So, I visited Mag Bar with my adult kids kind of as a jokey dare. We sat at the bar and had a cocktail, chatted with the really cool bartender, did some people watching, visited the back patio, and documented the mind-blowing bathroom graffiti. I felt old and young all at the same time. I hope this place is always here. read more

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What a great dive! I come here pretty frequently for shows and the atmosphere is always so great! Most recently saw Pravus Warlord and the entire show was phenomenal! Free earplugs, strong drinks, and plenty of head banging. Genuinely the mosh pit here is always popping, and of course everyone remembers their mosh etiquette as people will help you up if you fall, and ask if you're okay if you seem hurt. I'm the friend that holds everyone's glasses and watches from the side though so if moshing isn't your thing, still come for the music and punk vibes. (I personally love watching people express themselves through moshing, I think it's such a beautiful raw expression of emotions!) The bar area has a few booths but is pretty small, but the back room where the shows are held is pretty spacious but fills up quickly. There's also a back patio! Ultimately, Mag bar is a great spot for a show, a drink, and some good ass music. read more

Magnolia Bar - "Some days you're the car, Some days you're Mag Bar" Ask your bartender how many times a car has smashed into the bar! - Dive Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Solid dive bar that hosts cool events like Louisville UnFair to spotlight local artists. Personally, it's one of my go-to places for summer because the drinks are cheap and the backyard area is unassuming, chill, and easy to enjoy with buddies. Have I sat next to a wad of dog doo doo? Yes. Is that kinda punk? Maybe. But honestly, give me cocktails at $5 and a place where my friends can smoke without constantly leaving, and I'll move my seat and laugh it off. Service is chill, but friendly, quick and efficient. Solid neighborhood haunt. Plus, it's so nice to just grab a slice next door at Pizza Donisi. In this economy? I'm down. read more

Magnolia Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Great bar for live music and karaoke. Friendly employees. Open late. Home of the Turbo Lover! We enjoyed playing here. Every band we know in Chicago loves playing Mag Bar Metal Monday! Would return, would recommend! read more

My type of bar. We were there during a basketball then football game. It's no frills, decent beer selection, and a good crowd. It seems like a neighborhood bar but everyone was friendly enough. The pizza place next door will bring it over to you and they seem to collaborate one day a week. read more

Literally every time I come, I'm standing at the bar for at least 5 minutes before I'm even acknowledged. I don't go out much but when I do, I go to the small local bars. This means that pretty much every time I've gone here over the span of at least three years, I've had the same service experience. Just tonight, I was standing at the bar for 5min and it wasn't even a busy evening. There were two bartenders there and it took so long to be even be greeted. The bartender with green/ blue hair walked up and asked what can she get me. It's completely out of character for me to say something like this, but I said "I've been standing here for a long time without being greeted" and her response was "I'm sorry. Would you still like anything?" With a stale look on her face. I ended up changing my mind and walked out. Yall have got to do better. It wasn't even a busy evening. read more

Not a bad little punk bar, but I have to deduct points for the offensively small shots. I mean what is this even?? read more

Magnolia Bar - Novelty shot glass? - Dive Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Great find while in the area. The bartender was friendly, my Kona Big Wave was cold, and my bf liked his jack/coke. Turns out the bartender 2nd hand knew someone we knew from Detroit, so small world, but that got us talking which made for a fun stop. We were visiting Louisville from Detroit and we were biking around the area on a super hot day when we spotted the Mag bar and decided it was time for a cool drink and a rest. We were glad we stopped in, a perfect dive bar with lots of character. My favorite kind! read more

Chill, neighborhood dive bar spot with lots of space, karaoke, live music, shitty darts, big outdoor enclosed patio. Music leans metal/rock but it's such a vibe. The bartenders here are my fav in Louisville. They are good guys whom I trust & make me feel safe. Love my mag bar fam read more

