Arizona's oldest frontier saloon on Prescott's historic Whiskey Row, famous for its salvaged 1880s Brunswick bar and legendary patrons like Doc Holliday.
The Palace Restaurant and Saloon stands as a legendary anchor on Prescott's historic Whiskey Row, holding the title of Arizona's oldest continuously operating business. While the exact origins of the saloon are shrouded in the hazy records of the 1860s, the first documented mention of the business appeared in September 1877. Originally established by D.C. Thorne and later acquired by Robert Brow, the saloon was a bustling community hub where miners bought mineral claims, cattlemen brokered deals, and politicians campaigned. The structure was rebuilt in brick after an 1883 fire, but its true test of survival came on July 14, 1900, when a devastating conflagration swept through the downtown district. As the flames consumed the wooden buildings of South Montezuma Street, loyal patrons refused to let the saloon's prize possession burn. In a legendary feat of frontier preservation, dozens of regulars hauled the massive, 24-foot-long Brunswick bar across the street to the safety of the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza, where they propped their elbows on the cherry-wood top and continued drinking while watching the town burn.
The rebuilt Palace reopened in 1901 as a grand Neo-Classical Revival structure, a collaboration between Robert Brow and the owners of the rival Cabinet Saloon. Today, the centerpiece of the saloon remains that very same Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company bar, which was originally crafted in New Jersey, shipped around Cape Horn to San Francisco, and transported to Prescott by pack mule in the 1880s. The bar features ornate quarter-sawn oak, Corinthian columns, and French plate-glass mirrors. Looking up, visitors can spot authentic bullet holes still embedded in the high pressed-tin ceiling, relics of past disputes. This room once welcomed legendary frontier figures: Virgil Earp, who served as Prescott's town constable and owned a sawmill at Thumb Butte, frequented the bar alongside his brother Wyatt and their friend Doc Holliday. Holliday famously enjoyed a massive winning streak on Whiskey Row, pocketing 10,000 dollars in a single poker run. In later years, the saloon served as a backdrop for Hollywood, hosting Steve McQueen during the filming of the 1972 classic movie Junior Bonner.
In April 2018, long-time regulars Dennis and Derry McCormick partnered with general manager Scott Stanford and bartender Martha Mekeel to purchase the business, ensuring its historic legacy remained intact. The new owners preserved the vintage atmosphere, where staff members dress in period-accurate 1880s clothing to serve guests. The dining room serves hearty, frontier-inspired American fare, featuring options like the saloon skirt steak, mesquite-smoked ribs, half-pound burgers, and warm cowboy cobbler for dessert. Behind the bar, the drink selection is anchored by an extensive, two-page whiskey list highlighting rare bourbons, ryes, and scotches, allowing patrons to order a straight rye whiskey in the exact spot where Doc Holliday once sat.
Look closely at the high pressed-tin ceiling to spot authentic bullet holes from 19th-century shootouts, then ask about the hidden button under the bar once used to summon hostesses from the upstairs cribs.
Coffee & Craft — Roadside fuel stops curated by Basecamp West. The best coffee shops, craft breweries, diners, and eateries worth the detour on your next Western road trip.