Ok, the atmosphere is very cool. Guitars hanging everywhere and a solo guitarist playing... current/recent tunes. I can deal with that. I am a RUM guy and when I asked about interring RUM he showed me the list for fruity Bacardi based cocktails. Yup, well trained to server the menu, F- for seeing a customer that wanted something more than the average Joe. SO on to the BBQ. Figured I am on Beale St, no way I would get a bad rib rack on this block.... wrong! The ribs tasted fine but it was like eating jerky on one end of the bone and the other was like a bit chewy. Not a rib set from Harvard if you get the reference. The slaw was like that from Walmart, not much added flavor. The beans were mostly BBQ sauce and perhaps they like i that way here. Not my cup of tea. The place was less than satisfactory clean. Never once saw a bartender pick up a cloth after someone got done eating and clean the space. I think some of the drink rings were from last week. "Rum Boogie" = That stuff left on the bar when you don't clean it. read more

I went here on Valentine's Day and the band was rockin'! I know this is mostly for tourists..but it is fun to be a tourist sometimes...especially in your own town...especially when that town is Memphis. I haven't tried the food, but the drinks were strong and fairly cheap for Beale. The crowd was SUPER into the band and the band was SUPER into the audience, which created the best energy ever. I have got to say...their house band is good and I wouldn't mind coming back here a few times a year. And I'll definitely bring any out-of-town guests I may have! read more

Let me start off by saying that I didn't eat here, so my review is purely for the drinks, bartenders, and overall atmosphere. Drinks were standard, strong, and cheap for this LA girl. The bartenders were friendly to us and had an amusing attitude towards people with dumb questions - something I fully support! The autographed guitars hanging everywhere were amazing and I spent a long time trying to see how many of them I'd like to steal ;) . The music was good and the location was great - their huge Beale Street-facing windows make it the best people-watching place I've been to in a while. Now that's something worth at least 3 stars alone in my book! So, after a show at the FedEx Forum, follow my lead and sidle on up to a window for some late night entertainment at this classic Beale Street establishment! read more

I ABSOLUTELY HATE PAYING COVER CHARGES!! I go to Nashville regularly and the bars there don't charge covers. No wonder Beale Street is such a bust. I'm really disappointed in every single bar I have been in here in Memphis. I hoped to hear some good blues. I'm thoroughly disappointed. read more

GREAT location! Live music inside, sit on the patio and hear live music being played throughout the street! Paid a cover charge just to enter to eat dinner. In my opinion, you should only pay a cover if your intention is to only drink or only listen to music. If you're going to pay for a meal, there should be no cover - so this is my only complaint. Food prices were reasonable and food was tasty! Next visit to Beale St, I'll be sure to stop here! read more

One of the best places to catch live blues and other styles of music on Beale Street. The place has a funky vibe with autographed guitars and dollar bills all over the ceiling and walls. The food looked and smelled good here, but I was there for the music (and of course a few drinks). Neither one disappointed. There is usually music on both sides of the bar, so if one band doesn't fit your taste, the other one might. read more

Rum Boogie Cafe - Late night view - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Great great spot for dancing and enjoying music. The patrons were having such a good time I felt compelled to get on the dance floor to cut a rug too. Tip: No cover charge read more

Rum Boogie Cafe - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Had the $38 BBQ Sampler to share between my wife and I. Amount of food was OK for the two of us except the sides which were definitely single serve. BBQ quality was OK since the meat was slightly tough (none of the falling off the bones here). Service was OK. read more

We didn't eat here, so this review is only for the live music. We stopped in on a Thursday and Friday night and found the same lame cover band both times. The keyboard player seemed to be the leader and was beyond laid back - he could have been a Ben Stein impersonator, there was so little life in in him when he spoke. The music selection wasn't awful, but there was just no energy in the place. To top it off, when we tried to check back into the place to see if there was a new band on Saturday night, not only was it the same one, but there was a $5 cover charge that wasn't in place the previous nights. Given the drink prices on Beale, we chose to move along to another spot to spend our money. read more

I think whether or not this place is fun is completely dependent on the quality of the music. What I liked: Your cover gets you into 2 places. The actual cafe, and a little hole in the wall next door that has a band playing in back most nights. I actually like the second spot better - it's more intimate and has a more cozy feel. Rum Boogie itself is fun to look around in. There are signed guitars on the ceiling, and it's pretty spacious. But, when there's no band, it's drop-dead silent. After a caller beckoned us from the street one afternoon, we poked our heads inside and it was completely quiet, not even any music playing on the stereo. So, I'd say this place is worth a stop while bar-hopping on Beale, but probably not a destination I'd plan my night around. read more

A dive bar with a blues problem, one of the better places to experience the unique joy of Beale Street. Cool back bar with pretty decent Creole bar food specials; smoking blues band up front. $2 cover. Jack and coke to entertain your mouth. read more

