I haven't been to many clubs over the last few years but my sister was singing last night for Glimmer, so I went over. It was a really pleasant show. We had a reserved table, and the food was pretty good. It wasn't just bar food, but they 'had decent salads and a nice variety to choose from on their menu. The waitress was pleasant and served without being intrusive during the show. The Royal Room is really nice on the inside. They do a lot of swing and jazz there, but it's a pretty small venue. I'ld call it more comfortable than quaint. Parking was a total pita, but the sound mixer was on point and the music was clear for every instrument with nothing over-riding anything else unnecessarily. read more

We saw a singer songwriter show here and had a wonderful experience. (The focus is definitely on the artist, so if you're looking for a place to talk and drink with background music, this isn't it.) Setup was comfortable, server was excellent, and the sound (our reason for being there) was on point. A varied menu of interesting options, with some surprising Japanese/hawaiian influences! I didn't have a mixed drink, but it looked like the bartender was keeping up with various types of cocktail requests. A lovely evening! read more

One process improvement since I last came for a show here is that instead of having the host check every person in and then lead them to their seat (if reserved), they now put up name placards on the tables and let you find your own seat so the host can keep checking people in. This makes the queue run MUCH more efficiently. However, overall this place has actually gotten worse since my last review. Now, if you make a reservation (necessary for guaranteeing a chair) for only 1 person, they seat you at a high top that faces AWAY from the stage. As in, literally your back is towards the stage. If you rotate your chair, you face an aisle between you and the stage. The aisle is supposed to remain clear, but there is no real way for the staff to keep the area clear from standing-room-only attendees other than nicely asking people to move, with varying success. The venue's suggested solution is a small bench to the side of the stage, which they say you're welcome to move to if you can't see. Problem is, it seats 4-5 people max (fewer if anyone is manspreading) and is open to anyone in the room. The tables are moveable, so at minimum the venue could point them towards the stage. Fwiw none of this is the restaurant /barstaff 's fault. If anything, they seemed to agree that this is not a good setup. (Don't want to go into specifics to avoid getting any employees into trouble) A second issue with the seating is that once you sit down, the staff removes the reservation cards. This means that if you're at one of the high tops, walk in guests will ask you to trade/move spots. Don't agree to move unless you're ok with possibly ending up with no seat at all because it may be that you end up sitting in a seat that was actually reserved by a different person, from which you will be removed when they arrive. It's then up to the person with whom you traded whether or not they're feeling charitable enough to cede back your original seat. Other than the seating problems, I'd give this a 3/5 for acoustics and sound design (accounting for the fact that it's a small converted venue) and a 4/5 for the food (actually pretty good considering that it's a captive audience) TL;DR: Don't bother coming here as a single person unless you completely don't care about the artist at all, or you love the artist so much that you're willing to do anything to see them read more

It's been a while since I've been to The Royal Room, but I just got back from the awesome "For the Birds" concert performed by the Nelda Swiggett Quintet. Amazing show with a very important message, especially if you care about birds and the climate crisis. I was also impressed with the updated space, which makes sense given The Royal Room's new ownership this year. Everything feels a little more polished, while still retaining the historic charm. I'm especially excited to try the updated food options. It's not often that we get something new in Columbia City. Excited to return for another show! read more

I came on Fat Tuesday's Hudson St Music program. I think they are a Non profit. Suggested Admission was $15-$30. Tonight they had The Mardi Gras Band with a great vocalist. It was advertised as Jazz but she sang some Soft Acid Rock beside "Sweet Georgia Brown." Today they allowed small kids to come in the door. I saw one kid. The rest of the crowd is middle Aged, 40 to Seniors. read more

The Royal Room - Poster of upcoming event. - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I went to Royal Room to see a band perform, the show was great and I liked the setup they have where everyone can get a good view. The ambiance at the Royal Room was exactly what I was expecting. They could use some remodeling though... the booths are in really bad shape, the cover material on the seats is ripped in most spots and it looks 60 years old. Service was prompt and we were able to order drinks quickly. We ordered: - Oxacan Salad: Was ok, not bad, not spectacular but definitely better than I would expect at a bar. - Garlic Wings: pretty standard. Exactly what you would expect. - Yam chips: Same. standard. read more

The Royal Room - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Royal Room is charming and the food, service and live music is wonderful. We have been there many times and have enjoyed each and every one. Highly recommended! read more

Gave me the old Seattle vibes inside with some tight tables on the floor. The music was great but food were not the best. Beef stew is tender but practically have not flavor. Po boy was a little better. Service was a little awkward ever since we sat down till the bill came. Hope it's a little bit more welcoming. read more

