The venue itself is great! Super spacious, fast and friendly bartenders, clean bathrooms, all you can ask for out of a concert venue. The artist I saw tonight is smaller, so my friend and I elected to grab food. The food was unfortunately incredibly underwhelming. There was nothing inherently wrong with it, it was just blah. The fries and mozz sticks were warm and not much flavor going on. Thankfully, I didn't come here for food though. Everything beyond the food was lovely and look forward to seeing another show here again! read more

World Cafe Live - Venue - Music Venues Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We came for the New Orleans jazz event with friends and to my surprise the floor was lined with tables and chairs for us to relax and enjoy the performance. I'm used to standing watching live music so this was definitely a step in the right direction. The staff was very friendly sound quality was great. We did not drink or eat so I can't speak to that, but I can't say that we always have a good time when we come to world Café live for performance performances. read more

Acoustics at World Cafe Live are fantastic, but it's not my favorite venue. We lined up for a show last week on the indoor staircase heading down to the Music Hall. It seems like a fire hazard to have people lining up there. There appears to be some disconnect with planning as well. I was in General Admission standing room about three rows from the stage and the staff was setting up chairs behind us to accommodate ADA guests. It's a shame because those people paid for the show and probably couldn't see anything happening on stage. I was unable to book a reservation for The Lounge, too. It initially said it was fully booked. I tried booking again for a different time slot and got a page error. Parking across the street at the Penn Lot was $18 which was reasonable for the amount of time we spent parked. read more

We had our wedding here in The Lounge in June 2023! It was the perfect choice for a reception filled with terrific music. Great sound for my band was my #1 criteria in choosing a venue - but the food and drinks here were just as awesome. The staff planners (Molly Jo and Kate) pulled it all together for us, were incredibly accommodating and made it so easy. I will never stop raving about our World Cafe Live wedding. And neither will my guests. I heard management has changed and is not as good as it used to be. Apparently, they let go of some really good staff members - I'm hoping they realize this was a bad move and they put everything in the order it once was. read more

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This is my 2nd time dining here and seeing a show downstairs afterwards. The food and service is wonderful, the eggplant fries and catfish and grits are my favorite. They do get busy so if you're dining before a show book reservations 2 hours prior. They have wonderful shows, I've only seen groups that do tributes to famous performers, they are very good. However, there are other events. This tribute to 30 years of the "My Life" album of Mary J Blige was excellent. I love the easy parking outside using the MeterUp app and the facilities are nice and clean. Great venue I recommend if you like a nice evening in the city. read more

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World Cafe Live is a multifaceted music and event venue. On any given night there is an array of performances and people coming and going, which adds to the excitement. This night, my party and I were in the lounge for a jazz show. All of the staff and servers were pleasant and helpful. Especially when trying to get a table closer to the stage. The chicken tinga nachos and broccoli fritters were delicious (and therefore not pictured, they went fast)! For drinks, the Mandarin sidecar was good but the smokey pineapple martini was better! I would not recommend the espresso martini here. Finally, I tried the duck cheesesteak which was good. Messy, but good. There are other food options if you're looking for a knife and fork situation. Street parking is abundant depending on when you arrive. Overall a solid venue. read more

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There are different events here everywhere from concerts to story slams. It's been awhile since I have gone but I remember the food being okay but not stellar, meaning I wouldn't just go and order food in the cafe unless I was already there for a separate event. Drinks were decent. The service was good, however, I stopped going because management wasn't spectacular. We came in and sat down and by the host but then we're moved to a different table away from the stage and we had come early for the event. It was off putting and I haven't returned since. Hopefully, management has had a turnover since then. Ambiance was nice. The concert area down stairs is quite large and had some seating options during certain events, although, I am unsure how that works. The upstairs section has a bar areas, tables, and a small stage for more intimate events. read more

Terrible experience last night. Bought tickets to a show, arrive at the venue and handwritten signs say "no alcohol service, BYOB." Wouldn't be a big deal but at least let people know before they arrive. Get downstairs, and ticket scanner doesn't work. Lady had to take everyone's phone and handwrite the numbers under the QR codes onto a piece of paper. No table service, so go to the bar, except the card machines aren't working. Cash only. Again, no notification. Poor bartenders did their best to accommodate people and were actually great. Food was like a Burger King menu. And during the whole show, staff stood at the bar and talked over the music. This place used to be so great now it's absolutely awful. read more

Staff is nice. Venue is intimate and fun. Food is terrible. The four stars are mostly for how we were treated.

