I love coming here every month for Tease Tuesday. I love supporting the burlesque dancers they provide fun creative entertainment. Some dancers make appearances pretty much every month and some new dancers show up from time to time, even from out of state. It seems to be a good platform for trying out routines and getting acquainted with burlesque. They have a raffle and the money goes to the dancers so support the art of the tease! read more

Went in for the Jazz Jam tonight and what a great time! The music was absolutely stellar and the people running the place are top notch! I literally felt like I was in a good friends living room! The food selection is great and there's an awesome selection of craft beers! This isn't your dads Red Light Cafe! What a great place to be! read more

Food sucks, beer good and the shows rock! Every Thursday night is bluegrass night. You will find me there along with the old men in long beards picking away at their banjos. It is always about 5 to 8 dollars to get in but on a summers night if you don't feel like paying just have a beer on the porch and enjoy all the people playing outside. read more

I played here about 4 years ago, hopefully things have gotten better. Very small stage, lousy management, and horrible sound guy. But a great place to meet other musicians and grab a beer. read more

Regular and popular entertainment options, however high cover charges per person topped by wine offered at 4x retail value and grossly overpriced food leaves a bad taste in my mouth...my third visit is my last. read more

Drinks are weak, poorly made, kind of gross. Atmosphere is bleh. The real clincher for me was the Burlesque show I attended here. Wow.....it was just terrible. Why call it "burlesque"? Why not just call it what it is...an amateur talent show, with a male host that is more creepy than charming (and completely unfunny). Total displeasure to watch. I'll be honest, the whole thing screamed of basic people who call themselves "freaks" and "outcasts" but aren't oppressed at all, lol. Like minus the one gay boy with a guitar, the rest of them were just really basic straight people who were just kind of...flopping around. Wanna be way more interesting than they are so they dye their hair colors and called themselves marginalized. The ONE redeeming quality was a single dancer (I think her stage name was Black Venus..?) but the rest of the event wasn't worthy of her performance (really, she was phenomenal though, and really professional. How'd she get mixed up with this bland crowd? She deserves better) . Anyway, I'm never giving this place business again, and I don't recommend you to either. read more

We walked in at 12:30am on a Sat night and they told us to leave and go to loca luna. We were looking for something chill and found only an angry bearded barista. If you're looking for a place to chill, don't bother with red light cafe. read more

This place is cool....But it could be so much cooler!!!! I was there last night for some bluegrass. The music was great and it usually is. However, and the joke of it is that they charge a 5 dollar cover. Ok I'll deal with that. You know it's like 20 degrees outside so I'll pay it for warmth right? No, the heater was off so it was at least 40 inside. Also, they don't willingly serve food.. However I was hungry as hell so I got some pasta. My friend got the meatloaf sandwich. She liked her food however mine was awkward. I've never used that to describe food before, but it seemed like someone just threw some meatballs and red sauce on al dente penne. Not great. Anyway I'm not trying to bash this place in anyway. The thing is that it could be such a great place but whoever owns this place obviously doesn't try too hard. It's a music venue without alcohol (beer and wine only) and a "cafe" without food and coffee (maybe they do have coffee but nobody was drinking it)? Instead of charging $5 dollars at the door why don't they try to serve food? I think they only have 1 menu though. Also, the seating is all over the place. Not gona start on that. Ok, I realize this place is supposed to be a rouge blugrassy place and I do appreciate that. And the owners obviously aren't to worried about beer selection or food. So if they are making money on this joint they surely could be making ALOT more under good management. I think I like the idea of this place alot more than the place itself. Might want to take a lesson from the recently deceased 1:11 teahouse. read more

Great cozy local bar/music venue!! Over the past 15 years I have attended many wonderful shows at The Red Light Cafe. Recently, I noticed the place looks better than ever! Along with aesthetic improvements, the quality of music is gone up greatly. My husband & I went recently to catch a band..along with receiving wonderful service, the drinks and food were fantastic. The black bean soup and cheddar tomato pie were delicious. The huge beer selection made my hubby very happy :) So if your looking to catch some good tunes, drink a cold beer and eat some tasty food in a comfy casual setting, The Red Light Cafe is the place for you! read more

Until the management changes its views on controlling noise during shows, I will not set foot in this establishment again. I paid to hear a musical performance, not someone's loud drunken conversation. Sadly, that conversation was the entire rear of the venue including the bar. These guys have it wrong. Either don't waste your time there or if it's someone you really want to hear, get your seats near the stage. read more

Terrible. Wouldn't serve us coffee an hour and a half before closing. If you plan on closing early at least have the decency to turn off your OPEN sign. Seems the bartender was too busy hanging out with friends around the bar to serve paying customers. read more

My friends and I went for open mic night on Wednesday. There were only about six people in there, yet they charged a $3 cover that seemed unnecessary considering it was virtually empty! read more

