We attended the NASCAR race in Sonoma over the weekend which was really fun. We decided to go up to Petaluma and went to Gale's Central Club and enjoyed really good food and outstanding drinks at a reasonable price. The bartenders not sure if they were the owners were incredibly nice and welcoming. Just like out of an episode from Cheers "Where everybody knows your name" at least it felt like that for a first time visitor! Great place! read more

We had friends visiting from out of state and we always find a dive bar to enjoy. I have been to downtown Petaluma, and in the general area a million times and I've never even seen Gale's. Julie the most fabulous, engaging and hilarious bartender, kept us entertained. There's a couple pool tables and modern juke box, the expected regulars and eclectic decor. PBR on tap, which the menfolk really liked. Always Tito's and soda for my friend and I. We spent way more time in there than we planned it was a great all around experience. Cheers to Julie! read more

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It was a cold rainy afternoon and the bartender warmed us up with a good old fashioned! Fun bar read more

After 6:00 pm most nights, Helga makes snd serves the drinks. I would say that the good time is 6:00 or later. This is because Helga knows how to serve the drinks. When you order a Manhattan you get it in a martini glass not a 6 ounce with a ice rock. The ambience is true dive bar. All kinds of things on the walls. 2 pool tables, draft beers a few tvs and juke box that uses i-tunes so can select your music. You may have to listen to some country music before your carefully selected tunes play read more

Everything... including fascinating conversation with eclectic mix of locals and random adventuring tourists.

Divey but fun bar in downtown Petaluma. Was in Peta for a wedding, and Centeal was Just a couple blocks from our hotel. All had a fun time! read more

Gale's Central Club - Pre wedding celebrations at Central. - Pool Halls Near Me - Petaluma, California

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scammed us ordered two cocktails $17 and put no liqour in our drinks! hehebwhwwiwngewuwiwbeve read more

Fun scene- live music. Long bar with lots to choose. Welcoming folks on this weekend - Felt like a locals place but what do we know?

Date night started off at this delightful dive bar in downtown Petaluma. Smokers languishing on the back stairs, overlooking the river, indicated this was our kinda place. Inside, we scored $6 pints of beer, and plugged bills into the overpriced juke box, while a cheery group of millennials commandeered the 2 pool tables. We didn't sample the small menu of bar food ($3 corn dogs, $4 cheeseburgers, etc). We'll definitely be back! read more

Great dive bar. Bartenders are fabulous, clientele diverse and drinks decent price. Only complaint it's a little bright for a dive bar. I'll be back! read more

Who doesn't love Gale's? The only people that don't have a fun time at Gale's are pretentious, up-tight, stuffy middle aged women. And even those type of patrons end up having a blast if they give this dive bar a chance for more than 1 drink. Gale's Central Club is the type of place where you see a 21 year old punk rocker kid chatting with a 70 year old conservative cattle rancher. The drinks are CHEAP (the have $2 drink specials 5 nights a week)!! Also, they have 10 great beers on tap! And despite the negative reviews, this bar is extremely safe and doesn't even have 10% of the fights that the other, more popular clubs in town do. Live music every Thursday with no cover charge. Bands range from rockabilly to country. Hip Hop to punk... Oh yeah, and I almost forgot! They can sell booze TO GO! So, at last call, you can buy a 6 pack of great white and a bottle of jager! Gotta love Gale's!! read more

What an awesome dive bar. 3$ bud lights, a cute bartender, fkn horrible music that you hate, like 107.7 the bone, but crappier. I just wandered in here with a strong buzz and a kings thirst, and ended up staying like 4 hours. I had to beat the cougars off with a stick! You dont hunt cougars here..sht son, they hunt you! But overall I had a great time and met some cool folks. Ill be back.. read more

Dive bar. Nothing too special stands out. Friendly crowd conjugated, Locals are regulars. Chummy bar staff. Drinks are decent. Not strong drinks. I only had one drink and then left. read more

