Rock & Roll Hotel

I saw White Ford Bronco perform. It was my first time at Rock & Roll Hotel. And well, the music venue was ok. Just a small room. And hard to see the stage. The bar tenders I think were trying to be funny but they weren’t. One had a bad joke and I got confused and he made me feel like I was lame for not getting his joke. Another time, the bar tender gave my boyfriend a pen to sign the bill. But it a trick. It was something that looked like a pen.
The 2^nd floor dance room was fun. The rooftop was ok. I was with friends so that made it fun.

I love 9:30 Club but Rock & Roll Hotel is a much more intimate venue. A friend of mine and I saw TSOL here last night and had a blast! No matter where you are on the main concert floor, the sound and views are awesome. Just as amazing are the bartenders and security staff; everyone is friendly and super helpful, making the experience here that much more enjoyble!

Great venue. Saw Local H recently, and loved it – could’ve used ear plugs though. Regardless, great show and awesome venue. Will be coming back.

I recently came for a concert and really enjoyed this venue. My concert was on the main floor, which had plenty of room to move around, televisions at the bar and quick and friendly service. What I really enjoyed, were the additional 2 levels. When the concert area became crowded you can head up to the second floor bar and order and use the restrooms there away from the crowd. There is also an open, roof top deck with a third bar and smoking area if you want to head out for some air with friends. The crowd on the top floor was more rowdy and the space more cramped, but still a welcome escape. I’d definitely come back for another show here.

Intimate music venue in the same vein as Black Cat and the 930 Club, with more to offer than just great music. Shows are held on the first floor, a bar/​dance floor is on the 2^nd floor, and a roof deck is on the 3^rd floor. Rock & Roll Hotel has something for everyone — great live music, dancing, or a more laid back vibe on the 3^rd floor.
The bartenders on the 3^rd floor were great! They did a great job of being personable while also making sure that you were taken care of. I was surprised that they had cans of Hopslam Ale, one of the more harder to find beers in the country. The wings were also surprisingly good. Overall, Rock & Roll Hotel provides several options for a fun scene and is worth checking out.

I was here to see Shearwater and was pleasantly surprised by this charming little venue. First of all, I love the strategic placement of the venue on H street— there are all kinds of amazing restaurants nearby so you don’t have to sacrifice good food for music! Have both!!! Walking in, the oversized mirrors placed along the side add charms to the venue and the illusion of a larger space. Free water at the bar. Music volume was at a perfect level where you don’t have to fear for your eardrums. There is an outlet all the way to the front (left side facing the stage) for your dying electronic devices. Whereas many stated that they were not impressed with how low the stage was, it was a quality that I appreciate. If you’re smart enough to squeeze your way to the front row before it got too crowded, the lead singer is in touching distance & you’re also close enough for some great photography!
To me, this is the perfect venue to enjoy an intimate experience with your favorite band!

I’ve had a bad memory from 2010 at the Rock & Roll Hotel when we bought tickets for Warpaint and after like an hour delay and still no Warpaint, we just left. Fast forward 6 years later, I have to say my previous perception of the venue has changed completely. This time I saw a folk American group called Mt. Moriah (under Merge Records). This North Carolina band led by the redheaded vocalist hit a home run. In fact, the group is better live than on vinyl. For those that don’t know about Rock and Roll Hotel, it’s a three level setup. The ground floor is the main venue, while the second and third floors contain a bar.

i came here a while ago to see joywave and really liked the place! it’s cute and tiny, and i think the size makes the visuals more impactful than lights at a larger venue. there’s water and the upstairs is a fun place to be :)
i do however wish it was closer to a metro stop but there’s not much they can do about that
edit: take the X2 bus or DC streetcar from union station! it’s free at the moment

This place has great potential and I’m sure fun can be had at shows but my husband and I were not impressed. Being in our late 20’s/early 30’s, we felt like we were walking into a dirty frat party on the second floor. The music upstairs was horrible. We didn’t stay for a drink because of the crowd, which seemed like a lot of 18 and up, mostly 18 – 22 without manners or great hygiene tendencies.
I give an extra star for the awesome tattoo and candy machines (the same ones my five year old loves to look at) bc when you’re having a few drinks on date night, it’s entertaining to check this stuff out :)
Lost some credit because we got wrist bands at the door but couldn’t find anyone to tell us where to get tickets for a real show or when the next show started. It seemed as though most of the other patrons were in the same boat as us. Confused about how their main feature are the bands but how the bouncer at the door didn’t know anything about what was going on.

This review is for management, staff, and upstairs bar as we did not make it to downstairs bar.
Was here Saturday Feb. 13. Band was playing downstairs. I thought this was more of a 30 something place, but it seems more of an 18 over place given the atmosphere and overall attitude by staff.
Rude bouncers and filthy surroundings. Band was playing and bouncer gives you wristbands (18 and over?). Didnt make it to the show as manager told us to get tix upstairs. We went upstairs to what appeared to be a 90s fraternity hip hop party in Indiana. Blasting «Biggie Biggie Biggie». No where in sight to get tix.
Its called the Rock n Roll Hotel so I didnt expect anything fancy. I came with a date and ladies (I dont want to gross you out) but my lady said ladie’s bathroom was the filthiest she’s ever seen. I remember her saying something like «There was tape on the toilet seat, urine everywhere, and hair on a hook’? I couldn’t stop laughing as I knew this was bad because we (the guys) were peeing in a metal tub/​trough.
I am not snooty by any means. I expected Rock n Roll hotel to be more of a 30 something place with a cool vibe. The lineup looked cool. It turned out to be more of an 18 over place in Adams Morgan with bouncers barking orders at kids, filthy surroundings, and a young crowd. We didn’t get drinks because dolid not want to risk being infected with the Zika virus.
Review. If you are between 16 to 25 (fake ID from 16 to 18) than this place is for you but do NOT bring a date!
I may go to a show as the lineup is cool, but i have to go in there knowing the rude surroundings and not bring a date. Read the reviews for 2015 and 16. There are too many cool places on H street to waste my time upstairs.
1 star for cool name.
1 star for cool lineup of bands.
0 everything else.

