We decided to make a whole day in Alton and Firehouse made the list…read more If you decide to make a day in Alton, this spot should be a must visit. They have a great indoor bar area and a fantastic outdoor bar area. I hope they market the outdoor area because it's perfect for summer and fall. The staff (we had Summer as a bartender-amazing) was great! We went right before Halloween and we learned the area always puts in a great Halloween parade.

It's a true "dive bar". It's a cash only bar. It's a heavy pour bar…read more When I moved to the Riverbend area, I thought it would be fun to visit all the local "dive bars". This one is located in downtown Alton just a few doors up from one of my favorite restaurants. I was picking up some bakery items across the street and also shopped at a new boutique next to the bakery. When I finished, I thought it was time for a cocktail and checking out another dive. The bartender was friendly and heavy on his free pour of my Tito's vodka. I use to bartender, so when they free-pour I watch and can tell if they go over or short a shot. My cocktail was refreshing. While I enjoyed my cocktail, it was interesting people watching. Everyone else in the bar knew each other and were buying each other shots. It was a beautiful day and the original garage door to the old firehouse was open. The other day drinkers were going back and forth from the patio and bar area. I am glad I got to experience another dive bar in my new hometown, but I can tell you, my neck is not red enough to return to this one. I truly stood out amongst this crowd. I didn't feel uncomfortable, but I was not a match for the clientele. When: March 27, 2021 Why: Dive Bar & Day Drinking

Really cool place in downtown Alton. Came here with my family and we had a great time. Very lively…read moreand well decorated place. I would recommend coming here to anybody who's looking for a fun bar experience. Service was quick and everything is great. Nice big space and plenty of parking in the area. I'm looking forward to coming back in the future, surprised I've never been here before as an Alton native.

Oh, Daddy. I like Catdaddy's…read more Catdaddy's recently went under new ownership. It's a new partnership that is mainly women. They are promoting themselves as, "A female owned space where women can let their hair down and have fun...We've got your back." They're promoting a safe place for ladies to have fun and not have to go it alone when feeling uncomfortable. The entire crew will have your back. It's a safe place. I met two female friends here for Happy Hour this past Friday. I thought I'd arrive early to secure a table, when I did the bar was already packed and it was just 5PM. I was greeted by a male bartender, who poured a good and refreshing Tito's with Seltzer. Pricing for a call brand was cheap. Not sure if it was a HH deal or not. I'll update that on next visit. The best way to describe, Catdaddy's is that it is an upscale dive bar. Its crowd was a good mix of ages, sexes and diversity. We were still there during the bartender change and the young lady who came on duty was also, attentive and friendly. There's no full kitchen, but they do offer bar pizzas, if you need a nosh to cut the liquor. I had fun, so I know I'll be back.

The longshot tiki bar saloon is a great scenic location overlooking the Alton pool with phenomenal…read moreviews of the Bluffs along the great river road. They have live music with cover bands here on some holiday weekend which makes for a great escape not far from the city. Reasonable prices, great tunes and scenic river views. What can improve???? Only portable toilets for tiki bar....yuck!

Stopped in here because it was reeeeally hot and humid out. I don't know if the air conditioner…read morewasn't working, or if it's just that lousy, but I thought I was gonna MELT! Wanted a Bloody Mary, but was told they were out of Zing Zang, and only had V-8 juice. Asked about ciders, and they only had one to chose from. Definitely wasn't impressed.

I ordered a cheeseburger and fries from the bar at Argosy Casino, and honestly, it was about as…read morebasic as it gets. The burger tasted like standard frozen fast food,no real flavor, or freshness and the fries were just cold, nothing crispy or seasoned enough to stand out. It wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't good either. For a casino setting, I expected at least some effort or flavor. This felt more like a quick filler meal than something worth recommending. If you're hungry and need something fast, it'll do--but don't expect anything special.

I love the atmosphere! Tons of games on the TV. People having a good time watching the games. There…read moreis a bar there to get all your drinks. The menu has appetizers and sandwiches and a few dinner plates. I was kinda shocked there was not more to choose from since this is in a casino! Some casinos have a buffet but they did not. However the bar tender was super nice. The food was great.

Pete's Lounge is a pretty cool dive bar. The food is good and priced well. The cocktails are strong…read moreand they have a good variety of beers. Their bartenders are friendly and so are the other patrons. Sitting at the bar, all conversations overlap and everyone participates. I've been back several times since my first visit. I mainly come for the Kobe Burger at lunchtime. A cold beer, burger and a basket of crisp fries always hits the spot. Their Friday and Saturday Steak Specials are pretty damn good, too. One visit I added, shrimp. A Caesar Salad, Steak with 3 Shrimp and a Baked Potato made for a great meal. I kept telling myself to try the pizza, so the next time I go for lunch, I will order pizza instead of my typical Kobe Burger.

Nice place lots of TV's burger and fries were very good. Good cold beer and a very friendly…read morebartender and patrons .

Solera is a great start to your evening in downtown Alton. It's a simple and intimate wine bar with…read moregood offerings and knowledgable service. It has become my place to go for a glass of wine before enjoying dinner at one of the nearby restaurants. Solera is strictly a wine bar, but they do offer various cheeses and meats to nosh on while you enjoy your wine. They also offer desserts so you can end your evening in downtown Alton with a glass of wine and offerings from a local bakery. Solera had to close down during the pandemic, but they are totally back and I highly recommend that you check them out.

The atmosphere was nice. Small and cozy to what you would find at any local bar. The service here…read morewas great, but items on menu were limited. NOTE: they no longer serve "food" since COVID 19 from what the bar tender told our group. Nonetheless a good place to go with plenty of options to eat close by.

"Sometimes you want to go - Where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came." -…read moreThose lyrics from the Cheers theme song is exactly how you'll feel at D&T Wedge. It truly is a neighborhood bar and a true dive bar. D&T is within a mile from my home, so I thought I'd give them a visit. It's a typical dive bar. There was no bells and whistles, it's just a relaxing atmosphere with electronic darts, video games and a few gambling videos as well. Best of all, the drinks are damn cheap. I called my vodka it was the price I'd pay in the city for a rail vodka. What made me feel like I was at, Cheers was the way they greeted all the patrons arriving and leaving. I had a good giggle when one gentleman left, the bartender told him to be sure to text her so she knew he got home safely. When another customer arrived, they asked where his partner was and when he responded, at home. They all laughed and said, he must have been grounded. I can only guess, the partner must be the fun/trouble maker. I also found it nice that as I sat at the far end of the bar for social distancing, some of the regulars still included me in the group conversation. When I was leaving, they all said good-bye and thanked me for stopping by. I may not become a regular, but I'll definitely will be stopping by periodically. March 11, 2021 Why: Checking our neighborhood bar

Great place for a late night pizza and drinks. Friendly funny bartender. They have darts, pinball…read moreand some slot machine games. Good little hole in the wall to see!

Street parking. Limited parking. Located on the corner section of a block. Neighborhood tavern…read more Close to my neighborhood so I decided to stop in . I'm assuming regular patrons frequent here daily. Upon walking in music is playing and greeted by staff. Area has plenty of seating and slot machines for gambling pleasure. Food is served but I didn't order. I was hoping for an happy hour special but no happy hour at this location. Basic drink options fyi no fruity or sweet available. I settled on a moscato wine. Outside patio is available with music and slots and plenty of open seating.

Friendly staff, great neighborhood bar. Bartenders awesome. Local spot with drink specialsread more