Grab food elsewhere...The food blows but the setup is good. Yes, mismatched chairs and tables but plenty of space. Not Eddie's Attic by any means but works for the intended purposes of seeing up and coming local musicians and it is smoke free inside. read more

I am giving them 1 star because of HORRIBLE experience with Gordon Vernick! I attended the Jazz Jam on a Wednesday which happened to be my birthday. The night is advertised as Gordon Vernick quartet perform a few numbers then invite other musicians and singers to join them on stage. I am an artist who sings jazz and neo soul. I asked Gordon about performing as the night went on. He looked at me and said well no you can't perform if you've never been here before. Listen to the type of music we play. We play more old school jazz as opposed to R&B music. He dismissed me and walked away. It took me a second to realize what he said. We've never met and he knows nothing about my artistry but stated they don't play R&B music as if I told him I sing R&B. This ruined my birthday and it was very disappointing that he would look at me and stereotype me as an artist. To say the least I will never be going back and I will avoid any event or venue that has Gordon Vernick's name attached to it. read more

Red Light Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

They need help. The service and management need some work and as far as the shows go, the sound is terrible, but the ber is cold and the food is tasty. read more

This is a cute little pub tucked away in a residential neighborhood, and I'd like to like it. The bathrooms were unbelievably dirty--I have not seen filth like that in quite some time. I can't believe the health department doesn't shut them down. I wondered if the employees have to use them or if they have their own, clean bathroom. If not, I have to wonder how clean the employees themselves are and I shudder to think about the kitchen situation. I can't consume anything in a place like this. Too bad. read more

Service nonexistent. Bathroom needed attention. Folks behind the bar not helpful when cash was needed to purchase a ticket. Although offered another customer cash if charged to their card. read more

Red Light Cafe - Music Venues Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Looked like a charming spot for live music-very cool atmosphere inside although a bit dirty. Bartender was beyond rude and very disrespectful. Never going back. read more

Great venue. Full of live music and excellent bar staff. Saw an awesome performance from Mark Michelson and Friends there!

I came here on a Friday night to see a friend of mine perform. The staff here was very friendly. I did not eat or drink here, but the food looked very tasty. I will definitely come back to eat here another day! The only reason I give it 4 stars is because there was not a full bar =( read more

The poetry slam was OK, however I forgot something at the bar where our group of 4 was the only people to sit. I was told that it was thrown out (it was a costume) because it looked like fabric that burlesque dancers leave all the time. On a non-burlesque night. With a total attendance of 15 people. The reason i had a costume is because someone returned it to me that night after borrowing it. I may just be partially sensitive to this because I throw events in Philly that hundreds of people attend and I always go out of my way to make a lost and found list, even if it's just fabric scraps (which it wasn't). This was a one of a kind custom made costume. read more

Good place for seeing your favorite local band with friends. Small but open floor plan. No table service, no problem, but $7.00 for a small glass of beer is a little steep considering they also have a cover charge. read more

They pay slave wages to their musicians. Their bar service is rude. The bathrooms are nasty. I cannot prove this but the night I was there I asked teenagers drinking cans of Foster if they were 21. They admitted to me that they were not. And yes, they were driving. So, do not allow your underage children to go there alone. read more

Visited this place recently for a friend's dance performance. It's tucked away into a strip mall right at the very entrance of Amsterdam Ave, ample parking. The place is decent, has a little stage up front, good sound system, nice seating area. They have some limited drinks and food, nothing fancy, just what you'd want to munch on while watching some performances. Dude at the bar was quite funny. Nothing fabulous, just another spot in town. read more

The Red Light Cafe is a terrible place to go see Live music. The Bluegrass nights are certainly not top notch. The Food is a tragedy. The beer is way too expensive. Its all called a cafe and these morons dont even have good coffee. The service sucks and the sound guy is a complete retard making a bad room sound worse. Run from this place. read more

Great music venue. I saw Jake Shimabukuro here; to see him live and so close was fantastic. Good food and drink. But I don't go for the food and drink. I go because of the live music, especially if acts like Jake Shimabukuro perform. read more

Great venue for a wide variety of musical and other entertainment. It's not primarily a food place, so just plan on drinks and snack-type food. read more

I stopped in late on night and the place was friendly and fun with live blues playing.

The most inhospitable staff I've ever seen. This is our first time here and all of our questions seem to annoy the staff. I haven't gotten a single smile out of any of them all night. If the band wasn't the reason I came I would have left by now. The food is a joke so eat before you come. They basically don't serve anything they can't pop out of a can and onto a plate. You've got like five choices between meals that should cost $3 at the grocery store but you'll pay about four times that for a toddler-sized portion. The $12 drinks aren't anything special either. I had to ask for several drinks on the menu before I came to a beer they actually carried. I don't think we'll be back. read more

