Permanently closed after many, many years. I would go on a rant about how this is really sad, and about how all the bars on the West Bank are closing, but why. It's a bar, things change, and fewer really stiff drinks in the world is not exactly a bad thing. But it was cool that there were these people that used to BBQ in back and give out the food to anyone there. read more

This is a great bar for drinks and music. Parking can suck but ride a bike if possible. Bring cash. Enjoy the music. The outdoor stage is great. I can't count how many amazing shows I've seen here. Everything from the Butcher's Union Farewell show to Cornbread. Plus, if you want to play Galago or Ms. Pacman, you have that option too. read more

Palmer's does have that dive atmosphere, but there wasn't anything nasty on the bathroom floor while I was there, and the patio is really nice. I didn't get any food, but somebody else's pizza looked good. I did indulge in a THC beverage which was a bit pricey, but no worse than the markup on other canned beverages at other places. Staff were friendly and helpful. I bet they could have explained how to pay the nearby parking lot, but unfortunately I had to figure that out before arriving. The show on the patio was fantastic, good lineup of bands, especially Fenix Dion. We were blessed with good summer weather and the sound in that space was great. read more

Palmer's Bar - Fenix Dion rocking the patio at Palmer's - Dive Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dive bars are not generally my scene, but if they were I'd be at this one a lot! The bar itself has typical beverage options, plus several simple snack options if you're in the market for that. The charming diversity of this West Bank neighborhood is pretty well represented at Palmer's Bar, and I really like that about it. The flatiron shape of the building is unique and eye-catching, and now that I've been inside I'll never forget that on the inside of the pointy end of the flatiron is a tiny little stage that is used to snugly contain small performing rock bands. And the sound is pretty good! Most people will rather like the outdoor patio, and with good reason. It's comfortable and adds a lot of character. Also it's a place for smokers, which makes it, well, smoker-y. Bear that in mind if you're excited about the patio. Definitely consider coming here if you're interested in a fun little bar with college kids rocking out on a petite, dainty stage. read more

Palmer's Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Saw a really fun show here!! Nice staff and good service. It's a very small stage and music isn't too loud; I had a great time! Minimal food. read more

Palmer's Bar - a band playing on stage - Dive Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Love this place, hard to find, and get to but once you are there it's amazing. Hope to celebrate here often.

Friggin love Palmer's. This is always a solid stop at any point in your night out. It fits the bill of being "divey" by being cash only and full of character and colorful grit. Before COVID (and pregnancy), we'd come here often for some cheap rails or taps, live music, and/or enjoying the patio. I love the location in West Bank. This flat-iron historic building was built in 1906 and is one of Minneapolis' longest running bars. It's also a black-owned business and does a lot to support the community. Since it's not fully running at full capacity, I look forward to coming back sometime in the future. In the meantime, I have The Big Color Book of Grumpy's And Palmer's to keep me busy and nostalgic. read more

My sister and I stopped here at 630 pm on a Saturday night before doors opened for a concert at the Cedar. Turnoff #1 big guy at door is smoking and asking for ids. Smoking I guess is that important. Ordered 2 taps of Lonely Blonde. Place was packed and nowhere to sit. The women's bathroom is definitely not up to ADA code. What is the purpose of a door to a single stalled bathroom and another door? I guess someone can wash their hands while someone else is using the bathroom. The vintage shape of the bar was cool. I wonder if the Mens room is ADA usable? read more

Good dive bars are invaluable. Sticky, grimy and dark, they are incomparably disarming. Dives have a quality of home, a romantic sense of instant belonging (thank the bartender for that). Palmer's Bar make you feel like you're part of a weird tribe, if only for the night. From the cheap drinks, neon lights, live music, and creepy wall art all ingredients of the right kind of dive bar. Great for people watching and for befriending that sassy bartender. read more

Yep, we know great dive bars and Palmer's definitely deserves a place on our long list of memorable establishments. Bartender Zach served up a $8 pitcher of Hamm's, then threw in shots of Jameson. I think I'm going to like it here... read more

Palmer's Bar - Washing down road dust - Dive Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Favorite bar in the world. Strong drinks, good people. Remember these rules: One Drink Drunk. 2 Drinks Done. 3 Drinks Dead. They're that strong. read more

