Great atmosphere, friendly staff, good prices and delicious food and drinks A real hidden gem

Do not let the location detour you at all. This review comes from somebody that grew up in the San Francisco area and has gone on food trips all over New York, Louisiana, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Hawaii, N/S Carolina, Arizona and Iowa, from Michelin rated restaurants to funky little places that we hear about from locals.. we try it all. Paul Bar is a fabulous experience, I've been here many times and the food as well as the service are always excellent! One of the many really interesting parts is there is a line to get in that starts well before the place opens up at 4 pm and it's like that most of the night HOWEVER the line moves quickly and once you get inside....OMG, you are transported into a really cool, dimly lit, swanky NY supper club with leather booths, tall bar tables plus there's seating at the bar (with many colorful locals that you'll probably end up making friends with) and the selection of food & drinks are so diverse, everything that my friends and I have ordered have been outstanding! Paul the owner who is very sweet is always there and oversees everything in his own quiet way to make sure everything is running smoothly and that his guests are happy, Whether you're a local or just visiting, this is the place to go for really great food, a fun time and an immersive experience and I promise you'll come back read more

Perhaps the most unique and memorable dining spot you'll ever find. You will encounter a line out the door several diners long - so just factor that into your experience and justify the wait by the amazing hospitality and service when Paul, the owner, personally greets you and your anticipation level rises. Totally worth the wait. Only open 5 nights a week, with seating for under 45 people, and frequented by locals in the know as well as savvy travelers, your dining experience begins with Paul escorting you to either your table or a seat at the bar. Strap in to enjoy great cocktails and a delicious dinner. There are, as I recall, daily specials. From its humble roots ( 30-40 years back), this strip mall location is anything but a mall resturant. The aproned and bow-tied bartenders and waitstaff are REALLY good at their assignments. The back bar is ornate and old. Set your expectations high for the quality and presentation of the food. if you're a party of two, the bar is THE best option (perhaps only) and your wait time to order will likely be shorter there. If you're eating at the bar, ask your neighbors what they recommend or what they ordered, and you won't go wrong. Paul Bar is a one-off, not to be missed dining experience in Palm Springs. read more

This is, by far, the neatest establishment I have had the pleasure of dining in the valley. Not even exaggerating. Exquisite & classy ambiance, splendid service, comfortable setting with food that was absolutely out of this world. We had the rack of lamb, arugala salad, meatball & marinara, and a roast sandwich. Each portion was modest and exactly what a fine dining experience calls for. We drank mocktails and had a lovely time (With room for desert!) The dining experience was divine from start to finish. We had a chat with the owner before we were seated and he had us cracking up and was very charismatic, welcoming, and classy. Was a privilege to a pleasure to visit and will undoubtedly be yearning to return. This place takes the cake. Looking forward to come here once again with family & friends! read more

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Food and service spot on as usual! We sat at the bar (as normally happens (happily) for a party of 2- and TBH this is my favorite place to sit. There's a gentleman with a braid who always happens to be our bartender/ servire. He's amazing of the time. His service and the food are both perfectly consistent every time. 10/10 recommend Paul Bar. read more

PaulBar - Tito's and soda - no lime. - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Very nice intimate bar and restaurant. Host/owner is very friendly and welcoming. The staff was great. It can get a bit loud with all the conversations since it is a small place but was still able to hear my friends. I got the roast duck special which was great skin was nice and crispy well seasoned. My friend ordered the meatball which was huge and nicely tender. I think there was a bit too much thyme but was still very good and the marinara was tasty. Overall great value and food was great. read more

PaulBar - Roasted duck - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

My favorite bar in Palm Springs. Best fish and chips on the planet. The cocktails are the best. Nice menu and nightly special dish. Fabulous happy hour. The decor is cool and I love sitting at the bar sipping my Sidecar. Great service and of course Paul is a delight. read more

