Live Wire

It’s a dive bar. Go there expecting that. There is no food but the drink selection is very good and they have fun happy hour deals even on the weekend.

I wanted to like this bar a lot more but the times I’ve been there have left something to be desired.
Both times I’ve come on the weekend. I guess they let dogs in, and that’s cool, but I haven’t seen any while I’ve been in there and honestly, it probably wouldn’t be the best idea.
This place is overcrowded (literally, I’m pretty sure they’ve been over capacity the times I’ve been there) which leaves little walking room. Mix that in with a bunch of drunk people stumbling around and your fur baby is sure to get stepped on :(
The door man is inside the bar, which I thought was… different haha. He was cool though.
Getting to the actual bar is a process, and can take a while due to everyone wanting a drink and limited space. Chances are, you’ll have to wait for someone to get up and leave to the bathroom or something to take their spot. Sucks but oh well.
Most patrons here were very punk rock kind of people with cool, crazy hair and tattoos everywhere. You could tell they were regulars because the bartenders got to them while they were still in the back, and me and a couple friends were already at the front, waiting to get served.
As i’m sure it happens at a lot of dive bars, but friends, regulars and pretty girls get drinks first. Oh well! Prices were great for North Park, at $ 4 for tall can and $ 5 – 6 mixed drinks. Ballin’ on a budget! haha
The Juke box has been off both times I’ve been there in exchange for a DJ in a corner behind the bar. Music was good though.
They have a pinball machine… look for it way hidden by the women’s restrooms haha.
They also have a deer hunter game and pool table.
Don’t expect to play pool unless you get there before everyone else.
Overall, this place is cool enough but you definitely have to be a regular or a cute chick to get good service. And bring your patience because getting drinks will take some of that as well.

Super laid back and fun dive bar in North Park! I love this place! My friends and I always have a super fun time here playing pool, having a couple drinks, the bartenders are extremely friendly and it’s a huge plus that it’s dog friendly! I wish I lived closer because I would totally be a regular! The sign outside says, «cold beer, warm friends» and I couldn’t think of a better statement to put on their sign! :)

Joe was rad ! He made me a awesome old fashion ! Hes friendly and makes the bar have a great vibe. We live down the street and this place is always a go to for a great beer or cocktail! This place is total hipster !

Nice staff, reasonably priced and tasteful music. Go here for a beer or five any day.

Love the wire, holds a special place in my heart. Welcoming atmosphere, strong drinks, good people, awesome happy hours, good mix of music. One of the best bars in SD hands down. Salute! Keep up the good work!

Awesome happy hour. 4 dollars for pretty much any brew or well. This seems to be a local spot. Staff is friendly enough but, tenders can be a little too cool for school at times. Don’t take it personal. One pool table in the back is nice to kill some time.

This bar is a special place for my husband and I. Since living in north park for the past few years we’ve gone countless times. The first time we went we were greeted by the bar tender and welcomed to the neighborhood after we had talked with him a while. He told us welcome home and that this will be our new home. Truth! They have a great variety of beer and I love that they have half price happy hour. No food, but you can order pizza from Luigi’s that’s basically next door and eat it there in the bar. Perfection! Service isn’t always the friendliest but that’s part of the charm in a way. It’s definitely a locals place. On the weekend it can get a major in flux of hipsters who are barely drinking age and annoying. The music can get extremely loud, so don’t plan on having deep conversations on a Saturday night haha But really, this place is a winner and my go drive bar.

Pretty cool spot. Hole-​in-​the-​wall dive bar, but I’m def a fan. Cool lineup of beers too. AND they allow dogs. I thought that was pretty awesome. Happy hour had good prices. Still, couldn’t believe the beer lineup!

Best damn bar I’ve ever gone to!!! Amazing draft list and the prices on the liquor are super low. Don’t even get me started on the jukebox!!! Treat yourself to this bar.

I RARELY give a Unilocal review a one star, but to be honest it is a dive bar, but what got me is that the bartender REFUSED to make me a Bloody Mary, I was not happy about that at all. cool part was he poured me a beer for free and the jukebox was free. The other issue was the fact every guy in there tried to hit on me and one guy actually yelled at me for no reason. I left my beer on the counter and decided to take me business else where.

Great dive bar. Good music selection, cheap drinks, pool table, and the bartenders are polite. This place also lets you bring food in, which is nice.

Happy hour until 8PM. $ 4 for all drafts on tap. GREAT selection of beers. Cozy atmosphere but it is pretty damn dark in there. I definitely recommend this place if you are looking for some great beers!

Very poor customer service. Also, if youre going to advertise an event have the event. False advertisment.

This bar is widely regarded as a dive bar, but I personally feel it can only be a dive bar if it has a funny smell and dirty, sticky floors. Prices here are great. The bartender was friendly. There’s a couple TVs for the less social. The location is good, not near anything shady. My girlfriend enjoys the ‘pepperbellys’ they make on Fridays. There are sometimes limited releases that this bar gets their hands on.

