WARM UP & DRINK UP. The Dive has offered curated craft cocktails with a more upscale atmosphere in the heart of downtown E.C. for 8 years.

As the temperature dips, there are a few things that can warm us up. A nice cocktail comes to the minds of many Wisconsinites. Eau Claire is known for many things; friendly people, great shopping destinations, and wonderful options to grab a good cocktail.

Eight years ago, the Pablo Group bought the building that existed in the heart of downtown Eau Claire and transformed it into a gorgeous hotel and dining experience. This building is the Lismore Hotel (333 Gibson St., Eau Claire) and contains not only the hotel itself but a coffee shop named ECDC (Eau Claire Downtown Coffee), a posh restaurant called, The Informalist, and located on the second floor of the building is The Dive Bar.

According to their website, the name, Dive, pays tribute to the history of the space it occupies. In the 1970’s, The Dive was the hotel’s swimming pool. Since the Pablo Group’s acquisition, the space has been transformed not only into a luxurious cocktail bar, but an experience as one of Eau Claire’s premiere rooftop bar and hangout joints.

Jack Jensen, Dive bar supervisor, is attributed to the ongoing success of The Dive as he oversees many of the daily operations of the bar and the creation of their unique upscale cocktail menu. After being in the service industry since he was 15 years old, he began bartending in 2017, previously working for The Abbey Pub and Grub in Menomonie. As COVID hit, it left a hole in the service industry and he left to pursue other options, and soon found himself working at The Dive and climbed to becoming the bar supervisor because of his passion for spirits and service.

“At first it was tough, because previously I was in a college-town atmosphere bar and The Dive had a very different clientele. It was intimidating, but the focus on quality and service was always an important factor for me no matter the customer,” Jack said.

“I didn’t know a lot about cocktail drinks before working here, but I’ve learned a lot and enjoy drinking cocktails now just as much as I do creating them. My personal favorite cocktail is the Negroni, which is equal parts gin, vermouth, and Campari,” Jack continued.

Cocktail lounge menus are constantly changing as the seasons do. Jack and his crew are currently working on their holiday menu which features many seasonal flavors such as butterscotch and cranberries. A new drink he’s particularly excited about is a drink affectionately called, the Toasty Sweater, which is a cocktail made of rum, toasted almonds, coco bitters, and aqua fava lemon juice.

And while they may be a rooftop bar, you won’t be freezing while enjoying your next cocktail at the Dive. They just restarted their popular outdoor igloo rentals again. These outdoor igloos are a fun way to enjoy some drinks and stay warm with your friends as you gaze at the snowy evenings for roughly 1.5 hour timeframes. Reservations start at $50 on Tuesdays-Thursdays and $100 on Friday and Saturday. The Dive is closed Sunday and Monday.

So if you and your friends are looking for an upscale cocktail experience, head over to the Dive this holiday season. Jack and his crew are ready to mix up something delicious for you.

Igloos at Dive.

For more information about the Dive, please visit their website www.thedive.bar. Keep up with Dive on Facebook.