Instant Replay

My good friend and fellow Yelper Chris A read my last review of this place and said to me, "I can't believe you didn't include your katy Perry story in your review of Instant Replay." So here it is!

It was about eight years ago and my good buddy from Ohio was dating a girl from Hollywood named Katy. She was a struggling musician and he was in town to produce a record for another band. Katy would come down to visit but would leave as soon as he had to slip into the studio for 12 or 15 hours. One day she looked at me and said that she wanted to stay in SD for the day and hit some dive bars... Instant Replay was the top of the list and as divey as they come... bring it on!

We posted up in the dark bar for several hours, drank beer and cursed with the locals and she took it all perfectly in stride. As the night continued we shot pool, talked life and I can still see the dimly lit and dingy background of the IR clear as day in mind. A few hours later we picked up the pieces and moved to greener pastures, Mckee's Tavern (now Kelly's Pub), where it turned into a black out drunk night.

Yes, she was as pretty then as she now and any girl who can drink at a bar like IR is a keeper in my book. My buddy really eff'd that one up.

Cash only bar. Really surprised this place hasnt been shut down. Dirty, dangerous and seedy. Somehow the bartenders are really nice.

How would I describe Instant Replay?  A locals bar would be one way to reference it but of course the main way to describe it would be as a dive bar and I am completely fine with that.

If you happen to wander in to this place and you're not a regular to IR, you will definitely get some stares.  No, not a Charles Manson chill up your spine type of stare but more of a "who are you and welcome to OUR bar" type of stare.

I don't recall if they have any beer on tap but I do know they have a nice selection of bottled beer and a full bar.  Drinks here were quite inexpensive compared to others and the girl slinging drinks behind the bar was friendly and efficient.

IR is dark and dingy as you'd expect.  The bar curves around from where you walk in towards the back of this little gem with plenty of stools to grab a seat.  If the bar setting isn't your choice, there are a few tables strewn throughout.

This place doesn't seem to attract a large crowd.  In fact the pool tables were not being used whatsoever while I was there and that is rare for any bar.

The only time I've been to IR, I quickly noticed that the age demographic is a little higher than most places.  I then looked in the mirror and realized I am closer that that demographic than I lead myself to believe.

A cool little watering hole in an established neighborhood.  What more could one ask for?