Cafe Wha? never disappoints. Every time I step into that legendary basement in Greenwich Village, I leave feeling more alive than when I walked in. The energy, the history, the sound -- it's electric. But what truly takes it over the top is Robin Andre. His stage presence, vocals, and connection with the crowd are next level. When Robin's on the mic, you're not just watching a show -- you're part of it. If you haven't experienced a live set at Cafe Wha? (especially with Robin in the lineup), add it to your NYC bucket list. It's more than music -- it's magic. read more

Cafe Wha? - Food that is good - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Music was great Christian and the security staff were outstanding. However, server didn't deliver the hospitality for the popular spot. Would suggest better customer service. read more

Cafe Wha? - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

This is a negative review sorry. Although I suspect it won't matter, NYC is so starved for live music. They can probably pack in another group of tourists like sardines every night forever. And that's their focus. Filling every single seat until they reach the fire Code max no matter what. They make sure and collect the $20 per person cover charge before you can see inside. Before you can be packed eight deep into a booth that only fits six and possibly with your back to the band, staring at the bathrooms like we were. The two item minimum is strictly enforced and Water counts as a "half". The waitress was friendly and efficient. The guy out front with his Shirley take it or leave attitude should've been a hint. I should have run away. Love the city, hate this place. This town really needs some more live music venues. read more

I used to frequent Cafe Wha. I'm sad to say that Cafe Wha gets two stars: one for the lively and friendly server named Christian, plus one for the honesty of the manager when he admitted that Cafe Wha has changed from presenting a broad mix of dance tunes to the latest soft/indie rock. I will not return and I would cheerfully accept a refund. I found much better, live dance music at The Groove. read more

Came here for a live performance for Beatles covers. The tables are a little bit too close to each other and it's extremely hard to even get in your seat I felt suffocated. There's also a 2 item order minimum per person which I think is too much since we already paid for the performance. I got the peach mocktail and it was too sour and I didn't like it. The cocktails like aperol spritz come in very small glasses as well. The French fries were good and crispy though. read more

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Music amazing. Waiter young / dumb and clueless general manager worst. Security amazing. ive been going to this location since i was a young man. @ 52 i can say i probably wont waste my time returning. End of day they treat u like a number not a client. read more

Would give it zero stars if I could. We arrived early and were ushered to a seat in the back facing away from the stage. Asked our server if we could move and he said no they were booked up. No worries, we thought, we will enjoy our evening. An entitled, disrespectful, and obnoxious group of what seemed like 30 people swarmed the place and insisted that we move so they could sit together, even though we were there well before them. Our waiter told us we HAD to move which was absolutely ridiculous and pushed us further to the back, in the back corner. As for the music, bless their hearts. The band itself is talented but they seem to have limited themselves to the top fifties hits that are suitable for a corporate event or a Zumba class. The type of set list that would have Cafe Wha's past performers rolling in their graves. This place is clearly basking in the glories of its past, hoping that nostalgia will carry them through. Hard to be nostalgic when you're being charged $115 for watery drinks and a rude waiter, unwilling to say no to entitlement. Never again. read more

The cover charge was reasonable on Sunday night, @$10pp. The House Band was great and very talented. Everyone seemed to gave a great time. Highly recommended. read more

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Music was great servers were on it but guess who ruined it? Stringy dark haired dude at the front! You'll know who I'm talking about as soon as you meet him. He was rude and treated my friend so poorly. I arrived with my partner, we paid the cover, and were seated right away, no issues. Plenty of empty seats at our table. My friend arrives, pays a $20 cover, and then they don't let her meet us! They deny her entry after she paid. I went to meet her to settle any confusion, and then they made us both wait like cattle at the front as they let randoms in left and right. Stringy-haired host is saying "they're settling an issue" with the table minimum where we were asking to go, but they didn't give me or my partner the same treatment. Eventually, a sweet staff escorts us to the table with my partner. But then they don't serve my friend! We left. Live music was talented and the energy was fun until the host's power trip became too much. Do NOT recommend. read more

