I stopped by ye old watering hole with a friend to try a pickleback for the first time. The bar seemed pretty cool and chill, they have a beer can museum with cans that go back to the 1940s I'm told. The pickleback was awesome being comprised of a shot glass each of Jameson and pickle juice. I'll be back!! read more

Took my real drivers license, yelled at me, told me to get out, so I called the cops who scanned and told them they were wrong. Took my friends Arizona ID and said "they don't take foreign IDs." Sorry to say horrible service and horrible attitude. Bummer, it had potential, they should screen employees better. If I could put zero stars, I absolutely would. read more

Came here when I was in town for a friends wedding and had such a fun night! $1 deli style pickles (delicious) and SPICY pickle back shots (delicious). Absolute dive bar but in the best way. Service was good. Only downside was that it was cash only. Would absolutely come back here next time I'm in town. read more

Ye Ol' Watering Hole - $1 pickle - Bars Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

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It's a shit hole. A remarkably clean, balanced pool table, free darts, fresh juice for cheap cocktail with heavy pours shit hole. Stay away so I can take my rightful seat at the oak. It's also a self-proclaimed beer can museum, as much as the ring of empty handles in a college dorm kitchen is a museum to consumed firewater. Free to see every day, though, so take that BoA First Fridays or whatever-the-hell. The only foods they sell are bar snacks, most bottles are under $4 (priced in the cooler if you're looking for cheapies) and the air conditioning runs cold. If there's a Bruins/Pats/Sox/Celtics game on, it's being shown on both flat screens. Just to remind you of what I mentioned six sentences ago: orange and grapefruit juices are squeezed to order. Go 'head - get that Salty Dog. read more

Ye Ol' Watering Hole is the perfect dive bar and the #1 dive bar in Northampton. The atmosphere is totally relaxed in here. The crowd is a nice mix at Ye Ol Watering Hole. The place is clean and casual and looks like a place where a lot of drinking has gone on! The beer can museum adds some additional character and charm. There is a jukebox loaded up with classic rock that gets quite a bit of action. There are also pool tables and dart boards available. You will find all the usual beer and cocktail options here. They have some good beers on draft also. The best thing for me about this place is that they fresh squeeze juice for a lot of the cocktails. My personal favorite is the gin and juice. For me this is made with the well gin and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice - delicious! Service had always been great when I have been in here. The bartender I had last night was especially nice and also efficient. Prices are great and value is totally delivered. I am a fan of this place. Ye Ol Watering Hole is a "do again" and total recommendation. Do yourself a favor and get a Gin & Juice! read more

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This is my favorite bar in town. Don't ask me how the alcohol is, because I don't drink much, but this is great place to hang out with the pool tables and dart board. Grab a drink (I get a Cranberry Seltzer), and make some friends playing games! The bartenders are pleasant, and the people that come here are always super nice. As a little extra bonus: It's also a beer can museum. Though I don't think anyone's here for an EMPTY can of beer. read more

Ye Ol' Watering Hole - What a cool museum - Bars Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

This place is what I would consider a 'dive bar' at first glance. It has cheap drinks, chill music, mirrors and tons of beer cans on the walls, relaxed bartenders. But the longer you look, the more un-divey it becomes. The bartenders are friendly, part of the community, and attentive. The bar itself is clearly well kept. There's no sticky mess on the bar or the floors, there are no handprints on the mirrors, and there's no overlooked trash anywhere. Like, this place is well cared for. There are tons of seating around the u-shaped bar and throughout the second side of this location. Oh, and yes, there are pool tables which add to the fun of this. There are booth seating and along the wall seating. There are high top tables and barstools. A place for everyone. This bar is a fucking gem. With house-mixed drinks that cost $5 and freshly squeezed juice alcoholic drinks at $6, you can't beat the prices. And with such good and friendly bartenders, solid music game, and nice seating/clean spaces, it's hard to top. Even the patrons are friendly AF. Seriously, check out this delightful little gold nugget. read more

Ye Ol' Watering Hole - $5 for a mixed drink, $6 for a freshly squeezed Madras - Bars Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

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Cool place. Decent draft list. Definitely worth checking out. Enjoyed their beer can museum and was happy with the service and variety.

