"There are some litmus tests to identify a dive, though they aren't always conclusive: Has the bar been around since the Hoover administration? Is there wall-to-wall carpeting? Does the bathroom fill you with unease? Is the OLCC's requirement to serve hot food begrudgingly met with microwaved meals, hot dogs, and maybe a fryer? But ultimately it comes down to that ineffable quality of vibes, and the sentiment made famous by Justice Potter Stewart in 1964: I know it when I see it."
"For the most part, finding one is as easy as wandering the nearest major street for a block or two in pursuit of the oldest, most beat-up looking bar door. They're not exactly rare. But with the rapid decline of third places in the twenty-first century, they're damn near essential. The price point is usually much lower than cocktail bars or even pubs, and they won't intimidate customers by messing around with esoteric liquors or funky "natty" wines."
Definition of "dive bar" remains contested, with informal litmus tests such as longstanding operation since the Hoover administration, wall-to-wall carpeting, unsettling bathrooms, and grudgingly supplied hot food like microwaved meals, hot dogs, or fried items. The defining quality is often the intangible vibe, summed by Justice Potter Stewart's phrase, "I know it when I see it." Dives are common and easy to find by seeking older, beat-up bar doors. With the decline of third places in the twenty-first century, dives serve essential social roles by offering lower price points, unpretentious atmospheres, privacy, and accessible entertainments such as billiards, televised sports, or pinball. The Cosmo Lounge in Sellwood-Moreland exemplifies an intimate dive with tall bar tables and stools.
Read at Portland Monthly
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