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    The Anchor

    4.0 (41 reviews)
    InexpensiveBars
    Closed • 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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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years 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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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 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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    11 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    16 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    8 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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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    11 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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    House Rules

    House Rules

    4.9(54 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    My husband and I met some friends at House Rules. This is a great place where you can have a bite…read moreto eat, grab a drink, and play a game in a relaxed atmosphere. You pay for your table by the hour. You can pick from a wide range of games from their game library. You can also bring your own games or purchase one at the establishment. We played Chameleon while enjoying sandwiches and chicken tenders. The food was pretty good and made with local ingredients. You can order from a QR code on the table and the food is brought to your table. For dessert we ordered a cookie skillet. We had a good time at Hose Rules and highly recommend it.

    In terms of things to do in Grand Rapids, visiting House Rules nears the top of my list. I'm not a…read morebig beer drinker, so I had my doubts, but in addition to a half dozen fridges full of beer, they had plenty of non alcoholic drinks, as well as hard ciders, seltzers, and canned cocktails. Many brands were local that I'd never heard of before, and it was fun to experiment and try new things. Their food menu honestly shocked me with how tasty everything was. For a board game bar, I usually expect food to take a back seat or be phoned in, but everything was delicious! I had to try the elote deviled eggs, which was a combo I had never considered but I'm so glad someone did! I also got the truffle mac and cheese and a house salad. Both were excellent! The board game selection was extensive, with old favorites and hidden gems. If I'm ever back in the area, I'll be sure to stop in again!

    Photos
    House Rules
    House Rules
    House Rules - Seating area

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    Seating area

    One Twenty Three Tavern

    One Twenty Three Tavern

    4.3(350 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    •$$
    Outdoor seating
    Locally owned & operated

    We came in on Saturday night, 7/25/26 around 5:30pm before going to a concert at Acrisure. We…read moredidn't have a reservation but fortunately there was room at the bar - which is our preferred seating spot anyway. I was surprised at how long it took for the 2 hosts to greet us - as we were standing directly in front of them. They were talking to one another, and it was probably work related, but to just stand there staring at them for a couple minutes while they ignored us was awkward. When they finally talked to us they weren't very friendly. Anyway, we made our way to the bar and it was full except for 3 seats. I think the bartender waiting on us was new. He seemed like he was pretty overwhelmed/in the weeds. He greeted us quickly and brought us waters when he did, which I appreciated. I ordered a Blackeberry Bourbon Sour and my Mr had Paloma Nuestra. We both enjoyed our drinks they were refreshing and well crafted. For dinner I had a really hard time deciding! I wanted to try so many things! Our bartender said his favorite thing in the menu is the chicken and rice bowl. That was something I was considering and decided to go with that. Excellent recommendation! The chicken was flavorful and so tender. The hot peppers were a nice touch. There was a lot of food too! I couldn't finish it all. Mr had the hanger steak that was served with mushroom and asparagus risotto. He said the risotto was the best he's ever had, and I agree. The asparagus was perfectly cooked and so was the steak. The space is really nice, felt intimate without being overcrowded. We are looking forward to coming back!

    Ambiance was great and service pretty good. The food was awesome! Chicken sandwich is on point…read more With sweet and spicy slaw/sauce. Smash burger was out of this world! Great spot before a concert at the Intersection.

    Photos
    One Twenty Three Tavern
    One Twenty Three Tavern
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    Max’s South Seas Hideaway - Max's Hideaway Burger #3

    Max’s South Seas Hideaway

    4.1(425 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$

    I went here for the first time in 2026 after constantly hearing good things about this place. I was…read morereally surprised at how extravagantly themed the restaurant is. The theming is truly off the charts with so many cool things everywhere you look. I've been in both the lower and upper floors of the restaurant and the fun follows all throughout. The food was good and had good portion sizes. The menu has a lot of Hawaiian and Asian flavors represented. The drink menu is massive with a great section of NA mocktails that were really fairly priced. We got drinks and entrees and the entire process took around 45 minutes with me struggling to decide what to order. The service is really attentive without being overbearing. The use of both servers and food runners allowed for the process to be quick while not feeling rushed at all. Our server also gave great recommendations and was helpful throughout the night. While the price of things may feel high, I do think the ambiance was pretty worth the cost and the food was enjoyable! I'd definitely come back.

    4.1 I had seen this crazy Tiki bar on YouTube a couple years…read moreago. Luckily my memory kicked in when I was traveling to the area this week. It is nothing short of amazing in every way. How it ended up here is a mystery but this is a legit Tiki palace, and certainly the best Tiki bar I have ever seen. Shout out to Jacob who was a super impressive bartender and showed me the notebook Rum list that blew me away. Is this Tiki heaven, no it's Grand Rapids!

    Photos
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    Puka punch

    The Anchor - bars - Updated September 2026

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