Coffee Pot

Historical roanoke roadhouse. Great gigs and good times. Staff is very friendly. Smoking bar, but that's a plus. Salty and spicy.

This used to be a place where all people were welcome. It is no longer that place, I went the other night to see some live music with my boyfriend and we were having a great time. Apparently rocking out to a rock band is unacceptable if you're transgender. I was complained on by at least three people and my boyfriend was told I would be kicked out if I didn't "calm down." I know I didn't do anything unhinged but I was treated like I was less than in this establishment, subhuman. I will never be going back. It's a shame because I loved this place for YEARS, but things change, and this place is not a safespace if you are queer or different in any way. 0/10 would not recommend. Steer clear of this place unless you would like to be accosted for being an individual. Seriously disappointed, don't spend your money here, go somewhere where being unique is not a bad thing, where all human beings are treated equally, anywhere but this bar.

Small town bar with food and smoking. We ordered chicken wings, and they were excellent. They had 2 pool tables, stand up comedy, karaoke on tues n Thursday. Full service liquor bar with exceptional staff. Prices were fair and we are definitely going back. Treat yourself to a night out n check out "the coffee pot"

I grew up visiting this iconic Roanoke bar. The beer was always cold, and I saw many live music shows there. I would even hit the lunch buffet while working for a very reasonably priced and tasty meal occasionally. Fast forward to now. In this day and age, allowing smoking anywhere and any time, you are going to attract one crowd, and it's simply one most people just don't care to be around. On a recent visit my wife and I were literally the only two people not smoking, both inside and out. Listen, I grew up in bars where the smoke was so thick it banked down off the ceiling, but in 2023 I'm not sure how that is a viable business plan. The place now just seems tired and very run down. And if you're a non smoker, you will have a headache, and feel the need for a shower immediately as you enter the building. Even dive bars need to progress with the times, and The Coffee Pot simply has not. Maybe an old smoker's crowd can keep it going, but for most people these days, and including myself, it's just not a fun place to spend your time or money.

The last two times I’ve been here the bartender has been one of the most disrespectful people I’ve ever met.. I’ve tried to be respectful and I was greeted with immediate hostility and disrespect from the time I’ve walked in… (8/4/24) Idk who she is, but she’s the reason I won’t be returning to this establishment has deterred me from recommending this bar to anybody I know!

This is the definition of a roadside dive and I mean that in a good way! We came in late afternoon for a quick bite to eat. We ate our food (burger, sandwiches and fries, all pretty good) as we listened to Katie talking and joking with 3 or 4 regulars sitting at the bar while another woman sat playing video poker and smoking. Several obscure Led Zeppelin songs played overhead. Katie was very friendly and we had a good time talking to her. Love the coffee pot attached to the building. This would be a fantastic place to come watch local bands and throw back a few beers (or jello shots)!

Iconic. Historic. Food is typical bar food, but still decent. Music is spotty at this point. Occasionally decent local music is available, mostly just karaoke at this point. Beer selection is great if you like and beer... For the rest of us you'll need to pre game!

Best dive bar in Roanoke. The bartender, Nikki is the greatest. The food was a good and the cocktails were even better.

Ignore the snobs. This is a down-to-earth place with decent food and prices. The Wednesday evening Bluegrass was a treat to go with good vittles!

Great ambiance of an old roadhouse juke joint... we watched college buddies in a band, had a couple beers, what a great spot! Can't wait to swing by again!

Had a great time at the comedy show tonight. Great talented crew. Thanks for the laughs. Everyone was fabulous! And the black and blue burger was delicious. Thanks Brandi

My wife and I just moved into the area recently, and were looking for a place with pool tables and my wife found this place. We passed by it a few times before our first stop and noticed the giant coffee pot attached to the roof of the building which is something we look for in unique places to stop in. One night we decided to visit the Coffee Pot in the late afternoon and found the place mostly quiet and empty. There was a fire going in the old fireplace which was unexpected, but shouldn't have been after I learned about the bar's history. My wife and I enjoy the occasional dive bar, we have for a while. For us, it is a nice change from the other mainstream venues we visit, and the patrons and regulars have always been welcoming and friendly. The Coffee Pot was no exception. As other reviewers have stated, it is still a smoker-friendly bar and in these times it isn't often a crowd pleaser, especially for first-timers. However, we have found it does weed out certain types of patrons who sometimes can't suspend their complaints and enjoy something completely different, historic in this case, and seemingly off the beaten path. We stayed to play pool, the goal of our visit, and then stayed for one of the band's sets. We also ordered sandwiches/hot-subs as well which didn't take long to get and the food was fresh and hot considering the Wednesday night crowd there had kept the kitchen busy and they were also short staffed. Their Wednesday night house band has been a mashup of different bluegrass players (musicians) over the last 25 years. One component of the band, and the bar, they are deeply proud of - we get it and we respect that. Plus other mainstream players, Richey Valenz, Dickey Betts, to name a few have graced their stage at some point in time. We'll be going back this Wednesday as we were told the house band is giving the stage to a younger bluegrass band to encourage and support younger bands in the area. Again, a nice change from other live music venues in the county for us to sample and enjoy. Like a good Irish friend of mine told me a long time ago... "If you don't have fun, it's your own fault."

