For the booking of the concert was 5/5 stars, it was an amazing concert, but one of the bartenders was extremely rude and unprofessional, lost me as a customer to the bar, might come back for another concert if the artist books there again. read more

Cool music venue, excellent staff, cool outside patio area, great all around experience. Depending on the music you see here, chances are you will enjoy yourself. There will be a cover charge. The room is not acoustically perfect but is more than good enough. Staff and patrons alike will probably be nice to you. This place remains a hidden gem (shouldn't be hidden anymore) in the University district of Columbus, and along with Ace of Cups is at the top of the list for bands to play here. read more

I think Peter pretty much cornered the review of Rumba Cafe. I've only been to Rumba to check out the Hoodoo Soul Band on Sunday night. I never think to go there any other time. Like Peter said, it's kind of hidden, but kind of not. I guess the problem is, unlike most good bars in town, there's usually another option close. I don't think that's the case with Rumba. But then, I don't know the area very well. Personally I like to jump around and go to lots of different places when I'm out. If you drive to Rumba, you pretty much have to drive to another bar. However, not a big deal if you're on a bike. The place is nice without being uptight. The design would do just as well in a yuppy neighborhood, but as it stands the crowd is interesting and very open to new faces. You could show up in a suit or a t-shirt without any question. The bar and the seating area are separated by a wall, so the line can bottle neck when it's busy. I've never had much of a problem getting a drink though. The bartenders are quick and friendly. read more

Thanks to Jesse Henry and Todd at Rumba for pioneering the 6-9 pm Happy Hour/live rock n roll show! I freaking love it! I'm glad other bands and bars are copying this.....cause I love to see live music, and lots if others do as well, but can't go see bands that start at 11 pm. Yes, there is a cover....so it's tough to go on a very regular basis....but they will work w you on that. They also have a great Happy Hour as well...and you can get food delivered by Primo Pizza. I tape live bands, and they very cool with letting us do what we need to, to make a good quality recording, in a tough space. If any of the neighbors that have complained about the Rumba are reading this....you should got blank yourselves. read more

I am tempted to give it one star so I can keep it all to myself but that would be selfish :-) Best house band in Columbus. Go on Sunday for the band but get there early if you want a table... It gets crowded. read more

I have been on maybe two occasions repulsed from entering this truly inviting music bar by the exorbitant covers being asked for at the door. I did go in once on a date and hear a top-flight jazz sorta quartet whose members were each memorable and inspiring musicians. The drink prices were what i would expect in a place that looks like this--handsomely decorated and classy but not too posh in that repellent way--but, alas, are still too rich for my blood on most nights. The back patio was relaxing and the overall atmosphere was quite friendly. I liked that tall girl bartender who waited on us that particular night, a sweet person who i recognized from her volunteering at the short lived Milo Arts concert series. Rumba Cafe is really a very nice destination for a night out of music and i hope to get myself there a little more often, but the cover charges remain a mental obstacle to me. read more

I like Rumba.....I think part of me wants to LOVE Rumba but something just won't get over that bump in the road. I have been to Rumba a handful of times for random shows and beers with the friends. Cover is usually low which is always nice and the beers decently priced, though how can PBR be TOO expensive (see future review for rant regarding that statement). Biggest issue I have with Rumba is the lay out (which is really NO big deal but I think that is the barrier between a 4 and 5 star review for me). The layout is just awkward, the bar is in a hallway that has people sitting and trying to order drinks. Then there is the stage area which during the right show fills up fast. There is another small sitting area on the other side of the sound guy (haven't ventured back that far). Then you have a few stairs to the bathroom area (small bathrooms + small waiting area = crowded situation). I do however love the patio. It is big and has a nice amount of seating and cover from bad weather. Rumba like many other bars I will venture to again if shows or friends or both are there. read more

This is an average small bar and music venue. No particular complaints, but nothing was above average about this place either. It was a bit crowded for the show that we came to see, but that's to be expected of a small venue! We were lucky to be in the front row... I doubt anyone beyond a few people behind us could see anything. I was alerted that parking was troublesome ahead of time, so we just took a taxi. This is a decent place to see a show and I would return - so long as I arrive early enough to stand in the very front. read more

Like Matt K., I just can't love Rumba. I mean, it's fine. I like the patio in the summer, but I dislike the fact that there are a lot of narrow spaces in here, and that there doesn't seem to be any sort of maintenance to said patio in the winter (unlike other bars in town). I've seen some really fun shows here, but it's either crowded, or like last night, its awkward if you want to stand up front to see your friend play because everyone else is sitting down (weird!). But I guess that's because it's a "cafe." I've had some shady things happen with bartenders here. Once my friend ordered vodka+cranberry (isn't there a real name for that? I forget...), and just got cranberry juice - for five bucks. I've also had bartenders overcharge me for beer. This just doesn't sit well for me. And also, since I'm on a rant about PBR lately - it's midpriced here. I think it was 2.50 for a tallboy. Not terrible, but it's 2bucks elsewhere. Whatevs. I remain unimpressed. I go here to see my friends play, but that's it. read more

