CBGB

Very cool spot, cash only, reasonable prices on drinks, great bartender and people. Open-minded, friendly group of folks, and interesting bands! Good amount of seating, with great back AND front patios.

Cash Only dive bar with live music. What else could you ask for ! It’s the best. Get yourself the Sandinista shot. (Thanks Doug Morgan). Love the place !

Grungey dive bar with good prices! When we went there was a live band and it was packed. I’d definitely go again! Bartender was a good sport and took a stab at an old fashioned despite not having most of the ingredients.

My favorite dive bar. Excellent live music. Huge patio out front and back. Love letting my dog run around out back.

A true and authentic dive bar. Very hospitable bartender. Amazingly cheap prices ($3 32oz Miller high life, $3 mixed drinks, etc). There is a surprisingly large craft brew menu (see pics). Strong pours. There is love music sometimes. A mixed crowd of younger an older patrons. There are bar games available, including shuffleboard and darts. There is a large outdoor patio. This is a bar worth going to, even if it's out of your way. There is an ATM on site, which is important because it's a cash only bar.

This is true to the rep. A real dive but only in that It has pinball, darts, a tiny bathroom, Long Island Iced Tea and the most pleasant "Nick Fury" I've ever met. That's not the "Tea" talking. You will meet an intriguing class of folk from lawyers and artists to truck drivers and wait staff all mingling without class ever being an actual factor.

Punk flavored dive bar. Perfect for what it's aiming for. Don't be an a$$, and you'll enjoy.

1.50 hamms beer, cash only. They have chips. Immaculate vibes and great backyard, has a firepit and dog toys. Bands come by to play here and they got shuffleboard and darts. Stickers and art everywhere. All sorts of music plays, they play GOOD country sometimes (none of the crappy pop stuff). Good crowd. I’ll be coming here for a while.

Great ambience, a very diverse crowd I really love the place. I can't wait to go back extremely friendly bartenders, and the crowd was amazing.

Cheap beer, a great bartender, friendly vibes and front AND back patios. Plus live bands - always free! Best dive bar in St. Louis for 25+ years!

The diviest dive bar that has ever doved (btw, I love dive bars!). Enjoyed outs drinks out on the patio; however, we were approached three times by folks asking for money.

Cheap drinks, great patio, dope vibe, who can ask for more on gentrified south grand? Get some bands to start playing more in pandemicville and I I'll def be in there regularly! Good lookin out on a chill place!

Beautiful bar, great music, kind staff. Get a gin bucket and get into some deep shit.

CBCG's down on South Grand is the places of places to be seen and of course, to be seen is to be hip. Now since this is known as a hip place, by going there are you square? As the much and very poetic, prolific, and awe-inspiring song from Huey Lewis and The News, the people just don't care. CBGB's is what it is, a dive bar with the cool hip heart where it serves you cheap drinks that barely cost a thing. While you are sipping down your cheap beer, most likely a PBR, you can enjoy the local band that's playing. Of course if you do not know who might be playing just ask around because that is how information gets around at CBGB's. CBGB's is a fun bar to go to. Smokey and crowded, it is a fun place to go with friends.

What a great bar! Roxanne, the bartender, is so nice. The drink specials are crazy!! They have tall boys of imported Belgian sours and craft imperial stouts for three dollars. Good music, cool vibes, come on down!!

Reasonably priced stiff drinks, great shows, but really needs a thorough cleaning. The bathroom was disgusting.

Talk about Ultimate Dive bar History, When I think of CBGB, I don't think of NYC's legendary club, I think about CBGB in St. Lou! This is the place I played my first ever St. Lou show so many years ago (2004) and I have been back here to both play and hang numerous times since! I love this bar, they have Huge Cans of Stag, and High Life, we are talking the size cans that usually only come in a brown paper bag! The area where the band play are in the front window area on the oppisite side of the bar! It's a cozy tight little spot that makes you feel like you are playing a house show with a killer bar! They have a great little patio out front as well! If you are looking for a great dive bar experience in St. Lou, look for the 4 letters! NOT D-I-V-E look for CBGB

