Red Lion Lounge

Red Lion Lounge is the definition of what a Jazz club should be and more; it's nostalgic, moody, welcoming, relaxed and refined. The decor reminds you of something in NYC, with the photo lined walls, well appointed bar and red velvet booths. They even have board games and great variety of house special libations and snacks. The house negroni was perfectly light and balanced, and they were generous with the meatballs which were tender and graced with a delicious sauce. The music was on point too; it's like you get this communal experience with everyone indulging in the art of melody and sound. Go solo, go with a group of friends, or go with your special someone; but definitely go and create your own Red Lion experience

This was in the Lions Den part of the Red Lion Lounge. Funky lil speak easy in Blackstone. If you miss the 70s-80s vibe then you’ll love it here. The only thing that could’ve been better is if the bartender and the music played along with the theme.

Great bar with a speakeasy feel. Cozy, and great live jazz combo when we went! They have old-fashioneds on tap(!) which were very good. We had a bowl of nuts which were very tasty, plus some popcorn. Very cool place to hang out with friends!

Atmosphere 5 ⭐️-dope bar with live Jazz Food 5 ⭐️-pickled eggs 🥚 Service 100 ⭐️-staff are awesome Drinks trillion⭐️-old fashions

Great for atmosphere and classic live music. A little bit hidden from view, it's a nice cozy bar lounge with daily priced drinks and ample seating. Good for when trying to slow down from the party-life of the Blackstone district. Would recommend

Red Lion / The Lion's Den is a PERFECT place to host an event. The owner, Chad, goes above and beyond to make sure that everyone is taken care of and has a great time - down to the last detail. He is friendly and makes the experience top notch. I booked for a company happy hour/outing and the entire team reported back the next day how much fun they had and how unique the space was. The den is a hidden gem!

I wish it didn't take me so long to try the Red Lion Lounge. I haven't tried their food, but their mocktails are excellent, their service friendly and professional, the vibe is immaculate and the live music is to die for.

Nice little spot to sit and have drinks. They don't serve actual food, just snacks. Started up jazz nights so give them a look up if you're into that. Good for a date night. We'll be back.

This might be my new favorite bar after nite owl. I absolutely love the vibe. Dark, warm, not too loud, and relaxing. The drinks are great and I could hang here for hours. The only thing it's missing for me is more variety in the snacks department. That's why I like nite owl slightly better. But they do still have a small variety of food options. Would love to come here on the regular! I sat at the bar, but the booths with those red velvet seats look so comfy and cozy.

Been to Red Lion Lounge and it's a great place for drinks. Also don't forget their sister bar Lions Den next door. There is a lot of space and it wasn't crowded. There was also a spot where they showed a movie (no sound). Great spot to drink and chill the drink menu is just the classics, but always good. Would definitely come back.

This little cozy spot is a good vibe, & everything visually appealing. The down side is that the cocktails/drinks don't match the vibe and decor. They aren't creative or even good. However stop in and hopefully they will get better.

Loved the vibe of this place! I've wanted to come for the longest time. We arrived a little before 9 and were able to easily get a cozy booth but it was pretty full by the time we left. The space is much larger than I expected. We had great cocktails- espresso martinis and blantons available too. Everyone in our group had a great time.

I planned on eating at Stirnella next door for dinner, but they were releasing a new fall menu and wouldn't open until later than usual. Fortunately Red Lion Lounge was right around the corner, so I settled into one of the comfy stools at the bar and ordered a Black Manhattan. The bartender seemed a little standoffish until he saw my tattoos, which we got into a conversation about. That's usually a good icebreaker at bars. The cocktail was fantastic, and I love that every bartender here has some sort of seasonal special that they cross-promote for each other. There seemed to be an equal amount of locals and first timers. Great spot for groups. Would love to come back and try more of the drinks. Oh and there seems to be happy hour! Overall cool loungey spot with fascinating artwork and old-timey movies on the screen.

Great place in Blackstone to grab drinks if you're wanting chiller vibes. Their espresso martinis are the best I've had in Omaha. There's also board games available to play with the group. The free popcorn is a nice addition. Definitely a place worth going to whether you're with a group of friends, on a date, or even by yourself!

This is a great little bar. The barkeep was very friendly and the decor very much a speakeasy. The music playing was jazz. The drinks were great. I will be back. One more star if there had been live music.