Amazing place for comedy. But please know you are not coming for the food quality. French fries are good but otherwise it's all sub par bar food style Drinks are read more

Very mixed feelings... while the overall show was fantastic and our group had a great time singing and dancing, there are some clear issues with the operations here. Our waitress was fabulous however the hostess was incredibly rude to our group. We were under 2 reservations and arrived early to politely request to sit together, understanding it might not be feasible and the host looked at us with dead eyes and an attitude beyond belief "you'll sit where i want to seat you." She was also incredibly rude to my friend who asked to use the bathroom upon arrival. Our table was practically in antarctica under the AC however when using the bathroom the heat was turned up to a sauna on the far side. Will I return if invited by a friend? Yes. Will I be wary of my experience? Also, yes. read more

Amplifying some points already made by others with some new color. We were interested in a show whose title contained these words if I recall correctly: "Tribute to .... Bob Dylan tour" but the website description was so off-the-wall vague that we decided to make a special trip to Cafe Wha to find out what we could expect. We asked a fellow at the door who was managing admissions for a show that night, and he basically told us to expect music. "Is it a Dylan tribute band?" He said yes. Imagine our surprise when it was some inside-baseball talk by a journalist and some folks who were there, recounting what happened at a 70s Dylan tour. Some lame sprinkles of incompetent song every 30 mins during the 40 mins we were there. Being that everyone was packed in, we got friendly with our surrounding tables and commiserated over this disappointing shared experienced. I talked to the manager but she said her team only handle food and drink. I would need to write to an email. She did offer to comp me if I wanted to stay for the house band following the talk. On returning to my table, I see my husband reviewing the menu. I told him we're not giving these guys another dime. He said we needed to order more stuff to meet their per head minimum. I asked the manager for the bill and she kindly comped my drink since it wasn't booze. The lady sitting next to me also wanted out. Oh, and the icing on the cake was that this experience made me sick, literally. As others have pointed out, we thought we had walked into an artic freezer when we entered the performing space. My hubs asked the waitstaff to raise the temps a bit, and nothing happened. Onsite, I felt a scratch in my throat and later that night, I was down with a cold, and I'm 99% sure it was caused by this Cafe Wha freezer I was encased in ... probably didn't help that one of the speakers on stage professed to having a cold. Stuff spreads in those small enclosed spaces! Do better, Cafe Wha. Make your website helpful and tell people what to expect especially when they have to shell out money for it. Tell your front line staff not to make up sh*t when they don't know what the show contents are. read more

Came here to observe a performance by The tall Black guy & Zo. The place was really small & if you are looking for space away from others this is not for you . There is a 2 order minimum per person . I ordered a fruit punch juice & Nachos. The Nachos I will say was the worst I've had . The vibe overall was good & the performance was amazing . read more

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I didn't have a good experience at Cafe Wha. First of all, it's impossible to reach a live person by phone if you have any questions prior to your visit. If you leave the manager a voicemail he never gets back to you. The place itself is small and cramped. If you need to get up to go to the restroom your neighbors need to move. But the worst part for me is that they put some tables near the stage so there's no dance floor so if you stand there trying to enjoy the band you will block whoever is sitting behind you. Food and drink prices are also ridiculous. You can expect to pay $9.50 for a beer and it's hard to tag the waiters when you need another one. The only nice things I can point out is that there is no dress code so men shorts are ok (it was 80 degrees) and the guy working at the door was friendly and let me go out during the band breaks and come back in. I won't be returning to this venue. There are other bars in the area such as Red Lion which also offer live music with great bands with more room to dance and have fun. read more

Great food (nachos are bomb), and great music. We had a res and they did have us sit outside for 20 min past it, but when we got in they had a table near the stage saved for us and the food/drinks service came quick, so that made up for it. Vibes are 10/10, loved the band so much we followed them to their next gig that night. Most people end up getting up like it's a concert, so just do that early if you're short. read more