This is a hole in the wall bar which still permits smoking inside. The regulars filled the stools with conversations about the day. There was a 2 man band playing music. This is truly not the venue for this bar, but I just wanted to tell you it's for locals. Expect there to be people at the bar no matter the hour. Beer is cheaper then the surrounding bars and the sign out front says the place is on the registered in 1936. This rating is because there is nothing wrong with the place, it's just not likely for many.

I've gone to a few live shows of local friend's bands here and the place is definitely divey. The bathroom has graffiti all over the walls - though I think that is a part of the charm and decor - but it was very small and cramped and dirty. They are very local band friendly which is a plus and my hippie outdoorsy friends love to go there and drink and listen to their friends play music. It's not very big but it's big enough for a few hundred people probably. I've had fun here for what it is.

Was assaulted here by the staff for asking for a $5 refund when they overcharged my 65yo friend

I've been going to this joint for over forty years. Music and food are it's thing. The food tastes great and it hasn't killed me.....well, yet that is. A rotating and repeating lunch buffet is a regular hang out for me and friends. It's a meeting and hang-around spot. The quality of food varies with the cook, from just okay to occasionally fantastic when the owner is in the kitchen or outside working a huge grill. Wednesday nights they have a buffet as well with really good live, local music. A look around the place will fill you in on its history starting in 1936. Some great names have played there. Wille Nelson once said of the Pot "This is my kind of place". People are fun, normal and humble for the most part. You will see people in business suits, biker outfits, and normal dress with denim being the overall material of choice. It's very local so it will take a bit to fit in, but everyone is super friendly. Downside? Well, the bathrooms are disgusting, but hey, you can't have it all. I can afford to go anywhere I want in Roanoke, but this joint has always touched the soft side of my heart. It has character. Log cabin and definitely not plastic. Go!

Good Food scoring with a HUGE pepperoni pizza made by Matt for a mere $5.50 as well as great friendly staff pouring makers mark and coke for $5.50 as well, which is a fair price but a little high compared to other local venues. \all around a great little place with WIFI too :)

I saw the deer head on the wall and thought, "Oh , no! Another divey redneck joint!" But, when I was seated in the other room for the buffet and saw the deer's rear end on that side of the wall, I knew it was my kinda place. The buffet was so-so, but the drink prices were reasonable and the live entertainment (a band) for no extra charge was very nice.

First of all, the ambiance of this "historic" place is second to none in the Roanoke valley. An authentic roadhouse bar, this place is literally a log cabin built in 30s. Pool table, actual fire place, functional pinball table (With a sweet 90's Keanu Reeves movie theme), novelty non-smoking room, and terrifying bathrooms complete vibe. The staff is a rotating list of characters that you will love to get to know. The lunch buffet, with its rotating menu, is a must visit in Roanoke. I highly recommend Wednesday, for the ribs and bbq are one of my most cherished dining experiences in town. On Wednesday, the buffet is repeated for dinner. As I write this review, I am currently enjoying a local bluegrass band (a wed dinner feature) while drowning in ribs. It really doesn't get any better than this. A Saturday night at the CP, after a few draught Natural Lights, will most certainly have you appreciating everything about your life. Snobs need not apply, instead, go downtown to Metro and pretend you're important.

Maybe a good place to drop in and have a cold beer, but not a place for dining. The building is interesting and rustic, but the interior could sure use a good cleaning. The burgers and sandwiches are nothing to brag about.

The Coffee Pot has been on our list of restaurants to go to before we move from Roanoke. The entire experience was meh. The food was okay (although the quesadilla gave me a stomach ache a few hours later) but the service was mediocre at best and the ambiance...well it wasn't there. It was very smokey and calling it a dive bar would be a compliment. Dirty would be a better adjective to describe it. We wouldn't go back even if we weren't moving away.