Rochester, New York · opening spring 2027
The Lantern
A coffeehouse in the daytime and a listening room at night, in one room that stays open from one to the other.
East Avenue, in the East End
Eleven in the morning to midnight, six days a week
What it is
From eleven until five it is a coffeehouse and a workroom, with power at every seat, wifi that works, a drip coffee for four-fifty, and nobody asking whether you want anything else. At five the lights come down and the bar opens. Early in the week there is a lounge with a film running, Thursday is an open mic, Friday is live music, and Saturday is a booked act. The music ends around eleven and the doors close at midnight.
The person writing a dissertation chapter at two in the afternoon and the person on a second cocktail at eleven at night are sitting in the same chair, and the room is built so that both of them are comfortable there.
11 AM to 5 PM
Coffee, tea, pastries, soup and sandwiches, and you can stay as long as you like. All ages are welcome in the daytime.
5 PM to midnight
A full bar, light fare from the kitchen, and a small stage set back from the street, with something on most nights of the week.
| Mon–Wed | Lounge, with a film running |
| Thursday | Open mic, basket house |
| Friday | Film at seven, music after |
| Saturday | Booked programming |
| Sunday | Coffeehouse until five; evenings for private bookings |
Founding memberships
Before we open, we will sell a limited number of founding memberships. A founding membership is paid once, up front, and covers one to three years of membership at a lower price than it will cost after opening. Members get a discount on drinks, early access to tickets for the nights that sell out, and their name on the founders' board inside the room.
Nothing is for sale yet, and this page takes no payment. If you want to hear when memberships open, leave your email.
Bookings, bands, questions
Private bookings on Sunday evenings, artists who want a night, and anyone with a question: hello@thelanternroc.com.