Mike’s Tavern is Peoria’s most classic dive bar in my opinion. I ended my 365 bar crawl there back in 2011 and it’s been a regular stop here at MBIP. I just realized today that it’s been quite a while since we’ve stopped in at MIke’s. Time to correct that right now...
Here we are at Mike’s Tavern in beautiful West Peoria! Let’s get inside, it’s freezing out here!
There’s a decent crowd in here and it’s always nice and dark at Mike’s, just the way I like it! Let’s go to the end of the bar and grab a seat.
Here’s bartender Mandy serving up a Budweiser tallboy! I haven’t seen Mandy in here since she first started tending bar back on the 4th of July of 2014! Great to see her again!
Ashley was seated next to me at the bar and she came to hang out with Mandy for the evening.
Fresh popcorn alert! Mandy told me she prides herself on keeping bowls of fresh popcorn at the bar for patrons of Mike’s. I love that!
There’s the legendary school desks behind the bar. These have been in the bar for decades.
There’s a nice tribute to former owner, Tony Ward on the back wall. Tony was a great guy and he is missed at Mike’s!
A wedding picture of the current owners, Shannon and Roy hangs behind the bar. Shannon is Tony’s daughter and she took over the ownership of the bar after Tony died.
There’s a gaming room in the back of Mike’s and this is fairly new.
I’ve always loved the back room a.k.a. “The Corporate Office.”
Mike’s is one of the few bars left that has a working pay phone in it.
Here’s two shots of both ends of the weathered wooden bar at Mike’s Tavern.
I love the vintage Busch beer sign and clock that hangs over the back of the bar.
Speaking of the back of the bar, there’s all kinds of treasures and memorable knick-knacks to be found behind the bar.
They’ve got a decent selection of beers on tap these days! I remember back when there was only about three beers on tap here.
The dusty beer can and bottle collection down here at the end of the bar is one of my favorite things at Mike's! I’d be willing to bet that’s the only can of Billy Beer in Peoria!
You know you’re in a classic Peoria bar if there’s a Budweiser trolley spinning overhead!
Before I left I took a parting shot of everyone at the bar, clockwise from bottom left: Kelly, Wayne, Mandy and Denise. Thanks to Mandy and everyone at Mike’s for another great night at one of Peoria’s classic dive bars! We’ll see you all tomorrow!
Mike’s Tavern
626 W. Cedar
West Peoria
(I have the phone number to Mike’s but most people don’t because it's a secret, so there!)
Related Posts: Thursday Night Beers @ The Red Barn, Whitey’s Tip Top Inn and The Owl’s Nest.