There’s something to be said about the comforts of your local neighborhood dive bar, where you see its patrons more often your own family and its doors are always open.
While some of Pensacola’s most famous bars have undergone some changes in recent years—in ownership, in remodels and even in smoking policies—they’re still alive today and rich with stories.
Here are seven essential stops in the Pensacola area’s dive bar scene to check off your list.
Azalea Cocktail Lounge
810 N. Davis St.
The Azalea Cocktail Lounge, affectionately named “The Z” by locals, is Pensacola’s longest-operating cocktail lounge and is known to pack a punch with its infamously strong pours.
The bar’s legacy dates over 75 years and still has a loyal group of regulars today that make up the space as barstool chatters, sports watchers, pool shooters and service industry workers looking for a space to unwind.
The Z was purchased in 2014 by former Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson who made a couple of minor changes, like prohibiting inside smoking, adding new carpeting and installing new local art, but The Z largely remains the same as it always has. Current owner Jeff Madsen, who took over in 2023, has followed the same philosophy of making improvements while staying true to the Z’s DNA.
Whether it’s the place couples go for a cocktail in the mood light before heading downtown for a nice dinner, or the place that always welcomes you in at 2 a.m. after a bad night, it still continues to be an everyday staple for the people of Pensacola.
Elbow Room
2213 W. Cervantes St.
If you love The Elbow Room at 2213 W. Cervantes St., you have a dive bar somewhere in Paris, France, to thank. Because that’s where the bar’s founder, Navy veteran Jim Flynn, first discovered the bar that inspired the iconic dark walls and red lights of Pensacola’s version.
Even from the very beginning, The Elbow Room was always something special, even before everyone knew it
In 1985, it was making the News Journal’s “best-kept secret” lists, and today in 2023, you’ll still hear it fondly described as a “hole-in-the-wall,” “hidden gem,” “dive bar” or “an if you know, you know” type of place.
Twenty-somethings fire up pinball machines, girlfriends in their 70s and 80s chat and nibble on delectable specialty pizzas and flatbreads. Children run over to choose from the stash of board games stacked on the shelf.
Sixty years later it may be more popular than ever, but it remains one of the few sacred Pensacola places that time hasn’t touched.
Sir Richards Public House
2719 E. Cervantes St.
When Pensacola restaurant owners Patti and Derek Sonnen purchased Sir Richards at 2719 E. Cervantes St. just months prior to COVID-19, they knew its more than 50-year lifespan would mean it needed a little more attention than just a fresh coat of paint.
While some of the keys to that atmosphere are there to stay, like the twice-a-week karaoke nights or ongoing games of pool, the renovation process turned out to be a little more “aggressive” than expected.
The renovations were made for the place to still feel recognizable and familiar to those who were regulars years ago, but with enhancements to the old English style of the place. The slightly fancier name of Sir Richard’s Public House also reflects the classier changes made inside, like the locally sourced antique furniture.
The drinks also reflect the more sophisticated style with a menu of classic cocktails served in glassware.
Sir Richards tends to be remembered for its heavier pours and extra strong drinks, which now are more tightly measured. But the establishment still serves quality drinks in a cost-effective way.
Sleepy Hollow Lounge
5701 W. Jackson St.
This family-owned hangout Sleepy Hollow Lounge, named after the legend of the headless horsemen, has been able to maintain its charm since opening in the 1950s, largely due to the dedication of owners Jack and Jennifer Beckham.
“We’re not fancy for one,” Jack Beckham told the News Journal in a previous interview. “Some people call it a little hole in the wall, some people call it their daily watering hole.”
Though the place is easy to miss, Jack said most people have found the spot when they search on Google for places that host good karaoke. After a first visit, customers are usually hooked, he said. Brave participants and curious spectators fill the bar religiously for karaoke nights. It’s so popular, their website is divebarkaraoke.com.
Regulars of the Sleepy Hollow leave a lifelong impression, with little plaques on the barstools to commemorate regulars who “have been there forever” and passed away, Jack said.
He said the bar’s Vegas bombs are among the most popular beverages, made with Crown Royal, Red Bull and a splash of Grenadine.
Intermission
214 S. Palafox St.
Fan-favorite downtown Pensacola bar, Intermission, is the sure-fire place to run into someone you know, play a round of pool or score a drink at an affordable price. Locals will defend this tried-and-true dive to the death for its friendly crowd and energetic atmosphere.
Intermission’s building is part of downtown Pensacola’s DNA, previously serving as the long-loved Child’s Restaurant, often frequented by lawyers and well-to-do businessmen. The restaurant was considered the longest-operating family-owned restaurant in Florida until it closed in 1987.
Intermission has a variety of different bars, seating areas and pool tables to explore.
Handlebar
319 N. Tarragona St.
Let’s be honest: The bathrooms weren’t always clean at The Handlebar. OK, they were rarely clean. And the “house special” was a (sometimes) cold can of PBR. Even so, The Handlebar still rose to become one of the most beloved music venues in Pensacola.
Now, a new set of owners has restored the legendary venue to its original glory. Only this time, with a few upgrades.
New owners Kathy Sandstrom and Chris McKean were Handlebar regulars themselves through the 1980s and 1990s, so they remember the appeal firsthand.
Opened in 1983, The Handlebar became a hub for inexperienced but charismatic aspiring musicians to take the stage for the very first time and for seasoned local artists to cement their legacies as local legends.
Now, the bathrooms may be cleaner, beer better and stage nicer, but the Handlebar has still managed to maintain its legacy as a Pensacola icon.
Wisteria Tavern
3808 N. 12th Ave.
Tucked under the 12th Avenue tree tunnel stands one little building encompassing nearly a century of Pensacola history.
What started as a neighborhood grocery store in the late 1920s and early 1930s has evolved into a community third space that goes beyond just a bar, becoming a living, breathing piece of Pensacola history. This year, the Wisteria Tavern celebrates its 90-year anniversary after being grandfathered in as a bar in 1935.
When the shop converted from a store to a bar in 1935 with a beer-only license, it came with some conditions related to the zoning. Located smack dab in the middle of the East Hill neighborhood, the building isn’t permitted to expand beyond its current footprint.
Even when COVID temporarily closed the Wisteria’s doors, the locals kept showing up outside to hang out at their usual table. And even without drinks, the conversation flowed. After a while, the Wisteria built on to what is now the outdoor patio.
Manager Heidi Fischler has witnessed the place undergo numerous changes and stages, starting 15 years ago when she would come in as a customer, before transitioning to bartender, and eventually into manager.
“It was definitely a dive bar, it was smoky back then. The drop ceilings were still in, so when you walked in there was a sheet of smoke and we had those machines on the bar that you could play the games on,” Fischler said. “I don’t even know how to describe it sometimes. I always tell people … it’s almost like we kind of put some glitter on it, because it feels the same.”
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 7 essential Pensacola area dive bars: Where to go for strong drinks, fellowship
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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