Here's a bar that, quite matter-of-factly, looks like it has structural issues. Like the flat the guys in "The Young Ones" lived in, but if it was a watering hole. There are whole weeks and moths where I'm not sure if it's even a going concern anymore...operating hours seem fast & loose, especially in winter and on weeknights. But the neons in the windows are always on, so someone's paying the electricity bill. Once inside, wonderful, sometimes incomprehensible, always incongruous graffiti coats the walls. Some of it baffles, some is astute as hell. Local art and fabulous vintage beer signs hang everywhere. The interior absorbs all light, black hole style. But it's all part of the allure, and it's a welcoming dark/dank, not depressing like other low-rent bars that try their best to shut out the natural world. CBGB totally delivers on the diversions front; there are bar games galore. They've unceremoniously crammed a sit down Pac-Man (!) next to the front door. There's a non-digital, lo-fi dartboard, a '60s vintage shuffleboard table (mad fun), and dual pinball tables. No jukebox, but the house selection of tunes veers from loud & raucous punk to British pop, and sometimes they have OK to rather good local bands on. This is all without mentioning...cheap drinks! PBR bottles and strong Jamesons but also a full bar and tasty beer-head brews like Sierra Nevada and New Belgium if you desire a bevvy from a higher station in life. Nothing on draught but it's all good. And...the GIN BUCKET! It's kind of what it sounds like...imagine a huge gin & tonic, but served in one of those tin pails that you get a bucket of longnecks in. And as unflinchingly inexpensive as everything else they serve up. Get two straws and share with your (soon to be very inebriated) sweetheart! It's the dive afficionado's version of the 1950s milkshake date. Sure, it can get smoky as hell and claustrophobic in the extreme on certain nights, and the men's bathroom door doesn't close all the way (and is right next to the end of the bar). But sometimes those are things you actively seek out and enjoy in a drinking establishment. The bartenders are friendly as hell, they serve and pour a stiff drink (you'll tip well, I guarantee it, not the least 'cause you're buying rounds for a pittance), and the front "concrete garden" of picnic tables is an urban haven on a warm, heady STL summer's night. Sit out there, shoot the shit, and watch/commune with the crowds wandering up and down South Grand all night long. I dare you to find a less pretentious, more equalizing bar on the southside.

This is strictly a pinball review. The bar itself is actually kind of cool, in a ratty sort of way. Unfortunately, ratty and pinball do not mix. They've got a Funhouse and a Revenge from Mars at CBGB, one a bona fide classic, and the other an underrated gem. But, there are problems in these wooden cabinets. Funhouse was filthy and dark. All of the GI was blown out on it, making it very difficult to see, especially through the layer of filth on a playfield that hasn't been wiped in years. All of the switches seemed to work, but the game had a hard right lean, making it very difficult to hit the ramps and lock and way too easy to hit the mirror. The worst consequence, however, was the tendency of a rollback from a soft plunge on the stairs to hit the post and carom into the left outlane. What a bummer to see such a great game in such disrepair. Revenge from Mars seemed a little better, though the monitor was flaky. This game also had a hard right lean and no ball save, meaning all those SDTM rollbacks from the weak flippers made for very short ball times on a game that is generally pretty forgiving. I've said it in other reviews and I'll say it again: if you're not going to take care of your machines, get them out of there so people new to the game don't think this represents all that pinball has to offer.

I love this bar. It's a total dive. CBGB is one of the cheapest bars around the Tower Grove area. It is also one of the smokiest, giving Friendly's a run for their money. If you can get over that it's a great time. Usually filled with interesting characters, CBGB does not disappoint on people watching. CBGB is really really small. It is split between a bar area that is super dark and a game area. I really like the mini shuffle board and darts. It makes for a nice break from the smoke concentrated bar area. Definately worth checking out if you looking for a laid back cheap bar.

All you could ever want from a Dive. Cheap drinks, awesome bar tender, and even better people watching. I've never had a bad time at CBGB. Cash only but has an on-site ATM. The space is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside.

Very hipster. Very divey. Extremely limited parking. However, they have great drink specials, which make up for the potentially long walk to the nearest available parking. They also have pinball! It's cash only. I met some friends here, and we had a good time. It's not quite my scene however, and I would feel very out of place if it was as crowded on the night we went as I often see it when driving by.

Honestly, the last time I was here it was the last stop of the night, so my memory is a bit hazy if you know what I mean...but even I can't black out the dirty, grungy, fun that is CBGB. Anyway, I think it's a place best experienced with a drink or eight under your belt. I love a dive bar atmosphere. I'm the kind of person that likes a place where you can wear jeans and a T-shirt and drink for cheap. If you are the same way, and smoke doesn't bug you, then CBGB is a great place to go. Yes, the girl's bathroom is a bit awkward...but it's got a certain nasty charm to it. And it's easy to keep the conversation going with a gal pal when you visit the bathroom together! I also love the heavily decorated walls, the Pacman and the shuffleboard table (classic!). But the best thing is probably the cheap drink prices. I may not exactly recall what I spent, but I do know it wasn't a lot.

