The only free standing bar in Provo - no kidding. This place is truly the definition of "dive bar". Got pool and pinball tables, several TV's and a stage for bands. It is dark and worn, but there sure were a lot of people hanging out there on a Wednesday night. Drink prices are the best thing about the place. Drinks are very affordable. read more

Chased the rest of my beer, and a giant piece of glass hiding in the bottom of the cup almost got lodged in my throat. I spit it out and looked to the waitress in disbelief. She grabbed the piece of glass and the cup and chucked them both; the piece was clearly not from that cup so who knows what else was contaminated. Surreal experience, wont be going back after that read more

Reading these other reviews, I'm thinking they don't know what a dive bar is supposed to be. Supposed to be: Dark, moody, cheap beer and not terrible music Not supposed to be: Super nice servers or ID scanner. Not what I'm paying for. Got a couple beers on draft for $4.50 each. Can't beat it. Cool signs on wall and bathrooms that don't smell like piss. Good times. read more

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Worst bar ever. Very rude and disrespectful. They don't care for the sales. They will speak their mind even if that risks their business. You will not have a great experience here. Find a better bar! read more

Was not expecting such a cool dive bar. Happy with the food, drinks, servers and people hanging there

Why wouldn't this place be five star? No, seriously, I'm asking. For Provo, this is a five star bar. Location - This bar is in the hellscape that is Provo. I was stuck here for a wrestling tournament for my friends family so I decided to check out what a bar could be in Utah county. I was very happy to find a lovely bartender Abe a super fun and chill vibe.I'm very glad I gave this a shot. read more

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My husband and I are visiting from Florida . We know the liquor laws in Utah , and weren't really expecting too much from this "dive bar " but figured we'd grab a night cap before calling it a night. Walked in, some guy "hey we need to grab your IDs" didn't looks up, didn't tell us where just said "nick will grab them for you" alright? Then there's nick ... wow , so rude . Immediately was complaining about how our IDs didn't scan fast enough "are these Colorado ids they never work" I responded "no" with a smile , and he never looked up or made eye contact .... okay...?? We sat at the only two seats available .. he never looked at us for 10min... helped the group of girls who walked in AFTER us . They even noticed and offered to allow us to order before them - he STILL refused to look at us. Okay?? While we are waiting ... he gives two shots to two guys . The guy noticed that one shot was significantly smaller than the other and pointed it out to Nick , in a nice way... Nick responds "I don't control the pours" lol WHAT?! The guy was blown away by that response . CALIBRATE YOUR LIQUOR POURER(I'm from Fl don't know the proper name for those gadgets they use to pour liquor), but clearly it's off? Then it's our turn... Nick so condescending ... "what you guys want ".. we ordered 2 shots of screwball.. and asked for our card right away . Then I responded " wow pay before the shots , okay" He came back with the shots ... and SLAMMED down our card and ID and kept moving , no thank you no have a good night... like what??? I work customer service and can't even fathom a human like him in this type of position. You're a bar tender .. working for TIPS!!! After reviewing some responses from other patrons , I must mention I am half black and wonder if that may have had something to do with the response I got . My husband even made a joke at the way the girl next to us was "surprised" to see me in there as she was like " wow, hi" when I sat next to her .. she was fairly nice otherwise . What a strange experience .... read more

For a bar, this place has plenty tasty food choices, service is great and prices are awesome! Nick was attentive and helpful with food choices and drinks. He also gave us some good tips about the area. ~ Location is great. read more

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Good food great service a very nice little spot to relax and enjoy a bite and a libation.

2.5 stars... Dive bar as advertised! Had a great time playing pinball in the back while waiting for my burger. Garlic burger lacked the punch I was expecting and was a bit overdone for my liking. Cheap drinks, pinball, and pool tables are the draw. Ambiance is divey mc dive bar, prices were as expected, and service was satisfactory. Fun, but this joint doesn't make the list. read more