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Palm Canyon Drive is the obvious choice for most Palm Springs visitors -- easy, walkable and great for people‑watching. But wander a little and you'll find treasures. Paul Bar / Food hides in a plain strip mall by the airport. Step inside and the scene shifts: mahogany bar, tuxedoed servers, a stylish East Coast feel. No reservations; expect a wait. We perched at the bar and watched Mark craft cocktails with theatrical precision. Standouts on the menu: Rack of Lamb (Ernie's pick), Chicken Schnitzel and the Paulburger. Daily specials include Saturday mussels, Thursday pot roast, and a Sunday‑only meatloaf with carrots and mashed potatoes -- which I gratefully ordered. The wedge salad was a perfect crunchy starter; the meatloaf was gloriously meaty, tender and well seasoned. Ernie's lamb was flawless, with fingerling potatoes, spinach and a cherry compote that tied it all together. Short version: just go. read more

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Tucked away in a small strip mall type location with the only sign out front with food on it. This is a hidden gem of a spot to enjoy incredible food and drink. read more

Yes. There's a line. Yes. You have to wait. Yes. The service is excellent and it's totally worth it. Food is incredible especially the desserts. Super cool decor. Would go again in a heartbeat. read more

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Recently discovered this Palm Springs treasure with some other friends. (the 4 of us arrived early as they take no reservations and it is VERY popular!) The minute I walked through the door, I was transported to another world...A very classy bar reminiscent of days gone by,with impeccable service, and world class drinks. Don't miss the frozen bourbon drink and the margarita. The salmon dinner was excellent and so were the lamb chops that a friend had.Owner Paul goes all out to make your dining experience the best! read more

Our food was excellent. Our server, Paul O. Was great. He was helpful and a lot of fun. This was our first time here and we will definitely be back. It was a fun environment and we really enjoyed everything. Definitely recommend! read more

Well it's official.... I didn't think there was great food in the desert, but I stand corrected, there's incredible food and it's at Paul Bar. Look, there's a line that starts forming well before they open at 4pm, but it's totally worth the wait and understandable now that I've tasted their food. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, that might be the problem because I wanted to order everything lol. Basically just do yourself a favor and start with the mussels, then go to town. This is indefinitely on my list every-time I'm in the area moving forward and it should be on yours! Thanks Paul! read more

Food is fantastic fresh ingredients nothing frozen. Temperature of the food is hot generous portions. Patrick is the perfect Host the crew from the kitchen, bar servers are very attentive high-class hospitality. The atmosphere is very intimate dark lighting for all you vampires:-) Its the perfect 5 star dive feels like your in new york its definitely worth a try we will become regulars im sure! Dont forget tl ask about there daily specials! read more

PaulBar - Sunday special meatloaf, sautéed galic spanich ,meatball and the hanger steak side of spanich - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

The food and drinks were absolutely spot-on. The place was a tad noisy, but the ambiance was terrific. It was almost like a little speak-easy vibe. The owner and staff were totally awesome. The price, in our opinion, was very fair for the food quality and service. read more

we waited about an hour on a sunday night before we got a seat, but I think we got a bit luckier because the group right behind us were still waiting after we finished our meal. overall I didn't think the food was worth the wait, but my partner did. - frozen bourbon sidecar: pretty strong - short rib dip: my partner really loved this one! the rib was very tender and the bechamel cheese was something else. the toast was also crunchy and moist - paul burger: we ordered medium rare but it was more rare -- the fries were good though read more

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My review is long overdue. Huge thanks to a fun bartender at one of our fave bars in the area who directed us here. Upon hearing how busy it gets and reading others' reviews, I knew I wanted us to be there at opening. A few minutes prior to opening, there was already a short line. We were cheerfully greeted and welcomed as a group, told of the dinner specials, given the "rules" (mainly, wait to be seated and time limits), and brought in. Wow, another place where the simple exterior, within this old strip mall (in which their sign reads, "BAR/FOOD"!) absolutely belies its rich, dimly-lit, old-school elegance interior. The bar is not big -- a long, rectangular room -- with a long bar top on the right side and comfortable booths on the left. We were privileged to be served by Ryder who was personable, professional, and comfortably attentive. Our cocktails and entrees, and the entire experience was greatly enjoyed by all, that we knew this place would be among our regular stops whenever in the area. On another visit, we intended to be there, again, by opening; however, due to room delays, the wait time just 1/2 hour after opening, grew too long for our comfort level. Definitely next time, PaulBar! Fabulous find!! read more

