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    The Anchor

    4.0 (41 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

    The Anchor Photos

    Business Info

    THE ANCHOR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Anchor

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    Anchor Sign

    Great staff, cheap drinks, favorite dive bar...it's dark and dingy and I love it. Full of regulars during the day but gets busy at night.

    Cold, draft beer.

    A great laid back and chill atmosphere. An awesome dive bar that lives up to the meaning of being a dive bar. Friendly and attentive bartenders mixed with cheap drinks. Was told it's the oldest bar in GR. Which only adds to the character of the place.

    a group of people watching televisions
    Tiffany W.

    Surprisingly, I went to the Anchor for the first time EVER! I know, I feel like I am letting Grand Rapids down a bit by never stepping foot in here until now. I will mention that I wasn't here for very long, so I can't really reflect on the whole experience. I stepped foot in here for a friend's birthday! Everyone did a round of shots here before moving on to next location. Walking into the Anchor it was very cozy and definitely a place I can see a lot of people hanging out any day of the week to throw back a couple. Total dive bar vibes that was a little dressed up still for the holidays. People are laid back, the prices are reasonable and it was everything you can expect. I would like to hang out here for a bit longer next time and really try and feel like what it would be like as a regular.

    a chalk board with a sign saying education is important but beer is importanter
    Katie S.

    This is totally a local bar but if you're checking out the west side - you have to stop in! Whatever you do, don't ring the bell...

    Solid

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Please fix the toilet seat in the woman's bathroom. Had a great time otherwise. That is all.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    4 years ago

    What fun ! Terrific bartender. Fun music night. A must when in Grand Rapids. Thank you.

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Great drinks and happy hour. Low key bar. Everyone is friendly but Corey is our favorite bartender.

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Love this place... Don't pick up dates here... Just a good buzz without the chance of meeting someone functional. ;).

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Great prices. Good drinks, friendly staff...appears to be a good local little gem.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Anchor

    Review Highlights - The Anchor

    I know, I feel like I am letting Grand Rapids down a bit by never stepping foot in here until now.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

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    Sidebar - Back Room

    Sidebar

    4.3(111 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Absolutely loved our experience at SidebarGR -- hands down the best speakeasy in Grand Rapids! From…read morethe moment you step in, you're transported to a cozy, classy hideaway that feels both exclusive and inviting. What really stood out was the bartending -- not just the skill, but the passion. After hearing the bartender's take on the Old Fashioned, I let him make it his way -- and it might be one of the best I've had. Balanced, bold, and beautifully smooth. Two of my friends described what they were in the mood for, and the bartender crafted custom cocktails for each of them -- both drinks were spot on and had them raving the rest of the night. If you're in Grand Rapids and want a cocktail experience that goes beyond the ordinary, SidebarGR is a must. Expert mixology, great atmosphere, and personalized service that makes you feel like a regular -- even on your first visit.

    I've known about this bar for a while but finally went for the first time recently and it wasn't…read morefull! To find the entrance, go down the stairs towards Big O's Pizza and instead of turning right, take a left and you will see Sidebar's subtle entrance. It's dim lit and quite cozy in there. Limited seating and some spots at the bar were open and we took a seat up there. We did notice to the right of the bar there is a small additional area with more seating but still not a lot. I really enjoyed the espresso martini from here. The drink was so smooth and had the perfect balance of flavors. Highly recommend. We only stayed for one drink but I would definitely come back for another sometime. The bartenders were also really kind and having a good time with everyone in there! Really loved the atmosphere and our experience while we were there.

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    The Pyramid Scheme

    The Pyramid Scheme

    3.8(93 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $

    Came for the most amazing performance by comedian, Alok!…read more The Pyramid Scheme is a fun retro take on a dive bar known for their great shows, pinball machines and (somewhat) reasonably priced drinks. The staff may seem rough on the outer edges, but they are all actually teddy bears once you get to know them. Usually shows are standing room only, which is a drag if you are old like me and opt not to wear orthotics. Luckily, the 9 pm encore show was seated. My old bones appreciated this. Now look below as I'm fangirling in the attached photos! I absolutely adore Alok and their courage to humorously challenge the gender binary and systematically poke holes in the patriarchal system that comprises The USA.

    i have been attending the Pyramid Scheme for years now. I absolutely love all of the staff and they…read morereally become like friends and family after constantly seeing them when attending shows. The lineups are often pretty diverse, now offering more local music and the addition of more free events to bring together the community. They've added vintage nights, trivia, and free pinball days which I think is a very important and necessary community good. The venue has a front half with a bar, pinball cabinets, and even some outdoor seating. The back hosts the concert venue with interior bar, seating, and elevated stage. I'm allergic to alcohol so I can't speak to the drinks nor the prices but they have free water jugs readily available which is a lifesaver during shows and is just such a small, nice feature to have access to. I definitely would recommend coming here for a concert, finding some new local music, or establishing a new hang out for your friends.

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    HopCat

    HopCat

    4.0(1.2k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Can't speak for the food but the beer and cocktail I got were great. The staff were super friendly…read moreand helpful in recommending what to get. I liked the vibe and it seemed like a decent place to grab a drink

    We visited HopCat as a walk-in on a busy evening around 5:30, and the wait time was a bit over an…read morehour, which was totally understandable with several events happening downtown. Luckily, I was able to snag a reservation for 6:45, so we found a few things to do nearby while we waited. Once we returned, we were seated upstairs, which I actually prefer. It's noticeably less crowded and quieter than the main floor, making for a more relaxed experience. The menu offers a great variety, and their draft list is especially impressive for beer lovers. This time, I ordered one of their meal deals with mac and cheese, along with pretzels and beer cheese. Portion-wise, it did feel a bit small, but for the price of the deal, it made sense. That said, the flavor was a bit underwhelming. The mac and cheese and beer cheese dip both lacked that rich, cheesy taste I was expecting. The mac and cheese also had quite a bit of topping/breading, and the sauce was fairly loose, almost soupy in consistency. Since this was my first time ordering it, I'm not sure if that's typical. Overall, it's still a great downtown spot that offers something for everyone. The service was prompt and helpful, which definitely added to the experience.

    Photos
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    Entry interior to bar

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    The Anchor - bars - Updated May 2026

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