OT: Best Dive Bars in CT

[HuskyV]

Seagrape - Fairfield U bar by the beach
Sandbar Norwalk - by the East Norwalk train station now closed
Murphy's Townhouse - Stamford

 

[huskymedic]

The essence of a dive bar
So what is a true dive? That's a question I've been asking myself a lot lately. Let's start with the basics. Dive bars usually have more than one life. Their first is as a tavern, mom-and-pop shop, roadhouse, speakeasy, juke joint, nightclub, honky tonk, club, lounge, pub, beer hall, fern bar, gay bar, Tiki joint, inn, or saloon. At some point in time, unforeseen circumstances lead to compromises in upkeep, inventory, and clientele. This can occur slowly or swiftly, but the consequences are lasting. Often it is the result of changes occurring in the neighborhood in which the bar is situated, but many a dive was borne of divorce, health crises, or legal judgments. If you still need help discerning the relative divey-ness of a watering hole, I've worked up a short list of questions suitable for printing and laminating.

Did everyone in the place look you over when you walked through the door?
Might be a dive.
Is there a kitchen serving food from a menu?
Not a dive.
Are security camera monitors positioned behind the bar?
Might be a dive.
Are the mirrors, windows, and floor clean?
Not a dive.
Do you get the sense that shit could get strange -- dangerously strange -- at any moment?
Might be a dive.
Are craft beers on tap?
Not a dive.
Is there a condom machine in the restroom?
Might be a dive.
Does the bar sell branded merchandise of any kind?
Not a dive.
Is the weekly special a challenge of endurance or consumption?
Might be a dive.

 

[methodology]

Highliner in Westbrook is also a good spot. Not exactly a dive bar but its got some history and female friends of mine somewhat refuse to go there. $5-6 dollar pint glasses of vodka soda (not well vodka either think 3 olives or kettle) and during football season they offer a free buffet that one of the owners brings in and sets up. Cash only bar. They also have a token system that I've never really asked about but I've seen people pay with different colored tokens.

Scottish Daves in Clinton previously The Driftwood is another dive bar. I cant stand that place though. Been there about 5 times and have been part of fights 3 of my occasions backing up friends. Last time it was about 20 people vs. my group of 4 guys and 5 females (out of 8 females in the place we brought 5) and some drudge local was saying inappropriate things to one of the females and next thing you know pool sticks and stools and punches were flying all over and then the owner Scottish Dave backed up his everyday patrons and told us never to come back. Their loss as we never paid our $200 tab that night and will never go back.

 

[huskyblooz]

Seagrape - Fairfield U bar by the beach
Sandbar Norwalk - by the East Norwalk train station now closed
Murphy's Townhouse - Stamford

Yes to all 3. The Sandbar was my favorite.
Ernie's in Darien.
Burns' in Stamford, if you can see through the smoke.

 

[HuskyV]

Yes to all 3. The Sandbar was my favorite.
Ernie's in Darien.
Burns' in Stamford, if you can see through the smoke.

I was going to add those but I was not too familiar

 

[Chin Diesel]

Highliner in Westbrook is also a good spot. Not exactly a dive bar but its got some history and female friends of mine somewhat refuse to go there. $5-6 dollar pint glasses of vodka soda (not well vodka either think 3 olives or kettle) and during football season they offer a free buffet that one of the owners brings in and sets up. Cash only bar. They also have a token system that I've never really asked about but I've seen people pay with different colored tokens.

Scottish Daves in Clinton previously The Driftwood is another dive bar. I cant stand that place though. Been there about 5 times and have been part of fights 3 of my occasions backing up friends. Last time it was about 20 people vs. my group of 4 guys and 5 females (out of 8 females in the place we brought 5) and some drudge local was saying inappropriate things to one of the females and next thing you know pool sticks and stools and punches were flying all over and then the owner Scottish Dave backed up his everyday patrons and told us never to come back. Their loss as we never paid our $200 tab that night and will never go back.

Classic dive bar criterion. Chicks won't go there.

We had a bar near by where I live in Florida that is now closed. In my younger days a few of would go there, drink beer, eat wings, throw some darts and play Golden Tee. After 2-3 trips to the place my wife made me strip down naked of clothing in the garage and go right to the shower due to the stench from the place.

 

[NavinRJohnson]

Before it was the "half door" it was the cool moose. That place may have taken the cake.

The Cool Moose was a classic college bar. Not a dive bar. Had many good nights at The Moose including the night I put a cigarette out on my forehead.