Great service and wide selection at the Red Lion Lounge. Nice but casual interior and true to its name, it's very red inside. They have some classic and some creative cocktails on the menu. They have a French 75 and also a French 38 (which is vodka instead of gin) on tap. Looks like they have a good happy hour too. M-F 4-7 PM (50% off wells, $1 off taps and domestics).

Great place to get a drink if in town for CWS. Great service too. We will return next time in Omaha.

I am so sad to write this, but Red Lion has lost the brilliant Ben Rowe and is now just a shadow of what it used to be. In September 2021, Ben was still there, the menu was still full of incredible drinks, and the other bartenders were well-trained. On my next visit in December 2021, Ben was gone, the menu had been pared down substantially, and the bartenders had no clue what they were doing. One of the bartenders seemed stoned and told us she was just working there because her boyfriend is the manager. Even though some of Ben's recipes are still on the (very, very sparse) new menu, they're not being executed correctly. The "Gone in 60 Seconds" clearly wasn't made with fat-washed whiskey like it used to be, leaving it definitely lacking that wow factor it was designed to have, and the pecans they serve with it are no longer candied. Our group ordered four drinks and got out of there as fast as we could after taking our first sips and realizing none of these drinks were what they used to be. After we left, everyone agreed that their drinks had been terrible. I'm so sad to say that I can't recommend this bar anymore -- in fact, I have to warn you not to go there.

Great looking garden level bar. Awesome decor and potentially cool vibe, BUT THE INCENSE! What is up with incense?! Non stop incense to the point of a headache and I'll have to leave my clothes in the garage. The bartender claimed the manager makes them burn it and a lot of bars burn it in Blackstone. Sounds like you need a new manager. By the way, we've lived here for a year and not found another bar in Blackstone burning incense. Peace!

This eclectic little bar space has great atmosphere and decor. If you like to sit, sip and play board games there's plenty to choose from in the back corners of the bar. Choose from an equally eclectic array of beer, wine and cocktails. A 2nd Saturday @ the Blackstone district fav.

This was one of my dark horse favorites when I lived in Omaha. I normally hesitate at draft cocktails but their old fashioned delivers. Great ambiance, great cocktails

Casual. Relaxed, and a place to catch up with friends. Drinks and prices are fair, and it is a little off the beaten path for most people. Really great Christmas decorations and service is average for a bar.

I just wanted to update my review because the owner reached out and apologized for our experience and any business owner that takes the time to reach out like that definitely deserves not just a second chance but others bar patrons to come their way! So I look forward to coming back and enjoying our second visit!

This is the perfect bar to chill and meet singles. The staff is fun and courteous, and the drink specials are awesome! I absolutely love the warm throwback ambiance that makes me feel like I'm in a modern version of a 70's single club.

I've been a regular here for a while now. In the past few months, Red Lion assembled a true A-team of bartenders. I got to know them all and came a few times a week to chat, relax, and drink their delicious specialty cocktails. A couple weeks ago though, I walk in excited to try another great cocktail, and they inform me ownership decided to end their cocktail program! The move was effective immediately, and they no longer had a menu. Apparently, the vision going forward for Red Lion is a beer and shot bar. I went over this past Saturday to observe. They were already running out of Busch Light and PBR, had no more limes (???), and were phasing out their table service. So I had people jostling behind me to order as I sat at the bar all night, which is an experience I could've easily gotten at Blackstone Social down the street. I don't know what possessed the owners to axe the heart and soul of this previously chill and refined lounge, but my business is gone once the inevitable exodus of their best people starts. The vibes, music, drinks, and quality of materials are all tanking, and it's sad to see.

Bar with a great atmosphere, amazing staff and awesome drinks! Definitely recommend this place have to check it out for sure a hidden Omaha gem.

The service is exceptional! The staff is super friendly and they take time to connect with you. The ambiance is great too! I will definitely be back. Great staff and service. Thank you for making everyone feel welcome

Stopped in for a drink because of a jazz advertisement. I have heard better music from my kids high school band!

Alex at Red Lion is amazing, great drinks, chill vibes and just an overall low key cocktail lounge.

This is an AMAZING discovery that I had in Omaha! I recently moved here from New York City and Red Lion is certainly a place that meets the classy and upscale standards of New York City lounges! It even reminded me of a high end lounge in Osaka, Japan and to my surprise, they served Japanese gin as well, which is not that common for an American place, even in cities with big Japanese population. Fabulous place, excellent booths and overall, a top notch place! Will be back here regularly!