The most interesting thing about CBGB's is the women's restroom. There are two toilets, and they are facing each other. With nothing in between. It's like dueling toilets. It reminds me of a great art piece I saw at the Kemper museum where there were two church pews that faced one another. Church pews-toilets-church pews-toilets. In both instances you're sitting in quiet contemplation. At CBGB's it might not be so quiet. The reading on the walls is fairly interesting too. You'll probably get a good dose of post-nineties feminist literature if you spend a considerable amount of time in the lou. I will share one stellar quote with you: "Vote Democrat, because life doesn't end after birth" One star off for the smoke. We go there during the week, and fewer people = less butts hanging out of people's mouths, so it's more tolerable. Cheapest drinks I've gotten in STL yet.

This is one of the best dive bars I have ever been to, and I go there frequently now. It brings up fond memories of Reno, NV., and the bathrooms are always a source of hilarity. I am not sure if there are any other bartenders, but that one guy is ALWAYS behind the bar and he is AWESOME. There is a super fun and fast trivia night on Wednesdays, around 10ish. Sundays have a dollar beer special, I am fairly sure. The only detracting factors are the lack of draught beer (not a big deal) and the smokiness. But really, the smoke is the bar patron's fault and if you are going out for a night at the bars in St Louis, smoke is something you can't really escape.

CBGB holds an extra special place in my heart because I have met so many of my closest friends here in the year and a half that I've been drinking here. The bartenders are the reason I continued coming back when I first stopped in here. I used to be so scared of bars because I used to live in the CWE where it was nothing but college kids getting wasted and being around drunk dudes made me extra anxious. CBGB is nothing like that, everyone is friends or soon to be friends here... drinks are the cheapest in town, the music is always awesome, shows here are always fun and very cheap unless they're free (usually $5 to help the touring band stay gassed up and fed), and there are fun games... the usual dartboard and shuffleboard but there's also a tabletop PacMan game and a Family Guy pinball machine (that could probably stand to be cleaned out a little bit, tbh). The only thing I wish that CBGB had that they don't is a quarter machine for the three games that need them. Since the bar is cash only, they just don't have the amount of quarters people might need, especially on the weekend. If you want to play games, please help out the bartenders by bringing your own quarters! The beer selection here is incredible and you never wait long for drinks, even on busy nights. If you're waiting for someone and your phone is dead, there's plenty to read on the walls from decades of graffiti. The women's restroom really does have two toilets facing each other with a table between them. It didn't used to have a lock but it does now so if you have a nervous bladder, you can lock the door until you've had enough alcohol to relax and just let go. One of my favorite things about CBGB is that there isn't a pool table or TV and they never do karaoke or "happy hour" (the drinks are always cheap). I love this place! Some tips... People really look out for each other here. Try to remember cash because if your bank doesn't pay for ATM fees, they tend to add up quickly. It's all street parking and if you're leaving late and are nervous about walking to your car, so many people will be willing to walk you. It's a pretty safe area but you never know! If you want to help the bartenders, throw out your bottles and return your glasses to the bar. It's just the cool thing to do. If you want to play games, like I mentioned above, bring your own quarters because they'll definitely be low on them. Ask about upcoming shows or check the windows for posters if you like live music. Go on Wednesday and stay until midnight for trivia! If you win, you get six free drinks for your team. If you come on bicycle, there are plenty of places to lock up. They close up at midnight on Sundays.

This is what a dive bar should be like. Cheap beer, some video games (Ms. Pacman, Asteroids, Street Fighter II). It is smokey and dark, but even though I am a non-smoker this place does not bother me. The front patio is pretty nice too, good place to people watch all the characters on South Grand. I started to avoid this place for awhile, because this annoying gay guy, started hitting on me whenever I went in there. I have nothing against gay people, but when I tell you I am into girls, knock it off. They used to have a good trivia night out here too.

Every time I go to this bar I somehow make five new best friends that I end up spending the rest of my evening with...usually at Mangia down the street when CBGB closes... So obviously I love the crowd at this bar. Downside: every time I end up having to wash my hair about 3 times to get the smoke smell out, but this is a non-issue in the summer when the patio is open.

Smokey, divey, equpiped with a Pacman video game, plus cheap drinks - we got three for $10. What's not to like? Plus: dueling toilets facing each other in the girl's bathroom. Like dueling piano bar...except with toilets.

Jen D. said it all. Cheap Drinks. Just don't order an A&B Product :)

It's too bad that St. Louis doesn't have a smoking ban, because this place is intolerable inside. The picnic area outside in front is do-able. The drinks are super cheap and super strong, but they didn't have any good booze--no top shelf stuff. I'll pay more if it's a good vodka or gin. I can't drink a cup of cheap vodka on the rocks. ick. I just wanted a Kool-Aid after I tried my drink. There were tons of people here at 1am. Go to network or something. Whatever hipsters do in St. Louis.

