Dive Bar Blog
March 1, 2018“O tequila, savage water of sorcery, what confusion and mischief your sly, rebellious drops do generate!” ~ Tom Robbins, ‘Still Life With Woodpecker’ “There is a great independence, and a confident immunity to risk, in all drinks made out of cactus.” ~ Alan LeMay, ‘The Searchers’ You know how some whiskeys work best as a […] [...] Read more...
February 28, 2018“Lord, I have loved some ladies and I have loved Jim Beam And they both tried to kill me in 1973 When that doctor asked me, ‘Son, how did you get in this condition?’ I said, ‘Hey, sawbones, I’m just carrying on an old family tradition’” ~ Hank Williams, Jr., ‘Family Tradition’ It’s said that […] [...] Read more...
January 3, 2018“The highball, high priest of tall drinks, is nothing but spirits, ice, and water or soda, but its concoction is nonetheless governed by basic rules for bringing out the life flavor of its principle ingredient.” ~ Esquire’s Handbook For Hosts, 1949 A highball is any cocktail consisting of a spirit and a carbonated mixer, served […] [...] Read more...
August 17, 2017“Fernet is the best liquor you’re (still) not yet drinking.” -The Atlantic In Argentina it’s mixed with Coca-Cola as the country’s favorite cocktail, as well as its preferred hangover cure. In San Francisco, where it’s been hugely popular since the 1920s, it’s downed straight with a ginger ale chaser. In Italy, where it originated, it’s […] [...] Read more...
August 13, 2017“Listen up, guys, the Springfield Police have told me that 91% of all traffic accidents are caused by you six guys. So the bad news is we gotta start having designated drivers. We’ll choose the same way they pick the Pope. Everybody reach in and draw a pickled egg. Whoever gets the black egg stays […] [...] Read more...
July 28, 2017“She drank Canadian whiskey Pure blended whiskey She drank it like wine Her eyes were the color of Canadian whiskey Pure blended whiskey So light brown and fine” Tom Russell, ‘Canadian Whiskey’ Canadian whisky does not get the respect it deserves. Among scotch, bourbon, Irish whisky and American rye drinkers, the whisky made by our […] [...] Read more...
July 14, 2017“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.” ~ Ernest Hemingway In 1935, Ernest Hemingway was invited to contribute to So Red the Nose or Breath in the Afternoon, a book of cocktail recipes by famous authors of the day. In response, Hemingway happily offered […] [...] Read more...
July 7, 2017“Para todo mal, mezcal. Y para todo bien, también.” (“For everything bad, mezcal. And for everything good, too.”) ~ Oaxaca proverb First things first: While all tequilas are technically mezcals, mezcal is not tequila. They’re both made from the agave plant – a type of spiky succulent – but that’s where the similarities end. Tequila […] [...] Read more...
July 4, 2017“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.” ~John Ruskin We’ve always been supportive of unique microbrewers, small-batch distillers, locally sourced foods and family-owned companies. As a small-business owner in a very big city, it’s our conscious commitment to the kind of pride and craftsmanship that I was raised with […] [...] Read more...
April 14, 2017“Aye, but today’s rain is tomorrow’s whisky.” ~Scottish proverb I’ve never been to Scotland, but here are a few things I know for certain: Robert Burns, Sean Connery and Annie Lennox rule. Haggis is the soul food cousin of Jewish kishke, and I would probably love it. Golf, bagpipes and Halloween all originated there. I […] [...] Read more...
April 12, 2017“Charm is a product of the unexpected.” ~Jose Marti The practice of distilling fermented grains is said to have begun with either the Babylonians in 2nd Century BC Mesopotamia or the Greeks in the 1st Century AD. What is known for certain is that the technology evolved from the medieval Arabs, with the earliest records […] [...] Read more...
April 7, 2017“May your glass be ever full, May the roof over your head be always strong, And may you be in heaven Half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.” ~ Traditional Irish Toast So how instrumental are the Irish to the development and evolution of whiskey? For starters, the word ‘whiskey’ itself comes from […] [...] Read more...
March 1, 2017“There is no bad whiskey. There are only some whiskeys that aren’t as good as others.” — Raymond Chandler Everyone from cocktail chemists to casual sippers can tell you that these are exciting times for American whiskey. Across the country, small-batch distilleries are making craft whiskies and blends – often from organic and locally sourced […] [...] Read more...
We are a family of four traditional bars on the Upper West Side. In fact, our bars have served this neighborhood – and evolved with it – over the last 40 years with a pride that’s apparent in our unique décor, attitude and reputation.
In other words, the Dive Bars are for real people who want to enjoy good times over well-prepared food and cocktails.
We’ve been at the forefront of Manhattan’s craft and artisanal products, from the latest NYC microbrews and whiskeys to our not-your-average-bar menu featuring locally sourced ingredients.
And because we consider ourselves a local bar, you’re invited to come by yourself or with a group and find that you’ll make some new friends over great conversation. We have plenty of TVs to watch the game, plus Trivia Nights, live music and special events, too.
Did we mention beer to go, including growlers, crowlers and kegs? Yes!