If you haven't been to Frenchmen Street yet in NOLA, you are definitely missing out! This is the go to spot for great food, live music and good times with more locals. It's a smaller less tourity version of Bourbon Street. They have multiple restaurants, bars and clubs for eating, drinking, dancing and live music. Right down the street is also an open air art market with all kinds of amazing arts and crafts for sale by local artists. We popped into Cafe Negril to listen to the live band and they were electric! They had so much energy and a great mix of songs that they covered. They had the crowd dancing and singing right along. Despite the place being packed, drink service was quick. You could order directly from the bar or from the servers that come to your table. If you want to a guarnteed seat for the show you woud need to reserve in advance. I highly recommend checking them out next time you are in town! read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

This place rocks! We heard really good old school RnR coming out of an open door while walking down the sidewalk and opted to drop in & see what was going on. Turns out Tue is open mic jam night. A very attractive blonde served us icy cold beers, we found a conveniently placed table, and for the next 3 hours were mesmerized by the local music talent. We watched several guitar solos, a great trumpet player, a large bass/tuba player deftly switch back & forth between 2 very dissimilar instruments, and at least 5 drummers keep beautiful time. We love Nola for evenings just like this. It's amazing how much musical talent is in this town. Very nice. read more

I was told by one of my clients to go take a stroll down Frenchman St and id find lots of live music. As I was finding the remainder of my bachelor party, they happened to be at Cafe Negril where Maurice Cade and the ESS Band were playing. They were a damn good band and playing some original music. I had'nt yet had a frozen hurricane and that was the spot i had my first one. The cups were pretty small for 15 bucks and drinking from them were tough on the lips. Thankfully they were really good. From that point on I had vodka cranberry drinking that didnt have sharp edges on the cups. Really great place for music and other drinks. Hopefully they'll take my advice and get new cups with their names on it. read more

See all

First and foremost, the door guy is amazing! Definitely got us in the door when we were headed to another bar. Then when we walked in the BEST sign/message was on the mirror that all patrons should adhere to. the bartenders are all amazing and so kind. The drinks were great and there's live music. What more could you want?? So definitely check this place out and make sure to Speak Up!! read more

Cafe Negril - Sweet Tart Gin cocktail!! - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Great music venue. The artists are quite variable, not all reggae like the name might suggest. Can get pretty loud. Bartender was great, but is was really loud when we were there (8 member brass band) so had to shout and use hand signals to order drinks. I stop in everyone I'm on Frenchman St. read more

Came in around 5 PM on a Friday and instantly caught a great vibe--live music with no cover is always a win. The staff were genuinely friendly and made us feel welcome right away, and the drinks definitely didn't disappoint. The band brought solid energy and sounded great, making it an easy place to kick back and enjoy the evening. Only thing missing? Food options would've made the experience even better. Still, a fun spot for good music, good drinks, and a relaxed Friday night atmosphere. read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Café Negril on Frenchmen Street is one of my favorite spots to enjoy live music in New Orleans. The whole strip is known for incredible talent, and the bands here are always full of energy and good vibes -- never a dull moment. I love reserving the VIP seating for special occasions. Service is tailored to each group and like having a designated server in the vip area. It's the perfect way to enjoy the band up close and have a great time with friends. I was there for my bday and had a blast...my friends were even able to post my picture on the big screen in celebration of my bday!!! Drink prices are reasonable, the specials are solid, and I personally love the freshly popped popcorn -- such a fun touch. Frenchmen Street is always a vibe, and Café Negril is definitely one of the highlights. Great music, great atmosphere, and a guaranteed good time. read more

This was our first stop on our New Orleans trip! We were actually here with a jazz tour. Sunny Side was playing and it was a vibe. We were sat in the VIP section which had these glowing cube seats and the waitress that was helping us was super nice! I had the mudslide drink and my wife had the mango one. Both were STRONG and good. Loved it. read more

Upon walking up and down Frenchmen St. with the girls and realizing we were bit late because most places had filled up, especially the popular spots.. we came across Café Negril where it wasn't so busy, no cover charge and a live reggae band, Higher Heights which was really good. They do require you purchase a drink which is fine. The service was fast and friendly - a lot of people were on the dance floor and the vibe was really fun! read more

See all

Live music was nice. Good beer selection. Reasonable prices. Service was friendly & prompt. Plenty of seating. Restroom could've been cleaner. read more

Great live music and the new cold brew dacquiri is THE BOMB. I couldn't believe it had alcohol in it because it tasted just like a mocha frappe. I will definitely come back here when I'm back in NOLA. It was a ton of fun! read more

See all

This spot attracted us with the music and the place was cute. It was pretty crowded but a server still came around to us and we ordered some drinks. I normally wouldn't care how a server is dressed but what caught me off guard was his breath, holy cow, it seems as though they should have a bit more pride in the job. But then again, it's whatever. He just really didn't seem like he wanted to be there which rubbed off on us so we took our drinks to go. read more