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Oh hello, perfect dive bar. Left to my own devices, I don't go to too many of these anymore as I mainly stick to wine and unless you're in New Orleans, dive bars don't have halfway decent wine. Interestingly, Magnolia Bar has an array of craft beers. But no wine. Correction. Franzia in the box is available here. Legit dive. Sort of (for some reason, I don't expect to see a wall menu full of craft beers at a dive bar, but I digress). The bartender was really nice and had a lot of connections to bartenders in NOLA . There's plenty of barstools and booths (people move in and out) and it's cozy, comfortable corner spot. I appreciate a bar where the clientele isn't all young and tragically hip (when I go out in NYC, I'm finding this more and more). I spied a cool special: buy a draft get a free slice from the pizzeria next door (which is extremely good and has vegan options). Speaking of pizza, we waited in here with a drink and then when it was ready, we ate it here since there's no indoor seating next door. read more

The man making the drinks was cool and looked out for me when a creepy man sat at my table without my permission and harassed me. The bathroom needed a good wipe down but hey- everyone was drunk. read more

Good music nice drinks service is fast bartenders are amazing sets beautifully in Old Louisville

Pretty solid spot to visit while you are in tehe area. They have some really good cold cheap beers and live music. Its in a crowded spot so its always poppin here it appears. Good place that I will go back to when im in town. I like little dive bars like this and it is a good one read more

Magnolia Bar - a man and a woman walking down the street - Dive Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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In the heart of Old Louisville sits Mag Bar. Located at the corner of 2nd and Magnolia of course. And there is the lovely street parking. Didn't have any trouble parking close of course. I wanted to come here despite the reviews I have read about this place. The inside of the establishment looked very clean on the inside. And beings it was the afternoon when there, the place look lit up by the sunlight, I expected this place to be dark before entering and it wasn't. Overall appearance of the place was good. There were not very many customers so getting to place a drink order was no problem. This place also IDs which is a good thing to keep the underage out. This place has quite a choice of beers so, you should have no trouble finding the right one for you. And another thing, if you want Pizza Donisi next door, you have to walk over and place an order, they bring it to you when it's done. Overall I had a good experience here, staff was great. My reason for the 3 star is the way the bathrooms are made. You have to come out of the bathroom to wash your hands at this sink right outside the bathrooms. read more

Bad ass local dive bar, with plenty of attitude. A hidden Louisville gem! I found this bar my last week in town, and really wish I had discovered it sooner!! read more

Fun little metal bar. On a busy night, expect to be patient. No faster or slower than any other dive bar on a weekend. I loved the atmosphere, patrons seemed fun and staff was rad. Definitely will be back. read more

I'm a fan of dive bars, and Magnolia offers much of what you may want from a dive bar, including an old, lived-in feel with lots of things to see on the walls (and lots of interesting people to watch.) It also may have some things you don't like, such as a bartender who'd rather stare at his phone or watch TV than give you the time of day. (It was clear he knew and liked the regulars--some of whom sat down and got a drink without having to order--more than we tourists.) We visited shortly after it opened at 3 pm, and instead of music, we were treated the audio from a movie the bartender and a handful of regulars were watching. I'm a fan of The Fifth Element more than most, but that doesn't mean I want to talk over it while enjoying a beer with friends. On the whole, this is an interesting spot for a drink, but I hoped for a better dive bar experience than Mag Bar delivered. read more

Magnolia Bar - Mag Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Used to come to the mag bar every other weekend - barhopping in the mid-nineties. This is an old classic dive bar which will NEVER DIE. This this is part of the old south and forever it will stay that way. Old wood floors, Old classic wood bar, beautiful laid back atmosphere in the middle of an old neighborhood - away from all the other dive bars on Bardstown RD. read more

Hipsters and cheap drinks. The Mag Bar is a hipster hangout in old Louisville. It has existed since the dawn of time. I guess that long after Skynet becomes self-aware and destroys the world with nuclear weapons, the Mag Bar will still be standing, serving PBR to young white people wishing to be ironic. Good for the Mag Bar. Keep doing you and own that 3 star rating. read more

Extremely slow service. When I finally got my beer it was frozen and ice was coming out of the top of the bottle making a mess. Staff would not give me a drinkable beer. Paid my tab and left. read more

Great place to see a band and have a few drinks while doing so. Also, Pizza Donisi next door you can carry out and eat at Mag Bar! The bar tenders at Mag Bar are always cool and the place has a vibe about it that is relaxed. Mag Bar knows who it is and those of us that like to hang out there are counting on that never changing. read more