Really cute bar/museum. Over 4,000 beer cans on the walls. Free to check out the museum. But while you're there you might as well have a drink. Cheap drinks. Don't forget to tip your bartender. Ed our bartender was a lot of fun to talk to. Pool tables and darts in the back room. We were told it's dog friendly. We didn't have our dogs with us. Maybe another time. Would definitely stop in if I were in the area again. Would be great for small group togethers. read more

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Incredible place, great pool, great tunes. Love the energy. Constantly impressed. Incredible staff so kind! read more

Ye Ol' Watering Hole - two young people enjoying the energy in ye old watering hole. - Bars Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

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How have I never reviewed this bar before?! WTF! Ye Olde Watering Hole was my favorite place to go when I was a student at Smith. During my senior year I had a shit-ton of spare time, as I completed all my major requirements early and didn't have all the crazy seminars that everyone else did....so I was here with my BFF Jim most nights. Whenever I'm back in town for a visit, I insist that Jim and I head down for old times' sake again. I was back this past August and had the chance to revisit for the first time in a while and I'm happy to see that nothing has changed in my absence. The dusty-assed beer cans from around the world (it IS a beer can museum, after all) are still found along the perimeter of the whole place. The floor is still sticky, it still smells of dirt and spilled drinks and regret, and it's still frequented by people who give you the stink-eye just for existing. It is DIVINE. The best thing here though is the drinks. Nothing fancy or fluffy but they are fucking GOOD. If you order a cocktail such as a screwdriver or greyhound, the juice is fresh squeezed on the spot. The beer is colder than a witch's tit, and the martinis are perfect. And to top it off, the prices are downright cheap. I love and miss this place so much. read more

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The kind of place you can get lost in happily for many hours. Just far enough away from the middle of Northampton. Linda is the best. Great prices and plenty of beer cans from the past to look at (beer can museum). We'll be back again when in that neck of the woods. read more

The beer can museum is well worth the trip alone. The beer selection isn't nearly as great as you'd think it would be for a bar that is a beer can museum, but the selection is still pretty decent. Great dive bar none the less. read more

Ye Ol' Watering Hole - Bars Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

Okay, so I've been living above the Watering Hole for about a year now, so I give this review based on my collective visits during that time. If you're looking for a great bar with excellent drink prices, the Watering Hole is a fantastic place to start. Beers range from $2.25 (black label) to $6-7 for some of the cans and 22oz. Peoples Pint beers. The draft options change regularly enough, and they always have Pabst as the cheepo option. Mixed drinks are about on average for the area, and sometimes change depending on if you change out the rail liquor for something specific that is more expensive. Hands down one of the best deals has got to be the greyhounds/screwdrivers, which cost like $6 and juice is fresh squeezed right in front of you. The only thing I'd say about these are don't order like 6 of them when the bar is insanely crowded because thats just sort of a dick thing to do. In the interest of being concise... - Free pool M-W, decent house cues and the felt is new (April 2013) *Don't put your drinks on the tables! It's so annoying! - Jukebox is has a good selection, a bonus is that it's a real box and none of that touch screen garbage every bar has been switching to. - People are friendly for the most part, and if you're sociable I've usually found it pretty easy to end up talking with people I don't know. - This is one of those "dive" bars that mainly has that classification because people just want to sound cool. It's true that the inside has things like old beer mirrors and wooden walls, but if the watering hole is a dive than its way nicer than any dive I've been to before. Overall, just go check it out. One of a few bars in Northampton that is open until 2am as long as you are in the door by 1. The people who hate on the Watering Hole probably spend most of their time at Tully's, and should just be ignored. Go check this place out! *One more note: If you are talking outside the bar, know that tenants above and to the side can hear basically everything you are saying! If it's 2am, shut up and go home! read more

