How did Stagger Inn fly under my radar for all these years and I do mean years. Stagger Inn opened in 1974, the year I graduated from high school and I am now just discovering them. If it were not for the Illinois 66 Passport, I still may be oblivious. The Illinois Passport is promoting 66 businesses on the first 301 miles of the original historical Route 66. The businesses start in Chicago and come all the way down the state to Collinsville. After visiting the business, you get a stamp in your passport just like your travel passport. Stagger Inn is definitely a historical neighborhood dive bar. It's 52 years old and still going strong. It has an old wooden bar, two rooms for dining and drinking and you can see into the kitchen from a large window. The staff was friendly and provided great service. I sat at the bar and ended up chatting with all the servers as they picked up drinks for their tables. When reading the menu, I was impressed that they hand-cut their fries and hand batter the onion rings. I am definitely going back for the onion rings. This visit I did the fries as a side and they were crispy and still had the skins on the potatoes. When they placed my plate in front of me, they informed me they do not season the fries. The bartender recommended that I salt them while they were hot. Preferring pepper, I gave mine a shake of black pepper. I liked that they didn't salt the fries, since I'm trying to reduce my sodium intake. My Stagger Burger was incredibly delicious. I added, Pepper Jack Cheese and Jalapeños. They were generous with the jalapeños and left the seeds in, so the burger had a little burn to it. For me, this burger was top-notch. Stagger Inn, thanks for the stamp in my Route 66 Passport. I'll be back for Chicken Wings and Onion Rings. See you, soon. read more

See all

What a fun place to meet up with friends! It's a typical bar in so many ways, and yet it has a full (and somewhat fancy) menu. Getting there and parking: My family, including a pre-teen, met up at Stagger in to visit with a couple of our friends. Parking was a small challenge. There is a large public lot on the same block, but it was full when I got there around 6:20pm on a Wednesday. There is minimal street parking. Luckily, I found a spot after a couple of times around the block. Walking in, you can see right away that it really is a no-frills tavern. There's not even traditional table service, though it's not exactly counter service, either. You sit down, decide what you want from the menu, walk up to the kitchen counter to place your order, and give the ticket the kitchen gives you to your server. However, the menu was much nicer than what I expected, with very fair prices! Appetizers ranged in variety from French fries and wings to fried pickles and spinach artichoke toasted ravioli, with prices ranging from around $4 to $8. Entrees included a variety of sandwiches, salads, and burgers from $4 to $8.50 or so. They even had vegetarian and pescatarian options, including a blackened tuna sandwich and a black beans burger! All three of us, including a picky pescatarian adolescent, found food we enjoyed! Beyond the food, the service staff was friendly and the bar service was adequate. In all, it was a really great place e together up with friends AND bring a kid--at 6:30 on a weeknight, at least! I would very much recommend this place to a group looking for a casual environment with good food at good prices! Atmosphere: Food selection & taste: Service: Price: I'm not sure if would be fair to give 4 starts based on the above, though, because I wasn't to rate it for what it is, not for what something else is. Overall, I give it a 4.5! Vegetarian friendly: yes (lacto-ovo) read more

See all

No frills bar and grill. I had a sloppy Joe and chips. The chips were literally ruffles bagged chips. There was a small bit of confusion upon arrival on how to order but once we saw the big sign "place order here". My friend had a burger and she said it was pretty good. Nothing over the top food wise but fun atmosphere. read more

Pretty cool atmosphere. I arrived at a shift change so service was slow to start, but not a deal breaker. You have to go to the window to order your food and the cook brings it out. read more

Asked what seltzer they had, and was told you should have looked before. And the bartender proceeded to serve the person next to me. Poor service. ​ read more

Always good music! And good food and drinks at a reasonable price! It a place that I frequent often.

Stagger never disappoints. The burgers are definitely worth the trip from wherever you are coming from. Remember it's a Pub not a Club. Always a good time. read more

This place is a tradition in Edwardsville. The drinks are good and everyone seems to know everyone, but gives you your space. A great place to sit outside and watch the traffic go by and just chill. read more

Stagger Inn - New American Near Me - Edwardsville, Illinois

Service was ok...went on a Thursday afternoon food took a really long time to come out and it really didn't have any flavor ...table was grimy and the ketchup bottles looked to be really old and just refilled labels were greasy... it's just the little things this place could improve read more

Love the atmosphere, we came on open mic night, Place is old but that is it"s charm. So it is 2023 but the servers were wearing masks but not all of them, It is hard to understand them. I don't know if it was a normal or not wearing masks just seamed odd. They were all friendly chicken strips $6 fries $3.25, cheese dip $1.50. Served hot and fast, parking in back, real down home community pub. read more

See all

I hesitate to share how great this Edwardsville landmark is. I don't want it spoiled :) there is occasionally live music , there are amazing stories of people who have visited. Food is great classic bar food for this area. Service is low key. Ask about the mirror behind the bar. History buffs will appreciate. read more

Fun atmosphere for open mic night. Food was good and very affordable. Overall a good visit!

