One of my favorite NYC small stages to enjoy music and cabaret acts. Part of the Public Theater complex. My first experience at Joe's Pub was seeing Bridget Everett in 2015!! Note Partial View seats are a gamble, depending on the performance... there are large pillars that may really obstruct your view. There's usually a food and drink minimum... their burgers are great! read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Menu, Summer 2026 - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here for a concert. Its a small venue so be prepared to seat close to others. The good thing is all seats have an excellent view of the stage. We sat at the bar top which was tight but the view was excellent. The server was stealthy was there and gone quickly. The drink were weak and over priced. But the food was pretty good. But overall for a dinner and show I would do it again. read more

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Great venue, good food, not cheap, but I suppose that is to be expected. The sound system was really good, but the subway rumble every 5 minutes or so could definitely reduce the experience if that was important to you. A fun, unique venue! read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - A big complex. - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

I go to Joe's Pub at least once a year to see Justin Vivian Bond, and have been a few other times to see artists that I enjoy. Joe's Pub is always an intimate experience and a fun time to get up close and personal with artists that you love. As stated in other reviews, there is a two drink minimum (never knew about the other option to have one food item). I've been a few times when the waiter doesn't necessarily care, and other times when they really enforce it. Last time I was there, they were super enforcing it. So either come hungry (or for dessert) or save some beverages for the show. You do receive your food / drinks quickly. And paying at the end of the show is super easy and seamless as the servers bring card readers to each table. I find the sound to be really great and where ever you sit, you always have a good view. The tables / chairs are really close to each other, so you will get to know your neighbors really well. If you need to get up to use the bathroom it can be a whole thing, so be aware of that as well. I do look forward to shows at Joe's Pub because I know the artist will have fun and put on a good show. Joe's Pub always brings a great vibe. The subway rumbling below it also adds to said vibe. I love it! read more

I prefer intimate music venues over stadiums and arenas. A small crowd in a cozy setting is always a win! Joe's Pub is fits the bill! The service is fine regarding drinks. I have yet to experience the food because we usually arrive already nourished after dining out elsewhere. Overall, I'm just there for the show! read more

What a cool theater!! I just went for my first time ever for a Chris Turner performance and I quickly realized just how accurate all their rave reviews are. The venue is super clean, large yet intimate, and boasts great views all around. The staff were super welcoming, fellow patrons were respectful and the food/drink prices were reasonable! I really love how you can pick your own exact seats when purchasing online, as other Yelpers have noted. Joe's Pub, you've got a new fan in me! read more

My wife and I attended a event at Joe's on the weekend. It was to highlight my sister in laws boyfriends talent . When you walk in the lobby it's very nice and there are complimentary phone charging stations and free photo booths .and you can take as many as you like. No unsightly metal detectors . The staff is kind and the inside of the theater is fantastic. The host and hostess of the event was great and fun. And the talent was amazing. The food was a bit pricey but my wife enjoyed her margarita. This place accepts donations! read more

