Pal’s Lounge

I’ve lived in NOLA for over a decade and had yet to ever make it to Pal’s, definitely going to go back.
Pros: Super friendly bartenders, fun cocktail menu (I went when it was super cold and they had a lot of warm drink options), I never felt rushed. Nice vibe and nice clientele without being stuffy. Definitely a neighborhood bar. I noticed the board games available and could totally imagine chilling for a bit with friends.
Cons: it is a little on the small side so not the best place for large groups or if you tend to easily feel claustrophobic

What a quaint little neighborhood bar. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they could make a really good french 75. Pal’s is fancy AF. I’d say its a bump up from a dive bar, but still really chill. On a Wednesday night it was pretty packed, but it was over the holidays so its hard to really judge if that was the average crowd. Everyone from the bartenders to the other patrons were friendly and nice and said «excuse me» if they bumped you. A rarity these days. I really enjoyed the bathrooms, mainly because I had to climb up Rapunzel’s tower to get to it. (disclaimer: it’s really like 4 or 5 steps) I also enjoyed having to get buzzed in, which only adds to the enchantment.
I am I creature of habit and will ritualistically go to the same places over and over again. Pal’s made me realize its worth it to venture out more often and see whats around the corner. I will add this to my rotation for sure. Great place to grab a drink and chat with friends old and new.

Legit neighborhood bar. I wouldn’t say it qualifies as a dive — its a little too nice for that, but its not stuffy or upscale or anything. It just has a really cozy, comfortable kind of vibe. It doesn’t smell bad and the floors don’t stick to the bottom of your shoes. I had no concerns about contracting a viral or bacterial infection from using the WC. I would be happy to escort my grand mother to this fine drinking establishment.
Great atmosphere, lots of regulars from the neighborhood, good jams on the jukebox. Lots of good jazz from the sound of it (modern jazz, too — not just NOLA trad jazz).
The bartender bought me a shot to welcome me as a first timer — very much appreciated. I’ll certainly be working this bar into the rotation.
pro tip: they have a huge stack of board games in the corner. choice.

Yet another update for one of my favo bars. A huge thanks to Laura for making me the BEST «Trace Evidence» EVER!!! If you like «Buffalo Trace» then this is going to be one of the best uses of this delicious liquor that «you’ve» ever tasted. Who are «you»? Tonight, it’s me!

Consider the bar home and all the patrons family. Great bartenders and cocktails. A local Cheers! So If you are not nice and can’t handle keeping a bathroom clean– please head to another bar :/​Pal’s is a New Orleans gem!

YES. This was the perfect way to top off my trip to New Orleans. I won 20 bucks playing video poker, drank some cold ones with friends, ate outrageous fried chicken and waffles from the pop-​up eatery and enjoyed the hell out of the dive-​y décor. I can’t really do the décor justice, but it just feels right for the space.
The bartender was cool and the patrons were all jovial and nice even during a football game.
Plus this place is nestled right in the middle of a little neighborhood so it feels secret and out-​of-​the-​way. I’d return in a heartbeat.

One of the things I love most about New Orleans is the city’s strong neighborhood bar culture. Popping into corner bars like Pal’s is one of my favorite things to do when I’m in town. As much as I love these down-​home staples of the community, I never really plan my days around barhopping — I’m more likely to stumble upon them by happenstance when I’m thirsty, have to go to the bathroom, or when I just need a break from walking.
That’s exactly how we discovered Pal’s. After woofing down po’ boys at Parkway, we were walking towards Esplanade when my boyfriend had to go to the bathroom. Pal’s had just opened and we took advantage of their awesome happy hour that Thursday afternoon.
The bartender was very friendly and took care of us while he got the bar ready for the day. He made a mean «gingerita,» which I believe was one of their happy hour specials. If I recall correctly, it was an awesome mix of ginger, vodka, and lime that most people in our group of seven ordered. It was a hit and we each got a few more.
Even at 3:00, lots of regulars were already pouring in. We didn’t stay long enough to chat with the other patrons but it seemed like a fun crowd.

I LOVE this bar!!! I’m in town a few times a year and its always my first stop!!! Their watermelon mojitos are fantastic (and dangerous), the bartenders are always great and the bar is full of locals so you can get the inside scoop on the best places in the city!!! Make sure you check it out!

My favorite Bloody Mary in all of NOLA! Homemade mix that can be prepared vegan (just ask them to leave out the worcestershire), complimented by loads of pickled veggies…& they know how to make em SPICY! Other highlights include the airhockey table, photobooth & bizarre double side-​by-​side toilet feature in the ladies room. Some outdoor seating, but they pull the tables in a few hours before closing.