Our first visit to this venue.. The band was great. The food was tasty. We had reservations and likely had the worst seats in the house. Staff walked buy frequently to pick up drinks or food. The view from the opposite seat was limited. Two open tables had better site lines than our reserved seat. I'm not sure how they decide where to put you as it is done before we arrived. We made the best of it. The band leader was friendly and staff were great. read more

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Great service from Nikki!! Was a very busy night- drinks took a while but was served with a smile :) very great atmosphere read more

The Royal Room - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love a good jazz performance and was excited for my first event here. Street parking was easy to find near the venue. I visited during the pandemic so they were verifying COVID vaccine cards and IDs at the door - much appreciated. The venue is on the smaller side so you won't have to deal with large crowds. However it is all-ages until late at night so you may see children there on occasion. There is a bar area as well as a set of tables for viewing the stage. Event pricing is typically low cost but you can see some great shows here. They have a bar and a kitchen so you can enjoy food and cocktails during the show. The food menu isn't minimal either. You can get a burger, tacos, pasta, fish, salads, sandwiches, and even a few desserts. I opted for the cheeseburger with fries and enjoyed the meal with a couple glasses of wine. Will definitely be returning for another show soon! read more

The Royal Room - Burger with lettuce, onions, cheese, and a sauce that I think was mayo (it was tasty) - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a classic, old Seattle vibe. Definitely a must for live music. Drinks were decent, and service was friendly. Our table had the chicken wings, tacos, burger and fish and chips. The chicken wings were good but everything else left much to be desired. Will be back but maybe just for the drinks and music. read more

They have live music which is awesome! The drinks are extremely strong, which can be good or bad depending on what type of night you're going for! read more

The Royal Room - a menu for a restaurant - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I can't speak to the food here or even all of the live music but I really enjoy "the events put on by the Hudson Music Project- especially the Piano Lives Here series. Excellent music every time. read more

The event I attended was a university students' performances. There were three lineups and I was there to support my friend's son perform. Anyhow it is a little cute venue and I love the fact that they encourage young kids artistic values. The service was great. The waitresses came around to check in so many times for our drinks and I would go back to this venue again. The only thing is it was little scary to walk about tao blocks away to where I parked after 11 pm. read more

The Royal Room - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The Bartender changed the tip on my receipt. He said it was not possible to reverse it secondary their 'tech support' being unreliable. He felt the overcharge was an insignificant dollar amount. My point is not the amount, it is that it happened and is easily reversed. Always check your receipts for changes that you did not authorize. read more

Fun spot to enjoy and support local live music. Good selection of food and drinks. Overall, a great little venue for an evening out.

The music was great, the catfish and greens were delicious, the wine was red and wet; but the service was unfortunately absolutely awful. We actually went to the bar to place our food and drink order, because we didn't see a server for way too long, and we got our food before the table next to us even got their drinks! Then their server never came back to refill their water or drinks. It's a great place, and I feel bad for writing this, but that server needs to go. Sadly sweetie, waitressing is not your calling. ‍ read more

Very chill and cozy spot to hear some really good music. My uncle played so I went to see him. We had a good time.

I was there for a private event and had a wonderful time. The bar had great selection of drinks and food.

Came here for Mardi Gras and despite them being increasingly busy, service was still awesome. The food was delish, drinks were poured just right and the ambiance of the music was perfect. No place like it in Seattle. If you want a nice meal and the experience of a small stage with incredible music, the Royal Room is the place to go. read more

The Royal Room - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great venue for music. Decent food. Good service. I like sitting in the back booths.. plenty of room to move. Enjoy this place every time!

Great look, good music but the food and drinks are a let down. I was there to see a show recently and it was perfect to do just that. The stage is huge compared to some places and the tables weren't packed in so you can enjoy your night. The décor gives the place a great feel. The total staff seemed small and it shows. They were doing double duties. Once they got your order, they ignored you. 3 times I tried to flag them down for the check but they ignored me. I watched them so they didn't have food to deliver or have orders taken. They were in their own world at times. As for food, just get the fries here. I would have suggested the hummus as well but they serve the pita without any color on it so they just took it out of the bag. The mussels are a warning because they don't clean then we'll enough. The bowl is small but I found 3 mussel beard as well as other grit. Just get a beer here as the mixed drinks are a glass of ice with some liquid, so unless you sip your drink gone in no time. It's a great place but with big flaws. read more

