bar for breakfast and lunch. I got the gravy fried pork chops--cooked tender and crispy with amazing gravy. The hot turkey bacon melt was delicious and holds up well for leftovers. Bonus--cheeseburger soup.Congrats to owner Jerry for keeping this place a local midtown treasure."

Q Street Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (176) • $

"Benny's, Q Street Bar & Grill is a staple bar in town. Lots of really great times here. Drinks are solid and priced well. The large back patio is perfect for large groups. Play a game of corn hole, or watch the game and have a drink.-Anthonyxibarrax"

The Blind Pig

★★★★☆ 4.3 (93) • $

"After enjoying glasses of chardonnay at nearby Luna Lounge (please reference my review if interested), my wife and I headed to The Blind Pig to enjoy a few cocktails. Upon entering, we were greeted by a friendly bartender by the name of Ronny. Our first round consisted of two dirty martinis (my new drink of choice), which Ronny put his fist (that's a good thing) into making. One of the things that I love about dive bars is the various demographics that usually frequent them (along with their interesting conversations).For our second round we ordered a "Manmosa (yes I know that sounds ridiculously machismo in 2024)" that Ronny insisted on putting a fruity spin on. Not only were we thankful for his suggestion, but his version was GOOD! In real dive bar-like fashion, Ronny provided us both with an extra cup to house the remainder of the Manmosa that could not fit into our glasses (another dive bar perk). As we sat at the bar, my wife and chatted while lightly watching the movie Step Brothers on one of the televisions.Although it was a fairly slow Saturday afternoon, I can imagine that this place gets pretty lively in the latter part of the night though. We observed lots of seating, games, and an area for karaoke (toasted karaoke is the best!). I highly recommend The Blind Pig if you're looking to have deliciously strong drinks at a price that won't have you waking up the next morning rethinking the decisions that you made the previous night!"

Spitzer's Walnut Room

★★★★☆ 4 (48) • $

"Dark, Dingy, good stiff cocktails, touch tunes, cash only just like I like it. Nice place to sit in the corner and be out the way. Had a few drink and played a few songs and went back to my day."

B-Side

★★★★☆ 4 (156) • $$

"Great place to come hang out and socialize at.B-Side neighbors the R & 15th area, but because it's not right in the heart of it. It's a more relaxed and chill type of environment.The back outdoor area is perfect for larger group fathers, where you might want to just enjoy the open area and local art. I like the murals of iconic musicians to include that large solo piece of MF Doom. You can also get into a game of corn hole in the far back, if that's your type of thing. Inside is the bar and smaller booth area. And at least on the weekends, (can't speak for the weekdays since I've never been) had a live DJ to provide a mix of music.Overall: Good lounge and social type environment."

Bob's Club

★★★★☆ 4 (117) • $

"Stopped in here when visiting friends who live in Elk Grove. So glad we did. April was very friendly and made great bloody marys and a great ginger ale. Nice vibe, great drinks & super friendly service."

Chargin's Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (158) • $

"Comfy, some would say scruffy, watering hole not quite in character with the manicured homes in the Fab 40s. It is a favorite morning hang out for night workers coming off shift from nearby hospitals. The breakfast menu is smaller under the newish owners. Fried rice with eggs made to order is still available if you ask even though it is no longer on the menu. Libation is good as ever after working nights before heading home to bed."

Brownie's Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.5 (83) • $

"I've been to Brownie's Lounge twice and all I can ask is it a whole entire vibe. The music is great. My friend and I showed up on NYE and there was a live DJ playing nothing but the hits baby! I shook a tail feather and had a great time. The bartender was great and very attentive. The only thing is I wish they offered food. Other than that it's always a great time. Happy New Year! SYOY :)"

The Office Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (26) • $

"ITS A DIVE BAR PEOPLE, ITS SUPPOSED TO BE DIVEY! As far as stiff drinks go, this place is tops. I ordered a few girly drinks, they weren't as strong but my husbands long island was PURE LIQUOR. Granted, this place has a bit of a seedy crowd and its not exactly known for its cozy décor..did I mention its a DIVE BAR?? Von (bartender) was a stand up dude, he even had a few drinks with us! He made good conversation and better cocktails. There was an "interesting" group of people there (that made it kind of off putting) but no one gave us any trouble, as a matter of fact, the older guy with 1 tooth on the whole top row of his mouth was pretty nice! After we had a few drinks (I was more than ok to drive) we headed over to another bar for St Patty's Day. This is a great place to stop if you are in the area and you have a group that has a budget!P.S. Top shelf booze is super cheap here..FYI"