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Really lovely venue! I saw Dez Duron, who put on a wonderful show, but the cabaret vibes helped make it such a good experience. The servers were all quick and kind. I ordered an incredible mocktail and tiramisu as I already had dinner earlier that night. Many people had fries, which looked delicious. The tiramisu was rich and hit the spot. My bar seat was perfect for watching the show while also enjoying my meal. Highly recommend! read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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I had a great time seeing Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery's Swinging Christmas concert! We were seated right away when we arrived. You pick your seats in advance. In typical NYC cabaret fashion, you will most likely be seated with other people and the seats are very close together. My mom and I got tickets far in advance and scored a table to ourselves. The service was quick and efficient. We each had a glass of wine, and shared the calamari and cheese plate. The calamari was our favorite! The spicy aioli dipping sauce took it to the next level! The cheese was good, but it was only brie. The way it was described seemed like there would be more of a variety. I did like the jam that came with it! All in all, this is a fun spot to eat some food, drinks some drinks, and listen to some fabulous music! I will be back! read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Ordered: Guacamole & Tajin Tortilla Chips (~$16) Joe's Burger (~$25): with caramelized onions and aged cheddar, no bacon; served with French fries Diet Coke (~$5) Aya's take: We came here for a comedy show and off the bat, it was a different venue style than I've ever been to. It's also much larger than expected! Service was quick, efficient, and very friendly. The food is overpriced but considering we each had to get 1 food item (or 2 drinks), we decided to make this our dinner. The Guacamole & Tajin Tortilla Chips had great flavor, was super fresh, and the chips were nicely coated. The ratio of guac to chips was way off and for ~$16, I expected the guacamole serving to be at least 50% more. Joe's Burger came recommended by our waitress and shout out to her for that rec! Nothing extraordinary but it's a solid and was cooked to a perfect medium. Their French fries were also super thin, crispy, and addicting. This must be a niche comment but the Diet Coke was not as cold or crisp as it should be. It felt like it had been sitting out for sometime before serving. All in all, decent food options if you find yourself here for an event! read more

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Went during restaurant week and that was an amazing deal!! All food was amazing the ambience was incredible, service was great! Will def b returning! read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Restaurant Ambience - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

This is a prettt cool venue with a good set . Showing out who we had to buy 1 food item or 2 drinks. The cheapest food is $13 and sodas count toward the drinks but they didn't have Diet Coke. I had 4 beers at $9. I'd come back here. I'd heard of it because of Sandra Bernhardt. I want to see her here. The show was 1 hour 17 minutes w a $80 cover so you do pay a little extra. read more

Pros: + Fun venue + Good food options/variety + Better bands/set - although choose your day carefully when you come in as some days are significantly better than others. Cons: - Crowded IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC read more

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Came here for an event and was super pleased by this night. It's an intimate small place, so make sure you pre-buy your tickets in advance to pick your seats appropriately. The food and drinks were on point! Not a big menu, but definitely had some solid options. The staff always came around to check on you and take your drink orders. I can't wait to come back here again. read more

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there are si many words to describe the experience I had last night at Joe's pub. We went to Charles Yang, the violinist. I should say not just a violinist but a consummate performer, incredible voice, beyond description, violinist and incredible stage presence and personality, engaging the audience performing amazing music and songs along with his accompanist pianist also exceptional. Where ever he is performing I will go. This is not to be missed. what a great personality. I see a lot of stuff in New York. This is without a doubt the best I have seen this year. read more

First things first: this is NOT the type of pub you're thinking of! This restaurant has a cool, almost dinner club-like ambiance. While I chuckled that I'm sure business deals get done in a place like this in the movies, the vibe could also be great for a date night or dinner with friends. I went here for dinner during a work meeting with my coworkers & they served us family-style. The steak, vodka pasta, and Brussels sprouts were my favorite dishes & all 3 types of wine I tasted (Cab, Grenache, and Chardonnay) were delightful. We were a group of ~15 & had great service throughout dinner. Apple MAPs might bring you to the other side of the building so just a heads up! You go into the building & up one floor. read more

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Another fun night at Joe's. Entertained by a medley of singers all backed up by the "Joe McGinty 7". Dinner club experience with a full bar. I ordered a gin fizz & the fish & chips. The show was introduced as a battle of The Pretenders vs. Blondie songs & performers that commenced soon after our food arrived. The cod had a nicely crisped crust with moist flesh inside served atop roasted lengthwise cut potatoes with a side of tartare sauce. Our server has mastered stealth service & it seemed the others have too as they rarely blocked our eyeline to the stage if ever. The fish & chips should always be served with malt vinegar though. The band was consistently solid and the acoustics & sound system are terrific at Joe's Pub. The singers ranged from experienced vets to novice, but more the former than the latter. Overall alotta fun & I highly recommend a visit! read more

