The service was great and the atmosphere was pure dive bar! I ordered a cosmopolitan and the bartender came up with great one even though it was obvious that wasn't a regular drink they serve. read more

Love this bar! 3000 Dead Nazis can't be wrong. Funny how dropping by for happy hour turns into happy evening. read more

Ships Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Love a good dive bar with some locals and stories to share! This was the place. There's a pool table to pass the time. The service was prompt and friendly : ) read more

Jackie was amazing and super attentive. Didn't meet Jared but the RR had a lot of good things to say read more

Great, dark, hole in the wall bar. Good Mexican food.....but across the parking lot. Check it out.

I'd never been here before but had heard good things from a few friends about this local dive bar. So, when my boyfriend wanted to stop at the smoke shop next to it (World of Smoke & Vape) while we were out running errands, I thought I'd stop in and sit at the bar for a quick pick me up while my boyfriend explored the smoke shop (he loves their incense selection). I walked in past the bar and went to use the restroom then came back and asked politely if a seat at the end of the bar was taken and sat down and the bartender came over and I asked "can I please have an espresso martini (to which he already looked at me weird) then I added "but can you make it with tequila?" And he said "no" like in a superrrr snarky way and I was like "okay, can I have a regular one then?" And he laughed and said "no," and I was like..um "okay, why, because y'all don't make them?" And he laughed again and said rudely "umm, no" and rolled his eyes at me and was giving off vibes that I didn't belong there. He didn't mention anything about what their limitations were or why he wouldn't serve me that drink or offer me anything else. So I said "well that's what I wanted so I'll leave" and walked out. Luckily, my boyfriend was almost finished at the smoke shop already, so we left. But it was an unnecessarily negative way to turn down my order, regardless of whether they don't have the ingredients to make the drink or not (which I wouldn't have known, since I'd never been there). The experience definitely turned me off from being willing to go back. Also, the whole bar smelled bad anyways, so I don't really think I'll be missing out on much. read more

Bare-bones basic dive-bar, right at the very lowest end of Lower Greenville. (In the parking lot behind Oints & Quarts.) Nice to have parking out front. No frills inside; come here for interesting conversation - don't expect exotic liquors. But interesting people, and engaging conversations - THIS is where dive bars excel! Most of the limited 'crowd' are regulars, but they made me feel welcome. Good weekday drink-specials ($3 well-drinks on Thursdays), and strong pours. I repeat; strong pours. What else can you ask for? Oh, you want chips - OK, they have those too! (I ate Pringles for supper tonight; sue me.) Friendly no-frills dive bar. Thanks Shae! read more

Ships Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

One of the best little dive bars in Dallas, located at the very bottom of Lowest Greenville. Lots of parking and easy to get in and out of. Used to come here way back in the day before the remodel, and when I moved back to the area was more than happy to return again. It's narrow with a long bar, and a few tables and booths sprinkled in. Surprisingly deep selection of beers available. The liquor selection isn't too exotic, but provided you don't need a small batch artisanal liquor from a specific province with a specific vintage, you'll easily find plenty of choices to imbibe. One pool table in the back, with a small lounge past that, and a secluded comfortable loft upstairs. It's not fancy, it's not trendy, it's not flashy. It's a classic and an institution, so it doesn't need to be. The place has lots of regulars, and lots of first timers who eventually gladly become regulars. You will absolutely never meet a stranger at this bar, because everyone is welcome here. read more

Dallas' oldest bar? It may be. I love this place. Im fortunate to have this chance to visit this bar because I know Dallas have no appreciation of anything historic. They only serve beers here. You can bring you own liquor and they will sell you set ups for only $3. I'm excited to come back with my own liquor next time. Carol is very nice and sweet and made sure that we are well accommodated. She told us the story of the first owners back in the 50's and the murder that happened in the apartment upstairs. Will definitely comeback as I want this place to last even longer before Dallas decided to buy it and tear it down. read more

Ships Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Shipstastic! I have visited Ships v1.0 & v2.0 off and on for years. I used to like that you could bring your own liquor when they only sold wine and beer and only took cash, but those days are over. However, revamped Ships v2.0 is pretty nice. They retained the cozy uniqueness and added an upstairs area resembling an old study with a few tables that's chill. Now you can pay with debit/credit cards. They also sell hard liquor now, so don't try bringing your own anymore. They occasionally have food like free chili cheese dogs. There's one pool table, but the area is kinda tight. The blue dog is no longer there, but the nice older bartender lady is. read more

Ships Lounge - Love the lights! - Dive Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Jackie took amazing care of our large group !! She was wonderfully accommodating and appreciative of our business.

