Radio Bean

Big fan of the space. I don’t always get down with loud music but it’s still a good time. If you’re like me and enjoy a more laid back mood they have pretty generous outdoor seating where you can still clearly hear the music (they tend to keep the doors propped open) and enjoy the open air at the same time. If you pick the right spot you can see the stage too. Came here to see some friends play a few times but I’ve been visiting for like a decade, and the atmosphere has always been nice. When there’s no live performance the mood is much calmer and it is a cozy spot to get nestled into for some good snacks. When there’s a performance going on the vibe becomes a lot more lively, but it’s not like a club. More comfortable and friendly in my experience. The food I’ve had here has always been good, and the colors & decor are warm, soft and easy on the eyes. They light it up a bit for shows but even so, it’s much more calm than Nectars upstairs - which I’ve only been to a couple of times, but feels much more like nightclub vibes to me. Anyway, yeah, this is my go-to if I wanna spend a night out. Safe, friendly, people tend to be more tame here as far as I’ve seen. Lots of regulars who are welcoming. Would recommend. :)

The beat pulsed and vocal ambrosia flowed from the stage while my roommate and I unsuccessfully tried to bum cigarettes off of strangers. Emerging artists comingled with their soon to be avid fans as local secrets and folk knowledge was past back and forth. Eventually, the college crowd surged in, disrupting the holistic and grounded vibes of the front patio, and I, finding my bicycle, decided it was time to move on.

Quaint little bar with live music. They do not have food. The website has not been updated for that.

If i could leave 0 stars i would. We asked if the show was 18 and up because we had someone under 21, the lady told us YES so we left to return later for the show and all of us was let in except the one under 21. keep in mind there was NO SIGNS saying over 21 so how were we supposed to know??? we were there for no longer than a MINUTE before leaving because we weren't going to leave our friend outside by himself. I asked nicely for a refund because we were given false information and i was extremely rudely cut off before i could even finish my sentence with just "no". awful experience they will not be getting my money again.

This place was so much fun to see a small local band play at. They also offer tea and hot drinks at the bar for those who like to see a show but don’t drink. The venue was quaint. It’s also attached to the lamp store right next door which hosts awesome dancing in the evening hours!

Music forward spot that's eccentric in a good way. While the live bands were switching set-ups (4 bands were playing the night we were there), the DJ in the other connected room was jamming. You can float between the two separate spaces as you want, with bars in each. There is some seating, but it's mostly standing room with a definite college crowd...although that probably had to do with the bands that were playing while we were there which were VT alumni.

Stopped in for the comedy show before a late dinner. We got there at 7 and grabbed a table near the stag. The cover is $5 to $10, and I would encourage bringing some cash to tip the comedians you enjoy. The space completely filled up, and the host Max was hilarious. The entire show is under 75 minutes, and there was another group coming on after. The opening and closing comedians were very funny. Fun place to swing by.

Darn good live music and an attentive bartender made for a heck of a Thursday night. In front of the bar is a spot to lick up bicycles. Out in front of the bar are tables and benches. The bar connects to the places next door.

A jaded take from a 60 year old. It's an okay platform for garage band level aspiring musicians. Enthusiastic bar tenders churning out above average drinks. They offer free foam ear plugs, definitely a good idea to protect those precious drums. Likely a five star experience for regulars who reconnect with friends every weekend.

Best bar/ club in Burlington. Has more of a queer & alternative scene but is accepting of everyone. You can walk in here sober and the vibes and music are enough to make you feel like you're on something. Drinks are unique, but pricey, but who really buys their drinks at bars nowadays right? Food is amazing and fries are safe for celiacs!

- good beer selection - cheap beers - friendly bartenders - one of the few places open late - music was fun - not many people present - check their IG to see if there's an event that night it is more updated than their website - there's not much seating by the stage

Fun place. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. It was a hot day and hot inside although they had fans going. We sat outside - they have a small outdoor seating area. The dockside lemonade was quite good. My husband and daughter had the $5 shake which was excellent - would definitely get it next time. It is a pint of stout with a shot of espresso and topped with maple syrup. It was delicious. The place looks very 60s with dark interior and subtle lighting. The single bathroom needs help though. Will definitely be returning.