After Hogs for the Cause we were looking to grab a few more drinks. To Pal’s we went. I dig this place. Small neighborhood spot with good cocktails. You have to buzz to get in… hope the bartender likes the look of ya :) I sipped on cold beer while the rest of my group enjoyed stiffer drinks. They have a few flat screens so you can catch a game here. We caught some March Madness games that night. Apparently the Pear Martini was delightful. It can get loud in there so speak up! An order for a vodka soda greygoose was placed and we got a vodka soda grapefruit juice instead… see, you got to speak up! No worries, it was easily fixed. If you find yourself in Mid City and are looking to grab drinks, Pal’s would definitely fit the bill

BLUF: Small neighborhood bar with laid back character.
I will like this place 100x more once the smoking ban goes into affect on 22 April 2015. Very smokey currently. It is a small local bar for neighbors so it will be nicer once more people can enjoy it. Great place for happy hour or a couple drinks. Nice bartender and clients. Naked lady pictures in the bathrooms too so that is awesome.
(bbq on saturdays)

Love this place! Great for small hang outs. They stopped serving tacos on Tuesdays which makes me sad, but still a great place nonetheless

I’ve got to give a five to this bar, because it’s everything I need– except it’s not next to my house. Regardless, it’s the perfect neighborhood bar– kinda divey, pretty clean, and not too loud. What really made the experience for me was the bartender, Cindy. Thank you so much for not only making kickass drinks and pleasant conversation, but REALLY thank you for picking up my cues to stop serving my boyfriend so I can get the hell home in time for a decent shift. Girl, people skills are half of the job and you’ve got it on point. I’ll be back.

from the outside doesn’t look like much. doorman def wants to see all ID no matter what age you are. That says much to me. obviously the first thought is there have been problems at this place so ID is a great way to say no to folks if they don’t have it. but thats okay, I can live with that. I don’t blame a good hood bar for making sure no ICKY folks come in. Indeed.
AND being asked ID at the age of 55 is pretty funny. I am old enough to be his mama. its all in the way you ask. and being positive when you do? makes all the difference in the world. so I laughed it off.
quaint inside, but LOUD. jukebox played one song while we were there. we ordered tacos and chips n queso which hit the spot, and was QUICK. The kitchen was just getting ready to close up, so I really appreciated the waitress coming to our table and asking us if we were hungry since she was nearly closed. THAT is something very special to me right there. over the top nice and helpful. She checked on us several times. AWESOME usually when kitchens in a bar are close to closing for the night? that last order isn’t what they are wanting to see. LOL thanks for being real.
drink wise? pretty average. they were busy, but not in the weeds. the bartender kept up with everyone, and it all was super neighborhood.
curious to see this place during the gras or during busy times in the summer. I’m a standard cocktail person and not really into experimenting new things. I’ve been a bartender for a long time too. I just am simple, hungry, thirsty, and happy. AND I NEEDED a CIGARETTE. that def made it for me.
see you soon.

I like to show off this place to friends who typically are not found in Mid City because it is truly a hidden gem that I feel only elites, and not just Unilocalers, know about. After parading around with some friends of mine for the LSU game at Mid City Bulldog, i decided to ‘show off’ the best part of town to them a bit more in a long-​term planned event to have them consider moving to M.C.
The bar is kinda easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for, but it does sit on a corner so if you’ve found the intersection of Rendon and St. Phillip, you’re there. Have your i.d. ready because the guard sitting outside will not let you pass without one, plus ya gotta ring the little bell aside the door to get in.
The place is divey, but it doesn’t much feel that way. Bartenders are always super nice and on point, there’s also free peanuts at the bar so help yourself. Pal’s makes one of the best bloody mary’s around, fact. About two… two and a half years ago when seemingly every human on Earth was in sync with executing a viral bacon-​craze, was my first time in Pal’s and ever seeing bacon used in a bloody mary, i was whoa in love.
I love bars where there are a couple good games to choose from. The pinball and air hockey are definitely a plus to this place. Although, let me tell you, the foundation is far from leveled so you’re certain to notice the funny way the pinball moves in the game, and how the air hockey table is so off you’ll need to adjust your game to the angle.
The men’s bathroom is one of the coolest I’ve been in. Nothing fancy at all, in fact it’s the exact opposite of fancy, but the chosen décor makes it a therapeutic facility to utilize. I’m not going to give it away, you gotta visit to see what I’m talking about.
Great neighborhood bar, good prices, chill ambiance, free peanuts and often free food offered. Pal’s is definitely one of my favorite, hidden gem, mid city bars, check em out.

