4 California dive bars ranked among the best in the US. Where to find them
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Huckberry named four California bars among 2025’s 50 best U.S. dive bars.
- Los Angeles' Tiki Ti ranked No. 3 for its retro vibe and unique drink recipes.
- The Riptide in San Francisco earned praise for its ocean plunge tradition.
Hear the words “dive bar” and you’ll probably picture a dark, smoky spot with locals clambering for another round of beers.
These colorful community hangouts — perfect for a late-night drink or a rowdy game of pool — are an American institution, according to lifestyle site Huckberry.
“Whether it’s your own neighborhood bar where everyone proverbially knows your name or another town’s local haunt, you belong — for a night, for a while, or forever,” the site said. “A great dive isn’t just a bar, and a dive isn’t great without its people.”
Huckberry recently ranked the 50 Best Dive Bars in America, and four California watering holes landed on the list.
Here’s what to know about the best dive bars in the Golden State:
Why is LA tiki bar one of best dive bars in the US?
Los Angeles tiki bar Tiki Ti was named California’s top-ranked dive bar due to its old-school look and feel, Huckberry said.
The Southern California staple came in third place on the lifestyle site’s list.
Opening in 1961, Tiki Ti took over a former violin repair shop and began serving Ray Buhe’s “trove of recipes.”
The bar serves nearly a hundred of those original concoctions today, according to Huckberry, with menu options including the Blue Hawaiian, Cobra Fang and Pain Killer.
“Tiki Ti belongs more to the school of maraschino cherries than mixology,” Huckberry said, describing the space as “a lantern-lit cigar box with little more than a dozen seats.”
Santa Barbara ‘living room’ a top dive destination
Elsie’s Tavern, 117 West De La Guerra St. in Santa Barbara, is the fourth best dive bar in the country, according to Huckberry.
The Central Coast cash-only bar is a charming, laid-back spot with a cozy ambience and a covered back patio.
The Santa Barbara bar’s menu features beer, wine, coffee and snacks.
“Elsie’s front door opens into what could be mistaken for an honest living room with velvet sofas, a bookcase, and a potted ficus,” Huckberry said. “But behind door number two, a sky-lit bar appears with license-plate clad beams, surfboards, and a chandelier-shaped pothos vine over the pool table.”
San Francisco beach bar makes Huckberry list
Steps away from the beach, The Riptide in San Francisco has been serving classic drinks in a rustic setting since 1941.
The bar at 3639 Taraval St. in San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood was fifth on Huckberry’s list of the best dive bars in the nation.
On its website, The Riptide describes itself as the “Bay Area’s best little honky-tonk by the beach,” with pine walls, brick flooring and a roaring fireplace.
Huckberry heralded the dive for its longstanding polar bear plunge tradition, where patrons run into the ocean and back to the bar.
“The ocean beach bar’s tradition has persisted despite a fire nearly destroying the building in 2015,” the lifestyle site said.
Why SLO County’s Merrimaker ranks among top US dive bars
Niffy’s Merrimaker at 1301 Second St., Los Osos, came in at No. 39 on Huckberry’s list based on its lively atmosphere.
“Quite literally the definition of a dive bar, this quaint seaside bar is credited with representing the quintessential dive bar on Wikipedia,” Huckberry said. “Locals here gather for cheap drinks, lively conversations and (to) share an enthusiasm for karaoke night that’s tough to beat.”
Even though the bar underwent a major facelift during the coronavirus pandemic, with brand-new flooring, barstools, tables and art, Niffy’s Merrimaker has retained its community spirit and slightly rundown exterior, according to owner Jennifer Dorn.
“I still feel like it’s just a neighborhood bar,” Dorn told The Tribune. “It’s the feel. I think the dive bar feel is like being able to come in and everybody knows your name, kind of like a ‘Cheers’ situation. Everyone looks after each other, and we all just share stories and laugh.”
Where are the top 10 dive bars in the nation?
Here are the best dives bars in the country, according to Huckberry.
- 1. Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, Alabama
- 2. Sultana Bar in Williams, Arizona
- 3. Tiki Ti in Los Angeles
- 4. Elsie’s Tavern in Santa Barbara
- 5. The Riptide in San Francisco
- 6. P.S. Lounge in Denver
- 7. Showtime Lounge in Washington, D.C.
- 8. Low Key Hideaway in Cedar Key, Florida
- 9. Mac’s Club Deuce in Miami
- 10. Pinkie Master’s in Savannah, Georgia
