Pauly’s Hotel

Pretty decent bar. they have a ton of beers on tap and a good-​size performance space in back. Everybody has disavowed this, but your favorite band from back in the day probably played there.
For some reason, this bar was never «histori-​cised» or embraced by the «local history» crowd, which is odd because it purports to be the oldest bar in Albany. no one in town can confirm It, but the outdoor and indoor signs note 1862 and 1889 respectively. A DOT street sign out front, «central ave.,» got a yellow tag, historical treatment, it says «General John Pauly Way,» which is cool, got me thinking of epaulettes and gen. Paulys glossy black horse tied out front of Paulys, but this army general’s family _​owned_​Paulys and late 20^th century he became a general.
So the history is dubious, but at any rate, it being a pre-​1900 tavern is undeniable in its interior look. From the Red pressed tin ceiling to the dark stained wood covered in cig burns, it’s 85% original to the b&w photos that pepper its walls. Think famous lunch in troy.
This is only a bar, they have no food.
Bathrooms, they need to be remodeled.
Now as a venue. They tend to host smaller touring bands and never an act that is on mainstream radio or even EQX. That’s cool because the next music legend Could be playing this weekend at Paulys to 7 people. Occasionally the Low Beat next door will synchronize a show and seeing several acts over a few hours with a big convivial crowd smoking out front and drinking at both is always a good time.
When there’s no live bands, they have touch tunes, a particularly unwelcome bit of globalization, this place should be going for authentic not… Whatever culture tt propagates. but they have a nice weekly vinyl night, and that’s the music you really want to hear under that tin ceiling, patrons are encouraged to bring records to play, geek out over album art, etc.
all in all its not perfect, but no bar is of course. This is, simply put, a «Real Albany» watering hole type of place, a dependable spot to either nurse a beer or take a shot with ten friends. It’s Paulys!!!

As a professional Talent buyer and booking agent I don’t normally seek out bars for purposes of booking a show. For various reasons it’s usually too much trouble and not worth the effort.
Pauly’s Hotel is a perfect example of this. With no current in house management My confirmed date (which ownership was 40 minutes late to our appointment for) at this bar was double booked.
Their promoter is some gentleman who calls himself chaos, and isn’t helpful at any capacity.
I can’t even imagine how they handle load ins, sound checks, and payment. Thankfully I never had to find out. Smelling a disaster coming a mile away with a «accidental» DBL booking, I cancelled the date I had booked there.
Touring bands and booking agency’s looking to book the Albany area, avoid this place.
Try next door at the Low Beat. It’s under the same ownership but has appropriate in house management for putting together a show.
I might also mention, It’s been said to me from local bands and promoters, that local shows booking here with this chaos character should be warned. Apparently he actively seeks out naïve local acts, over charges the door, forces ticket sales from unknown bands, and pockets all the profits.
Again, please avoid.

I just started going back to Pauly’s because of the great music. The Linda is right across the street on the same side-​so if you think going to The Linda is safe then so is Pauly’s. The area is extremely bright and I don’t have a problem parking. The people that hang at this bar are friendly –Ok there may be a few college age people hanging there however if they are into the music than that is cool. Anyway the number of young people has diminished and it is not a «college bar» anymore. The new owner has really made an effort to bring in great music-​local groups as well as national. Beer selection is very good and they do run specials. I just went to a Sunday 1−7pm blues tribute and it was a blast.

I used to be a Pauly’s regular back in my undergraduate days. I can (vaguely) recall many, many happy hours and rugby drink ups here. I still remember the dollar bottle specials. Eventually, I became of age, grew out of the place, it was shuttered for awhile and voila, one day I was reading they turned over a new leaf and returned as a jazz bar. After seeing some decent beer neon signs in the window when passing by, I decided to drop in to relive the memories. The interior hasn’t changed. It’s still a dingy hole in the wall with the tin ceiling, crappy bar stools, trashy bartenders (who were busy gossiping) and smell of stale beer. We were asked if we were there for jazz night, as there was a cover charge, but they let us by when we said we were in for just a pint and the show wasn’t to begin for another hour. The beer selection has gotten better. From Busch back in the day to Goose Island and Dogfish Head, I was impressed. However, a Goose Island and a Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA was $ 12. I’m sorry but I really don’t know where they get off charging $ 6 a pint in a city where every other bar in town would charge less than that and have a better (cleaner) atmosphere. So it was a one pint excursion, we walked out almost $ 15 in the hole, and vowed never again. Sorry Pauly’s.

Went to Pauly’s to see Joe Louis Walker show on a Friday night. The clientele was friendly and the beer selection is above average. It’s a small place to have a show, and was basically shoulder to shoulder, but the bartenders were still pretty quick. Look forward to going back.

Dangerous– do not go here. Too many underagers and college kids ruining it for the rest and making it difficult to enjoy anything. Girls throwing up, guys failing to attract girls, huge liability for guys. Cops basically there every weekend and/​or stationed outside.

Pauly’s has been there forever. I believe it was a brothel back in the day. Beautiful old bar, it’s had some legendary performers. I remember James Cotton playing there. Basically an old time Blue’s bar with a lot of history and cheap drinks.