Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Bob's Java Jive

    4.1 (93 reviews)
    ModerateDive Bars
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Bob's Java Jive Dive Bars Photos

    Business Info

    BOB'S JAVA JIVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Live music
    Karaoke
    Loud

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Bob's Java Jive

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Singers
    Authority R.

    Bob's Java Jive located at 2102 South Tacoma Way in Tacoma, WA is Fast Becoming the best Karaoke location in Tacoma. This location will celebrate 100 yrs in 2027 and is already a Historic location. Friendly service and atmosphere 7 days a week till 2:00am. Weekends are packed, with a moderate crowd on Sundays. The Owners have been upgrading, as allowed (historic site), maintaining the integrity of the original decor. Fearless peeps from the streets Come, Challenge the Stage; if you dare!

    Stephanie T.

    Great dive bar with friendly service from the staff. We ordered wine, gin and tonic, and a I love you to death. Pool table is a perk and my friends enjoyed playing. Definitely a unique spot to visit!

    Philly
    Kristie T.

    This is a fun place. We stopped by the first time on a whim and thought it was so cute. I was so entertained just looking around the place at the walls, ceiling, etc. We came back for Mosa-Roke on a Sunday and luckily, I had a beer in my car because the bartender overslept and was about an hour late. Then, we went again for an event. Each time we had so much fun!

    Bar area with our Mai Thai's!
    Kieva W.

    The Mai Thai's are great, and the food blew my expectations. Our bartender ended up being one of the owners and told us a bunch of history on the building, and was a nice guy. We had a great time and will definitely be back!

    Listen, their rating Should Be at least 4.9. This is The Spot for Karaoke in Tacoma's west side of town off the 38th exit; Period! This place is Laid Back, but Lit as Karaoke kicks in Every SIngle Day till 2:00AM. Great Release of Stress and Anxiety, but you won't know until you try it. Outstanding support, even if you Can't Sing a Lick, They Got You Boo! Not to mention, I am Tha David, so I should know. Started singing here over a year ago. The brothers that own Bob's Java Jive are down to earth, cool on approach, and attentive to your needs; as is their outstanding staff there! The Food, the Drinks, The Karaoke, Pool, and atmosphere is a Must See for Yourself.

    a glass of beer on a table

    See all

    3 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nico B.
    1806
    581
    3304

    4 days ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    An experience...Its everything you hope a story-tell dive bar would be. I won't say too much but you have to see for yourself.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Cool bar but the brunette bartender was so rude we left immediately (it's your job to put the book away btw)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelly M.
    247
    21
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 1
    Love this 15
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ben G.
    58
    17
    0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Iris V.
    97
    58
    35

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Sean A.
    64
    11
    2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of P S.
    0
    23
    6

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Lots of room and good service. There isn't the greatest drink specials but being in a giant coffee pot is really cool.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The workers and people that come there are amazing! I chatted with the owner, he is an amazing person overall 10/10 vibes on point ;P

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Owen R.
    598
    3068
    14052

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Richie D.
    4335
    1818
    21300

    12 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 13
    Oh no 0

    20 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Bob's Java Jive

    Review Highlights - Bob's Java Jive

    It's funky, cramped, campy, kitschy, dirty (sorry but true), weird, not a "first date" place, and just plain strange.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Dive Bars 6,270 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Park Avenue Tavern - Surprised at this fine tequila here,Aha Yeto Anejo Tequila and an old fashioned

    Park Avenue Tavern

    4.5(21 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $

    Such a cute little dive in Tacoma! If you know me you know I *live* for a dive bar. This was on the…read moreway to another plan in the area and we had some time to kill, so we stopped in for a quick drink and to check it out after seeing how close it was. Parking lot is super small, but they do have ample street parking right out front and we found a spot no problem. This bar is definitely on the cozier side, with maybe a total of 30 seats if I had to guess. There's about 10-12 seats at the bar and then the rest is booth seating on the opposite wall. The selection was rather decent for drinks, with them surprising us with not one, not two, but FOUR hard cider choices for my husband. Most places only have 1-2, and they usually are ones he doesn't like, but he got lucky here. Another bonus: strong pours. :) I saw a menu for food, but it was only a few choices - I forget what they all were, but I know one was a cheeseburger. So, probably don't plan to come here stuffed, but they do have snacks should you need it. This spot is definitely on the lowkey side but it was a comfortable stop. We're not in the area too often, but we would return if we were.