Gale's Central Club - Here's a pic inside of Gale's bar on Kentucky St., in Petaluma. - Pool Halls Near Me - Petaluma, California

Reading through the reviews here it is obvious Gale's has its share of fans and critics, and like most nasty, seedy wateringholes, a bunch of critics who cannot seem to stop going there. I don't live in Petaluma and only went to Gale's once, so I did not have the time to soak up the lost dreams and sob stories that live in the cracks and crevices of all good dive bars. To try and do so would be like an out-of-towner going into my Round Corner for 60 minutes and trying to understand why there is a one eyed ex-crack dealer with a cane who perches outside on a regular occasion: you don't know because you are an outsider. The nuance of the place is only revealed after you completed your evaluation period, initiation and had at least one good cry. But let me tell you what I do know: after being shocked and horrified by the bizarre setup at Infusions (please see my previous review), I asked a raucous group of locals "Where is the best dive in Petaluma?" They pointed me to Gale's. read more

Gale's is the definition of a dive bar. People of all walks of life getting too drunk on drinks that are not expensive. It has a jukebox two pool tables and be yourself have fun attitude. Basic set up and nothing fancy. If you want to people watch, meet strangers, and have a good drunk time, this is the place! read more

Not that bad of a place. It has pretty good priced beers, a pool table, juke box, and is away from the busier bars downtown. The only problem I had though was the vibe. I felt that if you are new then you will be looked at as an outcast. You have to be a regular or know regulars to have a good time. The bartender girl was pretty and very friendly, but sadly I need the people instead to also be friendly in order to return. I prob won't return on my own request, but might if others decide to stop by. It isn't a bad place... you just fit in or not. If not, just check out another place. read more

A very popular "dive bar"... Premium people watching. Cheap drinks. Pool Table. Juke box. rad bartenders. read more

Not a bad place to spend a night in Petaluma. Once you go just once, the doorman and bartenders are pretty good at remembering your face. The drinks aren't bad, the prices aren't either, and there is a good mix of all kinds of people to be found. A couple of pool tables and a jukebox make for good entertainment. You'll probably see everyone you know at this bar, which could be a good thing or a bad one. read more

Okay for sure- this is the best place to hang out in Petaluma for a good cheap drink with good company as well. Most bars with cheap drinks are full of ass holes and virtually no girls. It's different here- plenty of cool people, plenty of beautiful girls. Gale's clientele is rich in petaluma's blue blood heritage and lots of students and post students too. The juke box here is awesome I guess it's connected to rhapsody so its got everything the net has to offer. 5 bucks will get you 20 plays. Special nights include: Tuesday 2 dollar kamikazes Thursday 2 dollar cosmos Every night- 2 dollar Irish slides (that's the shot in the Irish Car Bomb) Generally the place is packed from Thursday night on thru Sunday. Go check out- lots of beer on tap including the two prides of Sonoma County- Lagunitas and Red Tail Ale This is the best bar in Petaluma. Be sure to check out its myspace page listed as the web address. read more

Gale's Central Club - Here she is Gale herself... - Pool Halls Near Me - Petaluma, California

Last night was probably my first and last time going to Gale's. Now, that has nothing to do with Gale's itself, but more to do with the fact that 1. I hardly ever drink, and 2. Petaluma is kind of far. I ended up at Gale's because one of my friends was having his going away party there and there wasn't an ice cube's chance in hell that I'd miss it. Gale's turned out to be the perfect place! I was surprised by the "high tech" jukebox which had a decent selection of songs. They also had two pool tables, one crappy arcade machine, and a fuzzy painted picture of a naked lady. The bartender was really nice and very attentive to our group - I think some of that had to do with the fact that they were friends with her or her friends, or something to that effect. And that's what is kind of awesome about Gale's. Getting to randomly see folks you haven't seen in ages while having a few good drinks. NOT: for scenesters, hipsters, tourists, or jerks. read more

