Best Dive Bars

dweebe · PostDec 03, 2007#512007-12-03T16:01+00:00

mcarril wrote:
JCity wrote:Ok, I want to go to a bar in the city I've NEVER been to before. I've been to Dapper Dan's downtown. Has anyone been to Friendly's on the South Side? What are some good ones? Everyone has hear of Club 34 or Rosies in the West End. I'm talking "deep in the city streets", where you would never notice them.

same for Nel's though it's a little houz-ier and a little scarier, too.

How about The Brick on Broadway? Now that is a scary dive bar.

Nels has improved slightly from when it was Boo's Place. I've been to some of the diviest dives in rural Missouri, New Orleans and all over the St. Louis area: but Boos Place was one of the few bars I've ever felt unsafe in.

But the Brick now has that crown. The Brick used to be an okay place to go to but it's gotten pretty bad. It's not enough to just be drunk in there; but now you must be stoned, coked out or methed out of your mind to fit in with the rest of the crowd.

debaliviere · PostDec 03, 2007#522007-12-03T16:09+00:00

^

Interesting. I used to go to The Brick all the time back in college. Sorry to hear that it's gone downhill.

southsidepride · PostDec 03, 2007#532007-12-03T16:20+00:00

The Brick used to have some decent bands playing there, I haven't heard of anyone there lately and I guess if it's become meth central that's why.

Did anyone mention The Hideaway on Arsenal at Hampton? If you've never been the whole place is red velvet and wood paneling. They have a couple of dancing lady paintings that remind me of my parents friends basement bar when I was growing up. It's usually blue hairs but some younger folks have discovered it too. The blind gentleman that plays piano is pretty good too. If you are ever in the mood for what I've described above give it a try.

julia · PostDec 03, 2007#542007-12-03T17:13+00:00

Before it closed, the Double Bogey on Juniata just a few steps west of Grand was interesting. I lived a couple doors down for years but only went in a handful of times. Patrons with looks of determination on their faces arrived by cab; their expressions and body language screamed, "I'm here to get f&^%$d up so don't f&^k with me!" Last time there, I saw a pregnant tart smoking and drinking. Shudder.

the central scrutinizer · PostDec 03, 2007#552007-12-03T17:31+00:00

DeBaliviere wrote:^

Interesting. I used to go to The Brick all the time back in college. Sorry to hear that it's gone downhill.

It was my hangout when it was Gildersleeve's. I did go in a few times after it became The Brick (several years later), and it seemed ok. I do know there has been some ownership turmoil over the past few years, especially related to The Brick out on Watson by Kenrick, which is either the same place or not the same place, depending on how you look at it and who you ask.

threeonefour · PostDec 03, 2007#562007-12-03T18:17+00:00

dweebe wrote:Nels has improved slightly from when it was Boo's Place. I've been to some of the diviest dives in rural Missouri, New Orleans and all over the St. Louis area: but Boos Place was one of the few bars I've ever felt unsafe in.

I've thought about trying Nel's, but that doesn't exactly sound like an endorsement. My sister in-law had a pretty bad experience there as well, so like you, I'm inclined to think it's only slightly better than its predecessor.

Speaking of places close to home... I tried Iron Barley this summer, and I failed to see what the attraction is, so I won't be back.

But the Brick now has that crown. The Brick used to be an okay place to go to but it's gotten pretty bad. It's not enough to just be drunk in there; but now you must be stoned, coked out or methed out of your mind to fit in with the rest of the crowd.

Too bad, becuase it was a pretty cool place just a few years ago. There was also The Brick Bistro on Watson Road for awhile, but it closed almost a year ago, only to be replaced by some place with an Italian name that didn't even last six months. AFAIK, it's currently vacant.

the central scrutinizer · PostDec 03, 2007#572007-12-03T18:21+00:00

ThreeOneFour wrote:Too bad, becuase it was a pretty cool place just a few years ago. There was also The Brick Bistro on Watson Road for awhile, but it closed almost a year ago, only to be replaced by some place with an Italian name that didn't even last six months. AFAIK, it's currently vacant.

Huh? I think you have it backwards. That Italian place had been there for many, many years. The Brick came in about 5(?) years ago. It was still open within the past year, but may be closed now.

threeonefour · PostDec 03, 2007#582007-12-03T18:41+00:00

^ You're probably right, and I fixed my post above to more accurately reflect the timeline (give or take a few months) because I couldn't remember the name of the place that preceded The Brick in that location. Just before it closed, there was a banner with an Italian name over the signage for The Brick, but it didn't last long.

barslave · PostDec 08, 2007#592007-12-08T23:40+00:00

From the stories i've heard, nel's is a HUGE improvement over what boo's place became. i've always felt safe at Nel's, and i've always been treated well by everyone there.

backthecity · PostDec 08, 2007#602007-12-08T23:48+00:00

Pop's Blue Moon

hollyhiller · PostDec 09, 2007#612007-12-09T07:07+00:00

Anyone been to Southtown Pub on Kingshighway?