Reminds me a lot of Alphabet City, NYC, circa 90's. Lots of dreads, some rats, some punx/anarchists, and a few people on the shady side of life (they can get you anything you can't get at the local pharmacy). White, Black, Asian, Indian, & now Eritrean. For Mpls. this is truly a great racial mix though not really mixed in class. But that's ok -- yuppies sucked in the 80s early 90s and still do. Gotta let you all know that on Sundays they have a house band kickin out some sweet blues. And like the man said their jukebox is deep. But Sunday's really turns it into a nice gumbo of people all spicy and stewed. OK beers on tap, cheap local swill, and great shots. I say it's a "back" bar -- order a shot (large in a tall glass) and get your favorite chaser "back" and you're on your way. The make a strong mixed drink too. But, don't piss and moan about the sweet pungent smell around the fire pit. If you don't like it leave. If you need some, someone will share -- or a shady will get you squared away. I've been a reg since I've come back for a visit a couple weeks ago and I've never seen, or felt, any static. Just good vibes, from oldsters to young kids. Used to hate (hard-core clubbing dayz) now I appreciate. Stop in and see what it was like to be in Alphabet City, during it hay day , changed to embody what remains of the West-Bank of Mpls. Palmer's is last drinking establishment on the Bank. The West-bank has always been multicultural, anti-establishment, pro-legalization, and generally time-warped with all the marginalized of every era. Anti-smoking and catering to college money killed the others. Only four stars cause the dance floor is small and seating is limited inside. read more

Palmer's Bar - Palmer's Patio - Dive Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The heart and soul of the west bank neighborhood! STRONG DRINKS (3 oz pour is standard here) and cheap beer. Live music every day, in the afternoons and evenings. Best patio in the world to people watch or meet new friends! "Sorry we're open" every day of the year read more

they overcharged me $40 for a $23 dollar bill. this is horseshit and they don't have a legitimate business and I'm sick and tired of shitty businesses getting away with overcharging people for no reason just to keep themselves afloat read more

I've heard good things about Palmer's and I was looking forward to finally checking it out. I don't know, maybe I was there on an off night. I don't require a bar to be ritzy to impress me. I didn't really feel much charm to it. It seemed more of a neglected space than anything. We ended up leaving early and going across the street instead. Like I mentioned, I feel like we came on an off night and I will do my best to find an opportunity to give it another try. read more

Palmer's is a good test for people who claim to like dive bars. On the continuum of hipster/ironic to actual dive bar Palmer's fall a few stops closer to actual dive than many. The neighborhood is sketchy, the clientle can be shady and the staff seems ready to stomp out problems (perhaps too ready, according to some accounts here). You don't have to worry about bumping into any suburbanites or sorority sisters here. They pour the drinks STRONG here, but let me tell you, you won't notice at first. Using some supreme bartending jujitsu, they can pour drinks that don't taste unpleasantly strong but still knock you upside the head. Be warned: drink that first one slowly. The back patio is a wonderous little maze of tables, chairs, couches, and booths. Dogs roamed freely. Be warned: the patio has a strict "no smoking crack" rule. My last visit was a sunday night. They had some live blues/old-time bands, which suited the prohibition era feel of the place. It was damn good. Dancing erupted. It was relaxed and friendly. Drinks disappeared and minds turned hazy. Good times. I believe my sunday nights are booked for the foreseeable future. The West Bank/Cedar-Riverside neighborhood has been in my good graces lately, and Palmer's is an integral part of it. It's the real deal. No pretenses, no bullshit, just an honest neighborhood bar. read more

Oh, Palmer's. I had lived on Cedar Ave for ten months before I mustered the courage to visit Palmer's. This bar has a reputation for being a rough-around-the-edges (and slightly sketchy) dive bar, but I think that's what makes it so awesome. 1. The bartenders are incredible. They're lively and fun and they always remember my "usual" drink. 2. The patio is absurd (in a good way). A typical Palmer's patio crowd usually includes a handful of hippies from several generations, someone from a foreign country telling somewhat unbelievable stories around the fire, surprisingly intelligent grunge-punk kids, and maybe a college girl wearing a skimpy dress and looking uncomfortable because she'd rather be out clubbin'. Top-notch people watching. 3. The liquor is cheap. If you order a shot, expect it to be a double. On Monday nights, pitchers of Hamm's are $8. Tips: Palmer's only accepts cash, and the ATM is often out of service on busy nights. There's always a $5 cover on Fridays and Saturdays, and usually on Thursdays, too. The bands are usually worthwhile, but I'd check the schedule on the Palmer's website ahead of time. read more

