My boyfriend and I went here on a whim after dinner. We’ve never patronized this place, but I googled good dirty martinis in my area and Palmers showed up. The service was fast and the drinks were good, my only suggestion is to garnish the martinis with olives. We stepped out onto the patio, which was a decent size and to our delight there was a bonfire lit. That was really nice as it was 40 degrees and windy. I experienced enlightening conversations with the bar goers while we stood beside the fire. It was really a great way to end our date night. I Iove that Palmer’s and the patrons that frequent are very welcoming. One of the patrons gave us the complete history of Palmer’s all the way back to the prohibition days. As a history buff myself, I appreciate that this establishment has deep ties to it community and the extremely interesting history that goes along with it. Learning the history of Palmers and meeting friendly new people really made it a special experience. Reflecting on my time spent at Palmers, I can truly say it is a gem. The people that service this establishment are authentic, the service is great, and a fun time was had. I will be coming back once the weather warms up. :)

Here is the real with this place.....if you think that Cedar-Riverside is a cool, funky, hip neighborhood, you'll love this place. Personally, I've never understood the "charm" of Cedar-Riverside--which has impacted my perception of Palmer's. The bar itself is pretty small and has same strange smells and run-down feel that most of Cedar-Riverside has. It has a very eclectic clientele that at first seems kind of fun and quirky. However, the novelty of having weirdos interrupt your conversations and the heavy drug presence in the bar makes for at least a few uncomfortable interactions every time I've been there. Finally, the drinks are pretty pricy. Therefore, when I think about this place, all I can think of are overpriced drinks, bad atmosphere, and unwelcome (and uncomfortable encounters). I can think of scores of bars in the Metro area that you'll have a better time at. Of course, if you just moved to MSP from the suburbs are you want to get to a "gritty-urban hip dive bar" by all means head over to Palmer's......

Quintessential West Bank watering hole, with a "Hippienanny" a folk music jam. Want a taste of peacenik? go here. Local old-timers, neighborhood flies, and the new owner Tony is about the sweetest guy around, who when he took ownership, just cleaned the place (forty years of smoke and cobwebs), otherwise this local gem is just the way they left it in the 70's. Local beers and local liquors (but trust their rail!) and cheap bar pizza with events going on every night of the week. They'll put a plastic straw in your cocktail but won't give you stinkeye you say you want the Eco version. Bonfire outside, but love music? Someone might be playing the piano inside--go ask 'em if they knew Dillon. Take the LTR so you won't have to park in the neighborhood.

Been to palmers a handful of times over the past year or so and never had any problem until this past weekend. Went there with a group of friends; several who ordered the same drink. However, the bartender charged different prices for these drinks; pocketing the extra as his "tip." When we confronted him he told us "tough crap." We then talked to the manager who gave us the money back and said it was an honest mistake, but then followed up by telling us to "stop whining." I will not be going back to this bar and I would caution others if they are considering it. This place that has crooked bartenders and manager who turns a blind eye is no place for honest people looking for good time. Not a place I would ever recommend.

This 5 stars relates to the type of establishment it is: a true dive bar. You’re likely to find people grilling on the small bit intimate back patio, or a dog wandering around inside the bar. You’re also likely to find a small, motley crew doing a live music performance directly in front of the bathroom, so you may have to maneuver through the performers to get to the urinal. Cash only bar with a slew of ID photos hanging for who’s banned from the establishment. One of the best drink specials going: $5 = a beer and a shot. A great pregame spot for a show at The Cedar, or before heading to a sporting event a couple stops further down the light rail into downtown Minneapolis.

Palmer's is a great place for live music because from anywhere in the bar you can easily see the band onstage. Drinks are not terribly expensive and the bartenders are very nice and the live music is always great! I highly suggest giving Palmer's Bar a visit. You will not be disappointed and you will be planning your return. Enjoy!
Price per person
$20–30
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Miller High Life
Dietary restrictions
Items fitting certain dietary restrictions are available.
Wheelchair accessibility
The bar is accessible to those in a wheelchair.

This bar can be a fun place to grab a drink and see a band. The drinks are reasonably priced and the selection is good. Be aware that the bar is cash only (I believe there is an ATM available). The crowd can be a bit rough at times, there seems to be some tension between the regulars and those that are there to see bands. Additionally, some of my female friends have been borderline harassed here: lewd commends, "accidentally" being bumped into and rubbed on. Definitely something to be on guard for. Patio is nice though.

I love the patio out back, and the nook that bands play in is pretty cool. The interior is somewhat crowded/claustrophobic, but the drinks aren't too* expensive and the actual music was great during my visit. Now, bouncers don't really have to be overly positive or friendly, but Palmer's bouncer at the front door may be a turn off to folks with thinner skin - just a bit of an abrasive dude. With an attitude adjustment would probably come an extra star.

