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Down, Dirty, Divey and Drunk

2005_06_foodmilanos.jpgWhere have all the dive bars gone? It seems that the down n' dirty watering holes of our youth have appeared on one too many "Best Dive Bars in New York City" lists for their own good - Milano's is a prime example - although Gothamist isn't completely immune to its worn charms.

It seems that to find an undiscovered dive winner (undiscovered by those other than locals and lushes, that is) Gothamist has to grab our MetroCard and hit the outer boroughs. Two faves:

- The Turkey's Nest in Billysburg (Yes, Virginia: A truly divey hole can be found in this über hipster 'hood.)

- KC Moore's in Woodside - formerly known as Shelly's (Where your pint will come with an authentic working-class Irish brogue.)

But, Gothamist is anxious to hear about where you go to get your drunk on. No tales of getting smashed on Cosmos, please! Have some respect for the proper dive and it'll give it back to you in spades - and if you're very lucky, in buy-backs too.

The Turkey's Nest
94 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 384-9774

KC Moore's
58-15 Woodside Ave
Woodside, NY 11377
718) 429-8756

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

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  • crazy eye's

    Danny O's on Staten Isalnd - Bartender was a hooker in past - just give her a few drinks - name is trish

  • god i hope the holiday cocktail lounge is still alive and kicking.



    and for those living in a gutter uptown, there's always night cafe on amsterdam.

  • Mars Bar on 1st st and 2nd ave. It goes beyond dive. The place has next to no indoor lighting, the bathrooms haven't been cleaned since the place opened and have no locks, I haven't gotten a beer that wasn't skunked there in years, and they proudly display dead houseplants. You have to be in the right mood to take it all in but it's by far my favorite bar in the City. Totally one of a kind.

  • Holiday Lounge, St Marks Place



    www.forgotten-ny.com

  • The Cherry Tavern on 6th St. near A is a reliably dirty and cheap place. Blue and Gold on 7th near 1st Ave still offers any drink for under 3.50, but the pours seem lighter and lighter. A note on the Turkey's Nest- on Sunday evenings you can get a 32oz Bud Draft in a styrofoam container to go (complete with a lid and straw) and then watch the local kids toe the line between desperately hip and fiercely competitive at hipster kickball in the park cattycorner from the bar.

  • mrf

    I have a favorite but I'll be damned if I'm going to tell the internet where it is!

  • th

    there is a blog just for dive bars in ny... http:/www.nycdives.com - usually reviews a bar or 2 a week

  • tk



    freddies on prospect heights.

    i love this place but because of RATNER, it may be gone soon..

    so sad.

  • Matt

    American Trash on First Ave... or the mcdougal street ale house in the village

  • Matt

    American Trash on First Ave...

  • One of my elitist friends calls it a dive, so I guess I'll mention the Baggot Inn on 3rd between Thompson and Sullivan in the village.

  • Marisa

    The Subway Inn, 143 E. 60th St. between 3rd and Lexington.

  • Marisa

    The Subway Inn, 143 E. 60th St. (Upper East Side) between Third and Lexington Aves.

  • ElginBurt

    Lilly Coogans (2nd between 7th & 6th?) or any place in St. George Staten Island that's not Cargo. Danny O's is the most dive, even outdiving the Marz Bar, and is only steps from the ferry.

  • magic1

    I agree that in no way is Buttermilk a dive.....for South(ish) Slope, I'd nominate Jackie's 5th Amendment on 5th Ave around 7th St. Never had the nerve to go in but I've seen old guys propping up the bar there at 8am. Timboo's looks dive-ish too.

  • jp

    I'd second the O'Connor's suggestion - and to add to the dives in Carroll Gardens, Cousin's on Court st., while not really a dive per se, has nary a hipster, sports shown at almost all times, and lots of serious drunks. According to local lore, there was one guy who had a heart attack and died in there a few years ago.

  • Meredith

    Alibi, on DeKalb in Fort Greene. I know it was featured in TONY, but I still think it's a great dive.



    But it has air conditioning, which may disqualify it in some people's books. Anyway, I love it.