I gave this place 4 stars but I know that gives the wrong idea. You have to know exactly what you are getting yourself into and as a restaurant 1-2 stars is more appropriate. But here's the thing, it's a dive, it's a hole-in-the-wall, its a notorious red light district store of ill-fame, it's a music hall, the Grand Ol' Opry of Georgia, the floor is made of Kentucky Bluegrass. It's all of these things, no less, no more. It reminds me of a time many years ago me and a buddy were drinking some beers watching the lingerie show at The Derby (I know, I know) and he says, the carpets in here are nasty....and I said "Yeah", he says, it stinks in here, ...and I said "Yeah", he says Don't ya love it, and I said "Heck Yeah". Well that is how it is with The Red Light Cafe, there is some good music (if you are a picker it is like heaven on Thursday night), some marginal food, and pretty much self service. It's very small and the long but narrow configuration causes elbow to elbow crowding even in the seats. So go have a fun time, maintain low expectations (don't go hungry) and you'll probably love the place. Remember, we are talking about a place with nothing over $8.95 on the menu that can't be microwaved. I must add I have never purchased a bottle of wine that I did not know the price in advance. Let me rephrase that, I have never purchased anything that I did not know what I would be expected to pay. read more

This place was pretty neat. I was with some friends that knew about the spot, otherwise I might not have even known it was there. We were there on a Wednesday night for open mic. It was pretty slow, but the staff was very friendly. They had some good beers on tap. The standout thing about this business is the AMBIANCE. I have not been to another bar in ATL like this one. There are all kinds of nooks and crannies around with couches and interesting books on the shelves. I almost felt like I was in Portland, but without the pretentious hipsters. COOL SPOT! read more

Great little venue in Amsterdam Walk. Very unpretentious and welcoming for a drink and to hear live music. My husband's band played here on the Thursday night local jam recently, and I was really delighted by the evening, both music and menu. The food was great--Brie appetizer and the pulled pork sandwich. Food seemed to be made in-house and was plentiful for the price (admittedly, they're not curing the Brie behind the bar, but it was a nicely ripe round). The drinks selection looked plentiful, but I was there for the cute drummer. Bluegrass jam out front ended around 8, and was very friendly with musicians of talent (and a couple who knew when to hang back). Inside, the stage is small but the acoustics and sound system are good and the space is well kept. Staff was friendly and helpful. A really pleasant evening in a great space supporting local music. Was so glad we found out about this space. read more

This place is the worst! I was charged $58 for a bottle of Fat Bastard wine...I mean seriously, Fat Bastard!?!??! You can buy that crap at the store for $10! I would have gladly paid $20 - $25, but $58!?!!? And, the service is AWFUL...she practically threw the $58 bottle of wine at me. I wont be back. read more

The Red Light Cafe Puts on the Red Light by Threau Bilges The Red Light Cafe on Amsterdam Avenue in Midtown Atlanta never has lived up to its name as well as it is now, 20 years on. While there are still no wanton women in windows offering relief for a price there, the club does have burlesque two nights each month. These fantastic evenings bring bawdy to the mix, with all-butt-naked women (and some men!) cavorting and amusing, kilted fellows bellowing, and a witty magician, too. Owner Ellen Chamberlain, who took over the club "just about exactly two years ago" after bartending there for 14, has put a stamp of improvement all over the place while not making it too stiff. One can still come in wearing whatever, and there is no ageist minimum longevity requirement. There is no smoking within. Cover charges range from $3 to $25. The Red Light remains a mellow hole. Chamberlain did immediately upon her takeover get a liquor license, but rowdiness has not ensued. "I think it's the music we have," Chamberlain said. "We don't have any heavy metal or thrash bands. (They do have pop and rock and such.) People aren't out to rage. They just want to go hear something, not to get incoherently drunk and vomit." "Never had to break up a fight," said doorman emeritus (17 years) Threau Bilges. The club's food has gotten considerably fancier. Big, fluffy pot pies stuffed with complicated concoctions of flesh and spice dominate the menu in the Ellen Era, and it is all healthy (eggless crusts!). "We do get some complaints that it's too healthy. No tater tots, no cheeseburgers," Chamberlain said. On the menu, 8 pages of alcohol options precede the one page food menu. Many smart choices. And also moonshine. Variety Playhouse puts on shows at RLC, as do Eddie's Attic and TDawg Presents, all bringing quality music to the club. Red Light Cafe also throws some shows there. Wednesdays Open Mic Night. Thursdays bluegrass and such. The rest of the days, whatever's good. Even the beer is healthy. The Red Light Cafe 553-1 Amsterdam Ave. Atlanta, GA 30327 4048747828 www.redlightcafe.com read more

Went there is 5 friends to see Michelle Malone and have some drinks and dinner. Absolutely awesome night! Staff was great, music was incredible, crowd was rockin', drinks and food were well above average. Can't say enough about this place. Don't miss it. read more

Bohemian atmosphere. Could have appeal IF the wait staff were more friendly AND didn't have have such a poor attitude. Will NEVER go here again (and they probably don't even care)! So sad in this day and time that establishments would not want to serve and please! read more