(404) 256-3942

290 Hilderbrand Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30328 33.923 -84.3778

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Price:

$

Last updated 2.15.11

Category:

Restaurants, Nightclubs, Bars & Clubs, Bars & Pubs

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Group Dining, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Traditional American

Bar & Club Type of Music:

Jazz

Bar & Club Special Features:

Live Music

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Cafe 290

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – One half run-down sports bar with billiards and a battered foosball table, one half dingy jazz lounge with some of the best live acts in town: Cafe 290 opened in 1981, and the decor looks like it hasn't been touched since. For the steadfast crowd that frequents this wood-paneled shanty, that's its appeal: unpretentious, friendly, and totally focused on providing top-notch music. – – The Draw – The crowd is racially diverse and most have hit 30 or 40. You'll find lots of couples and very few pickup lines. With live jazz 365 days a year, you never know…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
The famously packed all-star jazz jams on Sundays.
The Extras:
Nominated for Best Place to Hear Jazz for its diverse crowd, unpretentious atmosphere and first-rate jazz on the weekends.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “And the atmosphere is surprisingly pleasant.”
  2. “was looking forward to enjoying the cool jazz and light atmosphere I was so reminiscent of.”
  3. “we loved the jazz and the atmosphere.”
  4. “first went to Cafe 290 in 1997 and had a great meal,enjoyed the ambiance and had a chance to sit in with the live jazz ensamble which are there on sundays.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “Excellant live jazz, good cuisine,and the best cheesecake for a jazz club.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Granted this might be b/c right next to the bar/live music there's the sports bar, pool table, foosball table, and a big screen t.v.”
  2. “Order the wings if you want a bite to eat and a glass of wine and just sit back enjoy the music.”
  3. “If you come with friends who want to chill, the sports bar/ game room is great.”
  4. “we arrived at 12:30am and after a cover charge of $10, we were expected to order an entree or move from the table even though were wanted appetizers and drinks.”
food quality
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “While many Atlanta natives might think the food is expensive, by NYC standards the food actually is great and priced accordingly.”
  2. “Excellant live jazz, good cuisine,and the best cheesecake for a jazz club.”
  3. “went to Cafe 290 looking for some decent food and some good jazz.”
  4. “Order the wings if you want a bite to eat and a glass of wine and just sit back enjoy the music.”
  5. “first went to Cafe 290 in 1997 and had a great meal,enjoyed the ambiance and had a chance to sit in with the live jazz ensamble which are there on sundays.”
  6. “If you want to hear live jazz,have a good meal,and enjoy meeting good people of atlanta,here is your spot.”
overall
50.0% positive
  1. “great place, awful service”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “After perusing so many wonderful establishments and in Atlanta, I remembered a sweet ole' spot and decided to come back on a Sunday night.”
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “This joint was nice, especially since people were acting thier age.”
  2. “If you want to hear live jazz,have a good meal,and enjoy meeting good people of atlanta,here is your spot.”
  3. “great place, awful service”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “My babe and I put on some duds and enjoyed a leisurely ride with the top down to Hilderbrand Rd: Cafe 290 We entered to find a $10 cover, no problem, the entertainment is well worth it.”
  2. “While many Atlanta natives might think the food is expensive, by NYC standards the food actually is great and priced accordingly.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

11/02/10

Music is great, food AND service is really bad...

by vivicg25

Great music, that's your place if you are a jazz fan.

My advice: eat somewhere else and then go there since food and service are really bad.

3 Star Rating: Average

07/19/10

Enjoyed our stay

by laurastanley711

Cafe 290 offers reat music.If you're a jazlover,then this is THE place for you. Good food and vibes,all worth the dollar.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/11/10

Awesome place

by jcordova21

My sister visited me from CA and I was planning to treat her out. We got to this place without any idea about the quality of food that they serve. We were both surprised by the food and service. Definitely a must try

  • Pros: good food
3 Star Rating: Average

07/05/09

great place, awful service

by izlez07

Only 2 waitresses for the entire restaurant who kept messing up the orders. definitely need more staff. Overall ok experience with great music

  • Pros: Great atmosphere, grown and music is awesome
  • Cons: only 2 waitresses for the entire restaurant,
4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/08/09

ITS NOT BEBOP, BUT IT GOT SPIRIT.

by KWLDIII

IT NOT BEBOP JAZZ, BUT I DIG THE SOUNDS. IT HAD THE R&B TEXTURE WITH A TASTE OF SOUL. THE GROUP THAT NIGHT WAS RICH AND TRUE TO THE VERY END. THEY PLAYED AS A UNIT, AND EACH ARTIST HAD SPACE TO TRAVEL WITHIN THE MUSIC, YET THEIR SOUND WAS TIGHT!

THE CLUB SETTING IS MORE OF A JOOK JOINT, A HOLE IN THE WALL, OR A CHICKEN SHACK WITH A TOUCH OF CLASS! REMEMBER, THE SMALLER THE ROOM, THE BIGGER THE PARTY. THESE ARTISTS ARE PLAYING WITH EMOTIONS.

YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR ENCOUNTER AT CAFE 290 IF YOU GET THERE EARLY.

  • Pros: THE SETTING IS GREAT & THE PEOPLE ARE FRIENDLY
  • Cons: NO MOVEMENT ^^ THE SPACE IS LIMITED ^^ COME EARLY ^^

The Details on Cafe 290

Place Categories:

  • great live music
  • loved jazz
  • great jazz band
  • great place
  • true group
  • outstanding professional musicians
  • great meal
  • decent food
  • nice drinks
  • nice plenty
  • best cheesecake
  • big screen tv
  • nice joint
  • awful service
  • great gary
  • order move
  • enjoyed leisurely ride
  • enjoyed ambiance
  • wonderful establishments
  • good people
  • good cuisine
  • good spot
  • great game room
  • surprisingly pleasant light atmosphere
  • order entree
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