Refused to let me and my non-binary partner enter. Unacceptable service and disgusting bartenders.

Radio Bean Coffeehouse had such a cool vibe. We stopped in for a drink and to enjoy the live music. The musician planning was alright and it wasn't very busy (I'm sure this place is slammed when the college students are back in town). I loved the relax vibe they had but did not love my Moscow mule. Mules are my go to drink and this one was one of the worst I've ever had... I'm really not sure what they put in it because it didn't taste like a mule at all. Would definitely try a different drink if I'm ever in the area again because I did love the atmosphere and the overall concept of the coffeehouse.

Location was good, near our hotel. I was happy to see Caipirinha but it wasn't that good. But not bad. There was a band playing Savage Hen. We drove from Connecticut for the holidays and my boyfriend is a big doom metal fan. When I was researching the place and chanced upon this show, Savage Hen was mentioned as Heavy doom groove sarcastic core. It wasn't heavy definitely not doom. Please don't call yourself doom metal. We were little disappointed as I was hoping to give my boy friend surprise as he follows YOB and the like. Savage Hen music was quite punk and groovy but not doom. That was little misleading. All in all it was good.

I was looking for a place that played life music since moving from N.Y.C to Vermont. I was pleasantly surprised at the talent that night. It was a week night so it wasn't very packed but our service was exceptional. Our waitress was kind and gave us prompt service. The food was fresh and very good. (Healthy portions) I absolutely loved the chill vibe in this place. It's a very laid back relaxed atmosphere. Eclectic, funky, chill establishment to come to for great music and food. You won't be disappointed. Jeans & t-shirt is all you really need in this place. I'm looking forward to my next visit. I love unpretentious places!!!

This is an awesome venue and bar!!! Have played here a couple times, they room is amazing for sound!!! People are always friendly! The food and drinks are fantastic!!! The town is just awesome!!! Highly recommended as a musician and any who loves cool unique atmosphere!!

This review is for C'est Ca, the new takeout place connected to Radio Bean. My parents ordered from there tonight and this is my mom's glowing review: "The carrot salad and everything else we ordered (cucumber salad, chicken, tofu and mushroom skewers and more) were excellent. Tasty with a slight bite but not tooooo spicy!" My mom says she ordered half the menu and can't wait to order the other half. Since I don't see a Yelp page for them I'll include their instagram description: "French eatery with Japanese flair. Biodynamic wines, craft beers & cocktails. Currently open for Take Out & Delivery. Lunch & Dinner. Tues-Sat 12-8"

Like this place! Had tempeh with coconut rice as snack and it was perfect! Been here several times and am happy to find some interesting food in Burlington.

Wow! Amazing! Great value behind this gem of a restaurant that recently reopened in the old Dio Duende restaurant space on Winooski Ave. Highlights include the congee (like an awesome chicken and brown rice soup with thinly sliced kale, pickled ginger, jammy egg), shaved carrot salad, potato salad with sweet corn, grilled skewers just kissed with the perfect amount of charcoal smoke, and oh, the salmon collars! Salmon collar might not be something that you have had before, but oh wow, you have to try these! Definitely going back soon. So great to see a place really trying out some new flavor combinations at a very reasonable price.

Ok, so I'll start out by saying that i actually haven't been for the coffee, just at night for live music and drinks AND I think the venue itself has a lot of charm. Very reminiscent of the old show houses they had for local musicians in the 90's. The sound quality was good and the crowd was fun. BUT the reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is solely based on the service. The bartender was super cold and aloof. Kind of a drag when you're trying to have a fun night and feel welcomed in a new place. It's that elitist, hipster vibe you hope doesn't radiate when you go to local music spots. Ya know? Also, just a side note, that the bathroom smells like about 2 thousand people pissed on the walls and floor and left it to dry in the hot sun.