Just what the doctor ordered. If this place doesn't meet your expectations I'm not sure what you were looking for. Doesn't the facade and name tell you what to expect? The free pool/bar games and affordable drinks won't let you down. It's not pretentious and doesn't take itself too seriously or try hard to be cool. The can collection adds flavor and the crowd is mixed and not all 22 year olds. If as one reviewer noted there are drunk degenerate middle aged people slumped over the bar at lunch time, and this is off-putting to you, don't ever go to dive bars in the day time while the cool kids are still at work or waking up. It wouldn't be a real dive bar otherwise. For everyone else, go in and enjoy! read more

This is the bar in Northampton where you finish up after a Herculean night of consumption... you walk in, they have foosball/darts/billiards and it's all awesome!!!... fine times had by all, everyone goes their separate ways and good memories... Then you wander in here at some point before 12:30am one weekend and get a good look at and feel for the place... and you're crushed by the pathetic bleakness before slinking away shaking your head - only venturing back to prove to friends that such a dive sits within the province of Northampton or, as before, you've been tipping some major wrist... If you legitimately found Norm Peterson a defensible icon or can't get enough of JVL type bartop gaming machines... this is your bar... Otherwise, don't miss out on greatness by wasting even a moment of your time in this place... read more

By FAR this is my second FAV BAR for drinks period! The drinks was so good! I got the half and half (fresh squeeze OJ and Grapfruite w/ premium vodka)! The drinks were so cheap! it's like 5 bucks a piece for premium! Yeah! give me more! It's like a whole in the wall place, located off the main street where all the restaurants and stuff are. The staff was friendly. They have pool there although me and my friends did not participate since the Thunder Basetball game was on! If you are in the area! You should definitely try this place out. read more

I have a radar. Yes, if you've read my other Yelp reviews, you know I have several: I have the wine radar, the bar radar, the foodie/restaurant radar, and of course, the sweet tooth radar. I tend to go to NoHa once or twice a month. I have awesome friends who live in the area and Northampton has got to be on the top of the my list of places with so much to do in a manageable and walkable area. Last winter, a friend of mine wanted to hit up the dive bars on your way into Northampton center that you pass on the drive from I-91. Alas, it was late, I was tired, and I regret having missed the experience because one late December weekend two months ago, I ended up here with my friend who lives in town. And I kick myself for not coming earlier. First off: FRESH SQUEEZED JUICE for you drinks. Right there in front of you. Orange or grapefruit or get the two mixed. Secondly, the prices are cheap. I mean college student cheap. The place also only takes cash. The dive bar atmosphere is in effect: great melange of townees, hipster kids, college students and those of us smart enough to read Yelp and get our butts into the seats at the bar. The bartenders were super friendly. We met some interesting characters that night. Everyone for the most part were friendly. I felt like anyone could walk in here and feel at home. No one cares who's hanging out. This isn't one of the uppity places you go to be "seen". Nope. You come here to chill out with your peeps and drink good cheap booze. Aaaaaah,it warms the cockles of my little bargainista heart. YOWH, you've won a fan for life. I will definitely be stopping again because the experience is one that was authentically beautiful. read more

I love dive bars. This place has a special place in my heart. Fresh squeezed screwdrivers and multiple pool tables always make me smile. What keeps me coming back is the beer can museum. It's like being in the bedroom of a perpetually teen-aged OCD alcoholic. If only every collector on Hoarders was as meticulous as this curator. read more

I spent a few days in Northampton, went to a few bars, and this was my favorite spot. Very inexpensive for the quality of cocktails they're serving. The juice they use is squeezed right on the spot when you order. The cocktails are strong and refreshing. The crowd was fun and the bartender was really nice. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone who likes dive bars. read more

