Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Rip Tide Lounge

    3.8 (29 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, Pubs
    Open 5:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Rip Tide Lounge Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Rip Tide Lounge

    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

    My grandfather, Curtis Smith Hamilton. I never met him, and this is the only photo i have of him, at the Riptide!
    Courtney F.

    This is the bar that my grandfather, Curtis Smith Hamilton, used to enjoy until he died in 1985. When I took my father back to Marblehead for his 80th birthday, we learned a lot about his estranged father who was a local artist. He used to get hammered here and sell his paintings. He was extraordinarily talented and troubled. We came here to check out his favorite watering hole, and it did not disappoint. We even compared the only picture we had of him sitting in some bar to this bar -- it indeed was a match! This is a working man's bar, and it's timeless. They had a surprisingly good selection of beer. I will be back here the next time I'm in Massachusetts. Here's to you, Curtis Smith Hamilton, may you rest in peace.

    Liz P.

    The one. The only. The best place in town to destroy your liver. Local bar extraordinaire. Many things come and go in Marblehead but the Rip Tide remains the same. This is comforting. Especially after you've had a belly full of Madras. Hell, they may even name a drink after you if you plop your butt on a barstool for a decade or two... Remember, last call is 11:30. Damn those Selectmen. Enough said.

    Beers on tap. ..

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 3

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jon D.
    41
    2
    7

    2 years ago

    Terrible experience. New owners are incredibly rude. Food is frozen. Just make it at home. Vibe is terrible. Avoid at all costs.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J S.
    3
    38
    0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike R.
    152
    4
    3

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Erin E.
    273
    32
    5

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    I love this place because it's a locals bar filled with chill people, good juke box music, and you can get a sea breeze in a pint glass.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Easily the finest drinking establishment in Marblehead. This is where the elite meet. Also, dollar hotdogs.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of M S.
    0
    1
    0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A V.
    0
    21
    0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of ME G.
    0
    135
    7

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Rip Tide Lounge

    Review Highlights - Rip Tide Lounge

    We came here to check out his favorite watering hole, and it did not disappoint.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Dive Bars 2,731 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Mercy Tavern - Skillet Nachos. Fries

    Mercy Tavern

    (386 reviews)

    $$

    Tiny place, absolutely delicious! I don't have one bad thing to say about the place, food, or…read morestaff. The menu doesn't look particularly amazing, standard-ish pub fare (steak tips, fish&chips, mac&cheese) but they do them EXTREMELY well. The tips were tender and flavorful, the sneaky star of the entree was the salad with feta though. I'm pretty sure the feta was marinated in whatever outstanding salad dressing they use. The havarti grilled cheese with avocado, garlic aioli and fried egg...C'mon. You have to spend the extra $2 for the bacon jam, you will not regret it. I'm sure we've all seen truffle fries right? Some bullshit frozen garbage either drowned in cheap truffle oil, or "dusted" with truffle salt. Well, they don't do that crap here, however they do garlic fries. Hand cut, with whole cloves of roasted garlic all over. Not one or two cloves, like several heads worth of glorious, slow-roasted garlic. I managed to scrounge a couple spoonfuls of the kids mac&cheese from my son, almost lost a finger in the attempt and I found out why. They put just as much effort into the kids food as the adults. If you need a break from your witchy business in Salem, definitely stop in here.

    This place was such a pleasant surprise! It was located right near our Airbnb and is also a short…read morewalk away from The House of the Seven Gables. It a small restaurant/bar but everything was beyond delicious and the service was excellent! We came here twice during our weekend stay. I swear I had one of the best cups of New England Clam Chowder I have ever had here, it was perfect. My husband also isn't a hummus fan but devoured our hummus appetizer- and I agree as the one who is actually a fan of hummus it was absolutely delicious. We also had a chance to try their burgers and WOW, every bite we took left us just wanting more and their fries were also amazing as well. Great cocktail menu and beer list, this place should absolutely be on your must try list when visiting Salem!

    Olde Main Street Pub

    Olde Main Street Pub

    (236 reviews)

    $$

    This place has the coziest vibe and the best food in town. I love it and it's a great place for a…read morefamily dinner and a Guinness! It is also owned by extremely kind people. I left my purse here and the staff set it aside and the owner drove to my house! Truly a awesome place run by awesome people.