BEST RESTAURANT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! Do not miss. If you see a line, PLEASE wait. I am not a line person, and this experience was life changing! Best food and Manhattan cocktail I've ever had in my entire life. Most impeccable service. Such kind people surrounding us. 100% the best dining experience ever. Thank you Paul, you are a GEM The line goes by so quickly, please do not worry. 10/10 experience, nothing like it! read more

PaulBar - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

We arrived, waited in line for 15- 20 minutes, with winds, but the building provided plenty of coverage. Not bad at all. Allowing for friends to catch up without to much simultaneous. Once inside you're transformed to PALM SPRINGS! So much detail to craftsmanship. The care taken for the bar, lighting, decor absolutely appreciated! The difference in glasses for each drink is so special. You feel like your experiencing a taste of old Hollywood ot Vinatage Palm Springs. The intimate seating (that is so comfy) and the colorful surroundings fills you with a sense of style, class, and joy of just being. We shared a few laughs with the couple dinning next to us. Great conversation and wonderful recommendations. I loved an experienced individual whom enjoys sharing with others. The atmosphere, staff, and food was fabulous. Worth the wait. Definitely coming back for fish and chips, 4 people recommend tonight. read more

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I've been to this restaurant twice now and it has to be one of my favorite place to go to. This place is always jam packed and I understand why. There's always a line to get in because they don't do reservations. I've tried their meat loaf served with a side of caramelized carrots. It's probably one of the best things I've had. Then, recently I tried their lamb rack served with potatoes and broccolini's. It was so delicious I wanted to lick my plate. If there was anything I would tell anyone to try, it would be the lamb rack. read more

PaulBar - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

So much fun! Great ambience. Gorgeous, long bar. Dark. Warm. Lively. Very popular. We arrived at 5 pm on a Friday night and waited about 15 min for a table. Turnover is fairly quick. Greeted by well dressed and cheerful owner Paul and had a cocktail in hard within 5 minutes. We had the burger/fries and the trout, along with 2 glasses of their house wine. The food was a decent 3.5* But you're really here for the atmosphere and service - 5*. Nothing else like it in PS. Great for the area and we will be back. read more

04/26/2025 Weekend get away drove here from LA want something yummy with interesting environment! Walk in Friday night with my boyfriend , was greeted by a sweet gentleman and the place was full. He said the wait was 10-20mins which was not bad! The decoration reminded us the bar at Magic Castle. Boyfriend ordered a cocktail called the Black Manhattan looks strong and I had a sip it is! Then we have the chicken wings, that was juicy! The flavors are delicious and spicy! Then we had the big flats steak and pork chop, both are on the dried side. The steak that I had was tough has many tendons. We both kind of regretting that we didn't listen to our waiter which is not his fault the food came this way or the chef just happened the meat was tougher that day. To be honest we really wanted a pot roast which is their special menu but that does not come everyday! That day we were there their special is fish n chips. If you want specific special menu I would call and ask ahead of time so you want be disappointed so we learned the hard way. Overall love the service, our waiter was so nice and understanding after I mention the steak was tough, he ask if I need to switch out anything but I felt bad because I already ate some. read more

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What a total GEM !!!! Feels a bit like NYC. So much style and class along w excellent food, service, and drinks! It will surely be a new staple for us when visiting! read more

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I have posted before we were just there Friday night...Paul is a great host...Patrick great bartender...the vibe from the staff and from Paul is that they want to be there with their guests...the wait is part of the experience...we always meet great locals and tourists...I'm one of those people that always says I won't do lines but at PaulBar I'm happy to wait in line and meet new people...back soon! read more