Cafe Negril - Local music - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Awesome music, drinks, and service! We stopped in to see Jason Neville Funky Soul Band and were so glad we did. I tried both the cold brew daiquiri and the las vegas colada. Both were absolutely delicious and I was delighted by the color changing cups my drinks came in. If you reuse a cup, you get a dollar off. Woo! In terms of music quality, the band was incredible. We were there early enough for there to be no cover. There was a full band and the music was poppin. It was a nice change of pace from the Spotted Cat, which tends to be more focused on classic jazz (which is also excellent). There was an awesome mix of covers and originals, and I was rockin out the whole time. Also, the bartenders were very cool. We asked permission to sit in the reserved part while it was still empty because the glowing tables and chairs in the elevated area looked awesome. The bartender let us go up there for a little bit and I LOVED the space. Those with reservations arrived within the hour and the space filled up completely. I would absolutely pay for a reservation in the evening on the platform space. There were also reservations for some of the cocktails tables too. Overall, this was one of the highlights of our trip to New Orleans. A definite must-visit for music lovers! read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The frozen drinks here are pretty good. Expensive though! There was no cover to get in. The musicians ended their set very shortly after we walked in, so I recommend you check out the schedule in advance if you don't want that to happen to you. So we didn't stay long. But what we did see was pretty fun. read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Frozen drinks were good, VIP seating area available but was not managed while we were there which was kind of a let down. We believe people were at our table when we got there so we sat at a different table, people kept coming to our table trying to sit. read more

Cafe Negril - Band - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

When in New Orleans, it's almost required that one visit the famous Bourbon Street, and there's a lot of good music there. What used to be a more of a secret, but is now getting out is that a lot of the best local talent can be found a short walk away on Frenchmen Street. If you like Bourbon Street, you'll love Frenchmen Street. When we visited this place, it was early evening. I like that there was a good bar, and a variety of options, but they also had the football playoff games on TV. I'm sure the performers didn't appreciate it much, but it was nice for entertainment between sets, and it can take some time for one band to break down, and another set up between sets. And, despite its name, Cafe Negril doesn't offer anything to eat, just beverages. You can, however, go get food, and bring it back. They don't mid, and they actually suggest it. What I liked most about this place was it's purely New Orleans Vibe. The music and the performers were as good as any in town, and they didn't charge us a cover. The No Cover may not be true all the time, but it was this time, and we liked that because we got hungry, and left early. I also liked the very friendly, very inviting staff. Everyone was so nice! You know, I liked Cafe Negril, and Frenchmen Street so much, I might completely skip Bourbon Street next time, especially if I'm staying in the Marigny. read more

Watching live music while in New Orleans is definitely a must-do and Cafe Negril is the perfect spot to do this! My hubby and I, had so much fun getting to attend the record release party for the Queen of Frenchmen Street - Sierra Green and The Giants that was held at Cafe Negril on Saturday night 09/28/24 (see videos included in this review of the very talented artist & musicians live in action & please excuse any hollerin' that you may hear, just know a good time was definitely had!!) Cafe Negril is a live music venue located on Frenchmen Street (recommend checking out the calendar for the live music lineups scheduled) and while on a mini vacay in NOLA I had it on our itinerary to go to Cafe Negril for some awesome live music and dancing. Since it was a record release party, you had the option to reserve a table online beforehand, which I did and you got to choose your table location (only paid $10 pp - I'm sure the cost varies depending on the event - see pic included in this review of table location I chose). I'm so glad that I reserved a table for us to go sit at between dancing breaks ;). With there being a limited amount of tables inside, any table that was reserved had your name & # of people printed/displayed so your table wouldn't get taken by others. Till next time! Rebecca read more

See all

Solid drinks, good live music, great vibe and amazing staff and bartender jenny! Big shout out to Wade the bouncer for his good vibes and over the top customer service! read more

The live music at Cafe Negril was excellent. It has "hole in the wall" vibes, but it was just what I needed! The vocalist was great. The band was talented and fun. The bartenders were nice and we even found a new drink at the bar. I assume they have a cover on many nights, but on this particular night they didn't, which was a nice touch. There are tables and chairs off to the side, an area that appears to be VIP, bar seating, and a standing area in front of the stage. I wish more people were actually dancing on the dance floor. read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Cool older security guy at the door. Spot had screens showing old videos and a popcorn machine up front so they drew me in. There is a one drink minimum and that's all I wanted. Bartenders were nice but mine kept asking be if I wanted another. (The one I had wasn't cheap ) and if I wanted another. It's what you get for sitting at a bar right? I had to get my own napkin which was noticeable no one got a napkin. That was a first for me. Anyway. Cool vibes from the patrons and the band was good. No cover and they made it known that they accept tips. The lady even went around the room w a bucket. I'd return but wouldn't sit at the bar so I could enjoy my night uninterrupted. read more

We were told that the best part of New Orleans is the music. We came here because they had a free cover band. The band was amazing. They played a ton of hits and threw in some line dances. I am glad we came here. The place is crowded and they serve plenty of drinks. I gladly tipped the band $20. Please stop by during live music nights. read more

