The Spigot

Love The Spigot...a great local dive bar on the Hartford / West Hartford line. Phenomenal draft beer selection and even a better bottle selection. Unpretentious place with a great jukebox.  When friends visit out of town I always try to work in a visit to The Spigot....we don't have many Dive Bars in this area.  Cash only so don't forget your duckets.

If you're a hipster who rolled into West Hartford Center and walked into a bar and then had a panic attack thinking you had somehow teleported to the Jersey Shore, take a deep breath and relax. Get back into your car and drive less than two miles down the road and find the Spigot. You may look at the building and be confused as to whether or not it's a bar - but it is, and a mighty fine one at that.

Not only does The Spigot always have some decent drafts but they also have a selection of bottled craft beers that has the potential to blow your mind. It takes up an entire wall and has everything from New England local brews to specialty ales you can't even find in some liquor stores. Everything is fairly priced including their pitchers.

It may have a "dive bar" feel, but I wouldn't call it a dive. It's clean and well-maintained. There's two dartboards, a good amount of tables for sitting, and they allow you to bring your own food which is clutch because who isn't excited about a Tupperware of snacks after housing a few beers?

In addition to beers they also have a full bar. When I brought my sister from out of town they made her a margarita. She said it was good but I totally judged her for ordering it. Speaking as someone who isn't into the ritz and glitz of West Hartford's bar scene I highly recommend the Spigot. It's closer than Hartford bars and on the WeHa border - it's a much safer section of town.

From the outside it looks like a misplaced red barn. The Spigot is a good 'ol dive bar with a wholesome feel. The inside reminds me of an outgrown basement in the suburbs where we'd idle away precious hours playing Mario Kart 64 and Rock Band 360 surrounded by crayon masterpiece-covered walls. On Spigot's walls hang dart boards, black and white photos, and vintage baseball player headshots. The bathroom is very clean, the beers are cheap and plentiful. The jukebox is my favorite. Crowds vary. Youngsters congregate around the darts. Find venerable middle-agers parked at the counter.

Haven't been inside Spigot for years. Perhaps when I am middle-aged and grey at the temples, Spigot will still be around for those of us left to grab a cold draft and a bag of hot nuts amidst a backdrop reminiscent of our childhood basement.