We were invited with friends to try Paul bar. We are from out of town and were quite pleased not only with the menu, but the interaction with the staff. I would not hesitate to come back again when I'm in town read more

I love PaulBar! While I would love to gatekeep this gem, I think the cat is already out of the bag. I came here for my birthday, and what a special experience it was! I arrived with my two big guys at around 4:30 pm on a Thursday. We were first in the outside line. Paul came out to socialize while we were waiting. He seems to never get tired of greeting people! The line took a while, but we eventually got to wait inside and got to order some drinks. We were seated at the bar about 40 minutes after stepping in line. We enjoyed the $9 happy hour frozen bourbon sidecars while waiting, and they were strong!! Highly recommend this drink! I got the iceberg wedge salad to start, and I loved it! While it is such a simple salad, something about that dressing is addicting, and the crunch of the lettuce is unreal. I did NOT share my salad! The New Zealand RACK OF LAMB was truly to die for. Tender! Huge! And eight lamb chops for only 30-something dollars?? This is the kind of dish that I daydream about. And I do still daydream about it. It came with a delightful cherry chutney, which is a flavor I've never had with lamb before. It gave me a euphoric Ratatouille moment when I first tried it with the meat. When my friends tried it, their eyes got huge in a way I've never seen before. I could not speak more highly of this dish. It was my favorite thing I ate that day. My friends got the burger, which seemed like a solid, massive bar burger, and the special pot roast, which everyone kept saying was the best thing on the menu. The pot roast looked a little small but was apparently very rich and filling. The meat literally melts in your mouth. At the end of the meal, Paul and company brought out a special chocolate pot de crème with a little candle! And it was delicious -- super rich smooth milk chocolate with a lovely dollop of whipped cream. Paul told us that he only makes 26 of them each morning. I was blown away by the food and incredible vibes of the place. The whole time I was reminded of similar speakeasies with amazing food in LA, but what sets PaulBar apart (besides the vibes) are the prices! A similar place in LA would easily be charging double for the same drinks and food! The whole night, we had so much fun socializing with Paul and the bartenders. Everyone was charming and happy to be there. I don't think I stopped smiling the entire time I was inside the establishment. I will absolutely be back!! **also, we found out that they are working on expanding into the space next door in the near future!** read more

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my visit to Palm Springs isn't complete until I make it into Paul Bar/Food. I've been coming here for years and never disappointed. Paul, of course, is wonderful and the entire staff is top noch. Ryder is a personal favorite server. You will never be disappointed with a visit. The vibe is on point. weather you start or end your night here, you'll leave happy. read more

An immersive experience as it's unique in its dark New York attitude atmosphere from beginning to end. Incredible cocktails take a front seat to the food. It's small inside, so expect to wait over an hour to get seated. If you're in line at 4:30, you might get the first seating. Manning the helm is Paul himself, so no fear, he will make sure his staff takes great care of you. It's mostly well healed locals who love this dark bar in this shaggy strip mall. I'll be back for sure read more

PaulBar - Dark cool jazzy vibe - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

I held off on reviewing this place for a long time. I wanted to keep it the classy little secret speakeasy it is . Apparently word got around and now at any given day you can find a line of people outside waiting to get it. I can proudly say, I was there first ! Paul bar is a gem. I absolutely adore this place! The food is great, in my opinion, the best wedge salad in town! The cocktails are out of this world , literally on another level. Literally , uber home lol. I recommend ordering the specials, which are always good. The steak frites is also a solid option every time without a doubt , and always finish with a pot de crèm. I'm conflicted between being happy it's always crowded and with a wait and hoping you won't show up and I'll have space. I cannot praise this place enough. It is an absolute diamond! Ps: the holiday decor is over the top gorgeous. read more

