Rock'n'Roll Jukebox? YES. Tecate Tallboys? YES. Beards? HELL YES. A qualified dirty Rock'n'Roll dive bar. If u smacked it down next to CBGB's in NYC it would make sense. If you have a friend from another Big City who likes the Ramones, Stooges and wears a leather jacket, they'll be at home here. On Thursdays, the DJ starts around 10pm and the crowd picks up. Somewhat hipstery but generally friendly. Bartenders are service-minded/worth tipping well. DO: Play Ms.Pac-Man near the bathroom with a date. DON'T: Ask for Pinot Noir Advice: Get to know the Bartender and Doorman by name. read more

This place is in walking distance from me, so I just trekked it up Mississippi to meet some friends one Thursday night. I turned the corner onto El Cajon and thought I had taken a wrong turn into Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Hipsters galore. Don't get me wrong, I truly enjoy the Hipster scene (although sometimes I feel a bit left out when I'm the only chick in the bathroom who doesn't have her hair bleached platinum blonde or dyed black--seeing as how that would be overkill since it already is black). There's something really comforting and entertaining about it all at the same time. But I will say that the jukebox at Live Wire rocked my night. And the cheap cheap drinks always make it a winning situation (Depending on the night, I might cut myself off after a couple pint glasses of my usual scotch-and-ginger). Oh, and the fact that I can walk here makes it even more awesome. I love Williamsburg. read more

This is a great dive bar. They have PBR tallboys, a really good tap selection (including Pliny and sometimes Speedway), and really strong drinks served in full pint glasses. It's a cash only bar, but there's an ATM in one of the dark corners. Any day of the week there are only a handful of people in the bar and is usually perfect for hanging out with friends. We were out for a friend's birthday and basically took over the pool table and surrounding booths like we were the only ones in the bar. There is one caveat: Thursdays after 10:30. I've made this mistake many, many times as the place fills up with uber-faux hipster/scenester types. Many of the previous reviews have mentioned this. However there is a small entertainment value to the scenesters. Most of the time we've sat in the booth giggling for almost an hour at all the faux-sters. Either I don't get it or some of the outfits I've seen there are absolutely ridiculous. Terry cloth is usually reserved for towels, not a skirt that's too short when it's raining outside. Also, I think 1985 called and Tina Turner wants her hair back. Leopard skin belongs on a cat, not skin tight on a human. Thursdays are the reason for 4-stars but don't let that deter you from going there on any other night. read more

There's not much to say about this place that hasn't already been said. It's a pretty sweet little dive bar. Not exactly "stumbling drunk" friendly distance away from my friends place as we thought, but we survived. It's dark, with some nice, scary red mood lighting for ya. Bar, booths, one pool table and a juke-box. They have tall-boys behind the bar, great for nursing the whole night thru...haha and a highly diverse crowd, from "skeevy" to "beardy" to "hipster-wanna-bes" and chicks wondering "what did I walk into..." Drinks seem cheap. I would come back, if I had a sweater for the walk home :) read more

+ it's close to my house and work +the drinks are cheap +the drinks are stiff +there's always a good crowd +lots of booths to sit in +lots of stools at the bar +brianna the bartender on thursdays is hot +the djs on thursdays play an eclectic mix of music +tall cans of PBR +stone's pale ale -scenesters galore -the pool table is loppy read more

2010 Lancey Award Winner for Best University Heights Dive Bar. Live Wire covers all the bases with about a dozen beers on tap, no nonsense bartending, cheap, strong drinks, pool table, decent juke box, and comfy booths to sit in. When a bar doesnt have a single shot-glass in it because all shots are served in tumblers, you know it is a badass in the world of dive bars. I get a little fear inside each time I walk in here, knowing that I am getting in pretty deep and might end up cabbing it home or catalyzing some crazy late night adventure. If I need to keep my cool I often just choose from their nice selection of beers and steer clear of shots n cocktails. With the addition of Luigi's next door, you can have some drinks, and then eat some food so that you can drink even more. Or you can eat first and set your solid foundation for your drinking ahead. This foundation is important and can save your life. If I lived around here this would be my go-to spot for drinks more often. Usually avoid weekends when it gets overcrowded. read more

Great vibe, chill crowd, lots of red vinyl and cheap drinks. What more could I ask for in a dive bar?!?! Street parking is plentiful and let's not forget Pizzeria Luigi next door. Great place to grab a couple of drinks with friends. Three and a half stars! read more

Mathew was a great bartender! Told us some great stories and served great drinks! Would highly recommend on any night of the week!