    Not sure why Park Avenue Tavern didn't get a review by me yet. I have certainly been there at least…read moreonce. Well, I will fix that now by getting a review posted. The times I was here with Steve we usually stuck with the beer selection and with what was on tap there. It's mostly local beers in the metro area and I remember the variety of that list being pretty generous. So that was all good. We even got some food to eat here. I have had their burgers here and liked them quite a bit. The classic type burger seems to be the Park Burger and along with fries it proved to be a good meal. Definitely a nice establishment for the neighborhood!

    Photos
    Park Avenue Tavern - Bar

    Bar

    Park Avenue Tavern
    Park Avenue Tavern

    See all

    The Mule Tavern - Cukes and ranch

    The Mule Tavern

    4.4(59 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $

    I've been wanting to go to The Mule Tavern foreverrrr because my boyfriend never stops talking…read moreabout how it's one of his favorite dives. I've been to Sidepony, the Mule's sister bar, which I absolutely love, so I've been dying to get in here! We finally got the chance before a Rainiers game recently and had a great experience. It's definitely bigger than I expected but the vibe is awesome. Like Sidepony, the decor is super eclectic and fun. There's a photobooth as well which is a fun touch. The back patio space is also really cool - it's also dark as it's covered, so I imagine it gets pretty warm back there in the hotter summer days. They don't have a giant food menu but they have a few sandwiches to choose from. We both got their grilled cheese which you can never go wrong with. Another notable part of our visit was the bartender - he was so nice! Extremely personable and handled holding down the entire bar by himself, including the cooking. Definitely will be added into our dive rotation. Can't wait to come back!

    I've been here twice now. Definitely a locals hang. Very clean dive bar with no fried food. Gender…read moreinclusive restrooms with fun decorations. Bartenders are always friendly and welcoming. My only complaint was the grilled cheese with "tomato soup". That was not tomato soup and that was not a ramekin. Drag bingo was a blast! I will definitely be back for that!

    Photos
    The Mule Tavern - Bathroom mural

    Bathroom mural

    The Mule Tavern - Great art

    Great art

    The Mule Tavern - Lemon drop

    See all

    Lemon drop

    Top of Tacoma Bar - French dip

    Top of Tacoma Bar

    4.3(984 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Been coming here for about 6 years off and on now because it's in the neighborhood…read more Good beer selections, good pours on cocktails, however cocktail consistency varies depending on who's working. The food is my favorite part. I can have a beer anywhere, but the food is actually pretty on point minus the nachos, sad to say. Always overcooked, cheese is hardened and well beyond melted, but a massive portion in size. The sandwiches are amazing, the quesadillas are amazing, have yet to make it there before breakfast ends but I'm betting it's probably pretty good. Staff are friendly, efficient, and do well on checking to make sure you're not waiting too long for service without being too bothersome. It gets a little loud, busy and crowded on nights especially on the weekends, but that's typical bar atmosphere. Patio seating is nice on sunny days like today. 5/5 for a hometown spot in the neighborhood.

    The clam chowder was cold as well as the fish tacos special. The bartender was not concern about…read moretemperature of the food at all. This site still says that Jamie owns this bar. Years ago when she ran this bar it was the best in town and she would not let this food to be served. I will go the Huckleberry that she owns with two other steller partners and enjoy their food. The cook should check the soup pot on a regular basis to ensure that the chowder is hot and ensure that the fish is at least 135 degrees and let it warm up to over 140 degrees before serving. Jamie if you still own the Top please look into the kitchen and bring back your great menu.

    Photos
    Top of Tacoma Bar - Love this lamp

    Love this lamp

    Top of Tacoma Bar - Quesadilla

    Quesadilla

    Top of Tacoma Bar - Tacos

    See all

    Tacos

    Boom Boom Room - Boom Boom Room Bar

    Boom Boom Room

    4.3(274 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$
    Romantic vibe
    Takes reservations

    The BBM has been on my list for some time & I am so happy I finally got to try it out!…read moreFirst thing's first, it is a small and intimate space with cozy and ambient vibes. Seating is limited, but the bar is fully stocked! We ordered the chicken caesar salad and the Lil Saigon Sliders. The salad was fresh and crunchy, chicken well seasoned and tender, and the caesar dressing was BOMB! But those sliders..... WOW. The sliders bring everything you love about a banh mi to a mini slider that is the perfect snack size (although, they were so good we ended up ordering another) Our waitress was super kind and helpful with ordering, even suggesting a cocktail that was delicious. I can't stop thinking about how surprisingly good everything was and I cannot wait to come back for more!

