Although Orlando's nightlife scene has gone through some major changes this year – Neon Beach, Ace Cafe and maybe (?) Saddle Up have seen shutdowns – the City Beautiful is still going strong. If nothing else, there will always be a slate of hometown dive bars filled with cheap drinks and fellow Orlandoans to enjoy.
Here are 25 essential, classic Orlando dive bars you need to visit at least once (but probably way more).
25 Orlando dive bars, and why you should get a drink at all of them
By Orlando Weekly Staff on Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 6:45 pm
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Screenshot via Google Maps
Jerry's Nice and Easy
5470 Hoffner Ave., OrlandoIt's hard to find a good photo of the inside of Jerry's which is always a very good sign for a dive bar.
Photo via Jim Leatherman
Will's Pub
1042 N Mills Ave., Orlando
Where would Orlando Weekly be without Will's Pub? This punky dive has been bringing heavy hitters and heavy pours to Mills for more than two decades, and it remains an ideal hometown destination. Grab a brew, take your turn in the photo booth and soak up the Orlando fun.
Photo via Conrad's Shanty/Facebook
Conrad's Shanty
1205 N Mills Ave., Orlando
This Mills Irish bar is home to no shortage of fun drinks and chill vibes. Come for the cheap beer, stay for the live music.
Photo via Bull & Bush/Facebook
Bull & Bush
2408 E Robinson St., Orlando
Boasting itself at Orlando's best (and oldest – open since 1987!) English pub, Bull & Bush is a traditional pub offering comfort eats and plenty of pints, as well as quiz and comedy nights.
Photo via Sportstown/Yelp
Sportstown
2414 E Robinson St., Orlando
Sportstown is an old school spot, complete with billiards, skee ball, darts and other classic arcade games, plus an all-American menu and extensive beer selection.
Photo via O’Shucks/Yelp
O’Shucks Pub & Karaoke Bar
7467 International Drive, Orlando
”Karaoke every freakin' night.” And they mean it. Sing it out any day of the week starting at 9 p.m. at this hometown dive.
Photo via Wally's Bar and Liquors/Facebook
Wally's Bar and Liquors
1001 N Mills Ave., Orlando
Wally's has more than once brought home the title of best dive bar in Orlando, according to Orlando Weekly readers. There's a full bar, patio, darts annndd its very own liquor store. Everything a dive bar should have.
Photo via District Dive/Facebook
District Dive
2401 E South St., OrlandoWhile this LGBTQ+ dive bar opened up behind many others on this list, it's no less loved. Just to really drive it all home, they put the word "dive" right there in their name, to really show us they mean business in the realm of the dive bar world. There's pool tables, dart boards and tons of cheap drinks.
Photo via The Hideaway Bar/Facebook
The Hideaway Bar
516 Virginia Dr., OrlandoThis dive with a breezy patio has been a consistent hometown presence for decades. Guests can grab brews, bar bites before getting into some pool and pinball.
Photo via Bar One/Facebook
Bar One Orlando
1516 McCoy Rd., OrlandoBar One has the spirit of a dive bar and the patio of a family-forward brewery. And it definitely doesn't hurt that you can ask for a cocktail without being ushered out.
Photo via Big Daddy's/Facebook
Big Daddy's
3001 Corrine Drive, Orlando
Every city on Earth has a dive bar called Big Daddy's. If your city has only one dive bar, chances are it's called Big Daddy's. Orlando's take on this time-honored tradition sets itself apart by being the spot for screaming karaoke at people who are just trying to play pool. Endless fun!
Photo via Burton's/Facebook
Burton's Thornton Park
801 E Washington St., Orlando
Even among the high-end bungalows and shops of Thornton Park, Burton's remains unapologetically itself: the kind of place to go when you really just want a High Life.
Photo via Tanqueray's/Facebook
Tanqueray's
100 S Orange Ave., OrlandoDowntown Orlando spot Tanqueray's is quite literally a dive. You have to descend down a flight of stairs into this underground bar with live music everyday and an awesome atmosphere.
Photo via Casey's On Central/Instagram
Casey's On Central
50 E Central Blvd., OrlandoThere's always some sort of live music playing in this memorabilia-decked hole. Venture into downtown after hours and see why Casey's has been a hit since 1998.
Photo via Sly Fox/Instagram
Sly Fox
63 N Orange Ave., Orlando
Another downtown Orlando staple, this pub is known as the home of the City Beautiful's emo night and a hotspot for vegan hot dogs.
Photo via Cheers/Facebook
Cheers
6923 Municipal Dr., OrlandoThey probably don't know your name at this Orlando bar. But you might not either if the cheap pitchers have anything to say about it.
Photo via Grumpy's/Facebook
Grumpy's Underground Lounge
1018 N Mills Ave., OrlandoThis haven for live music and late-night vegan food has kept its corner of Mills humming for years.
Photo via Uncle Lou's/Facebook
Uncle Lou's
1016 N Mills Ave., Orlando
Completing the trifecta of Mills music dives, Uncle Lou's has long been a spot for the down and out to get a drink and take in a live show. It gets loud in this hole-in-the-wall bar and live venue.
Photo via Stagger Inn/Facebook
Stagger Inn
100 E Central Blvd., Orlando
Orlando might not be a hotspot for country music, but its propensity to pull folks from the piney woods of Central Florida is undeniable. They need somewhere to drink and Stagger Inn fits the bill quite nicely.
Photo via Nora’s Sugar Shack
Nora’s Sugar Shack
636 Virginia Drive, Orlando
This cozy wine and cigar shop doubles as a locals' lounge, all opened up by owner Nora Brooker. Enjoy a cigar in the designated cigar room or hang around the patio for the good vibes.
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