When I stopped into Rumba last night to take a quick pic or two the cover was $12. Ouch. Just thought everyone may want to know... read more

Rumba Café - Jazz & Blues Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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First impressions are lasting impressions. If you ever want to see an epic Napoleon complex in the flesh, check out the ticket taker. I don't think I have ever been "shooed away" before making his acquaintance. Just plain rude. The bands were fantastic but the space is way too small for those who get a lot of airplay around Columbus. I don't know who thought booking that venue was a good idea. Bartenders were very pleasant and helpful. The back patio is a great place to go and breath since you can't inside. I would honestly never go see another concert here. read more

Small venue with a big impact. The staff and promoters routinely book top up-and-coming talent from around the country, so if you're paying big bucks to get in, you won't be disappointed -- unless it's a band playing music you're just not into (It's called the future. Do some research on your phone if you don't know anything about the band...). Great beer selection, and sizeable patio make for the perfect secret getaway that everyone knows about. Just be warned that if it gets jam packed, it can take away from the experience since there's only two small one person bathrooms and there's limited bar space. But for up and coming acts that require people STFU and enjoy the show, this place is great! read more

I went to see the Paul Macdonald/Emily Kinney show, was my first time there. Intimate, full of energy, and also, just a sense that every artist, at any stage of their career have been here. Great venue. read more

Very small venue. But even with that I enjoyed myself a lot here. Set up to where patrons can get a good experience listening to some outstanding music acts. read more

It is fantastic. Even though this spot has been blown up by several yelpers in the area, I think this is a great bar. Although awkwardly built, I think it is the definitive place to see music here. It is a great place where new bands go that are worth hearing. Every SUNDAY night there is a great cover/funk band. Their sound is amazingly tight. Anyway, The bar is amazing, people are generous, it is the best patio by far in the city, good beer, and although out of the way it is somewhere I want to go more. read more

What a joke. We showed up at 7:30 to check the place out because we thought it looked cool. We were turned away because the doors don't open until 8:00. So we drove around for a half hour and returned. We handed them $20 because both the website and the sign on the door said $10 each. Then they changed the price on us. Needless to say, we didn't stay and now have no plans for the evening. read more

Saw a show here for the first time and it was a huge mistake. Hardly any seating or visibility of the performers unless you're in the front row and the line for the bathrooms is ridiculous. This is also another place that unfortunately doesn't seem to keep track of overserved patrons or people coming in drunk. The only reason this place gets two stars and not one is because the bartenders were friendly. read more

The music was amazing, however that was because of the bands not the venue, so I'm setting that aside. The place is very small and narrow with limited seating. There is only one bathroom for each gender, so there is almost always a line. Drinks were okay although the amount of alcohol varied greatly depending on which staff made them. I think the worst part of the experience was how I saw the staff treat an obviously drunk patron. She and her friend were in the bathroom for about 10 minutes as she was sick. The bartender pounded on the door cursing at her to get the f*** out of the bathroom before she called the cops. She forced the door open and exposed the girl with her pants down saying that she didn't care, cursing at them the entire time. Too many negatives to make it worth going back. read more

Nice enough place. Friendly, efficient staff. Good beer selection and reasonable prices. However, as a place to see live music, it is THE WORST (or at least it was on July 12th). Zero seating - no tables, chairs, or bar stools - and a crowd that I'm sure exceeded the Fire Marshall's limit by a big margin. It might be OK for a local band or someone with an extremely small local following (in other words, for a small audience), but for a recording artist you might actually have heard of, I'll never go again. read more

Great range of music - a different one every night, and something for everyone. It's a bit of a weird set up - and they could definitely use more space, but great bar and the people are in general pretty nice. read more

This place is insanely loud. I live a block away and I can regularly hear the bass pounding till 2:30 am, including on weeknights. Makes living in this neighborhood a misery. Wish they'd get some soundproofing or at least a decent sound engineer. read more

We go on Sunday nights to see the house band, the HooDoo Soul Band, whenever possible. They are very good. They utilize 3-4 lead singers and play a wide variety of R&B and Soul music including Motown classics, obscure Elvis songs, and even Peter Gabriel. It is a small venue and it's gets really crowded on Sunday nights when Monday is a holiday. But it is always fun. The drinks are decent. read more

Love the music here, been multiple times. The night always ends up a bit pricy between cover and 6.50 beers.

Venue is ok but apparently it doesn't treat the muscians well. They rescheduled on a band I was planning on coming to see. The band showed up to start setting up and it was rescheduled for poetry reading. I've got nothing against poetry reading but to treat a band and it's fans like that is rude. They have a right to do it because it is their bar, but I have a right to rate them poorly also. If you are a band, beware... read more

Love this place. Small enough to have the intimacy of a neighborhood bar, with music that makes you want to move.