sidewalk

2101 W Main St, Richmond, VA

I am in this Facebook group entitled "Wisconsin Dive Bars," and I get so jealous how far away I am from all of the deliciously dirty dives that are posted there for members to see. However, that is not to say that there aren't perfectly good dive bars here in Richmond. A notable one at that is the Sidewalk Cafe.

What makes a great dive, you might ask? This answer is a bit subjective, but generally speaking I think tacky Christmas lights adorning the perimeter of the building is a must. A sizeable outdoor area for those who would like a smoke or a drag. Plenty of random (and gaudy) posters and decals to line the walls. If a dive bar wants to achieve absolute greatness, then it will have tasty food served on humble platters. The prices won't feel offensive either. Sidewalk absolutely takes all of these things in stride.

In the name of exposing myself as an online loser (I started this post talking about a Facebook group, time to take a good hard long look in the mirror), I've answered many a Reddit posts asking "Where's the best late night bar for food?" It's easily Sidewalk. I'll say so and other fans will echo my endorsement. There isn't a bad time to come here though, I've been known to take my lunch breaks there. That's the beauty of Sidewalk, no matter when you stop by, you're in for a good (dive-y) time.