This Lake City dive bar has been serving up stiff drinks for more than 60 years, and some of the regulars have been there just as long. It’s the kind of place where it pays to visit frequently, but the staff is just as friendly to newcomers as life-long customers. The last time we were there, a regular told us that maybe we shouldn’t blow up their spot (always a concern when compiling lists of dive bars). But they eventually gave us the go-ahead to include the Caroline, which is for the best — a place like this shouldn’t be a secret.

這unpretentious Lake City spot is the dictionary definition of a dive — pool table, pull-tab machines, and a roster of regulars lounging at the bar watching TV. It’s not fussy, but it feels like home.

Founded in the '70s and proud of it, the Waterwheel has a groovy vibe, dim lighting, and a patio that makes this a great summertime dive. They also host karaoke and trivia regularly, and occasionally pull off stunts like “temperature priced” domestic drafts.

Home to the “Slooper-size” — 33.8 ounces of cold, crisp, beer at a shockingly low price — the Sloop is a Ballard fixture beloved by newcomers and locals alike. A nautical theme and a surprisingly good veggie burger makes this feel like a particularly Seattle-inspired establishment.

Stepping into this 87-year-old University District bar and live music venue means you’re stepping intohistory. The Blue Moon was a hangout spot for both 1940s beatniks and Nirvana. It still hosts a lot of shows and an art night where patrons take out their sketchbooks. Unfortunately the bar has been on shaky financial footing for a while, and longtime bartender Tim Dooley israising moneyto purchase the Blue Moon and preserve it.

This low-key Queen Anne dive is rumored to be one of the first bars that opened in Seattle after prohibition. Targy’s is a secret gem, tucked among apartment buildings and houses far away from the main drag.

This divey bar got afaceliftunder new owners in 2014 but it’s still has its character and its status as one of the icons of the Capitol Hill scene. In a neighborhood that has gotten steadily more upscale in recent years, it’s good to know that the Comet is still there, a little piece of old Seattle holding it down.

This Belltown basement dive specializes in strong drinks and rock ‘n’ roll, with music memorabilia covering the walls and live shows at its sister venue, Belltown Yacht Club. It’s not a place to grab dinner, but they do have dumplings from Ping’s Dumpling House if you get peckish.

One of the neighborhood’s most beloved dive bars (and sibling to the equally excellent9lb Hammerdown the block), the Star Brass Lounge has a solid food menu featuring tavern-style burgers and plenty of specials during sporting events.

This South Seattle gem’s slogan is “keeping the dive alive” and it is clearly doing its part. It has cheap beer and cocktails, but it also hosts all-ages shows regularly and a prime rib and a movie night on Wednesdays. It’s also one of the few spots on this list where you could get a great meal, whether that’s Fireball French toast at brunch or a fish sandwich any night of the week.