Inside Sacramento's Mermaid Bar

Discovering mermaids—the mystical creatures of the sea—is made possible at Sacramento’s Dive Bar. A play on words, this bar’s namesake illustrates the venue’s unique 7,500-gallon aquarium that hangs above the bar, where the occasional mermaid or merman is known to leisurely swim by.

Identifying the traditional dive bar means looking for a place with no frills or dazzle, which also tips its hat to a past era of time. Dive Bar, in Sacramento, redefines this meaning with fantasy and elegance. Surrounded by vintage brick walls and rich wooden floors, Dive’s enormous aquarium brings in a whole other vibe unlike any other bar—dramatic, elite, and dream-like.

For those on the hunt for mermaids, before heading into Dive Bar, there’s always a posted sign for the mermaids’ “showtimes,” either outside the venue or on their website. Though it varies by day, mermaid showings typically start at 5:00 p.m. and happen periodically until 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; from Sunday-Wednesday, performances are at 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Performances typically involve one mermaid or merman parading through the tank, exhibiting his or her oceanic charm. Every once in a while, on the more crowded nights, two merpeople enter the tank and delight Dive Bar drinkers. And for exceptionally devoted mermaid fans, there’s a tip jar for the merpeople as well; apparently, mystical creatures of the ocean have bills to pay too.

As an establishment that raises the standard of entertainment, class, and fantasy, Dive Bar does more than just wow its patrons with mermaids. The K Street watering hole partners with next door neighbor Pizza Rock to bring hungry drinkers hot and fresh dinners and bites during the bar’s happy hour. There’s also a DJ spinning music on a nightly basis that fills the cozy space with elevating tunes that even the mermaids can “dance” to.

In case the concept of mermaids isn’t enough to pique the interests of some bar-dwellers, this lounge didn’t let the chance to amaze go to waste. As the merpeople swim above the bar, the rest of the interior took the idea of a mermaid’s elegance and designed a bar she and the rest of her underwater kin would want to drink at—including a dramatic chandelier hanging from the ceiling, plush leather chairs, and dim mood-lighting. Dive Bar’s interior oozes a vintage glamor that explains why so many people, mer or otherwise, enjoy indulging in a post-work drink or celebratory night out in this downtown Sacramento spot.