The best dive in Petaluma. Friendly service, Racer 5 and Lagunitas on tap along with other, (cheaper and) less drinkable beers, a couple of coin op pool tables, standard internet juke box and a package store in the front. Quiet on weeknights, crowded on the weekends. What is missing from this place is actual real, unpackaged food served late every night of the week. A pile of smokers adorn the entrance any time the place is open (seriously, there were 3 people out front at 1pm on a sunday afternoon, and you can tell from a block away that there is a bar there. The entrance is smallish, but the knot of people around the doors will quickly part to allow you entrance to the bar, or if you prefer, the package store, with an odd assortment of made to order pulled pork sandwiches, tampons, candy bars, condoms, aspirin, and six packs. The place is small, you have to step between the singer and the drummer to get to the bathroom when they have live music (not often while I am there.) Generally, the music is from the jukebox and is a mix of mostly country (a downside for me,) and some tried and true metal (ok, but played out.) All kinds inhabit the long dark bar. I have not gotten to know them yet, but they surely look like a motley assortment of rag tag characters, each with a story of their very own. The televisions play a mix of silent metal, football, american football, hunting shows and other randomness, while the bartender(s) do their best to keep up with demand. Other bars in Petaluma may offer a more seedy mix of characters, but at Central Club, you never know what weirdness you may find. read more

I hate Gales! I hate it soo much. BUT its a love hate thing. I've been going there since the high school days (shh don't tell, back when it was a real sh*thole). I've had many a drunk night, a horrible hookup, etc, etc. Yet when I come back into town I have to go. Just to see who's still there. Its like a bad reunion or a horrible car accident, you can't look away you just have to go! I love you Gales. I hate you Gales. read more

HA! this place. i was drinking here when i was 16 along with half the town. smoking was allowed years after the ban. and the crabby old people are always nice and crabby. faces changes as i keep getting older but its always a young crowd of the more alternative kids. some of my friends friends became bar tenders here. and they got some fancy shmancy juke box a while ago that's pretty cool for a petaluma dive bar. this place pretty much defined what i look for in a dive bar. cheap drinks, a pool table, juke box with metal, and nostalgia. every time i come home to visit, i just have to come to Gail's late at night and I'm bound to run into a lot of people i hate and wish would die, but luckily i see one or two old friends that make it all worth while. read more

It's a dive bar in Petaluma, what else did you expect? They do have a smoke shop connected to the front of this place and they sell bottled alcohol too, reminds me of bars in the midwest. Cheap Miller Highlife's, pool tables, jukebox playing crappy music, and weird shit/art on the walls. If I'm in Petaluma again I'll hit it up. read more

Helga was the highlight of our night! She was kind, accommodating, and gave the BEST pool tips! We were walking to our car and noticed the back door open on our way, and saw the pool table and decided to stop in! So glad we did! We had a great time. And would love to come back even just to visit Helga! read more

Dear Petalumites, "In the midst of it all, Steve, the bartender stayed true to his self and his patrons." It was a warm Wednesday night after a long day of excitement found so dearly at Graton Casino. I won thirty whole dollars! One of my friends walked away triumphant with one-hundred and sixty fresh big ones in his pocket after beating the odds at the casino. Unfortunately, the third member of our team walked away with his head held low and his dreams crushed, losing eighty greenbacks to the grips of "Greedy Graton" as us locals call the casino. Needless to say, our friend Chris Smith who goes to school at Wellesley and lives right across from the historically delicious Petaluma Italian paradise, "Trattoria Amante Dello Sperma" on the fourth floor, apartment 420, was going to get plenty of rounds of sweet two dollar rum and cokes from us victors. A few of Gale's signature Mind-Erasers and about eight or nine rum and cokes and we were on our way, breaking out into the night, so much to see...so much to experience. As the amber liquid flowed, Steve began undressing, flirting with Chris, intriguing him with his physique. Some may say it was for the tips, however, we all knew it was true love. Gale's will remain a figment of our imagination as their signature drink stayed true to its nomenclature. Sincerely, Anonymous read more

this place COULD be a totally divey dive bar.. but it's just a shitty dive bar. not cuz of the drinks, not cuz of the funky dirty place, cuz of some of the crappy people. unless you are a total LABELED grunger/scenester/a-hole... they stare at you like WTF are you doing here. so typical. i'd rather go to hide away. or mario & john's. read more

Girlfriend and I came in for some PBR's. Very cheap, very cold, very happy.

