According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the colloquial use of the word dive to describe a “drinking den” or “other disreputable place of resort” comes from the fact that these types of establishments were originally housed in cellars or basements, into which “frequenters may ‘dive’ without observation.

The Urban Dictionary defines a Dive Bar as

“A well-worn, unglamorous bar, often serving a cheap, simple selection of drinks to a regular clientele. The term can describe anything from a comfortable-but-basic neighborhood pub to the nastiest swill-slinging hole. You don’t need to dress up; we’re just going to the dive bar down the street. “

The August 2010 issue of Playboy magazine described a dive bar as:

A church for down-and-outers and those who romanticize them, a rare place where high and low rub elbows—bums and poets, thieves and slumming celebrities. It’s a place that wears its history proudly.

Our own Mixologist Brian Petro has been leading the team on the exploration of Dayton’s Dive Bars in 2016 and over the past year there’s been some serious exploration of these bars, as well as some even more serious discussion on what defines a dive bar. We do agree that most dive bars serve very affordable drinks and are most likely to be populated by folks in their neighborhood. From there are opinions were about as different as the establishments we visited. Guess we’ll just have to keep exploring and chat more.

“It’s hard to define what makes a dive a dive, but you know it when you see one.”

Here are the places we’ve visited in 2016. Click on the name to read more about the experience we’ve had at each of these places. They are listed in the order that we visited.

Miami Valley Sports Bar – the addition of Tillie’s Tap Room make elevate this out of the dive bar category

Dog’s Breath Tavern – look for the $2.42 specials on Tuesday evening and food trucks are welcomed

Phone Booth Lounge – food and drink prices priced right

Sure Shots – a nice selection of music on the juke box, and the soft glow of a Jägermeister machine

Time Out Cavern – throws one of the best Derby watch parties in town

Diplomat Lounge– this is a place where darts appear to be king

McGillicutty’s – extensive food menu and some of the best wings in town and just 50 cents on Monday