Magnolia Bar - Push Start - Dive Bars Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Decently priced drinks. Dive bar atmosphere. Last night was the first time I went there when it wasn't their random Goth night. Which is cool to have....but if you wander in on that night and are not goth-ed out....you're gonna get some looks. Those times were...uncomfortable. But last night was chill and fun. They had a DJ for the post-SpringFest celebration. They have some booths for seating and a long bar. read more

5 stars for the bar that got me literally pregnant. I came to see a Bowie cover band and ended up having vaginal sex for 6 hours in the basement. I ended up Naming my daughter magnolia because she was CREATED at that place. I take my baby on her birthday every year to this bar in a dog cage so can see her truth and know that she wouldn't be alive if I hadn't been over-served watered down vodka Red Bull's read more

Fuck what ya heard. mag is the best bar not only in Louisville but probably in the world.

Maybe I'm getting old... What's all the hype about this bar? It's a lesser version of the original Highlands Taproom (a bar which I hate now). Yeah, cheap drinks. Strong pours. Also, a 50, 50 chance you may catch an STD after using the restroom. If I was 21, maybe I would like this place. At age 35, no thanks. read more

I've walked in in a tuxedo, and PJs, and no one has said a word. The people there are open minded, the conversations eclectic, and the drinks are made to your specs, if you ask. Hell, they will even put a pot of coffee on if you ask nice. I've even brought my mother in there a few times. And my daughter. Absolutely the worst bathrooms in Louisville. So don't go there if you want to use them. read more

I can't believe how high the ratings are for this place. I'm not sure why they call this place a grille, because they certainly don't serve food of any kind. If they did, I definitely would avoid eating it. It's a dive in the worst of ways. Poorly lit with sagging seats (if you like springs in your butt) and a cockroach problem, the Mag looks more like a condemned property than a bar. The bartenders are frequently rude, the patrons are frequently on coke, and the drinks, while relatively cheap, are not the cheapest in town (if they were, I think I could tolerate the atmosphere more readily). The crowd there is rowdy and while I've only been there a handful of times, I've seen the cops called at least three of them. Parking is also a nightmare. Try Cahoots for a good dive bar. It's also a dive, but it's less crowded, the drinks are cheaper, it's better lit, and it has fabulous food. read more

Writing this review is really making me miss Louisville. I love Mag Bar for everything it is and everything it isn't. It is really good at being a dive bar. It isn't fancy, but who would want it to be? It's Mag Bar. I used to come here almost every Wednesday night for a while when I was in grad school to go to their dance party nights. I think those still happen. I had so much fun and the DJ was always amazing (lots of 90's and early 2000's rap). I would never get groped (isn't it sad that that is worth noting?), and could count on coming here with my girlfriends to have a good time. Drinks are cheap and decent. I usually drink beer here, so I can't really vouch for the mixed drinks. There's a middle indoor area where there are a few arcade games, and I think they have live music in there sometimes. I would usually hang out in the front room or the back patio. The patio is great for smokers or for meeting random people. I've had so many interesting conversations on that patio. read more

Look in the dictionary or encyclopedia for "Dive Bar" and you will find the Mag Bar listed. When I lived in Old Louisville, it was quite frequent to find me there more often than at home. You will find the same people there day in and day out...yes, plenty of regulars. You can typically tell the outsiders by the way the ask for a menu. A what?!!? How many years has been since they last served food? Expect to mocked and ridiculed for asking for a menu. If you are seeking to down several drinks and not break the bank, this would be a good place to go. Their bourbon and water is consists of a "splash of water" and never watered down. There is always some great playing on the JukeBox. Don't even think about playing some pop crap on there. If you are lucky, you might be able to squeeze in between others to play some pool. I would hate to think how much money I spent on the pinball machines over the years. If you are picky about clean restrooms...HA HA HA HA..... PS: To all of the home owners on 2nd Street, I am really sorry for all the times I peed in your bushes or slept on your porch because I was too drunk to make it home. read more

NYC is full of dive bars, but very few can match the effortless dirty charm of Louisville's Mag Bar. It's dark, it's dingy, and the pool tables are shoddy, but the flourscent lights are welcoming and the cheap, strong drinks are calling you home (or, as it were, far, far away from home). I know my mother warned me not to, but I love you Mag Bar. read more