We are from AZ & in Provo for our kids' hockey tournament. Tonight was our best night to hit up a bar (& apparently there are only 2 - the other turned out not to be open/in business anymore, but that's another story). This bar had some good points, and not so great points. They had a guy at the door who was pleasant (& apparently due to Utah rules can NOT leave the door cause everyone MUST be carded). They only had one bartender who was also the cook, and she was very busy. So the service was slow, but the server was super fast. She really deserves credit for her effort & efficiency. She should have had more help. We got one beverage each, and then asked for the tab cause we didn't want to wait again & were told doubles were not available. By then (8:45) there were 2 other servers to help. There was one song played on a perhaps a juke box (never found it while looking around). It was a Patsy Cline tune. She's classic, but perhaps not our first choice, unless hanging with my mother-in-law. Bar was busy (good) & folks were all getting along. Coulda been worse. Coulda been better. Almost forgot. I saw several complaints in previous reviews about the bathrooms. I only visited the Men's Bathroom. It was spotless & fully stocked. Bravo! read more

Well, i was having a good time on a Friday. Good beer, sketch patrons-which is how i like to roll. However, at 9:30pm, after a few beers, I get told I have to pay a $10 cover to hang out. I told them I'd be happy to keep drinking and tip the band but they were hard set on charging a door fee. I paid my tab and left. What a disappointment. read more

Late weekend night crowd and bartenders kinda suck. People are too rowdy, loud, rude and obnoxious. I got cut in front of so many times at the bar, and the bartenders ignored the crap outta me. Their attitudes were so apathetic, I could taste it. I had to fight the feeling not to tip. read more

Went here with some pals recently. Pros, Cons, then Summary PROs--Well, they have large 32oz mugs for beer, which was pretty cool. There were places to sit, and seemed to be the only bar near the hotel I was staying in. There are pool tables, and even a cigarette vending machine (which were banned long ago in good ole' California.) It looks like it has a stage for live music, but there was a band the night I went there. CONs--Definitely a dive bar. Could use help from "Bar Rescue." It is old and run down. I've never been to Utah, so I didn't know what to expect. The crowd was....unique. The equivalent to my experience would be like going to a bar in Bakersfield or Victorville. Would I go back? No. The only reason I went there was because it was the only bar within walking distance. (My distance anyway as I am old and fat.) read more

Just got here 5 mins ago, 11:10pm and the bar says it closes at 12. They turned all 3 of us away and we just wanted to come in for one. They wouldn't even let one of us use the restroom. Seems like BS to me :/ read more

This is a place that could easily be a much higher rating for others. It's gotten much better over time. The addition of really decent bar food helps a lot. If you're part of the vodka and red bull crowd this place is for you. If you'd like a place that can make a Rye Manhattan, you're S*O*L here. So, the low rating is because of their inability to make much in cocktails that don't involved flavored vodka and similar. I've been here a half dozen times over the years and in what cocktails they know and make they don't change. It's the place to go for a nightcap after a meal downtown, but that's about it -- for me. read more

Great bar. I'm not from here but I've visited a few times and it is like an oasis to the surrounding culture. Great and friendly bartenders and an inviting tone with friendly patrons (less the one crazy Florida fan, but.... he is a Florida fan so....). Keep it up ABG. When I come back you have my patronage. read more

Never been more disrespected walking into a bar in my life. Aggressive, rude, and disgraceful. Walked in and the person who checked IDs was incredibly hostile, spoke in a tone that was borderline antagonistic. Snarky bartended, we didn't last 5 minutes in that place. I guess when you're one of two places in the whole city you feel like you can treat people however you like. But you would think if you share a block with a hotel there's a good chance you'll get some non-locals and maybe just maybe act like a decent individual. But I guess not. read more

I had a wonderful time here! I wandered in on Saturday afternoon unsure of what I wanted to drink. I asked the very friendly bartender for something, "slightly fruity with whiskey". He crafted something delicious for me, I was very impressed. Great location, nice interior. Unfortunately I didn't visit the restroom, which in hindsight I should have. I was curious about another reviewer's experience about tampon festooned floors and something curiously named, "blood burgers". read more

This place is my home away from home. It's a dive bar so it's supposed to have a bit of a crappy feel and look to it. Drinks are cheap, and people make you feel welcoming. Look if you're not a local, and you're stuck in Utah, SUCK IT UP! It's Provo, and it's full of Mormons who don't drink. BEGGERS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS. Also don't be a dick to the bartenders, they have a hard job. It tends to get busy on the weekends, don't act surprise if you have a hard time getting a drink the moment you automatically walk in the door. read more