    Olde Main Street Pub is an inviting Irish-style pub & restaurant tucked along historic Essex Street…read morein downtown Salem. It's open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 PM to 1:00 AM. On our first night in Salem, my friends and I chose this place for dinner, and we were immediately glad we did. Every dish tasted homemade and full of flavor, and the service, especially from our server Elisha, was warm, attentive, and personable. We started with the charred broccoli mac & cheese, which arrived piping hot and baked to perfection. Every bite was rich, creamy, and delicious. Honestly, it's up there with the best mac & cheeses I've ever had. For entrées, we shared the shepherds pie and the steak tips. The shepherds pie, made with a hearty mix of lamb, beef, peas, carrots, house mashed, and cheddar cheese, was fresh and perfectly balanced. The steak tips were cooked to our liking, tender, and seasoned beautifully. Both dishes were comforting and satisfying. Olde Main Street Pub delivered exactly what we were hoping for: great food, genuine service, and a cozy atmosphere. I would definitely come back the next time I'm in Salem.

    Sea Salt - Fried Dumplings

    Sea Salt

    (51 reviews)

    $$

    We really enjoyed Sea Salt tonight. It is located in the basement and enter via the back. Once you…read moreget to their outdoor patio, you know you've arrived. What a lovely spot. The restaurant is deceptively large with a pleasant atmosphere. Service was prompt even on a busy Saturday evening and our server was enthusiastic about the food. I had the goat burger, which was absolutely loaded with goat cheese. I appreciate that they are generous, so be forewarned it is a delicious and messy situation. I also tried the Brussels sprouts, which were terrific. I snuck bites of my husbands truffle fries, which were also super good. My husband ate every bite of his sea salt burger, which he reported was very good between bites. Also worth noting that the burger patties were gigantic. We finished up dinner with an Irish coffee. Yum! Overall, this is a really good choice for dinner. I'd definitely recommend stopping by here for a meal if you're in the area.

    Sea Salt is the kind of place that just feels good to be at. The food is fresh and straightforward…read morein the best way -- easygoing but still packed with flavor. The ahi tuna poke was incredible, one of those dishes you could eat every day and never get tired of. I also tried the black bean burger and was blown away. I don't usually go for veggie burgers, but this one was fantastic -- flavorful, satisfying, and made me forget I wasn't eating meat. The service was excellent, too. Everyone was welcoming, attentive without being over the top, and just genuinely nice to interact with. It's rare to find a spot where both the food and the people hit the mark like this. Highly recommend Sea Salt for anyone who wants a great meal in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

    All Souls Lounge - Grilled cheese Vietnamese style

    All Souls Lounge

    (139 reviews)

    $$

    This place is a dreamy, cozy, hidden gem. The menu has all tradition cocktails, gourmet hot dogs,…read moreand more. They have board games and cards available for customers' entertainment. The staff is extremely attentive, friendly, and skilled at their craft. You can easily stay hours in here because of the inviting ambiance and fun. Highly, highly recommend.

    Recommended to us by some locals as a great place for "tourists" to go. I can't agree, since the…read moretwo bartenders on duty were slinging drinks to their buddies while ignoring us. (They clearly saw me there; we made eye contact and the one guy wasn't even doing anything.) After about 10 to 15 minutes of waiting with no service, we were about to leave when a server finally came to our table. Since they were obviously busy and weren't keeping up with the crowd that night, we tried to order two drinks each so they could save a little of their time and we could relax without worrying about if a server was going to take our order again before the end of the week. The server very sharply said that he was NOT going to give us two drinks at a time, CERTAINLY not with drinks of this high alcohol content. We ordered one drink each, cashed out and bounced. The cocktail I got was fine; I could make a slightly worse version at home at a fraction of the price (or even two at once!). We we were told later by a friendlier Salemite at a bar with a better vibe that there is a Massachusetts state law that prohibits having two drinks at once at a bar. Fair enough. Had our server told us that, unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to give us two drinks at once -- instead of making us feel like idiots/degenerates for daring to ask -- we probably would have dropped a lot of vacation money there that night. Oh well; we had a great time at the other places we went.

    Rip Tide Lounge - divebars - Updated May 2026

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