Blue Tavern

We just went to Bluesday Tuesday and had a blast! This place is little but packs a lot of charm. The decor is amazing with portraits of blues greats, a cigar box guitar and other memorabilia. The music was great, the staff are really nice and the place has a nice vibe. We missed out on cajun food that night but hope to be back to check that out. They have a small but varied drink offerings so we were each able to find something we were happy with.

Wow, I'm so glad places like this exist. An affordable place for locals, artists and everyone in between to comw hang out and express themselves. Love the open mike nights!

Hidden Away with a Feeling of Home. You have to know it's there, but once you do you want to go back. A welcoming witness to the local art/music scene, it shares without airs, it's like that cool aunt who loves everyone. The menu equals the place, simple and unassuming, yet totally satisfying. Those are the vibes and BB will be returning.

On Friday- March 17th. 2023, my husband and I were excited to seek out the best venue in town to celebrate St. Patty's Day (sans the crazy college crowd), yet with traditional Irish fare, perhaps some green beer and a pleasant/festive atmosphere. We researched quite a few places & decided to meet @ the Blue Tavern after work, as their website listed everything we were looking for, & we had never been there before. My husband arrived first, he went inside and read the daily specials to me via telephone, as I was finishing up one last task at work. Thankfully, my office was only (5) minutes away & I quickly ventured to meet my husband for what I was hoping would be a lovely evening. Unfortunately, in the (5) minutes it took me to arrive right after work @ approximately 5:30PM, the specials were all gone, and staff hadn't taken a moment to update the small whiteboard over the bar area to indicate the few remaining items left on the menu! We decided to stay anyway, as there was an awesome traditional Irish band playing traditional gaelic music & the place seemed most quaint. The bartender, seemed very aloof, and not personable or welcoming at all! She went out of her way (not) to make eye contact with us, or most patrons for that matter and was very curt with everyone's inquiries. Despite her rough demeanor, we were already there and hungry and decided on the St. Valance St. soup and a simple grilled ham & cheese on rye. The soup was utter perfection, as was the sammie, & we promptly thanked the cook (when he took a break from the kitchen), for the delicacies we had thoroughly enjoyed! Unfortunately, for the first time in 30+years of celebrating this joyous holiday of our people/homeland, there was no green beer, corned beef w/cabbage & potatoes, no Irish stew, soda bread or Shepard's pie to be had, until we celebrated a "do over" at home the next day, and we won't soon return to the Tavern unless the bartender is gone, as she seemed green, she was a terrible representation of what a "cozy Irish pub" should be, nor does she have any business in the service industry, as she was incapable of smiling or being friendly w/anyone, or offer any semblance of genuine customer service! Infact, she was down right rude & made our experience quite uncomfortable & regrettable!

Awesome local music venue. Unique bar/pub atmosphere. Great friendly staff and ownership red beans and rice i-)

What a beautiful place. I felt like I was lost in the energies here. I felt both uplifted and soothed here, as if moments flowed into one another. Glad to have stayed here for a spell.

I had been looking for a Jazz spot when I found the Blue Tavern. And while it's a nice place, I came away slightly disappointed. First off, the service was excellent. The bartender served as both drink maker and waitress. Attentive, friendly and personable. Even the band that night was very friendly and willing to talk during their intermission between songs. This part of my experience was very pleasurable and IMO makes this a nice location as a watering hole. Now for the bad. The restaurant is extremely small. Which makes for a great environment for intimacy. But leaves a lot to be desired for enough space to move, dance or not feel claustrophobic. Furthermore, the drink and food selection was a little limited. While there was a nice variety of beers and spirits (and even wine) to be had, nothing really stuck out as a plus to drink. Also, if you have a taste for any food aside from salads and sandwiches, look elsewhere. While it's understandable that such a small venue would only offer such a limited selection, it leaves few options to get excited about. Lastly was the music. While it was very early during my visit, I was looking for a nice, smooth jazz band to enjoy (considering Google recommended it as such). Yet I was met with a Folksy, Country, 2 man offering. Again they were nice and played well. But that was NOT my desired music fair and kind of let me down. All in all, if you are looking for a cool, pre party watering hole, or just a nice "hang out" spot to unwind alone or gather with maybe a couple of friends over drinks, Blue Tavern is the spot for you. However, if you're looking for a place for a romantic date, or a music selection that goes beyond the Southern Niche of country music; you're better off looking elsewhere.

Great place to listen to all kinds of live music and enjoy a tidy menu of yummy things.

Wow, this place is a must see best open mic night I have ever been too! Every thing about this place is cool. Worm environment with a great atmosphere!!

Mixed reaction to this place. I agree with a poster here that it is really weird to be told to be quiet in a bar. This is a place of social gathering, not a church or a concert hall. This weekend, a group of eight to ten came in to a nearly empty bar and were told to stop talking because the entertainment was performing. (Aside from the fact that they quadrupled the business in the place!) Hey, the food is simple and good and it's way casual, but to be chastised for patronizing a business is really not a good business model.

The food was amazing, the price is amazing , the music , the service was excellent and I'm so happy I'm here. This is a must go to place!!