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Paul bar was all the hype. Wait time exactly as predicted. Very organized in the staging process before seating. The atmosphere is dark and swanky. We loved nabbing a corner 3-spot at the bar watching the cocktails being prepared (almost as much as we loved drinking them)! We had the black Manhattan, a Cosmo, and a classic martini with lemon twist. All quite potent and satisfying! The recommendation by the bartender for the Thursday pot roast special was 100% on point for the 2 meat eaters, as they raved about the flavor and tenderness. Meanwhile, the vegetarian (moi) thought the vegan yellow curry dish was over the top rich and utterly delicious! Whoa, I almost forgot! Do NOT skip those rosemary fries...the perfect crisp! Finally, indulge in the dessert no matter what it is (we had one choice, a rich chocolate mousse). It's ALL decadent at Paul's! read more

PaulBar - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Our favorite speakeasy cocktail bar in Palm Springs is hands down Paul Bar! We especially enjoy arriving about 20 minutes before they open to get in line and hear Paul himself (if you're lucky) speak about the dinner specials. Tasty cocktails, excellent service, and a well curated menu. Cheers! read more

PaulBar - Happy Hour Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Paul's Bar is a gem. We go there with everyone who visits us. The vibe. The wait. It's all great. We have met so many charming people on line and Paul is hysterical and keeps everyone joyful. In today's climate to see friendly people having a delightful experience is so rare. I love this place so much. I've ordered the same exact meal since it opened. I just can't get enough of Paul's bar. It's the best of Palm Springs and Paul has created an environment where even the wait is a good time! read more

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Definitely worth the wait! Amazing food. Vegan curry is Anita. The frozen bourbon was delicious! And strong!! Rider went above n beyond to make sure everything was perfect!! The service provided by all was exceptional. read more

We absolutely loved it ! Don't let the outside fool you this place is a GEM! We went and had great cocktails and great food ! Was open late night ! The staff was kind, welcoming and so was the owner -we have a vacation condo close by so this will be our new go to! It's so cool and unique inside ! 10/10 !! wondering if it's child friendly as it has a full menu for days we wanna go earlier that would be great but also understand if not ! ! Loved it ! read more

PaulBar - Yummy cocktails and great food ! - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

I waited in line for an hour because the day before that my friend and I tried to get in, we were number 53 and they only serve 49 people for the first seating. Standing outside for an hour waiting I was really hoping that this restaurant was going to live up to the anticipation, however I believe this restaurant to be overhyped. Very nice waiters and Paul seems nice but the menu is very small. The food is just OK and I didn't see anything that special about it except for the pricing that makes sense. They had a very nice new rosé wine and the drinks were good, but really I was underwhelmed by the food and I would not wait again for an hour to get it to this restaurant. My honest opinion is that good to try once but there's other places in Palm Springs that are just as amazing that you can make reservations at and no need to wait. I do have to say the best thing off the menu is the final dish which is not on the menu and that is their one chocolate dessert which is photographed below. read more

PaulBar - Chocolate desert mouse pudding that is not on the menu. - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Surprisingly interesting place in a non-descript strip mall storefront. Great service, great food, great cocktails, and special atmosphere.

Food was delicious. I ordered the lamb chops.the the service was excellent, there was maybe a 20 minute wait that went by fast

Once again, this experience was amazing. Be prepared to wait in line but it was worth every minute. The owner is such a character. Paul comes out every so often to chat to the people in line kept us entertained. The food was amazing. I had the lamb chops and they were a full rack and absolutely delicious. My husband had the muscles (again) lol. He said he loved them too, and they were fresh and delicious. I understand they are planning to expand the place. That should definitely help the wait time. I am definitely a fan of this place the service and ambience make the perfect fit for a date night. read more

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Seems popular and busy. very chatty inside. i've been waiting for years to try this place and when I finally make it there, it's too busy and a wait to get in.. I'm handicapped. I won't bother trying again. read more

THE best hidden secret in the Coachella Valley! seriously cool with a NY city flair. The best drinks I've had, ever, and top tier food (also the best calamari in the dez). Paul is a blast he's so funny and did such a great job with this place. Go go go!!! read more

PaulBar - Bar - American Near Me - Palm Springs, California