San Juan Club

★★★★☆ 4.2 (50) • $

"Good place to get a drink..make it strong make it quick, because these bartenders are not messing around you want a drink you get a drink and there is always plenty of parking which is huge going anywhere these days..enjoy a drink"

Chambers Room

★★★★☆ 4.4 (53) • $

"Sacramento is one of those great hidden gem CA cities that often gets overlooked. Great food, great people, and a great bar scene. So it makes sense that one of my favorite spots during my visit here was a hidden gem smelly dive bar. The Chambers Room is a cash only, one room dive with weird shit all over the walls, and sketchy cliental... I'd love ever second of it. Denise, Debbie, Diane? Whomever she was, our bartender was super friendly and poured with a heavy hand. Which I greatly appreciated in this economy. Four drinks set us back about $20, which is unbelievable! They do serve food, but I was no way near drunk enough to dine-in. I would have stayed here much longer, but I had tickets to the Kings and had to hit the road. Shout out to Alex Lane for the company and recommendation!"

Flame Club

★★★★☆ 3.9 (139) • $

"I wanted to catch up with a good friend of mine over some potent drinks (some of the best conversations happen over strong beverages), so I suggested The Flame Club (commonly known as "The Flame"). A majority of my early to mid-twenties was spent hanging out at The Flame on Saturday nights meeting new people (probably embarrassing myself) and throwing back an infinite amount of drinks. Back then (2008-2011), I had built a relationship with the bartender at the time (who has since left) and was living the bachelor life. Fortunately, things changed for the best in my life and The Flame became somewhat of a distant memory. Fast Forward to 2018, I was a bit weary that The Flame would not be what it used to be, boy was I wrong! With the exception of the new bartender (Brian), The Flame is the exact same as it was ten years ago (the place even smells the same)! When we walked in we were greeted by the bartender, Brian. Even though it was somewhat busy, he made it a priority to take our orders ASAP. I ordered a Raspberry Lemonade concoction (Deep Eddy's Lemonade Vodka, 2 Parts Raspberry lemonade, and club soda) and my friend ordered a Jameson and Coke. I knew it was trouble when I saw the liquor to "everything else" ratio! However, since The Flame is "cash-only", we both were on a $20 "budget" that would prevent us from getting so toasted that we would need the paramedics to cart us out. In between more stiff drinks we enjoyed socializing with the wide-array of patrons enjoying themselves in similar fashions. From past and current experiences, The Flame has always attracted a diverse group of individuals. You get a little bit of the millennial Midtown hipsters mixed in with folks who have probably been coming to The Flame since I was driving a used Toyota Tercel back in high school. Remarkably, I have never witnessed any verbal or physical disputes in my experiences at The Flame. As predicted my friend and I were fortunate to have a designated driver/friend pick us up (we left our car's in The Flame's parking lot). The next day we returned to retrieve our vehicles, which were both unharmed (thankfully)! My friend loved The Flame and I fell back in love with The Flame. Don't be intimidated by the shabby appearance of the building, this place is a sleeper! No it doesn't have a built-in five star restaurant, nor do they serve drinks in a fancy glass with an umbrella attached. However, if you're able to look past aesthetics and accept it for being a Dive Bar, you're in for a treat! Don't forget to bring cash and please have a designated driver (or ride sharing app) at your fingertips...salud!"

G Street WunderBar

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (205) • $

"I had the pleasure of coming here on a date. The screens were large enough that I was able to watch the Titans vs. Niners game with my date. I ordered the lamb burger, fries and a cocktail. The lamb burger was extremely tender and a good portion. I enjoyed the feta cheese and spinach on the burger too. I was able to eat a burger on a date without looking like a messy eater. And, it was healthy. 10/10 would like to come here again"

Loree's Little Shack On Greenback

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (126) • $$

"Kenneth is awesome we love coming here just to say what's up! The ambience is meh but the people are freakin fantastic!"