Great music comes through here. Strong drinks, tap beer selection is heavily local. Historic place full of character, and characters. Heggies pizza here, and in a neighborhood full of diverse restaurants open late. A great place to come before or after a show at The Cedar, or to get a decent drink compared to where you're going or just came from. West Bank, Cedar Riverside neighborhood, close to Downtown, UofM, Augsburg.

I am not from these parts, butblet me say: this is a real bar. There is just enough of a craft beer selection. Speed nozzles in (literally) every bottle of liquor is the bar's declaration that they are for drinking, not for show. Liquor pours are easily doubles if not triples. Friendly (but drunk) crowd makes this an inviting place to briefly dive into a drink or seven. Live music when I was there was a nice plus.

Palmer's is a classic bar frequented mostly by neighborhood patrons. People come loaded with local stories and how over the years the west bank has evolved to what it is today. Current owner thou doesn't seem to recognize the historical background of the bar in particular and the area in general. In an attempt to make a quick buck he's pushing out people of 30+ years patronage of the bar. Still nothing changed.

First time here tonight and I loved it! The live music was great, the drinks were affordable and the patio was spacious. Other bar-goers were really friendly too! Upon leaving I commented to my friend that I had a really good time, and a man outside said he was glad we liked it - turns out it was Tony, the owner! If you're looking for something casual, authentic, and fun, this is the place!

What a cool little bar in this small town. We had jumbo Tacos special and they were terrific and huge! Staff was super friendly too! Inside of bar is basic, nothing special but a cool place all the same. We'll be back again!
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Parking space
Plenty of parking
Parking options
Free parking lot

We fell in love with Palmer’s Bar. We particularly like that we ordered three cocktails and pizza and the cost was only $28 dollars! The patio is awesome and the interior has some very interesting designs. The bartender was very cool and spent time talking to us about the bar itself and its historical attributes. We will definitely be back.

Super welcoming. The place has personality. Live music. Slightest of drafts, but if you're a local to MN, you should already be dressed right to be wandering out at this time. Wall outlets near every table. And did I mention the super welcoming staff? I hate "Minnesota Nice". This wasn't it. This was a "welcome to my hearth" type of vibe.

This was such a cool bar everyone there was great! Met the owner and he was so amazingly welcoming! Really is a bar for EVERYONE!! The bartender was great the drinks were great and i am for sure going to be coming back for a few of those live concerts i keep hearing about!! Wish i could give more stars!!

It's Palmer's, what more do you want? Great patio, live music on a disturbingly small stage. Bar is small, but the staff are all super friendly. No issues with any patrons, but the neighborhood has gotten pretty sketchy. If you're not worried about any of that, then it's pretty great bar! …

I was there for Saturday Caterwaul, wonderful hole in the wall bar atmosphere, like if I was still a drinker and lived in the area this would be my bar of choice. Incredible outdoor open air space for bands to play, I had a great time here. I can't say enough good things about this place.

Went to see PSYLO play this bar. They rocked. The bar felt like an establishment and looks like it ought to have a plaque someplace, though it did not seem like the type of place to seek recognition if that makes sense. The wall of shame behind the bar was good for a laugh. Pic related.

Man oh man, if you like little neighborhood bars lots of flair - hundred year old looks - then this is the place for you. Hamms on tap - oooooh that’s as close to heaven as a man can get. Tonight there’s a smooth live jazz band that’s what I needed to hear. Highly recommend this place.

My band had a gig here this past Saturday. Though things are a little tight space wise, the bar is awesome. The staff is super cool and friendly, the sound engineer was on point, and they made sure we got paid (which for an original band these days, is pretty awesome). Thanks Palmers!

This is a nice bar with a small stage. I love their patio, it has a lowkey vibe and they make strong drinks. Unfortunately one of their bouncers are very off-putting. Unnecessarily rude. I've ended up just walking in and walking right back out and heading across the street twice now.

I was pleasantly surprised by this "hole in the wall" bar! Ben and Zach are on point!!! It's a primo mix of personalities...and backgrounds! I was treated with the utmost respect and love the atmosphere! Thank you Palmers... you gave this skeptic hope!!!! Can't wait to go back!!!!!

They don't serve food, but the drinks are good, the staff is really chill, and they had good live music when I was there. Their back deck is excellent. A great place to catch a show in the summer.
Price per person
$10–20
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Palmer's is keeping the old school West Bank Minneapolis feel alive! The tin ceiling has been exposed and is wonderfull. Cheap drinks and a great patio,(my Surly was $3). Doing a great job, given the COVID situation we live in. A great Minneapolis institution in great hands.

I am impressed with the live performance when I visited the place. It's crowded and many seem comfortable getting fully drunk in the area. In addition to that, the place seems weird because of the wall art. Overall, it's a great experience and I want to come back next week.