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So much fun and such a great, intimate-feeling venue to see a show. Bar service was efficient and friendly, but we did not order any food Ticket office was also super helpful and nice, as we showed up late without tickets. They were kind enough to show us the seating chart so that we could pick the best tickets. read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - #toriscott - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious! In more ways than one! The pasta I had was delicious and Matt Doyle was epic as usual. My only wish was that there had been a bit more time to order (since there was a requirement) before the show began. Eating while half turned to watch the show was a bit of a challenge! But otherwise the venue was cozy and fun! I would definitely return for another show! read more

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I love the Public Theater but I cannot say the same for Joe's Pub. It is a very small space with unexciting but required-to-purchase food, good service but a terrible sense of sound. If you want to attend a concert in a stadium, go to a stadium, not a space that holds 184 seated. Joe's Pub thinks 90-100 decibel level is just what people want. Of course, everyone is likely to lose their hearing these days. I went to a concert I really wanted to hear and had to go outside the venue to listen to it. And soon other people began to join me ! So...the next time someone is playing there, I won't have to pay for a ticket, I can just park myself outside and I will be able to listen at a normal decibel level. (And I can get a better dinner as well.) read more

Good place to see local talent and more well known acts in a supper club setting. Old school cool but can be crowded and claustrophobic. Before the pandemic we went here to see a friend of ours perform. Seating is set up in a semi circle around the main stage. One thing I didn't like is that they tell you were to sit and pack you in like sardines at cramped tables with others you don't know. I don't mind a drink minimum, or paying extra to support live music, but this wasn't the most comfortable way to be entertained. Good sound and acoustics though. read more

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Just be sure you realize that there's a 2 drink or 1 food minimum which will likely make the cost at least twice whatever you're paying for the ticket. If you're up for the cost then great, but I'd avoid the veggie burger. While the burger is ok there's dreadful, gooey but not very flavorful cheese that overwhelms it. read more

We saw Sandra Bernhardt here last night. The cover charge, two drink minimum and "creative" seating options (we sat at the bar on stools turned towards the direction of the stage) is pretty standard for NYC. Great ambience and an incredible, eclectic crowd made this a standout performance for us. Strong drinks and pleasant staff mean we will return! read more

Overall, the experience at Joe's was good but the food had more to be desired. Ordered fried calamari and guacamole to start and they were ok - not too much flavor. For my entree, I ordered the cheese burger and the meat was dry and lacked flavor. My friend ordered the creole chicken and the chicken did not looked cooked well and the creole sauce was very salty. Go there for the performances - NOT the food. read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Fried calamari & guacamole with chips - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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I saw John Cameron Mitchell and Amber Martin's Cassette Roulette at Joe's Pub tonight and had a fantastic experience! The staff were friendly and kind from the moment I walked through the door. The vodka martini was overly salty, but the guacamole & tortillas were delicious. The show was absolutely amazing! Both performers were outstanding and I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the edge of the stage so I felt like part of the show. Molly Ringwald even joined them to sing a song. The space is intimate and perfect for a cabaret-style performance. I can't wait to return again! read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Vodka martini - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

I may have been to Joe's Pub many years ago but this is the first time in at least 20 years. I loved everything about it except the bad seating in the front. They try to pack too many chairs down there and people are sitting in your lap and you have to turn your chair around in an awkward way to see anything. Get a seat by the bar if you can or a whole table with friends to avoid that problem. That said, they were extremely accomodating with me, all their servers and hosts are top-notch. Some seats are obstructed mildly but it is a small place so any seat is a "good" seat as far as being near the performer. The stage is much smaller than I was imagining it would be but that's part of the charm. The food! I got a salad because I was on a diet and wow. I did not expect it to be so good. A very simple blue cheese salad - bacon, piece of blue cheese, blue cheese dressing, tomatoes, lettuce. One of the best salads I've ever had, although it was so simple. I think the dressing really made it. Be aware they do have a two-drink or one-plate minimum so add that on to the ticket price. Place was spotless, including the bathroom. I had a nice night and I'm already thinking about doing it again. They tend to get those edgy downtown acts I like so much. read more