Palmers Bar was a massive disappointment. I arrived with my fiancée with the intention of seeing some friends who were making their debut performance with their band and my night began with me being screamed at by the doorman to pay the cover charge. Paying the money was no problem, but I did not appreciate being cussed and yelled at, or being ordered to flatten my bills out for his convenience . Any customer would not know who the doorman actually was. He was just sitting in a shady corner on a bar stool in street clothes. He had no hint of professionalism at all. Also keep in mind that this establishment does not accept credit cards. This can be somewhat of an inconvenience for customers who do not carry cash while walking around in a bad neighborhood, which this bar is definitely in. The overall atmosphere of this bar is dingy and stale. It is mostly a beer bar that attracts lower income riff raff than anything else. If you are in your early 20's or college student, this bar is for you but do not expect much else in the area of a respectable atmosphere. read more

What a trip of a place. To start it off, the door guy flipped out when he saw the hometown on my Massachusetts license - turns out he grew up in a nearby town. Small world. Lots of punks, bikers, and even a pet rat that was hanging on the shoulders of a nearby customer. Two DJs near the front of the bar were spinning a wacky mix of 70s funk and 80s pop - including Purple Rain, which was appropriate while visiting Minneapolis. $2.50 mixed drinks that were 80% alcohol and 20% mix got me liquored up, stat. There were plenty of characters, indeed. Typical rundown dive bar decor - including an old Prohibition sign hanging over the bar. The back patio is also wonderful - Minneapolis loves those back patios. If this place were in Philly, I'd be here all the time. read more

The patio may have a strict "no smoking crack," rule, but smoking weed appears to be fine. Maybe that's fine -- just not my thing -- your mileage may vary. If you look up "dive bar" in the dictionary, there's a photo of Palmer's there. Here's what I can say for sure about it: - There is no "type" of person who frequents this bar. You'll see hippies, students, businesspeople, gangbangers, bikers, vegans, old folks, young people -- it is sort of astonishing how diverse the clientele are. That's pretty cool. - The drinks are STRONG. I have a high tolerance for alcohol, and brushed aside my friends' warnings about the drinks here, but DAYUM. Be prepared. - The neighborhood is sketchy. Having grown up in NYC, please believe I understand the problematic racialized assumptions often inherent in assertions about the West Bank's "sketchiness." But this neighborhood is Objectively Sketchy. Trust me. Prepare for street harassment if you're a chick wearing a skirt. And maybe have someone walk you to your car. read more

Ok, if you don't know what this place is like find out before you come here. I've heard it said that the Cantina from Star Wars is an apt metaphor. This is NOT the same as the Triple Rock. You've been warned. I remember watching The Murder City Devils warm up for Modest Mouse about 8 years ago. Right before Modest Mouse takes the stage (not at Palmers but a bar very close to it) Isaac says, "They'res a bar over there called Palmers. We had a F****ng great time at Palmers. So there you have it. Don't wear your NASCAR jacket into this place if you want to walk out in one piece. Check out the fire pit out back and be sure to stay off the 86'ed list. Now that the Viking is closed Palmers has the best juke box in Minneapolis and the surrounding area by far. West Bank at its finest. Hands down. read more

I have been fortunate to have kept myself off of the 86'd list. The people here are what the Triple Rock, CC and any other bar in the MPLS want to be. The largest mix of people in a part of the country that is thought to be primarily white. Yeah, someone recently was shot at here. It is truly a dive, there's always a chance of insane behavior. Which is why it's so fucking rad. And the Hamms on tap sort of helps out. I went to Palmfest 2 years in a row; one year some one opened a can of mace- an experience indeed, and then a nother year I saw the Knotwells inside the tiny bar. I have not been to such a united, painful punk rock show in years. The kids that frequent are standoffish, but get to know 'em - they'll help you up in the pit. read more

Every time I come home I ALWAYS drink at Palmers. This was definitely my favorite bar when I lived in Minneapolis and one of the reasons i miss MN.... The bartenders are friendly and will pour your drinks VERY strong. Any and every time i am here i get very drunk!! Plus they have an outdoor patio that's great in the summer time. read more

