The Definitive List of St. Louis Dive Bars

Pop's Blue Moon

(5249 Pattison Avenue, 314-776-4200)

Pop's Blue Moon is about as hard to describe as it is to find. Open since 1908 and largely unchanged since the 1940s, the family-owned gin mill sits in a forgotten north sliver of the Hill, severed from the rest of the neighborhood by Highway 44. That hasn't stopped an endless parade of musicians from finding their way to its doorstep. Inside, the main barroom is lit by pink neons and a collection of lava lamps. It feels a little like a New Orleans blues bar and a little like the inside of curio cabinet, with knick knacks in every corner. A Christmas tree and glowing snowman centaur light up one end of the bar, and you'll pass a quarter-ton bombshell on the way to the bathroom. Pop's is all wonderfully weird and well-worth the effort to find it. Pro tip: Use Pop's location to your advantage during the next big Forest Park event. Leave your car here and walk about fifteen minutes each way. You'll make it back in time to sip a beer while everyone else is stuck in traffic hell.

Photo courtesy of Riverfront Times

San Bar Tavern

(9441 Lackland Road, Overland, 314-427-9750)

For more than 50 years, the San Bar Tavern has been a welcoming go-to for thirsty residents of Overland and beyond, slinging cheap drinks in a warm, inviting atmosphere. And for 26 of those years, owner Kay Genail has been helming the ship. Charming and kind, Genail has decorated her bar to her own unique and quirky tastes. That means a seriously impressive collection of Cardinals bobbleheads, a fair number of beer signs and even a living room area complete with a sectional couch that Genail refers to as "the VIP lounge." She says most of her patrons walk here from their homes, and she's quick to tout the bar's history, pulling out a weathered map, dated 1903, that shows the area's property lines as they stood more than 100 years ago. "I really should frame this so it doesn't get all booger-y," she remarks. Frame or no, the map is just one piece of proof that this delightful watering hole is here to stay. Here's to another hundred years, San Bar.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Hill

The Waiting Room

(10419 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, 314-890-8333)

Don't look for a jukebox at the Waiting Room — the unwashed masses simply cannot be trusted with something as important as the soundtrack to this St. Ann watering hole. Most accurately described as a punk-rock dive bar (the name is a reference to the Fugazi song), the Waiting Room could also be thought of as a charming little chunk of south city dropped into the middle of north county. Its closest city counterpart would be the Silver Ballroom — indeed, the two bars' proprietors are friendly, even sharing and swapping out pinball machines (and engaging in rather competitive touch-screen rivalries). The drinks are cheap and plentiful, the mood is low-key and inviting, and the bartenders are friendly. The latter are also the ones responsible for the music you are listening to. Don't you forget it.

Photo courtesy of Shannon Nichols

Clancy's

(40 Old State Road, Ellisville, 636-391-6154)

When the Clancy clan first staked its claim on the corner of Old State and Manchester, the roads were brick. Times have changed, but not much else has at the place they founded, the aptly named Clancy's. Built as a summer home, the place was converted to an Irish pub in the 1970s by family patriarch Frank Clancy. His photograph is lacquered to the corner bar top, under the ceiling of hanging dollar bills that he started as a tradition. "A year of luck for a buck" is how the old saying goes, though just bellying up to this classic bar and sipping a Guinness is enough to make you feel fortunate.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Baehr

Corner Bar

(571 1st Capitol Drive, St. Charles, 636-724-9608)

Aptly named, the Corner Bar is the oldest dive bar in St. Charles, and it's got the history to prove it. The two-story brick building was erected in 1860 and was first used as a military academy for boys that would host occasional dances for Lindenwood students, back when the latter was an all-girls school. In 1875, it was converted to a bar and restaurant and a three-pin bowling lane was installed downstairs. The game was known as "cocked-hat bowling," thanks to the way men wore their hats as they played, and this is one of the last lanes in the nation where you can still play it. The venue still holds a lot of its working-class charisma, with original brick architecture and a big wooden bar, well-oiled for slinging tall drafts your way. You'll be a regular in no time.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Korinek

