Armando’s

Armando’s is simply the best and most relaxed music venue in the Bay Area. Roy gets the best of the best, who love to come and play at his joint. Every type of music from the best blues with Mark Hummel and the Blues Survivors, Kyle Jester, and Annie Sampson, the smooth Brazilian jazz of Ray Oviedo and Sandy Cressman. I forgot Duo gadjo comma husband and wife, Django and Piaf, about as hip as you can be.
I can only say come on out like I do as much as I can. You will not regret it exclamation point

I LOVE THIS PLACE. Roy gets the absolute best acts ever. I have never been here where I wasn’t wowed by the musicianship. I love the homey, laid back atmosphere. It’s like being in a friend’s backyard! I hope it stays forever. Thank you Roy and everyone else who has helped keep this going. I think the lady is Elise

The musicians we saw on the day we went were top notch but I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw that the owner charge the guy that supplies free BBQ Food a cover charge on a day he didn’t bring you free food for your patrons? are you freaking kidding me… Who do you think you are Bill Graham?

I love this place! Nice local wine selection, cold beers and GOOD music. Its a great little gem if you are looking for a sweet intimate venue and some good tunes and cool people. This place is going into the regular rotation for sure! CASH ONLY BAR!

As long as you’ve adjusted your expectations away from a San Francisco music venue, you’ll be satisfied. It’s grungy for suburbia and there’s no air conditioning. No draft beer but the sound system’s passable. Meeting hall folding seats, so don’t plan on being too comfortable.
It’s small town East Bay so the mere fact that someone’s willing to put on music should be worth forgiving the lack of amenities!

This place may be a dive bar but the entertainment is awesome. Enjoy open mic every other Monday. Cheap beer a place you can smoke cigarettes outside. Why complain.
Have allot of blues band there and I love the blues

I love Armando’s. A gem of a find in downtown Martinez. Great music! Also it’s a cool place and you can get a good glass of vino or beer. Cover charge is always reasonable. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Armando’s is great! Intimate setting for jazz, blues, Americana and some country. Wine & beer and soft beverages. Sweet little venue. Up close to the artists. Mostly friendly locals frequent. Check out the bricked backyard garden during intermission. Fun art and décor. Admission amazingly low for the caliber of musicians.

Very good quality performers during Jam night. Jazz performers and jammers were very very good! Professional! Cover charge was democratically priced. Ample seating. Street parking available. Nice staff. Customers were a bit chatty during the performance for some reason. Highly recommended.

Whatta gem in the bay area! I got to enjoy some fantastic bluegrass tonight! I’m so greatful to have a place that’s comfy and inviting with amazingly talented musicians!!! The outdoor garden area is so lovely! So many pretty flowers even in October! The one thing that is absolutely terrible about this place is the sound guy! He is so nasty! I saw him speak very agressively & rudely to many people all night! The owner should find someone more suitable for a place that is meant to be enjoyed!!!

I LOVE ARMANDOS!!! Great atmosphere, amazing variety of talented bands and musicians, awesome people running the place — it just doesn’t get any better than this. It’s a smaller club with 60s-​era posters, guitars hanging everywhere, very funky laid back informal sort of place, really there is nothing like it in this part of the east bay. We have been there 4 or 5 times now, first time we went we checked out the Friday happy hour just to see the place (no cover for the happy hour), we heard an awesome guitar/​sax duo. After having our wine we said yes! lets hang out and hear the band, paid our cover and a very cool rockabilly/​jazzy sort of trio came up – they were great! The older guy who is the proprietor of the club was friendly & came over to our table smiling and said «How are you guys doin?» (after several glasses of wine we were doin great at that point lol). Another nice surprise: we could actually talk to each other while the band played because they weren’t earsplittingly loud! Armandos is a MUST if you want to hear an amazing unusual variety of live music in Contra Costra County (which is pretty dead for live bands unless you like bars with lame rock bands who play wayyyy too loud and make your ears ring for hours afterwards).

I have been here a dozen or so times since finding it a year ago. Roy the proprietor has always been warm and gracious. He has built one of the great live music venues in the east bay but it has not gone to his head. We catch the happy hour and a half on Fridays. Not much room to dance but we do it anyway. Whoever books the acts is doing a great job. Always high caliber. The open mike blues jam on Mondays is more of a crap shoot. The house band is first rate but some of the volunteer performers are embarrassingly bad. Like Jack Benny on the violin. They should limit them to one song instead of three but that’s just me.

What a gem! A quaint venue with some genuine talent, great music that is affordable. Can’t wait until my next visit!

Chris Cain is the man! Armando’s was great, close up and intimate. Beer was cold and the joint was jumping.

An intimate and cool little joint to see live music where you’ll find an eclectic mix of people and music genres. A true gem in the area that’s right near the water and some decent dining. I wish they had an open store front to blow the party out onto the street to allow more movement, but that may not be an option.
Maybe our two visits happened to have an odd crowd. There were some deadly serious people there who didn’t like it when we tried to move about or dance. Kinda buzzkilled the evening, although the music certainly made up for it.
You must try this place and for those complaining about a cover… you’ve gotta be kidding! Where else can you be so close to live music with such local talent? One note (pun intended): This is a cash only venue.

Great place for music. Loved seeing the California Honeydrops and Mark Hummel there on different nights recently. Keep the good music coming.

Let me preface this with the music deserves 5 stars!
$ 15.00 cover? Who actually do you think you are? I want to call you an angry man whose name might be Roy. I only think this by what Katherine D. wrote on her review.
Roy, you really need to try and be a little nicer to people. I would hate for you to get an even worse reputation!

It could be argued that Armando’s is the gem of the Martinez social scene. A small an intimate venue, that houses absolutely stellar musicians, many of which are local touring groups.
The funky décor, vibrantly painted seats, walls, and pillars are all an expression of the real charm that the owner, Roy Jeans, adds to the venue. It is a local favorite amongst lifelong musicians, and a true find for those who have never been.
The cover is usually cheap, and the music is always good. If you are looking for a unique evening out, Armando’s is the spot.
I am from Martinez originally and have traveled extensively (across the U.S. and outside the country too) to see live music, and no other spot quit feels like home the way Armando’s does. I know every time I go, I will be surrounded by good people, that genuinely love community, music, and life! Do yourself a favor, try something new, and venture out to the quaint town of Martinez, for a real dose of hometown, homespun flavor!

The City of Martinez is blessed with an eclectic and talented artistic community and Armando’s is the showcase to much of it. Funky, intimate and comfortable enough that a single woman (like me) can while away a Sunday afternoon in the company of friends.
If you’re a live and local music fan, Armando’s needs to be on your radar!

Great little funky venue to see a very wide variety of musical acts. Blues, Jazz, Folk. A few nights a week they have an open mike night as well. Wine and Beer is served with a pretty decent beer selection. Bottles only no Draught, and I suspect the wine list is less than wonderful but hey. beats having a parched throat.
Usually no problem getting a seat, but with some bands (i.e. The Very Bad Boys) y’all make sure to get there an hour before the show to get a good table. Great vibes, and there are 2 or 3 decent restaurants within walking distance so you only have to park once.