My kind of bar. Laid back, no frills, lively Bunch of people with friendly and welcoming bartenders. Pinball machines available if you're in the mood or plenty of seating to catch up with friends. read more

The Meanwhile - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Classic dive bar. Sat at the bar for a beer before dinner, everything appeared clean and the bartender was friendly and attentive. read more

The Meanwhile - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

See all

Great bar, cheap drinks and good service. Great deals before 12am, the go to for a pbr pitcher.

I found out that my tan didn't fade, and I didn't understand why the two guys behind the bar were toasting. They wouldn't serve me another shot and I wasn't drunk, just wasn't white, when they were drinking behind the bar. Understand that if your tan doesn't fade, you are not treated the same way! read more

This bar is an absolute disaster. The bartender who was serving me left me and abandoned me on multiple occasions, had to constantly wave him down not to mention the selection here SUCKS!!! You'd be better off going to meijer's and grabbing a 12 pack and going home and having a party with your boys read more

I went here just wanting to have a ginger beer and play some pinball. The bartender was so rude she even made me feel unsafe. She wouldn't even let me open a tab. Apparently there is an ordering policy that is Unwritten. 0rder from the other side of the bar with the boy bartenders not the girl bartender if you're a girl because she will think that you are flirting with her stupid boyfriend that hangs on the bar. I have never been treated so bad in any establishment ever. My entire night was ruined I was trying to celebrate something. I ended up just going home. Don't go here if you want to have a good time. If you do make sure you order from a bartender from the opposite sex. read more

Great local watering hole. Pinball machine & great music (to my liking, anyway: Pink Floyd-esque) playing not too loud. Games, too - I didn't see anyone playing them, but the atmosphere was conducive. read more

See all

love this bar, attentive and great bartenders. i've been coming here for years now and i always have a good time :) read more

The Meanwhile - bathroom door lol - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Was a regular there for a while and the service was always good. Almost always a place to sit. Their wine Wednesday night is a great deal for the wine you get. They have the most adorable server Aoifa who always makes the best drinks. She's extremely personable and friendly. I would suggest sitting on the outdoor patio if it is open. read more

This was a cool spot but the service was slow and most of the bartenders were rude (there was one taller man who was AMAZING) I have been in the industry for years and cannot imagine working without a digital POS. Everything would be more efficient if they cut the manual tabs and checks. read more

Fun dive bar with best long islands, lots of good times had here with friends on any night of the week

Cheap, strong drinks and a relaxing atmosphere. Exactly what you are looking for in a good time!

Great local dive bar. Thoughtful Art work, obedient staff. Will definitely be coming back here for a night out.

The wife didn't care much for this place, but I kind of liked it. It was lively, unique, and honestly a bit surreal. "Hipster" doesn't even explain this place. It's like if someone threw a hipster themed party and provided each guest with $500 and six months to seek out and buy the most hipster costume and a piece of art or obscure prop to hang on the wall. It goes without saying that you will not recognize any of the music playing. All that being said, I'm not entirely upset about any of it. The bartender was nice enough, the drinks were cheap, and there was a general laid back vibe. I didn't sense too much holier-than-thou (hipsterier-than-thou?) attitude from staff or patrons. I'm not saying that this would be a frequent haunt for me, but I'd be up for going back. Also, the shark on the wall is sweet as hell. read more

The Meanwhile - SHARK! - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Never even knew this cool dive bar was here! Great service and really fun atmosphere! We were celebrating with shots and when the server found out what we celebrating she gave us a free round of shots...that was really cool! They have quite the beer list as well! I am not sure if they have any food but we didnt ask either. Fun place! read more

Fun joint. Good vibe, young crowd on a Sunday night, but comfortable for us. Great, friendly service+pinball=funtime! read more

The Meanwhile - Some dank retro booths! - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I'm a little worried about all of the hipster comments because I didn't think it was that serious. I wonder what that says about me? Have I gone hipster blind? Moving on. This place is definitely loud but the atmosphere is very upbeat. The outdoor seating consists of several benches so just know that sharing a table with strangers is a real possibility. They don't have a kitchen BUT you can bring food in to eat. I've a pizza or two get delivered during a visit. I'm sure this place is going to become one of my regular stops. read more