Red Lion is one of our favorite lounges in Omaha! The drinks are unique and fun, the party dog is a personal favorite. My friends and I love the games available and the ambiance is chill and cool, different from a lot of other places in blackstone. We always say it reminds us of the bar from New Girl, which is a high compliment! Definitely check it out!

The ambiance of Red Lion Lounge is great. The red lights and dimly lit atmosphere transport you to an era that definitely isn't 2021! The location itself is pretty large with lots of space to enjoy time with friends. I ordered the midnight cowboy which is an espresso martini. My friends all ordered the special which was a "bee cool"- essentially a bee's knees with tequila in it. The bee cool was delicious. I enjoyed my espresso martini but I expected a bit more from it. It wasn't served in a martini glass or with any foam, like espresso martinis I have had in the past. It was decent but not the best. Maybe next time I will try a different drink. Overall, the ambiance and service were good. I'll have to explore the menu more to find a drink I like better!

I really enjoyed the environment of this bar. The service, too. It's beautiful inside, and feels good to me. Seating at the bar or in cozy booths or tables at the center. Decor is on point. Cocktails were powerful. Could be a bit fancier, and I could be prettier. We all have our imperfections. I'll be back 'cause I like the feel.

On April 17th, after visiting a nearby restaurant in Blackstone, my boyfriend and I headed to the Red Lion Lounge at the suggestion of the wait staff. They said the vibe would be just our speed and that the drinks were classic and well made. We headed down the street and walked in ahead of two other groups of people. We walked down the steps to the basement bar and were greeted by the guy at the door. I can't really say greeted because he sat in a chair with his arms crossed and didn't say a word. I said "Hello" and he responded with a one word inaudible answer which nobody understood. So I said, "I'm sorry, what did you say?" He then said it again, "Full!" We didn't know if we we had to leave or if we could wait for a table because that is ALL the guy would say. He never once got out of the chair. All 8 people in line walked out of the lounge and said they could do better than a place with an a** of a doorman like that. The drinks might be good. The vibe might be great. I still don't know because the face of the business couldn't be bothered to do his job. This guy is definitely not doing your business any favors.

Travel back in time to an area of red velvet booths, jazz music, and extreme chillness. This place reminded me of old scenes in the movies. Ambiance - I love the ambiance in this bar! It's super laidback and just very easy going. It's a very cool experience. Service - The waitress was a bit brash about things, but was informative about the menu. Food/drinks: - French 75 - With a hint of champagne, this drink was nice, light and bubbly with only a hint of gin. - Gimlet - While this drink was good, it was a bit too strong. - Bees Knees - The lemon and honey syrup balanced out the gin nicely giving it a well rounded taste with a good amount of bitterness. Pricing - Happy hour had some select drinks for a good price. Average prices for cocktails though were $7-8. Overall, I thought this was a really cute area however, they had a limited selection cocktails off their menu, consisting all of gin or whiskey which may not be pleasant if you're not into that harsh alcohol taste. The ambiance was nice though and I would definitely come back for just a chill time.

This retro bar makes you feel like you're stepping into a different time. This place has it all: history, fancy drinks, and cozy atmosphere. I've been here several times and enjoy the entire experience so much that this has become my favorite bar in town!! The cocktails are well made and very reasonably priced. I've loved trying the Bees Knees, Moscow Mule, Dark and Stormy, and the Red Lion. My friend and I tried the Sazerac once and quickly realized we weren't fans of absinthe and bitters. Since I have a sweet tooth, my favorites were the Bees Knees and Red Lion cocktails. These are fancy cocktails that I feel other bars would charge $16 for. One of my favorite elements of this bar is how conversation-friendly it is. The circular table, as well as the cozy ambiance, are very conducive for chatting. When there's live jazz night, it may be difficult to have a conversation in the front area, but this would be easily remedied by grabbing a booth in the back by the phone booth. All in all, this wonderful bar is worth visiting. My sisters and I will be back very soon to enjoy the Sunday $9 bottomless mimosas!

Pretty chill place and I bet it would be great on a busier night. Meet some friends on a Sunday night, (I know it's Omaha with no Husker game that week) but great staff. Bathrooms were very clean, thanks team!

I've been here a few times and really like this place. They don't have a lot of 'unique' cocktails like other bars have but what they do have, they make well. Also, they have a good beer and wine list. The service is always top-notch and friendly. The ambiance is really cool with red velvet chairs and corner booths. The lighting is intimately dimmed and the music matches. Whenever I'm in the Blackstone district, I generally go to the Red Lion Lounge to grab a drink, or two, or three. I will definitely be going back.