The Royal Room - Bowl of mussels - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Seating in front of the stage was a bit cramped and service seemed a bit understaffed or slow. But everything else was AMAZING! Food was great! We had the mussels, poutine, hummus and a round of drinks. A bit pricey, but still had a great time. The sound was perfect and not ear splitting/cracking. It sounded like we were listening to a CD or Ashley Simpson on SNL! I'm finding myself wanting to come here again and hearing other performances here too. We founding parking on the street easy to find on a Sunday afternoon. The city has improved since the days I was living around here as a kid some decades ago. Afterwards we found some nice spots around to hang out at and grab some grub and a few drinks too. We did hear that the changing room for performers needed quite a bit of attention because it was small and did smell a bit like a cat litter. So I hope they fix that so more performers would be happy to return to do a show. All in all...super nice spot! read more

The Royal Room - Sound booth to the left, window seating behind us and there's a bar (not pictured) to the right and more seating. - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Another South-Seattle concert venue with Latin-American inspired food. Woo, more plantains! Plantains are delicious, but why are they the new deep-fried cauliflower of concert venues? They're more or less cholesterol fried in cholesterol with a mild, pleasing, crunch. The alcohol, in the words of our server, "isn't as sweet as you'd think" for any cocktail. They're all way too savory. Would probably not order the dark rum Mojito again. Would probably just stick to water. Wasn't worth the buzz. It's a very intimate venue for shows, so if you're going for that alone, it may deserve a higher rating. The food is edible, the cocktails are average, but it's a solid event space. I'd go back; just probably edit my order a little. read more

The Royal Room - A mojojito, a mojito with dark rum. Not Mojo Jojo. - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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They support live LOCAL music, and for that I have to give them big humungous ginormous kudos...a virtual standing ovation. But really...you cannot take food and non-alcohol drinks home with you? Mr. Rude bartender (probably not his given name, but very fitting) acted as if I had just asked him a huge and really inconvenient favor by ordering (strange....I thought that was how it works at a bar) a wine for me and lemonade for my daughter. I tipped him anyway (I regret it now) even though he didn't seem to feel the need to muster up any friendliness or even speak a word to me beyond the price. But when we had to leave soon after, and my 8 year-old daughter hadn't finished her very expensive glass of lemonade and wanted to take it (in a to-go cup obviously), he stated that, "Nothing can leave the premises". Period. Now I assume he meant food and drink , though who knows as no further explanation was offered. No apology for the inconvenience. No more words. Really? Really? I don't believe it. Why? Honestly, don't go here unless you are supporting the music. In that case l, DO go there. Also in that case, apparently don't expect to take anything you don't finish home with you (really?), and more importantly, don't expect to be treated with respect by the bartender. It is a shame because I love that they support live music, but I really am not a huge fan of being treated like my family and my business is an inconvenience. You can easily go somewhere else with similarly expensive and good food, and other places might even provide you with a to-go container as is the norm here in the United States. I know I will go somewhere else with my money when possible...and avoid ordering much when I am there to support the music. read more

Loved this venue, and the show. We got there early, about 6:30 for a 7:00 reservation. We didn't know that they didn't open the doors until 7, which is somewhat strange. We wanted to go in and have a drink before dinner, but that wasn't possible. We had great seats, as we arrived early. I felt sorry for the people who had tables in the middle of the room, as they couldn't move their chairs back far enough to get out for a rest room visit, or to stand up. I would have hated sitting there. They really need to remove just one table from the center of the room, it would give people so much more comfort. The waitress was nice and attentive. The food was very good, I had the salmon cakes and salad. Delicious, even though there wasn't enough dressing on the salad, and the waitress didn't come back to check when I really needed more dressing. All in all, we had a wonderful time at the Royal Room. I would recommend! read more

I love the vibe and energy of the Royal Room. It reminds me of a jazz joint from a long time ago-tables in the main room, tall 2-tops near the bar. Drinks are about the Seattle average, $11 for a fancier cocktail (if you like a hot toddy, the honey ginger one will give you the warm fuzzies) wells and beers are cheaper. Service is good, responsive but not over the top. We prefer to come for drinks and music but in the past the appetizers we've had were fine. I appreciate what the Royal Room brings to Columbia City and if it wasn't such a trek from Ballard we'd probably become regulars. Dress up a little, listen to some good music and knock a couple back-you won't be disappointed. read more

Came to hear some Klezmer music on a Sunday evening. Very attentive servers, good selection of drinks and some very creative food options. I had a burger which was fine, but I saw a barley risotto with cauliflower and mushrooms that looked great. A really great music venue! read more

Food is nothing special, but the live music has to be some of the best in the PNW. Servers are friendly and unobtrusive. Plenty of room to dance, cool artwork, talented and knowledgeable sound mixing. We have been twice for salsa/Latin concerts and both times, the music was smokin read more

