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Cafe Negril

4.3 (462 reviews)
ModerateBars, Music Venues
Open 7:30 pm - 11:30 PM
Updated 3 weeks ago

Cafe Negril Photos

Business Info

CAFE NEGRIL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Live music
Divey
Casual

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Negril

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Reviews With Photos

Christina V.

Came in around 5 PM on a Friday and instantly caught a great vibe--live music with no cover is always a win. The staff were genuinely friendly and made us feel welcome right away, and the drinks definitely didn't disappoint. The band brought solid energy and sounded great, making it an easy place to kick back and enjoy the evening. Only thing missing? Food options would've made the experience even better. Still, a fun spot for good music, good drinks, and a relaxed Friday night atmosphere.

Reggae band
Tawny V.

Upon walking up and down Frenchmen St. with the girls and realizing we were bit late because most places had filled up, especially the popular spots.. we came across Café Negril where it wasn't so busy, no cover charge and a live reggae band, Higher Heights which was really good. They do require you purchase a drink which is fine. The service was fast and friendly - a lot of people were on the dance floor and the vibe was really fun!

Lizz B.

Great live music and the new cold brew dacquiri is THE BOMB. I couldn't believe it had alcohol in it because it tasted just like a mocha frappe. I will definitely come back here when I'm back in NOLA. It was a ton of fun!

Local music
Maria M.

This spot attracted us with the music and the place was cute. It was pretty crowded but a server still came around to us and we ordered some drinks. I normally wouldn't care how a server is dressed but what caught me off guard was his breath, holy cow, it seems as though they should have a bit more pride in the job. But then again, it's whatever. He just really didn't seem like he wanted to be there which rubbed off on us so we took our drinks to go.

Marie P.

Awesome music, drinks, and service! We stopped in to see Jason Neville Funky Soul Band and were so glad we did. I tried both the cold brew daiquiri and the las vegas colada. Both were absolutely delicious and I was delighted by the color changing cups my drinks came in. If you reuse a cup, you get a dollar off. Woo! In terms of music quality, the band was incredible. We were there early enough for there to be no cover. There was a full band and the music was poppin. It was a nice change of pace from the Spotted Cat, which tends to be more focused on classic jazz (which is also excellent). There was an awesome mix of covers and originals, and I was rockin out the whole time. Also, the bartenders were very cool. We asked permission to sit in the reserved part while it was still empty because the glowing tables and chairs in the elevated area looked awesome. The bartender let us go up there for a little bit and I LOVED the space. Those with reservations arrived within the hour and the space filled up completely. I would absolutely pay for a reservation in the evening on the platform space. There were also reservations for some of the cocktails tables too. Overall, this was one of the highlights of our trip to New Orleans. A definite must-visit for music lovers!

Ginger P.

The frozen drinks here are pretty good. Expensive though! There was no cover to get in. The musicians ended their set very shortly after we walked in, so I recommend you check out the schedule in advance if you don't want that to happen to you. So we didn't stay long. But what we did see was pretty fun.

Band
Nicole P.

Frozen drinks were good, VIP seating area available but was not managed while we were there which was kind of a let down. We believe people were at our table when we got there so we sat at a different table, people kept coming to our table trying to sit.

Poster for Sierra Green and The Giants record release party on 09/28/2024
Rebecca R.

Watching live music while in New Orleans is definitely a must-do and Cafe Negril is the perfect spot to do this! My hubby and I, had so much fun getting to attend the record release party for the Queen of Frenchmen Street - Sierra Green and The Giants that was held at Cafe Negril on Saturday night 09/28/24 (see videos included in this review of the very talented artist & musicians live in action & please excuse any hollerin' that you may hear, just know a good time was definitely had!!) Cafe Negril is a live music venue located on Frenchmen Street (recommend checking out the calendar for the live music lineups scheduled) and while on a mini vacay in NOLA I had it on our itinerary to go to Cafe Negril for some awesome live music and dancing. Since it was a record release party, you had the option to reserve a table online beforehand, which I did and you got to choose your table location (only paid $10 pp - I'm sure the cost varies depending on the event - see pic included in this review of table location I chose). I'm so glad that I reserved a table for us to go sit at between dancing breaks ;). With there being a limited amount of tables inside, any table that was reserved had your name & # of people printed/displayed so your table wouldn't get taken by others. Till next time! Rebecca

Sierra Green and her band

We had a great time watching Sierra Green's band. The waitress was pleasant and efficient. It was helpful to make a reservation in advance.

Tiffany D.