Honestly? Honestly. The best thing about a truly cool, epic, nay, storytelling worthy epic dive doesn't have anything to do with what might exactly portend to be going on in the present. Sure, there's a jukebox with absolutely killer tracks from the Louis Primas (all of them, you know) to the zydeco wonders to the blues, jazz and assorted wonderments that adorn the descriptions found to that end important. Impressively so. Throw out the rumor that this used to be Jack Ruby's place (really?), and you still have the quintessential stopover at hand. But net-net? The case, as so often is what's interesting, is to be had in the countenance and opportunity found by the folks who spend time parting the clouds of conversation, eager, boiling, friendly for that next glimpse of momentary greatness, even..perhaps..unintentional. read more

Ships Lounge - Melody L, rawking Ships Lounge. - Dive Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

By the time we hit Ships on our Good Morning Pub Crawl, we had one mission and one mission only: To Keep the Drinks Flowing. Nickie busted out her flask of sweet tea vodka and requested water backs with ice for all of us. He slowly but carefully poured H2O across the length of the bar and we drank in happiness. The flask ran a little short, so Leigh and I ordered Miller Lites at $2.50 a pop. Not bad! Even the regulars there got a a kick out of our early morning debauchery. I'd miss the place if I didn't know EXACTLY where I was going, but that's part of what makes it so special. It's like a secret hideaway...just bring your own Purell. You never know! read more

Ships Lounge - Saturday morning crew - Dive Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Reminding me of my dive bar in sac ! Nice place seems like locals come in all friendly and ready for conversation ! The bartender greg was great ! Being new to dallas he shared other establishments i should try. Definitely going back close to home and eateries jukebox full of oldies the good ones. My ship sailed but it will be back ! Guaranteed! read more

Ships Lounge - Dive Bars Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I came here with some friends on a Thursday night. The blond girl at the bar denied our service bc she said my id and my friends id was fake. We have state issued ids and she would not give us the time of day to explain how our ids were fake. Her take on the whole situation was very rude and unprofessional. Save your money and time.. read more

Wow where to begin. If you like a drunk owner running his mouth wasted behind the bar this is your place. This guy talked about how rich he was while belittling everyone else even his bartender. Nonstop talk about how rich he is while stumbling around and trying to pour drinks. He called everyone at the bar every name in the book while the bartender tried to save face. The poor bartender could only apologize about how embarrassed he was. By the end of the night the owner screamed and started fights with my friends and everyone else at the bar. Needless to say he ended up fighting a guy at the bar and after that he wouldn't even let us pay our bill so we could tip the bartender. Bar Rescue couldn't even fix this pathetic owner. Save your money the owner is SCUM read more

I'm writing this now with the excellent buzz I got at Ships. Before I visited, people told me to beware and that the bar was gross, but no...it is awesome. It is inexpensive, it is fun and it is not gross at all! My friend's Bud Light draft was $3.50, and there weren't any creepy guys there (but watch out for the gym rats outside). How can you get better than that??!? Go to Ships. read more

If you've been here, you already know. The real deal Dallas dive bar. Leave your uptown at the door. Playboy Magazine's 2015 Best Dive Bar in Dallas! http://www.playboy.com/articles/best-of-the-worst-dallas-top-dive-bars-ranked read more

Slipped in on a Tuesday afternoon and fell in love. Cozy, dingy, low key, come as you are little place with great old school tunes playing on the juke box. There was a nice, older lady bartender who poured me a pretty stiff drink. I can't speak for evenings or even the crowd because the bar was empty, but I look forwarded to heading back in. read more