This is a totally welcome addition to Columbia City! The music is nice, the food is great and the vibe is chill. The bartenders I've gotten were really cool and friendly. Great drinks and tasty food. The low lighting is warm and inviting. I like how the 2 sections seem different: the left side with the bar and some corner seating is more dimlit with low ceiling and the right side with the stage and more seating is ambiently more lit and spacious. Their cocktail menu of 4 resembles the Four Face Cards: Jack, Queen, King and Ace. Which I suppose is also related to the name (think Royal Flush or other card terms). It'd be nice to get a bar seating foot rest. One thing I noticed was during one of the event nights with cover, for about half my visit, there was no playing from the band (it seemed like they were on a break, still tuning, doing whatever, etc). Hopefully it's nothing but kinks getting smoothened out... read more

The Royal Room - center: main stage. to right: seating with high ceiling. to left: full bar seating and window tables. - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I came here to catch a jazz show with a good friend. We were quite hungry so we started with a couple of appetizers and opted to split a main entrée. I ordered The Jack made with Gosling's black rum, lime juice, ginger beer, with a float of Cointreau served on the rocks with lime. The drink was so good that I ordered two! Our appetizers arrived: some garlic chicken wings and their poutine. The wings and drumettes were tossed in a house-made garlic ginger sauce garnished with green onions and served with celery. I felt that $12 was too pricey for the amount we received. The Poutine Roja were house-cut fries topped with carne asada, provolone cheese, onions, and cilantro, then slathered in their house-made salsa roja. The poutine also had sautéed mushrooms but we got those on the side since my friend isn't a fan. This was the same price as the chicken wings. Shortly after we polished off our appetizers, our Pork Adobo arrived - braised cubed pork simmered in their house-made adobo sauce, served with rice and black beans. We both felt it was a large portion for $16.50 and we were nicely full. My friend craved something sweet so to finish the evening's meal, he picked a bowl of apple cobbler served à la mode! The seats were comfortable and all the tables seemed to have good sight lines. There were donation envelopes on each table that you could give to your server or drop in a box attached to the wall. 100% of donations go to the performing musicians. I thought that was a nice touch. I would definitely return to The Royal Room for a performance or to enjoy their Happy Hour. Street parking can be limited but I think not too hard in the streets behind the main street. We scored a spot right in front but judging by previous experiences, I'd say arrive with a little extra time so you don't miss your evening's festivities. read more

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Great place to see live music, especially jazz but they present various genres. The dinner a menu offers delicious, flavorful dishes and many of the drinks are unique and creative. Service I received at the Royal Room has always been top notch. read more

i've only been here twice, and the first time was a good experience. We opted to sit in the back because they will only reserve a table if you have dinner. That turned out fine, and we enjoyed the music. Last week we went to see a show we really wanted to be closer for, so I tried to make a reservation for dinner, but was told they wouldn't let us in til 8:30 because of an earlier show. But dinner is still required for a 9pm show? We showed up at 8:30 to find out they were sold out - standing room only - even though they say they save some unreserved tables. Our server came to take our drink order, brought it quickly, and then we didn't see her for over an hour! In fact the only reason we did see her was I tracked her down so we could pay our bill and leave. Lucky we weren't really hungry! read more

I've been coming to the Royal Room for a few years now. Their food is always fantastic, the staff is always friendly and helpful. For example, last night, I ordered a grapefruit and soda. The waiter repeated it back to me and we each thought we heard the other (through masks and while music was playing). When he brought me "Woodford and soda" (bourbon), I explained our miscommunication, and he immediately fixed it, apologizing for the mistake -- even though it was really both our faults. The venue is a great place to listen to music, the acoustics are great, and there's not a bad seat in the house. They've maintained a mask policy (ie: keep one on if you're not eating/drinking) and proof of vaccination for entry. I tend to see jazz shows, so this is a benefit for the older crowd that tends to be at these performances as well as the performers. Overall, they are one of my favorite venues in Seattle. read more

