Songbyrd Record Cafe

540 Penn St NE, Washington, DC

★★★★★4.5(1,101 Google reviews)

Crema's Take

Songbyrd is a intimate record cafe and live music venue where you can catch emerging artists like Sydney Sprague and Ganavya in an up-close setting that feels like discovering something special. The vibe is deliberately slow and social—perfect for lingering over thoughtfully made coffee or matcha tea while soaking in the creative energy, with a small but genuinely good food menu (their chicken mole quesadilla is a standout) that accommodates various dietary preferences. It's the kind of place where you'll strike up conversations with fellow music lovers and leave feeling like you've been part of something more than just a coffee run.

What to expect

Slow sitFamily friendlyMatcha & teaMeetingsLight foodLate nightsTraditional drinks

Google Reviews

Paul Nads
★★★★2 months ago

Parking nearby, close to artists, food good (chicken mole quesadilla & fries)

Diana Liao
★★★★★5 months ago

Lovely little live venue! Was perfect for seeing Sydney Sprague. Would love to come back when there's not a show on.

The Porcelain Profiler
★★★★★6 months ago

Interesting bathroom layout. Has 2 individual stalls with plenty of toilet paper. Handwash area is right off the hallway rather than attached to the stalls. Convenient and easy to get tom

Nick W
★★★★★7 months ago

Really intimate venue. Met some lovely people here seeing Ganavya. Food and drink menu is small but has good options for vegans.

Peerless
★★★★★10 months ago

Songbyrd is a lovely intimate venue to see incredible talent! I thoroughly enjoyed the @babatundehiphopera & @joyabravo performance this evening! Depending on the artist, all ages are welcome (check ahead). The sound system is wonderful. It's a wide open space at this venue. There are a few tables but it is better to get there for your show earlier if you want to sit at a table instead of standing. The decor is super cute. Staff is extremely friendly. There's a bar here with a good drink selection. Bartenders were very friendly and got through the huge crowd very well. Drinks were well made. I enjoyed the mezcal. You can order food at the bar. They will give you a buzzer that goes off and lights up to let you know that your food is ready so you can enjoy the show while waiting. I enjoyed the "chorizo" empanada. So flavorful I should have gotten two. There are three bathrooms. One is handicap accessible with wide space and a sink inside. All bathrooms were kept very clean. The venue is in the Union market area. If you can check out a show here, definitely make sure to do so. The experience was amazing!

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