Club Raven

★★★★☆ 3.9 (131) • $

"This establishment is a full bar local hangout with a nice long bar with comfy seats. Full bar as I note with a cool new jukebox and a pinball game. The bartender was super friendly and poured me a cold big jigger of Jameson chilled. Perfect for after a long day of work.5 big TVs I'm sure could be useful during game time. There's a nice decor four nice ceiling fans, and beers on tap.I would definitely go back if I was in the area and parched.Cheers!5 stars from Phish!"

Hay Tone's Hangout

★★★★☆ 4.3 (50) • $

"Come grab a beer or play some pool at the best dive bar in Elk Grove, Hay Tone's Hangout! They are experts in beer and hospitality, local to the farming community of Franklin."

Hilltop Tavern Bar

★★★★☆ 3.8 (177) • $

"My preferred watering hole of all the ones within walking distance from my parents' East Sac house (and we tried them ALL, given the MM&O during a recent visit). Prices were good. Clientele were a mix of middle aged regulars and college kids that showed up in big groups. TVs and pool tables for entertainment. Never got too loud. Don't like that they keep the lights on so bright; I like my dives dark and moody."

The Cinders Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (52) • $

"Lisa is the best bartender in town. With a Cheers like atmosphere where everyone knows your name this bar is where I go to just get away and unwind...!"

Old Tavern Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (252) • $

"This place does bar food well, and after tonight I know they can also do pasta and ahi tuna! It's a little loud inside and if you have trouble sitting at a high top you may want to look for another restaurant. In the summer they have outdoor dining. The beer selection is really good for a small town like Salisbury!"

Suite Nine

★★★★☆ 4 (51) • $

"I'm gonna give the bartender a 10/10 he was phenomenal! Best midori sours I've had in a long time AND it's very inexpensive!!! Wow $10 for two midori sour large! Love it!"

Elixir Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (229) • $

"A friend and I were making plans to grab drinks and took to yelp to find a cute dive bar that had TV's. We found what we were looking for and much more with Elixir! It's small inside the place with a good size outdoor area. They have a skee-ball machine and I think I saw one or two arcade games as well. We had them put on the sharks game for us without having to ask multiple times like some places. FOOD: Thai wings (5 Stars) - never had a better bite of bar food. these wings were everything you want when drinking. loved them. Garlic fries (3 stars) - kinda plain due to them not being salted. definitely needed seasoning. Bartenders here were sooooo attentive and friendly and just all of the nice lovely things you could want. Music selection was a mix of different genres of rock. Toward the end of our visit they started playing like super hardcore scream rock which I myself can enjoy, but my bf and friend were just like no thanks haha. I'm positive we'll come back for the affordable drinks, great atmosphere and wonderful bartenders."

UNDERTONE

★★★★★ 5 (1) • $

"Getting Our Dark Wave Techno-Dance Groove On At A Stalwart Location!SITREPThe Old Navy Sailors & Merchant Marines of World War II days probably wouldn't know what to make of the youngins dressed in dark eye shadow, skirts and make-up - and I'm talkin about the guys here. ;)THE SETUPBut that's the fun eclectic environment of UNDERTONE, the new club event to hit Sacramento and hosted by the uber-traditional venue OLD IRONSIDES. But there you have it: talented DJs with their new fangled sound equipment, mixing boards, deep deep bass speakers, high-tech laser stands, etc. etc.DJ TALENTAnd speaking of DJs, this is a Battleship's worth of talent here:* DJ Dark Star (aka Natalie L.), the mastermind behind clubs such as FASCINATION (Retro 80s & New Wave) and DARKNESS (uber-Gothic-Industrial-EBM) here in Sacramento. and she's partnering up with,* DJ X (aka Xavier H. & fellow Yelper), THE mastermind of the Bay Area's best UBER-uber Gothic-Industrial events of the 90s - both HOUSE OF USHER (Oakland), and RODERICKS CHAMBER (San Francisco), as well and founder & frontman of the band MALIGN.AWESOME MUSIC DANCE FORMATThe music was fun, swirly, stompy and techie spanning the decades of the 80s up to the present with lots of familiar standards, and some unfamiliar terrain that DJ X introduced us too. COVER & PARKINGCover is a very low $5 (I think just so the doormen have some drinking money). ;)And Parking generally not a problem finding a place to park around Old Ironsides, even on a Saturday night. Lots of street parking in all four directions, but the Waffle House across the street has a big parking lot if your prefer to be off the street.THE LOWDOWNDefinitely a fun time with cheap drinks, and some great music to listen to until the wee hours."

