This Saturday, the corner of Mulberry and Main Street will come alive as Bamboo Café celebrates 50 years. Fifty years of whiskey, laughter, tears, and nights most people can’t remember, Bamboo has become more than just a bar—it’s a Richmond institution, a living time capsule of the city’s shifting culture. It’s the kind of place where generations meet, where longtime regulars who’ve been there since the beginning mix with newcomers just discovering its charm. For many who have spent time in The Fan, Bamboo feels like a second home.
Built in 1916, the building at 1 S. Mulberry St. first served as a confectionary before it transformed into a bar in the mid-1960s. Bamboo Café itself arrived in 1974, and with its pressed tin ceilings, intimate wooden booths, and an old-fashioned bar that’s seen countless stories unfold, it’s been a cornerstone of The Fan life ever since. Its longevity places it in rare company with other local legends like Joe’s Inn and Helen’s. While bars and restaurants often come and go in Richmond, Bamboo Café has managed to keep a consistent, loyal following.
My first time stumbling into Bamboo was during the last gasp of the Main Street Strip, when The Fan still had some edge. Back before Scott’s Addition stole the nightlife crown, and after Shockoe Bottom became a cop-infested wasteland. Back then, around the mid-2000s to early 2010s, The Fan was the center of nightlife for us in Downtown Richmond. “The strip,” as we called it, had everything: Sidewalk Café on the far end, The Border (later Bellytimber), Southern Comfort, Sticky Rice for the sushi-while-wasted crowd, Helen’s, and of course, Bamboo. Avalon was the quintessential dive bar for my team, and with it being right next door to Bamboo, we’d bounce between the two for last call. The beauty of The Fan back then was that you didn’t have to hit every spot in one night. You’d pace yourself—maybe start down at Mojo’s or Bandito’s, swing by Balliceaux on Lombardy, and inevitably wind up at Bamboo to close out the night. Rinse and repeat.
Even 20 years back, Bamboo had the feel of an old soul. You could sense it the moment you stepped inside, especially when you saw the regulars who looked like they’d been planted there for years. These were the folks who could tell you stories about Richmond long before it became “cool”—back when Bamboo was a hippie joint and the cops would break up shows, and you could legally drink at 18 while chain-smoking at the bar. These weren’t things you read about; they were passed down through word of mouth, shared over countless rounds. You weren’t just grabbing a drink, you were tapping into a living piece of Richmond’s history.
Through it all, Bamboo Café has endured, standing strong as the decades rolled by without missing a beat. It’s been a constant fixture in Richmond’s ever-changing drinking scene, the kind of place where people who started coming in their youth are now having beers with their grown kids—and maybe even their grandkids. How many bars can boast that kind of legacy? Not only has it survived, but it’s arguably more popular than ever. Show up after 8 p.m. on a weekend, and good luck finding a spot at the bar. But if you do, you’ll be greeted by familiar faces like Chrissie, Eddie, and Mikey—the bartender-saviors who serve up drinks and have the good sense to cut you off—and a crowd that makes living in The Fan feel like the best decision you’ve ever made.
This Saturday, Bamboo is throwing a block party to mark the big 5-0. Like everything about this place, the celebration came together naturally. Most of the staff are in bands, so it only makes sense that they’ll be performing—expect to see Tiny Lights, Noel Haven, and Piranha Rama. Prabir Mehta, a regular (and if memory serves, the one who first dragged me in for a drink), and his band The Prabir Trio will also be playing. Mulberry Street will be closed off between Main and Cary, and tickets are just $10, with proceeds supporting Richmond Animal Care & Control.
See you out there.