Gossiping strangers hurt kind people. They discriminate. Some of the staff have a tendency to make up terrible lies about ppl they don't know. The manager will get really drunk and loudly bully customers over top of the bands. Really disappointing. Extremely unprofessional.

I haven't been here in 3+years but Zack created a regular for life. The way he interacts with the crowd is phenomenal and he is also very efficient as a bartender. Also the owner Tony is a great guy and I love supporting a black owned business. Thanks for everything guys!!

Great old bar that just underwent a massive overhaul bringing back some of the original charm. Tin ceilings have been exposed, complete bathroom remodels. New larger TVs, added another pinball machine and a huge new addition to the out door decking. Stop by soon!

I went to Palmer's bar for the first time with my sister and my cousin. I had a great time there. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. It had a live DJ, who was amazing, and had the wine was great. I can't wait to come back again when I visit next year.

Great atmosphere. Great Minneapolis City crowd. They've got great deals on beer that are hard to come by these days and an incredibly varied live music selection. Plus, they've got a big patio and an eclectic clientele that'll make your night a lot of fun.

Stopped into this place for a quick drink! The bartender was very friendly and it's a nice place. There is a little stage that is the height of the bar and it would we cool to see a musician play on it. This bar has a great outdoor seating space as well.

You have to have a certain kind of something to enjoy Palmer's. I am the kind that does. Dark, old school, drinks of lethal strength and a crowd that might scare the suburbanites, it's the place that separates you from those that favor Applebees.

We saw the Good Time Gals and Red Hot Django Peppers on the outdoor stage. The venue is a perfect place to spend a summer evening. The drinks are good and strong and the staff is friendly. The only drawback is the tiny bathrooms in a crowded bar.

Best bar in Minneapolis! I absolutely love this place. Once inside you would have no idea that you are on the edge of downtown Minneapolis. Feels more like a dive bar in the woods up north... except for the clientele... they're from everywhere!

Easily my favourite spot in MSP. Cheap beers, friendly clientele and delicious Heggies Pizza served. You never know who you're sitting next to in that bar, or which incredible artist will be playing that night. My go to every time I'm in town!

Without question a place of magic. I cannot express how much I loved this place. Genuine welcome any kindness from everyone. Amazing patio in the cozy shadow of the massive modernist concretescape of the Riverview Towers. The best of places.

I have never been to a bar that takes cash only. I was really disappointed. They had an ATM but I wasn't willing to pay the extra service charges. The staff was very nice about explaining it though. I would go back, with cash next time!

Love this place! One of the oldest bars in the city. Awesome drinks at great prices and a very eclectic clientele! The owner, Tony Zaccardi knows hospitality and makes everyone feel comfortable and important. Can't beat that!!!

Maybe it's a dive bar or right on the edge of being one, but if you like small live music bands, stiff drinks, and a giant outside patio area, this is a great place. Just remember those are gunshots and not a car backfiring.

This is 90% bar, and 21+ at night, staff and crowd was all cool. Parking blocks away sucked, but it was a Friday night, $15 cover charge for bands was an unpleasant surprise as well. Overall a 4/5 kinda meh experience. More

The live music was good. But their motto is "Sorry! We're open!" and neighbors complain about the low life clientelle. My complaint: variable cover charge. I got charged $5, but cute girls and regulars went in for free.

Found this place on a recommendation from a friend when I was in town for the night. It was awesome. Everyone was super friendly. The music was great. Definitely will be a stop next time I'm in town. My kind of bar.

A true dive bar. The beer selection is good, the customers seem gregarious. The building and the bar both feel old, well lived in. The patio space is split up well to accommodate several large groups, as well.

It was a nice bar I had 1 drink but the bar tender Ben added 2 dollars to his tip like any normal person wouldn't notice. I played a 3 dollar tip for 1 drink why does he need more then a 50%tip? Thieves

This place exists somewhere outside of regular time and space. All denizens of every lively dive bar in the universe roll downhill and wind up here eventually. An eternally magical establishment!

Great music line ups, good prices, friendly staff. I hadn't been since before the pandemic and went for a show in April and it was really nice to be back! It is small so it does fill up quickly.

Bartender charged different prices than was listed. Jukebox was killed by mgmt as soon as we started playing the song, and they tried to refuse us the return of the money we put into it.

Love this place. It has soo much history and the staff has always been very helpful and accommodating. SOO much of mpls history had been replaced. I hope PALMERS will NEVER be replaced.

Small neighborhood bar that I haven't been to in over 20 years! It's still very small but a great selection of beer. Friendly neighborhood folks seem like regulars. Cool environment.

Great bar for punk rock. Narrow build but perfect sightlines to the stage. Typical prices and wait times. Great staff. Small bathrooms. Classic dive bar with an eclectic clientele.

