Thirsty Beaver Saloon

The Thirsty Beaver is Charlotte’s legendary dive bar, a tiny box on Central Avenue in Plaza Midwood that refused to sell and now has a five story apartment building wrapped around it on three sides. It won a third of the vote for best dive bar in the city, double the runner up. Inside there is a jukebox, a pool table, neon and decades of memorabilia.

What to know

• Drinks are cheap and the bar is cash friendly.
• There is no food, so eat first.
• The crowd will talk to you, whether you planned on it or not.
• It has appeared in national coverage of Charlotte development.