Delux Cafe is a South End icon, stewarded these days by husband-and-wife owners who used to be regulars. The popular spot is tucked into a brownstone on the corner of Chandler and Clarendon streets, and the vibe can’t be beat: Year-round string lights and vintage kitsch set the mood in the narrow barroom, which is always packed on a Saturday night. Like other Boston dive bars, the Delux offers a few cheap beers, but it also deals in craft beer and creative cocktails like La Bamba, a spicy tequila sipper with carrot and ginger. The miniscule kitchen dishes up surprisingly great food, such as homemade pasta specials and a Grilled Cheese with tomato jam and crispy shallots. This spot is still cash-only, but the ATM fee is only 99 cents. Never change, Delux.

Hard to say whether it can be a true dive bar when it accepts reservations, but State Park is divey in the best ways. Just look at the shot-and-beer combos and pitchers on the bar menu and the vintage jukebox crammed with curated, Gen X tunes. There are even pool tables! State Park is a modern neighborhood bar from the team behind nearby Mamaleh’s and Vincent’s, with a nostalgic look that’s different from anything else in Kendall Square (and totally reminiscent of iconic local dive bars). It serves good food for lunch and dinner, including cult-favorite Nashville-Style Hot Chicken and bar snacks like Narragansett Beer Cheese and House-made Pickled Sausage. It has an awesome patio, validates parking, and frequently hosts free live local music. 

We’d wager this sometimes-sports-bar is one of the liveliest spots in Boston. Meeting friends after work for dinner and drinks? Absolutely, here. Brunch? Any day of the week, my friend. Late-night cravings? The only question is pizza or wings. Open since 2012, the high-volume Lincoln Tavern is Southie’s standby, with a wide-ranging menu of casual American fare enlivened with fire. Wood Fired Pizzas are ringed in an airy, chewy crust and arguably Lincoln’s biggest draw; and the flame-crisped Spicy Wings are an elemental version of the requisite bar snack. The spacious place takes reservations, boasts a killer draft beer list and creative house cocktails, and shucks $1 oysters from 10 ’til 10 every Tuesday. 

The winning formula at Trina’s Starlite Lounge blends a retro dive bar with gonzo comfort food. This Inman Square neighborhood spot, just over the Somerville line, is worth seeking out any night of the week. But to truly experience Trina’s, take a Monday off for brunch: That’s when you’ll find the rowdiest crowd reveling in plucked-from-childhood flavors like Pizza Bagels and House-made Pop Tarts, alongside a nationally renowned plate of Fried Chicken & Buttermilk Waffles. At all hours, Trina’s is an LGBTQ haven and one of the area’s best cocktail bars. Beyond the great food and drinks, excellent service is what makes Trina’s such a mainstay. Total bonus: Li’l sibling-sports bar Parlor Sports is next door with its own unique vibe and community.

This spot has set a high standard for beer bars since debuting in 2002 as the Boston area’s first gastropub. Inspired by Belgian beer traditions, The Publick House offers a deep cellar of bottled imports and also features an unparalleled selection of American craft beer on tap. (When Trillium brews a hazy IPA in a bar’s honor, beer lovers know they’re in the right place.) But there’s nothing pretentious about it: The P-house has become a Brookline classic by dishing up delicious mac and cheese, frites, burgers and veggie burgers, and enticing daily specials, with a huge bar and covered outdoor seating on Beacon Street.