Frequently Asked Questions

We are delighted to provide dynamic, 5-camera live streams at caffelena.tv, where you can watch nearly all of our headline concerts live. We also stream the featured readers for Poetry and Storytelling nights. Streaming tickets are available alongside in-person tickets on each show’s event page. Streaming costs $5 per show, or $10 for a monthly subscription which gives you unlimited live viewing & access for two weeks after the show. Subscribers can also access a select playlist of extraordinary past performances, and audio-only playlists.

You can purchase tickets from our online vendor, Eventbrite, through our events page. Expect to share a table with other visitors. Reservations are not available for pay-at-the-door events, such as Open Mic nights. If you are using a complimentary pass, you may hold your seats by calling our business office 12-5PM Monday through Friday at 518-583-0022 or email [email protected].

We encourage you to buy your tickets as soon as you find out about the concert, even weeks in advance. Available tickets are sold until two hours before showtime, or until the show sells out. Any remaining tickets will be sold at the door on a first-come, first-served basis for an extra $2. We announce sold out shows on our website, so check ahead to avoid disappointment. If the show is not marked Sold Out two hours ahead of showtime, there will be some tickets available when doors open a 1/2 hour before showtime.

Please see our menu. Be sure to try our famous Chocolate Chip Cookies, baked fresh for every show since 1960! We offer organic coffee, teas, specialty iced drinks, wine, regional craft beer and hard cider, homestyle desserts baked on the premises, and savory fare appropriate for a light dinner or snack. We regularly offer gluten-free and vegan options. Food and drink orders are taken before the show and during intermission only, so please arrive early if you’d like to order before the concert starts. Late-arrivals will have to wait until intermission for service so as to preserve the listening experience for everyone.

Our venue is fully handicapped accessible for audience and performers.  If you will be using a mobility assistance device and would like to ensure aisle seating, please call our business office (518-583-0022) at least three hours before showtime so we can reserve your spot.

We encourage you to bring your children IF they are able to remain quiet and seated throughout the performance. Advance tickets to all concerts are half price for students and children.  Our Student Rush Program allows students with ID to buy remaining tickets at showtime for $5. Our Little Folks Series offers free matinees for children and their families. Most shows are appropriate for all ages. If you have questions about the suitability of a particular show, please write to [email protected].

We do not currently offer a discount to seniors, but we do offer free admission to students for Monday Open Mic & all mid-week open mics and jams. For headline concerts we offer $5 Student Rush seats to full-time students for $5 starting at show time. You must present a valid student ID to receive this discount, or be high school age or younger.

You must be dressed. What you wear is entirely up to you. Layers are a good choice as the room can heat up when the house is full. Soft shoes work well if you need to sneak out for a break during the show. Our atmosphere is casual and neighborly. It’s a rare combination of informality and deep respect for the music that makes Caffè Lena stand out as a venue.

See our Directions page. We’re located on the second floor at 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY. Enter through the courtyard between Solevo Kitchen restaurant and Sweet Mimi’s Cafe. An elevator is available just beyond the staircase on the first floor.

Caffè Lena is open in the evenings for a wide variety of performances, jams, open mics and more (see our performance schedule for complete listings), and during the day for jams and classes. Ticketed concerts have full food service, while most pay-at-the-door at drop-in events have a self-serve coffee and cookies. The on-site business office can be reached between Noon and 5 PM, Monday through Friday, at 518-583-0022.

For nearly two centuries Saratoga Springs has been a popular year ’round tourist destination. Discover Saratoga offers a comprehensive hospitality and activities guide for visitors. If you are coming in late July or during August, be aware that our world-famous horse racing track will be open and you will need to plan well in advance to secure in-town accommodations.

Our favorite places to stay overnight:

Our hotel partners are Hilton Garden Inn and Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge. These are affordable options. To experience Saratoga’s Victorian luxury, go-to spots in the neighborhood are The Adelphi, Saratoga Arms, Union Gables Inn, and Batchellor Mansion Inn.

Restaurants right on our block include:

Sushi Thai Garden – Japanese and Thai cuisine right across the street from Caffè Lena. Many options for vegan and gluten-free diners. 

Hattie’s – A Saratoga landmark located on the first floor of our building. Hattie’s has offered Southern and Louisiana-style cooking since 1938. 

Solevo Kitchen & Social Club – Facing onto our courtyard, Solevo serves old world Italian cuisine in a festive, retro 1950s atmosphere.

Herbie’s Burgers – Looking for a quick, casual bite? Herbie’s is a Capital District chain offering grass-fed/grass-finished beef smash burgers, fries, shakes, chicken sandwiches–and indulgent vegan versions of everything on the menu.For a drink or bite after the show, cross the street to Familiar Creature. Wine, cocktails, light and hearty fare.

Yes! Back in the ’60s, when Lena and Bill Spencer first opened their doors, a coffeehouse wasn’t a coffeeshop. It was a place for folk music, poetry and deep conversation. That’s the tradition we have maintained for more than 60 years. Bill was a sculptor and Lena was an actress. Bill left in 1962, and Lena went on to create a legend. Her remarkable roster of artists included Skip James, Mississippi John Hurt, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie, Don McLean, Nanci Griffith, Dave Van Ronk, Odetta, Rev. Gary Davis, Utah Phillips, David Bromberg, John Hartford, Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Venuti, and hundreds upon hundreds of others. Check out this (nearly) complete list of our shows dating all the way back to opening night.

Thanks for asking! Visit our Get Involved page to learn about ways you can help Caffe Lena carry on its mission.