Best dive bars photo
(Jay Paul)

Best dive bars

Fritz Hahn  |  Updated 07/01/2011

No cover charges, no $10 martinis, no dress codes.

 
 
 
 
 

Hank Dietle's Tavern

Rockville, MD

A real honky tonk with bags of potato chips and ice-cold beers. Shoot some pool on the worn pool table, or have a cigarette on the front porch, which is decidedly not a patio.

 
 
 
 
 

JV's Restaurant

Falls Church, VA

Occupying this location since 1947, JV's provides all the essentials: cold beer, hot chili, barstaff who'll call you "honey" and live country and honky tonk music almost every night.

 
 
 
 
 

Jay's Saloon & Grille

Arlington, VA

Cheap beers, a local clientele that spans generations, an Astroturf-covered patio, Classic rock tunes, vintage ads on the walls -- what else do you need?

 
 
 
 
 

Lil Pub

Washington, DC

The Lil' Pub lives up to its name, with only two rooms -- one dominated by the bar, the other by a pool table. The jukebox is loud, the beers are cheap and everyone knows each other.

 
 
 
 
 

The Raven Grill

Washington, DC

My favorite piece of graffiti in all of Washington is on the Raven's bathroom wall: "If you took a cab here, you don't belong here."

 
 
 
 
 

Vienna Inn

Vienna, VA

Loaded chili dogs -- a house specialty -- accompany cheap draft beers at this community watering hole and restaurant.

 

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