Palmer's is the sort of bar which probably used to be way more prevalent in Minneapolis prior to gentrification or even deindustrialization. It's a dive bar, and not in the way that term is used to describe anything that isn't a club or snob beer specialty joint. The customers are reflective of the southside of Minneapolis. There is no 'type' here. If you're uncomfortable being around the diverse ethnicities, races and subcultures of South Minneapolis, this place is not for you. The drinks are strong, repeat, the drinks are STRONG. If you order a whiskey and coke, you're really getting a double, or even a triple whiskey and coke. Remember this if you have to work the next day. If it's your birthday, the bartender might tell you to stand up on the bar with her and do a shot while the whole room screams 'Happy birthday' to you. If you're wearing a hat with an out of state sports team on it, someone from that place might start a conversation about their former life there. If you go there on Christmas, a drunk 60something year old guy might tell you a depressing story about going to mass and lighting a candle for his deceased mom that day. If you go to watch the World Series, two old timers might be arguing loudly about if Bob Gibson was the best pitcher ever or not. It's a unique place, but at one time, this was what bars were like. Not rooms full of atomized people keeping to themselves while watching one of the 22 TV in the place. read more

There is a reason the lanky mustachioed man in the bowler hat is leaning against the wall, it's because he's too f*%king schnookered from being served drinks at Palmer's to depend on his own two legs to support his drunk ass. This is a bar for serious drinkers. Don't judge, just drink. read more

As everyone before as said (aside from the boobs that came here with a romanticized view of dive bars) this place fits the dive bar bill. Super old bar with loads of history, gritty, greasy, entertaining regulars, cash only, strong drinks. I'm a fan. read more

Went to Palmers to listen to a few bands out on their patio. The bartender was not friendly and really had no sense of urgency even though there were 6 or 7 people waiting to order drinks. My last drink was made wrong. I asked for a Citron 7 up but got a Citron soda water instead. I couldn't get his attention to fix it so I just left it and we decided to be done with Palmers. They needed 2 bartenders on a busy day. I really liked the outside patio atmosphere. read more

I went here one night after the Metrodome. I enjoyed the game, was happy the Twins lost, etc. But the most memorable thing about the night (and really, the entire weekend) was Palmer's. There was a man who introduced himself as being Liberian. For some reason he bought us two Grain Belts. He disappeared shortly thereafter and was later seen in deep commune with a homeless man who looked like Dan Hedaya and talked like Tom Waits. Also involved in their conversation were an Asian guy who looked like a grad student and a woman with two missing front teeth who was smoking Kool 100s. We were young and stupid then and determined to cram the night full of other bars. Palmer's turned out to be the best, by far. Even though we later got to listen to a very drunk man mournfully sing Johnny Cash ballads at U Otter Stop Inn. There used to be bars like this in Brooklyn, where I grew up. Not any more. read more

Dirty P's is a very fitting nickname for this bar (as I have heard it called). Somehow, it feels cozy yet kind of gross....sort of like a relatives house that very faintly smells of cat urine. This place doesn't smell of urine, per se...it has that patented weird Cedar Riverside smell that 80% of the neighborhood smells like. This place is best for the environment. Drinks are not as cheap as other neighborhood purveyors, so if you're on a budget or you're a tightwad...show up half in the bag. I am told they make stiff shots, but cant confirm or deny this. read more

Palmer's is a great place to get shitty. 7$ pitchers of Hamms on Mondays did me in earlier this week. In addition to cheap beer, the shots poured here are massive. The bartenders look tough and they don't really put up with shit, but they're a bunch of sweethearts when it comes down to it. My only complaint was one of the regulars wouldn't leave me alone. She was thrown out later in the evening, but I can only take so much touchy feely from a forty something toothless meth-head burnout. read more

Best dive bar in this city. The crowd is a mixed bag of random degenerates, hipsters, hippies, and just about everything else... I've never left Palmers without having a story to tell the next day. The staff is fucking awesome, anyone that says different belongs at Block E. If you go into this place and don't order a shot of some kind you're missing the point. Get fucked up! read more