Cafe Wha? - Outdoor - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

I had been eagerly looking forward to visiting this legendary spot since our plans to visit NYC for NYE were finalized several months ago. I was not disappointed at all. We were able to witness one of the best house bands we've ever seen; an incredibly versatile and talented collection of musicians. Shout out to management and the waitstaff for making our night special. The top highlight of a great winter trip (even more fun than watching The Ball Drop!). read more

Cafe Wha? - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

This cafe is ok. It's a popular music venue, but unfortunately both the layout and practices are really disappointing. First of all, seating here is terrible. They cram you into small tables with no view of the stage. We were lucky to get a good view, but many others are not lucky. Second, they have no phone service or WiFi down here. It's really disappointing that they don't provide WiFi for patrons, especially knowing that being in a basement kills phone service from all providers. Last, they have a minimum food and drink purchase per person even if you buy a show ticket. They make you purchase 2 items per person, sodas and water not included. Every food item is $12+, and drinks start at $9 and go up to $20. You can easily double what you spent on the concert in just following this, in my opinion, terrible rule the venue sets. I will say that their French fries are awesome and served with a sauce I can only compare to an unsweetened Chick-Gil-a sauce. Overall, this venue could use many improvements and changes to their "rules" to make this a better experience overall. read more

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I used to come to this place every time I come to New York for many years. I finally had a chance to come back last weekend. Extremely disappointing!! The set (12 midnight) has immensely declined in the quality of songs and performance. And the guy who let the people in at the entrance is extremely rude. Uncalled for! Last Saturday 4/26, was my final visit to Café Wha!!! You have lost the true New York magic that I used to love and enjoy at this place. read more

I always have an amazing time when I go there. Graham, the manager, goes out of his way to make sure my wife and I are fully satisfied with the service and the performance. He is an amazing manager. The staff is always friendly. I can't say enough about this place and the people who make it up. I vote this place 10 stars out of 5. read more

Didn't know what I was expecting but left having so much fun, listening and bopping along to such talented musicians! read more

Cafe Wha? - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

If I could give zero stars, I would. We made a reservation at Cafe Wha? thinking we'd actually get in. Silly us. We showed up on time, waited in line for over an hour and a half, only to be told they were at capacity and we couldn't get in. Excuse me? Why even take reservations if you're just going to ignore them? A friend came in from out of town specifically for this place. Total waste of our night--and hers. No communication, no apology, nothing. Just a "too bad." Absolutely ridiculous. If you like wasting your time and being treated like your plans don't matter, this is the place for you. Otherwise, take your money and your night elsewhere. read more

As seems to be the theme in New York City, I loved the look and feel of this place. I was also hyped up by the bouncer for my outfit which made me feel really cool and fresh. But our waitress was not very patient or friendly. Very pushy and frustrated because I couldn't hear over the music. This always makes me feel badly as someone with hearing problems; despite letting her know she was still condescending and rude. This was definitely a disappointment. I love music, I love history, and combining the two was something I was really looking forward to enjoying. Unfortunately the waitress kept making us feel uncomfortable, coming over way more than necessary despite ordering a good amount of food and drinks, so we ended up leaving a bit earlier than we initially planned. I hope our next visit to Cafe Wha? will be better. I just wish my first experience was. Otherwise great drinks, great live music & great hype man. read more

Cafe Wha? - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

OMG, best night club entertainment ever. People are friendly, band audio was great and songs were entertaining. From 90s classics (Creep, Oasis songs, etc) to a soulful woman doing Rhianna and Adele etc I thought I would be there 30 minutes and left 2 hours later with no voice. Totally worth it! Drinks I had were a White Russian and Whiskey Sour - both good. read more

