19 Real Photos of Wild West Saloons

Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor

Jul 11, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

Ah, the wild west. A place that many of us have frequented in our imaginations and in movies. A place that has captured the attention of humans who did not get to experience it, in ways that genuinely do not make much sense. It was lawless, disease was rampant, and after all that the best you could do for yourself was to frequent a wooden shack of sorts where you would get a mildly cold beverage that you hope would not be contaminated.

But nonetheless the idea of the old western saloon has still made its way into our hearts as the classic community gathering place, where men of religion could rub elbows with men of crime, share a drink and a brawl while the ragtime piano player tried to dodge the flying debris. What a time to have been alive, well as long as you managed to make it past the age of thirty without contracting dysentery….

01

via CincoDeMayoFan
You know, it is rather amusing that in some way, these saloons have a similar style to the cafés and bistros we so enjoy today. The difference being they have been geared towards what we need today, which is apparently overpriced food that doesn't taste so great. Makes you with you were a cowboy who spent the day being chased by bullets and in need of a cold brew to take the edge off.
02

via CincoDeMayoFan
03

via CincoDeMayoFan
04

via CincoDeMayoFan
05

via CincoDeMayoFan
06

via CincoDeMayoFan
This looks like what would happen if we time travelled and tried to step foot in a saloon in our clothes from 2025. An unfriendly, distrusting crowd who look like they are more likely to serve you up on a platter than they are to serve you a cold beverage.
07

via CincoDeMayoFan
08

via CincoDeMayoFan
09

via CincoDeMayoFan
10

via CincoDeMayoFan
11

via CincoDeMayoFan
12

via CincoDeMayoFan
13

via CincoDeMayoFan
14

via CincoDeMayoFan
15

via CincoDeMayoFan
16

via CincoDeMayoFan
17

via Remarkable_Put_7952
18

via Remarkable_Put_7952
19

via Remarkable_Put_7952