If you're looking for an unpretentious, awesome, eclectic dive bar, look no further. The drinks are ridiculously strong. I warn you, ordering shots will result in immediate drunkenness--I swear their shots are at least 3 oz. The staff is completely, utterly, awesome. Damn, I love that place. Some interesting facts: there is a tunnel under Cedar Ave connecting Palmers and the Nomad that was used during prohibition (it has been bricked over). It used to be a bordello. Also, it's haunted as hell. Just ask the staff. read more

This is a true dive bar. Drinks are strong. The space is small. The crowd is eclectic. read more

The door guy shouted at my wife and called her the b____ word for forgetting to put her mask back on when leaving the bar. She wore it on the way in, but just forgot. She was shocked and upset. It was good I wasn't there. Horrible non-customer service. read more

I love dive bars. Really, I do! But.... ...I don't care for this dive bar. I have been here a few times now, and each time is as equally as "un-good" as the last... It's crowded. If it is a Friday night + they have live music = this place turns into something it should never be allowed to turn into. It's like a Dive Bar's Evil Twin. First off - the stage is located in a corner. The same corner that shares it's space with part of the bar, the restrooms, the door to the outdoor patio, and a well displayed stuffed pheasant. So, if you come to Palmer's to *hear* live music...you are in luck (the sound system is pretty great). If you come to Palmer's to *see* live music...be prepared to be knocked around and have beer spilled on you constantly. Few other tid-bits... The bar area gets quite crowded - so if you are timid - you will never get a drink. No ATM. Interesting & eclectic clientele. Sketchy part of town. Grouchy bouncer. read more

I don't come here because I expect something out-standing, or some perfect service or drink; I come here because it's the kind of place where they get to know you. The drinks are nice and strong too ;-) read more

Palmer's Bar - Dive Bars Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Palmer's is one of the most *eclectic* bars in the T.C. The last three times I have been here they've had random food sitting out on the table right when you walk in the door. Folks in the bar (and people coming in off the street) have grazed on a buffet of food in take-out containers (Mexican I believe...with lots of wilted lettuce, if I remember correctly), a box of produce, or some chicken wings. Has Palmer's become something of a neighborhood bar/food shelf? If so, that's awfully nice of them to be supporting their clientele in such tough economic times. I was surprised to see the clientele switch gears at about 10:00 pm the last time I was here. It went from die hard locals to hipster college students. Interesting-- but since Palmer's welcomes people of all walks no one batted an eye. read more

Went here on a quiet afternoon, so there were only a handful of of patrons inside. The interior certainly shows its age, but felt somewhat cold where I was expecting character. The bartender was a nice older lady who could probably be just as un-nice and kick your ass to the curb. It seems much more bar than live music venue, but hey it's definitely there and not just as an after thought. I do my share of heading out solo and drinking alone, but meh, I was expecting more. Just had a strange vibe I wasn't digging. As far as the "sketchy" factor of the neighborhood, if West Bank were plopped overnight into any other Great Lakes city it would be considered "good", since sketchy neighborhoods elsewhere are actually sketchy and not filled with decent bars and restaurants. Case in point, a bar in a sketchy Columbus neighborhood had a drunk patron out front threatening to break my camera while I was photographing the neighborhood and just before I passed by there a woman of the night was being seriously chewed out by her pimp and a swat team was trading gunshots with drug dealers at a house a few blocks up: all within one hour in the middle of the day. Just sayin'. read more

Palmer's is the archetype for all dive bars. Double strength drinks. Surly patrons. Inspiringly bad karaoke on Mondays. Gritty and diverse enough to scare off the squares. read more

I dig this joint. It's the epitome of dive. The place is so cramped that I usually won't go in if it's busy. Everything is covered with grimey layer of charm. There are random awesome decorations all over. They customer demographic is impossible to pin down, you get people from all walks of life here. Definitely a good place for people watching. The drinks come strong and the personalities are even stronger. There is a girl that bar tends there, I think her name might be Brooke(?) She has long brown hair, usually has it in a pony tail and she wears glasses. Petite girl with a punch, I love her spunk and her sense of humor. Seriously, if she isn't working, I don't even want to go in. I love their patio area! They have a fire place out there!! How cool is that?? I don't smoke, but I enjoy sitting out by the fire any chance that I get. You can see some bands play here as well, which is always a perk. read more