I'm an out-of-towner. friends have brought me here on a number of occasions for beers, pool, darts, etc. Most importantly this place feels authentic. It's local and down-home and hipster but not too much and the bartenders have no attitude. There are nice touches like unwavering $2 PBR, fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, a good juke box and a nudey photo hunt game machine that make it better than other dives you'll go in. The clientele is varied so you can be sure your night will be nice and random. for instance an old guy gave me and my gal friend free quarters to play pool, and noogies on the head. Plenty of space if you have a crowd. read more

I went to this place years ago on a whim after driving by and seeing the sign. The beer was cheap, bar tender friendly and to top it off they had PICKED EGGS! Salty, weird, and perfect. The beer cans on the wall were awesome to check out and it's refreshing to know places like this exist in a world where everything awesome seems to be plowed out of existence in favor of cell phone stores and banks. Three cheers for a true local dive bar. read more

There is no place quite like the watering hole. The beer can museum ranks up there with the South Dakota corn palace as things I love and have to see but can't quite explain why . And I think I have more surreal encounters there than anywhere else like being hit on by a woman 50 years my senior on the night after they buried her husband. Those are moments you remember for decades that you don't get just anywhere read more

Perfect mixing of crotchety olds and glossy youth. Hard to tell exactly who is a hipster. This is where I watch the celtics games. Good for that. The volume is on. People seem to like to squeeze the citrus into the alcohol. Perfectly fine selection of beers. About 1 dozen on tap -- PBR to local microbrews. Not too much like there is nothing more important in the world. Its hardly important. Just perfect, right. I would recommend ye olde watering hole! read more

This is my favorite bar because it is so low key and has nice pool tables, dart boards, and a juxebox. It also has a cool beer can museum as the decoration along the walls. The drinks are really good, especially the cocktails and average priced. Great hang out spot but leave room for me! read more

Stopped here after the Billy Bragg show at the Calvin. I drove past this place a bunch of times, always wondering what the "beer can museum"looked like. Although I think this place was on TV once! It was packed with people, I'd say the average age was about 25-30 which was cool for a local townie-type bar. Beer cans run along the perimeter of the ceiling and this place is pretty big!! They offer a bunch of beers on tap as well as many bottles. Cheap drinks! There are pool tables, dart boards and ample seating. My friends and I sat at a table all night I didn't venture on the other side of the bar where there were even more beer cans displayed! The inside is nothing special, the decor rather old, and shabby but a cool dive type none the less. The bathroom freaked me out. It was like walking into someones basement, I expected to be peeing next to a boiler with Freddy Kruger or something... While smoking a cigarette outside, a fight must have happened. Needless to say we had a good time just hanging out. read more

Ye Ol' Watering Hole - Bars Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

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I usually don't enjoy dive bars..The large percentage of hipsters and creepy men are my primary deterrents..However, a friend and I spent a good part of our Sunday afternoon/evening here. We came in to watch a baseball game, and the bartender even put it on one of the TVs for us. It was a lot of fun. The bartender was incredibly friendly, and so were many of the other patrons. It was incredibly empty when we were there, but I imagine on a Saturday/Friday night it is a very fun place to be. I hope to return and improve my pool skills, which were horrible compared to the local pool league team that was playing next to us..haha. read more

Probably my favorite bar since moving to Northampton last year. Cheap drinks, good crowd, and slightly removed from the downtown crowd. Free pool Sunday - Tuesday is merely an added bonus. read more

There really is a beer can museum here (I found a Billy Beer can in there). Northampton is largely a trustafarian paradise now but there are scrapings of a grittier time. This is one of them. Check out the sign int he front....there arent many of these places left. read more

