Locals will tell you to come to the Faubourg Marigny instead of the overhyped Bourbon Street to…read morehear jazz. On a previous trip we had seen an evening show at Snug Harbor and wanted to experience something else. We had read good things about the Spotted Cat and their sets run all afternoon. We were a little confused about price because one of our guidebooks said there is no cover but you're supposed to order drinks. There was a doorman who charged us something like $5 each (still cheap!) and we ordered beer and a N/A drink at the bar and listened to a great jazz group playing old-time jazz. Interior is tiny and you're pretty close to the performers. We were standing at first but eventually found some seats as people left. There is even a back courtyard if you want to be outside, although I don't know if you can hear the music or not. We bought a CD from the band and enjoyed it when we got back home. All in all, a great New Orleans experience.

Fun little spot on the Frenchmen…read more On a slow night they were the only spot asking for cover but this was the first spot we stopped at so we had no idea if this was still a norm, but walking around more, we saw spots that were free. The vibe is divey with some tables and the stage with musicians is near the front. The music was great and musicians very talented. Drinks were fine and came out quickly. Overall had a nice time enjoying the music!

All I can say is... WOWWWW!! IFYKYK. Went here last month for a friend's birthday trip, and was…read moretold by a friend that used to live in NOLA, that this was a must-see. So glad we had an opportunity to reserve tickets (highly recommend you do) for this intimate musical experience. It highlights the incredible talent, creativity, passion and FUN these artists have for jazz and their instruments. Feeding off each other's energy and really had you moving in your seat. Front seats are WORTH the money!! Each artist got to highlight a song of their choosing and each one ATE! They left no crumbs. I must have been a smiling fool in the 2nd row seats, but music, personally, is the best way to get through me. Years in music myself, I understand the dedication and commitment it takes. You FEEL that here when they are on stage performing. Jazz and its spontaneity and history is the cornerstone to Preservation Hall. I LOVE that there is no recording/picture taking allowed (unless the artists strictly tell you otherwise). It helps keep their art intact but helps immerse yourselves with them into their craft. Living in the moment. The last song they kindly let us record/take pictures and I will treasure them until I can come back. Side note: that trumpeter (I believe his name was Will?) has a VOICE as smooth as velvet and I was mesmerized. Video shows a brief moment of the night.

I was lucky enough to have visited Preservation Hall twenty eight years ago so I knew I had to come…read moreback since we'd be on vacation in New Orleans the first week of May. We made our reservations two weeks prior to our visit, since I believe that's the earliest you are able to. We were in line not long before they opened the doors. We had purchased front row seats and that was a wonderful treat! Being in that intimate setting to see and hear the incredible music performed is such a magical experience. I am thrilled I was able to share it with my fiancé who loved every minute of it!

Well if there is a world famous musical institution in New Orleans, this is the place. Really great…read moretalent on display here and the place just oozes history, if the wall could talk as they say. Two big bars one upstairs and one down. Downstairs is the dance floor, and often folks are rocking it out, upstairs a mezzanine with a railing you can lean on to see the shows and also upstairs are some benches to sit when you feel you need to get off your feet. The whole place is a pretty intimate venue for hearing some of NOLA best. If you have tickets be sure to get there early for a good spot!

Only in New Orleans can you checkout live music at 7:30am ! The city turns up for Mardi Gras and…read moreI'm fortunate to catch some of that 'Who Dat'. This is a world famous live music venue in New Orleans and a great place to catch that local flavor. Drinks were pouring early with various wines, beers and non-alcoholic options available. I hadn't been here in quite a while and needed to get a new t-shirt at the merch counter. Be sure to bring your dancing shoes !

We were looking for a place to grab a cocktail before out dinner reservation elsewhere and we…read morestopped in here. Getting here right after they opened for the evening, before the live jazz started, we were able to chat with the staff (which we love to do) and they were very engaging and chatty. I also noticed they do a proper absinth service here and they offered one of the largest Absinth menus I've ever seen, so I had to try something interesting and different and went with the Texas made Opal Absinthe. Before selecting it, I asked the young lady who was handling the bar and she gave me her description, which I have to say was spot-on to what I ended up drinking. Another drink we got was great as well, and made with fresh juices. The vibe and venue is great here... I love jazz and I would love to return sometime to listen to the live jazz while enjoying their amazing adult beverages!

Heard this is the best jazz bar in town, so we decided to enjoy our first drink here in town…read more I got both the Absinthe red and green, which is very strong and unique flavor that I never had before. Both bands performed that night were talented, lightened our first night in town.

What's not to love about this historic bargeboard bar? Open 24 hours a day, this small but classic…read moredive is split in two with pool tables in front and live brass music in the back. The kitchen puts out some delicious food (the loaded chili fries are a must order), the drinks are cold and priced fairly, the people are varied and full of character, the bartenders are energetic and when as the last time you saw a cigarette vending machine? We love frequenting Le Bon Temps Roule.

We saw The Soul Rebels play a fantastic set here. The drinks were solid and the music pumping. I'll…read morebe recommending Le Bon Temps Roule to everyone - especially if The Soul Rebels are playing! The $20 cover was worth it.