The atmosphere is great here. I love the old time feel. We arrived around 8ish on a Saturday. There was plenty of seating and we were assisted pretty quickly. My only complaint is that trying to get the check or the attention of a server after that was a bit of a challenge but I love the drinks and crowd here. It's a good place to go to chat.

Another nice addition to Blackstone. On two visits here, I had two different experiences - booth good! First up, as so many others mention, the decor is straight up late 60s/early 70s without any kitsch. Have fun identifying who're in the black and white photos on the wall, taking a photo in the phone booth (remember those?) or simply stroking the velvet booths like a weirdo. My first time in was solo because I was passing by on way home, didn't want to get there too soon, and had been planning on checking RLL out for some time. It was a Wednesday night. Not too busy, but definitely not empty. I enjoyed a classic cocktail at the bar and soaked in the low key vibe. Night two was the following Friday to meet up with a couple friends. Man, it was packed with after dinner drinkers! We managed to grab a booth in the corner. We had a server, but they were overwhelmed with the onslaught of people filling the place up and weren't so quick on bringing us a second round of drinks. No worries, we just walked up to the bar and ordered (and of course that's when our server came by to check on us, doh). So maybe bring a little patience when it gets crowded. Overall, a super cool, classy spot for drinks. Bonus points for clean bathrooms!

Great vibe; great place! Yet another great addition to the Blackstone District; this time closer to the east side. I've been by this address a zillion times and now a super cool reason to stop on in. Tucked in the basement of the remodeled Colonial Hotel, this place is comfy and hits the spot for a classic cocktail and chill with some classy music. This place was open between 1957 and 1962. It feels like you stepped back to that era complete with a phone booth in the back! See ya there!

RLL is the best thing to happen to the Colonial. I went on the first day soft opening and enjoyed some crafts and cocktails. I dig the vibe and specifically like the far right table in back as my spot. The bar is adorned appropriately and I like the elbow bar opposite of the main. I liked seeing Eric from back in the day (Scriptown) and that made me know the place is going to be OK. Also knowing that Reuben has some stuff to do here lets me know they are in good hands. All in, it is a welcome spot ran by Stirnella folks and further squeezing non Greenslate spots to up their game

Discreet, classy, and unpretentious. This tastefully decorated bar will whisk you back many decades. They offer many classic drinks that are very well executed. The happy hour is simply unbeatable when it comes to cocktails. There is more than enough bar and table seating. The restrooms are clean and very nice looking. Excellent bar all around, please keep it nice and clean.

The Red Lion Lounge is a great place to stop in for a modestly priced craft cocktail. The employees are all great. Simply great. I love that the atmosphere is laid back and casual all while being classy and tastefully retro.

I think we found our new favorite spot for a pre or post-dinner cocktail. The establishment is beautiful and feels very cozy and inviting from the second you step through the door. We were pleasantly surprised by the live Jazz musician who helped set the tone for the lounge type experience. It is sophisticated yet casual. Our server was excellent and helpful in selecting the best cocktail that would match nicely with your preferences. Someone in our party was not drinking alcohol, and they made him a delicious mocktail. We will be back Red Lion well done!

The location and decor are top shelf, but sadly the cocktails are not. We tried five, maybe six, cocktails from the menu and none jumped out as anything special. Mind you, none of them were bad - in fact all of them ranged somewhere between ok and decent. It's just that I had heard the drinks were amazing and unfortunately did not experience that. Having said that, if you're just looking for a great space to hang out in a great district, this place has an excellent vibe.

Drinks are reasonably priced $8-10. We got an Old Fashioned-similar drink and their creme de menthe w Whiskey, both were alright.. felt like the drink could've had a little more creme or menthe flavor to it, possibly crush up the mint leaves for more flavor. The candied nuts were pretty good! They give a decent amount of snack for the price point. Overall the place is alright but just not quite the type of cocktail bar vibe that I usually go for.

My boyfriend and I came here during our time in Omaha, and this place is a hidden gem! When walking in the lounge itself has such a cool vibe to it, and we easily spent 2 hours in here just hanging out. The bartender was so friendly and when we told him that we were visiting Omaha he was very informative about cool things to do while we were there. I skipped out on drinks so I could drive but my boyfriend enjoyed his drink and took advantage of the daily special the lounge was running- which they seem to run deals every day of the week! Overall a great experience, and if you're looking for a good place to indulge in a good drink (or two)... Red Lion Lounge is where you need to be.