Pickle Back is all I can say. Met with group of our friends for some Darts, Pool and drinks of course. This is one of those dive bars where people just hang out and have fun. There is an area with along bar and an area with pool tables, dart boards and jukebox for some music. Also the cocktails are made to order with fresh squeezed juice and strong, great tasting and refreshing. For the quality you are getting at a dive bar, it is very inexpensive. i had the Grey Hound which so good and see my self drink on warm summer day. Then we all did the Pickle Back, which now has become my favorite. then there is the Beer Can Museum; The walls are lined with beer cans from around the world, which is fun to look at and search for specific country, especially after some drinks. Great place to hang out friends. read more

I'm giving Ye Ol' four stars for the fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit juice alone! A cocktail for under six bucks with fresh juice? I'm sold. It's spacious, has pool tables, quality service, and did I mention fresh juice? Done and done. read more

Great Dive with Darts, billiards, Fresh squeezed juices, And decorative beer can museum. read more

Best bar in town, hands down. Their fresh squeezed juice drinks, that's right fresh squeezed to order, are amazing! Oh, and their spicy picklebacks and the best I've ever had! I don't need a fancy martini or a weak drink with a hip name and if that's what you like, look elsewhere. If you want a good drink in a laid back atmosphere this is the place for you. read more

GREAT dive bar! They have fresh squeezed citrus afterall! Went with two friends for drinks early on a Saturday. It wasn't busy and we had fine service. I had a fresh grapefruit cocktail that was cheap ($6) and totally delicious. Bathrooms are gross but who cares? read more

best dive bar in western mass hands down. if you want a bar in noho that is a mix of students/locals/hipsters/queers - then this is the place. even though it can get crowded, it always feels friendly and welcoming. the bartenders are great, they have a decent juke box, huge bar, and pool tables. the hidden gem at this place though is really the fresh squeezed screwdrivers and greyhounds - you have to be careful though because you could easily put down half a dozen of them in no time at all. i don't make my way out to noho often, but when i do i always stop in for a few drinks at my favorite bar in western mass. read more

The Best screw drivers & greyhounds. made with fresh squeezed juice. You will forget you are in a dive bar. No, you do not go here for ambiance. You go here for a killer greyhound. or screwdriver. That's the deal. read more

This is the best bar ever. Cheap PBR. Inexpensive drinks with FRESH SQUEEZED juice. Chill staff. Free pool most days. Darts. I mean really? Why go anywhere else ever? read more

Best Grey Goose Martini and Tequila Sunrise from freshly squeezed oranges! Post pride at The Deck, 15 minutes at such a no service with only 2 bartenders. So glad we walked around the corner to this excellent old skool establishment! Cash only but there is an ATM! Excellent service and exceptional drinks! read more

wow teddy, i can't believe you were the first to write an ode to the hole. congrats! the memories flow....perhaps not as quickly as the drinks at the hole but just as good. and those fresh squeezed grapefruit cocktails really are amazingly good. things are different with the non-smoking ban - you can suddenly see the beer can museum and the people surrounding you and - well, sometimes a dark haze is nice, even necessary. but the darts and music and birth of adventure are always waiting at the hole. any time of day. seriously. read more

You'll hear the killer jukebox before you get to the door. Maybe it's Ted Nugent with "Stranglehold" or Guns & Roses "Rocket Queen". Either way, within these gritty, hallowed beercan lined walls, lies the greatest Jukebox every thrown down in a bar. At least in the northeast. You can't smoke, since it's MA, but it feels like there's smoke lingering in the air from years of Lucky Strikes or Parliament Lights. The staff is a bit surly--and that's what you'd expect. Sort of like the waitresses at Durgan Park in Boston. Then there are buckets of oranges and grapefruits. If you're already drunk, you might not be able to figure out why. Three words: fresh squeezed juice. They do it up right in front of you. I recommend the gin and grapefruit juice. Yeah, this bar's a little gross. Yeah, you might see a fight. And yeah, the women's bathroom is more than a little sketchy. But if you are looking for a change, a little grime is far better than a lot of pretension. Originality is hard to come by, and the Hole's got it. read more