Pine Room

(1102 Perry Street, St. Charles, 636-754-6327)

If it wasn't for the big sign above the door, you might drive right past the Pine Room thinking that it was just another house. But you'd be wise to slow down: This is one of the best-kept secrets in dive bars. Located at the corner of Perry and Forest, nestled snuggly in the middle of an old St. Charles suburb, the Pine Room has been in operation since 1947, making it the second oldest bar in the area. It's just what you'd expect — dark and smoky inside, with natural wood paneling and old-world charm, it feels like the remnant of a 1950s-era boy's club. While the nearby Lindenwood University crowd packs the tiny dive in the evenings, the bar's biggest claim to fame is the food — smoked ribs, steaks and fried chicken. People say the filets are better than Ruth's Chris steakhouse. If that's not enough, the Pine Room boasts one of the best happy hours around: $1.50 domestics and half-off appetizers. If that's not a sign, what is?

Photo courtesy of Kevin Korinek

Krueger's

(7374 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton, 314-721-9965)

Before you get huffy and insist that Krueger's is not a dive, consider the neighboring environs. This is Clayton — a zip code that put more importance on pulling up in a leased BMW than it does in keeping a bucket of Bud Light properly iced. Krueger's, which has been open since the mid-1930s and under the same ownership since '46, is as divey as it gets in this part of town, but in the best possible way. Even though Clayton's smoking ban means the haze of nicotine has lifted, it's low-key where other bars are snooty, friendly where they'd prefer to pose. It has dingy lighting, an unfussy beer selection, and an atmosphere so thick with the smoke of years past you'd think someone was lighting up right next to you. Don't even think of asking for a craft cocktail — there are a hundred places within walking distance for that, and this isn't one of 'em. But that's what makes Krueger's such a breath of fresh air for those who just want to kick back. Every city should be so lucky to have a bar like this.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Baehr

Silver Ballroom

(4701 Morgan Ford Road, 314-832-9223)

The Silver Ballroom could easily be a locale in the '90s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, in which an aging member of the Foot Clan leaves his life of crime behind to be a barkeep and surrounds himself with the beer, punk and pinball of his sordid youth. Despite the divey veneer, the Pabst-laden bar (ahem, Retox Center) conceals some marvelous secrets: Australian meat pies, craft drinks and a few worldly bartenders who are well-versed in specialty cocktails. If the jukebox doesn't earn enough punk points for its selection of punk rock standards, take a closer look at the bar itself — the Ballroom's DIY ethos shines from top to bottom with a history lesson through the 400+ show flyers from St. Louis' punk past plastered throughout. And make no mistake, the game room is run as a high-grade pinball arcade, with nearly twenty pristine machines kept on constant rotation, ranging from old Williams and Bally mainstays to newer, licensed fare — just keep that Stag tallboy on a side table.

Photo courtesy of Jarred Gastreich

Stella Blues

(3269 Morgan Ford Road, 314-762-0144)

If you love the idea of Fast Eddie's, but hate the crowds and that drive east, Stella Blues is a rockin' alternative. Adorned with neon signs and eclectic memorabilia, Stella's also features a fun patio and a gritty pool room in the back. The cash-only bar is stocked with an array of bottled beers, and while there aren't any fancy cocktails, the bartenders can accommodate staple orders such as gin and tonics and whiskey sours. But though the drinks are less than $5, the real draw here is the kitchen, which is unusually good for such a low-key spot. The Korean pork kabobs ($1 each or four for $3) and beef kabobs ($4) can't be beat.

Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen

The Cat's Meow

(2600 S. 11th Street, 314-776-8617)

It may have a cutesy name, but the Cat's Meow (2600 S. 11th Street, 314-776-8617) is a place for some serious drinking. Tucked at the far end of Soulard, far from the frat-tastic action and party buses full of county revelers, it's a surprisingly big space with plenty of friendly regulars and a few cheap eats to soak up the booze (a package of crackers is a quarter; pistachios will set you back $1.25). There's a vague cat theme going on here — you can learn about "A Cat's Wisdom" from one piece of wall art — and an even more pronounced Mardi Gras one. Six-foot boas are on sale for $10, while five-foot ones are $5. That extra foot of feathers would easily buy you a strong drink here, with enough left over for a tip; spend wisely.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske

Weber's Bar

(6632 Macklind Avenue, 314-352-4001)

Overheard outside Weber's Bar: "Women slip their wedding bands off when they walk through that door!" An older man is quick to retort, "Oh no they don't. Don't say that." The Princeton Heights bar hardly resembles a cougar den. Behind the blank awning, with no signage besides the typical Budweiser lights, Weber's feels like a pure and unadulterated oasis of cheap rails and domestics. The regulars are friendly; you're more likely to be taught how to greet someone in 30 different languages than to encounter an adulterous proposition. Just remember that Weber's doesn't allow for bar tabs at all — cash is king.

Photo courtesy of Joseph Hess

Super's Bungalow

(5623 Leona Street, no phone)

Look, we know change can be scary, and the south city staple Super's Bungalow has gone through more than just a few nips and tucks this summer. The recent acquisition by former Adam's Smokehouse pitmaster Alex Cupp brings BBQ to the space via a new food component called the Stellar Hog. But rest assured, the new menu is meant to add to the dive bar ambiance, not take away from its down-low, neighborly feel. The fenced-in corner at Leona and Bates hides the no-frills biergarten, which remains clean and well-kept, while the renovations so far feature a full restoration of the bar to its 1940s glory and brand new hardwood floors. Beer and shots, however, still flow for a low, low rate. Some things never change, even after nearly 90 years.

Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen

Crack Fox

(1114 Olive Street, 314-621-6900)

You can let your freak flag fly at the Crack Fox and get drunk while doing so. With a long-standing reputation as a haven for all things off-kilter and strange, the eclectic downtown dive has been known to host everything from burlesque performances to punk shows to EDM nights, gathering up as many freaks and weirdos as possible and packing them all in under one roof. Bigger than it looks from the outside, the grungy quarters include a stage, a huge bar and several arcade machines towards the back. You couldn't miss the wall filled with boudoir photography of scantily clad women if you wanted to. Not too many cities can boast a bar that combines dive values with goth culture, but it just goes to show what they're missing.

Photo courtesy of Kavahn Mansouri

The Hideaway

(5900 Arsenal St., 314-645-8822)

This beloved south-city joint is also a low-key piano bar. Stop in to make some new friends (of all ages) or just to enjoy the thrift-store style paintings of naked ladies on the walls. It's a dark bar but it can be lively, so arrive looking to make new friends. (And prepare to be asked to dance, a delightful throwback that seems to only exist under this roof.)

Photo courtesy of Google Maps

River City Pub

(7906 Gravois Road, 314-353-9921)

River City Pub sits perched on the city/county line, a smoky gateway to south city via Affton. This lounge-like space is deceptively big, with room enough for your bar-hopping entourage, complete with a backyard to welcome any spillover. Given the not-so-subtle pro team decor throughout, you could mistake this for a down-low sports bar, yet River City Pub feels more like a drunken blank slate, ready to cater to whatever clientele comes stumbling through on any given night. The place even gained a hipster following during its period of karaoke nights hosted by Ali Baba, though the local legend has since given up emcee duties. While you can still sing here, it's the cold beer and cheap shots that keep River City Pub happily afloat.

