Dallas's Most Authentic Dive Bars

Pull up a stool, order some cheap whiskey and don’t forget to duck when the beer bottles fly

Two middle-aged Hispanic women come in, one of them talking excitedly about the AC/DC concert she'll attend the next night. She feeds a dollar to the jukebox, and "Hell's Bells" blares through the bar, deafeningly loud.

Gilbert says sometimes the place makes him a bit skittish: The Internet Rock-Ola jukebox may randomly play songs after he's closed. Other times, the ice machine will dump a load of ice into the bin, shattering the after-hours silence. His jittery nature is understandable once he describes how a gang of muggers killed a bar patron at another club just down the street after the victim refused to give up his wallet. Still, his paranoia is not without its lighter moments.

Customers Wes Dowden and Bobby Fleming unwind at The Grapevine.
Sara Kerens
Customers Wes Dowden and Bobby Fleming unwind at The Grapevine.
There are dives in Dallas for every barfly, whether male or female, old or young, straight or gay, drinking alone or in a pack.
Sara Kerens
There are dives in Dallas for every barfly, whether male or female, old or young, straight or gay, drinking alone or in a pack.

Location Info

Map

Tradewinds Social Club

2843 W. Davis St.
Dallas, TX 75211-3679

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Cockrell Hill

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The Grapevine Bar

3902 Maple Ave.
Dallas, TX 75219

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Uptown & Oak Lawn

Ships Lounge

1613 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: East Dallas & Lakewood

Club Schmitz

9661 Denton Drive
Dallas, TX 75220

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Northwest Dallas

Lakewood Landing

5818 Live Oak St.
Dallas, TX 75214

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: East Dallas & Lakewood

Copper Spur Saloon

6524 E. NW Highway
Dallas, TX 75231

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Northeast Dallas

Winedale Tavern

2110 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: East Dallas & Lakewood

Cooper's Restaurant and Club

2424 S. Cockrell Hill Road
Dallas, TX 75211-8102

Category: Restaurant > American

Region: Cockrell Hill

New O'Malley's Club

2720 S. Zang Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75224

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Oak Cliff & South Dallas

Starlight Lounge

4319 Main St.
Dallas, TX 75226

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Downtown & Deep Ellum

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Web extra: Check out our slide show for more photos from 10 Dallas dives.

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"One time, another bartender was reaching into the ice bin, and the door slammed down onto the back of his head," he says. "Then he stumbled over there [pointing to a timed mister system], and right when he did, it sprayed him in the face. He was going around screaming, 'Augh, they clubbed me and then they Maced me!'"

Who's it for? Those unfazed by loud jukeboxes and those who drink their breakfast.

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