Went to see my son’s band. Cool venue and nice bartenders. Only thing I’d I lost one of my white gold filigree hoop earrings and when you call the number its just a recording and no one answers the phone.

*Nightlife review
Another H street staple. This place is almost always hit or miss for me. There is a rooftop but it is usually dominated by smokers and the view is only okay so I don’t recommend it as a great rooftop bar. The second floor is usually where you can find the action. On a good night you’ll find an eclectic crowd with decent music. The drinks are solid and the prices are okay. The first floor is usually barren and the music selection is usually some sort of EDM/​trap. Your odds of a classic night here is probably around 15:1 which is decent. Worth a stop in.

Great club, great staff, great bartenders, nice security! I really enjoyed it here. Great stage, nice dressing rooms, good food! This place occupies an old Mortuary/​Funeral Parlor from the 1800’s. The liquor storage area is actually where they used to ‘prepare’ bodies! All of this just appeals to my twisted sense of fun so I had a blast being here! It was raining when I was there so I didn’t get to see the rooftop bar. Maybe that’ll happen next trip! Thanks for a great time Rock & Roll Hotel, I’ll see you again!

I’ve been to the rock & roll hotel twice now, both times to see live shows. You won’t get amazing graphics and flashy lighting like you would at larger venues (like the 9:30 club) but you do get an intimate setting and a still stellar live show. Because of how intimate it is, you can go up so close to the stage and feel like you’re at a major concert.
They have three floors, each with a bar. I haven’t eaten there but I hear it’s tasty. The only thing about this place that I don’t really like would be location since they aren’t easily accessible. It’s a three block walk from union station metro. I preferred taking the bus since there’s a stop just across the street from the venue. This could be a blessing though because I feel like most attendees are there because they really want to be. :)

Went to see the Blackheart Burlesque on Friday night and it was a total disaster. My wife and I arrived pretty early, so we got fairly close to the stage… it didn’t matter. My wife, which is short to begin with had absolutely not chance. We were about 15 feet back and I could only see the performers necks and up, and only then if they were near the front of the stage.
Mind you, I’m 6′ tall.
After waiting for an hour for the show to start and paying $ 25 for two drinks, we left 15 minutes into the show. When we left, there were already many furious people standing outside and I can only assume many more bailed as the show went on.
Rock & Roll Hotel should be ashamed to have allowed this show to even take place. The logistics were simple… if your stage is only 18″ off the ground, nobody except the front row will be able to see the performers. That MIGHT be OK with a musical act, as you still get to hear the performance, but it’s completely useless with what’s supposed to be a completely visual show.

A real good intimate venue for a show.
Roof top bar is a blast, outdoors, humid DC heat but the fans are a buzzing and blazing to cool you off. Excellent vibe from the staff and servers and they make a decent burger.
The venue downstairs is a good place for an intimate show. Sound is excellent surprisingly for such a narrow venue, and adds to the better connection with the performer (s).
It is small so if you are going to a popular show get there early for better sightlines.

The music venue is pretty small and tight and so is the stage but it all adds to the intimacy of the show. There’s limited parking on the sides of the street, and because of that, I’d recommend taking a taxi/​Über there (there’s an Autozone private parking lot 2 – 3 blocks to the left but I wouldn’t risk it). Sound system is okay, I have heard nicer ones in other venues. There were a few times where I found the vocals drowned in the blaring loudness of the instruments. The bar is on the left once you walk in the venue doors and there’s a free cold water station there too if you want to cool down!!! Speaking of cold and cool, the venue was hella blasting cold air and every single music venue should strive to be «Rock & Roll Hotel cold».
Merch table is on the second floor on the far left, which mixes with the crowds of people having drinks and dancing up there. This makes it incredibly difficult in finding the table at first glance and even more difficult to go through that sea of people. It’s not an ideal place to have a conversation with the artist/​bandmember in all of the commotion, noise and tightness on the second floor.

HIPSTER TOWN!
I came here with a bunch of my friends to celebrate my birthday. We heard this joint had three levels, which were all great for dancing. We were there on a Saturday night (1130pm) and the second floor was pretty full. I didn’t really dig the 90’s music so we went downstairs where Rexriot and Basscamp were setting up/​getting started. That was more of our scene so we stayed there. Their music was good but there wasn’t much of a crowd. I wish it was a bit more packed but we still had fun otherwise! Next time, I think we’ll head over to Echostage or Park where there is more of a crowd and EDM music.
Overall, pretty chill place but wouldn’t come back.

It’s comforting to see that small music venues haven’t changed any since I was a high school kid dancing to ska and rocking out to punk. Small, crowded, dimly lit, nowhere to sit, and you just have to hope that someone really tall doesn’t stand right in front of you. That’s how music should be experienced.
No concert is complete without a can of beer in hand, and the downstairs bar doesn’t disappoint in this regard, with plenty of solid craft brew choices as well as the requisite PBR that long since ceased to be ironic or hip.
I guess you either come here because one of your favorite bands is playing or you don’t, but as long as you’re not expecting anything glamorous you won’t be disappointed.

This place kinda sucks. Weird crowd (the few times I’ve went, I’ve seen people in their late 40s and 50s late on Saturday nights) and a grimey atmosphere. Music isn’t that great and drinks are nothing to rave about.
I guess it’s one of the better bars for H Street, but that honestly isn’t saying much…