Photo courtesy of Riverfront Times

Sophie's Place

(2815 Watson Rd., 314-645-4033)

If you're a raging alcoholic or just a third-shifter looking for an after-work beer, Sophie's Place is the place for you. The two-sided Clifton Heights bar opens at 7 a.m. for sun-up drinking. Prices are reasonable for a dive bar, verging on ridiculous if you stick to the long list of daily specials. Tuesdays, for example, offer $2 rails. Pretty good, right? And the drink comes in a goddamn pint glass! So gather your dollar bills, order an irresponsible amount of liquor at the long bar and wander over to the other half of Sophie's to play some early morning pool. You'll pass a baffling amount of pirate-themed decorations and plenty of televisions, which will be useful if you make it to first pitch. There's also one of those coin-operated claw games where you can win a stuffed bear, because why the hell not? Stay until 1:30 a.m., sleep a few hours and do it all over again.

Photo courtesy of Jaime Lees

One Nite Stand Dance Club

(2800 Ohio Avenue, 314-776-0996)

The One Nite Stand Dance Club has the best name in the business. Located just off Gravois Avenue on the border of Benton Park West and Fox Park, it has attracted more than few first-timers out of sheer curiosity. The other main draw is karaoke on Friday and Saturday nights. Expect a patdown and a once-over with a metal detector wand on those nights. Once inside, the place is bigger than expected. The main barroom is a long rectangle, with a bar on the right and pool table in the back. A ramp leads up to a second area with another pool table and a stripper pole, just in case your rendition of "Sexual Healing" could use a little more juice. The crowd is diverse, although not always comfortably. A Confederate flag was removed from the entrance several years ago, but white and black patrons tend to self-segregate inside the hazy nightclub. You're in for a strange time here, but isn't that why you came?

Photo courtesy of Doyle Murphy

The Haunt

(5000 Alaska Avenue, 314-481-5003)

Most dives aim to be anti-kitsch, which would be the polar opposite of the Haunt, a horror-themed bar where punk rock is king and gory B-movies fill the screen. The bartender is happy to accommodate those who want to see the game, but how could anyone trade buckets of fake blood for bats and balls? Despite its tiny footprint, the Haunt packs in ear-busting rock bands, with a modest stage in the back of the room. The Busch beer special provides the best bang for a day-drinker's buck: Starting at 11 a.m., buckets begin at $5 and go up one dollar per hour, topping off at $11. Pre-gaming here likely means you'll be too drunk to leave around dinner time, but luckily the Haunt's frozen pizzas from Gallagher Bros are a cut above the rest. And while most patios are rendered pointless once the temp drops, the fire pit in back here provides a spot to have your fresh air and breathe it too.

Photo courtesy of Joseph Hess

Memoreze at JR's

(5523 Old Lemay Ferry Road, 314-487-5619)

Way south on Lemay Ferry, where the road splits off to the Old Lemay Ferry spur, the pavement gives way to a gravel parking lot. It's a fitting entrance to Memoreze, the latest name for the wood-paneled drinking outpost that got its start in 1898 as a gathering spot for travelers making their way east to St. Louis. Today, though, it's the locals who frequent this smoke-filled watering hole. There's darts and shuffleboard and pool, but the real draw is Keno, a state-licensed gambling game that harkens back to the bar's days as a saloon. That and the vodka-soaked cherries, sold three for a dollar.

Photo courtesy of Cheryl Baehr

Muser's Pub

(6594 Scanlan Avenue, 314-647-0804)

Some days, you just need a bar. No crazy themes. No curated "identity." Just a place to sit on a stool and drink a cold beer. That's Muser's Pub. The barroom is a big rectangle with a handful of tables scattered across thin blue carpet. Watch a game on TV, or don't. Throw some darts or play shuffleboard if you're feeling motivated. There are no taps. Regulars pour Stag and Natty Light into glasses, delivered without irony by perfectly pleasant bartenders. A frozen pizza is $8. Southern Comfort shots are $2. If you're looking for a bar in Lindenwood Park, Muser's will do the job.

Photo courtesy of Google Maps