I can see myself falling in love with this dive-​like, neighborhood bar!
I was drawn to Pal’s on a Saturday evening because our friends from NOLA-​Q were serving up their delectable smoked bites that night. Kudos to Pal’s for hosting local pop-​up restaurants!
Food demolished, I lingered for quite a bit longer because I was impressed by Pal’s featured mixed drinks. I sampled a few like the Pimm’s Cup, Paradise LOST (coconut water, liqours, and basil concoction of sorts), and a white Sangria. Definitely not a fan of the Pimm’s, PL was OK, but the Sangria was awesome!
I would have partaken in a few more rounds of the Sangria, or tried a few other specials, but service was super slow. I consumed those few drinks over a 3 – 4 hour period, whenever I could grab the attention of a bartender. If you’re taking my empty glass away, shouldn’t you take the opportunity to see if I’d like another round instead of just running off? This was Pal’s only downfall for me.
I’ll definitely be back and look forward to trying more of their featured drinks!

Pal’s is one of my favorite bars because it has a nice selection of craft cocktails and on any given night a great menu of popup food from the kitchen. They have plenty of lighted bike parking and security at night with an armed guard and locked door.

Te quieren con los ojos; pasta por la patilla; cigarros para cigarreros. Tatuajismo. Blues. La vida misma. Yo querría morir en un sitio como este, mientras la gente ríe y suena un piano desafinado.

Pal’s Lounge has been on my get-​around-​to list for a while now. I have a few friends that have been regulars here for years (and kicked out a few times). Since it was one of the bars on the 2^nd Annual Mid-​City Cocktail Competition AND they were wooing me with a BACON Bloody Mary, I decided the time was now.
We arrived promptly at 3:00 on the dot to the corner bar with blue shutters locked up. Instead of turning us away for one more minute of peace and quiet, the lovely bartenderess buzzed us in to what I now think is my new favorite neighborhood bar!
It’s like a hyrbrid divey/​vintage/​neighborhood bar. If I could steal one of the blue and gold bar stools WITH BACKS I would. There are also these vintage paintings of naked women that just really bring the bar together in a not-​trying sort of way that I love. I could do without the air hockey clamoring, but I prefer noise to silence.
We ordered the Bacon Bloody, that was fantabulous, a beer and another fancy drink while watching the soccer match. I love seemingly dive bars with awesome drinks. Another group came in behind us and ordered this iced coffee cocktail with whip cream on top. My drink envy was visible to Miss Bartender and she provided me with a delicious sample.
The bar filled up with people doing the Bloody Mary cocktail tour, regulars, travelers, a dog and some more friends. All the while, this one bartender was making it happen without a bar back for most the time we were there.
I’m not a fan of smoking, but I’m not docking them a whole star for that, since it wasn’t too bad this Sunday. I know that they’ve had some security issues in the way past, but they do have a working buzzer and a security guard that works nights.
I absolutely suggest Pal’s for a Sunday Funday!

Lots of pluses for Pals! I could go on about the drinks (seasonal cocktail menu in a diveish bar that you need to be ringed into? Yes, Please!) and the fact that there’s just something so cool about ordering champagne in this kind of setting. But let’s get down to the nitty gritty.
+That men’s room. Oh you better believe I pranced myself right on in to see the nude chick hall o’fame. Seems like Pal’s has a thing for well-​endowed girls of the 60s and 70s judging by what’s up there.
–and who do the ladies get? Burt Reynolds?! I think it’s a Playgirl shot. Whatever it is, it’s just unappealing. Again with the 70s. Or maybe that’s the 80s. Either way, I must be the wrong demographic b/​c I definitely have no interest in seeing Burt Reyond’s wang. Come to think of it, I may be blocking it out, but his wang might not even be visible. That thick carpet of chest hair, OTOH… Mondo trauma.
+I love the curved staircase leading up to the ladies. I just don’t like who’s waiting for m in there.
+bar snacks. Pretzels and champagne? Helllls yeah. Dinner of champions.

I’ve passed this bar several times just being in the area & unfortunately NEVER stopped in. I had the opportunity to do so during a Unilocal event where we had tacos & booze, not a bad combo.
You’ve gotta get buzzed in & space is limited, but hey it’s a bar. Although in the rear of the bar there’s a little more space where you can find video poker, video games and a sweet, sweet, sweet air hockey table. The walls are «adorned» with booby pics, naked ladies and ONLY like 2 naked men (no fair), but oh well.
Ladies bathroom is nice, there are peppermints in there ya know. Signs about toilet flushing techniques. And it’s only fair to mention the mens bathroom is nice as well in it’s own right.
The food is cash only & the bar has a $ 10 drink minimum to use your debit card. There’s an ATM machine located in the rear of the bar, near the kitchen door, FYI. And there are some food and drink specials as well like tacos & beergaritas (tastyyyyyyy ummmm ummmm good) to boot.
Servers & bar tenders are the
, but there was one lady, that well, didn’t really kill the experience for me, but made me think twice about customer service. As a result, one of the servers apologized for her «biting my head off»… but in light of the masses, I just disregarded the ill-​served words & kept it moving.
I had a great time, I enjoyed several of the drinks created by the bar tender & then I went home.