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    Palais Royale

    4.0 (41 reviews)
    InexpensiveDive Bars, American
    Open 2:00 pm - 4:00 am (Next day)

    Palais Royale Photos

    PALAIS ROYALE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Juke Box
    Divey
    Classy
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Palais Royale

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    Always a fun time at palais!
    Casper Y.

    As the red neon light gleams through the wooden bar table, you look around for a second and take a seat. As soon as you take seat, you feel at ease. There's much to be said about this place, it's one of only bars that is sought after by restaurant industry workers in Albany (you will see them afterhours.) It's also, one of few bars in Albany that is open till 4am everyday. To top it off, whether I'm in my pj's, suit, or chef suit, it's the one bar in Albany where I can come in and getaway. If it's quiet, it's a relaxing environment, when there's pool, darts, and music going on, the bar becomes a fun place to rejuvenate from work.

    a bar with a television in the background
    Fred B.

    Cool dive bar in Albany. Has a lot of history and the oldest liquor license in the city.

    Cozy patio selfie

    Trash panda's dream. Free hotdogs and cozy outdoor dining. Had unfortunate encounter with buzzed lady eying by buns, staff made up for it with a new broom. 10/10 would come again.

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    15 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Palais Royale

    I want empanadas from here everyday and soon I will be able to have a new one everyday for most of the month, as rumor has it, there is soon to be 20 varieties.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Iffy's Place

    Iffy's Place

    3.4
    (5 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    The new pool table inside the place is very nice. Great dive bar for large groups or parties..read more

    It has everything I want in a bar: cheap and strong drinks, a pool table, a kickass jukebox, and…read morepeople who won't talk to you. The name is exactly what my first impression of the bar was before entering. Yet, when you're stuck in Albany bored and sober as hell, there's no reason to pass up a place based on its shady appearance or the fight in progress right outside the door. It made me realize that this is what all the faux dives in NYC wished they were. You end up here for one (or all) of the reasons as outlined in Iffy's motto: Drink. Fight. Fuck. It is a place for people who hate the college bars. Pool sharks rule the billiards table- the brightest part of this dimly-lit establishment- and will most likely kick your butt in the game as skillfully as they can break your face outside of it. It's a haven for people who just want to mind their own business and get away from the world, or themselves. It attracts the most diverse demographic of miserable souls, mental states, and deviants in every social class that exists in the capital of our Empire State. One of my favorite regulars is a woman with Tourette's, who isn't afraid to say exactly what I think all the time, to pretty much everyone who comes within one foot of her:"If you get in my way, I will FUCK YOU UP!" It's technically Iffy's II, as this is a rusty phoenix of its original location that was torn down for parking an indefinite number of years ago. No one seems to know how old this bar is. The only thing you need to know is that the nicest person in there is the bartender, who is armed with a smile and enthusiasm to get you wasted on $3 beers and $5 cocktails so strong that anyone caught drinking them here is immediately associated with addiction of some kind. This is a joint I will definitely return to when I'm in town. If it's not to get completely trashed, it will be to get my dad lotto. Did I mention they have a lotto machine? Maybe I'll come back to drown my sorrows in more hard liquor when I find out I didn't hit the Mega Millions jackpot.

    The City Beer Hall

    The City Beer Hall

    4.0
    (662 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    I was staying at the Renaissance down the street for a conference at the Albany Capital Center. I…read moreneeded a quick dinner before I went to do more work in my room. The City Beer Hall fits the bill. Located on Howard Street, the City Beer Hall has the local hangout vibe for professionals in town like me and locals wanting a beer and a pizza and fun times. The building at one point housed the city's old telephone company, and now is a cool pizza bar joint with a speakeasy that wasn't open when I went. The large room that houses the bar and long communal tables with high ceilings and large windows is like a Biergarten that is works great for happy hours and evening hangouts. Pizza wise, I was pleased with their Hot Honey Pizza that balances sweet, savory, and spicy flavors between its delicious crust, pepperoni, creamy ricotta, tomato sauce, mozzarella, fresh basil, and a lovely drizzle of hot honey. I enjoyed the pizza with a Ommegang Blueberry Falls that was a "Blueberry Kolsch" whose crisp and slightly sweet flavors balanced well against the spicy and savory I was noshing. The only downside was I found the service behind the bar to be a bit slow and distracting from conversations with other customers. I felt I was forgotten until I finally flagged for the check. But overall, the City Beer Hall was a solid experience highlighted by their hot honey pizza.

    Stopped her while visiting for a conference and it was super busy for trivia. Lots of large tables…read moreand a big bar. Trivia was fun. I didn't get any food but it looked like great bar food. Super neat inside!

    Photos
    Back here after long hiatus.  And the women's NCAA BASKETBALL finals is in town.
    Back here after long hiatus. And the women's NCAA BASKETBALL finals is in town.
    Blue pizza
    Blue pizza
    Just loved to look up at this sky while enjoying our drinks and dinner.

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    Just loved to look up at this sky while enjoying our drinks and dinner.
    L'Roca

    L'Roca

    4.6
    (15 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Boyfriend and I were in Albany NY for one night - he wanted to go to Cheesecake Factory, but the…read morewait is apparently typically long on a weekend night (I have no idea - never been there!) so we decided not to chance it, and uber'ed from our hotel to this restaurant, hoping it would be good. I'll be honest - my heart sank as we got there, I almost cried. The neighborhood is *sketch*. The outside of the restaurant didn't look like much - but I felt better once we got in. Beautifully decorated with great lighting, lounge-style atmosphere. Great Latin music. We sat on the bar side as it was less busy. Beautiful bar with lots of options! Bartender made us **amazing** margaritas... omg were they strong! Loved it! Since we had never been there before, we played it safe. First we went with a fried calamari appetizer - not the best, but not bad - but then it's not typically something you'd order at a Mexican food restaurant. Boyfriend had the street steak tacos as main - hold the cheese as he forgot his lactaid, lol - and I had the steak quesadilla. Delicious! We loved it. The steak was especially well seasoned, not overcooked and sides were yummy. We ended the evening with churros - definitely homemade and on par with the ones we love at El Mirador in NH. Boyfriend even took his life in his hands and had some of the ice cream, couldn't resist - it was that good! Overall, as Boyfriend put it - this is absolutely a hidden gem type of spot - service was spectacular, food was delicious and we would totally return! (**Seated next to us were two young women on an obvious first date - girl #1 showed up, then girl #2 showed up a few minutes later with a big bouquet of flowers... what a nice touch! We just wanted to put it out in the universe - we hope you guys make it, you were super cute :)**)

    L' Roca was good. Food was tasty. Atmosphere is very nice. Service was a little slow at times. I…read morewasn't in a rush, but arrived hungry at lunchtime on a Saturday. I was warmly greeted, seated, and given a menu and then it took some time, well after I was ready, to be visited to place my order. No biggie, but I was ready and it wasn't busy, with guests at 1 other table. When I finished my meal, I waited again. Not a huge problem but a lot of side work was being done vs providing service. I let server know I was all set and he acknowledged then continued to make drinks for kitchen staff. I had ordered lemonade but after checking, it looked like they were out, so he offered the juice (without explaining). Food was very tasty. Lunch was $37 before tip, for 3 tacos meal, 3 empanadas app, and the fruit drink.

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    L'Roca
    L'Roca
    Pepper Steak

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    Pepper Steak

    Palais Royale - divebars - Updated June 2026

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