I don't know what I was thinking when I gave this place 3 stars. I think I may have just moved to the area and I didn't get it. Anyway, now that I've moved back to the east, I thought it would be appropriate to update this sucker. This is THE dive of dive bars. This is where you go to start or end your night. Bartenders are super friendly, tap list was always palate pleasing, and even my dog was allowed to hang out. She was so popular, one stranger showed me a picture a friend had sent to him of my dog, and asked if she was the Live Wire mascot. That's how often I went to this place. It helped that I lived two blocks away, but still. Do yourself a favor, go get some slices from Luigi's and grab a booth here at Live Wire. It gets loud, so don't expect an intimate conversation with a new potential boyfriend/girlfriend. Bring good people, your dog, and let the cold beer and warm friends consume you. read more

Livewire doesn't try to be anything it isn't... and that makes it a rad hangout. It seems like what was once a nightly hangout in the mid-2000s has become the reunion hall of the hipster who's-who in San Diego around holiday and seasonal times. The beer selection is still great, the crowds are exactly what you want out of a North Park bar, and Big Buck Hunter always equals good times. read more

I love to take my dog here. This is the best bar ever. For endless reasons. ++ GREAT BEERS! read more

Awesome happy hour. 4 dollars for pretty much any brew or well. This seems to be a local spot. Staff is friendly enough but, tenders can be a little too cool for school at times. Don't take it personal. One pool table in the back is nice to kill some time. read more

Live Wire - Tap list as of 6/1/16 - Dive Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

I like the vibe here, it's one of those wear a band shirt and jeans and be accepted joints. Often they have life music, and if not their jukebox kicks indie punk butt. The sound quality could be improved is all, but the ambiance is right up my dive bar alley, bring friends that like beers and pool or music if you want to check it out. It's got an indie hipster vibe. read more

Because everything is served in a pint glass, it's probably best not to end your night here. Which I do a lot. (It's walking distance to my house) Always a good time, good tunes, good drinks, good people read more

All right, I might date myself here with this statement, but I've been going to the LiveWire since you could smoke in there. I remember that smoke-free January 1st where we were all sitting around at the high tables in the back (that aren't there anymore) and we couldn't do anything but hold our noses. Yes, the smoke helped to mask a putrid smell or two. Ok it's not that bad anymore, but there are many customers there who seem to be having their first 39-beer night. I'm an OG LiveWirer. Seriously, the owners send me emails when it's a LiveWire anniversary. I used to go there when all of Rocket from the Crypt used to bartend there when they weren't on tour. And Paul used to keep that jukebox top-notch. It's still pretty good. I have nothing bad to say about this bar, and I go see Thad whenever I'm in town. read more

I love this place. It can get awfully crowded at times, but outside of that, it's roomy, has a great jukebox and a great bar. Just a good atmosphere all the way around. read more

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I've just recently moved across the street from this bar. It's not really a dive nor a punk bar, neither is it cheap, more like average. So basically this is just a bar with a few added extra's. They offer your usual beer, liquor, and wines at normal bar prices. They line one wall with booths, the bar with stools, a pool (billards) table at one end, and a video game machine at the other. I have yet to see a cover, and I doubt there will ever be one. The tenders are nice and great people and have a good selection of skate videos at their finger tips. The crowd varies, sometimes it'll be dead or steady, sometimes busy with annoying hipsters. But at least they're dog friendly, b/c I've always seen a dog stroll in with it's owner. If you're lucky, you'll be able to score a free slice from the pizza place next door as they close and come into the bar bearing leftovers. I suggest you take one if offered, you'll be hungry once you smell it. As my girlfriend told me, they have a condom machine in the women's restroom, and I assumed they had one in the men's. Much to my surprise, they didn't. It's good to know, that the women at this bar are taking more of a initative towards protective sex. A job well done Live Wire, have a banana sticker. read more

Consistent. The crowd, the drinks, the staff, the music. It is always consistent. I always have a good time, a good drink, hear good music. Short and simple. read more