Great little dirty punk rock bar. Dirt cheap drinks, a great jukebox and friendly locals. This seems to be the only bar around that isn't permeated by club-rats and It's easy enough to get a drink even when it's super crowded. The Moscow Mule is hands down my favorite drink there, $5 gets you a big brass cup of fuck-you-up. They have a couple pool tables in back, and I hear they have free punk shows on Sundays. Gales is one of the few things that makes going back to dreary Petaluma worth it. read more

Great dive bar, always good drink specials, no cover, live local music on Thursdays. My band played here many times and the staff is always cool. Usually pretty packed, cash only. read more

i'm sorry but where i come from, a real dive bar smells like a dirty ash tray and the bartenders are missing a few teeth, maybe sporting a coupla shiners and have a real attitude problem. and men who stumble in with their walkers will buy you a drink and maybe even ask you to dance. (i shit you not, this happened to me in a dive bar.) i've always enjoyed coming to gales. it can be pretty entertaining. and despite some of the reviews here, i think it's a safe place. never seen any fights.....that i'm aware of. i've gone many different times. during the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, a few weekend afternoons to learn to play pool and early evening after a nice dinner out or the last stop to just do some shots. you'll discover fashion do's and dont's at gales. in fact, i had no idea mall bangs were making a come back! (in case you didn't know, mall bangs are where you take a curling iron, make a perfect roll with your bangs and spray it really good with aqua net and just leave it in a perfect roll. no fluffing.) you'll also find that many people have awful taste in music and then someone (that you'd least expect) will throw on that fabulous flashback from the 80's that makes the entire bar sing. the drinks are always good. in fact so good our walks home have been a bit fuzzy. bartenders are friendly and give spot on service and hey! they have $2 drink specials. if yer looking for cheap drinks and some entertainment and maybe even a good pool game you should definitely hit up gales. read more

Great dive bar with the best Local scene. Anna is a great bartender, tip her well. Don't bitch about the jukebox because this bar is meant for drinking. If you want better music while drinking go to one of the other over-priced "clubs" in the downtown area. read more

Totally a dive bar but the drinks are cheap. Not really a place to bring mom and dad... But my brother might like punk rock night... Lol..

Drinks are cool but there's this nerd RypeDub and he beatboxes like every Tuesday at 9:30 with some queef type beats... wack af. Ambiance is neat but that dude messes with my vibes. S/O to my GRLC nerds. read more

what do you do when you're on a date, in a town you've only lived in for two months and haven't had any money to get out and check everything out... you wander around downtown with your date and stumble into this place, because it looks interesting... the bartender was cranky, but he gave us our drinks, so can't really complain about that. we went and played pool... again... i suck!! but i don't suck as bad when i haven't been drinking all night. We kinda got rushed to finish our pool game because some punk band was coming in to play and they needed to move the tables off to the side... that was really the only major downfall of the place... it was interesting and entertaining.... read more

Friendly dive. Two pool tables, pinball machine. Vintage Topless woman painted on black velvet. $2 pbr!

The only bar I really like out of em' all, $2 dollar PBR and good people. Tip em'

Love this place!took my wife here on our first date over ten years ago and SCORED! Absolutely awesome!

Love the homegrown debauchery and willingness to keep it live... but also the compassionate strive to keep the soul. Tenders are easy on the eyes but also attentive...be ready for interaction. Jukebox varies from the skills addressing it. Pool tables are straight but monitored by the eccentric and eager. Only downfall is I can't poke the bear. read more

This is a great place to leave your problems at the door, loose your mind, and dive in to the bar. The new guy - Cimarron - is awesome, stressless chats while I drank $2 PBRs. read more