Greensboro is not the largest city in the state and ratings report it isn’t the coolest, but according to Yelp, Greensboro can boast of having the best “Dive Bar” in the state of North Carolina.
Yelp named the Westerwood Tavern at 508 Guilford Ave. as the Best Dive Bar in the Tar Heel state.
Dive bars, according to Yelp, are “typically well-worn bars that offer an inexpensive, simple selection of drinks and are often considered ‘hole-in-the-walls.’”
On Yelp, the operators of these down-to-earth establishments can self-identify themselves as dive bars.
Westerwood Tavern has 28 reviews on Yelp and an overall five-star rating.
A few of the reviews that helped Westerwood win the coveted best dive bar in North Carolina award include:
“Dive bars have a tendency to look intimidating to me when I first walk in and ruin my perception of the establishment, but this is not and was never the case at Westerwood. I haven’t been to a bar with a more welcoming atmosphere. By your 3rd or 4th time here, the bartenders start to recognize you and call you by name. I’ve never seen anyone get into a negative confrontation here, which is saying a lot because sometimes at dive bars you get those pretty often.
“They run daily specials, like everything is a dollar off on Wednesdays, karaoke on Friday nights, there’s a $3 shot day (what day of the week it is escaping my mind right now), and they have a moderately expansive draft selection. But let’s face it, no one goes to a dive bar for draft beer.
“An all-around great establishment, and I can’t wait to come back once everything opens back up #IMissWesterwood
“Brian S.”
“The best dive bar in Greensboro. It’s nothing fancy but they have the nicest staff ever and I always feel welcome there. The prices are fair and the patio is a great place to sit at night. Go for karaoke night – you won’t regret it.
“Christopher C.”
“No-one goes to a dive bar for draught beer”…? Are you kidding?? That’s been my M.O. for the last 30 years.
In my opinion (and I’ve been drinking in Pubs and bars since 1979) the best dive bar in Greensboro is Jake’s Billiards on Spring Garden St. It has 68 draught taps, they are immaculately maintained with never any issues (and I’m fussy), and their prices and service are excellent.
There used to be a great dive bar in Walnut Cove (Cove Bar) owned by “Big David”, but he let it go, and died thereafter. In that place, f you wanted draught beer your choice was Budweiser or Bud Light… But it was a lovely little watering hole. You got to meet all the locals, and they were great, if a tad unsophisticated. 24 carat all the same.
My best Pubs have always been The Dove, Hammersmith, right on the Thames, and the famous “Vic” behind Leeds Town Hall ( now shuttered, a victim of the Covid lockdown in the UK).
Cheers!
Jake’s is not a dive bar. It’s a sports bar/pool hall.
LDI, Wahoo’s, and Walker’s, for example, are true dive bars. Big difference.
Okay. But what’s LDI?
It sounds more like Woke bar than a dive bar. “Welcoming? Never a confrontation?” How tepid. Dive bars have an edge that is more than modest decor and cheap drinks. No Edge; No Dive.
Nice little article, about a rather less than glamorous business. Yet I bet most people in the state would be surprised about just how much goes into running an establishment like this. Not to mention the amount of sales tax sent into the state quite often. As some of the reviews show these can be a fun little place and people can be some of the most genuine you meet.
I would have chosen the Tanger Speakeasy. Where the well to do gather and drink and look down on the less fortunate one block away. A city sponsored watering hole and place for 40 year old Broadway revivals. Not really a dive but it’s a place self respecting members of society should be ashamed to imbibe in while the least fortunate are freezing and starving to death (by royal Mandate Mayor and Zack’s blessing) in sight of the Tanger bars serving overpriced top shelf government controlled liquor.
Hear, Here!
‘dave’s grocery’ owned n operated by the showferty koury clan collected many of my paper route earnings in their pinball machine – until i wised up. great place to meet narcs n vagrants! who can spell ‘showferty’ correctly?
Much ado about nothing, imho.
Guilford should be the best “dive county”, in NC.