There are three main coffee shops in Burlington-- the artsy coffee shop, the hippie coffee shop, and the boring coffee shop (sometimes also referred to as the rude coffee shop). Radio Bean is the artsy coffee shop...and it was my favorite. The atmosphere is fantastic, there's almost always live music (and the Irish Sessions which is a Celtic instrument jam session is always a treat), the art on the walls is wonderful, and you can't beat it for personal, artsy touches. The wine rack is springs from a box spring, the tea-pot holders are hand made, as are all of the light fixtures. I also love the bike rack outside which is made to resemble a giant combination lock. One thing I will say is that on nights when the music is good it's so super packed that you can't even get in there, there are people sitting on the floor. They serve alcohol unlike the other coffee shops. In the summer it's a great spot for people watching and the OP (which is becoming oddly trendy) seems to have provide people to watch a plenty. Beware of open mic night.

Food was terrible. Which is such as disappointment considering how few--yes, few--Burlington restaurants offer vegetarian options. I thought Burlington was supposedly be a Vegetarian's dream; it was a dream all right, a bad one! When you read the menu outside a Thai restaurant, which are usually safe, and the only vegetarian option is Vegetable Pad Thai...yikes. So I was thrilled to see a plethora of options here. I can take the time to look at the menu online to remind myself of what I had, but honestly, it's not worth it. It all sucked.

Regardless of what Yelp thinks, this is a bar. And its a decent one. It's got a definite Burlington grunge to it and has been around since I was a very small child. They have the typical Burlington beers (Switchback, Fiddlehead, and so on) and do pretty good cocktails. I got a coffee here once. It wasn't good. The live music is eclectic, but they seem to regularly attract decent acts despite the tiny space. They also have sidewalk seating on Burlington's actual main st (N. Winooski Ave).

This is an awesome little place to stop in for whatever kind of drink, anytime. The "Five Dollar Shake" is great, try it! And they have a great warm cocktail drink menu -- the Cider something was good! And if you're lucky you'll catch some good tunes happening here too! Definitely a good go-to spot! Cheers!

Delicious, creative food. Enjoyed listening to the music as well. Really enjoyed vege platter and fish tacos. Decent beer selection. Great service.

I have only witnessed the jazz bit it was pretty decent smooth jazz. Its not a club you wont see swing/jazz but the smooth was good. Switchback for 5bucks wasnt to bad. Food looked good but i didnt order any food. Ill go back.

This is a good coffee shop/bar but the really great thing about this place is the live music. Always good bands and open mic nights.

Last night I walked in an there was a $5 cover for no reason...weird vibes..expensive drinks and they "don't make Long Island iced teas" or have regular beers. There were freaks in there and it felt like I was in a dirty circus

Drinks are a little expensive but the atmosphere is pretty funky. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.

By day This is a good place to relax and have coffee read a book and eat a bagel. At night you can see live music and have a good local beer. It's an eccentric place offers up unique experience.

Place was really cool but while we were there they started to notify people that they would need to pay a cover if they stayed after 10, which was really strange because we arrived at 9:30 and thus should not have to pay a cover.. strange, seems unwelcoming

It's definitely not my scene and I only went for the music. Smelled like incense. The hipster dude behind the desk gave absolutely 0% effort into caring about anything. My boyfriend said the coffee was ok. I did enjoy my lemonade though. I've got the feeling the regular crowd is somewhat of a niche thing.

Ces't ca just opened, part of the three establishments under the Radio Bean umbrella. I have only had one sandwich there so far but it was amazing. Definetly going back.

Amazing atmosphere. Love honky Tonk Tuesday and jazz on Sunday. Funky. Fun. And I love a bagel option with my $5 shake!

Good coffee, drinks, snacks and great free, live music every night. My one small criticism is the dynamic of the staff and the regulars. There is definitely this N. Winooski hipster/artsy crowd that works and hangs at the Bean. Good people, for sure, but you get this "what are YOU doing here" aloofness at times and occasionally, the baristas will chat endlessly with their cohort before getting around to getting your coffee. Drink a $5 shake. It is a brilliant elixir. And well worth the $5. Also, the proprietor, Lee is a friendly, eccentric sort of guy who I find really engaging, and I appreciate the regularly rotating local art on the walls and dedication to fair trade beans.