I didn't need that last bourbon and soda, but not getting really drunk at my old neighborhood bar on a brief trip to Lou seemed out of the question. Oh, Mag Bar, I miss the days when you were only a staggering walk home. I miss your amazing punk jukebox that reminds me of the safety pin days of my youth. I miss your strong pours, your atrocious bathrooms, your cranky pool tables. If dives make you uncomfortable, if you can't stand punk or metal, if you need a fancy cocktail, skip the Mag Bar. Leave it for the lovers like me! read more

There is no food here and you wouldn't want to eat it if there was.Though they do order in Pizza for the patrons on Thursdays. Gross bathrooms and cheap drink specials. Louisville's premier "dive". When I bring touring musician friends in on a week night where there's dollar beers or else $2 well drinks they are very amused and very happy to be able to get drunk on one $20 bill, usually with change left! read more

I feel very fortunate to live around the corner from the mag. Take it from me, you don't have to know the bartenders and get free drinks, or be a hipster to enjoy the hell out of life while you're there. The jukebox there can only be described as legendary. read more

Lol lmao rofl. As a Mainer passing through Kentucky the whole city threw me for a loop no doubt about it. I can't believe a place like Magnolia Bar is open until 4am on a MONDAY and our bartenders (well, maybe it was just one bartender who morphed into another), didn't have anything to say for it. I spent a good deal of time trying to guess their names, didn't work out. Thanks for your cooperation Jeremiah, Steven. REALLY. The juke box was fun. The whiskey was delicious. The five other people in were all pretty funny. The last but not least stop on our Louisville pub crawl. What a night. read more

Now this is a Dive Bar! Very chill and unassuming bar with an eclectic crowd, drink options, and decor. Love it for some good old fashioned day drinking. That being said, it is also a dive bar bathroom. One stall. Always a line. It's dingy. But hell, I can go in there sober without being disturbed, and there was even sufficient tp, so I'm going with a win here. Tip: Bloody Marys here rock. Also, the Un Fair the same weekend as the famous St James Art Fair is here. Fantastic stuff, much cheaper. read more

To preface, I am an avid Mag Bar customer and generally frequent the bar Wednesday nights after 12am (the night with the EDM DJs and flashy lights). Also, I created a Yelp account solely to review this place. If you've never seen someone on drugs at this bar, you are incredibly naive. Never change. The bathroom walls are laced with cocaine. Definitely don't try the snozzberries. They don't taste like snozzberries. The drinks are incredibly inexpensive, hence the 5 star rating. And to clarify, there is a coat check, but it's a self serve type of situation located on top of the cancertron. Definitely bring your machine washable jacket though, because I'm assuming if you're in the Mag you aren't about to make it out to the Old Louisville Laundry and Dry Cleaners the next morning. read more

Obviously I love this place. Hell, I practically lived there for ten years. The drinks are strong, the jukebox is stellar. The people. Well, I've made some of the best friends of my life in there, and even managed to snag a husband. So I can't complain. If you're a prissy little thing who needs to be coddled and can't abide the odd foul odor, then go somewhere else. If you want to have a good time, meet interesting people, and you're not a snobby prick, Mag Bar's the spot. See ya there. Did I mention that I bought my first house based on it's proximity to the Mag Bar? Yeah. That happened. read more

Good location for local music, but the bartender was a real jerk wad. The woman's room was much improved since the last time I had been there. I'd go back to see music, but not just to simply drink at the bar. read more

Cool dive bar with a lot of history. The current owner has done A LOT to clean it up and make it better over the past few years (the bathrooms now have tile AND real PAPER towels! What was once known as "the grossest bathroom in the city" is now just on par with other dive bar bathrooms!) Decent draft selection, strong pours, good prices, and the fact that we can walk there keep us coming back. Some of the bartenders can be standoffish at first but get to know them and they will treat you right. They now have a super sweet stage room for bands with a few arcade games off to the side. With all this AND Pizza Donisi next door to keep you going, a night at the MagBar is complete. read more

Pretty cool old school spot in the ville. Although it may not be for everyone it's a guarantee of live local artist trying to make their way in the city which I am such a fan of! Cash only is something I enjoy because it and gives a unique vibe to the joint. Beers are especially cheep and they have a pizza place next door that is a terrific late night treat! Pros: great live music, cheap drinks, food delivery to the drunks :p Cons: it is cash only so no debit card usage, interior could use some updating, very read more