The Ruby Room

Of course… I just find this cool place and it’s dead. According to the New Times the Ruby Room closed on 11÷30÷09:

The Ruby Room is a mid century gem. Basically it’s a dive bar that has maintained a sense of class. Great décor, intimate vibe, friendly attentive staff, and a lot of cool bands. The only problem is the sound system: overly loud with crappy acoustics. This is a big drawback for bar that has become primarily known as a music venue. Nevertheless, definitely worth checking out.

So I came here for Free Muff Monday’s. It’s a comedy night with locals giving 15 minute sets of laughs.
I had never been here before so I was looking forward to checking out a new spot.
First off, I couldn’t find the damn place. I drove around for 30 minutes in a TERRIBLE neighborhood fearing that every time I had to stop at a red light or a stop sign I was going to get car jacked.
I finally got there when I saw that they had a sign on the front of the building, which was facing the wrong way for the one-​way street RR is located on.
I parked my car under a light pole but was actually nervous about leaving it because of all the homeless crack heads milling about in the parking lot looking to bum change or cigarettes.
When I walked inside I was hit with an overwhelming smell of cat piss!
The décor was nice and the drinks were cheap AND it was a free event, but it’s not worth putting my life in danger and I’m never going here again.

Now I am in love with this place, although the first couple times I went to the Ruby Room to hear my friend’s play, it was so loud I thought my ears were going to bleed — so most of us just listened to the bands from outside in the parking lot.
But I’ve been to many shows there in the last few months and now that it’s not so painfully loud it is one of my favorite venues. It has a great central location and there is always a great line-​up of bands and DJ’s. The staff/​owner are awesome and I already have dates in my calendar reserved to go catch some of their upcoming shows.

I’ve only been here once so far, but I’m a fan.
Kinda tricky to get to, but once you’re there, there’s plenty of free parking (which I like).
The bar itself is your typical dive. Nothing too special or bad about it. Friendly staff, and good drinks. A little smelly, but not overwhelmingly so.
What I really liked, was that they were playing Black Sheep on their TV’s. Not the Black Sheep with Chris Farley, but the one set in New Zealand where sheep start attacking, killing and turning people into sheep. It’s hilarious and bloody. Anyway, it was a funny thing to see after consuming a few drinks.
We were there to see one of my favorite San Diego bands, Writer, as well as a local friend D.S. Yancey. Sound was good, and there was plenty of room for standing and sitting.

I want to tell you The Ruby Room is a great place to go hang out and see local acts while swilling down some tasty beverages. I really do, but I can’t.
Positive aspects:
Décor — Probably the strongest suite is the tasteful naked ladies and tables/​bar/​ambience. If I had a club I would probably use very similar themes, something to catch the eye but not distracting after the first glance.
Parking — Never a problem getting a spot and heading inside. Downtown is usually a pain for parking, but not here.
Bartenders — On a personal level (not that I’m friends with any of them) the bartenders are friendly and seem genuinely nice. I’ve never been given attitude, even when I’ve had to return a drink due to it being made incorrectly (asked for rum, got whisky, no big deal).
Negatives:
Sound — The sound system just isn’t here. Either that or part of it is the mixing. I’ve seen a few decent bands play here and sound good, but way more often then not there is some blaring instrument overpowering everything else.
Smell — I’ve been here several times and wanted to immediately leave due to a, ahem, not pleasant odor coming from the restroom area. This has been very early in the night, so I’m not sure what the deal was.
Drinks — I do not expect to be «hooked up» when I go places out and about. That being said, I’ve learned to not order mixed drinks here because I find they are often under poured. I’m not asking for a ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ pour, but I’d like a shot and a half in my captain and coke.
Location — I’m not downrating any stars due to this, but I wanted to mention it’s on a one way street so be prepared to do a little work to get here. You will most likely need to go south past it and then cut across a few streets to arrive. More of an annoyance than anything.

I went here one night during a torrential downpour. Gail force winds, thunder and lightening that sent chills down your spine. The sign was dimly lit and the place was almost empty, the vibe was definitely very David Lynch. Seriously, if Lynch were to open a bar, or shoot one for a movie, this would be it. Owned by the same people who brought you Emerald Lounge, this place is definitely a step up from the Emerald, but still retains a bit of that kitschy feel. Go here if you want to get away from the cookie-​cutter Scottsdale club scene.

My friend warned me that this place was a dive, and (once I found it) discovered upon walking in that he was very right. It’s a tiny room with a bar and a little stage. The night I came, there were there local bands playing and there was a $ 5 cover — not terrible considering I only paid $ 5.50 for a Crown & diet. Bartender was very friendly, but the clientele was not. The only person I talked to was the friend I was meeting. They did have a cool contraption that dispensed water for do-​it-​yourself absinthe shots, and at only $ 8 a shot, that makes this bar almost cool enough to go to on its own. Almost.