Dear Live Wire, Please forgive me for the time I booed the only live performance I have ever seen on your premises. Even though I think it totally sucked, I still feel guilty about it. I am also sorry for the time my friends and I stood up and danced in your booth, then continued to do so after being asked to stop. Drunk girls are easily compelled by the siren songs of James Brown. I am sorry for being a jukebox-hog. It is terribly difficult to resist the likes of MC5, AC/DC and the Sword all in one machine, especially when you know the hipster nearby would queue up Coheed & Cambria or the Beatles if that kinda poopery existed on such a perfect machine. On second thought, I am not sorry. So there. Live Wire, I am sorry for every time I have snorted at a grown man ordering a light beer or at a female patron requesting a lime slice in a Corona. Not everyone likes the same things I like. I know. I apologize for any other bad behavior not covered here. From the bottom of my shiny, swollen, whiskey-infused apple of a heart. I write to you today to tell the world you are my all: Your beer line-up, your jukebox rotation, your sexy red booths, your behaved clientele--these things compose the foundation of my love for you. Your jive barkeeps and proximity to amazing pizza keep me running back. The others just aren't the same. You are everything to me. Yours always, Breanne P. read more

24 beers on tap, Frito Chili, B movies on the tele, THADIUS, Metal Night, and some pals. Plus you've got Mama's Bakery & Deli right next door, which has the best Lebanese Chicken Shawarma ever. And all within stumbling distance to my house. What more could I ask for? Lauren L. was right about one thing though; it can get a bit too loud, making it hard to have a conversation. I guess you just have to suck it up and deal with it. read more

Love this bar. The people are great. There are frito boats with chili and cheese and just drunken goodness. They host fun tasting events with different local breweries. I'm happy to see that they support the local stuff. Great dive with a pool table and a juke box. read more

A North Park must! If you want a local dive bar with a nice beer selection, go to Live Wire! It is a little dark in Live Wire, but the bartenders know their beer, and let you have samples! This is definitely a place you can start and end your night in with no judgement, whatsoever read more

Live Wire is full of hipsters and has a fantastic jukebox. I don't have a single snarky joke about this place. Fuck! read more

I live right down the street from this bar and it is my favorite place to go. Tonight we had Mathew and Cristina as our bartenders and they are the best. So personable and sweet. I'll be back here any chance I get thanks to them! read more

Typical fun dive bar and their Air Conditioning was off the hook. Sucks that I had to be the designated driver or else I would have had a little more fun. The prices were decent and the atmosphere was fun. I will come back again. read more

The Live Wire serves big drinks -- everything is a double and comes in a pint glass -- and boasts a jukebox that would impress Joe Strummer himself. (Those are two major pluses in my book.) Stop in on a Thursday or Monday for good music and a hip crowd that is, uh, easy on the eyes. AV read more

Happy hour: any bottle for $2.50...any bottle!!! Pints are $4, $3.50 PBR and $4 mixed drinks. Went with the Corona for this visit. Since I needed to pace myself. It was only my 3rd bar of the day. Decent place. Good corner street location and plenty of parking all along the street. Cool music, watching some baseball, talking with random bar patrons on football/baseball stuff. They have an ATM and jukebox as well. A pool table, hunting video game. The bar is stocked and clean. The lady behind the counter was cool too. There is a place to the left of the bar where the dj would setup his gear. Cool, chill atmosphere. But on the night I came, nothing real special going on. Definitely a potential for more visits. read more

Everything you can ask for in a local dive bar and more! I have been here a couple times, mainly during the SD Drink about which is a free shuttle that takes you around to different beer bars around the area. That happens every 3rd Wednesday and I highly recommend it! Anyways this place is a hidden gem. Great draft list plus a full bar. Drinks are strong and the beers are ice cold. Not much more you can ask for in a bar. I hear this place can get packed but again since I have only been on Wednesday I have only seen the more relaxed side of this bar. There are booths along the wall plus plenty of bar seating for you to socialize at. It's pretty dark inside but that just enhances the dive bar feel of this place. The crowd here is very diverse so anyone should be able to have a fun time here. read more

LiveWire has a full bar and a great beer selection. It's hard not to get drunk when going here, especially during happy hour. When available they get Pliny the Younger. Be careful, the beer is a lot stronger than you think. I like getting a Hendricks martini when I come here. It's a solid drink and at a good price. Their juke box is a mix between popular and local music. I think they have even won awards for it. A must try. read more

