You won't be surrounded by flappers or busted by Elliot Ness on a prohibition witch-hunt but you will melt into the Speakeasy charm of The Brown Room at Cape May's surviving antiquity, The Congress Inn. The place is usually loud and packed so if you're looking for a summer idyll by the shore this may not be your speed. However, it does have the charm of being around before your great-great grandparents were born. Definitely worth a visit. Five Speakeasy stars read more

The look of disgust and the eye roll from the waitress when we ordered one drink instead of two because I was driving... really? Not that it should matter, but it was a Tuesday night with plenty of empty tables. . We've been longtime customers of Congress Hall and The Virginia, and experiences like this are disappointing. Do better Curtis..... read more

Dear Yelp, While staying at the hotel, we Decided to pop in for a drink. Every time we looked in the place was packed. After dinner, we were able to find a spot on the side of the room. Within a minute, two seats opened up at the bar. We sat there for an hour. The female bartender was amazing. We enjoyed our drinks and the piano player. Great experience! Love, Nicole read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Sits in the exact space that became the town's first legal cocktail bar after Prohibition in 1934. It recently ranked #1 on USA TODAY's Best Hotel Bar (2026). It's a beautiful bar with fantastic cocktails and a fancy vibe that makes it an easy favorite. We went for cocktails before dinner. read more

The Brown Room - Seats in front of bar - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

This place is top notch! Great cocktails and great service. It's always busy when I've been here. The live music is a plus. Had the same bartender twice. He wears a white jacket which is a nice touch. Always good people watching here. read more

The Brown Room - Cherry Bourbon Sour - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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We had drinks at the Brown Room. Their drink menu was vast and professionally made. The decor was very well designed. Our male bartender was outstanding but a female bartender was not as good. She didn't put her heart into making our drinks. read more

The Brown Room - Drinks - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Perfection in a hotel bar! Has everything you want- great live entertainment, dim and vibey atmosphere and of course, delicious cocktails. Staff was definitely working overtime with such a crowded bar, but we were able to get our drinks. I highly recommend the Brown Room! read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

The three of us came here for a pre-dinner cocktail. Loved the ambiance. Low lighting, cool historic photos, music- it had it all. Service was perfect; we did not wait long for our drink. Wishes the bar faced thee I her way- better for people watching. read more

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Drinks were great. Oysters were the best we've ever had! Atmosphere is excellent. 10/10 would recommend

Always a nice time in the Brown Room! Although it's very hard to get in, we sometimes get lucky & get seats. I love listening to the music, enjoying a cocktail & sometimes something to eat. Recently I enjoyed the cheese/charcuterie plate. Service is good. I remember this place used to take reservations & they no longer do. Perhaps they should go back to that so that everyone gets a chance to get in there as some people camp out there for hours! The interior is so lovely! read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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My wife & I just recently stayed at Congress Hall Hotel. After a nice meal we decided to relax in the Brown Room there. We just love LOVE the atmosphere here!! Lights dimly lit. Nice fire going in the fireplace. Staff kept logs on the fire to keep it just right. Our server Michelle was awesome! She was professional, friendly and excellent service!! All with a big smile. The bartender made a perfect Old Fashioned drink. Don't know who he was. Kudos to you. Mike the guitar player was excellent. It was so cozy sitting in the lounge with a nice fire and listening to Mike's playing. Wow!!! He played (& sang great)!! Thank you Michelle, Mike & bartenders for making this such a memorable stay. Looking forward to a visit in the future. read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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I don't know how we got so lucky by this place was not packed when we went and we secured a seat at the bar. If you're going here make sure you experience it the best way seated at the bar. The atmosphere screams old school cocktail lounge and so the Christmas decor up was incredibly cozy. The bartender was great and conversational and made us great drinks all of which definitely got us good and buzzed. Would definitely go here again. read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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November 22 in the brown room at Congress Hall. The music was amazing. The artist was fantastic and had a great vibe. read more