Everything the good the service and venue all good I received this venue We had dinner and the service was fast read more

My wife and I attended a Jazz show. The venue is awesome. Multiple locations for different performances. The food was delicious. The service was mediocre. There weren't many diners, yet out waitress was often MIA. I had to remind her a few times about the drinks we ordered. Overall it was a pleasant experience. We will definitely visit again. read more

World Cafe Live - Outside - Music Venues Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I have been to this venue before, having attended the Book of Love concert in 2016, and more recently, Wild Nothing. I didn't try the food though. In addition to the fantastic acoustics and top-notch service, the venue also boasts an impressive atmosphere that sets the mood for a memorable concert experience. The lighting design and stage are expertly crafted, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the performances. The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring that attendees have a comfortable and enjoyable time. Pretty close to the 30th Street Train Station too! read more

World Cafe Live - Wild Nothing - Music Venues Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I was not please with my experience here. The show was great but I believed I paid for balcony sofa sitting but instead was shown to high top seat which I would never have purchased as the person I was with had back surgery within the last year and that type of sitting is not comfortable as well as hard on their back. Your website needs to do a better job of showing the seats in the upstairs area so people know what they are spending their money on. The Session show was great but you have to do be better showing your seating to your customers. read more

EXPERIENCE My friends and I went to go see the Depths of Wikipedia Live, and it was a blast. The venue was full, and the crowd was lively and engaging. We were seated by an usher after scanning our tickets at the front and were seated at tables alongside other guests. The speakers weren't blaring as with other venues I've attended, and the atmosphere was just full of fun. DRINKS A range of drinks-- both alcoholic and non-alcoholic were available for purchase before and throughout the show. I ordered the spiked peach tea, and it was the perfect balance of sweet and fruity, though it was on the pricier side for the amount given. SERVICE The staff was kind and patient and very on top of the orders, considering the ratio of guests to staff. However, the waitress lost my friend's credit card when ringing up his bill, so that was an unfortunate incident. PARKING / TRANSPORTATION Street parking is available at a limited capacity. The venue is a 5-minute walk from 30th Street Station, which might be the preferred method of transportation. read more

World Cafe Live - Drinks menu - Music Venues Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Definitely a night worth remembering! Hoping to return soon for live music and great vibes. read more

World Cafe Live - Music Venues Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My family and friends had the opportunity to have dinner at World Cafe Live on Friday the January 14th. The food was delicious Four of us had the catfish and grits, others in the group had the angus burger, salmon and salad. All the entrees were delicious . The service was amazing, timely and very professional. We experience good musical entertainment as well. read more

World Café live is still the best place to see a concert. Downstairs is a wonderful small intimate venue, with a balcony with comfortable couches. The sound quality is impeccable. I recently went to see Judith Hill. There was no food service during the show, which is very odd. You have to get food upstairs first. But the food is very good upstairs. I had a duck cheesesteak, which was a delicious sandwich that I haven't seen on any other restaurant menu. I started off with a tasty shrimp cocktail appetizer. I also tried the wings, which were just average. My drink was OK. They really need to bring back food service during the show. I would have at least had dessert and maybe another drink if I was eating downstairs. read more

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Late post and here goes. I came here for a concert and I had such a blast! I had no idea what to expect when I walked in but when the music started pumping and crowd began to rock and sway, I knew that I was in for a great night. The atmosphere fit the description, it was LIVE! We ordered seared tuna and coconut crab small plates. While the portions were indeed small, the flavors were excellent. My server noticed that I lost one of my crab appetizer crackers to the floor (a patron knocked it over when walking by :-( ) and she brought me over a few extra crackers for a replacement. I appreciated that small gesture considering that she did not have to and it was quite a packed ad busy house. Overall, I look forward to returning to this venue for another show. The atmosphere was awesome! I will however, eat before I arrive. The portions were not very filling. read more

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Of all the places I've attended live music shows around the country I have to say this place is in the top three if not the best. This was our first time here and we came to see Samantha Fish perform (she's amazing but I'll save that for another review). There's an upstairs and a downstairs. Upstairs is a restaurant, bar, and small stage while downstairs is a bar and larger stage with a large floor and a mezzanine. I'll break WCL down in 5 categories: STAFF- The staff is super friendly and all smiles. This includes the will call desk which is also fast and efficient, the ticket scanner, the general staff, and the bartenders. ACOUSTICS- The sound was impressive as most places this size it can be difficult to clearly hear vocals World Cafe Live has nailed this category. We moved a few times during the show and the sound was near perfect everywhere we went. CROWD- I'm sure the crowd varies depending on the performance but when we were there it was a mix of young and old with ample facilities for folks that require ADA accessibility. The crowd at our show was super friendly. PARKING- free! Yep. Parking at the lot below is free after 5:30pm but we decided to park right in front of the door and pay $2.40 for the meter through the parking app. The signs state 12 hour parking but the app only allows for 2 hours but that's ok since the meters are only enforced until 8PM SPACE - the space was really, really nice and so clean. It felt like it was just built. More importantly there was plenty of room to walk around and seats at the bar upstairs were ample before the main act came on. You can wander around the entire place after entry but you'll need a bracelet provided after ticket validation to enter and exit the main show downstairs. FOOD & DRINK - we only had the eggplant fries (which were awesome) since we went to happy hour at Walnut Street Cafe next door but we will probably just dine at WCL next time. the restaurant opens a few hours before a show and you need a reservation. However, you can order food and drinks at the bar upstairs and they will put it in a takeout container for you to bring down to the show. Also, the drinks are free poured, served in actual glasses (not plastic party cups like other venues) and you're free to walk around the place with them. Additionally, the prices were reasonable! I mean really reasonable not venue reasonable but comparable to what you would spend anywhere for casual dining. Overall, WCL deserves a solid 5 stars because they know how to do it right and I can't wait to catch another show here. read more

