Jimmy’s Bar

Reviews

• Brian W.

  star star star star star 10 October 2026

  Free Popcorn and wait for it...Free Pretzels.  
  
  Honestly folks it doesn't get much better.  As if they couldn't decide which salty snack to give absolutely free to their loyal patrons, they just decided to give both.  
  
  You'll see the popcorn machine, but the free pretzels aren't advertised.  
  Now you know the secret.  Use it wisely.  
  
  Some people will say that Jimmy's Bar has many faults...including their inconvenient location, poor parking, cramped interior, lack of seating on busy nights, inadequate bathrooms, etc.
  
  These are legitimate concerns.  However, somehow when you enter Jimmy's all your cares disappear and you'll have then super-power to look past these quirky defects to just enjoy yourself for a few minutes.
  
  If you ever see me in Jimmy's, just remember that I'm the guy who told you about the free pretzels.

• Barbara D.

  star star star star star_border 4 October 2026

  Good old Jimmy's.
  
  I have spend more of my college days here than in actual classes... ok maybe not...but...Dear o' Jimmy holds a special place in my heart.
  
  Since writing poetry got old after the angst of high school miraculously dissipated
  
  I will spare you the lullaby...
  
  However, if I had to write a little ditty about this place
  it would go something like this...
  
  Roses are red, violets are blue
  I love Jimmy's Bar and so should you!
  
  Oh enough of the nonsense....
  the Zooks use to play here religiously, my friends use to drink here sacrilegiously, and now when I return as a full-fledged adult with what resembles a career, while numinously killing it in this adulting life thing....I still find this place crowded, full of piss-drunk peeps and still warm outside in the middle of winter. I don't think this place will ever change. Thanks for that Jimmy.

• Tom H.

  star star star star star 28 September 2026

  When I need to feel at home this is my pup and has been for over 30 years. Learned to pour Guinness here. Always a friend there, always friendly due largely to Jimmy and the tenor of the Spears family all these years. Other than when the kids stream in later in the evening, it's the most comfortable gin joint in Peoria

• Stephanie R.

  star star star star star_border 19 September 2026

  Jimmy's is pretty much an institution. I've been going there for more than 20 years, back then to hear live music out on the patio (Bodside Zukes, anyone?), most recently on Christmas night to grab some drinks and a bite of food. I honestly didn't remember that they had food at Jimmy's and expected to be told that there was just popcorn and maybe some fish on a cracker available, but they had a food menu (on Christmas, no less) and our bartender grilled us up some hot burgers that hit the spot.
  The parking lot is a little precarious in my opinion. Every time I back out of there, no matter which side I parked on I feel like a car is going to come out of nowhere and rip the bumper off the back of my car as I back out. But it's never happened to me and I've never heard of any crazy parking lot accidents there, so maybe I'm just being paranoid.
  The bar can get crowded as it's not large, but there are also times when it's pretty chill. It's not far out of downtown, so if you're looking for a bit of a "Cheer's" kind of bar, give Jimmy's a try.

• Bobby M.

  star star star star star 16 September 2026

  "Snug."
  
  "Cozy."
  
  "Packed like sardines."
  
  These are all lines you will here within two minutes of being inside one of Peoria's most revered and historic pubs. Everyone who goes to Jimmy's is in for an intimate drinking experience and by the end of the night, the guy or gal you've been rubbing shoulders with will be your new drinking buddy.
  
  Big Bradley U. haunt, so there's a wide variety of ages here at this west Peoria pub. Smoking and live music area outside!