Sat down with my gf and kid. Waited for 15+ minutes. No one ever came up to us or served us. We decided to leave, on the way out a gentleman who might have been the owner told us "thanks for coming in guys". Lol wut read more

Trust your ears when visiting a place like Beale street which has a cacophony of sounds assaulting your senses. Spending only two nights in Memphis, we took ourselves downtown to Beale Street to have a dander and a gander and to find something to eat. Going up the main street and down the same street we wanted to find some live music and the sounds coming from Rum Boogie Café were the ones that appealed to us the most. There was a $3 cover charge and an ID check at the door, but it was one of the busier bars on the street so we didn't mind paying to get a bit of atmosphere - everywhere else was relatively empty at 7p.m. on a Tuesday. **FIRST THING YOU SHOULD KNOW IS THAT THEY ALLOW SMOKING INSIDE** This we didn't mind because there were 4 smokers in our group. Inside is pretty dark and divey, but the beer was cold and the music was good and there were a couple of guys in the audience who got on stage and jammed with the band who were excellent local talent. We ordered some food, and the fried green tomato must have been the smallest little tomato ever. Four little slices for nearly $10 seemed a little exorbitant. They came with little tubs of pimento cheese, thousand island and ranch dressing. I had the pulled pork sandwich with the sauce on the side which came with a side of fries and the meat was good, with the little burntedy crunchety bits on the end...yum yum. We stayed having a few beers and chatted on and off with the really nice waiter who's grandparents came from Ireland who was filling us in on the history of the Irish in Memphis ("The Pinch" being an area of the City where Irish immigrants settled in the 1800's). Worth visiting this bar alone to see the autographed guitar collection adorning the walls. read more

Good Music, Good Beer, decent food for what you're paying for. I know we came here a few years ago when we were kindly asked to leave another establishment (who gets tossed from a rowdy bar on beale? Me and my strategic partners) and it was alright, it was just a little too crowded for my taste - however, thats not really something thats appropriate to cite a bar on. They're supposed to be crowded. again, not my favorite joint, but decent enough to have a good time at. **also, they charge a cover at this bar. I think its for charity, but you're on a block with like 30 other bars, you really think I'm paying to get in? Yeaaaaa ri-zight!** read more

What a bad choice on our part. Service was terrible female bartenders were poorly groomed and rude, as well as waitress. They never acknowledge us . After one drink and poor service we left. Service needs to improve, this I a touristy district.I wish I could give zero stars. Never again. Do yourself a favor and go across the street. read more

For anyone who may be unaware that Rum Boogie serves food? For the love of all things holy, fix that post-haste. I grew up in the Mississippi Delta, so Memphis (and Beale Street) has been a decent part of my life. I absolutely live to visit Memphis, but Rum Boogie is always a primary - and multiple! - destination. The music is excellent; the venue is perfectly laid out (so you can be in the thick of the band, or head a few steps away to another bar - or even outside on the patio facing Beale!); and the staff knows the definition of "service." Seriously, each time I've been there, I've always left feeling that the good folks of Rum Boogie actually appreciated my being there. All that said? Back to the food. Probably 5 years ago I was in Memphis, and was enjoying Rum Boogie for some Bud Lights and live blues. I asked the bartender where the best ribs in Memphis were, and - without skipping a beat - she basically screamed "RIGHT HERE,!" while lobbing me a menu. And 5 years - and 10 swines later - I can tell you , with absolute no doubt, she wasn't fibbing. The ribs are perfect, and the beans are perfect, and the French fries are perfect, and the corn pudding is perfect, and the fried pickles are perfect, and the burgers are perfect, and...well. Look, I don't need fancy. But I do need a great atmosphere, excellent service, and food that folks are proud to serve and call their own. Man-oh-man. I'm sitting at my desk in Texas, but - at the moment - my tummy's back on Beale. Don't miss Rum Boogie. read more

Loved this place! band was rocking, but they could have used a bass player to get their groove more in the pocket. Food was pretty good, I had the catfish sandwich and mom had the red beans and rice. Both were solid, came out quick and tasted great! highlight was the manager guy showing me all the upstairs rooms and giving me some history of the place. unique furniture, especially the table upstairs with the bass guitars inside! I like how this area is cordoned off for tourists, makes it easy to avoid crime and stuff. read more