The drink names are so perfect for Provo! I love supporting a great local business; however, no 5 Star because of all comments about discrimination. This business needs to do better to improve their reputation! We all need to do better to love and appreciate everyone! Being a good person matters! It should matter a lot to a small business in Provo! Overcome the stereotypes and show people that Provo can be a cool place of love and acceptance! read more

This is the COOLEST "dive" bar I've ever been to. I have visited it every time I've come through Provo for 25 years. They serve the best Burger in town and a damn good grilled cheese. The fries are ALWAYS hot and crispy, just the way they should be. It's a "biker bar" without the fear factor of actually having a bike gang call it home. It's the perfect neighborhood bar where after visiting 4-5 you will start to see and talk to the other regulars. I only have one regret about ABG's. I wish they had more live bands who played the music on their jukebox. Old school rock and roll, jam, rockabilly, bluegrass and OLD TIME country. I would be there for every show I could. In case you haven't figured it out yet... I LOVE ABG's! So, much that it is the "fictional" location in a book I'm writing about life in my version of heaven. read more

Not too shabby for a dive bar within an eyeshot of the Provo temple. Jukebox has some seriously good classics. Cheap drinks, good times. Remember: DIVE BAR. read more

A friend of mine (a young woman of color) was refused service for no reason and then asked to leave in an offensive and violent way (with cussing and threats to call the cops). I have never witnessed anything like this in my life. I even followed up about this incident with the owner the next day who didn't seemed concerned with this but got slightly defensive when we implied that the bar felt unsafe for people of color. Unfortunately I don't recommend coming here. I am baffled by how this treatment was allowed. read more

If you're hunting for dives-ville and don't care about service, this is your place. We came in and there were about four people at the bar, two without drinks. Maybe it was because we were actually dressed half-decent from a previous event, but the main bartender gave us the look your anti-social roommate gives you when you come home with friends and ruin his fourth hour of video gaming. We figured it'd be 5 or so minutes as he got those other two their drinks and sat down on the ripped pleather stools. We then watched him move slower than a 15 year old dog with arthritis as we waited another 15 minutes before being verbally acknowledged, despite us having made attempts at eye contact every opportunity we could. I'm sure the other bartenders are better, but no second chance for us, even if you have the cheapest drinks in town (though nothing one could consider a cocktail). It seemed to be aggressively trying for the ratty dive feel. read more

Good little dive bar with pool tables and good selection of beers. Fun atmosphere and decent bartenders.

I have mixed feelings about this place. People say it's the best bar in Provo. It's like getting stabbed to death with a cheese knife or getting ran over to death by a fat person on a moped. Which is better? I wouldn't call this a dive bar. They have a kitchen that serves food people actually eat. The inside of this place is a clusterfuck. The tables are kinda grouped in a few areas. There are long bar tables in the middle of the room that kind of look towards something resembling a stage. They do have seating at the bar so that's nice. There are pool tables and a few coin operated games. On weekends they have a band. Not many good ones though. Sometimes there's a good rockabilly group. Weekends also have a cover to help pay for the bands. They should be paying me to listen not the other way around. Drinks are all over the place. Prices range from cheap to expensive with the beers sitting on the expensive side. They can make you anything (as long as it follows Utah state law.) The bartenders are alright. I've had nights where they are chatty, other nights where they should just close shop and chill the fuck out. If you open a tab with plastic be prepared to give them your driver's license. Dunno why though. The customers are a mix of douchebag​ bros all the way to wannabe badasses. Keep your expectations low and mind your own business and you'll fine. Pros: Parking out front, walkable area with food options, plenty of seating, food options in the bar. Cons: More expensive drinks, sketchy building, sub-par clientele. The group of smokers outside lets you know you've arrived. read more