 

[UC313]

I hereby shed a tear for the lily lake in wolcott. Smoke a jibber in the gazebo and launch your empty beer bottles into the pond. Saddle up around the horseshoe bar for blackhaus on tap (shiver). There will never be another place like it.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Hmmm. I never go on football board...but somehow I'm in a thread about dive bars. Not a mistake. I might not be a PhD like Mau....but I'm probably in shouting distance.

Mentioned already:
Old Towne in Wethersfield -- Grew up in Wethersfield, played town league softball for 10+ years, was a fixture there for way too long. Slept many a night in dirty softball pants and cleats.
)

I'm down with you on Old Town. A different (very fun local) bar during adult summer softball season, and a legitimate stop for any of the BYers at any time of year. Luckily I am an indirect friend with Billy (who's seldom there) so never would get tossed. Just park in the back gravel lot and hope no one nicks your car on the way out.

Amazed that whaler has been there = at least he has excellent taste in life's more memorably events.

As to my definition of dive bar, I had the pleasure of visiting the bar right across the street from the old Pratt and Whitney plant in EH. You better order boilermakers or at least a shot and a draft to get service. Was only there once and was frankly a bit scared to go back again. Talk about middle class hard working blue collar workers and their lives - be careful to ask them any questions if you go to college. It was an invaluable experience for me. Wish I could remember the name. Thank god I wasn't there on P&W payday or I might not be posting this now.

 

[NEforceUConn]

PS Now if ones definition of a dive bar is like the old Pedroes on 83rd (?) or Murphy's on 92nd (?) back in NYC in the 80's then my prior post means nothing.

PS - There is no way West Hartford (or Simsbury, Avon, Farmington) has any dive bars. Maybe New Milford or Danbury.

Cheers to the person who mentioned the small Charter Oak pubs - been to a few from now and then and yes they are real life.

 

[storrsroars]

Seagrape - Fairfield U bar by the beach
Sandbar Norwalk - by the East Norwalk train station now closed
Murphy's Townhouse - Stamford

Yes to all 3. The Sandbar was my favorite.
Ernie's in Darien.
Burns' in Stamford, if you can see through the smoke.

Murphy's definitely is not a dive. I'd call Seagrape a college bar, not a dive. The Beachcomber has it all over Seagrape for dive status.

Now Burns', THAT'S a dive - shot n beer joint where you might see the same faces at 10pm that were there at noon.

Can't believe I'm not familiar with Ernie's.

Back in the day, Melfi's in Springdale was my fave dive. Quarter beers in juice glasses. Greasy but delicious chili. The Shamrock on Shippan was a close 2nd.

I was thinking this thread sounded familiar, and sure enough: Best dive bars in CT.

 

[whaler11]

I'm down with you on Old Town. A different (very fun local) bar during adult summer softball season, and a legitimate stop for any of the BYers at any time of year. Luckily I am an indirect friend with Billy (who's seldom there) so never would get tossed. Just park in the back gravel lot and hope no one nicks your car on the way out.

Amazed that whaler has been there = at least he has excellent taste in life's more memorably events.

As to my definition of dive bar, I had the pleasure of visiting the bar right across the street from the old Pratt and Whitney plant in EH. You better order boilermakers or at least a shot and a draft to get service. Was only there once and was frankly a bit scared to go back again. Talk about middle class hard working blue collar workers and their lives - be careful to ask them any questions if you go to college. It was an invaluable experience for me. Wish I could remember the name. Thank god I wasn't there on P&W payday or I might not be posting this now.

Been to the Old Towne? I've been there >150 times. Because this is a family board I can't tell my favorite Old Towne stories.

 

[whaler11]

The Sea Grape is def not a dive. It's filled with really pretty girls a lot of the time. That's the biggest disqualifier that exists.

When I lived in Fairfield the problem with going to the Sea Grape
was there were always cops lurking - and pre cell phone days I had no option but to walk the 3 or so miles home and get a ride back to my car in the morning.

 

[NEforceUConn]

Been to the Old Towne? I've been there >150 times. Because this is a family board I can't tell my favorite Old Towne stories.

We must maybe know each other. My total is more along 60. I lived in 06109 all my life and graduated from Trinity in 79 if that helps place the time period. PM me if its similar. Always nice to reconnect to a possible contact

 

[whaler11]

We must maybe know each other. My total is more along 60. I lived in 06109 all my life and graduated from Trinity in 79 if that helps place the time period. PM me if its similar. Always nice to reconnect to a possible contact

I dated about a half dozen girls from Wethersfield but didn't graduate from college until 96.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

The old Elfie's, right across the street from the main gate at EB. The drinks were lined up at the bar for lunch and quitting time.