This is THE bar in E'ville. Find Tim for a good drink. Say HI to Taylor! Make sure to visit D in the Kitchen... he's got a great vibe and makes working in a small kitchen look easy. The bands are always exceptional, and the energy is UP UP UP! read more

An E'ville landmark, one of a handful of tried and true places that every local seems to know. It closed and reopened in the 80s, a fact alluded to by the final word on its sign: "The Stagger Inn Again." If you google the name, you'll come across a 2010 article detailing its history. Regarding the question of whether it's a dive bar, I'm on the side answering "No." In its current incarnation, the drinks are not poor quality, and it's not really dirty, especially since Illinois enacted smoke-free legislation. Plus, when I'm there with friends keeping it classy, you would feel comfortable with the clientele. I can't speak to late night, when old guys like me are in bed, but just can't imagine it's often bad here on the most prominent corner in old E'ville. I joined a large group here on a Thursday night, and sampled a wide variety of fried appetizers (the onion rings are HUGE). Several ladies were ordering mixed drinks or splitting bottles of wine. Among the taps, I spotted Bell's Two-hearted Ale. When newly 21-ed Son arrived, we ordered dinner at the window: a lettuce-wrapped burger for him, and, for me, a spinach salad topped with strips of medium-rare steak (does a dive bar serve a fresh spinach salad?). There was no live music at that hour, but when there is, it's usually pretty good. Parking here may present a problem for newcomers. There are some spaces directly off Main St. on the north side of the NAPA auto parts store and behind Stagger. People seem to find parking southeast at the library lot, or behind main street businesses directly north. I don't think you're supposed to park at Walgreens (west). read more

See all

My favorite bar in Edwardsville! Chili is amazing and service is always energetic. Amazing bar ambiance.

Frito burrito is the bomb!!! Thanks Jerry for adding this FRITO BURRITO to staggers Taco Tues specials.. read more

This is a great place for hipsters, business lunch, live music and all things chill. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is cozy and the regulars make everyone feel at home. It's our go-to anytime for out of town guests as well as a great weekday lunch read more

Stagger Inn is a true dive bar for college students and townies alike. This is a great place to drink and almost an acceptable place to eat lunch. It's a little stinky, the food is extremely greasy, and you'll have regrets. But, you'll definitely Stagger Inn again. Also, the Horseshoe is better here than at Big Daddy's. read more

The mothership. An Edwardsville institution for young and old. I'm a little biased, but I still consider this one of the best bars in the area and probably the best in Edwardsville. No fufu drinks allowed, but great music - good food - and always a crowd. :) Beer selection gets better each time I'm there. read more

Stagger Inn - Beers a plenty - New American Near Me - Edwardsville, Illinois

See all

The service was top notch. We ordered a few apps and several mixed drinks and beers. Everything was delicious and inexpensive. Good place to go for bar food. read more

One of the finest Edwardsville institutions. Believe me when I say, the food is great. The onion rings are the best around.

Ah, yes. Stagger Inn. Edwardsville's most (arguably) infamous dive bar. Whenever i'm in the area, this is my local watering hole. There's a good amount of craft beer offerings and some decent draught selections (be warned if you decide to go for the latter; rumor is the location doesnt clean their lines often..just another reason to get a pitcher of the flagship Stag swill). If you're lucky you also may meet Stagger's most notorious bartender/resident; Tim. This guy will call you a "cawksucka" if you order a Rolling Rock and praise you if you take two back-to-back shots of Jaegermeister with him. Try not to take offense to him you're new to this location...he just likes to speak his mind and lay it out as it is...drunkenly mostly. The food servings are relatively decent. I'm not a frequent visitor of Stagger's menu, but the Reuben is mighty good. On a side note too, Stag also offers late night munchies Wednesday-Saturday; Cheese Fries, Burgers, Toasted Ravioli, etc at decent prices. While Stagger is considered an institution as a bar in Edwardsville, it's also a decent music venue for local musicians and up-and-coming regional groups. Many of times I have witnessed some great bands ranging from Folk, Reggae and even Metal...all the while getting rowdy and having fun with my friends. Final side note on Stagger Inn: if you're into bar games such as Shuffleboard, the staff take great care of their table. It has some long history behind it but the board is almost like new...immaculate. read more

