Palms on Oxford

1 star Really disappointing and upsetting experience at Palms. We paid the entry fee, went downstairs, bought drinks, and then my partner asked a security guard where we were allowed to go with our drinks if we wanted to smoke a cigarette. The security guard downstairs indicated that we could go back upstairs to the street. When we got upstairs, the security guard on the door — a tall man with a beard — immediately became aggressive and told us we couldn’t have drinks there. I explained that his colleague downstairs had specifically told us it was okay, but instead of handling the situation professionally, he became abusive, swore at me, and spoke to us in a completely unacceptable way. I understand venues have licensing rules and security staff have a job to do, but customers should not be abused for following instructions given by another member of the venue’s own security team. The issue could have been resolved calmly in seconds. Instead, we were treated with hostility and disrespect. We felt so threatened by the way he behaved that we left two full drinks on the stairs and departed the venue immediately. We had paid entry, bought drinks, and then left almost straight away because the security guard’s conduct made us feel unsafe. A venue on Oxford Street should know better. Security staff are often the face of the business, and this interaction completely ruined the night. Based on this experience, I would not recommend Palms.

Went for my partner’s birthday and it happened to be a Wednesday, so they do a bunch of games and and even though the games hadn’t started yet and we were the only girls inside, we were really well treated🥰 The host, Kevin, was SO nice, extremely friendly and hilarious!! Made us laugh from beginning to end and we felt very welcomed, even though we were not gay men🤣 Great Sydney experience and memorable moments, would definitely recommend!

Absolutely unacceptable experience at Palms during Mardi Gras season. My friends and I arrived in two separate groups of five at different times specifically to avoid being treated as a large group. The first group was allowed in without issue. When the second group approached, the security guard suddenly claimed there were “too many of us” and refused entry. The explanation was inconsistent and made no sense given how we arrived. What made the situation even more disturbing was that shortly after denying us entry, the same guard allowed a larger group of seven white patrons to walk straight in without hesitation. The inconsistency was obvious. When I questioned the reasoning calmly, the guard became hostile and dismissive rather than offering a clear explanation. Experiencing this during Mardi Gras season — a time that is supposed to celebrate inclusion, diversity, and equality — felt deeply hypocritical. As people of colour, the treatment felt racially biased and discriminatory. Queer spaces should be safe and welcoming for everyone, not selectively inclusive. Management needs to urgently review their security staff and ensure consistent, fair treatment for all patrons.

This is the only venue I enjoy and feel safe to attend. I’ve been attending venues on Oxford st for 25 years and I’ve never had a negative experience at Palms. Michael, the manger deserves a shout out, he does an amazing job, he’s visible, he looks out for the patrons and manages his team brilliantly. As an older, single gay man who just enjoys a dance and meeting people, I’m grateful for this venue. Keep up the great work 🙌🏻

I’ve been going out on Oxford St since the 90s with never an issue but that ended last night when my friends were assaulted by the door security. Tough man basically king hit one friend from behind and punched another girl. This from a club that sells itself as safe and inclusive. A Quick Look at other reviews and also comments from the club up the road show this is a common occurrence at this dive. Avoid at all costs