  • Eric

    O'Connors is more of a dive. More of a mixed clientele there but not really a jarring mix of people...but one big thing spells dive bar for that place.



    No beer on tap. Zero. It's nice and cheap, too.

  • nealu

    Holiday Cocktail Lounge hasn't changed one bit on the Lower East Side, there's Mona's on Avenue B and the aforementioned 169 as well.



    The Red Bar in Carroll Gardens/Boerum Hill, Hank's & Last Exit on Atlantic Avenue.



    As for Park Slope, not a dive, but I'll be goddamned if Commonwealth isn't the best bar I've been to lately.

  • KeithS

    Max -- Angry Wade's and "The Bar" (the orange one with an address of 260-something) on Smith might fit the bill for you.

  • anna

    Bear Bar on Amsterdam and 70-something is pretty divey (maybe not in the best way) Everyone sits alone with their own pitcher...of Bud Ice. The music selection is superb.

  • pastoralia

    I agree with your assesment of Buttermilk Eric...to make up for it try O'Conners on 5th Ave near Flatbush...I guess I just have a soft spot for Buttermilk because a crazy drunk night there led to a wonderfully slutty one night stand.



    Here's to you girl-I-can't-remember-name-of.

  • anna

    Bear Bar on Amsterdam and 70-something is pretty divey (maybe not in the best way) Everyone sits alone with their own pitcher...of Bud Ice.

  • Eric

    Buttermilk is hardly a "dive" bar. It's hipster central for "South Park Slope." I'm not slamming it, it's just not a dive bar.



    Obviously "dive" is subjective, but I do believe that it should describe something a bit more hetereogenous and certainly not trendy nor named "Buttermilk."



    Mooney's on Flatbush in Prospect Heights ain't bad.

  • Sophie's on 5th between Aves. A and B. Great jukebox, odd people (a lovely mixture of underage college kids, neighborhood derelicts and the occasional hipster waiting for the night to start), pool table.

  • over exposure

    lamenting the over exposure of certain dive bars and in the same post trying to expose hidden gems.

  • heather

    Blue & Gold's -- where i had my first drink...and thought it would be great to have three "fuzzy navels" in a row then challenge the pool hustlers because "i (was) a champion" at that point.

    Hogs & Heifers always -- though i like the one up on 9th Ave the best...i don't need the girls

    BAR -- many many fun times...

    Billymark West (before it became that name) -- i used to love to sit with the postal workers after work, watching the pimps and hoes come in and starring at the 'famous regular' who would punch himself in the face while looking in the mirror.

    good times new york, good times.

  • Max

    Anyone know of a good bar in Carrol Garden?

    Likes: TV with sports/booze

    Dislikes: Sports Bars/Hipsters

  • dirt that is turkeys nest. as per Rudy's mmmmm dive bar + free dogs .... goodness. i also like siberia. though its slightly trendy the bars are made out of plywood. nuffin says dive like the inability to even setup a proper bar.

  • Williamsburg IS a huge dive bar! That said, I remember there's one in particular that won some award on Bedford at the corner of the park.

  • Greg

    Duffs on North 3rd and Kent in Williamsburg (Was the old Bellevue in Hells Kitchen Run by Jimmy) They even have a bbq were you can bring your own food to be cooked.

  • Alan

    The Marz Bar on E 1st and 2nd ave. It may be several steps below "dive" status.

  • LES Drinker

    169 Bar on East Broadway at Straus Square where Chinatown becomes the Lower East Side or vice-versa. Good music almost every night. Pool in the back.

  • stella

    rudy's in hell's kitchen!

  • pastoralia

    Bar BQ in Park Slope (20th and 6th Ave). You can get drunk and then eat BBQ. What else do you want?



    Buttermilk in Park Slope is good too...nice booths in back for all kinds of drunk shenanigans.



    Bellevue in the city is a skanky little hole too.



    On a related topic...I keep hearing rumors that The Village Idiot will reopen in the East Village? Is this true or just wishful thinking? Damn, I loved that bar.

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