The live music at Cafe Negril was excellent. It has "hole in the wall" vibes, but it was just what I needed! The vocalist was great. The band was talented and fun. The bartenders were nice and we even found a new drink at the bar. I assume they have a cover on many nights, but on this particular night they didn't, which was a nice touch. There are tables and chairs off to the side, an area that appears to be VIP, bar seating, and a standing area in front of the stage. I wish more people were actually dancing on the dance floor.

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3 months ago

Jenny is the greatest bartender ever! She was so friendly and welcoming. We all had a blast!

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Ask the Community - Cafe Negril

Review Highlights - Cafe Negril

My friend and I stumbled upon this bar walking on Frenchmen street and I am SO glad we stopped in for 1.

Mentioned in 57 reviews

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You might also consider

The Spotted Cat Music Club - band getting ready

The Spotted Cat Music Club

4.4(1.1k reviews)
0.0 miMarigny
$$

We were hesitant because there were only a few people sitting at the bar when we walked in. It…read moreturned out that was the band, which meant it was just the two of us girls, so we decided we'd just have a drink and see what happens. It was 2 p.m. afterall, so not a lot of people were out in general. Turns out the band was great! Then people started trickling in and there was a good crowd enjoying the music with us. We had a great time, chatted with other patrons and a few of the band members. Good drinks, prices are on the higher end at ~$15, but still affordable. I had a Pimm's cup which was refreshing, they are served in souvenir to go cups that are really cute. Glad we decided to stay! A great time was had.

Before I start, this is my review based on my experience. I've noticed some people complain about…read morethe music, paying the cover charge, seating or the size of the venue. I'm not here to argue any of those points. I will say this: expecting live musicians to perform for free until you decide whether they're worth paying is ridiculous. The cover is usually only $5...$10 max. If that's a dealbreaker, this probably isn't your place. Stay home and stream Spotify. Now... I have some friends in town, and whenever that happens, a Monday night trip to the Spotted Cat is basically mandatory. I've been coming here for years and years. Yes, it's super touristy now, but it still gives me the warm fuzzies every time I walk through those doors. So I'm presenting the "compliment sandwich" review. Never heard of it? You start with a compliment, slip in some constructive-ish criticism, then end with another compliment. Supposedly people receive feedback better that way. Let's see. First, the music. Outstanding. Chris Christy wasn't what I thought I wanted to hear until I actually heard him. I felt completely transported. Man, can that guy play the guitar. It felt kinda like gypsy music. Then came the Frenchmen Street Allstars. The last time I saw them, they had a different lead singer and, honestly, they kind of felt like a completely different band, aside from the phenomenal drummer. This version did not disappoint. It was a great mix of jazz and New Orleans standards. Both bands were great! **Now a note to management.** Great music isn't enough. The bar should be every bit as memorable as the stage. Forgive me, I didn't get the bartenders' names, so I have to describe them by physical traits. The first bartender, the guy with the mountain of curly hair, was friendly enough and made decent drinks. Later, another bartender with a short haircut took over and made the best drinks of the night. Then there was the bartender with the black and hot pink hair. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. She rarely smiled, her demeanor felt unwelcoming, and it almost came across as hostile. On top of that, the drinks she made were so weak I genuinely wondered if there was any alcohol in them. Seriously. They were that bad. Here's my philosophy: if you're going to be grumpy, aloof, or have some other off-putting trait, you'd better make a mean drink. Years and years ago there was a bartender named Curtis who wasn't exactly sunshine and rainbows, but that man could make a cocktail. I didn't need him to smile because the drink did all the talking. If the drink is mostly soda, though, friendliness becomes a lot more important. Unfriendly and bad bartending is a double whammy. She must be somebody's child or partner because I can't think of any other reason to employ a bad bartender. I hate to belabor the point, but the drinks aren't cheap. Cheap and bad I can take. For another comparison, there's another bartender there, I'm pretty sure her name is Chris. She's been there for years. She's all business. Maybe a little surly. Who am I kidding? A lot surly. But she's a character. More importantly, she makes a great drink. That's the kind of personality that somehow fits the Spotted Cat perfectly. Now let me end with the final piece of "bread" on my compliment sandwich. The doorman deserves his own review. That gravelly-voiced "Welcome to the Spotted Cat!" is part of the experience. Then he absolutely hammers that stamp onto your wrist. Somehow you don't even mind because you know what's waiting on the other side: incredible music, a fun room, and one of the best nights you can have on Frenchmen Street. Just don't let the bartender with the pink and black hair make your drink.

Photos
The Spotted Cat Music Club - High seats by the door

High seats by the door

The Spotted Cat Music Club - Spotted Cat

Spotted Cat

The Spotted Cat Music Club

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Cafe Negril - bars - Updated July 2026

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