Review Highlights
“If you want to have a good time, meet interesting people, and you're not a snobby prick, Mag Bar's the spot.” in 22 reviews
“Very chill and unassuming bar with an eclectic crowd, drink options, and decor.” in 2 reviews
“Over the last few years the mag has incorporated trivia, get down wednesdays (EDM Dance night) etc.” in 3 reviews
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About the Business
Established in 1962, the Magnolia Bar, or Mag Bar as it is colloquially known, has been an Old Louisville fixture for generations. Playing host to kings, queens, saints, and scoundrels, the Mag Bar ’s colorful neon glow has been a beacon to thirsty souls the world over. Boasting an impressive list of fine libations as well as an equally eclectic collection of colorful characters, our hallowed halls live up to the reputation of one of the world's greatest watering holes.
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Overall rating
81 reviews
5 stars
4 stars
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1 star
- May 16, 2024
Oh hello, perfect dive bar. Left to my own devices, I don't go to too many of these anymore as I mainly stick to wine and unless you're in New Orleans, dive bars don't have halfway decent wine.
Interestingly, Magnolia Bar has an array of craft beers. But no wine. Correction. Franzia in the box is available here. Legit dive. Sort of (for some reason, I don't expect to see a wall menu full of craft beers at a dive bar, but I digress).
The bartender was really nice and had a lot of connections to bartenders in NOLA . There's plenty of barstools and booths (people move in and out) and it's cozy, comfortable corner spot. I appreciate a bar where the clientele isn't all young and tragically hip (when I go out in NYC, I'm finding this more and more).
I spied a cool special: buy a draft get a free slice from the pizzeria next door (which is extremely good and has vegan options). Speaking of pizza, we waited in here with a drink and then when it was ready, we ate it here since there's no indoor seating next door.Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 5Oh no 0 - Oct 6, 2021
Pretty solid spot to visit while you are in tehe area. They have some really good cold cheap beers and live music. Its in a crowded spot so its always poppin here it appears. Good place that I will go back to when im in town. I like little dive bars like this and it is a good one
Helpful 16Thanks 0Love this 18Oh no 0 - Tony R.Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, CA07Nov 10, 2023
Bad ass local dive bar, with plenty of attitude. A hidden Louisville gem! I found this bar my last week in town, and really wish I had discovered it sooner!!
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Rai C.Indianapolis, IN87Aug 30, 2023
Fun little metal bar. On a busy night, expect to be patient. No faster or slower than any other dive bar on a weekend. I loved the atmosphere, patrons seemed fun and staff was rad. Definitely will be back.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Tasha A.Waynesboro, PA03Aug 22, 2023
Used to come to the mag bar every other weekend - barhopping in the mid-nineties. This is an old classic dive bar which will NEVER DIE. This this is part of the old south and forever it will stay that way. Old wood floors, Old classic wood bar, beautiful laid back atmosphere in the middle of an old neighborhood - away from all the other dive bars on Bardstown RD.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Nick T.Louisville, KY16554Jun 19, 2023
Extremely slow service. When I finally got my beer it was frozen and ice was coming out of the top of the bottle making a mess. Staff would not give me a drinkable beer. Paid my tab and left.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - 1543884055Mar 17, 2019
In the heart of Old Louisville sits Mag Bar. Located at the corner of 2nd and Magnolia of course. And there is the lovely street parking. Didn't have any trouble parking close of course.
I wanted to come here despite the reviews I have read about this place. The inside of the establishment looked very clean on the inside. And beings it was the afternoon when there, the place look lit up by the sunlight, I expected this place to be dark before entering and it wasn't. Overall appearance of the place was good.
There were not very many customers so getting to place a drink order was no problem. This place also IDs which is a good thing to keep the underage out. This place has quite a choice of beers so, you should have no trouble finding the right one for you. And another thing, if you want Pizza Donisi next door, you have to walk over and place an order, they bring it to you when it's done.
Overall I had a good experience here, staff was great. My reason for the 3 star is the way the bathrooms are made. You have to come out of the bathroom to wash your hands at this sink right outside the bathrooms.Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Augie R.Milwaukee, WI1691013413May 12, 2019
I'm a fan of dive bars, and Magnolia offers much of what you may want from a dive bar, including an old, lived-in feel with lots of things to see on the walls (and lots of interesting people to watch.) It also may have some things you don't like, such as a bartender who'd rather stare at his phone or watch TV than give you the time of day. (It was clear he knew and liked the regulars--some of whom sat down and got a drink without having to order--more than we tourists.) We visited shortly after it opened at 3 pm, and instead of music, we were treated the audio from a movie the bartender and a handful of regulars were watching. I'm a fan of The Fifth Element more than most, but that doesn't mean I want to talk over it while enjoying a beer with friends. On the whole, this is an interesting spot for a drink, but I hoped for a better dive bar experience than Mag Bar delivered.
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Dec 10, 2016
Hipsters and cheap drinks. The Mag Bar is a hipster hangout in old Louisville. It has existed since the dawn of time. I guess that long after Skynet becomes self-aware and destroys the world with nuclear weapons, the Mag Bar will still be standing, serving PBR to young white people wishing to be ironic.
Good for the Mag Bar. Keep doing you and own that 3 star rating.Helpful 3Thanks 0Love this 3Oh no 0 - Brent E.Louisville, KY56430444Sep 9, 2018
Great place to see a band and have a few drinks while doing so. Also, Pizza Donisi next door you can carry out and eat at Mag Bar! The bar tenders at Mag Bar are always cool and the place has a vibe about it that is relaxed. Mag Bar knows who it is and those of us that like to hang out there are counting on that never changing.
Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 3Oh no 0
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