The Brown Room - Nutcracker outside Congress Hall - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Enjoyed a few hours on a rainy Sunday in the Brown Room with my mom and sister. Such a lovely and relaxing afternoon. read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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I've wanted to come here for a while and it worked out a few weeks ago on a Saturday evening (mid May). We had dinner and then decided to come here for drinks. We found street parking in the block of Congress Hall which was great. Walking through the doors of the Brown Room is just wonderful! It's such an absolutely beautiful space. All of it, from the walls, ceiling, light fixtures, banquets, chairs, fireplace, lamps, pillows.....I was taking it all in the entire time we were there (yes, I love interior design!) Service was wonderful! We were able to find seating for two against the wall. I ordered a mojitos (or their take on it, I think it had coconut in it) and it was wonderful! My boyfriend liked his drink too although I forget what he ordered. We cannot wait to go back the next time we are in the area!! read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Very elegant Drinks were good Service excellent The crowd was mature and not too loud read more

Such a nice cocktail lounge. High quality drinks, live music, nice cozy ambiance, with a speakeasy vibe. If you like Bourbon cocktails, they have a menu of various classics like a perfect Manhattan and Old Pal. They also have seasonal cocktail options and food. read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Speakeasy vibes. Enjoyed a nice glass of wine at the bar. Someone was blasting their iPhone flashlight but otherwise it had amazing ambiance. read more

Best nightlife in Cape May! An elegant and initmate setting with live music, wonderful drinks and incredible service. All of the bartenders were very knowledgeable and helpful. We wish we had more time to come back for more evenings! It is an elegant setting so dressing niceley is encouraged (and may be required, but we came after a nice dinner) It gets crowded, even in the off season and there are not many tables, so be prepared to stand on the outskirts of the bar and enjoy if need be! read more

The Brown Room - White Cosmo from the drink menu - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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This is such a cool, beautifully designed bar inside of Congress Hall in Cape May! I grew up going to Cape May every summer, and this is definitely one of the most elegant bars and the best cocktails I have had in the area. There is a good amount of bar seating as well as tables that are first come/first serve. The vibes are so cool and they sometimes have live music! My favorite cocktail is the congressional cosmo! They use white cranberry so the color isn't pink, like a traditional cosmo, but it is delish! I also tried the blackberry bramble. It's my friend's favorite. I am not the biggest gin person, but I did enjoy it! They also have a small plates menu. The hummus was great and came with lots of fresh veggies. I would definitely recommend this spot, especially if you are looking for something a little more elevated while on vacation in Cape May! The hotel itself is beautiful too, so it is a great way to check it out, even if you aren't staying here! read more

The Brown Room - Blackberry Bramble - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

Very unpleasant workers. Smile you're making great money in tips. Wouldn't kill you to get into the holiday spirit.

So glad this place is finally open. We've visited Congress Hall for several years and this always seemed like underutilized space. No longer! This is a great place to enjoy a seasonal cocktail and some small bites before a bigger meal. I tried one of the summer cosmos and the cured farm meats and cheeses plate. We sat at a table near the live performer and passed a few enjoyable hours. read more

The Brown Room - Seasonal Cosmo - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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This place is so charming! It definitely gets crowded on weekend nights, so you have to kind of get lucky with getting a seat, but the atmosphere is so nice. My group and I were at Congress Hall getting dinner on Friday night and peaked in but couldn't find a spot to sit for 3. Luckily we tried again on Saturday and were able to squeeze in on the couch. All of our drinks were very good. They had someone playing the piano which was very nice and made you feel like you were somewhere upscale, when really you're just outside a hotel lobby. It's dim romantic lighting, cute wallpaper, good music. All around good vibes, would definitely recommend this place for a relaxed drink! read more

This cocktail bar is BEAUTIFUL. The setting is stunning, the service is attentive and everyone who works there is knowledgable and professional. I got the seasonal Blood Orange Martini, which was good! It was a bit sweet for me to get more than one, so I got a Grey Goose Gibson & it was GREAT! Love when a cocktail bar knows how to make a good Gibson. My husband got the Bees Knees, which was a very balanced cocktail. I even liked it and I don't like gin. He also ordered the Manhattan which he said was phenomenal. We didn't order any small plates, but everything looked amazing. It was a bit pricey, but it is worth a cocktail or two before or after dinner. read more

