Rum Boogie Cafe is one of the more atmospheric venues on Beale Street, its walls densely covered with guitars signed by everyone who has ever played there and photographs documenting decades of live music. The decor alone is worth studying for a while. The bands play every night and the caliber is generally high — Rum Boogie has a reputation for booking genuine musicians rather than merely adequate cover acts.
The barbecue ribs are considered one of the better Beale Street food options, which is a low bar in general but the Rum Boogie kitchen clears it convincingly. The bar is well-stocked and the cocktail list leans toward southern classics. It is louder and more packed on weekend nights; weekday evenings offer a more manageable version of the same experience. The cover charge varies depending on who's playing.