Here we are again Richmond. The city that never hesitates to embrace its vices gears up for Drinksgiving, that sacred Wednesday night before Thanksgiving. It’s a carnival of cheap drinks, questionable decisions, and the bittersweet anticipation of family drama. For those in the trenches of the service industry, it’s not just another night—it’s the Olympics of booze, dubbed Blackout Wednesday. If you’re planning to partake, don’t be a fool—call a Lyft, find a friend, or walk it off. Just don’t drive.
With that public service announcement out of the way, let’s talk about what truly matters here: dive bars. The unpolished, unapologetic heart and soul of Richmond’s drinking scene. These aren’t the places you go to impress someone—they’re where you go to feel something. A cold drink, a warm conversation, and maybe the faint sense that time has stopped. Here’s a list that’ll take you straight to the heart of the city—no pretension, no frills.
ed. note: For fun-sies, check out our list from over a decade ago HERE.
Bamboo Cafe
1 S. Mulberry Street
Some places just exude history, and Bamboo Cafe has it in spades. Once a haven for rock shows, it’s now a Cheers-like refuge for its regulars. Friendly bartenders and a welcoming vibe keep the seats warm. Read our write up on the 50 year anniversary HERE.
City Beach
2416 W Cary Street
A beach bar without a beach. Is it kitschy? Sure. Does it work? Absolutely. Spacious enough to gather a crew, with live music on some nights, sports always on the screens, and cheap beer on tap. If you’re not by Buck Hunter or that virtual golf game, you’re doing it wrong.
City Dogs In The Fan
1316 E Cary Street
Hot dogs, cheese fries, and beer—all dirt cheap. This place is a time capsule for anyone who graduated from VCU and hasn’t moved on. Nostalgia served with a side of grease and a happy hour that doesn’t break the bank.
Cobra Cabana
901 W Marshall Street
If the food here is too good for a dive bar, the vibe makes up for it. Think cheap beer, an eclectic crowd, and décor straight out of *Heavy Metal* magazine. Out back, there’s a patio with live music. Out front, motorcycles that say “no jerks allowed.” Spoiler: everyone here is nice.
Dug Out Bar & Grille
1510 Mountain Road
This one’s for the people out in the county. Karaoke nights, pool tables, and locals who might size you up if you’re “from the city.” But don’t let that stop you. The booze is cheap, the atmosphere is laid-back, and it’s worth the drive—though we’d recommend catching a ride if you plan to drink like a local.
Fuzzy Cactus
221 W Brookland Park Blvd
This place can be weird af, but in all the right ways. Pinball machines, live music almost every night, and a brunch that doesn’t bother pretending to be refined. Northside never looked so good.
Get Tight Lounge
1104 West Main Street
It’s like someone plucked a honky-tonk bar from Austin and dropped it in Richmond. Live music most nights, a killer happy hour, and bartenders who know their craft. It’s rough around the edges in the best possible way.
GWAR BAR
217 W Clay Street
A bar owned by a metal band hell-bent on world domination? Naturally, it’s in Richmond. Expect over-the-top décor, creative food, and a crowd as varied as the drinks menu. There’s a patio in the back if the chaos inside gets to be too much.
Home Sweet Home
3433 W Cary Street
Grilled cheese sandwiches that hit just right, a cozy vibe, and a patio where you can people-watch the Carytown masses. It feels more like hanging out at a friend’s house than a bar—and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
Honey Whyte’s
2116 E Main Street
A quintessential Shockoe Bottom dive, Honey Whyte’s is small, unassuming, and all about the essentials: strong drinks and some of the best burgers in town. It’s a staple for the downtown crowd, offering a cozy refuge for those looking to stay warm, fed, and happily buzzed.
Hot For Pizza
1301 W Leigh Street
Pizza and dive bars go together like whiskey and regret. This snug spot, with its almost 10 barstools and steady crowd of regulars, nails both. It’s Richmond at its low-key best: unassuming, friendly, and just weird/fun enough to keep you coming back.
Lakeside Tavern
5406 Lakeside Avenue
Karaoke, huge pours, and a smoker’s room in the back. This strip-mall staple has been holding it down since the seventies. Bonus points for being run by a Korean family that slings halfway-decent bulgogi between songs.
McCormack’s Irish Pub
12 N 18th Street
Shockoe Bottom’s resident oddball pub. Goths, punks, and every misfit in between call this place home. If you’re looking for a walk on the weird side of Richmond, this is where your night begins—or ends.
Patrick Henry Pub
2300 E Broad Street
A haunted bar in Church Hill with a crowd as eclectic as its atmosphere. Older folks hold down happy hour, while the creative types take over after dark. The kind of place you drink at, then wander home from.
Penny Lane Pub
421 E Franklin Street
A staple for local media types, soccer fans, and neighborhood regulars, Penny Lane is as welcoming as it gets. The bartenders are top-notch, the drinks keep flowing, and the fish and chips? Easily the best in Richmond. It’s the kind of spot where you go for a drink and stay for the camaraderie.
Poe’s Pub
2706 E Main Street
Chain-smokers on the patio, heavy pours inside. This Shockoe Bottom classic is where debates get loud, strangers become friends, and the night takes a turn—usually for the better.
Rockfall Tavern
2813 Hathaway Road
A sprawling dive specializing in darts. If you’ve ever wanted to join the dart-playing elite, this is your spot. Beer, bar food, and plenty of room to roam.
Rose Marie Inn
8923 Patterson Avenue
A dive’s dive. Great pours, regulars who’ve been around forever, and the occasional hipster who’s made the trek for the irony—or maybe the cheap drinks.
Social52
2619 W Main Street
Social52 earns its spot on the list this year, thanks to multiple visits that proved it’s a solid go-to. With one of the cheapest happy hours in The Fan and genuinely friendly bartenders, it’s a welcoming spot for an older crowd early on. As the night progresses, the vibe shifts, with a lively mix of patrons flowing back and forth from nearby Bamboo Cafe.
Sheppard Street Tavern
2922 Park Avenue
It’s nothing fancy, but that’s not the point. This Museum District bar is for locals, by locals. Smokes on the patio, drinks at the bar, and a brunch menu that won’t break the bank.
Sidewalk Cafe
2101 W Main Street
Dim lighting, affordable drinks, and the perfect Sunday Funday vibe. It’s where you go to brunch, drink, and let the night unravel as it may.
Stanley’s
2601 Park Avenue
A Fan district gem serving up warmth, heavy pours, and arguably the best Philly Cheese Steak in town. Sports fans, especially hockey buffs, will feel right at home.
Sticky Rice
2232 W Main Street
Sticky Rice still buzzes with the same offbeat energy that once made it the epicenter of Richmond’s nightlife. Equal parts sushi spot and dive bar, it’s a place where tots, karaoke, and strong drinks collide with a crowd that knows how to have fun. A haven for the young and the young at heart, it’s the kind of spot where the night always feels full of possibility, or irresponsibility. Read our recent story on Sticky Rice HERE.
The Locker Room
5035 Forest Hill Avenue
Smoking everywhere, shuffleboard in the corner, and blue-collar locals who know how to have a good time. It’s not pretty, but it’s perfect. Read our interview with our guy Austin, who is one of our favorite city bartenders HERE.
Wonderland
1727 East Main Street
Horror-punk décor, 80s pop culture, and a crowd that doesn’t care if you belong or not. It’s weird, wild, and always a good time.
Richmond, this is your city. Dive in.