The Brown Room - Grey Goose Gibson - Christmas decor in November!! - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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Wonderful place to sit & relax with a drink...and listen to some live music when offered. They're expensive but probably on par with most places in Cape May. Only draw back is it's usually very crowded so hard to get a seat. read more

Always a good cocktail and a nice atmosphere. So I hope management looks at reviews. You need to staff your bar properly. If you blame the labor shortage, then increase pay to attract more staff. Two bartenders serving a fully seated bar and handling the service bar for the seating area is absurd. Even a bar back would help. Understaffing is bad for the staff and bad for the customers. read more

We love the atmosphere in the Brown Room, the drinks were exceptional. They have a limited menu (offered after 5:00pm), we had the chopped salad and Bang Bang shrimp which was wonderful. read more

Love this place!! Perfectly crafted cocktails, delicious snacks, attentive staff, and great music. Great place to go and relax after dinner.

The best place to have mimosas by fireplace in town on a rainy December morning! The barman is very nice and the fire is lit from early morning. It is a beautiful bar with live music at the historic Congress Hall hotel. We had time to kill after our checkout before our 1pm trolley tour and the weather was miserable... reading by a fireplace was just the right thing to do! read more

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Horrible service. Completely ignored trying to get another drunk is impossible. We were looking for a laid back place to chill and thought this would be it. Don't waist your time read more

Fourth visit to Cape May- first time at The Brown Room. We very luckily snagged a table despite it being very busy and I'm so glad we did! The feeling in the room was amazing. Live music, people enjoying themselves and lovely ambiance. Our server was seemingly everyone's server and she did well. I enjoyed my drink. We had the meats and cheeses platter- delicious. Can't wait to make this an annual tradition. read more

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Can I just tell you how much I loved this place? Of course, I can, that's why I'm here! We recently had 4 days in Cape May, of course just when Tropical Storm Ian decided to visit as well. The weather was cold, rainy, and windy. We had reservations at the Blue Pig for dinner and had a simply wonderful meal, as usual. I had recently read about the Brown Rom and wanted to try there instead of braving the elements outside again to find a place for cocktails. Wow!! I had the Aviator - LOVED this drink!!! Had 3. Yep, loved it that much! I am a gin lover and not often do I find a bar that gets creative and fun with gin. There was a solar guitarist there and he was wonderful. The room is dark and cozy and my only complaint might be that the fireplace was not lit - but - it is a small room as well and it would have probably gotten stiflingly hot quickly. Not too crowded when we got there, the guys found stools by the wall bar, and Elaine and I snagged seats on the couch. It filled up pretty quickly, but the bar staff kept on top of everything and it never seemed like they were in the weeds at all - a monumental task! Truly enjoyed the atmosphere and the drinks and will absolutely go back!! read more

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This place is super cool/trendy! They had live music which I'm told the usually do on Saturday nights. It was very packed so would suggest calling ahead or making a reservation. Drinks were delicious and our server was very nice! Can't wait to go back on my next trip to Cape May! read more

Lotta whiskey going on here... mmmmm! Live music is such a nice touch! The musician on Thanksgiving was taking requests, lots of Billy J, Paul S, and CSN and the like. As Brian C. mentioned, there was a mix of people in dressy dress, as well as jeans, and I believe a beret on that one lady. Come as you are. Barstools at the bar are swank and comfy, but the ones along the wall are soooo not! I was surprised they had old wood dive bar stools in this place. All the other seating is great; the bank along the wall facing the musician, the cocktail tables by the fire. It is beautifully done, so many little details in the design work. One thing that was annoying (at least in the middle of their Thanksgiving buffet, which appears to have run in shifts, for a zillion families) is that the dining room is right off The Brown Room, so there is crazy traffic milling in and out. Yes, they may gain more bar business by ushering their diners there before/after eating (this is a cruise ship tactic), but to those trying to enjoy the atmosphere they have painstakingly created in the bar itself, this traffic is a huge distraction. My Old Fashioned was nice and strong. Bartender was expertly professional. Other patrons were so kind and considerate of my son, who had a ball listening to the music and toddling around. (Kids are permitted in The Brown Room until 9pm.) If you're unfamiliar, and not a guest at Congress Hall, The Brown Room is located inside of the actual Congress Hall hotel. Head to the lobby, and it's just off the lobby. read more