This review had been hiding in my draft reviews for such a long time, like '13, I thought I had better share it. Found this little pub through a Yelp early morning pub crawl. Fun little hole in the wall place! We came here with some fellow Yelpers and some of their friends. I was a little apprehensive about a pub crawl, until one of my VP's at work stated that he had done a pub crawl in Jamaica and one of the best times he had ever had in his life. He stated which by the third bar, everyone is friends for life. He told the story which had me rolling on the floor of his event. Ships Lounge was about the third or fourth bar in our pub crawl. The place is really a hole in the wall, but if you come with the right friends and Yelpers, it can be a real hoot! You need to bring cash. This little bar serves wine, beer and setups for you to bring your own liquor bottles. We arrived here on this am pub bar crawl and realized we did not have any liquor and jumped into a fellow Yelpers van, it was like a large clown car with all of us piling into the vehicle! Too funny! We eventually left after all of the ladies with us started chanting to go to the next stop. Thanks Ships for putting up with all of the fun times! read more

It's 2010 and my New Years resolution is to go to more dive bars. But no, I need to take it a step further, as I am not one to half ass anything. I have gathered a group of my favorite hoodlums ( aka- friends) and we have decided to try 1 -4 new dives each weekend on a mini crawl through DFW. We even came up with a rating system based on 10 criteria: Drinks, Games, Entertainment, Decor, Atmosphere, clientele, food, bathrooms, Music, and Miscellaneous. This was bar #4 and the final one of the evening. 1. Bar- beer and wine only. Cash only. 2. Games- one crowded pool table and a slot machine for show only. 3. Entertainment- none to speak of, but you could entertain yourself for hours watching the cracked out bartender or talking to the crazy as all get out owner. 4. Decor- slightly nautical to coordinate with the "Ship's" feeling. 5. Atmosphere- tight, crowded, dim, very thin bar, few tables, but loud and boisterous. 6. Clientele- Holy shit. The people here were incredible. Upon our entering, we were asked if we were with the pirate party. When we said no, we were immediately asked if we would like to be. No sooner had we said "hells yeah" then we were whisked inside, and adorned with eye patches, bandannas, hook hands, telling pirate jokes and taking pictures with randoms. Apparently it was some guys 25th bday and that was his theme. I became his best friend immediately. 7. Food- Again, I saw some some chips and some Tums ( random?) 8. Bathrooms- gross and small small small. 9. Music- 1 old jukebox 10. Miscellaneous- when we were leaving we were stopped by the owner who said he had never seen us before. He then gave all 4 of use Ship's Lounge key chains and proceeded on a 10 minute diatribe about people using the word "MF". I loved him, I wanted to put him in my pocket. Truly excellent bar. read more

Ahhh....Ships....how I love your "no cussing" sign behind the bar, your jukebox full of old country and R&B selections, and your laid-back, welcoming atmosphere. On the lower lower end of Greenville Avenue, Ships is a true definition of a dive bar. It's small, and I'd image this is the place Charles Bukowski would choose to drink in if he was alive in Dallas. The clientele is usually an older crowd than found in other Greenville bars. And they're probably a more interesting crowd, too, offering stories and compliments and a chance to dance. Yes, I've seen many an over-the-century-mark gentleman ask a just-hit-21-year-old dance. Not in a creepy way, but in a polite, let's enjoy together this Ray Charles song playing on the jukebox way. The bar only sells beer and wine. You can bring in your own liquor and purchase a set-up (e.g., Cola, tonic, OJ, etc.). Also, the bar is cash only. I repeat: Cash Only. read more

Haaaay Ships. You cool. This was stop 4 (my stop 2) of the early morning pub crawl of '13. Epic, it was. It was great the way all 15 of us rolled in, were there for 17 seconds before we realized we didn't' have any liquor, and then all decided to pile into Chris E's van and head down to Goody Goody. And then roll back in, buy setups and drink. Gah that was fun. Thank you, Ships people, for not throwing us all out on our asses. We were loud. We were rude. We were debaucherous. We cussed. We hustled them for our bill when we decided we had to GO right then. I'll be back and in better behavior soon. I promise, Ships. read more