As far as the overall experience goes I can only comment on one aspect. We were in town at another restaurant when I struck up a conversation with one of the servers. Turns out we had both lived in Florida and during the conversation I lamented that I missed being able to get good Key Lime Pie. She immediately pipped up and told me to go check out the Rum Boogie Cafe. I was stunned that Memphis knew anything about Key Lime Pie but was willing to give it a try. Since we had already eaten dinner we popped in just to get a piece of pie to go. All I can say is you've got your nerve calling that disgusting, tasteless stuff you sold me Key Lime Pie. Worst I have ever had!!! I can find better stuff mass produced in the freezer section of my local store in Seattle. The place was packed and the music was awesome, I imagine it is a good place to go for bbq and blues but you need to drop that dessert off of your menu. SERIOUSLY; you are embarrassing yourself. read more

Fun place for live music! Ended up there on a Sunday night - not many people there but didn't matter to me. We saw more of a rockabilly band and enjoyed them from the bar. Friendly service and cool decor make this a nice spot to stop in for a casual night! read more

what a rip off: 8.00 bucks for a pork sandwich with chips on wonderbread. Oh. And there was still a cover charge. POS. read more

RIP OFF!!! Beware of this place!! Four of us arrived tonight at 10:45...were told that there was a $5 per person cover charge since there were two bands playing live. Sit down in the primary area as band is playing...go to the other section and find that that band was already done and packing up their gear. No big deal, we will go sit and listen to the primary band. Band finishes that first song, asks if everyone is having a good time and are we drinking. We haven't even ordered yet, but then the band kicks into John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom"...does a GREAT rendition and then says "Good night...we gotta go". WTH? We ask the waitress as she brings our drinks and she says "don't know, we are supposed to charge cover as long as band is playing ". We tell the bar manager that we just paid a cover for the privilege of seeing one band pack up and the other play 1.5 songs. His response..."oh." Beware of what these people tell you. FALSE ADVERTISING! Bad bad bad. read more

In a sentence: Go for the music and the beer. Here's the thing. The service is mediocre at best, and the food is basically deep-fried hot garbage. On top of that, all of the liquor drinks ordered at our table seemed astonishingly watered down. We had to ask (and pay) for extra shots just to give them even the slightest kick. But, if you only drink beer and come for the music, it's actually worth the $3 cover. The house band is really good. They do tend to get cheesy and pander a little ("This one is for the troops!"), and it gets somewhat annoying when they beg for tips and walk around the crowd trying to sell their CDs, but mostly they just shut up and play amazingly great music. (Besides, they DO need to make money. So, I get it.) So, to recap: Drink beer. Enjoy the band. Avoid the food and liquor. read more

No service available waited 20 minutes. I get short-staffed but waitress purposely did not wait on us.

It's one in a sea of many on Beale Street. If you like the music then go there. Unnecessary $5 cover charge per person and $14 for one mixed drink and 1 bottle of beer. There's not much about it that makes it any better or any worse than any of the others. read more

I was on a mission. I drove through the Mississippi Delta en route to Memphis for some lip smackin' BBQ and in search of some soulful music. Memphis didn't dissapoint. After sampling some fine Memphis BBQ (elsewhere) we decided to pop into this bar and listen to some joyful noise. The James Govan band was pretty tight and delivered the authentic memphis experience I was craving. They just celebrated 10 years of rockin' at the Rum Boogie Cafe. The memorabilia in this place is incredible. Guitars hang from the rafters in throngs: Elvis, Bo Didley, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, Carl Perkins, Gregg Allman.....I could go on and on..... This place has got some serious mojo' workin'. Just a bunch of cool folks hanging out on the night we visited. Drinking, enjoying some snacks and feeling the music. I would imagine it's a bit different during the touristy high season. read more

All you wanna do is ride around Sally (Ride Sally, ride) As soon as we walked into Rum Boogie, we heard and saw a great band on stage playing Mustang Sally, steering wheel in hand, back up singers, stage lights, and the crowd going wild and dancing their hearts out. It was a great welcome to Memphis! We ate dinner beforehand and really just wanted to dance and drink. This place was the first spot we stopped because it's so convenient and we stayed there until it was time go home. From what I remember :) they have pretty good specials on house wine. And just FYI, if you ever spill red wine on yourself, I found this stuff called Nature's Miracle that will lift just about any stain from clothing: http://www.naturemakesitwork.com/catalog/prod_detail.php?id=61 read more

Went here for lunch and was ready to grab my purse and coat and head out the door when I saw the prices on the menu. 2 beers, 2 pork sandwiches, fried green tomatoes and gumbo ran us 50 bucks with tip. SERIOUSLY!?!? Yes, it is on Beale, but there are plenty of spots on Beale that don't charge an arm and a leg for average food. Yes, it was average- not bad, not good- average. The gumbo was tasteless- all we could taste in it was an overload of spices. It was like someone threw some cornstarch in water to thicken it up and then dumped about 5 cups of chili powder and cumin to finish it off. The best part, we weren't even going to order it till the waiter told us it was "the best in Memphis." Food aside, this place is kick ass. The signed guitars of famous musicians was a sight in and of itself. So cool! There was a band getting ready to play when we left, and from the reviews I see I need to go back sans food and take in the music with a couple of cocktails. Perhaps once I do that this place will be worthy of some more stars. read more

