Rip Tide Lounge

This is the bar that my grandfather, Curtis Smith Hamilton, used to enjoy until he died in 1985. When I took my father back to Marblehead for his 80^th birthday, we learned a lot about his estranged father who was a local artist. He used to get hammered here and sell his paintings. He was extraordinarily talented and troubled. We came here to check out his favorite watering hole, and it did not disappoint. We even compared the only picture we had of him sitting in some bar to this bar — it indeed was a match!
This is a working man’s bar, and it’s timeless. They had a surprisingly good selection of beer. I will be back here the next time I’m in Massachusetts. Here’s to you, Curtis Smith Hamilton, may you rest in peace.

We have been on the search for the perfect dive bar, which had the perfect atmosphere to satisfy our night and the perfect prices to match. When we stumbled into the Rip Tide, and it did not disappoint.
Not only was everyone super friendly, but the beers were cheap and cold. We felt right at home there, and the bouncer and the bartender were so nice, and made sure that we had everything we needed.
If you’re looking for a relaxing night of pool, darts, or cards (which we left a pack behind the bar for future use) definitely check out the Rip Tide!

I’ve gone to the Riptide since 1969. I’m in AZ now but whenever I come back to MA I head straight for the Riptide. I used to play pinball for drinks when Noodie was a bartender. I have no memory about men complaining about child support, just having fun. Mrs. Santere made great lunches. Best bar ever!!!

Fun bartenders, great (cheap) drinks, pool table, darts, and golden tee… how can you go wrong! Old school cash only gotta love it. .ATM inside.

As far as Marblehead goes, this is first on the list for an authentic dive bar experience. Whether it’s a «studied effect» as one reviewer claimed awhile back or as authentic as it comes, I can’t say. What I can say is that, from my experience, it’s just a dive. An awesome dive.
1. It’s got thin pile carpet. Wall-​to-​wall.
2. It boasts the lone pool table in Marblehead.
3. The particle board tables are chipped and lopsided with mismatched chairs.
4. The plastic Bud posters feature Sharpie drawn dicks in all shapes and sizes.
5. The jukebox plays some great tunes and you always get a great mix of music given the diverse crowd.
6. Even at their drunkest, the locals can still kick your ass at pool.
7. Golden Tee.
8. Strong drinks. Super stiff.
9. The prerequisite old-​timer is sitting at the corner of the bar and ready to chat your ear off when you refill your drinks.
I think nine well-​made points should have all in agreement that this place is worth visiting if you like dive bars.

This is a solid dive bar complete with sketchy-​looking men bitching about child-​support, and the self medicating women who love/​hate them along with the standard crazy, cackling old guys and fishwives slurping PBR… I have seen the same guys drinking beers here with a newborn in a car seat… on multiple occassions… There’s probably SOMETHING illegal in SOMEONE’S pocket/​purse at all times… However…the juke box rocks, its got Marbleheads only pool table, said table has decent sticks… and they serve what is THE BEST CHEESBURGER, fries and onion rings in town… and that is no small thing… Take your friends here to freak them out…

this is a divy bar. the locals scrowl at you, but don’t seem to bite. the beer is about ²⁄₃ the price at the Jack Tarr, and the food looks great and ½ the price of the Jack Tarr. Divier than Maddies. worth trying if you are that sort of person.

Ohmygod. The Riptide. When I was growing up in M’head, the Riptide was the diviest dive in town. That’s back when we still had more Townies named Hooper, Snow, Crocker, Peach and Woodfin, than Van Otterloo types, and fishing was still a viable industry with as many or more fishing– and lobster boats in the harbor as rich folks’ toy boats. Yup, I’ve been around that long.
Anyhoo. The Riptide. We used to go to a movie at the Warwick at night, when most of the Rip’s nightly denizens were just heading into the bar. Several hours later, like clockwork, they’d come rolling, howling, yodelling, staggering out. It was so predictible, so regular, that it was one of those comforting ‘Header rituals, sort of like getting that copy of the Marblehead Messenger delivered by a real paperboy every week, or buying a quarter’s worth of penny candy (which meant up to 50 pieces of candy if you chose wisely) from the wood-​floored, glass-​countered, dimly-​lit penny-​candy shop that used to be where the Marblehead Grand Bank now stands.
So I have to be the one to sadly inform the younger generations that the dive-​nature of the Riptide now is more of a studied effect, intentionally divey and proud of it. Back in the day, it was divey because it just was. As soon as we consciously pursue Tao, it is no longer the Tao. Ya know?
Still, it’s a good spot to get a quick brewski and chill for a while, without feeling like you’re selling out to a tourist trap or an enclave of the upscale residents (though I bet a couple will occasionally «slum» there when they’re not convening at the private bar at the posh Tedesco Country Club.
Just don’t think that Marblehead can get away with having any truly divey dives anymore. The overhead is just too high to get away with it.

Do you like dive bars? Check.
Have you already had a couple, but it’s too early to go home? Check.
Do you want to spend time in a place that looks like The Crow’s Nest from The Perfect Storm, complete with fascinating locals? Check.
(I just wish they weren’t cash-​only.)

I love this place because it’s a locals bar filled with chill people, good juke box music, and you can get a sea breeze in a pint glass.

The one. The only. The best place in town to destroy your liver. Local bar extraordinaire. Many things come and go in Marblehead but the Rip Tide remains the same. This is comforting. Especially after you’ve had a belly full of Madras. Hell, they may even name a drink after you if you plop your butt on a barstool for a decade or two… Remember, last call is 11:30. Damn those Selectmen. Enough said.