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.

I have seen a lot of the "greatest bands". Eric Clapton & BB King, ZZ Top, AC/DC, George Thorogood,…read moreVans Warped Tour, etc. Let me tell you about this one. I was there for the 5pm showing on July 4th. The front row seat was definitely worth it. This was ABSOLUTELY a top 3 show of all time for me. It's honestly hard to give credit to any one musician. Except for the fact that each of them had solos, AND KILLED IT. I don't know the trumpet players name, but they gave me LITERAL CHILLS. It was mesmerizing. The drummer DID HIS THING. The bass player crushedddddd. Trombone? SOULFUL. Piano player? Masterful. Clarinet AND sax player? Unbelievable. Every single one of these musicians has more talent in one finger than I have in my entire body at anything I do. The music they played to honor Ronell Johnson was truly beautiful. It was an experience I'm never going to forget. There will never be a trip to New Orleans that doesn't include a front row seat to this place.

This is an easy 5-star review. Lazy me would just cherry pick from the other 5-star reviews but…read more.. Preservation Hall is a must when visiting New Orleans. Picture exceptional musicians playing traditional jazz in your living room or backyard. There are no frills, light shows, just benches and standing room areas which allow you to be transported back in time when jazz was king. From their website: "Operating as a family business, Preservation Hall supported the unique culture of traditional jazz in New Orleans, which developed in the local melting pot of African, Caribbean, and European musical traditions at the turn of the 20th Century. Preservation Hall was a rare space in the South where racially integrated bands and audiences shared music together during the Jim Crow era." I would strongly suggest that you purchase your tickets well in advance as these shows sell out. In the past the Hall was BYOB and there were no rest rooms. They have upped their game and there is a full bar and bathrooms! Each show is only 45 minutes in length for those 45 minutes you are in for a truly magnificent experience.

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 !

THIS IS A MUST SEE/DO THING IN NEW ORLEANS!! We were recommended to go here from some friends. It…read morewas our favorite thing we did in Nee Orleans. It feels like culture. The music is fantastic! There's a vibe to the musicians where they feel that they all know one another. We saw two different groups perform. The cocktails were delicious and craft! Really really loved! Wish we could come here every weekend! For others trying to understand how it all works, you don't have to purchase tickets to go. You can't make reservations. You just show up and grab a seat. It's a tiny little space but truly amazing. GO!

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!

Had a rough experience here this week with Lynn…read more Very emotionally disregulated bartender that seems to hate her life. David was amazing. Fantastic bartender. Tipped him literally 100% because he deserved it and her 0% because she deserved it. Went back this morning to talk to the young lady working and leave the owner my number and would love to discuss. My mom lives across the street so it's not like I'm just some A hole passing through and I was also a bartender for 5 years myself before becoming a nurse and then a nurse practitioner. I would never treat a patient nor a patron how I was treated by Lynn this week. Great bar, shameful service by Lynn. All the other bartenders I've encountered were amazing but she's a cancer on this place in my limited experience with her on two separate days. Dave, you rock. Will update review once I hear back from owner who I met the other night but didn't discuss because I hadn't had the second experience with Lynn yet. I HATE leaving negative reviews as I'm sure you can tell by my review history but this woman has definitely gotten me out of my character and I apologize.

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.

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.

This is one of the best venues in all of New Orleans. My Wife and I were there on Saturday night…read moreand the music was off the chain! They were playing R&B, hip-hop and soul covers, and the band was amazing! Just off the beaten path, but definitely where to stop if you know where you're going. We will absolutely be back on our next trip to New Orleans!

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.

I went to a rock concert at the House of Blues in New Orleans and it was a pretty cool experience…read more The venue isn't huge, so it feels more personal, you can actually see the band well on stage. The sound was loud (in a good way), and the energy from the crowd was awesome! Drinks were pricey like you'd expect, but the staff was chill and kept things moving. The building has that old-school New Orleans vibe with lots of character, and it's right off Bourbon Street, so it's easy to make a whole night of it. Definitely a good spot to catch live music.

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.

Amazing show and even better memories! Would recommend for a girls trip…read more The food was also tasty!

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.