Of everything New Yorkers are known for there’s an important thing that seems to fly under the radar—our devotion to local watering holes and businesses.
If a bar has been around long enough, chances are it has its neighborhood regulars where everybody really does know your name. But this loyalty is nothing new to New Yorkers. In fact, locals love their go-to spots so much that many famous literary authors have written about their favorite taverns. What people don’t tend to realize though is that these storied bars are responsible for creating the basis of dive bar culture as we know it.
Dive bars have been around since the Prohibition ended, but it wasn’t until later that many of these unique tavern hang outs were dubbed “dives.” Even then, dive bar culture in NYC was not solidified until its widespread glorification through the writings of literary authors like Jack Kerouac, Charles Bukowski, and Dorothy Parker.
Since the height of dive bar popularity in the 1980’s, the rising cost of rent has driven out some of the best ones; but there’s still a handful of these whiskey-loving joints that have made it through. These days, many places have given themselves the “dive bar” title, but don’t be fooled. A genuine dive bar has to check off a few requisites to qualify, such as: a pool table, dartboard, jukebox, regulars seated at the bar, suspiciously cheap drinks, and lack of craft beers or cocktails. In a city that continues to change and push out the old, finding these hidden gems can be a bit of a challenge.
To make your search easier, there are now two tours taking place in the city that delve deeper into NYC’s dive bar culture and the history behind those neighborhood hubs. One tour takes you through the East Village, focusing on the punk-rock scene that shaped the neighborhood. You’ll visit a handful of famous spots that were former sites of legendary punk clubs, which artists like the Ramones, Sonic Youth, Beastie Boys, Patti Smith, and the Misfits called home. The other tour will dive into the history of Hell’s Kitchen’s post-Prohibition scene, taking you to some historic dives in the area; both series of tours beginning with a taste of Seagram’s 7 Crown.
While dive bars may seem to be dying out to some, there’s a movement underway to save these local gems. With National Dive Bar Day coming up on July 7, these tours are a perfect introduction into the influence these places have had on our culture and history as a city.
This article was sponsored by Seagram’s 7. Dive bar tours will run until July 6 with tickets to the Punk tour available for purchase here, and the Hell’s Kitchen tour available here. 21+ only. Please drink responsibly. Tasting open to the general public and not included in cost of ticket. Must be of legal drinking age to participate. For all the facts, visit DRINK AWARE.