I love this venue for shows. It is easy to see and hear. It looks lovely. I had guacamole and wine. The show Generation Women is a standup life story done by women of every generation. This is the only event I have seen at Joe's Pub but it is a perfect fit for GW read more

Joe's Pub is an excellent venue and would highly recommend checking the place out if you are local or in town visiting. My husband and I made a reservation for Sunday to see Sandra Bernhard. We had always wanted to check out Joe's Pub, so I am glad our first experience was amazing with an awesome performer. We also had dinner during the show and the food was the only short coming during our visit. My pasta was a bit flavorless and my husbands chicken sandwich had way to many onions on it and he said it made it a bit unbearable to eat. We also had the fried mac and cheese, they were just okay; at this point I would say skip the food and enjoy the entertainment and alcoholic beverages. The drinks are really great! They are made plenty strong and are not bad in price. I will definitely come back to Joe's Pub for another visit and I am looking forward to some amazing entertainment. Thanks for a great date night! read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Sandra Bernhard at Joe's Pub - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

Joes Pub was excellent on many levels. Food was great and modestly priced. Definitely, heading back.

Joe's Pub is the quintessential New York music /performance spot. Excellent acoustics and good roster of performers. It's a good fun night venue compared to most. You're not squeezed in too tight, every seat has good views, the staff is great, plus the drinks menu and food menus are above par for this type of establishment. You are guaranteed a fun experience! We love Loser's Lounge. They are the best note for note accuracy for every group they mimic, QUEEN, the BEE GEES, and tonight, Burt Bacharach. We all just love Joe's Pub! **cover is usually $30 with 2 drink and/or $12 food minimum ** read more

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There are SO many other great venues in the city. The seating in the front floor section is very claustrophobic. I was surrounded by 4 or people I didn't know, could barely move and was extremely uncomfortable and claustrophobic. (Kind of like being on a packed subway during rush hour) I don't drink alcohol and had to fulfill the 2 beverage requirement. So I asked my waitress what non alcoholic drinks were available, she recommended the $12 mocktails. So I get the mocktails, (maybe a 2 out of 5 and not that great) but I drank them because I'm a huge fan of the band and didn't want to wreck my show experience by calling the waitress back over. Later after the show ends and my friend pays the bill, I find out my $12 mocktails were more than his $9 beers. My non alcoholic drinks are more that his beers? REALLY? Yeah, I won't be returning to this venue. From being squashed in the front section to overpaying for lousy drinks, it wasn't a great time. But the band was AWESOME! read more

absolutely amazing staff. didn't know what i wanted to drink so they made me something special. venue is super cool, the band i saw sounded great and the fries were amazing. super clean venue with friendly people read more

The Quick: What a cool venue to see a performance in! The food was good, but the vibe was better. The Details: Whenever a restaurant has a comedian or show, usually the food is awful and you're forced to buy it with the price of admission. At Joe's, the food was very good, and the performance was even better! Really enjoyed this venue. The Damage: since I didn't pay, unfortunately I cannot comment. Check the menu, seemed a tad bit pricier than expected, but you pay for the entertainment read more

Joe's Pub at The Public - Interior - Music Venues Near Me - New York, New York

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Great venue! You have theater and food and sinks with intimate tiered seating. The one thing I will note is you'll be at a table with people you don't know, and then you gotta turn your chair around if you get seats like that. But we saw salty Brian in his performance of Cyndi Lauper she's so unusual woven into a cabaret storyline, was just genius. He gave a passionate performance, and was very entertaining! A true artist. read more

Joe's Pub is one of my favorite venues in the city. It has a wonderful ambiance and a great variety of shows. The food is good, but not great and the service can be uneven. I usually get the burger, which is solid. I recently had the fish and chips. The chips were great. The fish was crunchy, but very bland. Luckily it came with a good tartar sauce. The chips and guac are another good option. read more