The Royal Room is a hidden gem in Columbia City where you can find amazing live music for free from local artists. Since I didn't try their food, my review is on drinks, the live music, and the customer service experience. Overall, I give The Royal Room a 3.5/4 star rating. After happy hour at Tutta Bella's across the street on a Friday night, my friends and I headed over to The Royal Room to grab a drink. It's an all ages music venue (before 10 pm), so it wasn't out of place to see a kid or two sitting closeby. Five days out of the week, they have free music and performers get paid by the generous, voluntary donations from the crowd. The atmosphere was relaxing and intimate. We luckily stumbled across singer Ayron Jones with the R&B voice of Chris Brown and the accoustic guitar skills of John Mayer. I definitely loved singing along to all his great covers of "Billy Jean" and "Ain't No Sunshine." We wanted to sit in the dining area close to the stage,so we had to meet a $10 minimum/person (which you can easily hit by ordering a cocktail). However, there's really not a bad seat in the house and next time I would probably just sit in the bar. The customer service was okay (not mind blowing), but our waitress was generally nice. My main disappointment though was my drink order (Ginger Hot Toddy for $9 and a bottle of champagne to share @ $28). Unfortunately, the Ginger Hot Toddy didn't have a description of how they made it, so I was disappointed when it ultimately was a hot, medicinal tasting tea with a splash of vodka. I love hot tea, but it felt like an old lady drink better suited for a cold than a cocktail from a bar. The champagne was also average tasting, and not worth $28 a bottle. However, despite the disappointing drink order, I loved the musical vibe of The Royal Room and would come back for another show to see some local bands in Seattle. read more

The Royal Room - Live music! - Music Venues Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place comes from a long and venerable culinary tradition within the world of jazz clubs--this means, if you're not picky about food, you can easily knock The Royal Room up to five stars. But everything else about the place, from bar to live room, is as perfect as can be. First off, the reclamation of old space here is wonderful. They have taken everything back to the bare walls and ceiling and started again. The stage, mix board, and acoustics are all clearly placed with an ear toward maximum enjoyment of live music--they put as many people as possible in direct visual and audio contact with the band. They've added baffling and curtains to keep the sound from getting too wild. They haven't wasted a lot of flash cash on overdone furnishings or bathrooms--you see reclaimed materials wherever possible, but everything's clean and nice and smells good. There's a full bar off to the side, with a solid lineup of beers, wines, and spirits. They keep their tap lines clean and pour a nice pint of beer. The menu is a couple pages, and very well thought out. Good apps, entrees, and desserts, with interesting specials thrown in. Unfortunately, the recipes aren't quite as good--virtually everything tastes like it's out of a can or a box, with the exception of the bread. There's nothing wrong with it, but there's so much good eating on these blocks, and a lot of times, the music doesn't start here until after the dinner hour. They're almost ordering you to dine elsewhere. But that's OK. You'll be alright if you come early for a good seat and eat here, because the music is what matters. And they support the hell out of the music. On one Monday night they presented a very experimental post-bop quartet, an ambitious 13-piece big band conducted by the guy who owns the joint (Wayne Horvitz), who got great playing and tight listening out of everyone. The headliners were an already-accomplished new five piece, the Majestical Quintet, featuring a bunch of local veterans. The 13-piece had multiple musicians from both of the other bands. This is exactly what makes a healthy music scene--everybody playing together, everybody taking chances with what they're playing, and playing their hearts out. The scene they're cultivating here is impressive. When it comes to the music, they leave an envelope on your table for you to cash in. $15 or $20 a head feels like the right donation, so the musicians can get paid. This is one of the coolest things happening in Seattle right now. Between here and Paratii, there's definitely room for people to play jazz in a low-key environment where people really want to hear the music, and hear it played well. read more

Intimate venue with live music, good seats and good food! Friendly staff made sure we all had a fun time! I had the fish tacos with rice and beans and they were all quite tasty. I didn't come in expecting much except the concert and was pleasantly surprised at how great the evening turned out to be! read more

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Haven't been to Columbia City in a long time, and I'm really pleased to see how it has gentrified. Many great places to dine and spend time, and The Royal Room is one of those places. THE ROSES: Remarkably good food for the price point. My chicken enchiladas were definitely not your typical 'Tex-Mex Combo Platter' fare. The sauce had great heat and flavor, and the enchiladas were served on a bed of rice with braised kale (!). Many other dishes were unexpectedly spicy. If you like strong flavor profiles and aggressive seasoning, TRR is for you! THE THORNS: The restaurant was a bit understaffed, leaving a usually pleasant (but occasionally harried) bartender left with working both the bar and the dining room. THE VERDICT: The Royal Room is definitely a 'keeper'. Eclectic menu, tasty food, and reasonable prices more than compensate for occasional service issues. By all means check this place out! read more

This place is super cool. I wish I lived closer to come here more often. If you are going to a popular show then get your tickets online and get there early so that you have a seat. I was left with two seats in the back by the bar. The sound is amazing so I could hear everything but I felt far away from the stage and it was distracting to have people walking back and forth. I didn't eat anything but the food looked great. Walking to the bathroom during a quiet part was a little awkward because the artists could see you sneak near the stage. read more