 

[mauconnfan]

Back in the day:

Hard Hat Cafe - North Haven
Penalty Box - Enfield
Cloverleaf - Enfield
Memories - Enfield
Jakes - Windsor Locks
Corner Cafe & Britannia Spoon - Wallingford
Rovers - Middlefield
Shamus & Valentino's - Middletown
Brass Rail - Bristol
Berkshire Pub - Torrington
Brass Rail - New Hartford
Shamrock - Meriden

 

[Walker11]

The Sea Grape is def not a dive. It's filled with really pretty girls a lot of the time. That's the biggest disqualifier that exists.

When I lived in Fairfield the problem with going to the Sea Grape
was there were always cops lurking - and pre cell phone days I had no option but to walk the 3 or so miles home and get a ride back to my car in the morning.

Agreed on the Sea Grape. Same goes for The Horseshoe IMO. Way too many "yuppies" to be classified as a dive. The only dive in Fairfield in Fairfield (BPT line) is The 19th Hole on Brooklawn Ave. Now that place is a sh!thole.

 

[Hoophound]

No disrespect to anyone but the area surrounding Coventry Lake is our own little slice of West Virginia.

Why is that? I've always felt something was off there yet the potential is through the roof. With UConn around the corner and easy access to Manchester/Hartford etc. a quick commute, it should be very desirable.

 

[Hoophound]

Back in the day:

Hard Hat Cafe - North Haven
Penalty Box - Enfield
Cloverleaf - Enfield
Memories - Enfield
Jakes - Windsor Locks
Corner Cafe & Britannia Spoon - Wallingford
Rovers - Middlefield
Shamus & Valentino's - Middletown
Brass Rail - Bristol
Berkshire Pub - Torrington
Brass Rail - New Hartford
Shamrock - Meriden

That's a strong list.

 

[BoatShow]

Why is that? I've always felt something was off there yet the potential is through the roof. With UConn around the corner and easy access to Manchester/Hartford etc. a quick commute, it should be very desirable.

The culture is very ummm let's just say rural. More likely to see confederate flag bumper stickers than UCONN ones. But yes there is natural beauty and the location is not bad at all.

 

[huskymedic]

Back in the day:

Hard Hat Cafe - North Haven

Good wings -- Doob (Buffalo’d & Grill’d)

 

[mauconnfan]

Why is that? I've always felt something was off there yet the potential is through the roof. With UConn around the corner and easy access to Manchester/Hartford etc. a quick commute, it should be very desirable.

There's so many more I'm just too old to remember them. I mean my days of playing baseball in the twilight leagues in Hartford, Waterbury, Wallingford and Meriden, especially the away games in the GHTBL for away games all over the state, stopped at some great local establishments after games. City League hoops in Meriden, Wallingford, Torrington, Enfield also - Torrington there's a lot more than Berkshire and some real solid stops. Long rides home too at times back then

Just too long ago. LOL

 

[NavinRJohnson]

Back in the day:

Hard Hat Cafe - North Haven
Penalty Box - Enfield
Cloverleaf - Enfield
Memories - Enfield
Jakes - Windsor Locks
Corner Cafe & Britannia Spoon - Wallingford
Rovers - Middlefield
Shamus & Valentino's - Middletown
Brass Rail - Bristol
Berkshire Pub - Torrington
Brass Rail - New Hartford
Shamrock - Meriden

Jiggies and Jimmy's in Enfield need to on the list as well. Enfield is coming strong.

 

[Redding Husky]

Ye Olde Bridge Grille in Westport was fanastic. I spent my undergrad years there in the early/mid 1980's.

Sadly, it's gone.

 

[Redding Husky]

The Beachcomber in Milford...so dirty.

She's beautiful to me.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Good wings -- Doob (Buffalo’d & Grill’d)

Heading there after work today.

Also there was a place in Milford called Helwigs. Total dive but served us in high school.

 

[John]

Is there heavy suspicion that any food consumed at establishment will result in an epic throne session later that night?
Might be a dive.

 

[RioDog]

Brass Horse - Barkhamsted

If it's still the same place.

My buddy plays guitar for Shaka and the Soul Shakers (a blues band). They play there regularly. Its still the same place and yes, it is a dive.

But for Litchfield County I'd have to put my vote in for the Northside Tavern (or "The 'Side" for short) in Torrington. Been going there since I was 16 (no lie). Of course the drinking age then was 18 and I had a beard, but it seemed like if you were tall enough to see over the bar they'd serve you.

 

[kjk9183]

Any East Hartford folks

Frank's willow inn

The Maple

Another characteristic of Dive Bars for us millennials no Yelp reviews