What a great music venue. We paid the $5 cover charge and grabbed a drink. Then we watched some…read moreamazing jazz music. The band was very talented and it was the best jazz experience we had in New Orleans. Great bar service, amazing jazz! Wow!

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.

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.

This is a historic spot. It's small inside- not fancy- it's real. No big lights, no big speakers,…read moreno mixers or autotune. Think- sitting in the living room. Old church style benches. Get your tickets early. The musicians were great- music was great. I loved it.

This is a dark swanky high-end cocktail bar. We stopped in for a drink before having dinner down…read morethe street. We came back later to go to Hot Tin on the roof, I peaked my head inside the Bayou bar and there was a great jazz band playing. Good service. This is the kind of place I wanna hang out at.

Small and dark bar in a hotel. Menu is small. Food is pretty good! Music is great!! It seems that…read moreone talented guy plays with a variety of other musicians, depending on which evening you're there.

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!

Sunday evenings at Jazz Playhouse (inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel) is one of the best places to go…read morefor traditional New Orleans Jazz. Between 7 and 10:30 p.m. on Sundays you can catch the Twisty River Band (piano, bass, drums and trumpet) with great musicians in a comfortable atmosphere. It's one of the few places on Bourbon Street that is away from the chaos, doesn't have a cover charge, and is more of a listening room than a "joint." It's our "go to" when we're in NOLA.

This spot became my go-to for entertainment. I enjoyed the brass band on Thanksgiving night and the…read moreburlesque show on black Friday. They have great drinks and amazing jambalaya.

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 !

Fritzel's European Jazz Pub is an absolute must if you're visiting the French Quarter and enjoy…read morelive jazz. The atmosphere here is fantastic. It's intimate, lively, and has exactly the kind of old-school New Orleans character I was hoping to find. The musicians were excellent, and being in such a small space makes the whole experience feel much more personal. It's also a great alternative to the much more famous Preservation Hall. If you want an excellent traditional New Orleans jazz experience without necessarily going for the best-known name, Fritzel's absolutely delivers. It feels cozy, authentic, and incredibly atmospheric. One thing to know before you go: you do need to purchase a drink to get in, but it can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic. In my opinion, it's absolutely worth it for the experience. This was easily one of my favorite stops in the French Quarter. Great music, great atmosphere, and a quintessential New Orleans experience. Five stars, and I would absolutely come back!

Eh not my favorite place for drinks due to quality of cocktails. I had to skip my Bloody Mary as it…read moretasted horrible. Even though my cocktail was horrible, the great band made up for it. The band was providing the tunes that you want to hear on Bourbon street. As for service: getting a drink at the bar can be tough when crowded. If this place is your jam, be patient.

I got to try out the Blue Dog Jazz Club as part of a Yelp Elite Event! I hadn't been downtown in a…read morehot minute and this was a perfect excuse! The location is right on Canal downtown, so that has it's pros and cons, but we didn't have any trouble getting there. I would say it's not superbly well advertised, so it might be easy to miss from the outside. The blue mood lighting inside and ambiance was nice. It felt classy, yet casual. Some people were wearing jeans and a t-shirt, others were wearing a suit. There were tables with seats available for those with food, and there were also comfortable seats and couches around too! With no cover charge for the live jazz music, jazz lovers will surely enjoy this spot! The drinks and food is a bit pricy, but it's similar to a lot of places located in the area. You are asked for your vaccination records at the door, so don't forget to bring that! We enjoyed the drinks and music! we had a great time! I hope more people find this place!

Honestly this isn't normally something I would attend but I was curious and wanted to try something…read moredifferent, and I'm glad that I did. The process of getting tickets was pretty easy. I got 2 show tickets and a valet ticket online. Once I arrived I drove to the Sheratons valet parking and handed over my car. This part was such a relief. Who the heck wants to walk these New Orleans streets in heels to attend an event? Not I. So I was glad they offer valet parking. When I walked into the hotel finding the event space was a little difficult. I found a staff member and they pointed me in the right direction. Once I got into the event space it was really nice. It looks like it's an art museum with nothing but different variations of the famous blue dog painting, which I thought was cool. Rachel was my bartender. She was very polite. She let me know that I would be served drinks at the table/area I chose to sit at so I didn't have to wait at the bar in order to get a drink. I ordered a French 75 which was great and I also had a cheese plate. They didn't skimp on the cheese plate. It was a decent size for the price and it included about 5 different cheeses, strawberries, grapes, and blackberries. Very tasty. The jazz musicians started playing around 8:45 I think. The music was great. It wasn't the kind of jazz you get up and dance to it was the kind of jazz you sit and listen to while really taking in and appreciating the amount of skill it takes to create music like this. It was a very soothing experience. The lighting didn't allow for great pictures but I still managed to snap a few.

Unimpressed with the lunch special.. offering was hamburger steak ( noted as a menu item at 10oz)…read morethe one I received couldn't have been any larger than 6oz.. looked like a thicker child's burger, mashed potatoes ( scoop smaller than the burger patty) green peas, the large cheaper ones. The peas seemed to have poured straight from the can, no sign of any cooking, seasoning or love. The meal in its entirety lacked any home cooking attention or effort. Price was $12... while this could be considered a good price, all things need be considered. For me, a lunch special advertised out front of a restaurant, is the pinnacle draw to entice/ welcome people to come on in, have a seat and enjoy a meal prepared with love and care. It should be a small representation of the entire menu offering..( if you like this ...you should come back and try....... ! On your next visit) Service, was minimal, drink orders taken as the menus were placed, orders taken upon drink delivery. Food served timely. Then the wait began... we finished our meals and waited... for about 5 minutes there were no waitstaff to be seen in the dining area, and never did get an offer of drink refills. Finally ( another 10 minutes) attracted the attention of one of the waitstaff ( not ours) asked for and received our bill. Paid the bill then we were offered drinks to go.. I loved this place, under its former marquee, local home cooking at it heart... sad to see it go this way. I'm sure to give it another chance at some point, but sure to shy away from the " Lunch Special" and look to the menu offerings. Come on Folks.. keep the little place with so much ambiance alive... bring back the love to the pots n pans..

I received great customer service. The bar area is very upscale looking. There is an outdoor…read moreseating area that seems very well thought out even though I didn't utilize it. The food was reasonably priced and tasty. I will definitely return.

We started off a little rough...they were out of ribs and burnt ends. No ribs at a BBQ joint?!?…read more So we went with brisket and smoked sausage. My wife and I did not agree....but her brisket was very fatty. I also had a large helping of fried okra along with some yummy potato salad. I was pretty stuffed so I shared my leaner brisket pieces with my wife. So it was a split decision on the food but service was good.

Great food, excellent service, and a welcoming atmosphere. Definitely a restaurant worth visiting…read moreagain!