I love this place! Started going here when my wife lived down the road back in college and we still come here whenever we want to grab a drink and don't want to go to a brewery. Super welcoming, the wall is covered in Meanwhile Film Series posters that look amazing. A recommendation to anyone who has never been to GR before. read more

I had only heard of this bar from various sources and finally ventured down to check it out for myself and was not disappointed! Awesomely decorated cool local place to get a drink, complete with pinball machines! Loved it! Will most definitely return to visit again. Cool place for local folks yet it seems like it could be touristy friendly. Street parking and back lot available. read more

So the few times I have been to The Meanwhile have been pleasant ones until the last one... The staff has always been great and the atmosphere as well. However, last time I went to The Meanwhile I got roofied (to the point where I missed work the next day, went to urgent care to get tested for the drug and it came back positive) I'm not saying it was the staff, who knows who did it but as a girl it will take a lot to get me back in that place. Luckily I was with good friends that took care of me and made sure I was safe but that's something I never want to happen ever again :/ read more

I LOVE this bar. I'm told that it is even more hipster then the most hipster bars in Ann Arbor where they have lots of money and apparently are cooler then we are in GR. Anyway, Meanwhile has super cheap beer and a wide variety of Michigan craft beers which I like to drink allot of. Due to my love of craft beer, I sadly know about a really nice quite corner around the side of the bar outside that I've thrown up a few times and no one has caught me. I like to think of myself as a conventionally attractive female, and I never get hit on here. Sometimes not getting hit on is a nice thing because sometimes I just want to drink in a non-meat market place. A friendly heads up: Be careful of the cops that park across the street at the ghetto-mart. They are looking for drunks and after three, $4 pitchers at The Meanwhile, you will be their favorite target. read more

After moving to Grand Rapids 3 years ago I had my first really bad bar experience here. The staff was rude and actually told me I did not tip enough when I tipped over 20%. Not that it should matter it was a tip and the service sucked. Went back a few months later and was made to apologize for said tip before they would serve me. Some how that night 4 beers and 2 shots ended up costing us over $60. I will never give them a card to hold a tab again. It is sad too, becuase this is where I met my husband and we will NEVER go back and will tell everyone we know not to go. read more

Nice bar, nice bartenders, nice decor, nice and cheap drinks. Isn't that really what being a drunk is all about? read more

The Meanwhile - a group of people standing in front of a building - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

* Beautiful people * Loud music * Escape from reality * Terrible Wi-Fi * Delicious drinks * Juxtaposition read more

Walk in, see the hammerhead shark on the wall, grab a 75 cent can of Black Label, and feel at home. also, topnotch jukebox selection! read more

Of all the places I've been since ive moved to grand rapids, this is the one place that hasn't lost its flair for me. Great drinks, great prices, great environment. All the elements of a neighborhood dive bar, but clean and with charm. Weekly great specials, and a laid back atmosphere. I go here during the evenings with a sketchbook and drink a few ginger peaches and just let myself go wild. Then it hits 10:00pm and it gets loud. Really loud. read more

This is the best bar in the country. The staff is fun. The beer is cheep. The jukebox is unbelievable. Does this place really exist or was it part of a long cold dream I had last week? I think my brother was there and I have a t-shirt. I can not think of a better place to have brought in the new year. Thanks! read more

ahh I love the Meanwhile. The Meanwhile is a great bar, its owners put a lot of thought into it and have made it a really special place. They make an effort to offer both really cheap options and a lot of local options that are reasonably priced. They also hold a lot of fundraisers for local organizations and groups where they give away ll the profits from the night. Besides that the Meanwhile just has a great vibe, all the art that is up is really cool, especially the mural on the beer patio which depicts an actual event that took place at the Meanwhile when someone tried to 'free' a unicorn painting. It gets pretty smoky inside, especially during the winter, but otherwise it is an awesome place to be read more

Hip without being pretentious, The Meanwhile is home to my favorite bartenders, jukebox and owners in the U.S. The brother and sister team that owns the pub put a lot of time, energy and careful consideration into creating a neighborhood joint that honors and celebrates Wealthy St., Grand Rapids and Michigan. They put a lot back into the community and support a number of non-profits in the area. Try the Vern Ehlers (specialty drink featuring Vernor's) or a Michigan beer (my personal favorite is Founders IPA). read more

This place gives me life. Sam is absolutely amazing. Sherri gave me the best service of my entire life. I will be returning. Such a great energy. read more

A nice dive bar, hipster crowd, not rowdy. It has a 70's feel with cool art, pictures on the wall and good music. It's a small spot but cozy, good drinks and good employees. Nice spot to grab a drink. read more

Me old watering hole. Friendly staff, stiff drinks, great conversations. What's not to enjoy?!