This five stars is for the cheese fries and easy going environment. Love this place 5ever read more

Stagger Inn - New American Near Me - Edwardsville, Illinois

Why do I always end up here when I come back to Eddyville? It smells like beer and piss and the service is terrible if you are ordering food. But, it's a bar. and an old one at that. AND they serve Schlafly beer on tap, and it's just old school pub. The people working there seem very hippy like and just chill. Burgers are good, too. read more

If you're in Edwardsville and want a non-pretentious spot to have a beer and listen to a good band, then I suggest Stagger Inn. This is mostly because there are few other bars in town that have good live music on a steady basis. (Laurie's is another good spot, but they do not have live bands as frequently). If this isn't what you're looking for, then don't bother. It is a "dive," by definition - I will agree with that. Dark, musty, and far from fancy. Also, if you are like me and don't drink beer, you may very well be out of luck. They either cannot make (due to lack of ingredients) or don't know how to make over 70% of the drinks I've requested. In short, go for the bands, not the booze or the atmosphere. read more

We were starving and this was the only place without a wait. Typical bar food, no table service we had to order at the window. He did bring the food to our table when it was finished. Fried food everywhere. They had all of your favorites: fried mushrooms, fried cauliflower, fried pickles, French fries and potato skins. They were all served with ranch on the side. Beers were cold, service was fair. read more

I frequent Stagger quite a bit, I would call it my hometown favorite. I'm going to try and make this short and sweet! The Food - If you're looking for a good big sandwich or just a few appetizers to munch on, during the day there's just about anything you can ask for. My favorite is a Turkey Rueben with a side of Fried Green Beans. They do have a late night menu during the week, Wednesday to Saturday, but the menu cuts down tremendously. Some burgers, including a black bean for you vegetarians, fries, nachos and the like. It's a perfect deal when you're out having some drinks late, as there's not much choice downtown for pub grub at 12:30am. If you're around during a Friday, make sure you get some of their Gumbo. It's amazing.I wouldn't put it up against a chef made menu by any means, but it holds its own and is affordable. The Drinks - There's a large beer collection and occasionally they have something real special laying around. Both bottles and drafts. Now, if you're into frilly girly drinks, this probably isn't your spot. Although you can get a mean vodka and cranberry, special cocktails aren't their thing. You can find a pretty good selection of liquors, but mostly the classics - Jamison, Fireball, Sailor, ect. The Service - Now, I can really speak nicely of these guys because I've gotten to know most of them pretty well. Everyone is pretty friendly and treats ya well, you may get a sarcastic joke here and there from a few but it's all in good fun and adds to your experience. You'll definitely never get snub nosed or treated like an outcast. Other than that.. you can play shuffle board or catch a small act band from Nashville on a Wednesday or a fun cover band on a Friday. Also a couple of open mic nights for you independent artists out there. If there's a game on, you can bet it's on the big screen. Stagger is definitely a place to go if your looking for somewhere to go around Edwardsville to have some fun. I saw a lot of people calling this a dive bar, but I would disagree.. it's its own little nook in town and won't be going anywhere anytime soon. read more

The Stagger Inn is somewhere I have to go every time I'm back in Edwardsville. As a lunch spot, it's great. Since the smoking ban, it's very clean in there, and it has a lot of history. The Snyder is a classic, and so delicious, and the Triple Decker Grilled Cheese is unparalleled. I also highly recommend getting a basket of fries. I've never had a bad meal at the Stagger. Their food is much better than typical bar food, and the atmosphere is fun. I don't really understand the people that have complained about the smell or cleanliness level. I have been to Stagger more times than I could possibly count, and I've never been put off by anything like that. If you want a bar with a wide selection of beers, great live music, and tasty, unique food, Stagger is your place. read more

I usually only drink here, but after eating here the other night, I decided to submit a review. First off if you have never been to the Stagger Inn, it is a dive bar. Very old, very dark, and not very big. You won't find big screen televisions on the walls, but they have (usually good) live music most nights. It's a favorite of the trendy hipster crowd, with it's good on tap selection, lack of club music, and intimate setting. Just due to the beer selection (PBR & Stagg up to more high quality imports and domestics on tap) this is probably my favorite place to drink around Edwardsville. I recently had a meal here for the first time. Nothing special, fried appetizers and burgers. You don't order from a waitress or the bar, but at the kitchen window. I got a patty melt, and was impressed. Huge juicy burger, and I got it quickly after ordering. Came with a side of potato chips that I could of done without, but the burger made up for it. If you're looking for a place to catch some live music, have a good beer, and just hang out the Stagger Inn could be a good choice for you. read more