This is a surly, dark bar for empty shells of men who have been utterly defeated by life. Located in a dilapidated strip center in the lowest of lower Greenville at the corner of Ross, Ships is welcome proof that some joints are -thankfully- hipster-proof. There are no skinny-jean clad college kids, no laptop weildling pseudo-intellectuals with fake nerd glasses, no messenger bags, no carefully sculpted faux-hawks looking ever so perfectly disheveled, and absolutely no irony. Sorrow and despair hang in the air and coat the walls as much as the residue of nicotine and tar of decades past. You will not find spoiled suburbanites, obnoxious frat "bro's", vapid sorority girls, or any other form of undesirable here. The offerings are limited and prices are low. Cheap beer and wine only. You can bring your own liquor, but don't dare pull out a bottle of Chimay or Chateauneuf du Pape. At Ships, whiskey and heartache are all you need. read more

My friend Billy K would probably hate that I'm writing this review. He has been a long time patron of Ship's and thinks that Yelp let the little secret of what a gem this bar is out to the world. There's not much else I can say about the bar that hasn't been said already. Bring cash, feel free to bring your own liquor, and don't cuss. We ended up here yesterday afternoon. I took note of the decorations this time and realized it felt like Christmas at your Grandma's in the 70's with the wood paneling and all. Or 4th of July with all the patriotic stuff hanging around. The $2.75 Lone Star's really hit the spot and chatting with the regular afternoon bar patrons was a lot of fun. read more

I'm pretty sure Ship's was stop number 2 on our morning pub crawl. The regulars were already in full swing and Tom the bartender didn't bat an eye at serving up 10 water setups. He even gave us 3 or 4 bowls full of ice in case we ran out. What a guy. Playing Erotic Photo Hunt (I could have sworn someone dropped the C-word) was the highlight of this stop, especially as the game switched from giggling over half nekkid women to racing to see who could find the differences first. Looking past a garter belt to find a missing wrinkle in the bedspread takes skill, my friend. Any bar that lets you bring your own booze - at 10am - gets an automatic 4 stars from me. Ship's may be cash only, but I don't really remember. Go figure. read more

I believe the first time I went to this bar I was something like...a junior in high school. Have been going there off and on ever since (long time ago). Ships is the quintessential dive bar, as the other reviewers have stated. Year-round Christmas lights, best jukebox on EARTH and the ability to bring in your own booze...great place! I haven't been in probably a year or more since I moved out to Oklahoma aka Plano, but just thinking about this place makes me want to go again. Also, one side note - the restaurant next door, in the past, has delivered food to me over at Ships, or you can just get some food from there to go and bring it into the bar. They've never been bothered when I've done this. Something kind of good about hot Tex-Mex and cold Lone Star beer. read more

I finally made it to Ships after all this time living just around the corner. I made it, at 10am, already drunk, on the yelptastic Good Morning Pub Crawl. Dark, long, and skinny describes this bar as well as the way I like my boys. hehe The tiny booths along the wall made me happy. The older bartender who was quite literally overwhelmed with about 15 already drunk partyers right at opening was a sport. He made water setups for our flask of sweet tea vodka without batting an eye or even saying "What are you people doing this wasted already at 10AM?" The regulars were already there as well...God love people who are bar regulars in the AM. And none of them kicked me out when I simply could NOT, could NOT stop cursing. Sue me, I was fucking...errr freakin...drunk!! I will most definitely be back and bring my bottle of liquor, sit in one of those cute booths, drink, and try and remember not to curse. read more

Oh, Ships...you are a treasure. Don't ever change. It's definitely a time capsule in here. Don't come in expecting fancy things like credit card processing or mixed drinks. It's cash only and they do cheap set ups if you bring your own liquor. Highlights include the kitschy vibe, friendly staff, super cheap beer, a pool table that is magically almost always open, and a jukebox with the best collection of tunes I've seen yet. It's a come as you are type of place - no need to gussy up, which can be really refreshing in this city. There's usually an interesting mix of people that can lead to interesting conversations if you're sitting at the bar. I always know what to expect when I go to Ships, and it's consistently a laid-back good time. read more