Came here last night to grab a quick beer. They just happened to have Yeti, by great divide here - on tap, for 4$ - along with 23 other good brews. Holy crap. They also have buck-hunter and a great jukebox. This place is large enough for a good bday spot, but small enough so that you could pack the place with mostly just your friends. Excited to come by here next time i'm in town. read more

Play dope smoker in the juke box. Just do it. Bar tenders are always friendly. They take card. Mucho thank you's. read more

Live Wire - Coasters are free and scary awesome. - Dive Bars Near Me - San Diego, California

A local neighborhood bar where you can bring your dog, your own food, and drink for cheap?? I'm sold. We came here on a Friday night and my friend told me that happy hour is until 8pm! $4-$6 for a good strong drink or a delicious beer. They have plenty of local brews and the favorites on tap and everything is served in a timely manner -- even if there is only one bartender holding down the fort (BAMF). We got some wraps from Mama's Bakery next door and brought in our pup and were able to score a sweet booth. This is a local dive bar people; not some fancy shmancy high priced cocktail bar with mason jars and potpourri in the bathroom. Though, the women's bathroom was very clean and had some chalk for you to draw to your hearts content on the bathroom walls. Hang out in good company and enjoy the local North Park vibes! Also, there may or may not be a whole bar singing along to the juke towards the end of the night. read more

never tipped and got a stern talking to after a month or two cool place check it out toothless faded homeless lady will call you a cutie pie on the smoking benches if you catch her desperate for a dollar. Actually tipped her once or twice. people way nicer here than I thought, disappointing read more

Went to Live Wire after having some pizza at Luigi's a few doors down. We were there pretty early so the place was pretty empty. They have some good beers on tap, and a pretty interesting song selection on the juke box. They had some Black Flag, Otis Redding, and Thin Lizzy on there, so it was nice to get my drink on with some interesting music. They also had the Goonies on the tube which is a nice touch. I really like the metal sculpture of the bike out front. My mom, who recently passed away, used to create similar metal sculptures, so I think that is a pretty cool exterior feature. I also like the Live Wire sign. The inside is very divey with a few booths, and some nice bar stools. I will definitely go back again soon. read more

Used to spend a lot of time on Mississippi St. and nights would inevitably end with a walk up the street to close down Live Wire. $5 pints of Gin and Tonic were what kept me coming back, though I'd hardly call this a "dive" bar. Sure its inhabited by skinny black jean clad scenesters but the place actually has a rather polished charm to it; like its a dive bar themed establishment. Good local joint to down a couple overall though. read more

I love this place. Great beer, cheap beer. I'm just glad I don't drink many mixed drinks. I'd probably be dead from alcohol poisoning by now. The only thing I want in life is one of those awesome live wire t-shirts. Buy me one! read more

Ummm....Service, please?! After getting attitude from the door man and waiting (at the bar) for almost 20 minutes without being acknowledged, its pretty safe to assume, that they don't need my business. I can understand if they are packed 3 - 4 deep at the bar, but on a slow night, they should be treating every single guest that walks in with friendly attentive service. Horrible. Will not be returning here. read more

bars without windows are always bad, something my pops always told me. Used to be fun on thursdays but that fizzled out. Strong drinks and good beer save this place. Get some windows. read more

I stumbled (and I mean stumbled) upon Livewire during the monthly "Drinkabout" and I have found my FAVORITE new spot. There are 3 main reasons: 1. STRONG drinks and wide selection of beers. For about $5 you can get a large glass of alcohol. I appreciate this. And nothing is coming out of a plastic bottle which is a common thing in North Park. The well is a brand you have heard of and even possibly would buy on your own. 2. Juke box. There have been times that they have a DJ and it really is just TOO loud but when they have the juke box as the DJ, it's really fun because it's mostly oldies, everyone can sing along. Super fun when you have had a few drinks. 3. Pool tables, nice bartenders, etc = good atmosphere. Overall, livewire is a good place to spend an evening with friends. :) read more

This is a fun bar with a cool vibe. It's not pretentious at all and doesn't try to pretend to be something it's not which is a nice break from the hipster scene in North Park. It's not a big bar and tends to get crowded around 10:00 p.m. on weekends to the point it's hard to get a drink or move around much. The bartenders are down to Earth friendly and boy do they know how to pour a drink! I wouldn't call it a heavy hand, but they definitely don't measure! I am not sure how their drink prices are as I never paid for one, but it's a favorite haunt of my friends and I am sure I will be going back here more often. read more