Flying Pig Saloon

just a divey bar. It is cramped on the inside but out on the deck and patio there is ample seating and its specious. Its good to stop at if you are bar hoping in Salem.

So, we’ve been stopping here once a month or so. Friendly little crowd and a good jukebox.

You must first park across the street in free public parking and then take a brief jog over to the establishment. (There is also very limited parking on either side of the bar but it’s not worth the manuevering, in my opinion.) You won’t be able to miss it because the new owners painted the place bright pink. I didn’t understand, at first, why the choice was pink. But, of course, it is because this is the Flying Pig Saloon (or just «The Pig» as it’s known to regulars) and they hold strongly with the pig motif — from the outside in.
Be careful with the front door, it tends to stick. But once you’re inside, the bar will be on your right, the jukebox on your left and a single pool table straight back fifteen feet or so. Except for a couple bathrooms, a small «gathering area» to the far left with tables and chairs and lots of pig decorations, this is the entirety of the Flying Pig. I would suggest not bringing with you a party greater than six people, total. Because if two other parties of six are there, that just about does it for available body space in this particular bar.
However what it lacks in surface area, it makes up for with friendly bar staff, relatively cheap drinks and a haunted jukebox that will, maybe, eventually, play what you request but it could be the next song or it could be eleven songs later, with no regard for who put their money in first or second or twelfth. In fact, one of the especially fun games to play at the Pig is trying to work out a back-​of-​the-​napkin equation that will tell you how long you have to wait for them to finally play that darned Eagles song. (Answer: it will inevitably play while you are outside on the phone or in the bathroom.)
I’m not a huge fan of bars, on the whole, but there is a certain level of comfort at the Flying Pig, even if it is a bit tiny and crowded and loud. I think the fact that there is usually a nice range of ages represented at the bar helps lend to the relatively calm and respectful atmosphere. I recommend that you ask one of the bartenders to make her specialty shot for your entire table (usually cheaper than ordering individual shots) and a pitcher of the second-​cheapest beer on tap and remember to ask for frosted mugs and a punchable card if you plan on returning — the tenth pitcher is free, compliments of the Pig.