This has to be one of my favorite places on Lower Greenville Ave; the best way to describe Ships is that if this was the "Central Perk" from the show "Friends" they'd all be alcoholic crack heads. Besides the obvious, cheap beer and a great jukebox, I love the clientele of this establishment I actually heard a guy tell my friend, "Get a haircut hippy." And this was in the late 1900's. Also, this is the place where I almost got into my one and only bar fight, me and a few buddies went in to play a game a pool, the table was open and I put in a dollar worth of quarters, when I finished rack'em up this guys pops out of nowhere and says "I guess you're playing me." I went on to tell him that I just wanted to play with my friends, he told me that he "Owned" the table and I had to play him if I wanted to play at all, house rules. Finally I said okay? He went to break and dropped the Q-ball and in my wide world of Pooling playing that's an instant loss. He didn't see it that way and starts to throw a fit and gets in my face. I say "Look give me my money and the tables all yours, he gives me the money and being a dickhead I then scoop all the balls in a pocket. This is when we got into each others faces and did "The Dance" where you both walk around in a circle like a huge jack-ass saying "Do something." "No, you do something." "No, you do something." "I'm going kick your ass." No, I'm going to kick your ass." That's when the bartender said. "I just did something." I said something cool like "You're lucky I don't like going to jail." And we left. To this day I still wonder, do you lose the game if you drop the Q-Ball on the break? read more

What the SHIP?!?! I shippin love this dive joint! My friends and I enjoy bombarding this place with our rowdy shenanigans any chance we get. It's old, dirty, a little smelly, and they have a killer juke box! In twenty ten it's hard to find dive bars of this caliber. It takes a strange combination of atmospheric aptitude to create a place like this. Please note that the owner here DOES NOT allow cussing in his bar. Yup, you heard me. Hence the... what the SHIP. Any time my friends and I hang here we replace our regular potty mouth words with "ship" and things turn out fine! Ha! No seriously, I have witnessed the owner telling people to stop cussing or he would kick them out! Personally I find this strangely fantastic. Also, they are BYOB. This spells trouble and a cheap tab. With $2 beers it really amazes me that this place stays in business, BUT I'm not complaining. I can only hope they stay in business for many years to come! Remember to bring cash! No cards accepted. You are welcome to bring a bottle of your favorite liquor and they will give you cups and sale you ice to top off whatever concoction you plan on creating. The staff has worked here for years and I mean YEARS. The décor is pretty amazing... old, faded and dusty with a nautical theme. They have a pool table in the back and like I said... an awesome juke box. It's the real deal. Not one of those modernized juke boxes that hold 100,000,000 songs. The music selection consists of blues, old country and classic rock and roll. Like I said... this place is the perfect combination of tacky and amazing all rolled into one. If you are NOT interested in visiting a place that is super trendy and over priced I suggest you try out Ships. I'm sure you'll have a ship of a time! read more

Five stars based on ambiance alone. When you walk into Ships, you can tell that you're entering a time-warp. This place is the real deal. You won't find a more authentic, classic watering hole in Dallas. I love the nautical theme also. The owner is great. You can tell he's a lifer, and that adds a certain charm to the place. The patrons are unpretentious and really friendly. You MUST try Ships out! You deserve it! read more

I remember my last time at Ships through a haze... I mean fog... I mean, let's just say I had an ample amount of fun and didn't have to worry about driving. I've never been into Ships when it was crowded. I always seem to luck out with a great balance of older and younger people strategically placed throughout the hallway of a bar. I love that I can still find a chill bar in Dallas; most every other place on Greenville is jam-packed, wall-to-wall, elbow-to-elbow with pretentious "aggressive men", a.k.a. douchebags. When they say NO CUSSING, they mean it. Oh yeah, and hand gestures, like the finger, are not allowed either... found that one out the hard way after failing miserably at Mahjong's Tiles. And they have an ATM inside in case you forget that Ships is CASH ONLY. And if you want to BYOL (Liquor), that's acceptable; Ships only sells beer and wine at the bar. If you're looking for a great place to watch a football game, look no further. I particularly like it because no one hardly ever yells and you're not allowed to cuss. Bonus for me! read more