Uhm, totally not a place where you can go and relax, unless you’re with a group of friends. There’s just this «run-​down, seedy, unkempt and dangerous» vibe you get when you approach The Ruby Room.
I’m no chicken sh*t. I can deal with dive bars. I like them, actually, but not when the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up. If The Ruby Room were in another location — perhaps in the neighborhood of Modified Arts and Lost Leaf — it would be a sure-​bet.
The décor can feel very vampire-​like, though, with dark, red walls, low lighting and the naked women on the wall, looking down at you. Plus, they now serve absinthe. (As for their beer selection? Meager, at best.)
Again, if you’re going out with friends, this place could be fun. Otherwise, don’t bother.

A couple co-​workers wanted to go see the Minibosses last night and despite being dead tired and not caring much for the Minibosses, I reluctantly decided to tag along and check the place out.
Talk about off the beaten path. I wouldn’t come to this part of town unless seeing one of my crazy clients at the residential facility down the street or to score some rock myself.
But I was pleasantly suprised, what a great little joint! The inside is cozy and dark with soothing red light and painted red walls adorned with saucy pictures of buxom naked women. Immediately you get that the vibe is super laid-​back, with smatterings of people at the tables and at the bar and «roadies» and band members darting in and out. I don’t care much for crowds so I am always very happy to be able to sit at a table, have a drink and watch some music undisturbed. Although I would have rather listened to the DJ than the Minibosses, I liked the intimate feel of the place and was very excited to see there is an 80’s dance night (Sundays?), plus there is a Wells Fargo right across the parking lot for all your ATM needs.
I definitely plan on checking this place out again, a nice little find!

OK so it took a bit to find it. I took Central from my place and then learned that it’s only one way at this end. No biggie. Took 1^st ave or St and got there ok.
Walking into the Ruby Room, you immediately feel at home. The staff at the bar is super-​friendly (and CUTE!) and easy to talk to.
The sound system was pretty good, too. I was there to perform and can’t stand a crappy sound system while trying to make people laugh.
The red walls give it an other-​worldly feel. Romantic, warm, foreign… that’s how I feel there!

This place is still a whisper in the downtown scene, which is both a positive and a negative.
This place is pretty small, so the more people who crowd this place, the worse off the rest of us will be who don’t want to stand around a narrow bar.
Yet, places like these need to thrive and the more who frequent the place the better, obvs.
I really enjoy the deep-​dark basement this place emulates. The bartenders are friendly and quite literally VERY skilled at their craft, being able to understand your drink order over the Krakatoa-​volcanic-​eruption-​like noise level that is the Ruby Room.
I like the cheap drinks and the accessibility to the smoking ‘patio’, which also doubles as the parking lot. Nonetheless, the bouncer here is really friendly and chatty during those sometimes-​lonely smoke breaks.

I positively adore the Ruby Room, and am sad that I haven’t gotten down there more lately. It’s a Jacqui J kinda bar, right down to the ground. Dark, with red lighting and velvet paintings. It’s not right in the middle of my beloved downtown, but close enough that it would be absurd to complain.
The bands though, yikes… that’s where they lost that 5^th star. it’s been terribly hit or miss in my experience. I’ve seen my favorite locals, The Necronauts, and Sonorous (used to?) play there every Wednesday, but I’ve seen some god-​awful music there too. Definitely do your research before you go. They have a myspace page, and most of their bands are linked there too, hopefully with music samples on their page.
Drink prices are decent though, staff is quick and polite, and you just really can’t beat the look and feel of the place.

the ruby room
Great DJs always good music!
music is a bit loud for the setting. but a few drinks and youll be over it
drinks are cheap
bartender is very polite fun girl
everyone dances after 12
wednesday PARTY
sometimes if you go to early its pretty slow. still nice.
i like the paintings
besides the one with the lady and her rocket boobs
whatever
hard to find tho. weird location good tho
i sorta like the fact that its a secret place

