Savannah, Georgia Dive Bar Goes Viral For Asking Visitors To Draw Abraham Lincoln On A Cocktail Napkin

A dive bar’s version of a paint and sip class.

A good dive bar is hard to come by these days. For me, the criteria for what makes a good dive bar are relatively simple: It needs to give you the feeling that it might violate a health code when the lights are turned on, it has to have at least one regular sitting at the bar, and it has a unique theme or aspect that helps it stand out among other dive bars. I feel like many other dive bar enthusiasts would also agree with that statement.

And if you like to visit dive bars when visiting a city you don’t call home, this one needs to be added to your list because it was an immediate addition to mine.

Savannah, Georgia, has a bar called Abe’s, which is fittingly located on Lincoln Street. The bar’s location and name already get a 10/10 in my book, but it’s a must-visit after seeing what this bar looks like on the inside. Abe’s features low ceilings, dim lighting, and walls filled with images of the man the bar is named after. Yep, there are drawings of Abraham Lincoln all over the walls, ceiling, and any other major crevices you can think of.

However, this art on the walls is not art that the bar purchased. It’s art created by the visitors of Abe’s on Lincoln. In a viral TikTok, two creators who recently visited the bar disclosed to future visitors that in order to be served, you have to draw a picture of Abe. Or if your art skills are anything like mine, you hope that a variation of Abraham is accepted.

The two visitors in the viral video showed off their forms of Abe, one a portrait and the other a decorative spelling of the 16th president’s name. In theory, you gain access to the bar once you present the bartender with your drawing of Abe. However, a a handful of Abe’s regulars shared in the comments that drawing an Abe is not required to be served but is highly encouraged.

“I’m an Abe’s regular. You definitely don’t have to draw an Abe in order to get served (but you should anyway– it’s fun!)”

Regardless, this is so niche, but I am so here for it.

@jayandleelove Rate our Abe’s then draw an Abe and then mail an Abe. Great bar in Savannah, GA. #fyp #bars #savannahbananas #savannahga #wlw #ratethings ♬ Come Check This (Quickie Edit) – FETISH

The comments section on this viral video was GOLD, with many people dropping names to other Abe Lincoln-themed bars or reasoning that Abe’s on Lincoln was made for them.

“As a child, I went through a very long phase of constantly drawing Abe Lincoln, so I feel like I’ve worked my whole life to go here.”

“Do I get a free drink if I share my birthday with Abe?”

“There’s a speakeasy by me called Lincoln’s, cash only, all drinks are five bucks.”

“Do you have to draw him from memory bc I fear mine would be an atrocity.”

“I feel like this is gonna get competitive with SCAD students.”

“My dream bar.”

“ABE’S IS MY SAFE HAVEN. MY HOME.”

“Excellent use of free will.”

“I found my people.”

If you go to Abe’s on Lincoln, I feel like you have to draw an Abe. It’s the American thing to do.

Check out some more footage of this glorious dive bar.