Dave's Tavern (Gone)
New York City, NY
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The neon is rather eye-catching at Dave's Tavern in New York City. Located along 9th Avenue near 42nd Street, the glowing marquee once lit up the sidewalk right in the heart of Manhattan's bustling Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. 07-07

The narrow storefront served for years as a classic, unpretentious Irish dive bar, complete with cold drafts, a pool table, and sports glowing on the tube. Longtime patrons fondly remember the joint for its old-school quirks, namely serving up unlimited free popcorn and peanuts, where everyone was actively encouraged to toss the cracked shells straight onto the floor, making a signature crunch with every step to the bar. Since the tavern didn't have its own hot kitchen, regulars were even welcome to carry in takeout from neighboring neighborhood eateries to enjoy at the counter.

UPDATE: Dave's Tavern closed its doors and the standout exterior neon marquee was removed as new retail tenants moved into the 9th Avenue storefront. 08-26

Tam Tavern
Boston, MA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Cruising along Tremont Street near the edge of Boston Common at twilight, the glowing green awning and vintage neon shield outside The Tam are bound to grab your attention. Anchoring the Theater District since 1947, this unpretentious downtown institution has been slinging cold drafts and pouring stiff drinks for nearly eight decades. 02-08

Look up right under the awning and you will spot a true rarity: a classic 1940s-era Michelob neon sign, still glowing bright alongside its vintage Budweiser counterpart. Step inside and there is zero pretense to be found. It is a quintessential, old-school dive through and through, complete with a long laminate bar, a jukebox setting the mood, and a strictly cash-only counter that keeps things moving fast before or after a show.

UPDATE: The Tam continues pouring cheap pints and lighting up Tremont Street with its classic mid-century neon. 08-26

Kelly's Bar
Liberty, PA
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

Here is a gem of a roadside sign outside Kelly's Bar (Kelly's Bar & Lounge), located along Centre Avenue in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (often misidentified as the town of Liberty). 01-08

Towering above the sidewalk, the vintage vertical neon marquee touts "Good Food" alongside an animated glowing neon martini glass that points travelers right toward the entrance. The building itself is a mid-century standout, complete with an overhanging metal canopy and a sleek Vitrolite glass facade that dates back to its 1940s roots. Step inside and you will find an authentic, unpretentious retreat with cozy booths, zero blaring television sets, and a retro jukebox spinning tunes while the kitchen whips up its famous baked-to-order macaroni and cheese.

UPDATE: Following a full restoration of the vintage neon marquee and facade repairs, Kelly's Bar continues pouring cold drinks and serving up comfort food in East Liberty. 08-26

Bill's Bar and Lounge
Boston, MA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Bill's Bar and Lounge is located in a familiar area to those that frequent the Fenway Park area often. That's because it sits right along Lansdowne Street, directly across from the legendary Green Monster outfield wall. 08-08

Opening its doors back in 1989, the spot quickly earned a reputation as Fenway's original alternative music joint, hosting iconic early sets from bands like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Interpol. For years, its bold, bright red neon marquee hung proudly over the sidewalk, even making an appearance in the opening credits of TV's Bar Rescue, serving as a beacon for concertgoers, rock fans, and baseball crowds grabbing a cold pint before the first pitch.

UPDATE: While Bill's Bar and Lounge continues packing in crowds for drinks, live tunes, and comedy along Lansdowne Street, the vintage red neon marquee was replaced with a modern flat sign during a remodel. 08-26

Boot and Saddle Bar (Closed)
Philadelphia, PA
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

Cruising down South Broad Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it is impossible to miss the towering 20-foot neon marquee in the shape of a massive cowboy boot outside the Boot and Saddle Bar (Boot & Saddle). 01-08

Dating back to the 1950s, the tavern originally opened as an authentic country-and-western joint, serving for decades as a favorite watering hole for off-duty workers from the nearby Philadelphia Navy Yard. The eye-catching boot sign—custom-designed on a kitchen table by the Colavita brothers of Colonial Signs—became an instant South Philly icon. After sitting dark for nearly twenty years following the Navy Yard's decline, the venue was resurrected in 2013 as an intimate indie-rock room with a beautifully restored neon boot lighting up the avenue once again.

UPDATE: While the music venue closed in 2020, the space reopened in late 2022 as Solar Myth, a cafe and natural wine lounge, with the famous restored neon boot officially protected on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places and still glowing over Broad Street. 08-26

Old Town Bar
New York City, NY
Photo courtesy Jim Zahniser

Here is the old sign at the Old Town Bar in New York City. Located on East 18th Street in Manhattan, this legendary watering hole has been pouring drinks since 1892. According to their website, the saloon has been recognized multiple times, including being named "Best Old Bar in NYC" by NBC. 09-10

The massive, double-sided porcelain neon sign hanging over the sidewalk dates back to 1937, installed right after Prohibition when the joint transitioned from a speakeasy front—where patrons famously stashed their liquor inside hollowed-out wooden dining booths during police raids—back into an open tavern. Step inside and you are immediately transported back to the 19th century. The cavernous room boasts a 55-foot-long mahogany and marble bar, pristine pressed-tin ceilings, original tile flooring, and New York's oldest working mechanical dumbwaiter still shuttling hot food down from the second-floor kitchen.

The vintage vibe is so perfectly preserved that the bar has made historic pop culture cameos in everything from the opening credits of Late Night with David Letterman to House of Pain's "Jump Around" music video. Even the men's room is a piece of history, famous for its towering, shoulder-height 1910 porcelain urinals!

UPDATE: The Old Town Bar remains fully operational under the continuous care of the Meagher family, keeping that beautiful 1937 neon glowing bright over the sidewalk while preserving its classic, no-TV tavern atmosphere for the next generation of patrons. 08-26

Rinky Dinks Roadhouse
Amity, PA
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

Welcome to Rinky Dinks Roadhouse in Amity, Pennsylvania. Located along Amity Ridge Road about 40 minutes south of Pittsburgh, this rustic Washington County roadhouse is hard to miss thanks to its eye-catching, giant cowboy silhouette holding up the bright yellow sign out front. 12-10

Step inside and you'll find an authentic, down-home honky-tonk complete with a unique W-shaped wooden wrap-around bar, a cash-only policy, and a roaring cast-iron wood stove that keeps the room warm when the winter chill sets in. Despite its tucked-away rural location, the joint has built a massive reputation for serving up hearty steaks and hosting live country, honky-tonk, and rock acts every weekend—even drawing national legends like John Anderson to its stage over the years.

UPDATE: Rinky Dinks Roadhouse is still going strong, keeping the cold drinks flowing, the live bands playing, and that big cutout cowboy standing guard over the parking lot. 08-26