I am at home on cold meds. Home, cozy and feeling a bit woozy. Funny, how this makes me thing about Ruby Room. By the second time I went to Ruby Room, I felt like I was at home. Well, my home doesn’t have pictures of naked ladies all over the wall (tastefully done of course). Wouldn’t work at home, but here — Purrrrrfect!
My group has done an event here where we asked the awesome folks at Ruby Room to throw down some old time vintage cocktails. Not only did they do it big time (even using raw egg whites!), but they even did a special vintage drinks menu for every day use! You have to try a Pink Lady. Heaven, I’m telling you. (They hold the raw egg for ya, but still mmm mmm good.) Even the vintage menu is printed on a naked lady picture. Maybe this should be called The Naked Lady?
Well, they can’t do that because in this neighborhood folks would think it was a strip club. And with no windows and a super dark interior that rivals only the original Chez Nous I can see how someone might think that.
Speaking of the neighborhood — this place can be tough to find. I have a friend who circled the place 2x before I had to go outside to flag them down. I got cat calls while I was out there. Speaks much more for the neighborhood guys hanging outside the convenience store than it does for me. But if you’re ever looking for a little confidence boost — walking out here in a short skirt and flagging down a car is always an option. Though other cars may stop too…
Anyhow, the DJ’s seem cool but I’ve never been there later than 10:30 so I’ve never seen a band or gotten too deep into a DJ’s set. I’m lame, I know. But the music played when there aren’t DJ’s and bands is pretty dang cool. WIDE variety. Count Bassie, Blondie, Nouvelle Vague, Paul Simon, Stray Cats, Some funky band I never heard of but plays cool stuff. Actually, there was a lot of that. I asked who several of the artists were, but thanks to those potent Pink Ladies — I don’t remember any of their names.
Service is awesome. Can’t say enough about the awesome bartenders. WOO HOO! [With fist in the air and eyes closed] Love how darned friendly all of the folks who come here seem to be! So so friendly — yet totally chill. Love the red walls. Love the naked girlie pics that are all 70’s ish and velvet looking. Love their awesome array of cocktail goodieness. They make a general non-​drinker like me want to try more and more drinks.
Which brings me back to my woozy current state. (Don’t you love full circle reviews?) Anyhow, Ruby Room rocks. Bring a friend, or make one while you’re there. Or don’t. It’s all up to you. They’re cool like that.

If you didn’t know what you were looking for you could easily miss this place. Its not the kind of place you would just stumble upon. The parking lot is huge and well lit which is in stark contrast to the almost total darkness that greets you when you go inside. Wow. I think its darker in here than at Merc Bar. Its inviting though, just be prepared to be thrust into darkness. The bartender was really nice and very quick and mixed a good strong drink. However, given its location and the fact that I’m not a live music kind of gal I don’t really see myself returning here unless if was for a special event. (In which case it would be a great space). There was nothing about the Ruby Room that would make it a destination in and of itself.

Really great new hangout downtown. Did an awesome job reimagining this place into a dark, seedy, yet very comfortable bar. Although two latinos who sat beside me were really upset to not find Big Al, pool tables, and karaōke night. Oh well, you can’t please everybody.
I went after first friday and it was predictably packed. They had three bands that were extremely loud, but were thankfully also very good. The first band was a mixture of 70s surf music, hardcore, and generator rock that felt very in place for the bar as well as the city (the best band of the night). The other two were a hives rip off band and another surf music band that were also pretty good. But too loud to hold a decent conversation. I would prefer to go there on a night without bands to chill.
The other negatives are no patio and no beer on tap. But the drinks were a good price for a friday (G&T’s for 3.50), well made, and pretty alcoholic.

Friends and I skirted around the First Friday mobs all night and eventually ended up at the Ruby Room. I’d say all the wonderings whether the Ruby Room would pick up have been answered, because tonight it was pretty frickin’ crowded.
When we walked in I saw a band setting up on stage, which was my cue to find a table as far away as possible so we could hear ourselves. Good call on my part, except sitting under a naked lady painting at the opposite end of the joint wasn’t much better. We were still yelling at each other. But it goes with the live music territory, I guess.
I wouldn’t call Ruby Room a dive bar by any means — it’s way too nice to be one. Great dark décor. Really well set-​up bar, apart from having no beers on tap (all bottle). I’d liken the crowd to be the same one that goes to Lost Leaf — urban hipsters and their ilk, some riding in on Vespas, some not. Nothing sketchy, in case folks a little skeeved out about the thought of hanging out south of downtown need any reassurance.
I’d definitely come back… but early enough so friends and I can hang and hear ourselves. Or go strictly to hear a band. But it’s still a nice little add to the neighborhood.
4 stars.

This place is hard to find… did they change their sign yet? I almost think that they shouldn’t. I think the smarmy velevt paintings of naked ladies make this one of the best dive bars of all. The stage is at the long end of teh room, so you can sit at tables a little further away… which is nice when you want to talk in between acts. They have a decent yet stnadard selection of beers.

From the people who brought us The Emerald Lounge … it’s The Ruby Room! What a beautiful place stuck in the middle of nowhere (just south of Downtown)!
I arrived at 9:45pm on Thursday night and the place was completely empty with the only exception being the bartender and DJ …
… at any rate the walls were set with local art work and the place has SO much potential (if you had ever been to The Emerald Lounge you know what I mean) … Fingers crossed that more people catch on to this potentially VERY cool as hangout and live music and art venue!