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Boulder's Best Dive Bars

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"Dive Bar" and "Boulder" aren't typically mentioned together in the same sentence. But with cheap food and drinks and quirky traditions, there's a reason people love their underground dive bars. Eater put together eight favorite dive bars in Boulder for everyone to enjoy. From cornhole, to shuffle board, to $1 shots and the tradition of kissing a buffalo head on a wall - we think we've you covered for all your dive bar needs in Boulder.

And if are looking for dives in Denver, check out this swanky list: Denver's Iconic Dive Bars.


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Dark Horse

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The Dark Horse has been a Boulder landmark since 1975 and was featured by USA Today as "Places to eat a burger worthy of paradise." Offering burgers, wings and sandwiches it's a great spot to enjoy any sporting event alongside your greasy grub and beverage. The interior is a bit dingy and dark, yet it's adorned with unique props from movies and odd, hanging antiques. Special event you don't want to Miss? "Trike Night" where you roll around the bar on a tricycle, beer in hand.

Catacombs

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Catacombs sits downstairs from the Hotel Boulderado on 13th and Spruce, and their underground vibe is casual filled with arcades, air hockey and pool tables throughout the seven underground rooms of the bar. Tuesday they host an always-packed trivia night, Wednesday is karaoke and Thursday is open mic night. Catacombs used to be a speakeasy in the Prohibition era and they boast that they were the first liquor license in Boulder. Although food and drinks are cheap, even better is their happy hour that gets you $2 domestic drafts and well drinks.

Sundown Saloon

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The "Downer" as it's known to locals, is an underground dive and pool bar right on Pearl Street's pedestrian mall. Filled with rows of pool tables, darts and foosball, the Downer serves cheap beer and liquor like their $1 Kamikaze shots and pitchers of PBR beer for $6. It's known to pack in people like sardines and it's a popular college haunt, so beware. A tip? Pool is free during the day if you're looking for a daytime game.

The Walrus Saloon

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A popular college student hangout, The Walrus sits underground on the corner of 11th and Walnut. Don't miss out on their free peanuts that sit in barrels throughout the bar and subsequently feel free to toss your peanut shells on the floor. Everyone else does. Monday they host rock and roll trivia late night, Wednesday is ladies night, and you can find cheap drinks any night of the week. On weekends you can expect to find a line outside to get in, with music bumping and dancing all night long.

No Name Bar

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The No Name Bar on The Hill, sits unassumingly in a strip mall in the college neighborhood off of Broadway. If you ask what the real name of the bar is, everyone will tell you, "This bar has no name." In addition to drinks, you can order food from Cosmos's Pizza next door, as the owner of Cosmo's also owns No Name Bar. They're open everyday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and have frequent live music for patrons to enjoy.

Pearl Street Pub & Cellar

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The Pub boasts a jukebox, pool tables, an underground bar and first floor bar that includes a kitchen for late night grub like wings, fries and chili that is served until 1:30 a.m. (a rarity in downtown Boulder). If it's nice out, you can relax on their small patio and people watch while enjoying a pitcher of cheap beer. If it's your 21st birthday, don't forget the longtime ritual to kiss the buffalo head just inside the entrance.

Outback Saloon

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The Outback Saloon is in North Boulder, off 28th street in a strip mall but they have all the right components to make for a dive bar, off the beaten path. They offer a a dart league, poker tournaments, karaoke (Wednesday and Saturday), pool tables, shuffle board, live music and a large menu. Their claim to fame? They open at 7 a.m. everyday, 365 days a year. If you don't want to purchase something from their beverage and food menu, you can snack on free popcorn popped right in the bar.

The Goose

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The Goose on The Hill gets a mention as it's a solid sports bar, with frequent live music, great deals on food and drinks and they even have corn hole tournaments. Mostly frequented by college students, each day has a special deal such as on Sunday you can enjoy all day happy hour with $3 bloody mary's and on Wednesday it's wing night where wings are $0.45. The bar has indoor and outdoor seating and plenty of room to enjoy the scene.

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Dark Horse

The Dark Horse has been a Boulder landmark since 1975 and was featured by USA Today as "Places to eat a burger worthy of paradise." Offering burgers, wings and sandwiches it's a great spot to enjoy any sporting event alongside your greasy grub and beverage. The interior is a bit dingy and dark, yet it's adorned with unique props from movies and odd, hanging antiques. Special event you don't want to Miss? "Trike Night" where you roll around the bar on a tricycle, beer in hand.

Catacombs

Catacombs sits downstairs from the Hotel Boulderado on 13th and Spruce, and their underground vibe is casual filled with arcades, air hockey and pool tables throughout the seven underground rooms of the bar. Tuesday they host an always-packed trivia night, Wednesday is karaoke and Thursday is open mic night. Catacombs used to be a speakeasy in the Prohibition era and they boast that they were the first liquor license in Boulder. Although food and drinks are cheap, even better is their happy hour that gets you $2 domestic drafts and well drinks.

Sundown Saloon

The "Downer" as it's known to locals, is an underground dive and pool bar right on Pearl Street's pedestrian mall. Filled with rows of pool tables, darts and foosball, the Downer serves cheap beer and liquor like their $1 Kamikaze shots and pitchers of PBR beer for $6. It's known to pack in people like sardines and it's a popular college haunt, so beware. A tip? Pool is free during the day if you're looking for a daytime game.

The Walrus Saloon

A popular college student hangout, The Walrus sits underground on the corner of 11th and Walnut. Don't miss out on their free peanuts that sit in barrels throughout the bar and subsequently feel free to toss your peanut shells on the floor. Everyone else does. Monday they host rock and roll trivia late night, Wednesday is ladies night, and you can find cheap drinks any night of the week. On weekends you can expect to find a line outside to get in, with music bumping and dancing all night long.

No Name Bar

The No Name Bar on The Hill, sits unassumingly in a strip mall in the college neighborhood off of Broadway. If you ask what the real name of the bar is, everyone will tell you, "This bar has no name." In addition to drinks, you can order food from Cosmos's Pizza next door, as the owner of Cosmo's also owns No Name Bar. They're open everyday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and have frequent live music for patrons to enjoy.

Pearl Street Pub & Cellar

The Pub boasts a jukebox, pool tables, an underground bar and first floor bar that includes a kitchen for late night grub like wings, fries and chili that is served until 1:30 a.m. (a rarity in downtown Boulder). If it's nice out, you can relax on their small patio and people watch while enjoying a pitcher of cheap beer. If it's your 21st birthday, don't forget the longtime ritual to kiss the buffalo head just inside the entrance.

Outback Saloon

The Outback Saloon is in North Boulder, off 28th street in a strip mall but they have all the right components to make for a dive bar, off the beaten path. They offer a a dart league, poker tournaments, karaoke (Wednesday and Saturday), pool tables, shuffle board, live music and a large menu. Their claim to fame? They open at 7 a.m. everyday, 365 days a year. If you don't want to purchase something from their beverage and food menu, you can snack on free popcorn popped right in the bar.

The Goose

The Goose on The Hill gets a mention as it's a solid sports bar, with frequent live music, great deals on food and drinks and they even have corn hole tournaments. Mostly frequented by college students, each day has a special deal such as on Sunday you can enjoy all day happy hour with $3 bloody mary's and on Wednesday it's wing night where wings are $0.45. The bar has indoor and outdoor seating and plenty of room to enjoy the scene.

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