I have been drinking at ships for 30 years. Charlie used to buy my beers on good night's. I celebrated birthdays here on many occasions. The bartender now is an asshole, the juke box sux. Tonight, it's 38 degrees outside and the bartender insists on keeping the front door wide open. Everyone in our party is cold so we drink up and get the hell out. Charlie would never let this happen. read more

Still one of the best dives in Dallas, even if it's not as 'divey' as in previous years. My first visit since the recent significant remodel - including a newly-added second floor - was pleasantly surprised that much of the feeling remains, although some noted improvements to beer selection as well as a full bar. Of note, the original juke box has been replaced with a much more modern one - the one in the 'old' Ships had some unbelievable music from days near and far in the past. Friendly bartender, great place overall. Ships is back! read more

If you know me, you'll know I'm a cozy atmosphere....a cozy booth......cozy cozy cozy. Well, you cant get much cozier than a dive bar that's whole width is barely 15ft wide, part of that is taken up by the bar...the other by these VERY COZY 2 seater booths....equipt with the royal blue faux velvet lining. Pool table in the back. Long inviting bar. Old timer behind the bar serving up whatever you like.....the regulars looking you up and down to make sure you're Ships-worthy.... There is one rule in this local haven.....NO CURSING!! They will toss you right outta there for being a foul mouth...there's just no room in this place for that vulgarity...so get your beer, grab your booth, shut your mouth and take in the atmosphere. read more

This is by far my favorite bar in Dallas. So why is it only getting 4 stars, you ask? Well, because of a particular incident where I had to boycott the place for a few months: Specifically, my male friend was thrown out for wearing a wife beater with nothing over it. Apparently, the joint has some super old-fashioned rules, in terms of cussing and what guys can wear. (But, don't worry, ladies, you can bare just about all.) I've never gotten in trouble for cussing here, but I've heard from friends that you can. And that's silly to me, but old-fashioned rules for an old-fashioned-type place, I guess. So, on to the good stuff! It's BYOL, it's right near Greenville but has a free parking lot, it always has the same sweetheart bartender, and setups are only $3, so you can get pretty toasted for not very much dough. Also, best jukebox EVER. Seriously. Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke...they're all right there with you as you spiral into a drunken stupor. And the bartender is super attentive, always bringing more ice or asking if you need anything, even when it's pretty busy and she's the only one working. And most of the time, she puts songs on the jukebox and then lets customers pick 'em. Also, I've had some less than glamorous nights here, and she's always super nice and understanding about everything. She makes this place the kick ass joint it is. And, bonus, they sell chips now! Not the best choice of bar snacks, sure, but it's a start! As others have said, it's small, but it's cozy, and I've had some really great times here with friends. Definitely a unique place for the Dallas scene. read more

Well there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. Ships is a neighborhood staple. It's the original dive bar that set the bar for dive bars. Stop by and have a beer. If you want liquor.. it's BYOB, just pay for your set up. Nothing fancy here.. just a straight forward piece of history that we're grateful to still hang on to. One pool table in the back. One vintage juke box and plenty of characters to last you a lifetime. One day when Ships is no longer around, I will just stand on in the parking lot and shed a tear for the memories of the past. Long live Ships! read more

Ships is BYOL...Do I really need to say more?!!!?!?! This is one of my favorite bars. They only serve beer and wine, but if you bring in a bottle of liquor, you can buy a set up for like 3 bucks. It is cash only. Also the juke box is the best, there is a pool table and the cliental is great entertainment, as well. But WATCH YOUR MOUTH! The owner does not like cursing and will say something to you about it if he hears it from you enough. read more

For what it is, this place deserves 4 stars. Ships Lounge has the same appeal as that pair of fat jeans many of us have stashed away -- I don't think I'll ever need to bring my own bottle of booze into a bar, but it's nice to know it's there...just in case. This place is f'ing awesome. Great jukebox, and the waitress was a sweetheart and totally hooked me up with a free shiner on my b'day. read more