Hands down GREAT HAPPY HOUR. From 5 to 8 you will find beers here for $ 4 that will set you back $ 7 – 8 at other joints.
We are avid Enjoy By drinkers. We found a location in North Park that did not have it on special for their Happy Hour and we walked away with a $ 40 dollar bill because we did three rounds of it (thank God for Über)
Two days later, we stroll into Live Wire and, like a traumatized abuse survivor, I ask, timidly, «how much for the Enjoy By?’
$ 4!!!
Not only that but you’ll find other great, strong and well known craft beers at an incredible price during their happy hour.
At night this place does get a bit full. Lot’s of dogs so watch out. I almost tripped over one or two (damn you Enjoy By!).
One small caveat: The last time we were here, we asked the bartender if they had any tequila specials. The time was around 830. The response was:
«It ain’t that kinda’ bar.» Bartender immediately exited stage left.
Now, I guess this is the part of the review where I take something personal and rant and rave? But despite my theories I’ll just remain neutral and let you decide what was meant by that or at what level of seriousness it was intended. «It ain’t that kinda’ bar» has now became our inside joke so it’s all good: v

Great time had by all. The bartender is a scholar and a gentleman, the one with the pic beard.

One of the better dive bar’s in SD. Bartender is fairly quick at providing you with your libations. Super chill atmosphere and its very dog friendly. Not that I have a dog or care for dogs roaming all throughout the bar… i’m just saying, in case you have a dog, its very dog friendly. They have one pool table that is rarely played and a vid game to shoot up some deers like all the other bars out there. Also a pinball machine. The bathrooms used to be pure junk but they done fixed that up. I recommend the Tall drinks for $ 8 and they sure pour them niiiiiiiiiiiiice!!! Someone lost a bet ;) so she had to take a shot of whatev. So she wanted a smooth shot, I asked for Patron but they didn’t have that. I asked what they got… they had a $ 6, $ 7, $ 8 & $ 9 tequila shot. I requested the $ 9 but dude said that’s more for «sipping». Funny cuz that’s what she did anyway but dude said the $ 8 is best. And damn!!! It was some goooooooooood tequila. I can def see myself ordering it on the rocks and just sipping on the $ 9 one.
This is a gr8 place to kick off a night or end a night. I also hear a pizza place is right next door. ;)

A local neighborhood bar where you can bring your dog, your own food, and drink for cheap? I’m sold. We came here on a Friday night and my friend told me that happy hour is until 8pm! $ 4-​$ 6 for a good strong drink or a delicious beer. They have plenty of local brews and the favorites on tap and everything is served in a timely manner — even if there is only one bartender holding down the fort (BAMF).
We got some wraps from Mama’s Bakery next door and brought in our pup and were able to score a sweet booth. This is a local dive bar people; not some fancy shmancy high priced cocktail bar with mason jars and potpourri in the bathroom. Though, the women’s bathroom was very clean and had some chalk for you to draw to your hearts content on the bathroom walls.
Hang out in good company and enjoy the local North Park vibes! Also, there may or may not be a whole bar singing along to the juke towards the end of the night.

I’ve been here before when I was wasted and the bar was loud and crowded. So I wasn’t enthusiastic to head back to this place, but when I saw that they had Alpine Nelson on tap (Thanks tap hunter!) I picked up my date and we headed out for his favorite beer.
Livewire was quiet, and the air conditioning was ice cold. Kill Bill was playing on the TV, and the bartender was quick to serve everyone their favorite drinks. Nothing bothered this guy, cool as a cucumber; he let the obnoxious comments and yelling from the young couple slide right off his back without missing a beat.
My burbon on the rocks with a splash of coke had just the right splash. I realize «splash» is subjective, but my glass was full and the ratio was just right for me to sip on while we enjoyed our Sunday. Thanks Live Wire, you’re a gem.

Smells like gam gam and pop pop’s basement in here. I must be home.
Live Wire is your typical punk rock dive bar with loud music and even louder customers. Do not be deterred though, this place offers so much life and local spirit (s) it’s hard to leave once you’ve plopped your booty down at the bar and ordered a strong, but cheap drink. The bartenders here are unique. each one has his own personal style of drink slinging and if you’re lucky, and don’t piss them off, you’ll probably hear some amazing anecdotes. «So this one time, my pet snake…» Meh, you get it.
The Jukebox has a ridiculous music selection, so after you have slammed a few whiskey shots along with a tall can of «Hipster Juice», why not thrown on some Minor Threat and enjoy a nice peaceful game of Buck Hunter. Pew, Pew, Pew!
If you happen to stay here a little longer than you anticipated and get the munchies no need to worry. Luigi’s, the pizza place next door, usually brings over their extra slices after they have closed. So help yourself they offer them to the hungry customers at no charge, but hold up! The bartender always eats first.
«Cold Beer, Warm Friends» — Live Wire
Cheers.