I am surprised that I haven't gotten around to review The Stagger Inn yet, however its usually a stop when I am in Edwardsville and am craving a drink or some good music. Stagger is a true neighborhood bar focusing on great beers, good food, and great entertainment with live music from Thursday-Sunday and shuffleboard table located along the bar. Service here is usually pretty good, you find an eclectic mix of people from college students to your regulars who have been coming for years. However the crowd varies greatly by night. Stagger frequently hosts local bands and is a great place to spend the evening, there is often a small cover charge on nights that they have live music however it is worth it. The stage is small and slightly raised, and is home to tables during the rest of the week. The bands frequently linger in the crowd between songs, and sometimes you might even catch a few dancing along with the groove. The kitchen here is open late, which is great for those pulling a late night and crave some food to go along with their ice cold beer. Ask anyone from Edwardsville, I am sure they have stories about Stagger. It is a true Edwardsville landmark and has been here as long as I can remember and I am sure it will be around for many more years to come. read more

Classic local bar: relaxed with cheap, good drinks, familiar faces, and live music. Must visit every time I'm back in Edwardsvillle.

Stagger Inn Again, still the place to go in Edwardsville for a good stiff drink, shuffleboard on Sundays, decent kitchen, great live music

This place is a classic dive. The food is way better than you would expect. Yummy onion rings.

Stagger Inn is one of my top 3 favorite bars of all time. I don't think you can really call it a dive, cause the place is not that dirty and neither are the clientele. The crowd is always mixed, young and old. And the music is always good. Generally, Thursday through Saturday you'll find some great old timer rock bands playing classic covers while the middle aged women show that they still got it on the dance floor. Go. Have a beer. Sing along. Stagger home. read more

Stagger is always an experience. Having been a handful of times I can say the experience is consistent. The bar serves a nice variety of draft beer and has lots of options for local bottled and microbrew selections (which is always appreciated). There is no denying that Stagger is a dive bar. They have live music usually on the weekend and the atmosphere generally isnt too crazy. It pretty much fits my idea of what a local dive would be. Bathrooms have been "remodeled" and "updated" but are still not great by any means. Come here to have a couple beers with the boys, not for a nice night with drinks on the town. read more

Love this place. I worked in Edwardsville for years and frequently visited during lunch and happy hour. Great lunch specials. Food is awesome and cheap. One of the best Bloody Marys in the metro area. Margaritas from scratch, no green gross sweet-ass mixer. Service normally very good and they're pretty flexible if you have a specific request that's not on the menu. Is it perfect, No, but what is? If you're looking for perfection, stay home and work on yourself. Buy the crew a shot next time you're in. Thanks Stagger peeps! read more

Good old bar. Staff has some flavor to them, and attentive. Food is rather good. Open mike night is fun and usually an intresting band. read more

Great Bar! Great Food! Friendly! Large Selection of Beers. I give it 4 stars! Kellerman Investigations read more

Probably the most negative review I'll ever do on Yelp. But, for the right reasons. I haven't come in here in many years because I never feel welcome here, and its all because of Tim. Tim is the older, depressed guy (looks like Trey Anastasio) who tends bar and always gives back rude service. I've been nothing but respectful to him but in return I get crapped on. I didn't tip him because of this. After the third time, he called me out on it and I straight up ignored him and told my old h.s. friends (who worship Stagger of all the bars in Edwardsville) that I'm choosing somewhere else. Hey, if you're rude and disrespectful to your client/customer/guest/whatever, do you really expect something back in return? Ask yourself that once in a while. If people want to consider 'being rude' as service, please count me out. I've heard it said that he's that way with just about everyone, but not hot, young women. Many people tell me never to take Tim seriously, but he's also rude when he's NOT working. One time he was off the clock and sitting by the door and he yelled at me because I accidentally left the secondary small doors open. I really don't understand why people love this place; I mean, I really do want to like it. Because Tim still works there I refuse to set foot in good ol' Stagger. It wouldn't do me any good to complain to the owner(s) because they know that somehow their boy brings in all the drunk college kids/kool-aid drinkers. I usually go to other bars in Edwardsville where I always feel welcome. And yes, I usually am a great tipper! But that's just me :). read more

A classic American dive bar that always hits the spot for beer, food and talk. Live music schedule is strong, prices are fair. Make it a regular stop. read more