Liberal Bull

★★★★☆ 4.3 (27) • $

"Found this by accident. It is almost a speakeasy from inside and out. Didn't think it was open at first, but the door pulled so we went in. Inside is like some thing from the the movies. Dark and oddly inviting. Probably what the real Cheers looked like before the show found it. No beer on tap, but bottles in the fridge. Decided to go with a rum and coke and the wifey got a vodka cran. Pulled out my card but she said CASH ONLY. I had some on me luckily, but not much. But they were so reasonably priced I had enough for a second round. This time an old fashioned and makes on the rocks. Drink were great. Old fashioned was surprisingly good. We have high standards for that particular drink. Service was friendly. Definitely going to try and be back regularly."

Tallac Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.5 (51) • $

"I've experienced better dive bars. I should have consulted Yelp before coming here for my friend's birthday shindig because I would have come with cash. Their ATM charges $2.60, and I noticed on my bank statement that they charged another mysterious $2 on top of that. Fuckers. They have about six beers on tap at standard prices, all of which are decent and some are local, which is cool. I like that the place is pretty mellow and quiet with the exception of the bartenders demanding to see everyone's ID right as they walk in the door. 75 cents to play a round of Billiards; probably the best deal there. They also have Simpsons pinball. Will I be back? Probably not. If you are going to be cash only with a shady ATM, at least don't bark at people when they walk in."

Swiss Buda

★★★★☆ 3.8 (64) • $

"Catering/food review only, because you either like Swiss Buda for the old school dive bar that it is or you don't -- i like it, but it's not for everyone.But Eric's food... that is for everyone. (Except maybe you're annoying gluten free vegan macrobiotic whatevers..whatever... if that's your crew, you probably should be thinking about food at Swiss Buda. That said, we do a lot of catering in my office and we have diverse and picky people with all manner or preferences and issues. And they LOVE Swiss Buda. I won't even tell my team that it's WAY less expensive than the WAY-less-good Mendocino Farms up the way. The love the tri tip and chicken sandwiches, the BBQ sauce, the potato salad (which is the best potato salad you can get catered. Anywhere.) and even the green salad.But if you're eating in, the options are even more wonderful, flavorful, and varied. People have reviewed about ribs and brisket and chicken, and they are right. But don't overlook an outstanding pork chop sandwich, or the unsung hero that is their shrimp po boy. The food. The food. The food."

Ernie's Interlude Cocktail Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (64) • $

"I'm actually writing this review as a response to ADAY J, I was there that night, it was extremely packed, I wasn't even getting my drinks quickly and I am a regular, they know exactly what I want. When you didn't get quick enough service you copped an attitude which if I was a bartender that's not how your going to get me to move quickly. Then you decided to throw a drink at the bartender because somehow not getting your drinks fast enough warrants that kind of an action. As far as your check goes the three different cards you gave them would not go through due to insufficient funds so there was no receipt they could give you. One of the other patrons at the bar paid your $35 tab so you would leave without causing more of a scene. Which by the way, the average drink price there is about six dollars, so therefore you got six drinks, that to me doesn't seem like you weren't getting any service... Just sayingI've been coming to the Interlude for over 15 years, it is one of the best neighborhood bars in the area. Super friendly bartenders and an atmosphere that is fun and inviting. Also, the drinks are super cheap and strong lol"

The Liars' Bench

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (58) • $

"One week ago tonight, I was here. The quintessential "dive bar," right in the heart of Northern California Gold Country. Placerville - aka "Old Hangtown."It's hard to leave a review for a dive bar. I mean, what are you going to say? it was a "dive." It was smoky. It was crowded. The bathrooms were gross. The drinks were strong. Well, let me tell you, that's exactly what I'm going to say! Ha, ha!My brother and I walked in after an eventful Thanksgiving with my 91 year-old grandmother, my uncles, and other extended family. We were ready for a couple of drinks, that's for sure! We knew this place would be rough around the edges, and we were right - It was perfect!No smoking inside, of course - everyone smoked outside the front door. Naturally, all the smoke came inside anyway. The place was crowded - we traded off the one single barstool that was vacant, but this was not a big deal. Sitting would have just made me tired! The bartender was super attentive, and took our order right away - we got a couple of Jack and Cokes, and they were no joke - super strong, thank you very much! The only real "negative" was after we ordered a second round (why not) - that's when the karaoke started. I don't normally mind karaoke, but this was ridiculously loud - we couldn't even have a conversation without screaming at each other! To make matters worse, the people singing were phenomenally bad. I mean, they stank! We chugged our drinks, and were out of there! Too bad, as we were really enjoying our time! So, if you're in the area and want to experience a true dive bar, intoxicated locals and all, this is it! Oh, and by the way.....the bathrooms were super-gross. I was tempted to burn my shoes after leaving!"