I've been to the theater here many times, but this was my first time at the music venue. When the doors open, you're quickly ushered to your seat. Ours had our backs facing the stage, which made eating food inconvenient, but we turned them around to watch the show.  Ticket prices are low but they have a two drink or $12 food charge. I'm not sure I like venues that require this, since sometimes you're not in the mood to drink (there was a single pricey mocktail option) and it can be awkward to eat in tight quarters while watching a live show. There could be more food options that can be eaten by hand on the menu to accommodate this as well as a few more inexpensive options. But I opted for the fried calamari, which had a crispy batter that held up over time; it came with a chipotle aioli and some fried pickle slices. Quite tasty. The sound here is amazing and it's a very intimate venue. Unfortunately, the woman in front of me was constantly taking pictures and video with her arms raised, so that was distracting and blocked my sightline somewhat, but I could mostly see around her. Lots of respect to the servers here, who really hustle to clear glasses and get drinks throughout the show, get orders beforehand and checks down when the show ends, and gracefully shimmy around tightly packed chairs and tables. The show was powerful and in the end, I really enjoyed the venue. read more

I love seeing performances here because the sound is pristine and the stage/seating affords everyone a good view. I need to keep an eye on their schedule because in the past I've seen brilliant performances by solo members of popular bands that would otherwise be playing in much larger venues. On Saturday night, I had the privilege of seeing German chanteuse, Katharine Mehrling. The performance and sound were super impressive and I was pretty blown away! The tickets came at a surprisingly affordable price at $20. I know every show is priced differently but this is really a NY steal if you ask me. As others mention, there's the drink or food minimum which didn't seem especially enforced as each time we wanted to order, we had to flag our server which I hate doing, especially at a show. The service was pretty much the only slightly sour note, besides the fact that they shockingly don't enforce a "don't talk during performances" policy (two guys behind me held a conversation throughout the show. I really don't love having to tell people to be quiet when that's just common courtesy). Those two slight complaints aside, I will gladly support this theater on the regular and recommend that you do the same. Just please go outside to chat! And Joe's Pub, encourage your staff to keep the drinks coming! read more

this place is really nice! but you are squeezed in with other people and it can be tight. the fries were good. you get plenty and we shared. i got 2 bottles of water which was saratoga water but they were big lol. i took them with me becuz hey! i paid for them lol...........you need 2 item minimum so the water worked for me and my sister got a beer and fries. bathrooms are clean too. read more

If you're headed to NYC and you haven't checked the calendar at Joe's Pub you're heading there unarmed. Holding tickets to at least one event at Joe's Pub is standard operating procedure in my household. Why? A huge variety of shows to choose from, an intimate (but not tiny) space and, with the exception of a few "too close to the stage" seats, every seat in the house is quite good. On an earlier visit I made time for a jazzy CD release party for a Turkish big band. My most recent visit included an evening spent watching Kevin Smith Kirkwood (Kinky Boots) channel Whitney Houston (RIP), featuring doppelgängers for both Bobby Brown and Mariah Carey. Just reading that you're probably regretting not sitting in that audience. When you purchase your ticket you also select your seating and I'd recommend somewhere a table or two removed from the very front. Beyond that, there's excellent sight lines and great sound from everywhere. Show prices vary and each ticket requires either a $12 food purchase or 2 drinks which is standard for a place like this. Joe's Pub is great on theater off-nights (generally Mondays or Sundays) when the Public (with which Joe's shares the building) is otherwise quiet. It can also be good if you're seeking a fun, last-minute outing. Cheaper and different than a Broadway show, Joe's Pub makes for a great night out. I've never had a bad time here and expect I never will. read more

This is such a special place. It's so intimate and just so fun. I've never been to a bad show here, we always walk out elated and inspired and wanting to return! Which we will soon! Great lineup as always read more