See all

I was at Cafe Negril watching a great band! The bartender Esteban was so handsome and funny that I could barely believe it! I'm in love. read more

We had a great time watching Sierra Green's band. The waitress was pleasant and efficient. It was helpful to make a reservation in advance. read more

Cafe Negril - Sierra Green and her band - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Quick and nice server, Bonnie. Welcomed immediately. Excellent live music, John Lisi and Delta Funk had a great vibe. Recommend you visit this spot! read more

Great place, great time, great music, great service!! Mark the doorman was VERY professional. Very nice, efficient and great service. Ross the bartender was humble, funny, and attentive. And Jamey St Pierre and Higher Heights was fun and good musicians. read more

You can't beat a place that has amazing drinks, a dope vibe & AMAZING music! It was our first night in NOLA and we stumbled into this bar and had a BLAST! A lot of space, plenty of drink options and the live music was killer. And the cherry on top was the amazing bar staff & service. And what u love too is if you can't make it to the bar, THEY LIVE STREAM THE BANDS ON THEIR YOUTUBE PAGE! Gotta check this place out! read more

Great drinks, good food, friendly staff. And Great music, would go back again! We just so happened to stop in because we heard some great tunes... Really gave us the New Orleans feel, would highly recommend this bar! read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Jenny is the greatest bartender ever! She was so friendly and welcoming. We all had a blast!

A bar is like an oven, if it's empty then it's not serving its purpose If it's filled with a.great recipe then you have something worthwhile CN is like that. We walked by and heard something cooking, something hot! Not literally, but metaphorically. Vegas Cola was playing old school Prince songs and other funky hits. The band was amazing. The recipe made this oven a thing of beauty. The crowd was feeling it. No cover charge One drink minimum. Insane vocals, People dancing, High level musicianship Horns blaring Bass bumping Drums on point Keys being tickled What a great night And we stumbled upon it read more

See all

One of my fav spots on Frenchmen street. Great music- Very upbeat. Jazz music here is more modern style. Drinks are good too. Good place to hangout for sets. Gets really busy in weekend eves. MUST try for jazz on frenchmen street. Also good for one drink per person min and band tip. read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

Great venue for drinks and music!! No cover charge, plenty of high tables, and a nice selection of beers. read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

A funky good time. I stopped in on a Saturday and hit the jackpot with Jason Neville playing and there wasn't a cover. The crowd was fun and easy going. Bartenders were fast and friendly. Great spot! read more

No cover, super fun band, amazing hurricane in a souvenir color changing cup. What more could I ask for?! read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

My friend and I stumbled upon this bar walking on Frenchmen street and I am SO glad we stopped in for 1.5 hours! Not sure if that's long or short but we listened to their entire set(s). There were no cover. The band was amazing and I'm glad my money went to the band as a tip/donation. I have a new appreciation for jazz music! Definitely stop by if you can! read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I loved the ambiance here. The staff is super attentive and friendly AND FAST! Pricing is great for all drinks here too. The stage is the best and the live music rocks. I could've stayed here all night. read more

This place is so fun and lively that it draws you in when you come walking down the street. No real destination in mind after having dinner we just started walking. When we got near here the music coming from inside drew us in. It was kind of hopping in here with the live band on the stage. They were getting into a groove in their set that made for the lively atmosphere. The kitchen had just closed before we got here and there was still a bit of a crowd inside/outside. The bartenders were incredibly attentive to our needs and made sure each time they rounded that they checked if we needed another round. I enjoyed how this building kind of brought a touch of outside in. The columns looked like palm trees and the way the lighting hit the wall it looks like water. Mix that with the live music, some drinks, and good friends, and you are in for a pretty decent night. read more

Cafe Negril - a mural of a woman with a flower in her hair - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

We stopped in early evening and the place had some really good music going on. They kept mixing in new musicians, which changed the vibe. By the time we left it was a totally different group of musicians, but still really great music. We didn't have any food, but we had some beer. They don't do drafts, only cans, so that was a little disappointing. The beer selection was typical for New Orleans music venues. I wish they would get some more interesting selections. read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all

This is my go-to for music on Frenchman's Street, every time I'm in New Orleans. I wandered in here one evening, randomly, and saw this woman step casually on stage in a t-shirt and yoga pants, no makeup, and TAKE. THE ROOM APART. WITH. HER. VOICE. Hands down, this place has the best music on Frenchman's if you appreciate killer vocals & musicians. And, go there on a night when Sierra Green is playing if you can. She is amazing. read more

Such a fun venue. They have no cover and require just one drink minimum -- they have a broad range of frozen drinks, cocktails, beers, and wines although be mindful that because they ask for no cover charge, some drinks are pricey. We went here twice on our short vacation because the bands were great and the service was attentive. And if you have a small bladder like me, they have 4 separate restrooms. Came in clutch during Mardi Gras season. read more

Cafe Negril - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

BEST bar on Frenchmen with the best band! They sang HBD to me and it was spectacular. I'll never forget it and glad I got it on video. This place is perfect for the authentic NOLA vibe. read more

Cafe Negril - This young man is in the Smithsonian - Bars Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

See all