Super cool place! We were just in town for the night and wanted to get a night cap before we went back to the hotel Christmas Eve and it looked interesting inside. The decor is super cool, and even as someone young you can definitely tell this is a hipster type bar, but it's so awesome. There's a jukebox and even PINBALL MACHINES. Super nice staff, and they even had food out for the patrons to help themselves to for the holiday I assume (which was delicious). Also, they have a dang hammerhead shark over their bar which is so rad. Highly recommend! And I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more

The Meanwhile is a pretty great neighborhood bar; probably my overall favorite hangout in Grand Rapids. Friendly bartenders, friendly people, great list of Michigan draft beers for super-cheap. Well-curated jukebox, comfy booths, and the place is always hoppin'. The fireball whiskey shot seems to be the hot thing there now... surprisingly good! read more

I had a great time at The Meanwhile while I was visiting Michigan. When we were on our way to the bar, the bar was described to me as being a "hipster" bar, which I'm fine with. Plenty of pretty, alternative people drinking beer and playing pinball. The people and staff all seemed nice and the atmosphere of the bar was entertaining and comfortable. They had a large outside patio drinking area and the inside had two stories for people drinking inside. I was there during the end of summer, so the weather was beautiful and we sat outside most of the night (also because the inside was jam-packed full of people). The bar is in a cool area with other bars and plenty of late-night eateries to satisfy you. They have tons of specials every day of the week and they have great beers on tap. Local beers as well as beers from different areas. The specials that really stood out to me were the $1 Old Styles and $2.50 pints of Two Hearted on Sundays, $3 pitchers of PBR on Mondays, half off Michigan pints on Thursdays, alongside daily happy hour specials until 8pm. read more

I love the Meanwhile because the Meanwhile loves Michigan. They have several Michigan beers on tap, and recently added a hard cider from Michigan as well! The Meanwhile has revitalized the up-and-coming Wealthy Heights area; every time I've gone in, it's packed! Don't be scared off by the neighborhood; they have good security, and I always feel safe when I'm there. You can park your bike or scooter on the street, for example, and know that someone is keeping an eye on it. Yes, it's very smokey inside, and the jukebox is loud (although full of better tunes than most jukeboxes). That's not enough to shoo me away though. In summer, the outdoor beer garden is awesome. They don't serve food, but they do have a carry-in license, so you can get pizza delivered. There are also several restaurants just a stone's throw away, including The Brick Road Pizza Company, and the Electric Cheetah. read more

Great time at The Meanwhile!!! Excellent offerings of mostly Michigan craft beer. Was welcome to bring in bag of Pretzels that I happened to have in car. Brick Road Pizza just down street happened to deliver Goat Cheese and Spinach Artichoke dip. Looking forward to revisiting. T-Shirt offerings are a must have. read more

The Meanwhile - The Meanwhile - Bars Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

- Amazing staff - Michigan beers on draft & in bottles - Great Drink Specials - No TV - Classic Pinball & Arcade Games - Free Wi-Fi - Hip atmosphere - Juke box - Bring your own food - Summertime Patio No matter where you came from, The Meanwhile is a great place to get together with old friends and make new ones. read more

We had a couple of drinks and asked to buy three shirts. Afterwards. they brought us a nearly $800 bill to sign. We declined to do so, because it was VERY wrong. The whole place seems like a grift. Watch out for this bar. read more

This bar is the only reason so many cool people still live in this state. ;-) I myself moved to New York City a few months back but I still sport my Meanwhile t-shirts on a regular basis and miss this bar and it's staff very, very much. read more