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As the musical landscape in Philly changes World Cafe has been a staple for hosting the singer/song writer genre of musicians. Great venue affordable handful of draft beer and cider on tap and great visibility from almost anywhere in the venue. read more

If it weren't for what happened tonight, this venue would be getting a much higher rating. Sadly, tonight seems to have ended all of that. I was supposed to go see a Joni Mitchell tribute band perform this evening. However, when I arrived, the doors were locked and there was absolutely NO signage to indicate why! I thought I was losing my mind, as I had not received any notification by email of any changes to tonight's show. I even went down to the lower level to see if there was another entrance that I needed to go to. Nothing. It was upon meeting two other women who had also bought tickets to the show that I found out the news that several (if not all) of the WCL staff had walked off the job a couple of weeks ago, and had been fired because of it, due to their displeasure with the new CEO. The lead singer of the group who was supposed to perform tonight had sided with the workers, and so chose to not perform. WCL did not send out any notification to patrons to let them know the show was cancelled. Instead, they posted about it on their FB page (which I only saw when I looked them up, since I don't follow that page). Absolutely despicable. Thankfully, they are offering refunds, but I hope they take their fans and patrons (and workers!) seriously about the harm this new CEO is causing, and choose to go a different route. I saw that there will be a town hall meeting with the board sometime next month...stay tuned... read more

Still Love World Cafe Live! I attended a show in the downstairs space and the acoustics are still fantastic! The service from the staff has remained consistently good! I always feel confident when I purchase tickets for a show because I know it will be a great experience! read more

I go in to the venue. World Cafe Live is a classy venue with an upstairs cafe area and a downstairs seated audience setting. There's no food menu available on this night sadly. Maybe because they aren't expecting too many people and/or maybe because it's hard to find help. With the hot drinks, there was only a hot toddy available. No cocoa or coffee or either with alcohol available. It was a bitter cold day outside on 1/15/22 at about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. The bartender was super friendly and nice. A friend wanting me to come support him real bad at this- so I did. I've probably been to about 7 of these now, and for me, it starts to get a bit old. Of course, I still try to sign up to make myself a half-fool on the stage only to get my song cut off early as just about everyone else's songs get cut off. If you're a Philly local or want to do something different or off-the-wall, Skeletor Karaoke is it! You don't even have to sing to attend. Just show up and experience the madness that was once a staple to the Trocadero- a former independent concert venue in Philadelphia Chinatown! read more

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I've been here a few times over the years (a fundraiser and two shows). It's a nice place. Always clean and the events are run well. Staff are friendly and helpful. read more

The food at world cafe is amazing!! The duck cheese steak is to die for, the loaded fries are amazing, the catfish and grits and filling and delicious, the drinks are amazing and the staff is some of the best staff you could ever meet! I completely recommend going there for a bite or even just a moment to enjoy some great music and good vibes! read more

This place is so much fun. A truly eclectic vibe, and a great space for music lovers. Everyone who works here is overall friendly in nature. Great service. The crowd is very mixed and inclusive. Venue is clean and well spaced. Food options were good. It's a nice time! Check it out if you're in the area, and you're into supporting the music scene! read more

Me and my friends arrived extra early to see our favorite artist Alana Springsteen perform and usually venues never let you inside early but not only did they let us come out of the cold to wait for the show inside the nice employee Sophia gave us chairs to sit in as well!!! Amazing staff all over super friendly and welcoming! Never have I been to a venue so nice. read more

Took my sister and step dad here to see Echosmith. I had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the venue. It's a small, intimate establishment with easy to access street parking. Perfect considering how cold it is outside. Once inside and down a few flights of stairs is the main venue area. Complete with a bar and convenient seating, it's a great place to see your favorite bands in a comfortable setting that really ensures you're close to the action anywhere in the room. Food selection is good and prices are reasonable. I'd gladly come back to see another performance here! read more