The music by Cornbread Harris and Friends was sublime! The service was wonderful and friendly! I am just SO uncomfortable on those high chairs -- and that is all they have inside.

A favorite. Since 1982 I have come here. Great atmosphere on historical West bank. Part of film Factotum was filmed here using Spider jonh as an xtra . Highly recommend.

Kinda seedy, but a nice bar. The patio in back is probably the best feature, and the live music can be good too. Elsewise nothing too special unless you are a regular.

Always a blast at Palmer's, especially when one of my favorite bands is playing! Great people!
Price per person
$10–20
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Of the dive bars left these days in Minneapolis this is one of the diviest! I go for the Hipananny Jam on Wednesdays which is big fun. Lots of great music …

The music was great the outdoor area very comfortable very enjoyable evening
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Miller High Life

Reasonable prices, good strong drinks, pleasant staff and great live music Thursdays thru Sunday. Super back yard/deck in the summer. Gotta love this place!

Excellent staff. Amazing clientele. Lives up to the name Esquire Magazine gave it as one of America’s Best Dive Bars. Stiff drinks and eclectic live music.

Great place Since day 1.
Price per person
$50–100
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes
Miller High Life

Always chill vibes! And live music every time I've ever been! Bartenders are pretty legit always.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great punk dive and one of the few great dive bars left on that side of the river
Price per person
$1–10
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

The guy at the door was rude and condescending. Possibly watched road house one too many times. From a business perspective, this man is a liability.

Been a neighborhood bar as far back as I can remember. Laid back all are welcome. Live music can't go wrong with this one. No food eat before you go.

Fun place, cool stage tucked into the corner. Probably makes for few good spots to watch the band, but works well if you can get a place at the bar.

Good to see this mainstay of the West Bank hasn't lost it's steam after post quarantine. Great place to hang out then, great place to hang out now.

The best neighborhood dive bar in the universe. Every kind of music or person might step in here and relax and be slightly degraded. Beer is food.

Great hole in the wall bar! Cool vibes, talented people singing, fun atmosphere, rich history & culture. Service industry approved …

Palmers is, and always has been a great place where real live humans can exist! "Don't forget to tell your friends, where you had all the fun! "

Gray bar to have a couple drinks and enjoy the city amazing people different type of vibe enjoy everything about this bar and it's eliteness

Again , a long time haunt , its good it's still there , alot of memories , some good , some not as pleasant shall we say. But its infamous.

Staff is overly aggressive & extremely disrespectful.
Price per person
$30–50
Food: 1
Service: 1
Atmosphere: 1

Friendly atmosphere all around! If you need a place where anyone will get along and accept everyone this is the place. Home sweet home.

It's one of the classic dive bars in Minneapolis. It's cash only, so be prepared for that. They have good rock/blues concerts as well.

Old school rules don't pass this up great history and great service and people
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

music is hit&miss for me, but in their defense, constantly playing live local shows! small inside space, but a great back patio!

Palmerfest Sass played. Better beer selection then last visit. Palmer's is always a little creepy, but that's why you should go.

Great live music with a small venue that doesn't disappoint. The bar is well stocked too with a huge selection and great staff

The best divey bar on the west bank. The owner operator is an excellent person and the staff are wonderful. Music music music.

Cheap drinks, extremely colorful patronage, large patio, and live music.
Food: 1
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great small bar. Good service was only a couple people in there which was nice to relax and have a couple beers. Good place

the cats at palmers have the best sounding shows and great service, local gem!
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Great venue. Mixing the classic old time musicians with the house music and friendly staff. Will definitely come back

This place is AWESOME! I have had a great time every time I've been here. Great service, great bands, fun times.

An iconic venue! One of the few holdovers from the old days of the West Bank. Check it out before it's gone too.

Great atmosphere. Great bartenders. Great prices. The patio is super rad. Fun shows. Oasis in an urban setting.

Palmer's us a perfect dive bar. Interesting people, strong drinks, clean women's restroom.
Atmosphere: 5

I may not get there as much as I did when I was younger but this is still my favorite bar in the twin cities.

Best bar in the West Bank. If you want a classic neighborhood dive, this is it. The patio is a huge bonus!

One of the gems of Minneapolis! Great pours, great company and great music! Palmer's never disappoints!

Weird vibe. Not bad. Just weird. There was line dancing the night we went? Just didn’t expect it haha

Heggie's, live music, and good drinks!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Best bar in the city
Price per person
$20–30
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

Super cool historic tavern with live music. Diverse crowd with no “Brahs” and “chach’s” …

This place was great. Music festival live bands. great drinks had a wonderful time.

Great outdoor space for live music
Price per person
$30–50

My favorite dive bar. Friendly, welcoming staff and atmosphere.

Great local music and wonderful neighborhood bar. Weird too.

Really enjoyed the night out here. Great drinks and music!

Awesome staff, great prices on drinks. Fun time!!