I just moved to Utah and did a quick Google search for bars in my area where I can shoot pool. Based on the photos paste posted I decided that I'd try ABG's first (it looked the safest lol). I'm glad I did. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because they have a set juke box and I didn't know a lot of the music and my burger (garlic) although packed with flavor had a bun that couldn't quite support all the juicy yummyness. Owen, the bartender, was professional and kind. He was my first experience with the bar and he represents well. Hats off to Owen for taking good care of me, mucho appreciated. The chicken wings were the first I've had in a long time that I didn't even touch my ranch dressing. They have two pool tables only .75 a game and their prices were fantastic. I met a lot if people actually, all whom were really nice and one Chicago Bears fan (Juan) which is always fantastic. The clientele was very diverse which was refreshing, not only ethnically and age wise, but style as well. looking down the bar I saw a range of polo shirts, tattoos, rockabilly chics and jerseys. One Bronco jersey hahaha. There's no smoking in the bar but I don't know if any bars in Utah allow smoking. I am thinking this is going to be my bar of choice. I did head down the street to another bar. Everyone was nice there as well but ABG's was better, in my opinion. read more

Decent place. Drinks are CHEAP here! It's always busy. The place itself is old and could use a facelift and some updates, but I think they are trying to keep that old-timey feel. A lot of the barstool are super wobbly and feel like a liability and lawsuit waiting to happen. When they have live entertainment there is a cover, otherwise not. Very few bars have Corona Light, especially on tap, but they do, which is a good thing for a lot of the ladies who like the "light"er version. I feel like ABG's attracts the oddballs of Utah County. Whenever I come, I look around at the crowd and wonder where about 80% of the people are the rest of the week because it's an unlikely crowd for Provo. read more

There are 2 bars in Provo! We sat at the bar here & had a couple drinks. The bartender was super nice & hardworking- it was busy. But the drinks were reasonably priced & good. It is a little divey looking but my only real criticism is that the bathroom was super gross. read more

ABG's is a dive bar. Like the first thing you think when you walk in is, "man, what a dive." I say this with love and affection the carpet is thin and shitty, the stage looks like a hazard, and the bathrooms are truly ridiculous (more on that in a bit) but I still like it because, as divey as it is, it grows on you. The Bartender's are a mixed bag, a few of them act like they're annoyed that you're bothering them but most of them are fantastic, they remember your name, even your order sometimes and are more than willing to take on a "make me something yummy" challenge, even when it's busy, which is always a huge plus in my book. Christie is the actual best bartender ever so definitely try to get her if you can. Personal favorite ABG's original cocktails include: Christmas In A Cup (OJ, Angry Orchard and Fireball), Jack-In-The-Nuts (whiskey, coke and coconut rum) and The Big Whiskey Drink (whiskey, whiskey and I'm not sure what else, but it's delicious and it comes in a huge stein.) Warning: Band night SUUUUUUCKS. On Friday night's local bands play and even if the bands don't suck (which is rare) whoever is doing their sound mix definitely does. They basically just turn the volume up as loud as it will go and leave it there, on top of that the speakers are monumentally shitty which leads to loud, unintelligible noise. It's loud to the point that the bartenders can't hear you order so you have to loiter around the bar until the song is over and then everyone mobs the poor bartender. It's a really terrible system. When it's not band night there is a jukebox with a VERY wide variety of music and 5 bucks gets you 25 songs and the machine automatically shuffles the songs so some asshole can't just play the same song 100 times. Okay, the bathrooms: the women's is near the front of the bar, it's tiny (2 stalls), has a low ceiling and and the walls of the stalls are so low that you can clearly see over them when standing, you can't see anything private but it can be awkward to look at the faces of the ladies in line while you pull you pants up. The men's room is at the back, past the stage and it's literally a shed with a toilet. Like I said, the bathrooms are ridiculous. They're always clean (if a bit shabby), they always have toilet paper but they're completely ridiculous. TL;DR: If you don't like dive bars you're not gonna like ABG's but if you're open to it, ABG's is a chill bar and a good time. read more

No music unless you buy it in the juke box. I haven't heard of half the bands in there. Not a lot going on a Thursday night. Not my scene I guess.the service was ok. read more

ABG's... well me and two of my colleagues are in Utah for a business trip, and ABG's was recommended to us. It is supposedly the only decent bar in the area, and it didn't disappoint. The bartenders were super chill, and they had a good selection of drinks. The only thing to keep in mind is that Utah limits the amount of alcohol you can comsume, and there are cameras. The great thing is that, compared to California where we are from, rounds are cheap. They have pool tables and a juke box, and if you are in the neigborhood you should check the place out. They also sell BBQ sauce so make sure you ask Dane the Main if you can try it out. Next time I'm in Orem I am going to make my way to the one and only, Provo pub!!! read more

This is a great local place to grab a beer and a burger, prices are reasonable the staff is friendly. They have bands on Fridays for a reasonable cover and the vibe is always fun and the people are always nice. They have their own specialty drinks and are willing to make recommendations when its not slammed, this is a great place for a beer or a martini. read more

Epitome of a dive bar. Exactly what we were looking for. Service was great. Our first beers in Provo!