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Even if you need to forget about the tourists of Washington Street for awhile, the Brown Room inside historic Congress Hall makes for a cozy and dimly lit parlor for meeting an old chum from moons past to continue more insightful conversation on a date. One doesn't need to make reservations or wait for seating. Schlep over and find a seat that moves you, maybe near or far from the entertainment depending on mood. There's a beer and cocktail bar. No food though which is available in the basement (appropriately titled Boiler Room) or nearby at the Blue Pig Tavern. Primarily for guests and Cape May history enthusiasts, it's a treasure just to see in Cape May. The rooms are purposefully preserved and thoughtfully appointed to denote the idea of staying in a large historic mansion by the shore. The beautifully appointed decor and furniture (an inspiration of Brown Hall Design, I believe) is inspiring enough to invoke a large parlor. read more

The Brown Room - Bars Near Me - Cape May, New Jersey

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This review is only for drinks and music. We had a great time sitting at the bar during the week and listening to music. The drinks were very good and the bartenders were very attentive. It was great to have somewhere to relax, listen to music and meet great people. Can't wait to return and sample some food!!! read more

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Hubby and I went to The Brown Room at Congress Hall on 12/28/23 for a cocktsil. We encountered the rudest bartender. It took him ten minutes to clear the dishes and another five minutes to take our order because we had to wait for him to finish complaining about his coffee other to a coworker. We are really not demanding people, so I don't lnow what we did to get his bloomers in a twist. He was slamming glasses on the bar, and he portrayed to us like we should be honored to be sitting on his presence. We did have reservations at the Blue Pig later in the day, which wr promptly cancelled. We have been visiting Cape May for years and have never encountered such obnoxious behavior. There are so many other classy establishments in Cape May who appreciate your business, so there is no need to slum it in the Brown Room at Congress Hall. read more

Great place! Upscale bar with a speakeasy vibe. Solid drinks in a lovely setting. The perfect Manhattan was just that & the French 75 was quite perfect as well. There's an outdoor area too but we stayed inside cuz of the cool vibe. Highly rec this place! read more

Great spot if you are white. If you're a person of color, beware that you will be discriminated against and ignored. I had a dinner reservation with my husband. When we checked in, the host waved his arm, indicating that we should sit down somewhere. We sat at the only empty seats by the fireplace. The waitress then went on to serve everyone else except for us. After twenty minutes of this, my husband went to the bartender to get us water. After the waitress chatted up the group that came in after us, she asked us what we wanted and then acted surprised that we didn't have a drink menu. Ten minutes later she offered us a drink menu and said she would get us more water. Then she came by after seating and waiting on another group of people and acted surprise that we had no water. We ordered some whiskey. We tried to order food but she never served us. We got her attention eventually and ordered some oysters. Anyway, that is how the rest of the night went. We eventually got enough attention to get the check and leave. Meanwhile, the elderly male host chatted up all the older white couples that came in after us. We witnessed him walking people to their table (he didn't even say hi to us and only waved us in a general direction). Hey, maybe he isn't racist and was only discriminating against us because he thought we were poor? I don't know, we were dressed nicely and many of the other couples were dressed in jeans or casual ware so we doubt that was the case. By husband, who is white himself, was pretty confident we were being discriminated against. Look, I have been discriminated against many times in my life but never so offensively and directly. It was uncomfortable for everyone involved. The whiskey and oysters were actually good, so it's unfortunate that even during this pandemic they are discriminating against a couple of fully vaccinated frontline workers who are just trying to support the business. read more

We love you, Brown Room. We come visit every time we're back home. Overall, 5 stars for the atmosphere and 4 for the drinks and service (can be a little hit or miss, but there have been some great people and cocktails). We have always loved sitting by the fire in the inviting eponymous brown room with the piano. There's often music, and it's a cozy, romantic/intimate atmosphere. read more