Wilson's Sports Bar

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday

Cover: None

Signature drink: The only tap handles in the bar read Bud and Bud Light. The only beer signs are from Anheuser-Busch. Dale Earnhardt Jr. flags fly proud. It's safe to say the King of Beers is popular in these parts.

What to wear: You can wear anything to this little dive, just don't be surprised if you find your shirt sticking to the top of the bar. With cigarette ashes flying around, we'd advise against anything black - unless it's a NASCAR T-shirt.

Bathroom break: We're sure they're in there somewhere and no doubt the regulars know the secret location. But if you're an outsider looking for the head, you're better off using the gas station down the street.

The Scene: It's dark, it's dingy, and it's upholstered in duct tape. The bartender is more loaded than the patrons, so forget cosmos or margaritas -- you'll be lucky to get a good vodka tonic. This is a beer and shooters place where the crowd is always interesting and the jukebox is country rockin'.

Specials: There are no specials; the beer is cheap enough as-is. But they host karaoke Wednesday through Saturday (9 p.m. to 2 a.m.) and live music on Tuesday nights.

The scoop: The beauty of a dive bar is it will almost always have character. And there is no shortage of interesting quirks at St. Pete's historic Wilson's Sports Bar. With a puke-green exterior and fake palm trees on the roof, you can't miss this joint while driving down Fourth Street. The doors are always open, the only light inside comes from out-of-date beer signs and a heavy haze of cigarette smoke fills the room. The only real connection to sports is a few TV sets, but the color on the screen is tinted in green and the jukebox drowns out any chance to hear the game.

Wilson's is a bar that doesn't feel the need to change, as every other gin joint has gone the way of the yuppie. The locals are a bit older, work hard for a living and appreciate the art of conversation over a brewski. Everyone is known by his or her first name and you can expect they all spend more time at their beloved watering hole than at home. Wilson's is the last of what was once a chain of six bars, but judging from the local following, we're guessing this one will be around for a very long time.

Insider secret: Wilson's does not serve food, but there is a nifty little counter near the back of the bar that comes complete with a microwave. If patrons get hungry, they can bring in food and have a warm meal in minutes.

By Doug Van Sant