Scooter's Bar Journal » Sioux City

Red Room Lounge

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:13:00 +0000

(Westside South, Sioux City, IA)

Scooter’s 1023rd bar, first visited in 2014.

This cash-only dive features a rectangular island bar in the center of the main room, small but cheap pours (or pitchers), and food options of frozen pizza or chips hanging from a display in the middle of the stained glass ceiling.

A side room contained at least one pool table and what looked like possibly an old-school rear-projection TV.

This bar reminded me a lot of Halek’s Bar in Minneapolis.

When I left I discovered someone had parked blocking the parking lot exit, so I must have looked like a complete drunkard driving from corner to corner looking for a way out before finally giving up and driving over the sidewalk.

1000 W 7th St
Sioux City, IA 51103
US
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(712) 277-9833
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The Old Brass Rail

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Sioux City, IA)

Scooter’s 1022nd bar, first visited in 2014.

My visit to The Old Brass Rail reminded me a lot of my favorite downtown dive bar back home. Small, intimate, a cast of regulars who know each other, and even a library of books to read and share. I sat among about half a dozen people 10 years older than me watching “Rocky II”.

As dives go, this place is quite a bit cleaner than most. Almost too clean to fit the category! (Though I didn’t need to use the restroom, so I could be wrong!)

I noticed a small room in the back that had a pool table and assumed that was the extent of the bar. But after finding them on Facebook, I have learned from the photos that had I gone back there I would have found that it continued to the next storefront, where bands sometimes set up to play.

Several online reviews let me to believe this place would be terrifying, but I knew that was most likely not the case at all. Indeed, it was definitely not the least bit scary. A nice place for cheap drinks.

601 Pearl St.
Sioux City, IA 51101
US
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(712) 277-9985
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Firehouse Bar

scooterj — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Sioux City, IA)

Scooter’s 1021st bar, first visited in 2014.

The aptly named Firehouse Bar is located in a former fire station on the east edge of downtown Sioux City.

The bar is spacious with very high ceilings and packed with firefighting decor. There are pool tables, dart boards, and several TVs, as well as several video games, a boxing game, and free popcorn.

While I didn’t venture out back, there is a large patio with several covered areas that are heated in cold weather.

As I drank my Guinness, a man came in and asked the bartender for duct tape so he could tape the sole back onto one of his shoes. As a man who wears all of his shoes until their complete destruction, I was completely sympathetic.

1211 5th St.
Sioux City, IA 51101
US
[launch map]
(712) 224-1020
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