Rum Boogie Cafe

ms_dj
ms_dj
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
4
Reviews
2
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Rum Boogie Cafe

  • May 7, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by globetrots from Nashville, Tennessee
This is a Beale Street institution, full of tourists pretty much anytime you go, but it's the place to be. The house band is always pumping, the beer selection is good, and you can always walk around looking at the hanging signed guitars if there's a lull. You can see the band well from almost any vantage point, including the street-facing side of the bar in the adjoining room. The food is pretty good too, including some not-watered-down gumbo. Hard to go wrong here, whatever night you're in Memphis.

From journal Music and Meals in Memphis

Editor Pick

Rum Boogie Cafe

  • May 26, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by MCJ graduate from German Valley, Illinois
Before we really got into the atmosphere of Beale Street, we decided to go to a nightclub. I had read, besides being B.B. King’s place, that Rum Boogie Café had great live entertainment. Therefore, we walked down Beale Street until we found it. It had a hawker bellowing that there was a $5 cover charge to get in because a band was playing. We decided to pay the cover charge. I can’t remember the name of the band, but it played a variety of types of music, from blues to pop. As I recall, it had five members in it. The band was definitely foot tapping, but after I heard the woman street musician, I thought she was much better.

After listening to music for a while, we decided to order off their menu. We both ordered subs sandwiches. The cost was moderate, but I have eaten better subs at Subway for a better price. From what I discovered later, I should have ordered their gator gumbo. This cuisine is supposed to be delicious, and it is recommended by locals.

You can’t top this place’s decor. Although it is a casual setting where you don’t have to dress up to dine here, it still has its own ambience. The club has 150 celebrity-autographed guitars (such as Elvis’s, N’ Sync’s, Doobie Brothers’, and Moody Blues’) dangling from its ceilings. Along with this, it has the original STAX sign that decorated the STAX recording studio. In addition, it has the cape Isaac Hayes wore when he received his Academy Award for the "Theme from Shaft." Lastly, the club has the mirror from Charlie Rich’s Steinway piano.

The bar had an interesting layout. There were two levels to it. As soon as you walk in the front door and look to your left, you will see where the bar is, and behind it, where, I guess, the grill is. Then, on the same level, there is a stage area. And, in front, back, and on the side of this area, there were tables. The second level was closed off due to a wedding reception.

The nightclub that night had a variety of people present: motorcycle people, elderly couples, gay couples, etc. Therefore, the clientele was diverse. Everyone was getting along, with no bar fights. And people were trying to dance in between the tables downstairs. The place was pretty smoky, but I have been in worse, and like most clubs, it was pretty dark.

I recommend this place for your live entertainment needs. This is because you will always find a band here (the house band is James Govan and the Boogie Blues Band), and it is part of the Beale Street culture. As far as their food goes, be more daring than us and order the gator gumbo.

You can also purchase Rum Boogie T-shirts here.

From journal All Shook Up Over Memphis, TN

Rum Boogie Cafe

  • December 12, 2003
  • Rated 5 of 5 by kwadz from Merchantville, New Jersey
Rum Boogie Cafe

We went to the Rum Boogie Café when we saw the food people were eating. The $3 cover was well worth it to see the band and I ordered a BBQ pork shoulder sandwich. I just couldn't get enough of the BBQ here in Memphis! The band was more of a Rhythm & Blues band with a trumpet, 2 saxes, guitar, keyboard, drummer and singer. They played more upbeat rock n’ roll with a touch of James Brown (the singer even looked like an older version of him). When they took a break, we left and stopped in some other bars, but after an hour of checking out other places, we ended up right back at the Rum Boogie to watch the band again (and didn't have to re-pay the cover since the bouncer remembered us).

From journal Memphis, Ameripass stop 15

Editor Pick

Rum Boogie Cafe

  • November 6, 2000
  • Rated 4 of 5 by ms_dj from , Ontario
Rum Boogie Cafe

We actually went to the Rum Boogie a few times, but I think the most fun we had was on the Sunday evening, our last night in Memphis. We went there for dinner, sampling variations on chicken (Funky Chicken Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Dinner or Rum Boogie Chicken Dinner). They had a 2 for 1 special that night, which was one reason we chose to eat there.

The music started around 9:00 pm, with one man (Blind Mississippi Morris) and his harmonicas. He had a half-dozen or so in a carrying pouch slung over his shoulder. He was eventually joined by a guitar player, and then bass player & drummer.

Even if you didn't like the blues, you couldn't help but enjoy the performance. At intermission, we learned that the bass player had played with BB King himself, and the group as a whole played as if they were meant to be together.

Morris, in addition to the harmonica, played the guitar for at least one song, sang, and included other sound effects such as crowing/cackling like a chicken, and barking like a dog. It was a memorable way to leave Memphis.

From journal Extra Long Weekend in Memphis

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