An average (3 stars) run-of-the-mill dive bar. I'd typically give them an extra star just because they have a tabletop Ms. Pac-Man game, but the fact that the bar is cash only and has an ATM that charges an exorbitant fee would definitely drop the rating by one.

It was 1987, and a GUY and his wife knocked on my front door, near Grand and Humphrey. They needed a certain amount of signatures from the local residents, in order to open a bar on South Grand. I signed the paper, giving my approval. That was the beginning of CBGB. You're welcome!

It is the standard by which I now judge all dive bars. Oh how I miss thee, CBGBs...although the black lung has started to clear up since I stopped visiting your establishment.

I've been coming here for over a year. I always order a gin bucket for me and a friend, the price has always fluctuated from $7-$12 even though it's rail. I always get carded super hard and then glared at. I want to love this place but I always feel super uncomfortable when ordering a drink. I'll probably still come here, because I like the atmosphere, but it'd be nice if they were a little more welcoming. Great music and fun games is a plus.

The amenities here are amazing. There are plentiful hats available to keep your head warm if you need an extra. The art... impeccable; both imported and from local artists, including the patrongs. There isn't a lot of food on the menu, but the charcuterie is delectable and cheap. Many fancy beverages to make you feel like the bourgeoisie you most certainly are. A fire mistress has been appointed to start and monitor fires, that's how concerned they are about your safety. Everything is priced significantly lower than market prices, so bring cash. Ask about their sandanistas, a smashing good time. If you're an interactive person, there are plenty of activities. If not, no one cares.The regulars are friendly, albeit a bit eclectic. Seriously those people are either geniuses or headed to the psych ward like tomorrow. Two women's stalls too if the door isn't locked!

Good late night place to have a beer. They have a decent size fenced-in patio off of the front, and a nice patio off the back as well. Their beer selection ranges from PBR to Modelo to Schlafly, plus a full bar of liquor. Dark interior, and the women's bathroom covered in graffiti doesn't have dividers so be prepared to pee next to someone else! Never had a bad experience but sometimes when they're busy it can take forever to get a beer from the bar.

Dim lights. Weirdness surrounding you. Decent music. Suffleboard table and darts. Not that big of a selectioin of beer or liquor. Go here when you want to be unrecognized.

This is most definitely a 'five star dive bar'. The bartenders (Matt, Roxanna, Tazu) are attentive, engaging, eager to satisfy your legal addictions. Their in-house music collection is broad and eclectic. Their beverage selection is highly varied for a south city dive bar with many interesting bottled beers and whiskey's. When they host live music shows it's either energetic locals or small national traveling bands. The interior is reminiscent of the interior of the early MTV comedy 'The Young Ones'. Filled with donated artwork and odd ball vintage Tchotchkies. The bar crowd is a mix of crusty, old (and new) regulars and 20-something's that take their drinking and gabbing seriously. There is a spacious front patio for those that like to see and be seen and a spacious back patio for those that don't. There are also several gaming options - pinball, ms pacman, shuffleboard, and darts. This bar is a Saint Louis institution that has set 'the bar' for dive bars in Saint Louis. Newcomers are always warmly welcomed.

I love the people who work here (Matt, Glenn, etc.). The drinks are cheap as hell and the darts are free. So are the shows. I'm satisfied!

Drink, color, game...Ms. Pac-Man, in my city quest to find you, here you reside. Definitely a spot not for the weak of heart. I love it here. True camaraderie and acceptance for the weary St. Louis dweller in me. A great chill spot in the eve. Thanks for your Grand presence.

Oh, so divey. Their trivia is fricking difficult.

When I moved to St. Louis and heard there was a dirty dive bar called CBGB i thought to myself "who are these presumptuous assholes who think they can use that legendary New York name"? Then I went there and realized they deserve the legacy just as much the original. It's decorated like someone's grandparents basement after Grandma died and the local satanist anarchists started squatting and tagged the place up. The bar is made from lightly sanded ply wood that was spray painted black (I'm guessing it was painted sometime in the mid 90's because years of drinks have worn away all the paint on the front half of the bar). It has two of the best patios to drink on in St. Louis. A lot of people never notice the back patio so be sure to check it out if you go. The drinks are absurdly cheap... like unbelievably cheap. On the surface it seems like the kind of bar where fights would routinely break out, but that is actually extremely rare. Best dive bar in the city by far.

I love CBGB! The drinks are cheap, the crowd is a fun mix of punks, rockers, and all kinds. Matt is one of the coolest bartenders. The patio is nice in the summer, but in cold weather it can be unpleasantly stuffy and smoky inside. Props for darts and a shuffleboard table, but the girl's bathroom has no lock on the door.