A bad bar doesn’t always reveal its subpar nature right away. It instead provides subtle hints that point to poor quality, and these clues usually can’t be spotted until guests settle into their barstools. When they are identified, however, they can become red flags so big and bright, they radically alter the guest experience. Instead of the bar becoming the conduit for a fun hangout session over a couple of cocktails, it downgrades into a spot where quickly drinking a bottled beer while coming up with a contingency plan is the only viable option.