I love this place. This is exactly what I always expect but rarely get these days. Had a couple cocktails that were good. Bartender was cool.

The Red Lion Lounge is a great addition to the Blackstone District. Nouveau restaurants and wine bars are nice, but you do need to have a nice lounge as well. This is a 70's themed lounge. Dark red lighting and fusion jazz playing over the speakers. The drink menu mostly offers cocktails from that era too. Not surprisingly, the age group was mostly 20-30 which pretty much sums up the Blackstone district. My wife and I went here after work on a Friday. The lounge was full and we had to sit at a booth in the front. There was a party in the back portion of the lounge and seemingly only one waitress and two bartenders. Needless to say, service was non-existent. I finally walked up to the bar and ordered drinks. The bartender was quite professional and immediately apologized for the lack of service. (Later, he walked among the patrons asking if anyone needed anything.). I didn't drop my rating on this factor as I hope it was an anomaly. There is no happy hour, but one is not needed as the drinks are reasonably priced; only $7-9 for well prepared cocktails. The menu offers drinks from the 70's era, but the bartenders are great and could make any drink you wanted. The appetizers were also somewhat 70's themed with popcorn, chips/onion dip, etc. This area was where I knocked down a star. The appetizers were $6 for a rather small plate. Small enough where you might think they should be free. I would advise to stop anywhere else in Blackstone for a quick bite before going here. And, then enjoy their drinks.

Ok, this place is great, the atmosphere is perfect. I really felt like I was stepping back to the late 60s/early 70s. Everything from the sign outside by the door to the booths seem to fit. The place is downstairs under the colonial hotel apartments, which for some reason seems to make it even better. Good bartenders, attentive service and a good classic cocktail menu were some of the highlights I saw here. The gin gimlet was really good and the prices were fair. Go to this place now!!!

Very cool find in the Blackstone District. Love the retro vibes. The professionalism of the bar staff is superior. Sit back and enjoy some old school jazz, old school black and white photos of celebs and the well-working A/C. :) oh, and the popcorn is delish!

The Red Lion is a sweet evening cocktail stop in Blackstone. Definitely something a little sexy about the dark, velvety, retro vibe. Seems like a place you'd want to get cozy in the southeast corner booth with a view of the whole place to absorb the ambiance. Felt a little transported and like anything could happen. Nice cocktail list and service. A unique feel in the neighborhood. The more I think about it, the more I like it. Looking forward to the next time. Fun!

From the moment you walk in, it's like stepping back in time. Into the era of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and the big crooners of the 1950's and 60's. That relaxed expansive time. Red plush velvet seats, dark leather lounge chairs, the red glow of warm infusive candles. Black and White photos line the walls from earlier times. It's relaxing and cozy. Everything says have a drink, stay awhile. The service is very attentive, they notice and attend to you pretty quickly after you find your spot. The drinks are reasonable and delicious. I love their signature drink The Red Lion as well as the Colonial is another favorite. Our waitress was friendly, helpful and considerate. Also tried the sea salt and truffle popcorn. Amazing and great snack to offset the drinks. It's my new favorite place to have a drink and relax with friends. I will return again and again.

More than 50 years after it closed, the Red Lion Lounge made it's return in 2017. It's a retro style lounge featuring old fashioned cocktails. The lounge itself is located in the basement of The Colonial Hotel Apartments. In it's heyday, the lounge was one of Omaha's premier Jazz spots featuring artists such as Duke Ellington. The revived lounge also features live music every Saturday. During my visit, I enjoyed a spot-on Scofflaw cocktail (known as The Colonial at Red Lion) while taking in the Mad Men-esque vibe. In the background, the stylings of a Saxophone and a Bass Guitar. It made for an enjoyable visit. If you're looking for something a little different in Blackstone, give it a try.

What a hidden gem!! Not sure how it slipped under our radar for so long but this place is a must stop!! Great atmosphere, drinks, and service if they had food it'd be 7 stars! Great place to grab a drink after dinner or before!

Wow, The Red Lion Lounge is a great addition to the BlackStone area. A well decorated lounge that pulls off the relaxing neighborhood lounge vibe. Once your seated you feel like its been your spot for years and just has a comfortable feel.