Cheaters Sports Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (101) • $

"Really surprised by how great this neighborhood bar was. Big plus for me was the extremely affordable drinks. We came in to watch Thursday night football since I read that this was a Steelers bar and I am a Steelers fan and the crowd did not disappoint. Lots of fans wearing their gear and everyone cheering and sighing together. We'll definitely be back in since it's only about 10mins away from my home and we had such a great experience."

Mother Lode Bar & Deli

★★★★★ 4.6 (70) • $

"The essential dive bar of dove bars ! Karoake , They grill burgers on a BBQ served on paper plates kind of vibe. Cheap drinks , a house dog named Daisy , and just a great hole in the wall to kick back and have some fun. What a great spot ! plenty of places to park , huge outdoor but inclosed/covered patio that you smokers can smoke in. I had a great time and if you love karaoke barley a wait here kids . So much fun and one of a kind."

Phat Chad's Tavern

★★★★☆ 4 (69) • $

"Small dive bar in Roseville. Have been there a few times for drinks. they have small kitchen for munchies to go along with drinks. Tots and pretzel bites, that's all you need to soak up the alcohol! Haha. Recommend it if your in the area, plenty of room and drinks are reasonable!"

Almond Tree Lounge

★★★★☆ 3.7 (129) • $

"Dive Bar in Roseville CAOnce my friend mentioned that Almond Tree offered Loco Moco on their breakfast menu I had a spur of the moment craving for this Hawaiian dish... in 30 mins or so we were both sitting inside a dimly lit dive bar. I'm just glad Belinda was game and kept me company LoL!We met at around 5:15p and the tables were pretty empty. Oh the place wasn't empty, there were people alright... they were either around the bar area or inside the enclosed smoking room. This dive bar is known as the "Cheers Bar of Roseville." Although I wanted to try some apps from their Happy Hour menu I really came here for the Loco Moco. Happy Hour is Mon - Fri 3pm - 6pm and Late Night Happy Hour from Midnight - 2am. Loco Moco: the presentation was pretty and some of the locals even came up to us curious asking what it was. The portion was just right for the price of $14. Everything was good except we both agreed that the meat was a little tough. It is usually served during breakfast but just so happens the cook that makes it was there tonight so we were able to order it. Our waitress came by to take our orders. She was nice and friendly but we saw her far and few in between. She was also the bartender so she was busy. No entertainment on this Wednesday evening... I'm not sure when they have their karaoke and dance nights. Maybe Belinda and I will join their karaoke one night. NOT. Review #2767"

The Long Shot

★★★★☆ 3.8 (49) • $

"Best margarita in a dive bar thus far done by Carson one the bartenders. All of the bartenders are super nice and they make you feel like home. The space itself is like any other dive bar. They allow you to play music and darts. They maintain the bathrooms clean which is always a plus in my book. This place has become a staple and I'm happy my friend introduced me to the kind people who are regulars."

Jackies’s Hideaway

★★★★☆ 4.4 (7)

"Best bar in Jackson if you love friendly service with great company this is the spot in Jackson no need to look for other bars just to leads to rude and disrespectful services u can bring your own foods since they have no kitchen"

Scotty's Hideaway

★★★★☆ 3.7 (19)

"Scotty's Hideaway is OV's hidden secret! What a fun spot, everyone needs to come and check it out for a good time! Had the opportunity to visit Scotty's last Saturday! Not really having expectations, this isn't like your normal neighborhood dive bar - it's way better! They have a huge bar, with pool tables, KARAOKE, and they also have a fun outdoor area with corn hole! I can't believe how much fun I had last Saturday! The owner Scotty, is super chill and is so welcoming! Everyone should check out Scotty's hideaway, drinks are very reasonable and overall you're going to have fun at this local spot! *Towards the end of the night, I might've had one too many drinks - sorry Scotty! :) Thanks for a good time, tho!"