Last time I stepped into this building it was the famed One Eye Jacks. So to try to picture this…read morevenue as something else was hard to do. But having it now as a theater is actually really cool. The open mic of hell is a very cool local comedian night, where they have the comics give their standup with a twist, which is chosen by the panel. They had a awesome DJ as well, and the acoustics in the building are fantastic. It's still a stunning building with a really cool bar as you walk in the door. I'd love to check out more events at the Toulouse theater, definitely a cool spot! Last time I stepped into this building it was the famed One Eye Jacks. So to try to picture this venue as something else was hard to do. But having it now as a theater is actually really cool. The open mic was hell is a very cool local comedian night, where they have the comics give their standup with a twist, which is chosen by the panel. They had a awesome DJ as well, and the acoustics in the building are fantastic. It's still a stunning building with a really cool bar as you walk in the door. I'd love to check out more events at the Toulouse theater, definitely a cool spot

We checked out a concert at the Toulouse Theatre and decided to splurge on VIP tickets--because…read morehey, it's Jazz Fest season! Unfortunately, the VIP experience was underwhelming, to say the least. No seating, no added perks--just access to a "private" bar that wasn't much different from the general one. So here's a little tip from me to you: skip the VIP at this venue. It's not worth the upgrade--save your money and thank me later.

This dive is a great music venue. $3 High Life's and laid…read moreback. Great back patio during sets.

Wandered in almost by accident as we had to wait for a table at Jacques Imo's. The band had not…read morestarted its set yet so we just grabbed a beer and chatted with a very friendly bartender. We came back later and caught the second half of the set; it was $20 cover for the whole thing and $10 for the second half, though felt like if you were there before the band maybe the cover didn't apply. The music was great and the dive bar atmosphere really fed into the mood. You could also tell the bar had its crowd of regulars, and everybody was really into the music, which was great. I might have otherwise given it 4 stars because it felt slightly uncomfortable in terms of seating for the music, but the music, atmosphere, and bartender were so great it was a 5-star experience for my NoLa tourist self.

BMC is our goto spot for local live music. Almost every time a good band is playing, usually rock…read moreor blues covers. But they usually have a high energy band on stage.but sometimes the band play originals. But most of the time you can have a good time and reasonable drinks. They aren't so expensive, if it isn't you kinda a feel just walk on down the road. We have a many a fun nights here over 15 years.

Fantastic bar and music venue. No cover charge- able to get drinks easily. Seats and dancing space…read moreavailable!

This is a Chain and with chains you get more of a theme, less local feel. However, they offer some…read morelocal favorites. Live music, lots of additional shows in the hall- an d great names you can see. Service was great- she was friendly and attentive Could not complain about the food. The burger was a nice break from all the creole style food in the area and the shrimp and cornbread was really good. The oysters however, were the smallest I had the entire trip and after 11 days, I ate a lot of oysters. For oysters, try another local place until HOB can compete.

The first thing I would say is management needs to monitor VIP seating better so people just don't…read moresit down without paying and block the people behind them. It happens every time I go there. Is the high top chairs on the upper floor? House Of blues never disappoints on the music has great sound and it wasn't that crowded tonight probably because it was jazz fest. The ambience is good. The service is pretty good. We didn't have the food but it's been OK in the past. There's way better places to eat, but if you're here and wanna catch dinner before a show, I'd say that's a good idea. The problem I have with House Of blues they have VIP seating but it's $50-$100 extra but almost every time somebody just sits down in the VIP and they don't check and they blocked the view of the people who are standing behind. We've got VIP seating before and there's always someone who tries to sneak down or sitting where they shouldn't be and if I pay, I going to rat people out then aren't supposed to be there did I just paid $100-$200 extra to sit here, I'm not gonna let some guy sit with his friend. He's too cheap to pay for it. The bar prices are ridiculous $16 for a $3-4 dollar can of beer or seltzer, cocktails are $15-25 and they have the audacity to ask for a tip based on that $16 I tip a dollar a drink because they're basically over overcharging. The last two times I just didn't drink anything but water and I saved myself 40 bucks. Y'all might think I'm cheap but I'm just not gonna throw away my money. The rule for me is $10-13 a drink then it's too much.

I'm from NYC, so trust me when I say--I've seen a lot of cabaret. And the Van Ella Bordella is…read morehands-down the best I've ever experienced. I came for my birthday with a group that is, frankly, not easy to impress. And somehow, this show became everyone's favorite night of the entire trip. From the moment it started, it was pure magic--and not the watered-down, Instagram version. The real thing. The kind you feel in your chest. The storytelling is powerful, joyful, a little feral (in the best way), and exactly what you didn't know you needed. And the cast? Unreal. The level of talent alone would be enough, but what really sets it apart is the chemistry. You can tell they genuinely love performing together, and that energy radiates out into the audience in a way that's rare. This isn't just a burlesque show--it's an experience. One that actually lives up to the hype (which almost never happens). They also took incredible care of us, which made the whole night feel even more special. If you're in New Orleans and even thinking about going--go. Loudly, dramatically, and preferably with jazz hands.

I've been to some of the best burlesque and drag shows in the country. I've seen gravity defying,…read moresultry, sophisticated shows in New York. While this is not that . . . it's perfect for New Orleans and the south and has it's own flavor. I loved the show here! Madame Kennedy was the perfect emcee (and also put on a wicked black light bubble show). Some acts were sexy and seductive. Some acts were acrobatic and martial arts based, as Madame Kennedy said, "I'm sure someone is missing their anime character somewhere." There were hula hoops, feathers, and grinders! One act was a woman who put a grinder against a metal plate on her belt and sparks flew everywhere! I also saw my first (as far as I can remember) burlesque by a transgender man. It was so much fun! We did the reserved tickets, so we got a table right up front. There isn't a bad seat in the house, but I really prefer being in the center of the action. Doors open at 6:30 for a 7 PM show, but ours was running late (we didn't mind). They have a basic bar with decent prices. They also do dance classes, varying show themes, comedy routines, and more. So you'll always be able to see something different.