Cafe Wha? - Band playing - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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First things first. The house band rocks and have always put on a great show. Very talented people. Have seen many shows here over the years and this is a staple in NYC for live music. You can catch some terrific tribute bands here covering Bob Marley, Hendrix, Zeppelin, and more. Come on now, Bob Dylan, Springsteen, and Jimi Hendrix hung out here. In 2012 Van Halen did a show here too. In fact, founder Manny Roth was David Lee Roth's Uncle. Now, that's music history! So cool. Grab a beer, sit at a table in the downstairs stage area, and listen to great live tunes. read more

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No Covid vaccination checks, no social distancing, no masking mention in this crowded closed space. Went there this Saturday night and was scared of out my wits...the callousness of this place in dealing with Covid. We left shortly. read more

Cafe Wha? - a band performing on stage - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

So I hadn't been here in over 20 years so when my friend suggested a group hangout here I was taken aback. What could possibly still be appealing to me about this place that I frequented in my 20's? Let me tell you- EVERYTHING! We went as a group of 8 on a Friday night. The house band is just freaking AWESOME! It's COVID so I haven't been out partying with the public in years. I went in with the thought that we'd be in close proximity of other people but at least everyone would be checked for vaccinations‍ Close proximity is an understatement. Everyone started out cool at their tables with drinks & eats (which I'll get to in a minute). But once the band really got going, EVERYONE was up and out their seats. It was a PARTAYYYY! I hadn't danced among strangers like that in what seems like forever. The music and the atmosphere just get like a whole vibe and you couldn't help but get down. I had the Flower Power which had gin & St. Germain and was super yummy and just potent enough for fun times We all shared wings (Buffalo & BBQ); fish tacos (a bit bland); and Poutine It was a really fun evening and the vibes on the streets of Greenwich Village were equally intoxicating read more

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I really wanted to love this place again!! I went with a friend a very long time ago (20 years maybe?) and it was amazing!! We had such a great time with the house band and it had a very urban / eclectic hang out vibe. But, on a recent visit to NYC with my music lover bf, I decided to get us reservations so he could check it out. Well... let's just say the vibe was totally different, not my thing at all. I felt like it has turned into a very touristy hot spot that people probably think you "must do" so everyone and their mama goes and gets jam packed into this tiny bar... We got there fairly early and there were still plenty of seats but they chose to sit us at a booth with a group of 5 people - yes, that is 7 people in one booth, 5 of which were total strangers. AND to make things worse our backs were to the stage so we couldn't even see the band if we wanted to. We asked to move and got some attitude, but I pressed it and the hostess then sat us at a long table with another group, which was fine because we were at the end, but again, one of us had to have our back to the stage. So, to pay $25 per person, and a 2 item minimum each, and one of us not even able to see the show without contorting our body for an hour, we rolled out!! I was just not feeling this place at all. Too many rules, too many touristy people, rude staff (I will NEVER understand bar staff being rude to patrons...we are paying a lot of money to be in your establishment, at least they can be cordial. I'm not even asking for nice, but a hello, smile, and thank you go a long way!!). I am sure the band was great, but needless to say this was not the local music scene vibe I remembered from back in the day, so we left and found another spot on the opposite corner with a great band, chill crowd, seating arranged so everyone could see the stage (even still very tight but they made it work) and none of the fuss! read more

Hell of an evening celebrating Jimis bday. Good band, slow drink service. They kinda pack ass in there. And don't plan on staying late unless you pay 3 seperate covers. read more