I first heard of it in a bar in Soulard where the barmaid

was talking about oral sex going on at Southtown Pub.

Suffice to say, I checked it out after hearing that. Never

saw anything like that, but it is a classic dive.

juiceinkirkwood · PostDec 09, 2007#622007-12-09T07:36+00:00

hollyhiller wrote:Anyone been to Southtown Pub on Kingshighway?

I first heard of it in a bar in Soulard where the barmaid

was talking about oral sex going on at Southtown Pub.

Suffice to say, I checked it out after hearing that. Never

saw anything like that, but it is a classic dive.

lol.

One of the best quotes I've read on UrbanSTL. We need a sticky "best quotes" thread.

bsever · PostDec 11, 2007#632007-12-11T03:56+00:00

I've heard good things about Shady Jacks, a biker bar on the north side. Anybody been there?

MattnSTL · PostDec 11, 2007#642007-12-11T04:01+00:00

^One of the monthly Drinks and Mortar Drinks was there. I'm thinking September. I really liked the place. Very cool building.

carrieocity kills · PostDec 11, 2007#652007-12-11T23:19+00:00

i like the blue hair piano bar The Hideaway on arsenal. its refreshing to know that old folks still party. i once saw an old lady barf on the bar and then get mad at the bartender for cutting her off. good times.

tho now I think i need to check out this Brick joint. Where is it? I guess its not the Brick on Watson/Chippewa?

dweebe · PostDec 11, 2007#662007-12-11T23:25+00:00

carrieocity kills wrote:
tho now I think i need to check out this Brick joint. Where is it? I guess its not the Brick on Watson/Chippewa?

No. The Brick is on Broadway just south of 55 and the AB brewery.

Be forewarned, this is not a "cool" dive bar. Make sure to smoke some crack or meth before you go if you want to fit in. It's pretty bad.

Trust me: I've been to some side street dives in Tijuana Mexico where I'm the only gringo in the place. The Brick is scarier.

carrieocity kills · PostDec 11, 2007#672007-12-11T23:29+00:00

if i take my 6'4'" tatted up bf will i be okay? i would not dare go alone- but do i need more back up than once menacing looking guy?

dweebe · PostDec 11, 2007#682007-12-11T23:36+00:00

carrieocity kills wrote:if i take my 6'4'" tatted up bf will i be okay? i would not dare go alone- but do i need more back up than once menacing looking guy?

You might be okay. I'm 6' 3" with no ink and my buddies are all taller than me.

Even then there's better places to drink and have a good time. Going to The Brick will just piss you off. Like I said this is not a "fun" dive bar, The Brick is a bad time dive bar.

carrieocity kills · PostDec 11, 2007#692007-12-11T23:45+00:00

maybe i am looking for a bad time;)

j/k

still it does sound like an adventure

jlblues · PostDec 12, 2007#702007-12-12T05:48+00:00

So, paying someone to penetrate your skin and insert ink makes you tough, or appear tough? I don't know, I see an awful lot of weenies running around with tats these days.

Anyway, I don't really think it is a dive bar (I suppose some might), but The Black Derby on Kingshighway, just north of Chippewa, is a great place to knock back a few and play some pool or darts. They have better dart boards than Blueberry Hill.

carrieocity kills · PostDec 12, 2007#712007-12-12T20:03+00:00

meow pussycat!

i think tats make someone look tougher esp someone very large. i dont have any myself but i feel tough so maybe you are right.

debaliviere · PostDec 12, 2007#722007-12-12T20:14+00:00

jlblues wrote:So, paying someone to penetrate your skin and insert ink makes you tough, or appear tough? I don't know, I see an awful lot of weenies running around with tats these days.

In particular, the barbed wire/tribal armband tattoo.

thewayofthearch · PostDec 12, 2007#732007-12-12T20:19+00:00

I will reiterate that Foley's in maplewood is a great dive.

debaliviere · PostDec 12, 2007#742007-12-12T20:25+00:00

TheWayoftheArch wrote:I will reiterate that Foley's in maplewood is a great dive.

Agreed. :smt023

dweebe · PostDec 12, 2007#752007-12-12T20:37+00:00

carrieocity kills wrote:meow pussycat!

i think tats make someone look tougher esp someone very large. i dont have any myself but i feel tough so maybe you are right.

What about all the little college chickies with tramp stamps. Are they tough?

Best Dive Bars

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