Live music and Beale Street go hand-in-hand, and the musicians Rum Boogie invited the evening I visited lived up to expectations a tourist might have for music in Memphis along Beale Street. The band played cover tunes, but not the covers you've heard again and again in numerous other taverns; rather, their selections were unique and impeccable renditions of the originals. Rum Boogie's menu is neither eclectic nor mighty; rather, it's good old-fashioned down home Southern cooking. And it's wonderful! Have the fried pickles for an appetizer and some honest-to-goodness Memphis barbecue for the entree. You won't be disappointed! Service exceeded expectations from what appeared to be a tourist dive bar along Beale. The waitress was quite attentive to our every need. There was one major downside to Rum Boogie. The beer selection is mediocre, but that deficiency is made up by the wacky and curious specialty drinks, RB's version of some classic mixes. They're spectacular! So, eat, drink, boogie, repeat. read more

While visiting Memphis, we were told that this was the place to eat on Beale St. I have to say, I was a little disappointed in some of the food. But, the service made up for some of that disappointment. I had ordered the BBQ Bologna Sandwich, which I knew was something I had to try while in Memphis. It was ok. Actually, maybe a little better than ok. And the fries were good. My disappointment came with the red beans and rice. Really bland and dry. The sausage had no flavor. I was expecting more with that dish, but was really let down. The venue itself is really cool. Lots of guitars hanging around, signed by famous people. And, like i said before, the service was top-notch. read more

Fun fun fun! A husband and wife duo provided excellent entertainment including original songs. Service was excellent and food was good. Intimate setting with good noise level. High energy and customer interaction made it fun as well. Highly recommend a visit on your next trip to Memphis. read more

Stopped in for a late lunch on our way home from NOLA. BLT Po'boy with fried green tomatoes and side of fried okra was a winner. He had the bbq pork sandwich and fries, also tasty. Previous visit we enjoyed their drinks, live music and fun atmosphere. read more

Rum Boogie Cafe - BLT Po'boy with side of fried okra - Bars Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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We made a quick stop at Rum Boogie to cap off one of our nights on the strip. I wasn't a fan of having to pay a rather large cover charge with so many other free bars on the strip, but alas. The live band playing was terrific, the upstairs area was nice and relaxing, and I really dug the bar in the rear, showcasing all of the famous guitars. The service was attentive and friendly. Cool place. I just wish I'd spent more time there. read more

This is my favorite joint along Beale St. They have the best combination of food and music. Different bands each night, and an opening act on Saturdays. Menu is the usual Memphis fare. Music includes R & B, pop, rockabilly, depending on who is playing that night. Service is pretty friendly. If there are no tables downstairs, you can go up the spiral staircase to a second floor that overlooks the stage. I have been here twice, and I shall return. read more

Full bar of patrons and only one bartender. The poor girl with a foot cast can't keep up. Sad!!!

This place is awesome! Didn't eat here, but had a couple of drinks. They have live music and if you get off on guitars this is the place for you! read more

This is a great blues bar! It's really big and I love the dim lights and all the guitars hanging from the ceiling. If you're lucky you can score an outdoor table and participate in some of the most stellar people watching ever. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Prices aren't too bad. Band was very fun and very entertaining. Didn't get to try the food but enjoyed the band with a few drinks and had a good time. I'm sure we will be back if we ever go back to Memphis! read more

I stopped in here the other night for a quick bite after working at the Orpheum. I was very glad to see that they had gumbo, granted I am down that direction, but still, its hard to find good gumbo, and according to their menu it is award winning. I am pleased to report that their gumbo does in fact deserve an award as it was wicked tasty. It has just the right amount of heat to make you need to have a good cold brew with it. The live music was also nice to hear, but the thick smoke was not very appetizing. I do wonder when Memphis will become a city that respects one's right to clean air to breath and to leave a juke joint and not smell like someone's crappy cigar. read more

I didn't stay long but it wasn't due to lack of entertainment...I wanted to check out what else Beale street had to offer. The live entertainment was good and the atmosphere was great. Quaint little spot full of legendary blues/rock decor. The food was just OK. I ordered a bbq sampler of sorts which had ribs, pulled pork, beans and coleslaw. It was plenty to feed two but the quality was lacking. The pork was dry and the sides were cafeteria quality. The service was great and the drinks were flowing so all-in-all it was OK. read more

Rum Boogie Cafe was a pretty awesome place. I really loved the atmosphere and the decorations. The staff were really friendly. I also really enjoyed the live music. My only issue really was that it's not a very vegetarian friendly environment. I mean it's down south so I expected that. However, I'd come here again for the music and drinks. read more

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