This is a sweet spot, ripe with a variety of musical talents and some multi-media artist also. The space is intimate, the atmosphere is comfortable and the barkeeps are friendly. This is a great spot for an evening out or a gathering with friends after work. This little blue tavern is a local gem.

I can't believe Blue Tavern has been around for almost 3 years and I'm just now checking it out! This used to be the Speakeasy and I had no idea a new business moved in. Blue Tavern resembles the old bar with more tables and chairs for seating, which was definitely needed. It's still very small so be prepared to bump a few elbows. I'm sure it's easier to grab a seat when there isn't live music though. We saw Longineu Parsons play and wow, it was a packed house with incredible music. The bar did a fine job keeping up with the crowd although they did run out of gumbo quickly! It's cool that they have a small menu of food: gumbo, red rice & beans, tomato soup, grilled cheese, Cuban, etc. The bar serves wine and beer only. The craft beer selection is small but prices aren't too bad. Overall, a fun watering hole with some great live music! Follow the Facebook page to see their calendar of events.

Customer service at this place is a zero unless you just so happen to be white and 50+. Im tired of coming here with my professional colleges who are attorneys to watch our boss play with her band and because I like to laugh, and have a good time I'm told to be quiet. You may not know who I am yet but trust me I'm going to make my presence very known to this establishment and the owner. The people who run this place are rude. I don't care who's playing in what band if I want to laugh I don't need your permission. Getting the word out about this place and me and my colleagues won't be back.

The owner works very hard to create one of the best venues for music in town. Food is fantastic and the service is impeccable. A very welcoming place and a gem in the Tallahassee community.

Been coming here for 3 years now. Good variety of mainly good acoustic music and good music. Always a welcoming place.

Super casual, neighborhood bar with live music, a few food options, and great drink prices. We hung out for 2 hours, listened to some traditional Irish folk music, had 4 beers between us, and barely spent $25. And how often do you see the bartender go play the piano on a song to join the jam session?

I hate to bring race into it, but literally was not waited on until a black bar tender arrived. Also if you don't sit at the bar don't expect to be served. I came in on a Friday at 6:30pm. I came for the live band, but I don't think I'll return. Establishment is a hole in the wall.

This small tavern has excellent food and great service. This music was the best. Started with blues from Nee Orleans then bluegrass. Parking is very tight but I was told you can park across the street after hours.

Lots has changed in the year and a half since this cozy hole in the wall bar opened. There's hot food every night, ranging from Cuban sandwiches (excellent) to jambalaya (straight out of New Orleans). Four beers on tap feature three locals and an easy drinker and change with the seasons. There are craft local beers available in cans, wine, and champagne. The real gem is the music selection. Blues on Monday nights is consistently wonderful. People come for the music, so the crowd is relaxed and quiet. Other weekday nights are a regular rotation of jazz, blues, choro, open mics, and storytelling. Weekends range from the lively old time sound of the Flathead Stringband (dancing!) to the kickass sound of Ben Prestige's one-man blue's band. Regulars welcome newcomers with open arms, everyone happy to share a musical community. Hands down my favorite place for a weeknight chill spot.

A small but centrally located watering hole that appears to showcase Blues music and Blues performers. I came for "silent film" night when Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton were both featured. Both films were accompanied by a live pianist and a snare drum player playing a musical score that followed the action. The piano and drum really created an authentic feel which transported oneself back 100 years or so. The audience swooned, laughed and applauded throughout the evening. There was a $2 cover which was very reasonable. The bartenders were courteous and friendly. There were light bites and of course libations available for purchase. I loved the close-quarters intimate vibe the place generated. I will keep my eye out for future events like live Blues performances to make my eventual return.

This is a local music venue that features a very wide variety of talented musicians, almost every night of the week. The food menu is limited but tasty. You can get beer, wine, coffee, tea, cookies, etc. it's cozy and has neat art for sale. There really is no place like it in town. It's the kind of place you don't really want to post a review of because you don't want too many people to know about it ; )

This awesome place is unembarrassed about being a hole in the wall. Unbelievable music experience every time. Food is amazing - menu and availability changes. You can't go wrong with whatever's being served. Service is super friendly and great but staff is limited. Step up to the bar to get what you need.

Just stopped in Blue Tavern for a little Blues to wrap up our Saturday night and wow, they did not disappoint!!!Blue Tavern is perfect to sit down, grab a drink, and embrace the magic of live music. The musicians are lovely and full of talent and the customer service is great! We were there about 2 hours and left feeling part of a little family! Highly recommend!!!

I just started coming to the Blue Tavern a few months ago. I love the local pub atmosphere and the amazing local musical talent. If you like good music, friendly neighbors and fellow patrons along with a quick bite to eat, this is your place. Taking all my friends.

I stopped in today and ordered the ham and Swiss cheese on rye. What a tasty sandwich! I would definitely go back for another.

Good music venue. Owners keep the loud talk down to a level where you can enjoy the music! No food service, but they keep menus for local deliveries so you can order out. Small wine and beer selection, no hard stuff. Really enjoyed it.

A wonderful place to hear acoustic music six nights a week. There is always something interesting going on, always a room filled with friendly music-lovers, and now they have food!

The best place in Tally in terms of combination of music & drinks :)