Looking for a hippie? You'll find one here... With hippie music, hippie food, and hippie smells. Come here, get your hippy on... If you're into that sorta thing.

The cold afternoon called for a hot mulled cider (preferably with rum). The girls at Lake Champlain Chocolates recommended this place and I was not disappointed. The Radio Bean might benefit from being off of Church Street - it's a nice respite from that type of setting. And I think it helps the location to attract a wider range of customers - a very ecclectic and interesting array of customers. We were entertained by a little girl dancing in Bollywood style, a dude playing a mandolin, and another guy playing chess by himself. They defintely helped provide the perfect respite from the grind of Church street. The space is pretty small, so I can imagine that tables are at a premium later in the evening. As it was, we grabbed a corner booth, a copy of the NYT, and our spiced ciders. The bartender/barista did not go lightly with the rum, which I totally appreciated. I would have gone for another citrus, spiced, alcohol-filled cider drink. But I would have fallen fast asleep in that sun-drenched booth.

Live music, Uppers(coffee), Downers(alcohol)... Yeah I will be back. Went to this location to see what the hubbub was about. Family and friends have recommend it as a great spot for music and conversation. Well the live music was fun, the people were friendly and talkative and the drinks both the cider and the mulled wine were great. Being new to the town it is always difficult to meet people but I feel I will be back in hopes of some good conversations and good music. Till then Go Eat and enjoy!

If you're looking for a place to drink beer, interesting cocktails and coffee while listening to live music, Radio Bean's got you covered. Yes, the decor is eclectic, but this place is the essence of Burlington - we loved it. The bands that played the night we were there were a bit boring and downbeat, but you can't complain much about live music with no cover. As other yelpers mentioned, the five dollar shake is special - stout, espresso and maple syrup. Your stomach will either love you or hate you.

I love Radio Bean! I love the atmosphere, the staff is very pleasant and their cocktails are amazing!! I specifically adore the bartender Brittany, she has a great energy and is a true mixologist! If you stop in make sure to try the Docksider, it's a rum cocktail with fresh raspberry purée and lemonade! It's one of my favorite cocktails in Burlington!

This has GOT to be the coolest bar in Vermont. Great live music. Fantastic beers. Ultra cool staff. Well worth a visit. As an Englishman, I'd highly recommend it

Amazing vibe, just a little off the beaten path. Good people. Good music. Great food! The kale dish we had was kale magic and the bulgogi w kimchi was on point.

After a chilly Sunday walk on the bike path, my boyfriend and I came to this place to warm up and get some coffee. We were instantly won over by the relaxed gathering of very talented bluegrass musicians getting their jams on (I assume they frequently perform there). We decided to order some food and it was amazing. I got the "Korean" tacos with tofu and my boyfriend got the Cubano - both were delightfully scrumptious. Seems like a real nice neighborhood place. I'd love to come back.

This place has the slowest bartenders in town, hands-down. There's one (tall male with a miserable haircut) that is so slow and painfully inefficient that I turn around and go somewhere else when I see that he's behind the bar. That said, their food and drinks are tasty and priced reasonably-- and they have a ton of live music. I'm in here at least once a week, more often when I have the time.

Very hip, but not too cool to be friendly -- superb food from the place next door... I'd forgotten how nice it was to hang out in a comfortable coffee shop.

Fun place with a nice variety of good music. The food was a very happy surprise. Loved their take on Poutine, using sweet potatoes and some heat to add distinction to this tasty dish. The fish tacos were the best I've had in town!

After a friend put me on to this place, I reluctantly tried the Chai. It was amazing. I went back for more and more. I have not had any like it again. If you can, get yourself some.

Okay coffee. My one star is not for the quality of their fare, rather service. Every time I have gone in and had a specific barista (asian blonde haired glasses) she has been incredibly inpatient. On one occasion I had to pay the last 2 dollars for my coffee in quarters, to which she rolled her eyes and proceeded to lecture how I could've gone to any gas station for change, making it an extremely winded ordeal that was embarrassing. I apologize for describing this person but the attitude is unwarranted and excessive.