    Honestly... I'm not sure where to start here we had a reservation, ten of us together. They put us…read morein the Sinatra Room which is *sweaty* hot. The waitress even mentioned it was hot in this room and when we commented on it she just said yeah it sucks. I have Celiac so this is not a dietary choice, it's a medical restriction. I asked about gluten free options and she said nothing is gluten free (even though the website says it gluten free options available). She then said the best option for me would be the mushrooms or the wings because they are lightly breaded and she is gluten free and does well with those. We paid for our drinks and left. I won't be coming back and it's not because of the menu.

    Photos
    Boom Boom Room - Sinatra Room

    Sinatra Room

    Boom Boom Room
    Boom Boom Room

    See all

    Pacific Southern - Catfish Sandwich

    Pacific Southern

    3.8(1.4k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    So.........restaurant business is hard! We love this place but the food is I feel barely hanging on…read moreand it is more of a community comfort food place. Which there is nothing wrong with that. The service is ways excellent here!!!! The vibe of this place is amazing. The jambalaya and cornbread is so mouth watering it would make you not share it with your one family. But here is the tea!!! I can see where some of the food needs improvement but most restaurants these days are in the same situation. There are items I would not order again but others I love and a person must pick and choose their own individual items based on their preferences. I appreciate the restaurant being in busy and please get your food rating back to Great! Because Fair had me a bit side ways. Has always thank you all for your support and please continue to stay safe and healthy out there! See you at my next bite :0)

    We had an amazing server - Jenny. Such great hospitality!!!!.It was obvious this place has a lot of…read moreregulars and the entire staff was loving on everyone like we're all family. I ordered PAC SOUTH omelette. No green onions, chose hash browns instead of toast and had side biscuit and gravy. Unfortunately the hash browns were really crackly dry. Maybe I should've had the red potatoes instead. The Omelette was surprisingly good. The sweetness of the pork with the bbq sauce was fascinating and tasty. If I had it again I'd ask to add a squirt of bbq inside or ask for more sauce on top. Hubby ordered the Shrimp and Grits. They were great and better than most places we've had them out. Hubby crumbled his side of bacon on top. They were Creamy, savory, cheesy and served piping hot. Jenny said sometimes people ask to add andouille sausage or catfish on top. Last - OMG that was a THICK biscuit! It was super dense. The gravy was delicious. But the biscuit takes up most the room on the plate. So my gravy to biscuit ratio was off. I still took half my omelet and half my biscuit in a to go box. Left the hash browns. They have BIG portions. Amazing atmosphere and service. If you come in from the front door there is a small counter seating area as well as booths and tables. Beyond that main room there is more space in the back. Keeping this place on the list for sure!!!

    Photos
    Pacific Southern - Dining Area

    Dining Area

    Pacific Southern - Cinnamon Roll French Toast

    Cinnamon Roll French Toast

    Pacific Southern - Dining Area

    See all

    Dining Area

    Holy Moly Bar - Cute lounge in back

    Holy Moly Bar

    4.3(13 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Had one drink here and it was great. It was their martini special and drinking one for 13 years and…read moremore, I was especially surprised to see how good this was. Had to go to the bar to get service and order which is ok. The drink menu was a QR code, which I appreciate but I also like physical menus. The food menu is minimum and didn't order anything. They don't have anything passed 7pm for food which is unfortunate. Also, it was supposed to be trivia night but I didn't see any games or why it wasn't happening. The ambience is definitely different. Quirky, fun, good instragramable place. Unfortunately, when we arrived although cozy there was a strange smell like burnt candle or burnt something. The candles they have are LED so ruled that out. This is my 2nd time. I would give better review but I am a little disappointed by their overall offerings.

    Holy Moly Bar is such a vibe! I came across them on Yelp recently and knew I wanted to check them…read moreout, but after a nearby dinner at La Ca Bar we realized Holy Moly was just across the street and decided to drop in for a quick nightcap. At first glance it appears super tiny, but the bar goes back pretty far and is a good size. We got there before the nighttime crowds and managed to score the cozy couch in front of the fireplace in the back. It filled up quickly after that, though! The mood is moody and cozy, the perfect spot for making this apart of date night. I can't speak much to the food as we did not order any, but the menu is pretty elevated for a bar. I wouldn't say this place is divey at all, but the menu was still surprising. Service was good and they had a great selection of drinks. I got a hazy IPA (as per usual) and it was delicious! We also got a couple of shots here and absolutely adored the shot glasses they use. They look like tiny cocktail glasses! Overall we thought Holy Moly was a vibe and we will definitely include this in our 6th Ave rotation.

    Photos
    Holy Moly Bar - Corpse Reviver & Milk Tea Alexander

    Corpse Reviver & Milk Tea Alexander

    Holy Moly Bar
    Holy Moly Bar

    See all

    Bob's Java Jive - divebars - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...