Ok, GF and I, our 3rd time here, we enjoyed the overall experience as always. Arrived a little late, around 8:30 for the 9:00 show, about 10 in line in front of us, venue was about 90% full. We were seated to the left of the stage, we lucked out being seated facing the stage. They optimize space, not unlike many places in the city. Be prepared for some jostling within the close quarters as well as a low ceiling as the club is in the basement. No cell service. The show started with a comedian, apologies as I didn't catch his name, was pretty funny, good routine. He did use profanity, not an issue for me personally though, and as I've never heard the bands use it, was somewhat surprised. While the comedian was on he was able to draw and maintain the attention of most of the clientele. However! When the band came on they were well into their 2nd song before the majority of the talking stopped, damn that was annoying. House Band as usual played a great mix of oldies, rock, Motown and more. Top shelf musicians, crowd participation, the "intimate setting" all combine for an electric experience IMHO! Soulman out of Philly performed a set, he's in the James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Motown mold. High energy, charismatic, crowd pleasing. First House Band set the crowd is seated, listening, by Soulman's set there is some dancing in front of the stage. By the last set the vibe is hot, House Band is poppin! People are dancing in the isles, getting it in! Had the usual, Tito's vodka gimlet, very well made! GF went with Tito's Flower Powers which she thoroughly enjoyed. Wait staff very attentive, keep tables clean, many staff on duty to keep things moving smoothly. read more

Wanted to find a place with live music for my time in New York. Found this on Eventbrite and It was worth. The comedy part was alright but the band!! The band was amazing and killed it! They played a mix of oldies and todays hits lol. Their keyboard and bassists were awesome. I didn't get any food but their frozen sangria drink and espresso martini were both really good. It is a small space so get comfortable with your table neighbors :) read more

The Service was awsome and also the band ! The food was very good . We had a great time . read more

Went there to watch a cover band that did Michael Jackson music they were a very good band the seating not so good felt crowd next to people no room but over all good drinks ok a bit sweet got me just glad my partner enjoyed himself read more

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It was amazing from the moment I walked in to the moment I left food drinks, and entertainment on point will definitely visit again

I literally bring everyone to this spot when I'm in Manhattan. The BEST vibes, fanatic drinks (their cosmopolitans are particularly delish), and the music/ musicians are so so good! A repeat spot for me whenever I'm in town. read more

If you get a chance to go please do. This place is thee best. Went tonight for the Michael Jackson tribute and it was good. The singers were good the food was good and the band was good too. The energy was great. If you ever get a chance to check out one of the shows please do read more

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I really wanted to love this place, given its iconic role in music history as a venue where legends like Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan once performed early in their careers. Unfortunately, it feels like those glory days are far behind. The management seems questionable, and the overall experience doesn't do justice to the venue's legacy. Save your time and money and explore one of the many other fantastic spots in the area--you'll thank me later. read more

To say the least I heard about this spot and decided to try it. The food is overpriced and overrated. The wait staff is pleasant, the place is small and cramped. You're literally sitting so close to others it's uncomfortable. The bathroom is so small you barely have room to turn around. You're charge a $20 cover charge and once seated you're told they need to hold your credit card (do not trust this process) or you can pay as you go. 2 drinks, salad and pasta and cover charge $137. The night I went there was a band playing which I would give a C, the food C-. Definitely a do not recommend from me read more

Awesome experience, we loved all of the songs, lots of classic. Great atmosphere, decent food and service. Seating can be improved, very cramped and the front seats is reserved only to owner's friends. read more

The music is great, the band is awesome, the people are amazing, but the place crew/management are hypocrites, they ask you to keep your mask on whenever you move, but they put strange people with you on the same table to eat/dance and share the same table with 8 people (the people are so friendly but the way how the place is managing this...) Then when i was leaving they asked me to put on my mask when i step out of the door, i said why, they said "well, it's not nice for our neighbors to see you stepping out like this" Oh also, at the mid of the show they ask you to pay again of you want to stay for the second part of it. read more

Cafe Wha? - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

If you want to have the best night in NYC Cafe Wha is a must. We have been going there for years and whenever we have guests come in from out of town we always bring them to Cafe Wha. The entertainment is beyond amazing!!!! The staff and servers are all so nice. They have great finger foods and the drinks were great. I suggest to make reservations as they seem to sell out every night. The band is so great that you don't want the night to end!!!! read more