As someone who has lived in and around Burlington for the past 8 years of my life, Radio Bean definitely has the reputation of a pretentious hipster run bar. I want to stress it's not a stereotype of people who go there, but people who work there being very unfriendly and arrogant. It's really unfortunate because they have some good live music, drinks, and food. But the amount of terrible times I've had there because the bartender, bouncer, waitress, hostess, etc was a rude, aloof, condescending service person is too many to return to this bar. I will say it is not every single person who works there, but a terrible experience with a different person who works there every time. What gives ?

Love the fact that not only can you get coffee, but drink-drinks in the same location! Great atmosphere. We saw live music and chatted with some fellow patrons who we found to be quite friendly and entertaining... Can't wait to get back here!

The new menu is huge, and a lot of fun. With something that big, you'd think the food would suffer, but it was pretty consistent. I had the cuban, which was pretty tasty. The portion sizes are perfect - not too big, not too small. The space is bigger than it used to, but it still seemed to have the charm it always had. When I think of Burlington, one of the things I'll always remember is a cold sunny weekend afternoon here with a warm beverage and celtic sessions, or a cozy blustery evening with a beer and a live hiphop show (and random people stepping in off the street to free-style on their way home). This place is special. I miss it.

I have never been to Radio Bean during the day, so this review is really for Radio Bean the bar. One of my favorite drinks in town is the 5 Dollar Shake. It's Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout with a shot of espresso and a little bit of maple syrup. It's amazing, especially for dessert and you have the option of making it decaf if you want one late at night :) But what makes Radio Bean one of my favorite Burlington hangouts is that there is always live music in the evenings. They're all small local bands, so it's a little hit-or-miss, but I've heard more good bands than bad here and some were really amazing. In addition, Duino Duende, the restaurant next door is connected to Radio Bean and serves delicious, affordable food until fairly late. All in all, it's a fun bar to spend a night if you don't feel like getting too crazy.

Now, I'm no hipster. I am a West Coast girl (by way of Indiana) who loves to shop and lounge about in the sun. But I am also a vegetarian who loves indie rock, so I guess I somewhat fit in at this eclectic little joint off the beaten path in Burlington (which I loved, and Seventh Generation, if you're listening and if you ever need legal counsel, I AM YOUR GIRL. Got it?!). Anyway, husband and I stopped in here thanks to a NYT article re: 36 hours in Burlington, or something equally cheesy. We were not disappointed. We both had the stout concoction with maple syrup and it tasted like an amazing oatmeal cookie. A rad local two-person act was playing and the crowd made for great people watching. Our server was extremely friendly and had good tips for area restaurants that served local and sustainable food. Loved it!

Live music, great food, good beer selection, top-notch coffee, and a friendly staff. What more could you ask for? Interesting books on the shelves? Check Multiple areas of seating depending on your whim? Check Astounding variety and quality of food? Check

Radio Bean is a neat coffee shop. The $5 shake (beer and espresso if I remember correctly) is a good novelty that I would go back for next time. There aren't a ton of places to plug in a computer, but the place wasn't too crowded. I would imagine that during the school year it's probably pretty packed with students doing homework and listening to random-acoustic-guy perform. People are reviewing food in here which saddens me because when I went I was hungry but there was no menu or posting of food items that I could see. Maybe we went before dinner?

Though it can be a little hit-or-miss, I generally really like the Radio Bean. The food is great, and the drinks are good, though there are plenty of places in town that have better coffee. Most of the staff is friendly and helpful. I went to the Radio Bean for Jazz Night last month and had a great time. The music was great, the food was great, and the drinks were reasonably priced. Unfortunately, the place is a bit small so there was not enough seating. Regardless, we had a good time. During the day, the Radio Bean is a great place to go for a quick lunch. It's always a bit dark, though, so if you want to read or write you'll have to sit up front by the windows. The seating isn't really conducive to laptop use, but you can make it happen.