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The food was grest and the String Queens performance was awesome. Will be checking for other acts in the future

Returned to the World Cafe for a show Saturday. The WCL needs to update the website as there is no food served in the large concert hall for concerts and shows. We were able to get a table upstairs. At 645 the place was about 75% full. The waiter was able to take our order in a timely manner. I ordered the meat free meatloaf with rice carrots and cilantro. The meatloaf was really good. My only disappointment was there no cilantro which would have improved the dish. My husband ordered a burger. He enjoyed it. There was a floor manager who asked how we were doing and I appreciated that. The waiter did not return. We would have liked to order another drink. read more

Caught the Slackers here in the Lounge. Great venue, good food (duck cheesesteak, what?!), stellar drink selection. Andrew (our waiter) was TOP NOTCH and on point. Loved it. read more

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I came for a concert in the smaller venue upstairs called the lounge to see The Amours. It was an excellent show. The sound is always right. The curry chicken wrap is delicious! read more

Went to see Voices in Power on a Saturday night. The location is solid in University City. The venue itself is very modern, intimate but spacious as well. There are parking garages near by and street parking is available at times. Supporting staff was very friendly and inviting. We got shown to our seats very quickly. The layout is great and you are able to get a good visual of the stage anywhere. They only allow food in certain areas. But there was a full bar with really well crafted cocktails. Bartenders also had great personalities! Overall, this was a great experience, looking forward to other events here! read more

A great place to see music, have a drink and get some food. The menu has a limited number of items. I recommend the catfish and grits and the broccoli fritters. The beer selection was very good, including a good number of non-alcoholic brews (I was designated driver.). read more

World Cafe Live - Hazy Cosmic Jive on Nov. 26. Band features Richard Barone from the Bongos and Glenn Mercer from The Feelies. - Music Venues Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Had a great experience, the place was clean and not over crowded! Rising Appalachia was amazing as usual!!

Events are good, drinks are terrible pre-made and watered down and over priced! Crowd is super blah, if you're basic and uncultured its fine, if you're an arty person its seriously lacking. read more

Small upstairs venue. Was ok overall, crowded, bar service was efficient and friendly. Poor overworked bar tender was handling a concert crowd by herself and did an excellent job. Eclectic and well prepared food menu, diners seemed very pleased with their selections. Probably would return if musical act was someone I really wanted to see and I had a reserved table seat. read more

So I've only been there once before and for a wedding, so when I got a ticket to see a band and was very surprised when you could have dinner and watch the band. So I ordered a steak ( which was amazon) see pic. We were having some beers. The problem was our server. She was actually training a girl ( who was spot on). We couldn't get drink refills. Two times I got up to find the waitress. Two times I went to the bar and bought beers. It was ridiculous. So if I had good service. It would have been a 5 star. But for a $100 food and drink bill ( after getting a couple rounds from the bar) she would have been tipped on $150 if she just did her job. read more

World Cafe Live - Music Venues Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We unfortunately were rescheduled for " The Muppets Live " But we did have the opportunity to see it in April 2022. It was really nice. There was excitement and more adults than children. Our server was really nice and they were very Patient they were amazing for dealing with our table THE SHOW OMG The show was really great and everyone was singing along with the muppets lol. There was so much talent in that stage it's unbelievable read more

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Overall I'm going to have to drop World Cafe down a few notches. While I still get an uncanny amount of enjoyment out of it, and look forward to seeing Chairlift play Free At Noon on Friday, overall I just find the flow between upstairs and down to be a little too inconsistent. It definitely brings in a good share of touring bands, and it has a good amount of love for the locals. But I just feel that there are times where it doesn't bring in enough diversity with what it brings in, touring or otherwise. And when you think about it for a place called "World Cafe", there isn't a whole lot of world music going on inside it on a monthly basis. When a touring band plays downstairs ticket prices can border on the astronomical sometimes. Seeing a band like Devotchka there ran $35-40, and that's without the $4-9 processing fee (only $1 if you pay in cash at the box office), or the $10 minimum for food that you have to purchase for reserved seats. And when you look at it sitting at a dinner table towards the front of the stage can kind of suck when your trying to get into the vibe of a show! and the fact that they don't run World Cafe's awesome happy hour deal downstairs more than blows! Monica summed up upstairs perfectly. The shows would be tolerable to get into if it wasn't talk city when the majority of the bands played. And the fact that the sound just isn't as good as it is downstairs doesn't help. But as said above, many flaws up and down all around aside, World Cafe Live can still be a great and unique spot to go for music in Philadelphia. Or for just eggplant fries and a beer during happy hour. And maybe I'll see you at the free show on Friday (if you can manage to swing it at noon)! read more