This is the only place in Provo that isn't a creepy trucker bar or super bro dance club, complete with mechanical bull. I really appreciate ABG's for that. It's a dive bar, and nothing spectacular but I think it will always hold a really special place in my heart for my entire life. The prices are so good. I can't ever complain about how much I have because it's so cheap. I rarely spend more than 30 dollars there. I hate band nights, so I go when there isn't one playing and that atmosphere is so intensely relaxing. It's fun to watch pool games and hang out with friends and meet other people. Their selection is reasonable and personally, I think their cocktails are super tasty. I really appreciate their bartenders who remember your face and name on a busy night and can remember that you like certain drinks. I haven't had a bad experience there yet. The bathrooms are tiny though... Like I am 5'11 and if I laid down, I could probably touch the walls. I can also see over the stalls and always have to profusely apologize or have weird stare downs with someone who walks in the door as I'm trying to undo my belt and all we can see is each other's glazed faces. ABG's is sincerely a 'what you see is what you get' kind of place. read more

It's a shame that ABGs has grown to this. Back in the day, the place used to be pretty good. Here's the breakdown of what it's been reduced to: -Building and condition is squalid and dirty. The bathrooms are a cesspool of disease. - They don't serve pitchers--a very no-nonsense item that's standard in every normal bar. -The regulars and normal patorns who frequent here are complete jackasses and misplaced old sad men who probably beat women. However, the food and nosh are excellent. The burgers are some of the best you'll get in the area. I know some people who hate the bar but get takeout from there because the food is that good. Also the bartenders are your average bartenders. None of them are rude, but they're not talkative either. They're just doing their jobs. You can't really be picky with bars in Provo because there are virtually none whatsoever. Those who pitched bad reviews should be motivated to start advocating for more bars to be opened in Provo. Provo was a resort town before it was a Mormon college hotbed. It's about time we reclaim it as such. read more

Id give this place a solid 3 for "A-OK." Had lots of fun last night - love the live music. Its been about 10 years since the last time I was here. I did feel overdressed. But it felt friendly and homey. The girls at the bar were really nice- and everyone had fun. The bands were jammin and we even got up and danced a bit. Fries were good - id re order those again. A few of us ordered sandwiches - they were ok. We ordered coffee after a few hours and they even brewed up a new batch. I knew what to expect - so it didn't bother me that our tables got sticky from our spilled drinks, or that we had to go back to the bar and re order drinks. A few trips to the bar we carried lots of our empty glasses to drop off, but other times someone stopped by to clear off the table. This place is a local and low key. When you are nice to people - everyone has a good time. I guess your night depends on your expectations. read more

As some other reviewers have noted, this is a dive bar. Luckily for me, I like dive bars. There are so few bars in the Orem/Provo area that I was prepared to like this place even if I didn't really like it, but I was pleasantly surprised as soon as I walked in the door. The atmosphere is cozy and very local, with regulars playing pool and talking to the bartender. There's a full bar, a bar-food kitchen, and a pretty good selection of draft (4% ABV) and bottled beer. I wouldn't order anything complicated at this place, and since I usually order beer anyway, the potential limitations don't bother me. Beer prices are a little steep; I paid at least $6 for my Uinta Hop Nosh. But it's worth it to me to hang out in a bar like I used to in Austin. The juke box is good, and apparently there's live music on Fridays and Saturdays, but I usually come to a place like this to talk. Weeknights are best in my opinion. The womens bathroom is very clean for a dive, and one huge plus at ABG's is that people can't smoke inside. The place smells like a bar, but not like an ashtray. read more

WOW! Queen was AMAZING!!! She was fast and friendly it's obvious she has regulars that love her. Thanks Queen!!! read more

ABG's Libation Emporium - Yes! Come here - Dive Bars Near Me - Provo, Utah